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Stealing Parker (Hundred Oaks #2)

by Miranda Kenneally (Goodreads Author)

3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 · rating details · 4,406 ratings · 593 reviews

Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.

Parker Shelton pretty much has the perfect life. She’s on her way to becoming valedictorian at Hundred Oaks High, she’s made the all-star softball team, and she has plenty of friends. Then her mother’s scandal rocks their small town and suddenly no one will talk...more

Paperback, 242 pages

Published October 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks Fire

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Oct 23, 2012 Ashelynn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reread-a-million-times, recommend

I don't know about you, but this book sounds EXACTLY like my type of book. Baseball + forbidden romance = HELL YEAH.

She really hit the ball out of the park with this one. Review to come!

***

You can read my full review here.

For anybody that knows me, they know how much I love baseball. I love that game so much. I thrive on baseball like other people thrive on food. So when I found out Miranda Kenneally’s sophomore book was about baseball, and a forbidden romance (MY NEXT FAVORITEST THING EVER),...more I don't know about you, but this book sounds EXACTLY like my type of book. Baseball + forbidden romance = HELL YEAH.

She really hit the ball out of the park with this one. Review to come!

***

You can read my full review here.

For anybody that knows me, they know how much I love baseball. I love that game so much. I thrive on baseball like other people thrive on food. So when I found out Miranda Kenneally’s sophomore book was about baseball, and a forbidden romance (MY NEXT FAVORITEST THING EVER), I knew I was going to love it—and I did. Stealing Parker is an incredible contemporary YA, about love, friendship, relationships, and of course, the best thing ever, baseball.

Parker Shelton is dealing with a tough time in her life. Her mom recently left her family . . . for another woman, and their church has decided This Is Not Acceptable, and Parker’s classmates have also decided It Is Not Acceptable and will not talk to Parker. Guys, my heart ached for Parker. But all I really wanted her to do was to talk to her mother. Because WHY NOT talk to her?

And let me tell you, I did not expect this book to dive into religion so deeply. Yet it did—Parker is mad at God, but still goes to church every Sunday. Parker deals with being a good Christian girl, and woah, did I not expect any of that. It didn’t turn me off, but I wasn’t expecting it. At all. Yet it was a nice surprise to Stealing Parker. I really liked the church element.

I also really liked the baseball and softball element, and of course, Brian. The forbidden, steamy coach. I started out liking him a lot. He was NICE and amazing and I loved Brian and Parker’s chemistry. And then he turned into a sexual deviant and I hated him. I wanted Parker to stand up to him and get with the guy who was totally falling for her, while she was falling for him.

I loved the ending. There was a point where Parker lost EVERYTHING and I was crying. Okay, not really crying, but I wanted to. I wanted to cry and hug Parker because I just felt so bad for her. Then the ending came and Parker got her happily ever after, and I was a happy reader.

If you love romance with a fantastic story, I would recommend picking up Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally. It was a fast read, with fantastic characters, and I loved loved loved it so much.(less)

15 likes · like · see review

Sep 27, 2012 Giselle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, own, contemporary

Catching Jordan was one of my favourite books of last year, so when I heard of another novel by Miranda I had really high hopes for it, especially after learning that it was a companion to Jordan - different characters but the same setting. I was happy to find another incredibly sweet, heartfelt romance in Stealing Parker, with characters that are just as charismatic, and a story that keeps you up for just one more chapter.

With Jordan, we were thrown into the word of Football, and now with Park...more Catching Jordan was one of my favourite books of last year, so when I heard of another novel by Miranda I had really high hopes for it, especially after learning that it was a companion to Jordan - different characters but the same setting. I was happy to find another incredibly sweet, heartfelt romance in Stealing Parker, with characters that are just as charismatic, and a story that keeps you up for just one more chapter.

With Jordan, we were thrown into the word of Football, and now with Parker, it's baseball. Sports are a big player in Miranda's novels, and as someone who has never been much into sports, I was surprised by how much I enjoy it in books, or at least in Miranda's books. We get characters who develop deeply rooted friendships from being on sports teams together, this gives us a great mix of personalities, amusing banter, and all with a girl who can become one of the boys as much as any other. The characters are, as expected, a great part of this novel, we have Parker who is a very well rounded protagonist with a fun, down to earth attitude. She's incredibly smart, she's well spoken, but she has had a few issues since her mom left them. To prove she's not a lesbian like her mother, Parker becomes a bit… boy-friendly. Then enters Brian, baseball coach, completely gorgeous, but he's 6 years older. While it's not a huge difference, the age gap does put a damper on their relationship since they have to keep it in the down low. And like all things forbidden, it instantly draws you in; you can't help but feel a rush from the constant risk of being found out. But we can't forget the best friend now, can we? Drew is Parker's best and closest friend, he always has her back and will always be on her side, then you have to wonder: is there more to this friendship? And what about Corndog? (Yep. Corndog!) He seems to live to annoy, but we get glimpses of his (often hidden) charm. This is what I love about these books, you can never tell who the main character will end up with, and, likewise, who you're hoping she ends up with.

