Nevaeh Evan’s life is uprooted after her father’s death, when she moves in with her aunt and cousin, Livvie. Her plan to lay low at her new high school isn’t working. Her friend’s jerky boyfriend keeps asking her out, the guy she likes treats her like garbage, and the thought of tumbling again makes her want to hurl.
So when her aunt pushes her into joining the elite X-FACTOR cheer leading squad, Navaeh goes along with it.
But Nev feels she doesn’t deserve to be happy. Not after what happened the night her father died.
Bodie Scott knows about grief all too well. Critically injured in an alcohol related accident the year before, Bodie struggles with the fact that he’ll never play football again, and he’s so far behind in credits he can’t see straight. That is, until he meets Nev. Haunted by their bloody pasts and wary of a shared future, Nev and Bodie turn to one another for comfort and support, and realize they’re not so alone after all. And when the party scene at school threatens the life of a loved one, the two stop at nothing to keep the past from repeating itself.
ELISA DANE is a self-proclaimed book junkie. A lover of handbags, chocolate, and reality television, she's a proud mother to three All- Star cheerleaders. Writing is her absolute passion, and it's her mission to create stories that will not only take you on a romantic journey that will warm your heart, but help you find a new respect and interest in the sport of All-Star cheerleading.
Elisa is no stranger to the publishing world. She writes steamy paranormal romance under her real name, Lisa Sanchez. Her adult works include the Hanford Park series (Eve Of Samhain, Pleasures Untold, and Faythe Reclaimed), Obsessed (an erotic suspense), and a paranormal novella, Cursing Athena. Elisa lives in Northern California with her husband, three daughters, and a feisty Chihuahua who stubbornly believes she's human.
Teenager Nev is a former gymnast whose life has undergone startling transitions. She gets uprooted to live with her aunt and cousin in northern California when her father dies and her mother succumbs to a debilitating illness. Not only is she disoriented in this new place, but she's also overwhelmed by guilt. Just what secrets hide behind that guilt?
Nev's cousin Livvie is on a competitive cheer team, X Factor, and Nev's tumbling expertise makes her a shoo-in for the team. At first Nev balks at joining the Diamond Girls squad because tumbling in a gym sparks painful memories of her mother. But by flying through the air again, she slowly finds her footing, and her recovery is a beautiful thing.
It's cool to catch a glimpse into the world of competitive cheer -- a world the author clearly knows. The cheer coaches are so demanding and vulgar that I thought they were football coaches:
"Flyers! Pretend you've got a dollar bill stuck between your butt cheeks, and squeeze it 'til it screams!"
"I don't care if you rip your pee pees, I want those toe touches up past your ears!"
Ew. LOL. Luckily the coaches have a soft side, and Nev forms some close friendships with her teammates.
Nev's first encounter with a boy is charming playah Eli. Although Eli is supposedly dating Nev's new friend Erin, Eli hits on Nev non-stop. Nev doesn't want to hurt Erin's feelings by telling her, but is also uncomfortable keeping his skeezeball behavior quiet.
Another boy, Bodie, is cold and rude to her. Too bad she tingles with good feels every time he's around. But Bodie also has a checkered past, and maybe he is more attracted to her than he seems. I love how they share pieces of themselves, gradually unfurling their truths as they both face the consequences of their actions. They both feel damaged beyond repair.
For a minute, I was just a regular girl, he was just a regular boy, and we were both enjoying the moment.
Nev has a biting sense of humor:
I was pretty darn sure he had a thing for my hair, and there was a good part of me that wanted to pull a Marcia Brady and never wash the stuff again because he'd touched it.
Marcia, Marcia, Marcia! Nev's attempt to heal, supported by Bodie, also packs an emotional punch, and I found myself tearing up in parts.
The story has a solid message about the dangers of drunk driving. My one complaint was Bodie's term of endearment for Nev: Doll Face. It got a little repetitive for me.
Ex-Factor is book one in the Diamond Girl series, and thankfully it's a short wait for the release of book two: Unbreakable. Roundoff-back handspring-double full!
I was lucky to get my hands on this early and devoured it. As someone from Ireland, cheer isn't something I'm very familiar with. There are probably a few teams somewhere but I haven't seen them. Yet, Elisa Dane managed to place me right in the center of a team and I didn't feel like a stranger.
