Rematch

Vortex #1

by Janine Caldwell

Trent Astor is many things—orphan, runaway, musician. But what’s most extraordinary about Trent is that he’s a time traveler. His supernatural gift sends him on missions to the past to save unsuspecting victims from harm. However, when he fails to save the life of a young girl, his life changes in ways he could never have dreamed.

At eleven years old, Cassie Moore suffered through a horrific shooting. Tragically scarred from the ordeal, the once promising tennis prodigy was forced to throw away all hope of a future in tennis. Now, as she begins her senior year of high school, the past continues to haunt her. She struggles to find herself, her self-esteem at an all time low. If only she could resolve the past, she might be able to move on with her life. She never imagined that possible until she meets an intriguing new student in her PE class who radically alters her life once again.

Set in contemporary Northern California, the Vortex Series is a teen romance for those who enjoy a mashup of science fiction, fantasy, a little music, and sports. This story is told from dual perspectives, giving the reader an intimate view into both Cassie and Trent’s worlds. First love and family relationships--how they interconnect and drive our personalities--is the heart and soul of this YA time travel novel.

Genres: Time Travel, Science Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy

231 pages, Paperback

First published March 10, 2012

About the author

Janine Caldwell is the YA fantasy author of the romantic yet action-filled trilogy, The Vortex Series. She lives in the desert town of Anthem, AZ with her husband and two sons. When she's not trying to cool off, she's playing tennis, practicing yoga, banging on the drums, or reading.

Books published by Janine include Visited, a YA coming-of-age fantasy, and The Vortex Series: Rematch, Double Fault, and Deuce. Check out her latest radio interview to learn more about her work. http://www.breakradioshow.com/archive...

Other Links:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJanine...
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
http://instagram.com/janineyaauthor

Reviews

[Marni · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I want to thank the author, Janine Caldwell, for providing me a copy of Rematch for an honest review. Second of all, I want to say WOW! That was one amazing read.

If you had read this review previously, you would notice that I edited out my disappointment on the cover design because the new cover is just incredible! The previous cover just didn't make me want to read it. When I did start to read, I got sucked into the story and didn't think much more of the former. The book centers around a time traveling teen boy, his sister, and the girl he's met before in her past and fallen for in the present. The story really takes you for a turn during the last quarter of the book. You will not want to put it down.

There is a uniqueness to the story that caught my attention. Time travel has been done before, on many levels, but this story was fresh, modern and enjoyable. There were times the story seemed to drag on a bit, when I thought that with all I had read that I should have been farther along than I was but it didn't draw out through the entire book. As a reader, there are answers to questions that were at the back of your mind. The end has given me another question though, who's at the door? When you read the book, you'll understand.

I recommend this to all who enjoy paranormal, scifi, romance, YA, etc. I am looking forward reading the second book in the series, Double Fault.

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you had the chance to change someone's fate, would you? This is just one of the questions you have yourself asking when you read this book. And would I? I really don't know. I'm a true believer that our Fate's are sort of predestined in that no matter which road you find yourself on, you always end up where you are meant to be, and I guess this is the truth behind the story that is REMATCH.

First of all I want to thank the amazing author Janine Caldwell for providing me with a copy of REMATCH for my honest review. And let me just tell you that this little beauty really came out of left field for me. I had never heard of the book before and was completely shocked to discover that I was hooked from the first page. I loved getting so caught up in the story and desperately flicking through my iPhone trying to devour this baby and all the while trying to savour every word written. I love when an author can flawlessly make a reader lose themselves in a story and Janine had me at the edge of my seat. She also was able to make me cry. I'm such a sucker for a tormented guy! And what a guy he is...WHOA!! Okay before I get carried away let me tell you a little about the story.

REMATCH is story that is brilliantly told in two alternating POV's. In one corner we have Cassie, our would be tennis star who's life drastically changes when she is 11 years old. In the other corner we have Trent (aka Jeremy), our would be hero and breathtakingly beautiful specimen of a young man. Not only does he always save the day, he also is breathtaking stunning, plays guitar in a rock band and is a tortured soul, who has built these walls up all around, not letting anyone in. This, of course, is not by choice. You see, Trent is special in that when he was 12 years old, the car that he was travelling in with his parents, spun out of control and ended up going over a cliff, killing his parents. By some sort of miracle, he survived. The tragedy of his parents death made Trent "grow up" faster than any child should. He had his younger sister Lorelei to look after and trying to have a normal life was out of the question. Something supernatural happened to Trent while he lay waiting in the wreckage. It's too difficult to try and explain, but I will just let you know that he was able to physically time travel from that point onwards. He would get visions of people getting hurt or injured, and before he knew it, he would end up traveling to that point in time, and he knew that he was meant to change the outcome of sorts. Well, to a young boy this is a terrible and scary burden to bare on top of losing his parents and trying to raise his sister. And if you thought that was bad enough, try having to runaway and change your identity at any given moment because a crazed scientist was after you to dissect your brain and who was totally obsessed with figuring out time travel. Phew, I'm exhausted just thinking about it. But for 6 years, Trent does just that and with no complaint at all.

Now, fast forward to the present, when Cassie comes into his life. Their world as they knew it were going to collide in a most delightful and supernatural way. He remembers Cassie from an assignment he once had to intervene and save her from a crazed gunman, and Trent can't help himself but fall in love with Cassie. Cassie has never truly recovered from that day that her life was almost taken away from her, but she never really forgot the young man who hovered over her while she bled. It really is a doomed sort of relationship and I was hooked from the word go. It was amazing to see how the story would unravel and let me tell you I was truly invested in it. I felt everything they were feeling, and Trent's POV really tugged at my heart. I was literally crying out "Noooooo, you can't do that" or asking my iPhone, "why? why?" I really was a mess and my heart was aching. It was beautiful and sad, and exciting and riveting. I'm floored by how much the story affected me, albeit how simple and honest it is. It had me asking this also, would you give up your happiness for the happiness of the one you love? OMG in a heartbeat YES! This story is eloquent and unbelievably wonderful. It's a must read and I can't wait to read the next book. Thank you Janine, you took my breath away.

[Tee Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I read the summary for Rematch, I was intrigued but wasn't sure what to expect. But the idea of a science fiction/time-travel romance was too good to pass up, and I really enjoyed this fun, sweet adventure!

Summary:
When exposure to the energy from a vortex at 12 years old leaves Trent able to slip back into time and save the lives of people in imminent danger, his and his sister's lives are forever changed. Constantly living in fear of being found by others who wish to harm Trent for his powers, they have been on the run, using aliases and keeping to themselves for years. It's a lonely existence, but deep down they know that what Trent is able to do makes it all worthwhile. That is, until the day Cassie enters his life. Traveling back to the day when a man is supposed to pull a gun on a young girl, Trent thinks he's failed when that girl still ends up shot. Presuming her dead, Trent counts Cassie as a failed mission and holds himself guilty for not protecting her like he should have. So when he sees those same striking eyes looking back at him in his high school gym class, Trent is floored. Has fate brought her back into his life for a reason, or should he keep his distance like he always has to keep his secret?