Romance is the heart and soul of Miranda's novels. I loved it in Catching Jordan, and she brings it to its fabulous glory again in Stealing Parker. Heart meltingly sweet and incredibly genuine, the romance is easily my favourite part of this novel. It gave me goosebumps, it made my heart flutter; it absolutely makes you feel every single emotion that you crave when reading about young love. I literally read the last 50 pages with my heart in my throat! It's become clear that Miranda is a romantic goddess mastermind of sorts.

Let's talk about religion for a moment. (Uh oh!) I'm not a very religious person, I grew up in a small town where religion was not a very big topic among our community, so it wasn't really a part of my upbringing. So when I met Parker with her very religiously devoted town, where people have church cliques, and some are shunned for religious reasons--in this case: her lesbian mother--I had difficulty related to that lifestyle. It isn't commonplace around these parts, making it feel very foreign or old-fashioned to me. It wasn't overbearing by any means, the letters to god were actually a great opportunity to get a glimpse inside Parker's most personal thoughts, but it was still simply hard for me to identify with her situation a little.

I'm certain you will laugh, and I guarantee you will swoon, Sealing Parker is a fantastic companion to Catching Jordan with its own set of wonderful characters, and even a cameo or two from our old beloved Jordan and Henry - who of course, leave a lasting impression.

--
An advance copy was provided by the author for review.

For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

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20 likes · like · see review

Oct 15, 2012 Jasprit rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: out-2012, arc-galley, readalong, read-in-2012, contemporary, romance, ya

Read-along with Rachel :) 4.5 stars.

When I first read about a companion novel being released for Catching Jordan I was super excited. Catching Jordan had been one of my favourite reads of 2011 and so I couldn’t wait to devour more of Kenneally’s work. However I did have my initial reservations about it too as I loved Catching Jordan so much I worried that I would constantly find myself comparing it to its predecessor. I was also worried that it would venture down a similar path, but gladly this...more Read-along with Rachel :) 4.5 stars.

When I first read about a companion novel being released for Catching Jordan I was super excited. Catching Jordan had been one of my favourite reads of 2011 and so I couldn’t wait to devour more of Kenneally’s work. However I did have my initial reservations about it too as I loved Catching Jordan so much I worried that I would constantly find myself comparing it to its predecessor. I was also worried that it would venture down a similar path, but gladly this was not the case at all. It truly stood out as a novel on its own and that made me admire Kenneally’s as an author even more.

I’m a huge sports fan, so adored how Catching Jordan was based around players of the school’s soccer team. Sports play another prominent role in Stealing Parker, but this time the focus was on baseball. Parker was hired as the manager of the school baseball team. She’s there to take stats on the team so that they can improve their performance for next time. Parker already has a reputation for messing around with the lads, so the coach enforces the rule that she can’t mess around with players on the team. Stupid decisions led to Parker having this overblown reputation in the first place, so with several warnings from coach and captain Corndog a.k.a Will Whitfield, Parker knows her boundaries. But what she didn’t expect was to fall for Coach Hoffman, he’s 5 years her senior and temporarily coaching the team. She knows she shouldn’t but she can’t help but fall for him.

I liked how in Stealing Parker, baseball was a important part of the story; with Parker having taken it up for reasons to avoid another sport she loved but it’s not only the central theme, there are several other important themes running through, which make Stealing Parker a complex yet unputdownable read.

The characters were refreshing, there’s nothing more that bugs me when I don’t click with the characters. But the characters in Stealing Parker became favourites. Parker was a difficult main character, she’d had so much inner turmoil but no way to let it out, she found herself making silly mistakes, but in no way did I find myself getting tiresome or frustrated with them. She was just a confused 17 year old girl who just wanted someone to be there for her, someone to love, endless times I just wanted to give her a hug. Drew Parker’s best friend, I adored whenever he made an appearance. I don’t think however we were ever given the chance to get to know his character properly. But for the most part he represented what a best friend is supposed to be like. Corndog a.ka Will Whitfield; this guy just grew on me so much as the book progressed that before you knew it my book was over-full with post it’s. He could make you laugh hysterically one minute and then would say something so deep the next that at times I was in total awe of him. What I liked most about these characters were that their character development was hugely surprising, I don’t think I’d ever switched sides as much as I have done in this book. This book certainly kept you on your toes thinking what the heck will they do next? Also the re-appearance of the characters from Catching Jordan made the book a more of a joy read.

Stealing Parker was one of my highly anticipated reads of the year and I’m pleased to say it did not disappoint. With an amusing bunch of characters that will have you wiping away tears of laughter, and just made me wish I had a group of friends as awesome as these. Kenneally sure has upped her game with this book; she had me flipping the pages in frenzied manner in eager anticipation of what could be around the corner. She managed to touch on several deep meaningful issues, but also able to keep the tone of the book light-hearted and fun. Kenneally has quickly become one of my favourite authors, if you haven’t read any of her books yet I suggest you do so now.

