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Seeking Mansfield #2
Shoot the Moon
"Smart writing, complex characters, and high stakes abound--this sharp, clever novel is both fast-paced and heartbreaking." - Brittany Cavallaro, #1 NYT Bestselling Author of The Charlotte Holmes series
Despite what his brother and sponsor think, Tate isn't an addict. He has the 30-day chip to prove it. But when his father learns Tate's been running an illegal card room out of a friend's dorm to pay off old gambling debts, Tate is cut off. With his family no longer talking to him, his aunt Nora offers him a chance to intern for her political campaign.
Juggling school with the intense internship, Tate finds himself buying scratch-off lottery tickets to take the edge off. Tate is surprised to find the beautiful and calculating Alex Wolf--his first crush and the girl who taught him how to gamble--volunteering with Nora's campaign, too. Soon, Tate is more drawn to Alex than ever. Her mind games stick in his head, but her vulnerable, softer side gets into his heart.
But as tensions rise along the campaign trail, Tate is forced to question whether he's really addiction-free, after all.
Despite what his brother and sponsor think, Tate isn't an addict. He has the 30-day chip to prove it. But when his father learns Tate's been running an illegal card room out of a friend's dorm to pay off old gambling debts, Tate is cut off. With his family no longer talking to him, his aunt Nora offers him a chance to intern for her political campaign.
Juggling school with the intense internship, Tate finds himself buying scratch-off lottery tickets to take the edge off. Tate is surprised to find the beautiful and calculating Alex Wolf--his first crush and the girl who taught him how to gamble--volunteering with Nora's campaign, too. Soon, Tate is more drawn to Alex than ever. Her mind games stick in his head, but her vulnerable, softer side gets into his heart.
But as tensions rise along the campaign trail, Tate is forced to question whether he's really addiction-free, after all.
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2018
About the author
Kate Watson
18 books797 followersKate Watson is a fan of cheeky romantic comedies and delightfully witty banter. Originally from Canada, she attended college in the States and holds a BA in Philosophy from Brigham Young University. A lover of travel, speaking in accents, and experiencing new cultures, she has also lived in Israel, Brazil, the American South, and she now calls Arizona home.
She started writing at six years old and sold her first book, "The Heart People," for $0.25 to her parents. It received rave reviews. Since then, she's written many books, including the acclaimed Off Script, a 2020 Junior Library Guild selection. She writes stories full of heart, humor, and happily-ever-afters.
She is currently living her own happily-ever-after with her super cute husband and their four wild and wonderful kids. She runs on caffeine, swoons, and Jesus.
*Please note that this account does not accept friend requests to prevent conflict with Amazon's review policies.*
She started writing at six years old and sold her first book, "The Heart People," for $0.25 to her parents. It received rave reviews. Since then, she's written many books, including the acclaimed Off Script, a 2020 Junior Library Guild selection. She writes stories full of heart, humor, and happily-ever-afters.
She is currently living her own happily-ever-after with her super cute husband and their four wild and wonderful kids. She runs on caffeine, swoons, and Jesus.
*Please note that this account does not accept friend requests to prevent conflict with Amazon's review policies.*
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 2, 2020
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Flux books for allowing me to read and review “Shoot the Moon” by Kate Watson. What an insightful look at addiction. I can’t remember the last time I read a book that so deeply takes us into the numbing, heart-pounding world of brain-chemistry changing addiction, where just the mention of a trigger, a let-down during the course of the day, or just not having enough to DO can cause that itch to beg incessantly to be scratched. Kate Watson illustrated that so beautifully through Tate’s struggles and eventual management of his disease.
And the plotting and narrative of this was so nicely done. I loved the creativity in the characters of the Wolfs, of Alex, the angry daughter who is out to hurt everyone she touches, the toxic parents, the campaign pitting two relatives by marriage against one another that exposes all sorts of dirt. The mafia and the secrets that they hold and use. This was entertaining and brilliantly plotted. An entertaining treat from start to finish.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Please excuse typos. Entered on screen reader.
And the plotting and narrative of this was so nicely done. I loved the creativity in the characters of the Wolfs, of Alex, the angry daughter who is out to hurt everyone she touches, the toxic parents, the campaign pitting two relatives by marriage against one another that exposes all sorts of dirt. The mafia and the secrets that they hold and use. This was entertaining and brilliantly plotted. An entertaining treat from start to finish.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the author.
Please excuse typos. Entered on screen reader.
September 14, 2017
Loved loved this book so much! Amazing characterization, gut-punchy story line, and a Byronic hero who matches wits against the best and brightest in Chicago. Five stars must read.
November 9, 2017
The good
Again, Kate Watson's writing showed to be very fluent. If there's one thing that immediately pops up when I see her name somewhere it's "Darn, her books read fast!" without a doubt. It didn't take me long at all to finish Shoot the Moon and I honestly love it when I can read a book at such a fast pace.
While Kate Watson's first book, Seeking Mansfield, was a book that made you fall in love with the MC, this novel is completely different. I've never been so frustrated with a main character in my life!
Tate is an addict, a gambling addict to be precise. The only problem? He doesn't realize it, won't admit it and keeps messing everything up. Not only for himself, but for everyone around him as well. If there's one word to describe him, self-destructive would be the perfect match. That being said, you might imagine that I sometimes had the urge to pull my hair when he caused trouble for himself and others again.
Although this might cause others do stop reading, do dislike the whole novel, I didn't have the same reaction. On the contrary. It pulled me in even more. I got intrigued to find out how everything would turn out. Would Tate realize his problem? Admit to it? Or would he be stuck in his bubble forever and, with that, throw his life away?
Apart from Tate, we have Alex, the niece of his aunt who introduced Tate to card games when they were thirteen. It was clear that she had her problems as well since she had a hard time showing her true feelings and kept playing with everything and everyone around her.
Both being part of their aunt's political campaign, they have to find a way to cope with each other and their problems. But there's more going on. Aunt Nora's opponent - Alex' father - isn't the good family man he appears to be and Tate is on a mission to find out what he's hiding. Doing his research, trying to nurse his gambling addiction and juggling school it's only a matter of time before everything starts falling apart around him.
The bad
Tate's gambling addiction, specifically poker, pops up quite a bit. There are more than just a few games being played throughout this novel and it went way above my head at times. I don't know all the poker terms, the rules and the what's what of poker. Unfortunately that made me skim some of the novel, simply because I didn't feel like trying to understand what was going on when Tate was playing poker..
It honestly did make me enjoy the novel a bit less, but I still enjoyed it. I loved Seeking Mansfield, I quite liked Shoot the Moon. Now that I had both Oliver's and Tate's story, I'm definitely curious to see what Kate Watson will bring us next!
4 / 5!
I received an eARC of this novel through NetGalley. This doesn't influence my opinion of this novel at all. I'm not being compensated in any way.
Again, Kate Watson's writing showed to be very fluent. If there's one thing that immediately pops up when I see her name somewhere it's "Darn, her books read fast!" without a doubt. It didn't take me long at all to finish Shoot the Moon and I honestly love it when I can read a book at such a fast pace.
While Kate Watson's first book, Seeking Mansfield, was a book that made you fall in love with the MC, this novel is completely different. I've never been so frustrated with a main character in my life!
Tate is an addict, a gambling addict to be precise. The only problem? He doesn't realize it, won't admit it and keeps messing everything up. Not only for himself, but for everyone around him as well. If there's one word to describe him, self-destructive would be the perfect match. That being said, you might imagine that I sometimes had the urge to pull my hair when he caused trouble for himself and others again.