The concept for this plot was really unique, it was like part sci-fi/part supernatural. It was such a traumatic event for Trent to earn his ability from, but he made the most of it and it was almost like he was meant to be this guardian angel. The loneliness of their situation was sad, and Cassie was truly such a breath of fresh air for Trent. The whole story seemed to come full circle like it was some greater power of fate or destiny stepping in to make things as they should be, and I love that!

Rematch is written in alternating POV between Jeremy/Trent and Cassie, which was great. I liked both of these characters even with Cassie's sometimes present "typical teen" angst, and I'm glad we get to know them better through the dueling POV. Seeing the story from both perspectives was inherently necessary with this book, since Trent is a time jumper and his actions also had a drastic effect on Cassie's life. But it also allows the reader to experience not only the danger and thrills of Trent's life, but also see how their past interaction is revealed for both of them. I loved that Cassie feels so strongly that she knows him, and Trent's initial reaction when he looks into Cassie's eyes and realizes who she is just gave me chills!! Even though it was just a blip in time, it was sweet that they shared that moment in the past and both remembered it vividly.

Though I could have used a little more from Cassie and Trent's time together just to feel like thee deep emotions they have were completely validated, I was still sucked into this story and their relationship. Trent was so torn about allowing Cassie in his life when he knows that getting so emotionally involved may mean heartbreak for both of them, and he has the added guilt of Cassie's emotional turmoil resulting from the shooting that he failed to prevent. When Trent makes a decision that he knows could mean losing Cassie forever, I felt his pain and kept hoping for some unexpected twist to make it all okay!

Caldwell wraps the first book in this series up well, giving the reader some surprises right up to the very end. The door is clearly open for some serious suspense coming in the sequel Double Default! Overall, this was an impressive and enjoyable read that takes the reader on a memorable journey, and I look forward to more from Janine Caldwell!

[The Y.A. Bookworm Blogger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read Full Review At The Y.A. Bookworm

Rematch captures your attention from the very beginning. Immediately after reading the first chapter I was hooked! The story moves along at a pace that allows you to become completely engulfed in the "vortex" world very quickly.

Those of you that have read some of my other reviews know that I am a complete sucker for a good-old doomed romance. Rematch definitely has one of those *round of applause, round of applause* ! Rematch essentially revolves around the connection and relationship between Cassie and Trent (AKA. Jeremy). Their first meeting started off with a strong intensity that continued to grow throughout the course of the book. Although I sometimes felt the relationship was progressing maybe a little to quickly, by the end of the book I was rooting for this duo. There were definitely a good number of swoon-worthy, blush-tastic scenes that kept my inner romantic very happy :)

[tushara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying that I haven't read many time travel novels recently, or at all for that matter, but if they're all like Rematch, GIVE ME ALL OF THEM!!! :) Rematch was an absolutely fantastic read. It kept my attention the ENTIRE time and I was rooting for Trent and Cassie to the point where I was giggling into my phone every time they were together. *grins* The entire premise was really new to me, so obviously, I LOVED IT. But it wasn't just the premise..It was the characters, the story, the support system. Everything made this book whole, so thank you, Janine Caldwell for such a well-written and engaging story!

The story is one that is basically about a girl whose tennis dreams are shattered after she gets shot, and who has to live with the aftermath for the rest of her life. BUT, that summary does Cassie, aka the girl with the shattered dreams, no justice whatsoever! This girl was captivating. Of course, she was a little childish, and still trying to get over not being able to play tennis, and be daddy's little girl anymore, but that's what made the story REAL. It made Cassie relatable, and it really struck a chord with me, because she was such a beautiful, caring, innately kind character who put her heart out there to *ahem ahem* TRENT.


....
read the rest at http://wp.me/p4djCQ-8K :)

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to thank the author, Janine Caldwell, for providing me with a copy of this book to read and give an honest review.

Blurb from Goodreads:
In REMATCH, Cassie and Trent’s worlds are about to collide, but not in the way you might normally expect. After a rocky start to their senior year, Trent is determined to hide from Cassie how their lives are supernaturally linked. But when Cassie’s past continues to torment her, she’s soon looking to Trent for answers. Trent must choose between admitting what he is and his role in her past, or running away from her forever.

I actually did not read the blurb before reading this book, so I had no idea what to expect when I went into it. I actually prefer to not read about books that I've been asked to review prior to reviewing them. I especially stayed away from reviews because I wanted to form my own opinion. I am glad I went into this one blind because I was pleasantly surprised with what I found!

The first thing that struck me was the cover of this book. It's so unusual. There is such a variety of elements show, I really wasn't sure what to expect. After having finished the book, I now understand all the elements and how they tie into the story that is told. Very clever of the author to choose a cover that would encompass all these things. You rarely see covers that actually tell the story of the book before you even open it to read it!

Unfortunately, reading the ecopy, I had a hard time grasping the fact that the author was alternating POVs in the first part and then telling the second and third part from each of the main characters POV. I think this was one of the downfalls of having this book on my Kindle. I actually got annoyed and when I was taking notes, noted to myself that I didn't understand what the author was doing. It wasn't until I put up a status update and Janine answered it that I understood what was going on. This wasn't until about 75% through the book, tho! Perhaps labeling the chapters as such may have thwarted some of my confusion.

Despite being annoyed by the alternating POVs, I was really engrossed in this book from the beginning. It starts of mysterious and draws you right in. Janine's writing is really quite good and flows very well. It's natural and doesn't seem like she was searching for words to put on the page as she wrote. The story has a great pace that keeps you riveted. Every time I put the book down, I was anticipating picking it back up so I could see what was going to happen next. The author has a knack for description. I could see the scenes as they were described, which was a great way to fall into the story. I did note that there were some descriptions were a bit repetitive, and this got to be a bit overwhelming. It almost felt like there were times when the story was being filled in to make the chapters longer. This made me feel like the story wasn't moving.

And I am a total lover of time travel books, so this one hit the nail right on the head when I found out that was an underlying theme! It's really the only kind of science fiction that I like to read. I read Julie Cross' Tempest not too long ago and this boo is definitely along those lines, and written just as well. And of course the star crossed lover theme is a huge draw, because you can't possibly have a good YA book without there being some kind of love tension happening!!!