And this is a picture of my copy after finishing it :)

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20 likes · like · see review

Oct 06, 2012 Devyani rated it 3 of 5 stars

oh the cover is OUT !!

You know it's sort of cute but ermmm....
the guy's legs are set up on top of each other in such an angle it almost makes him look ......*coughs*

GAY .

(yes , my eyes do notice A LOT )

10 likes · like · see review

Aug 28, 2012 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to ♥Rachel♥ by: Read-a-long with Jasprit

Shelves: 2012, arc, signed-by-author

4.5 Stars.

Parker Shelton is a high-school senior that’s gone through some major hurt in her life. Her mother took off with another woman leaving Parker, her father and brother to deal with the damage. Her “good friend,” Laura, not only abandoned her but takes pleasure in her family’s fall from grace. She uses every opportunity to make fun of Parker, insinuating that Parker bats for the other team just like her mom. Parker feels the need to prove Laura and other gossipers wrong, by quitting the...more

14 likes · like · see review

Mar 14, 2013 Patricia marked it as to-read

She's 17, he's 23. Give me this book.

6 likes · like · see review

Patricia Carroll wrote: "That's nothing. In my book, LAST FLIGHT OUT, he's 28 and she's 16! LOL

23 and 17 is so - yawn - it happens all the time. This is the p...more Carroll wrote: "That's nothing. In my book, LAST FLIGHT OUT, he's 28 and she's 16! LOL

23 and 17 is so - yawn - it happens all the time. This is the problem with many authors, they try to force controversy where there is none. If you're going to write something controversial, then write it. Don't tiptoe around it.

Oh, and mine is already released. "

o.ô So you are basically trying to promote your book by talking about it below reviews* of other authors' novels, comparing it to theirs (or other, similiar, books), pointing out their faults and why yours is better? I don't think that'll work in your favor..

As for the controversity to be found in Stealing Parker: I don't associate age-gaps like this one as controversial, not really, because like you said.. it's almost common. Not that that is something 'good' (or bad). Abusive relationships are common, too. Doesn't change how I feel about them.

What I mean is that I don't read books because of how controversial they might be. I don't avoid controversial books, either, though. It's just.. I read books that might happen to be controversial.. or not.

But their (Parker and whatshisname's) situation is difficult nonetheless, and reading about a hopefully more mature girl falling in love with a guy whom I might believe it if he said "I love you" to her.. Well, that IS appealing.

If I wanted to read about a girl falling in love with a much older guy just for the sake of it.. Well, I might reread Twilight after all. - But here's the thing: Why would a guy with 30, 300 or 3000 years of life-experience fall for a most likely annoying, whining teenager? I can't see the appeal.

When I look at 16 year old girls or guys I wonder "Why would I fall for someone with so little life-experience?" (Maybe your heroine has lots of it, though. I didn't see a blurb here on Goodreads.)

That's not to say that it can't happen. But the risk of the book being full of Suck is much higher than what I can carry away from it if it isn't. I'd really need to be in the mood to pick it up. Whereas the chance of STEALING PARKER to be made of Win is higher than the amount of dishes I will throw against the wall if it sucks.

I think many novels, lately, try to be controversial or whatever.. And then, along the way, they forget to be believable, with relatable and likeable protagonists, an actual plot and good background-story or worldbuilding.

Not that yours is, I haven't read it after all (and I suppose that I should, because maybe your hero is awesome, and maybe your heroine is likeable and not annoying or overly juvenile) but that's just the general impression I got over the last few months.

* Well, it's more like a comment, but you know..(less)
Jun 07, 2012 04:42pm

Oct 05, 2012 Dee rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-releases, books-from-trusted-authors, read-in-2012, ya-contemporary, kickass-female-characters

Hmmm that was definetely a cute-sy story. Just wasn't exactly what I had hoped for, but it was still good otherwise. I really liked Parker (the MC) and her growth throughout the story. She was strong and she was independent. She was willing to even separate herself from people whom she knew were hurting her. I loved how she managed to stay strong and maintained her resillience even with all the misfortunes being hurled straight at her. So characterization-wise, this book wins it. I liked the sup...more

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Oct 14, 2012 Katy rated it 2 of 5 stars

One star for the first half, and three stars for the second half.

I thought "Catching Jordan" was cute, heart-warming read, and I just didn't feel the same about this one because I had a LOT of problems with "Stealing Parker."

First of all, I really hated the way Parker was portrayed in this book. While I think it breaks from the cliche that she was the valedictorian and the rumored slut at the same time, it was kind of an odd combination, given her situation. She blamed her guy situation and her...more One star for the first half, and three stars for the second half.

I thought "Catching Jordan" was cute, heart-warming read, and I just didn't feel the same about this one because I had a LOT of problems with "Stealing Parker."