Although this might cause others do stop reading, do dislike the whole novel, I didn't have the same reaction. On the contrary. It pulled me in even more. I got intrigued to find out how everything would turn out. Would Tate realize his problem? Admit to it? Or would he be stuck in his bubble forever and, with that, throw his life away?
Apart from Tate, we have Alex, the niece of his aunt who introduced Tate to card games when they were thirteen. It was clear that she had her problems as well since she had a hard time showing her true feelings and kept playing with everything and everyone around her.
Both being part of their aunt's political campaign, they have to find a way to cope with each other and their problems. But there's more going on. Aunt Nora's opponent - Alex' father - isn't the good family man he appears to be and Tate is on a mission to find out what he's hiding. Doing his research, trying to nurse his gambling addiction and juggling school it's only a matter of time before everything starts falling apart around him.
The bad
Tate's gambling addiction, specifically poker, pops up quite a bit. There are more than just a few games being played throughout this novel and it went way above my head at times. I don't know all the poker terms, the rules and the what's what of poker. Unfortunately that made me skim some of the novel, simply because I didn't feel like trying to understand what was going on when Tate was playing poker..
It honestly did make me enjoy the novel a bit less, but I still enjoyed it. I loved Seeking Mansfield, I quite liked Shoot the Moon. Now that I had both Oliver's and Tate's story, I'm definitely curious to see what Kate Watson will bring us next!
4 / 5!
I received an eARC of this novel through NetGalley. This doesn't influence my opinion of this novel at all. I'm not being compensated in any way.
August 22, 2017
Listen. I may be biased, and all, but this book is pretty freaking rad. With poker, mafia corruption, family intrigue, and political espionage, it's darker than SEEKING MANSFIELD, but it also poses an interesting question about dudes peeing on their feet in the shower, so, you know. You should probably read it and find out the answer.
(For the record, Tate Bertram does not pee on on his feet, either in the shower or elsewhere, because gross.)
(For the record, Tate Bertram does not pee on on his feet, either in the shower or elsewhere, because gross.)
September 14, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and North Star Editions got read and review. All opinions are my own.
Review to come.
Review to come.
November 5, 2017
SHOOT THE MOON is a witty-banter-lover's dream. And I looooooove witty banter. Along with the epic political intrigue, fully immersive gambling world, and beautifully crafted addiction storyline, SHOOT THE MOON has my favourite kind of romance--the kind where two very intelligent, witty, flawed characters talk the pants off each other (pun intended, hehehe) through sarcasm, bossyness, and intellectual chatter. And to make it even better, Kate Watson takes this trope and twists it in a highly realistic way that I won't spoil except to say that the relationships in SHOOT THE MOON are just as brilliantly complex as those in the first book, SEEKING MANSFIELD.
I also thought SHOOT THE MOON handled addiction masterfully. I adore unreliable, unlikeable narrators, and Tate is no exception. At the start of the book, Tate is complete denial about his gambling addiction, full of himself, and confident that he has things under control. And his gradual realisation that he's not so in control after all isn't heavy-handed or preachy; Tate's growth as a character happens over the course of the book in realistic and compelling ways. Even after he realises he has a problem, fixing that problem becomes a whole other story, and every relapse hurt my heart.
Along with these deeply emotional issues of relationships and addiction, SHOOT THE MOON has an exciting political intrigue plot that sucked me in and made me unable to turn the pages fast enough.
Just writing this review and thinking about the book is making me feel giddy. I definitely loved this one.
I also thought SHOOT THE MOON handled addiction masterfully. I adore unreliable, unlikeable narrators, and Tate is no exception. At the start of the book, Tate is complete denial about his gambling addiction, full of himself, and confident that he has things under control. And his gradual realisation that he's not so in control after all isn't heavy-handed or preachy; Tate's growth as a character happens over the course of the book in realistic and compelling ways. Even after he realises he has a problem, fixing that problem becomes a whole other story, and every relapse hurt my heart.
Along with these deeply emotional issues of relationships and addiction, SHOOT THE MOON has an exciting political intrigue plot that sucked me in and made me unable to turn the pages fast enough.
Just writing this review and thinking about the book is making me feel giddy. I definitely loved this one.
June 17, 2017
Much different than its companion novel, Shoot the Moon takes a look at perhaps the darker side of Chicago. I thought the tension and character development and dynamics were so great in this novel! Keep it on your radars for next year.
September 24, 2017
First, thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC.
Secondly, damn. I MEAN DAMN. Any writer who can take an unlikable douchebag character and humanize them, then make me actively root for them should get all the stars in the world for their books. In this case, this is worthy of five fist pumping stars.
I'm going to have to do a reread with this to pick up on all the poker details, especially after reading the glossary at the back. If you're only sort of acquainted with poker (in that I've watched many hours of the World Poker Tour with my dad but there was still SO MUCH I didn't know), read the glossary in the back first, as that will help you understand the dozens of terms thrown around.
Until I can reread the final product, I'm just going to say that I'm so happy this book exists, it definitely made me cry, and I need more Bertram stories in my life (hey Kate, a third one then...?)
Secondly, damn. I MEAN DAMN. Any writer who can take an unlikable douchebag character and humanize them, then make me actively root for them should get all the stars in the world for their books. In this case, this is worthy of five fist pumping stars.
I'm going to have to do a reread with this to pick up on all the poker details, especially after reading the glossary at the back. If you're only sort of acquainted with poker (in that I've watched many hours of the World Poker Tour with my dad but there was still SO MUCH I didn't know), read the glossary in the back first, as that will help you understand the dozens of terms thrown around.
Until I can reread the final product, I'm just going to say that I'm so happy this book exists, it definitely made me cry, and I need more Bertram stories in my life (hey Kate, a third one then...?)
October 4, 2017
Although it's a companion novel, this story stands separate from Seeking Mansfield. It continues the story of the Bertram's oldest son, Tate, a gambling addict who isn't as much in recovery as in denial. It's darker in tone, yet it has the same cleverness and wit as Seeking Mansfield. Tate is a mess, but he's also just...cool. I love when Alex tells him he's "pathologically incapable of making the smart choice." It's such a biting line. And Alex is his perfect foil. She's a wonderful character--flawed and occasionally cruel and often heartbreaking.
I was worried I was going to hate Tate because of some of his actions on the Finley-Oliver front, but it actually fit his character and their arc really well. Also, Finley keeps being awesome in this book, so I enjoyed that.
Tate's sponsor, Nia--Detective Tafolo--is easily one of the best characters in the book (also, loved the Pacific Islander rep!). She calls Tate on his crap (something I noticed is consistent in the women Tate surrounds himself with), forces him to examine his choices, and is crucial to his development throughout the story.
Watson didn't pull punches in dealing with Tate's addiction, and at times, she evokes an almost visceral reaction as she describes Tate's withdrawals and need to gamble. Those scenes were powerful.
The allusions to Great Expectations were appreciated and very well done. Watson weaves them throughout her story masterfully.
Basically, I loved this book.
I was worried I was going to hate Tate because of some of his actions on the Finley-Oliver front, but it actually fit his character and their arc really well. Also, Finley keeps being awesome in this book, so I enjoyed that.
Tate's sponsor, Nia--Detective Tafolo--is easily one of the best characters in the book (also, loved the Pacific Islander rep!). She calls Tate on his crap (something I noticed is consistent in the women Tate surrounds himself with), forces him to examine his choices, and is crucial to his development throughout the story.