But this book isn't only about cheer teams. Nev carries a secret in her heart, something she thinks no one will ever be able to see past if they know. Mostly because she can't.
When she starts a new school, among the people she meets is Bodie. Bodie is struggling with his own demons after a devastating accident the year before.
These two broke my heart, put it back together, and smashed it again several times. Their relationship is beautiful and haunted by ghosts as they find the strength to open up and allow themselves to deserve happiness.
This books is full of twists and turns, and shocks that will leave you holding your breath. A must read for any age.
I’m a sucker for a multi-layered book, and this one did not disappoint. Between Nev learning to navigate a new school, dealing with the loss of a parent, finding the courage to join an elite cheer squad, and unraveling the mysterious and sexy Bodie, she’s got her hands full! Full of heartache, self-discovery, and passion, Ex Factor sucked me right in and kept me hooked through each twist and turn.
When I saw the title for Ex-Factor I thought it would be about past relationships, but once I had read the synopsis I soon realised that this wasn't the case, and I was instantly intrigued. It didn't take long for me to pick up this book and make a start on it and once I began I was hooked. Nevaeh is new to school, she has recently moved in with her Aunt Trish and cousin Olivia after her Father was killed and her Grandmother was unable to look after her. She is nervous about this new start, not only with the school but with the thought of trying out for the cheer squad. Olivia does what she can to help ease Nevaeh into it all, but there is only so much she can do, and Nevaeh needs to find the confidence in herself once again. Nevaeh is also hiding a secret of her own, and it's not really elaborated on till much later in the book.
Two boys immediatley grab Nevaeh's attention, Eli and Bodie. Eli flirts a lot, but is in some sort of relationship with Erin, and Nevaeh doesn't want to step on her friends toes. Bodie is the mysterious one, the bad boy, and the one you want to avoid with your life, yet there was something about him that you need to know. As we get to know more about him we realise there is a lot more to Bodie than you initially think there is, and his story is a sad one to tell, and is also part of his attitude problem.
As Ex-Factor progress we get to see Nevaeh slowly find her confidence back, make some new friends....and enemies, and really see why she was roped into trying out for the cheer squad. We also get to see a tentative friendship blossom between Bodie and Nevaeh when she helps him in a bad situation.
Ex-Factor has everything, romance, friendship, family, and some amazing cheer leading skills...like bad ass skills that I even had to look up to learn what they were. There is also a very serious issue that is dealt with, that is also connected to Nevaeh's secret. When this event occurs near the very end of the book I was left speechless over the result, but how it is used by the school to teach others about the dangers that they face was unique, if not a slightly scary way to go about proving a point.
Elisa has done a great job of combining a lot of things, and putting then in this one little book that really packs a punch. There was a sneak peak for the next book in the last few pages of Ex-Factor, and I really need to have that book in my hands right now.
I'm a HUGE fan of All-Star Cheer (both my daughters cheered for many years), so when I was presented the opportunity to read Ex-Factor, how could I not?
Ex-Factor has all of the elements that a YA should have...Love, lust, anger, grief and the most important part...The HOT, brooding Bad Boy =) Bodie and Nev are truly a beautiful couple. They've both endured some pretty crappy things in their not so long lives but their relationship is one that definitely pulled at my heartstrings on several occasions.
Elisa Dane rocked this story. Even if you're not into All-Cheer, you still get the feel of what it's like to be a part of a team. The blood, sweat and tears that this team goes through to be the best (even though their lives are being turned upside down), is truly a testament to who they are... Diamond Girls
I have no words to describe how I made it through the end. The MCs in this book were 16 years old and behaved in a way as if they had the responsibility of the whole world on their shoulders. Bodie’s accident had no impact on the storyline apart from gaining sympathy and Nev’s whole character lacked depth.
Being dumped by her boyfriend at 16 made her feel like it was the end of the world and she started abusing alohol…like what? From where was she even getting it all? I could not relate OR sympathize with her even for a moment and was frankly annoyed by her at all times.
The whole situation with Eli could have been solved by her simply being honest with Erin but nope. At times, it felt like she wanted her life to be a tragedy and I just could not stand it.