First of all, I really hated the way Parker was portrayed in this book. While I think it breaks from the cliche that she was the valedictorian and the rumored slut at the same time, it was kind of an odd combination, given her situation. She blamed her guy situation and her quitting softball on her mother (which I understand but totally resent that she was so mad at her mom), yet she's able to keep her grades up. I'm glad, but it makes her character a bit inconsistent. And the other thing is I don't understand how her mother's situation would be such a big deal (and I'm stealing from Sophia, but I totally felt the same way before I read her review as I was browsing for reasons to keep reading the book). I understand Christians in a small town would frown upon it, but I think Kenneally kind of went extreme with that one.

The other thing I didn't like was the whole thing that went on with Brian. (view spoiler) I think Kenneally wrote the consequences right in this book, BUT I think she failed in how Parker felt as a result of it. She felt GUILTY! And where was he? That pissed me off.

I really liked Drew in this book, but I also felt that after everything he has been through with Parker - he was there with the whole mother thing and with the whole Laura thing and always offered her a shoulder to cry on - I would have though he would have been more supportive of her situation. I understand he was hurt, but I had expected more from him, knowing everything he knew.

The other good side to this book was Will, who I also loved. He was really sweet, and he was more than understanding the whole time. I don't blame him for his reaction, yet he still did what he did for her.

Despite everything - my dislikes for Parker and other parts of this book - I'm glad to see how Parker grew as a character - though I'm still wondering how much of this she blamed on God.

I'm sure other people will love this book, as I can see from all the great ratings and raving reviews from my GR friends. This one just wasn't the book for me. But I'm sure this would be an exception as I'm still very much a Kenneally fan - just not a fan on this book for the particular subjects.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 15, 2013 Kristi (The Story Siren) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: sophomore-challenge

Miranda Kenneally, I LOVE YOU!!

Have you read Catching Jordan yet? If you haven’t you really should! It’s sort of a companion novel to Stealing Parker. Same setting and some familiar faces. It’s fun to see that when reading Stealing Parker, plus Catching Jordan is AWESOME. One of my favs!

If you think that these books are all about sports, you couldn’t be more wrong. I was apprehensive about that myself, but they play a very minor role. I think the sports are used more to create this bond between...more Miranda Kenneally, I LOVE YOU!!

Have you read Catching Jordan yet? If you haven’t you really should! It’s sort of a companion novel to Stealing Parker. Same setting and some familiar faces. It’s fun to see that when reading Stealing Parker, plus Catching Jordan is AWESOME. One of my favs!

If you think that these books are all about sports, you couldn’t be more wrong. I was apprehensive about that myself, but they play a very minor role. I think the sports are used more to create this bond between Miranda’s characters. I wasn’t a big athlete but I did participate in some sports and there is a kinship and deep friendship that you develop with your teammates.

Parker loves, er scratch that, loved playing softball. But for reasons you will find out in the novel, she quits playing. Cold turkey. With encouragement from her best friend, Drew, she ends up managing the boys baseball team. It seems like the perfect set-up, she gets to hang out with Drew and get a little bit of that “belonging to a team” feeling back. It’s here that she meets Brian, the new assistant coach. He’s older, gorgeous and Parker can’t help but flirt. Which leads to a secret relationship and as you can imagine all sorts of problems.

Parker’s character growth was probably my favorite thing about this novel. The girl does some really stupid stuff (who hasn’t!) but she learns from all of that in the end. The age difference between her and Brian didn’t bother me, but Brian definitely took advantage of the situation and Parker and THAT bothered me. In the end he shows his true colors and I have to say I wasn’t very surprised. I loved Parker’s relationship with Drew and with Corndog. Though they were very different! And I loved that there was some growth in Parker’s relationship with her mother.

I also thought that the religious aspect of the story was interesting. I don’t want to scare you, or possibly turn you off with that statement, this isn’t a religious book, it’s not preaching to you. But the town that Parker lives in is very religious and there are two very different churches in this book and I loved that Miranda did that. You’ll see what I mean and even if you are a church goer or not, I think you’ll appreciate what Miranda did too.

Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. Catching Jordan is still my favorite of the two, but I can’t wait to read what Miranda has in store for us next!(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 15, 2012 Keertana rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: why-the-hype

Rating: 2.5 Stars

Stealing Parker is, logistically speaking, not a bad book. In fact, I have an immense amount of respect for Miranda Kenneally for tackling on real-life, modern-day issues such as lesbian parents, gay friends, and even student-teacher relationships. Yet, I found myself to be sorely disappointed by this one. While I will admit that Catching Jordan had its flaws, mostly stemming from its dramaticism, it never altered by enjoyment and emotional investment of the novel. Stealing Par...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Princess Bookie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read2012

Please Please Please Miranda send the tour site this ARC when it comes out!!! Love Catching Jordan!!!!!

____

My Thoughts: You don’t have to read Catching Jordan to read this, but I still suggest you do! Read it first!

Back in September I was soooo excited when I first got a glimpse at Stealing Parker on goodreads! So Excited! After reading Catching Jordan and falling in love with it, I knew I would read whatever Miranda wrote next.