Watson didn't pull punches in dealing with Tate's addiction, and at times, she evokes an almost visceral reaction as she describes Tate's withdrawals and need to gamble. Those scenes were powerful.
The allusions to Great Expectations were appreciated and very well done. Watson weaves them throughout her story masterfully.
Basically, I loved this book.
September 6, 2017
Mini review:
DNF
I received this E-ARC via the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have read the previous book. I liked Seeking Mansfield and of course requested this one. Unfortunately it wasn't for me.
I didn't mind it in the beginning. I felt that the author dealt with Tate's addiction very well. After some time Tate began to get on my nerves. I especially didn't like how he manipulated Finley.
This was a personal thing so I still recommend.
DNF
I received this E-ARC via the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have read the previous book. I liked Seeking Mansfield and of course requested this one. Unfortunately it wasn't for me.
I didn't mind it in the beginning. I felt that the author dealt with Tate's addiction very well. After some time Tate began to get on my nerves. I especially didn't like how he manipulated Finley.
This was a personal thing so I still recommend.
October 23, 2017
Goodreads Synopsis:
Despite what his brother—and sponsor—thinks, nineteen year-old Tate Bertram isn’t an addict. He has the 30-day chip to prove it. But when his father learns Tate’s been running an illegal card room out of a friend’s dorm to pay off old gambling debts, Tate is cut off. With his family no longer talking to him, his aunt Nora offers him a chance to intern for her political campaign. Juggling school with the intense internship, Tate finds himself buying scratch-off lottery tickets to take the edge off.
Tate is surprised to find the beautiful and calculating Alex Wolf—his first crush and the girl who taught him how to gamble—volunteering with Nora’s campaign, too. Soon, Tate is more drawn to Alex than ever. Her mind games stick in his head, but her vulnerable, softer side gets into his heart. But as tensions rise along the campaign trail, Tate is forced to question whether he’s really addiction-free, after all.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS meets ROUNDERS in this high stakes tale of the cost of winning and the price of redemption.
My Review:
I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
First off, let me say how much I love the characters. The main character in this book, Tate, has changed so much even through the first book. I'm really glad I got to know him in this way. The setting is a bit more plain that other books I've been reading lately, but it's exciting and really a breathe of fresh air. I absolutely loved this book.
Unlike "Seeking Mansfield", the main character is Tate, rather than switching viewpoints between his brother and adopted sister. As the eldest brother of the family, he struggles with life because of his full blown gambling addiction. He tends to stay away from anyone he cares about because he doesn't want to hurt them. It's not that he doesn't care about them, quite the opposite actually. He just feels it's safer for them if he keeps his distance, especially after his incident in the last book. I was sucked into the story from the very beginning and didn't want to put it down for a second, even after finishing the other book and immediately moving onto this one.
Although the two books aren't directly connected story wise, many characters from the other story are in this. It gives you a chance to get to know them from a different point of view and really just gives you more time to love them. They fight against themselves for various reasons every day and seem very realistic, although they've been through some tough times, seem to handle themselves pretty well. Tate is the one character I wished I got to know better, and this book gives you exactly that. He's a really cool person and uses a lot of the skills he learned from gambling in his everyday life, which gives him kind of a new outlook on things.
Although gambling makes him feel lighter than air, just being around the chips, the money, and the smell of the cards makes him feel good. He denies any help he can get although he knows he needs it. In the book he tries helping out his aunt Nora in her campaign, and meets some people he would rather stay away from, from his past. Honestly most of the book is Tate's downward spiral, but everything that happens just makes you want to read more into it, and you just know he'll figure everything out by the end.
Like I said earlier, I absolutely love this book and although I picked it mostly for the description and the amazing eye catching cover, I'm glad I got the chance to read it. You don't have to read "Seeking Mansfield", although this book is kind of a follow up, you wouldn't be lost just reading this book by itself. Definitely check it out if you get the chance!
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
Despite what his brother—and sponsor—thinks, nineteen year-old Tate Bertram isn’t an addict. He has the 30-day chip to prove it. But when his father learns Tate’s been running an illegal card room out of a friend’s dorm to pay off old gambling debts, Tate is cut off. With his family no longer talking to him, his aunt Nora offers him a chance to intern for her political campaign. Juggling school with the intense internship, Tate finds himself buying scratch-off lottery tickets to take the edge off.
Tate is surprised to find the beautiful and calculating Alex Wolf—his first crush and the girl who taught him how to gamble—volunteering with Nora’s campaign, too. Soon, Tate is more drawn to Alex than ever. Her mind games stick in his head, but her vulnerable, softer side gets into his heart. But as tensions rise along the campaign trail, Tate is forced to question whether he’s really addiction-free, after all.
GREAT EXPECTATIONS meets ROUNDERS in this high stakes tale of the cost of winning and the price of redemption.
My Review:
I received a copy of this from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
First off, let me say how much I love the characters. The main character in this book, Tate, has changed so much even through the first book. I'm really glad I got to know him in this way. The setting is a bit more plain that other books I've been reading lately, but it's exciting and really a breathe of fresh air. I absolutely loved this book.
Unlike "Seeking Mansfield", the main character is Tate, rather than switching viewpoints between his brother and adopted sister. As the eldest brother of the family, he struggles with life because of his full blown gambling addiction. He tends to stay away from anyone he cares about because he doesn't want to hurt them. It's not that he doesn't care about them, quite the opposite actually. He just feels it's safer for them if he keeps his distance, especially after his incident in the last book. I was sucked into the story from the very beginning and didn't want to put it down for a second, even after finishing the other book and immediately moving onto this one.
Although the two books aren't directly connected story wise, many characters from the other story are in this. It gives you a chance to get to know them from a different point of view and really just gives you more time to love them. They fight against themselves for various reasons every day and seem very realistic, although they've been through some tough times, seem to handle themselves pretty well. Tate is the one character I wished I got to know better, and this book gives you exactly that. He's a really cool person and uses a lot of the skills he learned from gambling in his everyday life, which gives him kind of a new outlook on things.
Although gambling makes him feel lighter than air, just being around the chips, the money, and the smell of the cards makes him feel good. He denies any help he can get although he knows he needs it. In the book he tries helping out his aunt Nora in her campaign, and meets some people he would rather stay away from, from his past. Honestly most of the book is Tate's downward spiral, but everything that happens just makes you want to read more into it, and you just know he'll figure everything out by the end.
Like I said earlier, I absolutely love this book and although I picked it mostly for the description and the amazing eye catching cover, I'm glad I got the chance to read it. You don't have to read "Seeking Mansfield", although this book is kind of a follow up, you wouldn't be lost just reading this book by itself. Definitely check it out if you get the chance!
Thanks for reading! Check out this review and more at my blog.
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)
October 11, 2017
I had great expectations for this novel, and was not disappointed! ;)
There is so much to love about this book! First, it's a retelling of GREAT EXPECTATIONS, plus poker. Watson was able to not only update the classic, but made it fresh and interesting and frankly, a little addicting. The story developed quickly, with plenty of twists and turns. With each new revelation, the tension was high and the stakes higher for each of the characters.