I read a lot of different genres, usually reserving ya romance novels for dessert after a heavy entree of mystery or coming-of-age. Thus, I thought this book was going to be my chocolate cake following a deep thriller from earlier in the week. Well...I was wrong. For most of the book, it was typical ya contemporary: establish the status quo (Callie: queen bee, Eli: hot man-whore, Nev: new girl, Bodie: brooding bad boy), set the scene (new school), catch up on back story (Nev's mom is in institutional care; dad was killed), throw a moral dilemma/lesson learned (drunk driving kills), add in specific genre to build market audience (competitive cheer). Okay, we've got all that. The moral section of the equation, though...ya'll...I can't even. I was sobbing. Thanks to this, I've now got to go pick up an early Abbi Glines novel (Vincent Boys probably) to devour for my actual dessert. If you're reading this for the cheer content, don't expect much. There were two competition scenes and they didn't even scrape the iceberg about the drama that can go down in glitzy sports competitions. I'm not a cheerleader, but I competed in dance, so I am no stranger to these types of events. Certainly don't expect something like Bring It On drama. The teammates don't even discuss cheer while they're at school, which I thought was odd. There were a few gym scenes smattered throughout and some technical tumbling jargon every now and then...really, I felt it was just to remind me that the girls were, in fact, cheerleaders. Bad boy Bodie lives on a ranch; teaches therapeutic riding. Now, for what I miss in gymnastic, I totally make up for in horse skills. These scenes annoyed me just a bit, mainly writing style. Nev apparently is not supposed to know anything about horses and the author made a big thought sequence out of thinking the rings were called areas and then Nev learns they are arenas. Okay, I got it. She's not a horse person. No biggie. But then, Bodie takes her in the barn and all of the sudden, Nev knows what the color "bay" is and also realizes the difference between a stallion and a mare and geldings, just be glancing at them in their stalls. Now, for the gymnasts reading, it may not bother them at all. My point, however, is that the cheer and gymnastic jargon may be similar (meaning it may not make sense for that level of cheer or gymnastics, etc). I can't hate too much though, since Abbi Glines "Rosemary Beach" is NOTHING like the actual Rosemary Beach, Florida. Overall, it was a fun book. Classic high school drama, real high school language and problems. The moral component is strong, well-written and a fully rounded story arc for the characters. It looks like the second installment will be a different character (one we met in this first book) and will center around domestic abuse. The covers are GORGEOUS. Love them. I will certainly be reading the rest of the series as they're released.
I was provided a copy of the book by the Author for an honest review.
I just finish reading this book, and have to say that I love it, I love the characters, this book made me mad, cried and laugh at some part, but I love every single second of it, I am gone keep this short since I don't want to give anything away.
The story begging with Nevaeh (A.K.A.) Nev, after a tragedy happened Nev was living with her grandmother, into her grandmother couldn't take care of her, that's when she move in with her Aunt and her cousin, that's why now is her first day of school, she is a mess of emotions, while trying to get to her first class she end up meeting a guy, who take her to her first class, that's where she meets Erin, and Erin let her know that the one that walk her to the class is the one she is dating, after explaining some of the people in the class, that's when she see him walk into class late, and she describe his look as a Dark Falling Angel, that how good he looks, that's when Erin tell her that's Bodie, that's also when she knows that her life is about to change again.
Nev start to notice Bodie, and he start to notice her, but she cant understand why he looking at her like he hate her, the story of Nev and Bodie is one to read and follow, this two have been through so much, that they find themselves knowing that they are not alone, and they have each other, I love how this love story turn out to be.
Author Elisa Dane THANK YOU for introducing me to this awesome characters and this wonderful book love it.
When I started reading The Ex-Factor I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I don't normally read books about high school kids, but after the first couple of pages I was hooked. Nevah is this strong girl who has to overcome tragedy that no one wants to do loosing her father. She moves in with her cousin and aunt and her cousin is carefree and airy. When she comes face to face with the hottie who hates her upon first site she doesn't know what to think. However she is strong and with the push of her family she joins the X-Factor team which is a cheer leading team that are nothing but the best. When Brody first sees Nevah his reaction is are you kidding me what is with this girl. As time goes things start to change and Nevah becomes more stressed when a run in with Brody turns into something else they both have a hard time saying no. However this isn't your typical love story. This story made me ugly cry, laugh, and just be in awe of the characters. Just when you think one thing is going to happen something totally different. And don't forget about her cousin, her new friend, and the new friends boyfriend who is a jerk. Enjoy this is a great 5 star read.