Stealing Parker is just as sweet and excellent as Catching Jordan wa...more

10 likes · like · see review

Oct 10, 2012 Jolene Perry rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: re-readable

FABULOUS Coming of Age Romance.
FAB.

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 12, 2012 Megan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-favorites

I loved this story!!
I was pleasantly surprised when I fell in love with CATCHING JORDAN (so not a football gal) and could not wait to read STEALING PARKER. There are moments in the story where I laughed and moments that brought tears to my eyes. I could not put the story down. Parker is a perfectly flawed character that has lost her way, made mistakes but she learns from them and grows. I also loved seeing characters from CATHCING JORDAN pop in!

2 likes · like · see review

Oct 04, 2012 Emily rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: People looking to find their place in life.

Recommended to Emily by: Myself

Great secondary novel to Catching Jordan. I was eagerly awating this book after falling in love with Catching Jordan.

Parker was a vulnerable character. She wasn't as strong as Jordan was. Kenneally showed how broken her life became after her mom left with her girlfriend, and I liked that.

Drew was just about the best best friend anyone could ask for. He was there for Parker when everyone else at church shunned her because of her mom. He didn't judge her. He was always there.

Brian bugged me. He...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 22, 2012 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: non-sports fans

Recommended to Sarah by: seemingly everyone

{This review was originally published on Clear Eyes, Full Shelves.}

I am not one to seek out books I know I won't like--that's not how I roll. Despite that my negative reviews generate more pageviews and more comments, I have zero interest in reading things that don't appeal to me. There are far too many books in the world to waste my precious reading time that way.

As a result of that, I know some of you will be surprised that I read Stealing Parker after Miranda Kenneally's debut, Catching Jorda...more

4 likes · like · see review

Sep 24, 2012 Ariana marked it as soon-to-come

Wondering...
why do these girls (Jordan & Parker) have names that I could so easily confuse with guy names?
Still.. I love this 'concept' of making people confuse - if there is one ;))

2 likes · like · see review

Nov 02, 2012 Jenna Christy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, sourcebooks

Ever since Catching Jordan, I liked Miranda Kenneally and have waited for her next books. So, when I heard that there would be more books that'll take place in Hundred Oaks. Yey!

I like how raw and honest Miranda's characters are. I can actually see a pattern on her books' stories. One example is the plot. She'll make you believe that the guy the MC will end up is the main guy she'll focus the story in in the beginning. In Stealing Parker, I immediately knew whom she'll end up with, and no it's n...more

1 like · like · see review

Oct 21, 2012 Gale rated it 5 of 5 stars

Stealing Parker reminds me of Courtney Summers' writing. Sweet and sad. It was such a melancholy piece. But, in ways that I can't explain, I felt so satisfied and at peace with how the story played out.

Parker wasn't just another rebel without a cause. She had her reasons for acting the way she did. And though they might be irrational, it was what made sense in her mind. Excuses they may be but in the end, Parker gained the courage and faith to overcome them. She was able to face her demons and d...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 27, 2012 Mrs. ReaderPants rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: net-galley, pub-date-2012, read-in-2012, 5-stars

More reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.

REVIEW: While Stealing Parker will not appeal to everyone (more on that in a minute), for me, it was a page-turner. I read the entire book in one sitting--I just could not put it down! Catching Jordan fans will enjoy Stealing Parker and will love that Jordan and Sam make a few cameo appearances.

Stealing Parker is a Christian fiction story that is far from "Pollyanna" and recognizes that like anyone else, Christians sometimes make terrible choices and become disc...more

1 like · like · see review

Nov 11, 2012 Christine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, i-liked-it

More at Ink Skies :: A Book Blog

Stealing Parker was another great book by Miranda Kenneally. Though I felt like it couldn't compare with the funny, sweet, amazing-ness that was Catching Jordan, it made for a pretty good read, with characters you can fall in love with, and a heart-fluttering romance.

The romance is definitely upped a level in Stealing Parker. It's steamier, but is still so incredibly real and honest. It's sweet, genuine, and goosebump-inducing in a way that I'm now starting to ass...more

1 like · like · see review

Dec 14, 2012 Christina (A Reader of Fictions) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Originally posted on A Reader of Fictions.

After I read Catching Jordan last week, I was so excited to dive into Kenneally's next book, Stealing Parker. I am so glad I had a copy of this from BEA, so I didn't have to wait around for a copy to show up for me from the library! Miranda Kenneally's books are just so much fun. If you like sporty contemporaries with happy endings, you have to read these. Most of my reads are a little bit more depressing or fantastical, and these make for a refreshing b...more Originally posted on A Reader of Fictions.

After I read Catching Jordan last week, I was so excited to dive into Kenneally's next book, Stealing Parker. I am so glad I had a copy of this from BEA, so I didn't have to wait around for a copy to show up for me from the library! Miranda Kenneally's books are just so much fun. If you like sporty contemporaries with happy endings, you have to read these. Most of my reads are a little bit more depressing or fantastical, and these make for a refreshing break.