Tate Bertram is the quintessential bad boy. He's handsome and charming and so conceited, yet there is a depth to this character that you can't help but cheer for. Even when he was in denial about his addiction, there were glimmers of the person behind the poker game, and I loved how I could be both angry at his choices and fascinated by them at the same time. The relationships between the Bertram family, Tate's aunt Nora, and the ice queen Alex, were so real and complex. These characters felt like real, flawed people, and I cared about each of their choices.
Watson does a tremendous job getting inside the mind and heart of an addict. The story showcases the complexity of addiction as well as the difficulty of recovery, with honesty and nuance. The poker details add a rich layer of complexity to the novel as well. Familiar characters from SEEKING MANSFIELD make an appearance in the novel, but this story stands on its own for readers who have not read the companion novel.
An outstanding novel--not to be missed!
There is so much to love about this book! First, it's a retelling of GREAT EXPECTATIONS, plus poker. Watson was able to not only update the classic, but made it fresh and interesting and frankly, a little addicting. The story developed quickly, with plenty of twists and turns. With each new revelation, the tension was high and the stakes higher for each of the characters.
Tate Bertram is the quintessential bad boy. He's handsome and charming and so conceited, yet there is a depth to this character that you can't help but cheer for. Even when he was in denial about his addiction, there were glimmers of the person behind the poker game, and I loved how I could be both angry at his choices and fascinated by them at the same time. The relationships between the Bertram family, Tate's aunt Nora, and the ice queen Alex, were so real and complex. These characters felt like real, flawed people, and I cared about each of their choices.
Watson does a tremendous job getting inside the mind and heart of an addict. The story showcases the complexity of addiction as well as the difficulty of recovery, with honesty and nuance. The poker details add a rich layer of complexity to the novel as well. Familiar characters from SEEKING MANSFIELD make an appearance in the novel, but this story stands on its own for readers who have not read the companion novel.
An outstanding novel--not to be missed!
November 14, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed Kate Watson's Seeking Mansfield, so I had high hopes for Tate Bertram's story in Shoot the Moon. It did not disappoint! As a contemporary read, it was fast-paced, but the real draw for me was the characters. I loved seeing Finley Price and Oliver Bertram again, but Tate was a revelation. His struggle with gambling felt very real, and I fully bought his exhilaration for the game. He was interesting, complex, and a joy to follow through the story.
November 24, 2017
Shoot the Moon is a companion novel to Seeking Mansfield. It follows Tate Bertram, only a secondary character in book one, as he struggles with a gambling addiction, trying to keep his grades up at school, and interning on his aunt's political campaign. All that, plus the political competition might have ties to the mob! This book was so fun!
I really enjoyed this book - maybe even more than Seeking Mansfield! I enjoyed Tate's characters development, especially how Watson made sure that his gambling addiction wasn't just *poof* fixed, but that he had to struggle through it.
I also appreciate that she wrote about poker so much, but did so in a way that someone who knows nothing about poker (*ahem* me) wasn't completely lost or bored by it all.
I can't wait to see what Watson comes up with next!
*I received a digital ARC of Shoot the Moon via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I really enjoyed this book - maybe even more than Seeking Mansfield! I enjoyed Tate's characters development, especially how Watson made sure that his gambling addiction wasn't just *poof* fixed, but that he had to struggle through it.
I also appreciate that she wrote about poker so much, but did so in a way that someone who knows nothing about poker (*ahem* me) wasn't completely lost or bored by it all.
I can't wait to see what Watson comes up with next!
*I received a digital ARC of Shoot the Moon via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
December 4, 2017
I received a copy of this title via NetGalley. It does not impact my review.
Last year I read and loved the first book in this series, Seeking Mansfield, and I was so excited to find out there was a sequel. While Shoot the Moon was not quite the light and fluffy read I was expecting, I still really enjoyed it.
This books focuses on Tate, Oliver’s older brother. I loved how witty and sarcastic he was. He could also be kind of awful, but in a fun way. I loved watching his journey throughout the book. He had many ups and downs and by the end I felt like he was really heading in the right direction. I initially was excited in seeing Oliver and Finley again, but I felt disappointed in what we got from them. I don’t consider this a spoiler because we find out in the very first chapter (but skip ahead if you don’t want to be spoiled at all!) that Oliver and Finley have broken up! And then there’s a brief thing with Tate and Finley that had been hinted at in the previous book, but actually goes further. There’s a little more back and forth with Oliver and Finley, but they didn’t really play a big part in the overall story of this one.
One character I really didn’t care for at all was Tate’s new love interest, Alex. Though we know how insecure she really is, it still really frustrated me when she lashed out at Tate. She came across as very unkind and manipulative and I just couldn’t like her at all, though she did get a little better by the end of the book. Still, I do not think that she and Tate were a good match. I felt like if they wanted to be together they still had so much growing up to do and they weren’t there by the end of the book. For awhile I thought it was looking like Tate would end the book single and I was actually pretty excited about that, but I don’t think it’s a surprise to say that that didn’t happen.
There were a lot of poker terms included in this. There is a glossary of terms in the back of the book which I perused before I started reading, but I find it too difficult to go back and forth with e-books so I was often lost when there were passages with lots of poker terms. While I appreciate the authenticity Watson was going for in including them, I felt like it could have been edited down a lot. It’s one of those instances where it felt more like the author wanted to show how much research she had done, then it being really relevant to the progression of the story. There is also a lot of politics in the story. I thought it was a little heavy handed at times. Depending on your particular political bent you will either really enjoy it or be kind of annoyed by it.
Overall, while Shoot the Moon was not the follow-up to Seeking Mansfield I expected, I still enjoyed it. I really loved Tate. Even when the story lost my interest occasionally, Tate still made me want to keep reading. Though this isn’t the light read that the first book was, I would still definitely recommend it to fans of Seeking Mansfield. I am looking forward to reading more from Kate Watson.
Overall Rating (out of 5): 3.5 Stars
Last year I read and loved the first book in this series, Seeking Mansfield, and I was so excited to find out there was a sequel. While Shoot the Moon was not quite the light and fluffy read I was expecting, I still really enjoyed it.
This books focuses on Tate, Oliver’s older brother. I loved how witty and sarcastic he was. He could also be kind of awful, but in a fun way. I loved watching his journey throughout the book. He had many ups and downs and by the end I felt like he was really heading in the right direction. I initially was excited in seeing Oliver and Finley again, but I felt disappointed in what we got from them. I don’t consider this a spoiler because we find out in the very first chapter (but skip ahead if you don’t want to be spoiled at all!) that Oliver and Finley have broken up! And then there’s a brief thing with Tate and Finley that had been hinted at in the previous book, but actually goes further. There’s a little more back and forth with Oliver and Finley, but they didn’t really play a big part in the overall story of this one.
One character I really didn’t care for at all was Tate’s new love interest, Alex. Though we know how insecure she really is, it still really frustrated me when she lashed out at Tate. She came across as very unkind and manipulative and I just couldn’t like her at all, though she did get a little better by the end of the book. Still, I do not think that she and Tate were a good match. I felt like if they wanted to be together they still had so much growing up to do and they weren’t there by the end of the book. For awhile I thought it was looking like Tate would end the book single and I was actually pretty excited about that, but I don’t think it’s a surprise to say that that didn’t happen.
There were a lot of poker terms included in this. There is a glossary of terms in the back of the book which I perused before I started reading, but I find it too difficult to go back and forth with e-books so I was often lost when there were passages with lots of poker terms. While I appreciate the authenticity Watson was going for in including them, I felt like it could have been edited down a lot. It’s one of those instances where it felt more like the author wanted to show how much research she had done, then it being really relevant to the progression of the story. There is also a lot of politics in the story. I thought it was a little heavy handed at times. Depending on your particular political bent you will either really enjoy it or be kind of annoyed by it.