Nevaeh has had to move in with her aunt and cousin when her father is killed. When she starts at her new school she also tries out for the cheer squad. Nevaeh has a secret that's eating away at her. Nevaeh meets Bodie who is also struggling with the past. Will these two be able to help one another move on??
This is a really great read that is full of twists and turns. Ended up reading it in one sitting. Looking forward to reading book two.
How to start this off...I cried a lot through this book. It was quite the tear jerker. The subjects, and there was quite a few, were all really well written and researched about. I don't want to say too much because I hate spoiling a book on someone but read this if you're a YA fan...hopefully you will like it as much as I did!
Ex-Factor by Elisa Dane is a FANTASTIC book. I'm an All-Star cheerleader, and I thought the cheer parts of the book were totally believable. Loved Nev and Bodie. Absolutely loved the characters and the plot line. Can't wait to see what else Elisa Dane has up her sleeve!!
Ex-Factor This book, just WOW. Nev is a seriously messed up girl. She goes to live with her cousin Liv and her Aunt after her Dad dies. She is beyond broken and is trying hard to catch her breath and move on with life. Things don't start off well. Her first day at a new school, and Nev is snapped at by a ridiculously gorgeous guy who seems to hate her, she's hit on by the football star who has eyes for just about every girl and to top it off he is dating her new friend Erin. Nev feels way in over her head and then her Aunt and cousin want her to try out for XFACTOR the elite cheer team. Nev loves to cheer but she just isn't sure she has it in her. After everything that has happened, will these ever get easier for her?
This author is seriously amazing! Elisa Dane knows how to write and write well. She quickly grabs the reader with a conflict in the first few pages and keeps us trapped inside with conversational writing and emotional characters that tug at your every heart string. I loved the slang language, quick wit, and colorful language that was used though out this book. It just made the book feel more real to me. The story could have easily happened at any high school in the country and that realization made the story even more emotional for me.
Even if you know nothing about the cheer world, the story will still interest you. The information that is given on competition cheer is great. You can easily tell that this author knows her stuff and writes about it well.
The message that this book sends is a gripping one and one that will not soon be forgotten. This is a great lesson that all young adults should read. I can't say more without giving the storyline away but let me just say, there will be tears shed, and you will not soon forget what this story has to say.
This story had a way of blending storylines into new ones as there were several different plots going on at once. The author weaved them together well and the book had a mix of emotion, laughter and fun throughout.
I devoured this book and was ready for "Unbreakable" to start right when "Ex-Factor" was done.
I enjoyed this book a lot, I read it on a beach vacation, and I definitely want to read the next one. Ex-Factor teaches an important lesson without lecturing. Show, don't tell, that's a big rule in writing, and Dane followed it! It shows the consequences of drinking and driving. Nobody was self-righteous and Mary-Sue, which was refreshing. So often in books like this, it becomes like an After School Special. It didn't delve into that, though. The sexual attitudes were very old-fashioned, but even if you don't agree with that, it's still a good story. On the plus side, I liked that Nev had her own hobbies and her own goals in life before meeting Bodie, he didn't make her give those things up when they got together, either. I loved reading about tumbling and cheersport, it's exciting. I do follow the author on Instagram and Facebook, and she loves posting pictures of her own daughters who do cheersport and are quite talented at it. Elisa is a cheer mom, and that's where a lot of her credit comes from and why she's qualified to write about it. There were terms I never knew about that I learned while reading this, which was fun. It's worth the read for all ages!
Well this story really hit me in the emotions! When I first read the title I thought it would be about like a girls ex or something but then I started reading it and oh my! This story has so much depth in it, it will make you laugh and cry. It is such an amazing story and will open your eyes to what tragic things can happen to people also how it can bring people together. I love how Elisa has written Nev. Even though she is going through a really tough time and it's very heartbreaking! I love how with the power of her family and friends she can overcome it and start to live a happy life. This story really teaches you the values of friends and family, also to never drink and drive! I love the awareness in this story about D&D and how it can kill someone every 15 minutes and this story will get this out there. Not only is it an amazing story but it's also a story about awareness of drinking and driving and that's what I love about it.
Wow where do I start? This book was fantastic!! The writing was so amazing!! I caught myself really feeling what the characters were "feeling". When they smiled I smiled, when they cried I teared up, and when things got romanic I caught myself feeling all warm and gooey inside!! It takes a lot for me to feel so many emotions from one book, but this one made me have them all!! The main characters were so raw and different then any others that I've read about before. This book is the best read, but it also has such an amazing message behind it. I would recommend this to teens and young adults, because we all can learn from or have experienced similar scenarios that the characters went through. I CAN NOT wait for the second book in this series to come out so I can order it on the release date!! Elisa Dane is utterly amazing!!