There are a ton of commonalities between Stealing Parker and Catching Jordan, and I don't just mean the sports. Both girls have a similar love triangle dynamic going, though their reactions to it differ somewhat. Also, both get their feelings out by writing, a strange similarity I felt. Jordan writes poems as a way of getting a handle on her feelings, and Parker writes letters to God, which, unsurprisingly, I wasn't a huge fan of.

Parker's faith is actually a huge theme of the book, one which is handled with tact. Parker's family attends one of those big pompous, holier-than-thou churches, which puts members down if they do anything that doesn't fit their definition of Christian. For example, they've been gossiping about Parker's family ever since Parker's mom left her father to live life as a lesbian. Their church clearly just drains the happiness from Parker, and brings so much self-hatred into her life. However, the book isn't anti-faith either, as she attends another church, which is friendly and uplifting. Basically, the message is to not get yourself stuck in an unhealthy environment or with false friends.

The reason I'm rating Stealing Parker just a little bit lower, though it was still an awesome read, is that I just didn't like Parker as much as I liked Jordan. Parker's reaction to the gossip about her mother and the intimations that she too might be a lesbian, because she's muscular and plays softball, isn't one that I can fathom. She decides to prove that she's straight by losing thirty pounds and making out with any guy that's interested. She doesn't go any further, but that's not really the issue. Clearly all of this tonsil hockey isn't making her feel better, so she really shouldn't be doing it.

In her latest endeavor to make bad choices, Parker decides to go after the baseball coach, a 23 year old guy just starting on his first job out of grad school. Brian Hoffman seems like the perfect guy, and she thinks she has a chance. Well, guess what? Teachers that date their students? Creepers. I just wanted to grab Parker and shake her back and forth. I also couldn't stand that she, just like Jordan, continues in an unhealthy relationship even when she's not really into it anymore. Save yourself some heartbreak and run away, girl! Still, I feel I must emphasize that all of her stupid choices came off as believable teenage acting-out, but that didn't make me any less uncomfortable!

As with Catching Jordan, what really makes this such an incredibly delightful book are the well-drawn characters. Kenneally has a knack for writing authentic friendships, down to the stupid nicknames and inside jokes. I just love how real the bonds are between the characters, even the painful ones, like with Laura and Parker. I've had some Lauras in my past, and Kenneally got that just right.

Miranda Kenneally's books are so incredibly enjoyable. Plus, I love the way these books are sort of a series, in that they're set at the same school and characters from the previous books show up. I loved getting to hang out with Jordan and Sam just a little bit! I will be eagerly anticipating the next installment, Things I Can't Forget.(less)

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Dec 17, 2012 →kelly♥[: rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-book, cute-cover, books-i-own

My Rating: 3.0

I was roaming Barnes & Noble on Stealing Parker's release date, and I saw it on the shelf taunting me, practically screaming you know you want to buy me! I've read and loved Catching Jordan, but was iffy about buying it since there were some parts of the book I had problems with. However, I gave in and brought both Catching Jordan and Stealing Parker on that same day. And that was when I made a huge mistake.

Simply put, Stealing Parker wasn't as good as Catching Jordan and did...more

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Sep 02, 2012 ~Tina~ rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to ~Tina~ by: ♥Rachel♥

Shelves: contemporary, young-adults-older, read-2012, arc, tour, own

4.5 star

Parker Shelton loves softball, but she gave up the sport when her mom left her family for another women. Embarrassed and shattered by her broken family, Parker gives up on the game just to spite her mom and then goes out of her way to prove that she's nothing like her, and does in fact like boys. She loses the butch look and drops 30 pounds and hooks-up with random guys, earning her a bit of a rep that she's not exactly comfortable with, but doesn't really do anything about it. She losse...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Autumn Review rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, review, favorites

Miranda Kenneally knows how to create strong female characters. Even though Parker seems somewhat lost, she really is a tough girl. While she has this strength in common with Jordan, from Catching Jordan, the books couldn't have been more different. I loved watching Parker go through the trials she faced.

Parker Shelton has gone through some pretty major family changes in the past year. Her perception of her family life shattered and her faith in her church was put to question. While I'm not a v...more Miranda Kenneally knows how to create strong female characters. Even though Parker seems somewhat lost, she really is a tough girl. While she has this strength in common with Jordan, from Catching Jordan, the books couldn't have been more different. I loved watching Parker go through the trials she faced.

Parker Shelton has gone through some pretty major family changes in the past year. Her perception of her family life shattered and her faith in her church was put to question. While I'm not a very religious person, my father grew up in a strict religious household, so I could understand how the church was such a heavy influence on her life. At a time when she really needed guidance and support, she felt abandoned by her church. As a result, she did what anyone would do. She reacted. She quit the softball team, lost weight, started messing around with boys, and became less involved in church activities. Then...her best friend Drew makes her get involved with the baseball team as a trainer.