I really liked how the characters were developed in this book. I do have to say that Cassie did annoy me a bit, a typical teen girl with angst that will drive you nuts. She's self depreciating and is constantly doubting herself. She allows herself to be treated poorly by her boyfriend and does not take the advice of her friends when they give it. This type of character drives me nuts. I felt like it was excessive and could have been handled a bit better. But I know they are many times essential to set the pace and current of the book. Without this, we would not have been able to see Cassie grow as a person. And I love how Cassie feels an immediate connection to Jeremy (aka Trent) when she meets him, but has no idea why. Trent was just such a great character. He is warm and caring, you can feel his anger at the things that are happening to Cassie. I was a bit confused as to why we don't have a name for him until about 20% into the book, tho. He's never referred to anywhere before that by name and I was a little annoyed by it. It made it harder to picture him, to be honest.

My favorite character is Trent's sister, Lorelai. I just love her and her reactions. I love the way she is so concerned with Trent and how she doesn't worry about giving up her life to make sure he's safe. I would love to see a novella written from her POV. I think seeing how she views her life with her brother would be a great way to get to know her better.

All in all I truly enjoyed this book. I I see a lot of potential in the author's writing and while there were some flaws noted, the book kept my interest from beginning to end. I loved how Calwell incorporated the elements of fear, humor, and romance and look forward to reading the second book in this series.

3 out of 5 stars.

This review can also be seen at the following sites:
http://thecovercontessa.blogspot.com
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007...
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/remat...
http://www.librarything.com/work/1299...

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
*Full review can be found here: http://skizzles22hu.blogspot.com/2014...

I've read a lot of time-travelling books in the last year, like the My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century series by Rachel Harris and Timebound by Rysa Walker. So, I was really excited to start this book by Janine Caldwell. However, I was quite unimpressed with this beginning and not exactly sure how I'll like the rest of the series.


Rating: 2 stars!

The beginning started off great! Trent is on a mission that will set up how the rest of the book plays out. It's a mission that changes lives.

The question is: would Trent go back and change it if he could?

Trent Astor is a time-traveller who gets sent back in time to save people. It's admirable, and the only thing he does with this supernatural power. And it's the only thing he knows about it. Trent knows as much as we do about his time-travelling abilities, which leaves much to be desired. Most of the book centers around Cassie and Trent's "budding" relationship. The time-travel rarely shows up, and rarely plays a role until Trent gets hurt in the 1930s.

I really liked Trent, and I enjoyed his POV the most. But I wanted more of the supernatural; I wanted to see him go back in time more often. Instead, his three trips take very little time, and the rest is all about Trent and Cassie, their "love," and how guilty he feels for how her life turned out. He has this hero complex that makes him question everything; what his abilities mean, why he meets his last mission in the present. He feels guilty about what happened, and so he tries to right the wrong. But he should have known not to mess with the past.

I was indifferent about Cassie. She doesn't have any personality. And I noticed that she constantly brings herself down so other people will feel bad about her insecurities and appease her by giving her compliments. She doesn't do it on purpose, but she has no confidence in herself. I didn't like her, but I didn't hate her. I think her constant self-deprecation just put me off. She didn't feel very genuine to me as a character. And there wasn't any character development with her. Plus, she drops everything, drops her friends and her family, for this guy she's only known a few weeks because she's just so in love with him! He's obviously much more important than everything else.

Their relationship jumped from A to Z in the space of two weeks. I wouldn't have minded so much, if there was any sort of relationship development. Their "love" is unbelievable and unauthentic. It wasn't real or genuine, because it happened so quickly. Instead, I get: Our love can survive anything and She's the only girl I'll ever want. Nope, don't believe it with these two.

The other relationships didn't have any development either, and when Cassie and Trent started dating, it was all about them. But I did love the relationship between Trent and his sister, Lorelei. I actually felt the sibling love between them, and I wish there'd been more with them. :)

The plot was very boring, and I was just waiting for something exciting to happen. The only exciting thing that happened was when Trent got hurt in 1932 and met someone who changed his life. Trent did talk to Cassie about why he and his sister moved around all the time, but that never made sense to me. You want me to believe that there's this crazy and mad scientist who wants you as a lab rat? WHERE'S THE SUSPENSE? WHERE'S THE FREAKING DANGER? No. There was no sense of a lurking creeper, nor was there any sense that Trent actually cares about where his supernatural powers came from. Not much was explained, and most of the time I was confused about why he had this power. And the time-travel didn't matter once Trent and Cassie met. Except when Trent decided to try and change fate. But that didn't work out at all like he planned.

God forbid there was any sort of conflict in their relationship, any sort of angst or hurt. Sure, when he left, Cassie worried until she knew when he was safe and back home. And that's understandable, because I would do the same thing. But I didn't even feel that Trent's angst near the end was at all genuine. Why? Because I thought their relationship had progressed too quickly and was not authentic. If there had been any development, I might have actually felt the pain and anguish. But then everything worked out perfectly anyway, so that didn't even matter.

Rematch was more about the romance than the supernatural. It wasn't balanced evenly enough for me. I'm not invested in this story or these characters, but I'm going to read the second book. Who knows, I might just like it.

[Sara (sarabara081) · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can see more of my reviews at Forever 17 Books!

Over the past few months I seem to have fallen in love with time travel novels. I have only read a few but some of my highly anticipated upcoming releases are also in this sub-genre. So when the author of Rematch contacted me to see if I was interested in reading and reviewing her book, I quickly jumped at the opportunity.

Rematch is told from two perspectives. First we have Cassie, a typical teenage girl who has a lot of insecurities. At a young age she went through a trauma during a tennis match that greatly influenced her life. She has become very introverted and I easily connected with that part of her with thoughts of my own growing up experiences. But it was obvious she needed a change. She was beginning to become almost a doormat at times for her boyfriend, Jeff who was a total jerk. There were a few times I really wanted her to snap out of it already though. LOL But I honestly think some of these insecurities are quite common for many young girls and can be relatable to teens.

The other point of view we see is from Trent, or Jeremy as he is known as his alias. He has the ability to travel back in time, where he is sent to save another person. I found Trent very selfless and I adored his closeness with his sister.

Since Trent was directly involved in Cassie's earlier incident, she quickly discovers his secret and gets pulled into his world. They become very close, even though Trent lives with the guilt over not being able to completely save her in the past. I liked how this played out in their relationship. Cassie slowly starts to make progress with her self-esteem but Trent often considers how things could be different for her... I really liked how the book ended and left the next one to take a whole new spin.

I think Rematch is a great time travel novel for teens. Double Fault is the 2nd book in The Vortex Series and is now available, and I look forward to picking up a copy to see how this story continues.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Now let me tell you why. Cassie is such a lovely girl, shy, vulnerably and self concious but lovely. from the moment we are introduced to her I was drawn to her, it was like reading about a prettier version of myself in high school. When she first meets Trent the new boy at school who goes by the name of Jeremy she is instantly drawn to him, unaware that he is the boy that saved her life during the tennis tournament when she was younger, Trent recognises her as it as only been days as oppose to years for him since he "Time jumped" and promises his sister he will keep his distance,they don't want to risk been recognised as there are those who are interested in Trent's unique gift, but its a promise he struggles to keep as he starts to feel things for Cassie he as never felt and feels the walls he as built around him self to keep people out start to crumble.