Overall, while Shoot the Moon was not the follow-up to Seeking Mansfield I expected, I still enjoyed it. I really loved Tate. Even when the story lost my interest occasionally, Tate still made me want to keep reading. Though this isn’t the light read that the first book was, I would still definitely recommend it to fans of Seeking Mansfield. I am looking forward to reading more from Kate Watson.
Overall Rating (out of 5): 3.5 Stars
September 11, 2018
This is one of the best cover —> story realizations I’ve ever seen. What I see:
1. A little James Bond
2. A conflicted boy who is still figuring himself out
3. A little danger when you slip too far into the abyss
I loved this book and Tate Bertram! A solid story from start to finish!
1. A little James Bond
2. A conflicted boy who is still figuring himself out
3. A little danger when you slip too far into the abyss
I loved this book and Tate Bertram! A solid story from start to finish!
January 11, 2019
I loved Seeking Mansfield, and so when I learned Watson was producing a second book with some of the same characters, I was so excited! This second book dove into a grittier and more complex plot than the first and I loved that. You know you've got a complex and real (possibly familiar) character in your hands when you're physically pained being along for the ride of self-sabotage. I found it interesting that some readers hate the main character, when it’s the disease (addiction) that is the villain; Tate is a deep, brilliant, kind character who aches to be accepted and loved by those he cares for, but his disease gets in the way of this. Being along for the ride was definitely uncomfortable in moments, so maybe that is why he didn’t get the rave reviews (give him a chance and get to know him!). If you want to smack Tate, then the author has given you someone that makes you feel something. I also love the setting of Chicago, the poker element, and the exposure to what addicts’ experience. I feel like I learned so many new things along the way. I had a hard time embracing any of Tate and Finley’s romantic dynamic because I fell so hard for Finley and Oliver’s romance in Seeking Mansfield. I did love how their relationship impacted Tate and Oliver’s relationship as brothers, though. Even in the “villain-iest” characters in the story, Watson gave you something to empathize with which made them complex and more real. Loved it! Would recommend!
November 15, 2017
SHOOT THE MOON was such an engaging, unique story. It pulled me in from the first page and I loved it all the way to the last. Kate Watson is fantastic at characterization. Tate Bertram is so complex, flawed, and relatable that you can’t help but root for him. And every other character in the book is just as skillfully written. Add all of that to a high-stakes plot—gambling addiction, mafia ties, politics!—along with a swoony romance, and you’ve got a book that’s not only hard to put down, but also impossible to forget.
December 14, 2017
SEEKING MANSFIELD was one of my very favorite 2017 debut novels, and author Kate Watson has certainly cemented herself as one of my favorite contemporary authors with her sophomore novel SHOOT THE MOON.
This story is equal parts entertaining and moving and brought me to tears more than once! Following Tate Bertram on his journey through gambling addiction, love, and self discovery was such a lovely and heartrending experience. I can't recommend this book highly enough to fans of YA and NA contemporary literature.
Tate is such a dynamic, fun, and lovable character. It was an absolute delight to get to experience the world through his eyes. SEEKING MANSFIELD is a retelling of Jane Austen's MANSFIELD PARK, and Tate is Watson's re-imagined version of Tom Bertram. I fell in love with Tate in SEEKING MANSFIELD. I found him to be so much more likable than his predecessor, and I'm so glad we really got to dive into his story in SHOOT THE MOON.
I loved the pacing of this story. It moves quickly while still giving plenty of detail and fully developing Tate's character. There are also some great subplots going on throughout the story, and Watson did a brilliant job of tying it all together in the end.
There is a really sweet romance in SHOOT THE MOON, and Watson did such a brilliant job of weaving it throughout the story while not letting it overpower the plot. It was also so great to get to see Finley and Oliver (one of my OTPs) again!
What struck me most about this story is Tate's gambling addiction. The way in which the author described Tate's emotions and the very physical withdrawal symptoms he experienced felt so genuine and was clearly very well researched. It added a sense of realness and gravity to the story that lingered with me long after I closed the book.
I was so entirely enchanted by these characters, and I've now been equally enchanted by both of Watson's books. I cannot recommend them highly enough, and I truly cannot wait to see more from this author in the future!
This story is equal parts entertaining and moving and brought me to tears more than once! Following Tate Bertram on his journey through gambling addiction, love, and self discovery was such a lovely and heartrending experience. I can't recommend this book highly enough to fans of YA and NA contemporary literature.
Tate is such a dynamic, fun, and lovable character. It was an absolute delight to get to experience the world through his eyes. SEEKING MANSFIELD is a retelling of Jane Austen's MANSFIELD PARK, and Tate is Watson's re-imagined version of Tom Bertram. I fell in love with Tate in SEEKING MANSFIELD. I found him to be so much more likable than his predecessor, and I'm so glad we really got to dive into his story in SHOOT THE MOON.
I loved the pacing of this story. It moves quickly while still giving plenty of detail and fully developing Tate's character. There are also some great subplots going on throughout the story, and Watson did a brilliant job of tying it all together in the end.
There is a really sweet romance in SHOOT THE MOON, and Watson did such a brilliant job of weaving it throughout the story while not letting it overpower the plot. It was also so great to get to see Finley and Oliver (one of my OTPs) again!
What struck me most about this story is Tate's gambling addiction. The way in which the author described Tate's emotions and the very physical withdrawal symptoms he experienced felt so genuine and was clearly very well researched. It added a sense of realness and gravity to the story that lingered with me long after I closed the book.
I was so entirely enchanted by these characters, and I've now been equally enchanted by both of Watson's books. I cannot recommend them highly enough, and I truly cannot wait to see more from this author in the future!
February 2, 2018
As each member of the Bertram is unique, so are their stories. This companion to Seeking Mansfield was very different from its predecessor. This is a grittier story, which examines family dynamics and addiction. Not as fluffy as the previous book, but quite entertaining.
I was a fan of Watson's debut, Seeking Mansfield, and was excited when I heard we were getting another story from this world. This companion was quite different from its predecessor. As each Bertram child was unique, so are their stories. This one, like Tate, was grittier and a little darker than Oliver's story, but still kept me just as entertained.
•Pro: Tate was so beautifully complicated. On the surface, he appeared to have it all - good looking, great grades, wealthy family, but inside, he was battling multiple demons. Watson did a fantastic job in presenting a character with a lot of depth and tons of layers.
•Pro: Tate was a gambling addict, and his addiction, denial, and daily battles with himself were illustrated quite well. There were many times in the book, where I felt like I was physically part of his struggle. Watson also explored how his addiction affected those who loved him, and how Tate had to deal with the harm he inflicted on his loved ones.
•Pro: This was about redemption. Tate fell from grace in the first book and he fell even further in this one. However, he realized he wanted something different, and he worked hard to achieve that goal. I am a sucker for that sort of thing.
•Pro: There is a little bit of something for everyone in this book. There's a little family drama, politics, crime, and romance.
•Con: A little bit of romance is nice, but I would have liked a little more. What can I say! I am a hopeless romantic.
•Pro: So many different family issues were spotlighted. Between that, the political double-crossing, and the mafia, there was tons of delicious drama to enjoy.