Parker is reluctant to become too involved with the team until she meets the new assistant coach. He's a good looking guy in his early twenties. While the age difference isn't that big, life experiences between the two broaden the bridge. Not to mention the fact that I can't condone a student/teacher relationship. However, I get the attraction of the relationship from both perspectives and I'll also admit that in a way, Brian WAS likable. Did I think he took advantage of Parker? Yes, I do, but I also believe that Parker knew what she was getting involved in. She knew the risks. I think that Parker needed some positive attention and she thought she was getting that from Brian, but really found it from Corndog aka Will.

You guys, I LOVE Will. While his association with Parker has always been competitive, you can clearly see he has a soft spot for her. I love that Will is so loving with his family. His little brother made my heart squeeze. I think Will started to fall for Parker when he saw her interaction with his brother. It was truly one of the sweetest moments in the book. Parker and Will develop a relationship slowly and certainly go through some serious stuff before they can get to the end.

I'd like to briefly mention that I love Parker's friendship with Drew. They have a true friendship. Even though they have their own struggles in the book, their dedication to each other remained strong.

We also get to see glimpses of SAM and Jordan in this book, which made me VERY happy. They are still as cute as ever!

Going into this book I knew it was going to have a very different tone than Catching Jordan. Stealing Parker dealt with some pretty heavy issues: religion, homosexuality, and student/teacher relationships. I'll admit that there were situations that made me uncomfortable, but overall, I really loved the story. This book is a story about forgiveness, courage, love, acceptance, and finding faith in yourself. (less)

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Feb 03, 2013 Michelle (SweetBookReviews) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-reads, contemporary, reviewed-books

NEGATIVES:

NONE. I LOVED THIS!

POSITIVES:

1. I LOVED THIS NOVEL! The story is so cute and fun. I couldn’t put this book down; I needed to know what was going to happen next. The pacing was great and there was never a dull moment. So much drama, romance, kissing, sports and more! This book was a step up from its companion novel ‘Catching Jordan’, which was also excellent.

2. I really loved Parker. Sure she had committed a few mistakes but everyone does! I loved seeing her grow and mature as the n...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Mickey (I'm A Book Shark) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, ala12, arc

4.5 stars

AAAHHHHH this book! I sighed happily and hugged this book when I finished. It was a bit of a roller coaster, up and down, happy and sad. I wasn't exactly sure where it would go sometimes, which is awesome because I hate the predictability of YA romances. It surprised me until the end.

At first, I actually liked the idea of Brian and Parker. Then it went downhill, fast! Corndog didn't hit me right at first, but then I really got into him. It's interesting to see how this story plays out!...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Zemira Warner rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, romance, feel-good-read, sports, religious, stupid-characters, umm-no, why-the-hype, drama-drama-drama, ranty-review

I deserve a medal for dealing with this type of books.

Spoilers ahead!

There are authors who's have great ideas and you just can't wait to get your hands on a copy and when you do, you just die because the book is everything you've dreamed of. Well, something similar does happen here. Whenever I read a Kenneally book, I yell and shake my head because the characters do the most moronic things they could think of in order to 'learn their lesson'. I swear, I yelled so much while Jordan was picking...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Ashley - Book Labyrinth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-books, arc, for-review, from-publisher, favourites

Miranda Kenneally, I bow down to you. You are my new queen of witty, smart, and swoony contemporary YA, and you will forever be on my auto-buy list.

If you loved 'Catching Jordan' the way that I did then you will definitely love 'Stealing Parker' as well. I’m beginning to find that I love companion books, and 'Stealing Parker' is no exception. It includes the main couple from 'Catching Jordan' without relying on them as a crutch, and it utilized the setting and some supporting characters from tha...more

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Oct 18, 2012 Donna {Book Passion for Life} rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-contemporary-romance, arc, loaned

“Hey,” he says, giving me a bright grin, showing off the dimple in his right cheek. Yeah, yeah, I know you’re hot, Corndog. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Thanks to the years he’s spent baling hay on his dad’s farm, Corndog has gone from not to hot, from scrawny to sinewy, from geek to god, and now has to beat girls off with a stick."

Miranda Kenneally really is on fire with books! First we see Catching Jordan – which was fantastic, and now she’s back with Stealing Parker and oh wow, this one...more “Hey,” he says, giving me a bright grin, showing off the dimple in his right cheek. Yeah, yeah, I know you’re hot, Corndog. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. Thanks to the years he’s spent baling hay on his dad’s farm, Corndog has gone from not to hot, from scrawny to sinewy, from geek to god, and now has to beat girls off with a stick."

Miranda Kenneally really is on fire with books! First we see Catching Jordan – which was fantastic, and now she’s back with Stealing Parker and oh wow, this one is just as good.

I've never really been a fan of sports - except watching the odd football match on the TV but nothing major. Reading Miranda's books really makes me wish I was a sports fan. I'd love to go to a baseball game, eat a hot dog and support a team because it really sounds like so much fun, and that's just what this book is - fun!