I was pulled right into the story and had quite a few late nights as I read "Just one more page, Just one more chapter" E.t.c

The romance between Trent and Cassie is every high school girls dream, its once in a life time stuff that the rest of us only dream of, or take great pleasure reading about.

I was so not expecting the ending and I am definitely left wanting to read more about these characters , I felt like I got to know each of these characters like close friends and cant wait to read more and see what happens next in Double Fault

Janine as wrote a flawless and unique time travel, romance story.

[April Alvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Am So In Love With This Book. The Face That Trent Can Go To Different Times Is So Awesome. He Helps People In A Way That No One Else Can. Then The One Help Was Supposed To Help Before Something Bad Happened To Her Go Injured Any Way. Years Later Cassie Your Typical High School Senior Wanted To Have The Best Senior Year Ever. Things Went Totally Wrong For Cassie She And Her Boyfriend Break Up, And She Thinks She Is Going Crazy. The New Boy In School Totally Looks Like The Boy Who Caught The Man Who Shot Her As A Kid But That's Impossible Right? This Book Has It All I Was So Mesmerized With This Book I Just Couldn't Stop Reading It. If You Want An Awesome Book To Read Look No Further. I Received This Book From The Author For An Honest Review All Thoughts And Opinions Are My Own.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for young adult fiction. And the Vortex Series is no exception! I loved getting to know Trent and Cassie and as a bay area native I loved saying "I've been there!" when reading the BART adventures of a 17 year old. And thanks to my best friend in high school driving a green Ford Taurus I also had the perfect picture in my head for Cassie's best accessory.

I'm a fan of Cassie not being your typical heroin. She is shy but also funny and quick witted. She is a fantastic combination of a girl you look up to because she is smart and humble with a little bit of awkward mixed in. She is the girl I'm pretty sure I was and I love rooting for her.

[Movies, Shows, & Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I was totally gripped with Trent's struggles and frustrations of the burden that comes along with his supernatural ability. To make matters even more intense he falls for the girl from the one mission he can't seem to let go of. Talk about complicated!!! I was absolutely drawn towards Trent and Cassie's situation. With the title, Rematch, was definitely fitting for the story. Like Trent's sister, Lorelai, said..."True love doesn't come around that often, you know?" Now, that has a lot of truth to it...haha!

Read the full review at:
http://moviesshowsnbooks.blogspot.com...

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rematch is an action packed book! It grabs you and all you can do is enjoy the ride~ I love the characters in the story, I find myself rooting for Trent and Cassie the whole time. The romance between them is sweet! What every high school girl dreams of!!!
I really enjoyed Janine Caldwell's writing and loved how we got different point of view! All in all I really enjoyed the book! I would recommend it to anyone! Rematch left me wanting more... looking foward to find what happens next.

[Rashmika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the book.I read the whole book in one go. The story is good and well written.The characters have strong personality and well defined.The romance between Trent and Cassie is nice. The challenges and the sacrifices one makes when in love is very well depicted through Cassie and Trent's story.
This book makes you believe in the power of true love and also that the true love lasts forever no matter the circumstances.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very interesting to read. It really grabbed my attention, I'm really glad that I won it free through a Goodreads giveaway. I wasn't too fond of the ending but it was still a good ending, I just wish it would have ended slightly different.

[Holly Casady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story! Loved the characters and the creativity of the story. Can't wait for the third!

[Nanette Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me just say that this series was my first ever time travel series and I really really enjoyed it. I’ve seen enough movies to know how time travel works but this was not like any movies I’ve ever really seen. It was so much more. There was so much going on and every time I was on the edge of my seat to see how things were going to turn out.
The series is about a boy and his younger sister, Trent and Lorelai, who lost their

parents in a tragic accident at a very young age. Something happened to Trent that day that he could not explain and the very first time that Trent ever jumped back in to time was not fun for them. I can only imagine how it must have been for two young children, on their own in an orphanage, to have to go through the pain of losing their parents let alone the shock of Trent disappearing into thin air when he jumped.. I’d be a little bit freaked out wouldn't you? Plus it was hard on them. Trent's jumps took a huge toll on him and Lorelai would be the one to bring him back, each time wondering if it would be his last or if he would come back beyond her help. To make things even worse a crazy Dr finds out about Trent’s ability to Travel back in time and spends years chasing them around the country while they have to move from city to city never knowing how or where they were going to live or what they were going to eat. Finally, Trent and Lorelai are able to settle down for a bit and try to live their lives.. Going by the made up names Lucy and Jeremy they go to school but try to not get too close to everyone around them.. That’s one of Trent’s hard rules. Kind of funny though since “Jeremy” is a hot Rocker looking guy that all the girls are drooling over and Lucy is really beautiful and knows how to catch a guy’s eye herself. Kind of not something you can overlook.

I have to say that Lorelai was my favorite. Lorelai was extremely beautiful, like model beautiful and loved to shop. She was a total fashionista. The main reason I loved her is because she wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She told you exactly how she felt no matter what she thought of you. Actually see was kind of scary at first but after you noticed it was all a front, Her tough as nails exterior fell a little , and she would kill anyone who ever hurt any of her family or friends.

“Oh I guess toying with our lives is okay if its your choice? She spits back, fire resonating in her eyes. ‘She gives me a menacing look before flipping her luxurious tendrils of hair and storms away in a huff.’”

Cassie, what can I say about Cassie? In Rematch she’s really quite withdrawn. She went through a really traumatic event during a tennis match when she was 12 and it altered her life. She doesn't have very much self-esteem because of the trauma the incident caused her and she stopped playing tennis which she misses.. . Trent was sexy and chivalrous and Cassie was beautiful and caring in each of her lives. Trent was the type of person who did what he could so that everyone else would be happy and didn't even think about his own happiness in the process. All of that just added to his bad boy rocker persona and made him sexy in my eyes.


How did Trent and Cassie meet you ask? Well, remember when I said Trent could time travel? Well, I forgot to tell you how and why. He can’t go back to anytime he wants.. Nope, he gets these visions and the visions show him what is to happen and who he has to save. Trent was supposed to save Cassie but was a little too late. Its been his only regret ever since.

“I watch her grasp at her left side, the crimson stain seeping through her tennis dress expanding by the second. Although I’m mesmerized by her gaze, the girl releases her superhuman stare to close her eyes while she clutches her side again and groans in pain. A cold sweat floods my body then when I notice a black blob pooled up underneath her. So much blood!”