•Pro: I found being immersed in the world of poker rather fascinating. I found myself quite enthralled with the lingo, probabilities, and the psychological aspects. The mind of a poker player was a very interesting place to be.
•Pro: It was fun catching up with Finley and Oliver. I loved those two so much, and seeing old friends is one of my favorite things about companion novels.
•Pro: I thought the ending was fabulous. I was quite pleased with the way Watson tied up some of those loose ends.
Overall: Another strong offering from Watson, featuring great characters, snappy dialogue, and whole lot of delicious drama. I am hoping we get a third book, featuring the last Bertram sibling, because Watson had her up to some interesting things in this book, and I want to know more of what she had been doing.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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I was a fan of Watson's debut, Seeking Mansfield, and was excited when I heard we were getting another story from this world. This companion was quite different from its predecessor. As each Bertram child was unique, so are their stories. This one, like Tate, was grittier and a little darker than Oliver's story, but still kept me just as entertained.
•Pro: Tate was so beautifully complicated. On the surface, he appeared to have it all - good looking, great grades, wealthy family, but inside, he was battling multiple demons. Watson did a fantastic job in presenting a character with a lot of depth and tons of layers.
•Pro: Tate was a gambling addict, and his addiction, denial, and daily battles with himself were illustrated quite well. There were many times in the book, where I felt like I was physically part of his struggle. Watson also explored how his addiction affected those who loved him, and how Tate had to deal with the harm he inflicted on his loved ones.
•Pro: This was about redemption. Tate fell from grace in the first book and he fell even further in this one. However, he realized he wanted something different, and he worked hard to achieve that goal. I am a sucker for that sort of thing.
•Pro: There is a little bit of something for everyone in this book. There's a little family drama, politics, crime, and romance.
•Con: A little bit of romance is nice, but I would have liked a little more. What can I say! I am a hopeless romantic.
•Pro: So many different family issues were spotlighted. Between that, the political double-crossing, and the mafia, there was tons of delicious drama to enjoy.
•Pro: I found being immersed in the world of poker rather fascinating. I found myself quite enthralled with the lingo, probabilities, and the psychological aspects. The mind of a poker player was a very interesting place to be.
•Pro: It was fun catching up with Finley and Oliver. I loved those two so much, and seeing old friends is one of my favorite things about companion novels.
•Pro: I thought the ending was fabulous. I was quite pleased with the way Watson tied up some of those loose ends.
Overall: Another strong offering from Watson, featuring great characters, snappy dialogue, and whole lot of delicious drama. I am hoping we get a third book, featuring the last Bertram sibling, because Watson had her up to some interesting things in this book, and I want to know more of what she had been doing.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
January 22, 2018
Even though I started this read knowing it was not a continuation of Seeking Mansfield and it was not another modern day adaptation of a Jane Austen book, I really wanted to like it. And I so…didn’t.
The issue? For me, it was the main character himself. Tate Bertram is an arrogant jerk who believes he is smarter than everyone around him, that he knows best. I waited and waited…and waited…for this guy to redeem himself. When he does finally admit to his faults and failures, the person I felt a smidgen of pity for in this story proves herself just as arrogant and unlikable as Tate.
Granted, the book does have some bright spots. I enjoyed getting a peek into what’s going on in the Bertram household. Mr. and Mrs Bertram, Oliver, and Finley Price all make appearances as does Aunt Nora. And some of the witty banter is enjoyable—especially those interactions between Tate and Nia.
In fact, I thought Nia made a better match for Tate than Alex. Overall, Shoot the Moon was a mediocre read after Watson’s fantastic debut last year.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
The issue? For me, it was the main character himself. Tate Bertram is an arrogant jerk who believes he is smarter than everyone around him, that he knows best. I waited and waited…and waited…for this guy to redeem himself. When he does finally admit to his faults and failures, the person I felt a smidgen of pity for in this story proves herself just as arrogant and unlikable as Tate.
Granted, the book does have some bright spots. I enjoyed getting a peek into what’s going on in the Bertram household. Mr. and Mrs Bertram, Oliver, and Finley Price all make appearances as does Aunt Nora. And some of the witty banter is enjoyable—especially those interactions between Tate and Nia.
In fact, I thought Nia made a better match for Tate than Alex. Overall, Shoot the Moon was a mediocre read after Watson’s fantastic debut last year.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
February 6, 2018
This YA Contemporary picks up a few months after Seeking Mansfield but this time you’re getting Tate’s POV. You remember Tate, Ollie’s big brother, who ended up in the hospital due to his gambling addiction.
Tate is not the most likable character and at times I struggled with his personality. I had to keep reminding myself that addicts are often so used to lying that they’ve become accustomed to doing what people expect them to do out shear habit. Tate is exactly like this. I struggled because he was just so cold on the inside but over the course of the book, seeing his struggle with his gambling addiction, it made more sense. Of course he’s cold, his addiction is what drives him, and it’s also what keeps the wedge between him and his family. Watson did a wonderful job of portraying this struggle and by the end of this book you’ll be rooting for him!
Can I just tell you that the end of this book with its twists and turns and secrets revealed was so well done that you never would’ve seen what happened next. It becomes almost like a thriller and the connections made in the end are shocking. I really enjoyed the corruption aspects of this book and by the end you’re not sure who to trust.
I’ve never read Mansfield Park but from what I’ve heard from others this retelling is spot on with it’s portrayal of the main character. I’ll have to add this classic to my TBR list so that I can make all the fun connections those who’ve read it have been able to make!
Tate is not the most likable character and at times I struggled with his personality. I had to keep reminding myself that addicts are often so used to lying that they’ve become accustomed to doing what people expect them to do out shear habit. Tate is exactly like this. I struggled because he was just so cold on the inside but over the course of the book, seeing his struggle with his gambling addiction, it made more sense. Of course he’s cold, his addiction is what drives him, and it’s also what keeps the wedge between him and his family. Watson did a wonderful job of portraying this struggle and by the end of this book you’ll be rooting for him!
Can I just tell you that the end of this book with its twists and turns and secrets revealed was so well done that you never would’ve seen what happened next. It becomes almost like a thriller and the connections made in the end are shocking. I really enjoyed the corruption aspects of this book and by the end you’re not sure who to trust.
I’ve never read Mansfield Park but from what I’ve heard from others this retelling is spot on with it’s portrayal of the main character. I’ll have to add this classic to my TBR list so that I can make all the fun connections those who’ve read it have been able to make!
February 27, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the publisher on Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4/5 stars. Shoot the Moon is the second book in a series, although I didn't know that when I requested it. I started looking at other reviews and saw that you don't have to read the first to read this one. And honestly, you didn't. This book gives you all the details you need to get into the story and know the characters. The first doesn't seem very interesting to me, so I probably would have given it a miss anyway, but this book really intrigued me.
Let's get into the things I really liked about this book:
1. Tate. TATE. He was such an idiot and there were so many times when I wanted to shake my kindle and shout "WHAT ARE YOU DOING??" Yet at the same time, I'm in love with him. He's one of my latest book boyfriends and I haven't stopped thinking of him, even after finishing this book. Tate is the epitome of a real, flawed character. He has so many good points, in that he clearly cares about people deeply, he's very smart and dedicated, and he tries so had. But he also has a serious gambling addiction, as well as many other flaws that make him so real and so lovable. I would honestly read another book that's just about Tate doing things, because I loved him so much.
