Clipped By Love by Toni Aleo

Rating: 5 Stars

Title: Clipped b Love

Author: Toni Aleo

Publisher: Toni Aleo

Genre: Romance, Sports, Coming of Age

Pages: 448 pages

Summary:

Things are heating up for the Sinclair boys! With one already in the NHL, Jayden Sinclair is hoping to be next!

This has been the toughest year of my life. I watched my brother go into the draft without me, my mom got divorced, and the weight of my family’s issues is heavy on my shoulders. I feel like it’s my job to fix everything while working my butt off in school and trying to make my game better. I have to go into the draft. It will give my family the support they need, and it will prove that I’m good enough. But to get there, I have to show I can be the best captain for the Bellevue Bullies. The spot is mine—no one can take it. First though, Jude is making me go on a brother’s weekend. Innocent enough, I guess…until I see her. She’s the biggest competitor I’ve ever faced. Not only for my spot but also my heart. It’s hard to ignore someone like Baylor Moore.

I don’t lose. I can’t. My dad has bred me to be the best in anything I do. I am driven, I am smart, and I am going to be the first woman in the National Hockey League. No two ways about it. I’ve worked too hard. I’ve been through too much not to have what I want. I know I can do it. I will make my dad proud, and no one will stand in the way of that. That is, until I let him in. He scares me. He makes me feel. And he could very well be the one person who can make me want more than just to win.

We both have the same goal. Victory. But how do you compete against the person you want to win? It’s not easy. Love isn’t something you can control. It isn’t like a puck that can be handled by a stick. No, it has a mind of its own and does what it wants.

Neither of us saw it coming, and we really don’t know if there is a way to score, especially when you’re being Clipped by Love. 

Review:

This book is hilarious at times. I was laughing out loud throughout most of the book and crying in other parts. I loved to see how Jayden and Baylor grew as a couple. How they communicate, how Jayden is with Baylor just makes your heart hurt but in a good way.

Jayden is a great man. There should be more men like him out there. He listened to what Baylor was saying and not saying. They have a lot of obstacles to get through and we get to ride along for the journey. I swear some of the things that come out of their mouths is something that me and my friends would say. It cracks me up!

You get to see how the Bullies pull together as a team, on and off the ice. Baylor really needed to see that. She's been hurt in the past and has insecurities. I love getting to see Elli and Shea, Phillip and Reese. Makes me want to do a re-read of the Assassin Series.

Knockout by Tracey Ward

Rating: 4.5

Title: Knockdown

Author: Tracey Ward

Publisher: Tracey Ward (Guess)

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Sports

Pages: 377 pages

Summary:

Kellen Coulter has a way with women. A boxer from the wrong side of town, he worked his way through the wealthy daughters at Weston High with a brilliant smile, sweet words and vacant eyes. No one gets close. No one gets through. No one knows the secrets hiding inside.

No one but me. I'm the only girl he's ever let in. The only one who has ever truly seen him. When we met I was just a kid, an old soul with an open ear and a full understanding of what it was to be misunderstood by everyone around you. But even I didn't know the demons sleeping inside him. Not until now.

Not until it might be too late.

This is not a cookie cutter romance.
It is a knockdown, heartbreaking journey through friendship, love, and loss - all to find the one person who can see you clear as day, even when you've lost all sight of yourself.

Review:

At 50% of this book my heart had been broken like 3 times.

Kellen had nothing growing up except for this brain and his boxing. He's a very smart kid and great in the ring. He gets into trouble and his lawyer knows he's not a bad kid. The lawyer actually brings him to the house and lets him hang. Kellen grows closer to the family and makes friends with youngest daughter, Jenna, but starts dating the oldest daughter, Laney.

Laney, the oldest, is a spoiled little princess that you just want to throat punch. I just wanted to tell her "grow up". Then you have Laney's mom and she has her moments (you'll find where Laney gets her attitude from), I know my mouth dropped a few times on how she thinks and talks.

Kellen goes to college but stays in their lives. He dates Laney off and on and stays friends with Jenna throughout it all. Kellen and Jenna had so much to work through but they never gave up. They stayed friends through it all. Kellen also helps Jenna realize her dreams too. He keeps pushing her to get what she wants.

When it's their turn at love, do they take the chance, do they risk it all, do they jeopardize their friendship? Does Jenna risk the hate of her sister for getting together with Kellen? Heck yeah, they do, otherwise what would be the point?

The only thing I didn't like about this book is that Kellen dated Laney throughout so much of this book. Jenna was private to too much about their relationship and it was breaking her heart. I understand why the author did it but I didn't personally care for it.