Stealing Parker is jam packed with laugh-out-loud moments but not only that, it's full of emotion. The emotion that poured out of me in the book was really heart-breaking. I was so connected to Parker that I felt everything that she was going through. She's had it tough because the town judge her - or so she thinks, she feels like she has to prove it to them wrong. Even though she's kissing different guys, she's still a girl at heart and she's really looking for the love of her life. I loved Corn Dog - no don't worry, that's not his real name, it's his nickname but I gotta say, it's not the relationship I was expecting. From the start I was rooting for the Coach Hoffman but soon enough, Corn Dog slowly made his way into my heart and forever he stayed. He really grew on me because to start with he's just a friend and there's no hint of romance between them, until they start spending time together. Once they did, I loved it and I was rooting for them. Corn Dog is sweet, very good looking and also funny but he also has he's deep and meaning moments too.

Now for you Jordan and Henry fans - Miranda Kenneally doesn't disappoint us and we do get glimpse into their relationship still, yay! Although it's not much, but it's still great to see that the author didn't forget about her first characters and I'm hoping we see much of Jordan, Henry, Parker and Corn Dog in her next book - which I can not wait to read.

A big, big thank you Jasprit at The Readers Den for lrnding me her ARC copy of this book. You rock girl!(less)

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Oct 02, 2012 Andi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemp-challenge-2012-books, books-from-m, own, favorites, would-recommend, 2012-contemp-challenge

Completely head over heels in love with Corndog! Sorry, had to get that off my chest first and foremost.  Now that that’s done, on to the book!

I really really loved this book. As a huge Miranda Kenneally fan I was ecstatic when I realized there were going to be Catching Jordan companion books. And I was even more ecstatic when I was given an advanced copy of Stealing Parker. And even though it is considered a companion book, with some characters from Catching Jordan strongly present, Stealing P...more Completely head over heels in love with Corndog! Sorry, had to get that off my chest first and foremost.  Now that that’s done, on to the book!

I really really loved this book. As a huge Miranda Kenneally fan I was ecstatic when I realized there were going to be Catching Jordan companion books. And I was even more ecstatic when I was given an advanced copy of Stealing Parker. And even though it is considered a companion book, with some characters from Catching Jordan strongly present, Stealing Parker is definitely a book of its own. It is witty and quirky and gives a peak into how religion can affect some people’s thoughts and behaviors.

Stealing Parker is about Parker, a girl that at one time had it all. She was on the softball team, had really close girl friends and loving parents. Then one day her mom announces that she is in love with a woman and Parker’s world as she knows it falls apart. Soon she is victim to taunts by her so called friends, a shunning of sorts by her church and is no longer comfortable playing the sport she loves since she is ridiculed mercilessly about it. Now unsure where she fits in Parker decides to become a girlie girl. She loses weight, gives herself a make over and becomes a kissing fanatic. But when her best friend Drew signs her up as manager to his baseball team and Parker meets the new 20 something coach Brian she realizes maybe kissing only one guy isn’t so that bad, especially if that one guy is Brian. But is being with him worth the possible ridicule or is it possible there is someone out there that may just be everything Parker needs and more?

Honestly I really liked Parker. There was something about her that was just likeable. Was she confused about some things? Absolutely. And she was desperate for people to like her again after the debacle with her mom, but the thing I liked best was how clear she was on how the people in her church treated her family and how wrong it was. She never once really questioned how they treated her personally because she was struggling with how she thought she should be treated. What she didn’t like was how they treated her dad. That showed a lot of character to me and showed me what a stand up person Parker really was. Sure she was young and getting mixed up with Brian may not have been her smartest move, but I could see where she was coming from. She was kind of a lost soul and Brian, the dirt bag that he was, feed off that without even knowing.

What I really liked most about Parker though was her friendships with Drew and Corndog. Parker to me was most herself around both boys and allowed them to be themselves around her. She did everything she could to stand by Drew no matter what, even if it hurt her in the process. And her relationship with Corndog was off the charts great. They had such an ease around each other. Plus it didn’t hurt that he was a family guy and just adorable. Did I mention that I loved him? HAHA. But seriously I loved reading about how both relationship grew and changed but still remained strong.

If there was one thing I didn’t like was Drew’s reaction to something that happened towards the end. He bothered me with the way he responded. It wasn’t fair to Parker at all after everything she had done for him and been through with him. He was being childish and selfish. But really that is so minor compared to the rest of this amazing book.

Kenneally has once again showed just how in tune she is with the teen genre and told a story filled with love and heart ache and figuring out who you are and who you want by your side. Well done! Well done! I look forward to more.

(less)

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About Miranda Kenneally

Growing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead she writes, and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband.

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Quotes from Stealing Parker

“Maybe all friendships don’t fizzle. Maybe, like the kaleidoscope, the colors just change.” — 32 people liked it

“You were in the equipment shed with Corn Fritter?”

“Corndog,” Will, Dr. Salter, and I say simultaneously.” — 18 people liked it

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