2. The gambling addiction at the center of this novel. Tate is addicted to gambling, especially poker, but he doesn't think that he does. At the beginning, he runs an illegal card room, even though he supposidly has his 30 day chip from Gambler's Anonymous. This is the central plot of the novel, even though there are many other threads that really make this novel a masterpiece. I have also never read, and never even HEARD of another novel with gambling addiction at it's core. It's not something that gets explored often, and I really enjoyed learning about it. It's an addiction that's hard to recognize, which is shown in how Tate struggles to admit he has an addiction.
3. The family. Tate's family in this novel is so present and so loving: I adored it. Tate's mom has fibromyalgia, which I thought was an interesting addition because you rarely see it in novels. Even though his mom isn't in this novel too much, she feels like a real mom. Tate's brother, father, aunt and foster sister are also really vibrant and make a very interesting cast of characters that obviously care about Tate. It's a pleasant surprise since a lot of YA novels don't feature a supportive family. And since this is about addiction, the support is absolutely necessary.
4. The world. Although you're kind of dropped into this world (probably my fault for reading the second novel first...) I didn't feel like I was ever confused over who was who and what was going on. It's a contemporary novel, so there's not magic or anything, but the society in this is vibrant and I really enjoyed all the intricate pieces.
Now, with all that praise, here's what made me rate this book only a 4 stars:
1. The romance. It's very obvious that Alex and Tate are set up to be in a relationship from the very start. So I don't feel bad about spoiling it, really. That being said, I thought this was a romance that was so very forced. The two of them had an obviously very unhealthy relationship, which can be an interesting dynamic but... It just left a bad taste in my mouth and I felt that the novel would have been fantastic without the epilogue to ruin it. Focus instead on the people themselves getting better, instead of the romance.
2. Alex. I HATED her character. All her problems, she caused because she couldn't communicate. I think this plot device is infuriating, but Alex seemed to be the only character that actually had this problem, which is what made me really dislike her. Yes, there were secrets being kept from her, yes she wasn't being treated poorly, but she didn't help the situation by not communicating to ANYONE, especially the people who clearly cared about her. I hated her character so much that it's literally enough for me to knock off a star JUST FOR HER.
Overall, I thought this book was a very interesting premise, one that I hadn't ever seen before, and which really intrigued me. In the end, both the premise and the main character met their end of the bargain, it was just a couple major things that kept me from loving this book as much as I wanted to.
4/5 stars. Shoot the Moon is the second book in a series, although I didn't know that when I requested it. I started looking at other reviews and saw that you don't have to read the first to read this one. And honestly, you didn't. This book gives you all the details you need to get into the story and know the characters. The first doesn't seem very interesting to me, so I probably would have given it a miss anyway, but this book really intrigued me.
Let's get into the things I really liked about this book:
1. Tate. TATE. He was such an idiot and there were so many times when I wanted to shake my kindle and shout "WHAT ARE YOU DOING??" Yet at the same time, I'm in love with him. He's one of my latest book boyfriends and I haven't stopped thinking of him, even after finishing this book. Tate is the epitome of a real, flawed character. He has so many good points, in that he clearly cares about people deeply, he's very smart and dedicated, and he tries so had. But he also has a serious gambling addiction, as well as many other flaws that make him so real and so lovable. I would honestly read another book that's just about Tate doing things, because I loved him so much.
2. The gambling addiction at the center of this novel. Tate is addicted to gambling, especially poker, but he doesn't think that he does. At the beginning, he runs an illegal card room, even though he supposidly has his 30 day chip from Gambler's Anonymous. This is the central plot of the novel, even though there are many other threads that really make this novel a masterpiece. I have also never read, and never even HEARD of another novel with gambling addiction at it's core. It's not something that gets explored often, and I really enjoyed learning about it. It's an addiction that's hard to recognize, which is shown in how Tate struggles to admit he has an addiction.
3. The family. Tate's family in this novel is so present and so loving: I adored it. Tate's mom has fibromyalgia, which I thought was an interesting addition because you rarely see it in novels. Even though his mom isn't in this novel too much, she feels like a real mom. Tate's brother, father, aunt and foster sister are also really vibrant and make a very interesting cast of characters that obviously care about Tate. It's a pleasant surprise since a lot of YA novels don't feature a supportive family. And since this is about addiction, the support is absolutely necessary.
4. The world. Although you're kind of dropped into this world (probably my fault for reading the second novel first...) I didn't feel like I was ever confused over who was who and what was going on. It's a contemporary novel, so there's not magic or anything, but the society in this is vibrant and I really enjoyed all the intricate pieces.
Now, with all that praise, here's what made me rate this book only a 4 stars:
1. The romance. It's very obvious that Alex and Tate are set up to be in a relationship from the very start. So I don't feel bad about spoiling it, really. That being said, I thought this was a romance that was so very forced. The two of them had an obviously very unhealthy relationship, which can be an interesting dynamic but... It just left a bad taste in my mouth and I felt that the novel would have been fantastic without the epilogue to ruin it. Focus instead on the people themselves getting better, instead of the romance.
2. Alex. I HATED her character. All her problems, she caused because she couldn't communicate. I think this plot device is infuriating, but Alex seemed to be the only character that actually had this problem, which is what made me really dislike her. Yes, there were secrets being kept from her, yes she wasn't being treated poorly, but she didn't help the situation by not communicating to ANYONE, especially the people who clearly cared about her. I hated her character so much that it's literally enough for me to knock off a star JUST FOR HER.
Overall, I thought this book was a very interesting premise, one that I hadn't ever seen before, and which really intrigued me. In the end, both the premise and the main character met their end of the bargain, it was just a couple major things that kept me from loving this book as much as I wanted to.
December 13, 2019
(Teacher's note: This book is 338 pages).
"Shoot the Moon" is a companion novel to "Seeking Mansfield," which I believe is Kate Watson's first published work. In "Shoot the Moon," semi-sort of-kind of recovering gambling addict Tate Bertram is dealing with the fallout of a lifetime of questionable choices: from running an illegal casino in his friend's Chicago apartment, to flirting with his brother's girlfriend, to engaging in a questionable (but super fun) romance with his nemesis Alex Wolf. After his parents angrily cut him off, feeling like they've been taken advantage of one too many times, Tate decides to help his aunt Nora with her political campaign....which, he discovers, is being partially overseen by the lovely (and emotionally messed-up) Alex Wolf. As he begins to navigate the murky waters of politics, Tate uncovers some real-bad corruption schemes that threaten to destroy him, his family, and the tenuous steps he's taking towards healing from his years of gambling and other addictions.
I originally chose to read "Shoot the Moon" because I know the author and she's amazing, but as I got more into the book, I fell in love with it on its own merits and instantly wanted more. It is a fun, witty read that spotlights a flawed and emotionally complex person who's trying to figure out what he wants in life, and who he wants to become. You simultaneously love and hate him at the same time, which is awesome! Also, I thought Watson's treatment of addiction, with a special focus on gambling addiction, was incredibly thought-provoking. There are moments when Tate (and, by extension, the readers) see him living this fun and exciting James Bondian life; and other times when he's full of self-hatred and living at rock bottom. Thus, his journey from almost-nonredeemable to a genuinely good person feels a lot more earned.