I loved, loved, loved this book! I really enjoyed Neve and Bodie. They've both gone through so much in their lives but never once did either character have that whiney, poor me personality. I love a strong female character that stands up for she believes in. And Bodie, well he's just hot as all get-out. And he loves and supports Neve. ♡ Yes, it's a book about young romance, All Star Cheerleading, and friendship. But most importantly, Ex Factor revolves around a very important subject...drinking and driving. The author does a remarkable job tugging at your heartstrings in the Every 15 Minutes scenes. I was reading in the hair salon with tears in my eyes. Well done Elisa Dane! A big round of applause from me! I hope every young adult reads this book and learns something from it!
Firstly I'd like to say Elisa Dane sucks you in and makes you feel each emotion the characters feel. I'm from England and I don't know much about cheer, apart from American films but I now have an appreciation and knowledge for the sport. Nev and Brodie are deep and loving characters, even though they have had hard lives so young. I don't want to spoil this for anyone, all I can say is it's a must read!! Can't wait for the rest of the series to be released!!
I decided to read this book because of the high rating and I am also a sucker for cheerleading story lines. But this book is bad, I don't know how it got such a high rating. The writing is weak, the "drama" seems ridiculous and the romance is insta-love.They go from hating each other to a couple in literally 3 days. Ugh, pass.
Great read! Ex-Factor is a YA book that deals with real life issues in a real life way. Elisa Dane’s writing is real and touching! I cannot wait for the second book to come out!
Nev is a former gymnast whose life has been completely uprooted. Her father is killed and her mother has an illness that requires her to be in a medical facility indefinately. She moves to go live with her Aunt Trish and cousin (Livvie) in northern California. She comes to a new town, and a new high school and if that's not enough she is overwhelmed with guilt. What's behind the guilt?? -- a big part of the story revolves around this issue.
The relationship between Nev and her cousin Livvie was well done. Livvie is on a competitive cheer team, X Factor. Livvie and her mom convince Nev to try for the team out thinking it will help her adjust to her new life with them. Also given that Nev was a excellent gymnast makes her a shoo-in to for the premier squad - The Diamond girls. Nev at first doesn't want to try out as it sparks painful memories of all the good times she had with her mom over the years in competitive gymnastics but Livvi's enthusiasm and confidence in her is contagious. So Nev goes for it -- In the end joining the Diamond Girls Ex Factor squad proves to be a wonderful thing, just as Livvie and her mom thought. It was neat to catch a small glimpse into the world of competitive cheer -- a world the author clearly knows well.
The boys in this story: Nev's first experience at her new high school is with a charming but "slimy" Eli. Nev finds out pretty quickly that he is dating her new found friend, Erin. Eli never really stops hitting on Nev. And while Nev is clear that is she absolutely not interested, he continues relentlessly. Being new to the school and her friendship with Erin she keeps quiet about the whole situation. In hindsight not the right thing to do :-) But you have to read the book to see how that plays out.
Enter boy # 2 -- Bodie, well he is the opposite of Eli -- distant, brooding and rude to Nev. But not only does the author have the reader swooning over Bodie but Nev as well (which of course drives Nev crazy). Bodie has a past that he feels guilt over as well. The way their relationship builds up and the truths they share with each-other about their pasts was great and made the relationship which builds quickly believable. The help each other get to a better place in life.
Overall, it was a well written, fun book with a solid message about the dangers of drunk driving. It had all the high school drama and problems. How the school used the powerful event at the end of the book as a teaching moment was unique and effective way to go about proving the point.
Let me start by saying, these books were right up my alley. Before I read any of the stories, just from reading the synopsis for both books, I knew that I was going to absolutely love them. They have everything that I look for in good contemporary novels. Female characters that you can't help but love, hot guys (though sometimes there are SERIOUS problems with them), adorable romances, strong relationships, and deeper life struggles. Both of these books by Elisa Dane had all of these elements, and I could not help but to rate them both five stars.