Trent has already told Cassie all his secrets but he’s still struggling with the knowledge that he wronged her

by not saving her at that tennis match.. His guilt tears at him and he can’t help to think that she could be so much happier in her life. Of course he doesn't run anything by her at all. Just a typical guy who thinks he’s doing the right thing by going back in time and fixing what he thought was broken. Only thing he didn't think of was how hard it would be to see Cassie back in the life she had before but without him.. Cassie was happier in this life and she was playing tennis again. She even seemed to be more confident. It should of made Trent happy and for a while it did but his heart betrayed him.. Cassie surprised Trent one day by just showing up on his door.. She remembered him, she remembered their love and she was seriously angry at him

Of course there is so much more to this story.. The Good Dr. Fox rears his ugly head and puts a damper on all their lives and there are more tear inducing incidents that are extremely life changing. All in all I really enjoyed the lives of Trent, Cassie, Lorelai and all their crazy friends. There was so much going on that I read each book front to back with barely a break in between. They were that good.

This was truly a great series and I found that Janine explained everything in great detail so that I didn't feel like I was lost at all. I’m a lover of different POV’s and I thought that knowing what both Trent and Cassie was feeling gave the series a lot more insight into their lives and what they were feeling. This is a great series that I would totally recommend to anyone of any reading age.

[Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start of by saying that this is one of the best books I have read in a really long time. Not to say I haven’t liked the books I have been reading, but this one just really, really hooked me, and just made me fall in love with Trent/Jeremy (his alias is Jeremy) Anyway, I was enthralled right from the start with the first chapter and reading from Trent’s point of view. The emotions and feelings portrayed makes you just feel it and choke up with them at times. We get alternating point of views between Trent and Cassie, and I love that.

Trent is the perfect guy, and Cassie is a great girl too. I really felt for her and what she went through. Now Jeff , her boyfriend at the start is an ass. He basically gives an unspoken ultimatum to either give in and have sex, or it’s over. Not that he exactly says this, but it’s obvious. So, of course that relationship doesn’t make it. (this happens in beginning of book) but he sure is a typical guy, wanting her after someone else is interested, just how egotistical guys can be.
Her best friend Kelli is a good supportive friend, and I liked her too. I really liked Trents sister, Lorelei (Lucy is her alias) she is quite mature having to deal with a disappearing time traveling brother she has to cover for.

This story reminded me of a movie I seen that I actually liked, called The Time Travelers Wife. But in that you can’t change the future or anything, just the disappearing and all that.

I love the idea of this story, how Trent is given this power from a vortex when he was younger, and how he has to struggle along the way trusting his instincts to save who he is sent back to save. I think it was genius how he took advantage of the time travel back when it was only a decade or 2, and manipulated his families money to invest it better, so in his own timeline money would not be an issue. That was pretty cool.

This kept me on the edge of my seat most the time, wondering if and when the evil doctor will find him, so he can dissect his brain. That’s just horrid, and believable. There were some great twist and turns that I never saw coming that I really enjoyed.

I just loved how in the first chapter Trent is saving 11 year old Cassie from being killed (though he thought he failed) and then a few days later for him, he sees her at school as a 17 year old senior.

Over all its just a great idea and the writing was great. I was really glad to have book 2, Double Fault already, as I just didn’t want to leave this world.

If you like paranormal\supernatural books, or sci-fi books, you will enjoy this too. It’s like a touch of both, as we really do not know why he gets his ability, and that’s still a mystery we are yet to uncover.
I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

Cover review - 4 out of 5 stars: I like the cover, it’s simple yet attractive. Not my favorite, but 100 times better than the old cover I seen just recently, that one would not have had me stop to take a look to see if I would like the book. It was not a good one for sure. So this one is much better.

I highly recommend this series. This is book one, Double Fault is Book 2, and Deuce is Book 3 in this Vortex Series.

I was provided this book by the author for my honest review.

Be sure to check out the other 2 books in this series.

[♥♡¢σσкιє♥♡ (Krystle) · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can read this review and more on my blog:

I received a free copy of this book from the author via YA Bound Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

When I decided to read this book, I thought that it would focus more on science fiction and time travel, but it is really a time travel romance novel. For those of you who haven’t read many books in that genre, you might have a problem with the fact that the explanation for why Trent can travel through time is not very detailed. However, that didn’t bother me because I have read and enjoyed dozens of books in this genre and I know that in a time travel romance, the romance is always the main storyline and everything else, including the science fiction, comes second.

I enjoyed certain parts of this book, but others annoyed the heck out of me. Cassie was a very sweet girl and I love it when the main female character is sweet and innocent. You won’t ever catch me complaining because the heroine in a novel is a virgin or is always searching for ways to make others happy. I have no problem with that just so long as she is also strong. I even tolerate insecurities in my heroines if the insecurities make sense, but Cassie was too insecure and I still don’t understand why. When the story begins, she has a massive jerk as a boyfriend and she behaves as though every problem that they have is her fault when it is glaringly obvious that she is a terrific girlfriend and he is a loser!

When Cassie finally realizes this, it is only because she meets Trent and almost immediately falls for him, but Trent sort of acts like a jerk towards her too. Because he lives a dangerous and often hectic life, Trent has erected a giant wall around himself and refuses to get too close to anyone besides his sister. So I completely understand why he pushes Cassie away even though he obviously cares for her, but poor little insecure Cassie is constantly questioning herself and trying to figure out what she is doing wrong, and that is just not cool.

Cassie and Trent do figure things out eventually, and it doesn’t take her too long to break his defenses down because Trent cares too much about her to continue pushing her away. After Cassie breaches his defenses, they share some very cute romantic scenes. Trent is very devoted to her and she feels just as strongly about him. I enjoy reading stories that allow you to experience things from both the point of view of the male and female character. That makes sure that even when they don’t know what the other is thinking, I do. And my ability to know what they were both thinking kept me from getting too frustrated with the characters for long.

Like I said, the time travel aspect of this novel wasn’t explained very well, but I did like the element of heroism that was added. Trent’s ability to jump through time is connected to the fact that when he jumps, he jumps because someone’s life needs saving. I liked that he didn’t just have an ability that was a nuisance, but it was also useful. Trent didn’t like how much his ability cost him personally, but he was glad that he was entrusted with such an important task and was able to save lives.

Overall, this was a very light and easy book to read. I have read a lot of Thrillers lately so it was nice to just read a sweet romance because I haven’t read one in a while. The ending was a pleasant surprise, I was very satisfied with it, and I plan to continue with this trilogy.