The first book in the series is Ex-Factor; however, one of the things I love about these books is that you can read them out of order as a standalone. While some of the characters interact and are related, you do not have to read them in order to understand what is happening in the book. I really liked Nevaeh, though it is clear that she has gone through so much. I like the addition of the cheerleading as well, as it has obviously been a pretty big part of her life up until the point of the book. Enter Bodie, who is a great character as well, struggling through his own issues. I really love the interactions between the two, and how they are trying to help each other through life. It was just wonderful, and I really enjoyed it.
Unbreakable is the second book in the series, though like I said you can really read them in any order and be perfectly fine. This one centers around Olivia, or Livvie, who happens to be Nev's cousin. Livvie is the girl at school that everyone thinks is perfect and has a perfect life; the one who everyone is jealous of. However, she has been hiding a pretty big secret about her "perfect" boyfriend, and her life is not perfect or easy at all. Then she witnesses something next door, her neighbor, Reid, being beat up by his drunk father. Because she does not call the police or say anything about it, Reid actually begins to trust Livvie. I loved that their romance was not instant, as obviously they would both have trust issues because of what they have been through. I really loved the interaction as well.
I would certainly recommend these books to any contemporary fans. I would actually suggest any YA fans check them out, in fact. I do think that just about anyone could enjoy these books as Dane's writing is very well done. The books cover some topics that are very important for anyone to read and learn from. I really enjoyed this series, and I hope that Dane will continue with it.
I knew I would enjoy this one, but I didn’t know I would enjoy it that much. Honestly, this story is gripping. I had to force myself to put it down so I could do other stuff, and found myself wondering what will happen next when I wasn’t reading.
I loved how it portrays cheer leading as a real athletic sport, and how it allows us to appreciate all it entails. I would’ve loved to have been a part of a cheer leading squad like the Diamond girls, but sadly cheer leading isn’t that popular where I live. I also loved that cheer leading was just an aspect of the story, which had a much deeper side too.
It basically is the story of Nev, a girl who lost it all and now has embarked on a journey of moving forward, forgiveness, and growth. It is really a beautiful tale of how to overcome life changing mistakes and draw something good from them.
I think Elisa did a great job with her characters, especially with Nev. It was very easy to relate with her pain and remorse, and how she so desperately was trying to make amends for her mistakes. I really really liked her, and think very highly of her. How she worked so hard to be better and to heal.
I also adored that Bodie had been through some of the same stuff and how they were there for each other. He was definitely a keeper, and I loved having him around.
The friendship element was great, but I liked Livvie the best. She was so supportive and cool, and it was nice to know Nev still had some family that cared for her. Everyone should have someone like Livvie in their lives.
Finally, I would like to give an honourable mention to Callie and Eli for being the greatest jerks they could’ve been. As characters they were very well done because I seriously wanted to tell them off so bad!
Overall, this book is quite the combination of good sports, friendship, forgiveness, and support, all mixed to give a powerful message and raise conscience on responsible drinking and partying.
*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.
I received a review copy of this book for my stop on the blog tour at Donnie Darko Girl.
Ex-Factor is a novel I wanted to read for the emotional depth and impact I had a strong feeling it would have. This is a beautifully told story that will resonate with me long after the ending. I couldn't think of a better way to write about the topic of teenage drinking and driving - it wasn't preachy and didn't shove platitudes down my throat, and I appreciated that. I think the less preachy the writing, the more the consequences of the behavior will stick with you.
Nev is a character I loved; she's witty and strong with a lot to offer the world. She doesn't feel sorry for herself even after everything she's been through. The problem is, she's so busy beating herself up over her father's death she isn't able to see her own potential. She's drowning in her grief, and I felt every moment of it. I identified with her and knew she was going to have a long way to go. You have to allow yourself to grieve to be able to come out on the other side.
I was glad Nev and Bodie had each other to lean on once he stopped giving her the death stare. My only problem with him was the nickname he had for her - "Doll Face." I hoped he'd drop it once they became close. From the way Nev described him, I'd have fallen for him, too. I knew there was a lot more to him than what he showed on the outside.
The competitive cheerleading aspect of the story only interested me as far as a way for Nev to deal with her grief and guilt in a healthy way. I didn't mind reading about it since I know nothing about what that world is like, and it served a purpose in the story. I loved Livvie and Erin, the new friend Nev made, so much. They were great for Nev and there for her, just as a cousin and a friend should be.
I'm looking forward to the next book to get to know Livvie's story and see things from her perspective.