This book was clean and suitable for ages 12 and up.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are of love of the paranormal and sci-fi this is the book for you.
We find a boy who is trying to save a 11yr.old girl from a horrible fate at a tennis match. He tries, and he assumes her failed and is devastated when she is shot and he hold her hand until help arrives " I gasp at the direct view of her eyes they're a mixture of blue and green; a rare color of aqua as I've ever seen. More than just their interesting color, though is the soul I found behind them"- Trent. he believes she has died and carries around the grief with him. Flash forward to Cassie a high school senior who is dumped by her boyfriend Jeff, because he wanted to take their relationship to the "next" level but Cassie isn't ready. At P.E. she is paired with Jeremy the new guy at school and they see Jeff flirting with Ally( Ms. Gorgeous), and they play them in a game of tennis. While they are losing and Jeff is still flirting Cassie has had enough and it's game on She aces both of them (high five Cassie!) and Jeff is ticked off (oh, well he mean to her, and girl has some serious game) after she feels bad, Jeremy goes to talk to her but he is the one who is shocked.
"Those eyes! I know those eyes! She has the exact shade of hypnotic aqua eyes that help me captive only days earlier"-Trent <--- see that? Cassie and Jeremy are faced with the truth he has indeed saved her from her fate and comes clean and tells her after she found a old news paper clipping with his picture in it when she was 11..he tells her about his parents trying to find a vortex, their accident and how her became infused with vortex energy which he can now use to travel time but not at will. "I not sure how to start, I've never told my story to anyone before. this is definitely a first. Actually there've been a lot of first with you."-Trent. He tells her everything even about Dr. Ethan Fox how he will do anything to capture Trent AKA Jeremy. She jots it down in her Journal and leaves it with her grandmother. Trent wants to spare her from the life she could of had then one with him. he sees his sister go thru it and it's not fair for her. Or so he thinks just before Homecoming he disappears and he saves a two children from a burning building, while doing this he suffers some burns and is taken to the hospital and he meets a man by the name of Robert who goes on to tell him he is Trent's grandfather and he has been searching for him and goes on to explain that if her focuses' on the visions he has before he travels he can control his jumps into time...the technique works but he goes back to fix the day cassie was shot and makes the gun man go to the hospital instead...
."..By taking away that damaging incident, I knew it would allow your entire future to change. When my idea worked, I wanted to give you the opportunity to live out the best life possible"-Trent. How dreamy is Trent totally unselfish, gives up his happiness for what he thought would be hers...I loved that this was a dual point of view book , you get both of their feeling the worries and how they really do care about each other even if she has to keep the lying to everyone to keep him safe. The hoops they jump to make sure the other is happy is sweet. Cassie said it best "Where would I go? If I'm with you, then I'm home already". I really enjoyed reading this book and the best part, is it's a series!! I found myself saying No, way.. a lot, which is the beast describe the guessing game the book has you in..the author has made a delectable series for us to read I'm curious to see what book 2 has for us. If you read this book you won't be disappointed it's a thrill ride, from start to finish. Thanks Janine, can't wait for more.

[Just My Opinion · Rating 4 out of 5]

Janine Caldwell very graciously provided me with a copy of this book for review and I’m forever grateful she shared her novel with me. Thank you so much Ms. Caldwell!

I didn’t know anything about this book before starting it. I often prefer to do this with manuscripts I will be reviewing as I won’t have any pre-conceived notions or expectations before reading. When I sat down to begin the story, I had the feeling I was getting into another “teen romance” novel. However, right from the opening, the action, story and highly descriptive premise proved me wrong and instantly had me intrigued. I found myself quickly moving through the tale and not wanting to put the book down. I’ve read a lot of paranormal books, but never have I read one with a sci-fi premise such as this and I was delightfully surprised with how much I was immediately engaged in the narrative and plot. I am not a big sci-fi reader ordinarily, but this one was very different and very interesting. It’s light on the science fiction aspect and focuses more on the chronicle itself as well as the characters and their relationships. This may very well change my outlook on the sci-fi genre!

Ms. Caldwell does a phenomenal job of keeping your attention focused throughout the book. I never once felt a stagnant moment or section. This story is a “once in a lifetime”, “star-crossed lovers”, “destiny and fate” type love story but without the expected “cheesy” dialog and plot growth. Instead you find a very fresh and inviting perspective. It was very clear to me that the author had put a lot of thought into her novel before writing as the narrative felt very organized and had a naturally progressive story flow and character development. The characters grow right in tune with the story rather than independently of it.

The characters themselves were very diverse and complex, as they all have secrets and desires for you to discover as the book unfolds. Each character undoubtedly was well loved by the author as they all continuously flourish and meld with the story as it grows. This was reinforced by the method with which the author chose to write as she moved back and forth with the character perspectives allowing you to feel both main characters emotions in full. You get to know them intimately as you experience their feelings and understand their motives. The dialog was a lot of fun….incredibly witty, heartfelt, fanciful and contemporary all at the same time.

You will find action, romance, science fiction and just plain fun in this book. It was a very quick read as you are continuously pulled into the story and have a NEED to know what is going to happen next and why. The backdrop of Sedona is wonderfully described and its’ beauty can be felt just from the authors portrayal.

I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series! These characters stay with you and keep you wanting to know more about their fates! I’m waiting with bated breath to read “Double Fault”! I am truly vested in the characters, their plight and their love at this point and that really says it all for the book’s success! Brilliant job Ms. Caldwell, please keep these fantastic novels coming!

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review and many others can be found on my blog - Feed Your Fiction Addiction

Rematch is a sweet paranormal romance. Trent is a time traveler - he travels to the past to fix save people in danger. He is devastated when he thinks he is unable to save an 11-year-old girl from a shooting. However, once he returns home to the present, he meets Cassie and discovers that she is in fact the girl he attempted to save. Though she was still shot and has suffered some emotional damage because of it, she didn't die. Still, Trent can't shake his need to protect her - and to set things right in her life once and for all.

The negatives:

Hot and cold.
As often happens in YA novels for some reason, Trent felt he needed to be hot and cold toward Cassie. He was drawn to her and wanted to be with her, but he also feared that she might figure out who he was. So he went back and forth for a while between being very nice to Cassie (and seeming interested in her) and basically ignoring her. Luckily it didn't last too long in this book or it would have bugged me more.

What I loved:

Time travel.
I loved the concept of this book. The idea that Trent traveled back to the past and saved Cassie, but then met her again in the present was unique and interesting. I loved learning about Trent's time traveling - how it worked and how it affected him. It was especially interesting to see how it affected his sister Lorelai, since she was always left worrying about him when he disappeared!

Trent and Cassie.
The romance between Trent and Cassie was sweet. Trent felt protective of Cassie because he felt like he had somehow failed her by allowing her to get shot. So, he was drawn to her, but at the same time he felt like he needed to keep his distance in order to keep his secret safe. Cassie is also drawn to Trent - she has a flicker of a memory of him, but can't place where it comes from. Cassie struggles with self-confidence issues that stem from being shot when she was young, and she therefore doesn't always stand up for herself the way she should (especially when it comes to her jerk of a boyfriend, Jeff). But that gave her some room to grow throughout the series (which she definitely does). I loved seeing the romance bloom between Trent and Cassie and really felt for Trent when he made a rash decision and things went way wrong between them.