Beautiful, gritty and intense. I have to say this book turned out to be so much more than I even thought it would. This is a very tough story.
Don't get me wrong it was a GREAT read! I absolutely loved the characters every single one! We get depth in our back stories as well as unique characters.
The MC is Nev and she has been through alot of crap. She is at a new school and gets in the mix. She hasn't tumbled since tragedy struck her life but she is thrust back into it by her cousin Liv. She lives with her aunt and cousin who only want to help her start moving forward in life. It does her good and I really like how things unfold and evolve. Watching strength and independence develop is a beautiful thing!
There is a very valuable lesson in this book, it addresses issues that are hard to talk about with your teens. Teen drinking and partying and driving while intoxicated is tackled. Death and loss are mixed in there giving a huge dose of reality to the beautiful storyline.
The characters are well developed and I really love Bodie he is a great counterpart to balance out Nev completely. This is NOT your average cheer themed book.
The Ex-Factor Diamond Girls are a legit cheer squad and it's not a huge part this is not a book about cheering but it has cheering in it. It is a very well integrated component to the story. Swoon worthy read indeed! #TeamBodie
I really do recommend this book and the series to anyone who loves YA Contemporary and is looking for something a bit different.
Definitely buying the paperbacks for my daughter to read!!
I was given a copy of Ex Factor in return for a honest review.
WOW WOW just bloody WOW
I have never read a book before that made my heart beat fast while the tears flowed !
After the death of her father and her mothers onset Altzimers. Nevaeh moves in with her auntie and cousin Liv. While starting a new school, trying to deal with her fathers death and trying to cope with the fact that her mother dosnt know who she is, Nev was a pretty messed up girl. She truly believed that she dosnt deserve to be happy. The Ex Factor cheer was looking for a new ringer for their level five squad and Liv brought Nev along for try out. That is where Nevs new life starts in North California and if she thought life couldn't get any worse boy is she in for a shock !
Bodie is the schools 'bad boy' with a shocking past of drink and fast women and Liv warns her cousin to stay well away from him 'he's bad news' But Nev is drawn to him like a moth to light, there connections run deep, very deep, deeper than any of them could ever imagine.
Ex Factor was a totally amazing deep, riveting read. I was on a emotional roller coaster ride from page one. This is one of those novels that will stick in your mind for a long time to come. The book flowed perfectly the shocks and twist never stopped coming, this is one book you will read in one sitting because you can not put it down. Elisa Dane has done a brilliant job in promoting an awareness of teens drink driving and how the outcome can have devastating consequences. Can't wait for the second instalment of Diamond Girl.
Ex-Factor packs a punch, and I was not expecting it to grip me like it did. I'm guilty of thinking cheerleader means mindless entertainment. Ex-Factor had a lot of depth that surprised me and tugged at my heart. The formula for the story is very much a cookie cutter example for contemporary young adult right now, but I feel like Elisa Dane was able to carve out a unique story with remarkable characters.
Sometimes I struggle with YA books because they're full of too much teenage angst. But I feel like Ex-Factor captured it in an authentic way that I really enjoyed. Insta-love is something that always grates on my nerves, and that was one of my few faults with this novel. The relationship between Nevaeh and Bodie did a one-eighty in a short span. Eventually their relationship became believable, though.
The message in this book touched my heart. It was something that everyone could be reminded of. I think Elisa Dane did a wonderful job at highlighting drunk driving and bringing it to attention. This book had a profound impact, and I loved it. Young adult fans will adore this one.
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Elisa Dane, Swoon Romance, and YA Bound Book Tours.
When I saw this book the first thing I thought was, "Look at the pretty cover." After reading the synopsis, it sounded so interesting that I had to read it. This story was a very emotional story full of angst, love and heartache. Once I started reading I was hooked! All of the issues being dealt with in this story really surprised me. There is so much more to this story than what the synopsis leads you to believe.
From chapter Nev's voice is really interesting. As the story goes on there are several times that my heart truly breaks for Nev because of the situation she is going through. Bodie seems like the typical bad boy but he has so much more going on with him. Together they slowly open up to each other, slowly starting to heal the broken they both have.
Ex-Factor has a little bit of everything. The plot was well paced and the message Elisa Dane is putting out there with this story is a really good one. I am really happy that I got the chance to read this story! I am looking forward to the rest of the Diamond Girl series.