The ending.
I suspected that I knew where this book was going, but the ending headed in a different direction and surprised me, which I loved. This gave us a really great segue into the next book!

Rematch is a great romance with a paranormal twist for YA readers! I give it 4/5 stars.

***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***

[April Soos · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you had the power to change your fate, would you? Would you change the fate of someone you loved? Someone you felt could’ve lead a different, possibly much better, life if that one life-changing experience never occurred? Love is powerful, all-knowing, and eternal, right? In Rematch, the first book in The Vortex series, Janine Caldwell introduces us to a splay of characters that will hammer their way into your heart, who will make you consider things you never would’ve before.
Cassie Moore is a spectacular tennis player. But in one fateful moment, everything changes. Trent Astor is a time-traveler, a gift given to him due to a horrible circumstance but one he has come to realize as important. He is forced back in time, to random events of tragedy to save lives. Trent’s never failed, until someone he was supposed to save is shot. Thinking that he’s failed his duty, Trent, otherwise known as Jeremy, is completely taken aback to realize that his subject is indeed alive, but her life is different than it would’ve been…maybe.

I have to say, I was completely mind-blown by the journey Cassie and Trent/Jeremy take together. I was always on the edge of my seat, either laughing, anxious, or incredibly sad. It was such an amazing book, and it made me think on topics that I’ve never given much thought to. What happens when you feel you’ve somehow failed the one person you love the most? Would you change it, make things better for them? To be so self-sacrificing is beautiful to see, the whole goodness of the story makes me want to just hug everyone.

I feel the need to add Cassie and Trent/Jeremy are now officially on my list of favorite book couples. The world of high school they inhabit so reminded me of my own high school times, and I couldn’t help but smile at the fact that Cassie’s parents acted the way parents are supposed to. For once, we have caring parental figures, and it is totally refreshing! I loved the concern Cassie’s mother had for her, what mother shouldn’t be concerned when she thinks her teenaged daughter is head over heels in love?

Rematch really took me for a spin, it was my own personal “vortex”. It’s an enrapturing story, one that will make you feel everything the characters do. Janine Caldwell absolutely outdid herself in her debut novel. The world they live in, is incredibly real, the things they go through, are painfully realistic (both in a good and bad way). And best of all, love in this book, is eternal, forever, and true. Rematch will touch your heart, Janine Caldwell masterfully pulls you in and doesn’t let you go. I can tell you with upmost faith that Rematch will take your breath away!

[Pauline Ang · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally posted at Fathomless Reveries

Time traveling is one of the few supernatural aspects that I really like. I have no idea why, but the idea of being able to time-travel is really awesome. Not to mention that I love music-related plots, no matter how small it is, like if the main character is musically-inclined, it’s something that suits me well. Seeing that this book’s male protagonist, Trent, is both a musician and a time traveler made me excited to read this book. However, I think this time around, it just didn’t work for me.

Cassie was annoying in the way that she has no self-confidence, and just kept on doubting herself. She kept on thinking about all the what-ifs in life, and it got me irritated. She has a lot of insecurities, and I know she isn’t doing it on purpose, but it’s like she’s trying to fish for compliments to make herself feel better. The way she cares and worries for Trent was cute, though.

Trent was also too kept up in the past for what has happened to Cassie, and kept on doing things without asking for Cassie’s opinion. He should have known better the rules of becoming a time-traveler. Time is something not to be messed with, after all. I love his relationship with Lorelai, his sister, and I could just feel the sibling love they have. I hope that there were a lot more Lorelai-Trent scenes.

I didn’t like the love between Cassie and Trent, as it looked kind of an insta-love thing, and it didn’t make their relationship look more genuine. Not to mention that everything started to revolve around the two of them, and it seemed like the relationship with the outer world just stopped. Although, there were some interactions between the two of them that I found adorable.

Rematch is told on the perspective of both characters, but I found the alternating POVs somewhat confusing, especially when it’s not really written. I found myself skipping through some pages, most especially on Cassie’s POV, and wanting to read Trent’s POV more. I kept on waiting for something big to happen, most especially somewhere around the threat and danger from Trent’s powers because there was some mad scientist chasing after him, but it didn’t really happen.

Maybe I was just expecting more of time-traveling aspects rather than romance that’s why I didn’t like Rematch that much. I think I would have liked this better if I hadn’t have that expectation. Nevertheless, I think I’m going to still try reading the sequel, Double Fault, and hope that it’ll be something better for me.

[Chris Torretta · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is a cute, young adult. It starts off and it's so interesting and compelled me to continue turning pages but sadly the momentum didn't keep up with that introduction.

There's also not a whole lot behind the plot, lots of high school and boyfriend drama. I enjoyed reading about the characters but jumping back and forth between them was also a bit strange. I never felt like I really got a good handle on either character. I think this would have gone over better as a bubble gum type of high school drama, there is more drama in half of the book about high school than the time travel thing.

Jeff was the perfect antagonist and I actually loved to hate his character but it confused me that Cassie wasn't ready to jump into bed with him and yet the minute Trent enters the scene she goes all boy crazy ga ga and can't help but think about kissing him. Cassie seemed to really not have it together at all. I get not having a lot of confidence but this gal, she is a mess! I just wanted to smack her upside her head and tell her to forget ALL of the boys. Easier said than done when you're in high school, of course. But seriously, I felt like she really needed to find some inner strength instead of being the damsel in distress.

And Trent even had me confused and he was my favorite character! I understand sort of why he does the things he does but come on, a girl can only have so much to worry about and he was just adding to Cassie's issues. One second all hot and then the next all cold. Make up your mind! But, I thought the way they got around things like, money for instance, was brilliant. And although this is yet another book where the young adults do not have parents, at least it is explained AND Trent found a way to take care of himself and his sister. A++ in my book.

Ohh... and can we talk about instalove? Especially after what happened with Jeff? I get she didn't love that guy but come on. Have some remorse over it. I cannot stand insta love and she was all crazy and worried that he didn't like her and all this other stupid crap... Just drove me crazy!

Even with all that, the story was easy to read (minus Cassie being all worried all the time) and if I didn't think too much about the insta love. It's a teen pop kind of book with an interesting paranormal twist and a good ending.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rematch is the first title of three books of the Vortex series, personally, this book caught my eye for something in special: time travel, and the icing on the cake is that there was romance. A sweet romance and time travel that changed everything.

I really liked this first installment, was very easy and entertaining to read, in part different from what I usually read but I kept constant, the characters are well defined and added some ideas I found interesting. as this story begins? Well, first we have to Cassie, our sweet protagonist, friendly, dedicated and charming, but an unfortunate accident changed the course of their destiny and the other hand we have Trent, a handsome boy, orphaned along with her sister Lorelai, musician and in some moments a time traveler.

What happens if you past than you tried to fix meets you in PE class? Well that is what perhaps inevitably and the fate unites Cassie and Trent. the bad, a secret, the boyfriend of Cassie and ah yep, Trent in the past try to help Cassie.

A mixture of romance, time travel, teenage problems and sometimes humor with some uncertainty, you will find in this book is a nice give and take of the main characters very consistent with the story told by both parties: Cassie and Trent. It gives a modern twist and juvenile time makes you want to keep reading.

The love story is not going fast but not slow, flowing according to how the characters have to accommodate a twist of fate that Trent did not expect to happen and what will makes to Cassie waking from a deep sleep since the accident.

Although sometimes felt like something was missing or left over, the story goes in the right direction, the author’s way of writing is very good and their descriptions help clearly see the panorama. To be the beginning of a long history with 3 books and I found it interesting that touch that is needed to attract the reader to follow reading. His characters are easy to love, of identifying and have a favorite, mine: Lorelai and Trent, this pair made ​​my day!

If you like what tender with romantic touches, full of adventure and shaking in time, this book is for you.

REVIEW ON:ALL THINGS IN THE CLOUD SWEET

[Gabs · Rating 2 out of 5]

A free copy was received in exchange for an honest review.

If you would rather read a high school drama then a time travel novel, this book may be for you. Sadly, this was not the case for me, and so I was disappointed with this book.

That is not the only problem I have with Rematch, but it is the main one. So little of this book had to do with time travel; instead, there were breakups, kisses, and Homecoming. One would hope that in a book with a time traveler, time travel would play a major part in the plot. But until you neat the end, it is simply used as an obstacle in Trent/Jeremy and Cassie's relationship.

There is also insta-love in this book. It's not bad as other books, but immediately, the protagonists are attracted to each other, and their relationship moves very quickly after that. I love when romances slowly build up, but this happened all at once, and I didn't like it.

The plot was slow. There are many mundane scenes, like Cassie getting ready for school, Cassie getting a homecoming dress, Trent talking with his sister about her crush...there's not a ton of action in the book, aside from the very beginning. Again, shouldn't time travel be more adventurous, more exciting? Shouldn't there be more heart pounding scenes with Trent saving people's lives? There's only two of those scenes in the whole book.

I didn't see Cassie as a very strong character. I could understand why the author portrayed her that way because she went through a very traumatic experience when she was younger, but I would at least liked to have seen a bit more personality from her. Kissing Trent really wasn't cutting it for me. I felt like she was almost always a damsel in distress, and calling Trent 'her own personal hero' wasn't really helping that.

I did not hate this book. I never felt the urge to throw it across the room. But I did not like it very much. I am hoping the sequel will be better, because something that did have to do with time travel happened at the end of the book. Fingers crossed!

[Shayna Varadeaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off I am not a huge tennis fan but I was intrigued by these books since I first caught wind of them.

Rematch was really great and tennis is like a sideline story to Trent's unusual abilities and family life. I loved the premise and plot it was new and fresh. I have read time travel books and this series is unique in alot of ways.

I loved Cassie, the story is a s much hers as it is Trent's. He and his sister Lorelai are settling into their new life yet again, the life of a time traveler tends to be risky due to power hungry people.
All of the characters were well rounded and I loved the musical element to the story as well. The rocker vibe from Trent or should I say Jeremy was awesome! Incorporating Lorelai's story in there was a very great idea on the authors part.

I like that we get a good look at Cassie's life before their paths cross for the second time. She is starting her senior year along with her best friend Kelli and boyfriend Jeff. Things are not so great with her recently rejected boyfriend. Cassie has issues due to her past and what she went through and Trent is shocked to be face to face with the girl he thought he let down in one of his heroic time travels. He tries to play it cool but is shocked. Cassie is attracted to Trent or Jeremy which is his alias in this new life. But she is also trying to place where she has seen him before.

By end of this book the plot had twisted and thickened making it an intriguing and all around good book! Can you say oh my cliffhanger! Seriously happy I don't have to wait for Double Fault!

I really loved the way this all played out it was sweet and rough all at the same time! I would read this book again and plan on recommending it top my own teenagers and anyone who loves YA as much as I do. A really good read!

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved time travel romance and I really enjoyed reading this series because of it's uniqueness. I think this is the second YA I've read that involves time traveling because most time travel I've read were more historical.

Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down and when I've reached the ending I was like no! Luckily, I still have the last two books of the series and it wouldn't be a cliffhanger.

I find that the life of Trent/Jeremy Astor totally unique and what he'd gained/ experienced is not the kind of bargain he would have in exchange for such a consequences but then again I doubt he would have met Cassie twice. Once in the past and the other in the present. I liked that the book contained dual POVs to understand these characters more especially Trent situation. It gives us readers a better understanding on how he deals with his life and how he views his relationships with Cassie. Despite wanting to protect Cassie from the dangers I hoped that if you love someone in his case he loves Cassie he would still want to be with her and enjoy her time and not dwell on the future and what if's but live in the present. I liked Cassie's character you can really relate to her with the typical teen problems but what I like about her is she has a strong resolve in things despite what she experienced in the past. They are perfect for each other and their romance is on the right pace for me but I would love to see more of them.

And let's just say that I'm wishing for a twist to the story because Trent's choices although he thinks it's the best for Cassie isn't probably the right choice and I feel that because of his decision he would change everything to something worst. In a way, I'm both excited and dreading reading "Double Fault".

I received a copy from YA Bound Book Tour in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the last week, I've read the entire trilogy, so this will actually be a review over the trilogy as a whole.

I really enjoyed it. I have really gotten into the whole time travel/sci-fi YA scene lately, and I especially love time travel books that have their own take on the phenomenon. The Vortex series turned it into almost a paranormal ability given to Trent (Jeremy) by nature. I really loved this take on it!

The only thing that was a little annoying was the whole "Twilight" feel to the basic plot. This didn't last long, and its not a Twilight knock off, but it has that old tired paranormal boy-with-powers-saves-normal-girl-who-then-falls-in-love-with-him-but-he-must-stay-away-or-she-will-be-in-danger thing. This was really the only negative I could find with the books, and it didn't bother me that much. After it gets going, that whole comparison disappears anyway, because the rest of the story is so unique!

The story is a dual POV between Cassie and Trent, which I really liked. It was nice to see Trent's side of things, especially when he was acting like a total boy and I just wanted to shake him! Overall, I did like him, but I didn't feel that "book boyfriend" connection I wanted. Later in the books that becomes more clear! Cassie was a great MC, and my favorite character without a doubt. I also really loved Trent's sister, Lorelai. She was probably the most complex character in the story. All the other characters are pretty bit parts and don't play a huge role. The story is really about Trent, Cassie and Lorelei.

This was a great read, and if you are into time travel or sci-fi, I definitely recommend it!