"Shoot the Moon" is a companion novel to "Seeking Mansfield," which I believe is Kate Watson's first published work. In "Shoot the Moon," semi-sort of-kind of recovering gambling addict Tate Bertram is dealing with the fallout of a lifetime of questionable choices: from running an illegal casino in his friend's Chicago apartment, to flirting with his brother's girlfriend, to engaging in a questionable (but super fun) romance with his nemesis Alex Wolf. After his parents angrily cut him off, feeling like they've been taken advantage of one too many times, Tate decides to help his aunt Nora with her political campaign....which, he discovers, is being partially overseen by the lovely (and emotionally messed-up) Alex Wolf. As he begins to navigate the murky waters of politics, Tate uncovers some real-bad corruption schemes that threaten to destroy him, his family, and the tenuous steps he's taking towards healing from his years of gambling and other addictions.
I originally chose to read "Shoot the Moon" because I know the author and she's amazing, but as I got more into the book, I fell in love with it on its own merits and instantly wanted more. It is a fun, witty read that spotlights a flawed and emotionally complex person who's trying to figure out what he wants in life, and who he wants to become. You simultaneously love and hate him at the same time, which is awesome! Also, I thought Watson's treatment of addiction, with a special focus on gambling addiction, was incredibly thought-provoking. There are moments when Tate (and, by extension, the readers) see him living this fun and exciting James Bondian life; and other times when he's full of self-hatred and living at rock bottom. Thus, his journey from almost-nonredeemable to a genuinely good person feels a lot more earned.
February 17, 2018
I read “Seeking Mansfield” quite some time after it was released, and I immediately fell in love with the characters, Tate especially. When I found out that Tate would be the main character in this novel, I was more than a little bit stoked. I ordered this the day it was released & had a hard time putting it down (work be damned!).
Dare I say that I enjoyed Shoot the Moon more than Seeking Mansfield?! HELL YES I DARE! I absolutely LOVED it. While SM held my attention, had me enthralled plenty, and had a very enjoyable storyline, STM had me wanting more and more every single step of the way. I couldn’t get enough of Tate’s inner turmoil of being the perfect son & living his own life the way he wanted. The way his addictions were presented were so real, and I find that to be somewhat rare in YA novels.
Kate Watson is such a fantastic writer, and I know that I will absolutely read everything that she writes. I’m *really* hoping that she continues to write about this rag-tag group of folks in Chicago, as they all have so much depth to them. I’d read a new book about each and every one of the main crew without hesitation.
And as a final shout-out, I have to give Kate credit for predominantly featuring a character with Fibromyalgia in this book. As someone who has suffered from the illness for more than a few years now, it blows me away how completely ignorant people are of this “invisible” illness. Having a novel feature a character & her limitations with Fibro is amazing. Everyone deserves representation, and I think this book did a pretty good job at explaining just how debilitation Fibro can be at times. So for that, I say “Thank You, Kate”.
Dare I say that I enjoyed Shoot the Moon more than Seeking Mansfield?! HELL YES I DARE! I absolutely LOVED it. While SM held my attention, had me enthralled plenty, and had a very enjoyable storyline, STM had me wanting more and more every single step of the way. I couldn’t get enough of Tate’s inner turmoil of being the perfect son & living his own life the way he wanted. The way his addictions were presented were so real, and I find that to be somewhat rare in YA novels.
Kate Watson is such a fantastic writer, and I know that I will absolutely read everything that she writes. I’m *really* hoping that she continues to write about this rag-tag group of folks in Chicago, as they all have so much depth to them. I’d read a new book about each and every one of the main crew without hesitation.
And as a final shout-out, I have to give Kate credit for predominantly featuring a character with Fibromyalgia in this book. As someone who has suffered from the illness for more than a few years now, it blows me away how completely ignorant people are of this “invisible” illness. Having a novel feature a character & her limitations with Fibro is amazing. Everyone deserves representation, and I think this book did a pretty good job at explaining just how debilitation Fibro can be at times. So for that, I say “Thank You, Kate”.
October 8, 2025
I kind of stumbled upon this book. I have read a couple of Kate Watson’s recent books and really liked Baby Llama Drama but never looked into her other books.
This is definitely my favorite of hers. I started reading this and then skimmed Seeking Mansfield since this is the second in the series and was already invested in this.
Honestly I found this a beautiful book. It’s really hard to manage to make a very flawed character likable and even lovable, but Watson managed to do that with Tate. There were so many parts of this book where my heart ached for him and his compulsion toward self-destruction. And one of the things I think I loved about the story is Tate didn’t have some traumatic past or horrible life event. He’s a very bright kid and has a loving family, but there are still thoughts and tendencies that eat away at him, and I think that’s true of all of us.
I don’t know much about poker or gambling but it was hard to put this book down. I also loved the redemption in this novel, the family relationships, the flawed love. It felt like hope in the midst of struggles. I’ve never really read a book like this before, and I’ll be thinking about it for a while.
This is definitely my favorite of hers. I started reading this and then skimmed Seeking Mansfield since this is the second in the series and was already invested in this.
Honestly I found this a beautiful book. It’s really hard to manage to make a very flawed character likable and even lovable, but Watson managed to do that with Tate. There were so many parts of this book where my heart ached for him and his compulsion toward self-destruction. And one of the things I think I loved about the story is Tate didn’t have some traumatic past or horrible life event. He’s a very bright kid and has a loving family, but there are still thoughts and tendencies that eat away at him, and I think that’s true of all of us.
I don’t know much about poker or gambling but it was hard to put this book down. I also loved the redemption in this novel, the family relationships, the flawed love. It felt like hope in the midst of struggles. I’ve never really read a book like this before, and I’ll be thinking about it for a while.
August 19, 2017
Shoot the Moon is the second novel in the Seeking Mansfield series. I didn't know it was a second novel in a series when I read it. I frequently felt that I was missing parts of the story while reading Shoot the Moon - which makes more sense now that I know it is a book two. To me, it does not work well as a stand alone novel.
Tate, has had a gambling addiction in the past but he's been in recovery for 30 days by the time the novel begins. But that is just semantics. Tate is still living an addicted life. He runs an illegal card operation, he carries cards with him just to feel their smooth corners, and he thinks like an addict. It takes Tate quite a while to realize that leaving an addiction is about more than just not playing the actual game.
Tate, has had a gambling addiction in the past but he's been in recovery for 30 days by the time the novel begins. But that is just semantics. Tate is still living an addicted life. He runs an illegal card operation, he carries cards with him just to feel their smooth corners, and he thinks like an addict. It takes Tate quite a while to realize that leaving an addiction is about more than just not playing the actual game.
March 9, 2020
I came here for the mafia and I stayed for the witty banter.
I was not disappointed with “Shoot the Moon”. It was a fabulous read from start to finish. The characters are throughout fleshed out and the plot and worldbuilding is well crafted.
Also, major props given for how addition was handled in “Shoot the Moon”! The fact that the story is told from an unreliable narrator makes me fall in love it even more. I’m that person that usually ends up rooting for the “bad” guys but it takes a lot of skill to actually make me like a horrid main protagonist and then make me want them to come out on top of the world.
A wonderful novel and a must read!
A copy of the book was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
I was not disappointed with “Shoot the Moon”. It was a fabulous read from start to finish. The characters are throughout fleshed out and the plot and worldbuilding is well crafted.
Also, major props given for how addition was handled in “Shoot the Moon”! The fact that the story is told from an unreliable narrator makes me fall in love it even more. I’m that person that usually ends up rooting for the “bad” guys but it takes a lot of skill to actually make me like a horrid main protagonist and then make me want them to come out on top of the world.
A wonderful novel and a must read!
A copy of the book was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
March 4, 2019
I really enjoyed this book, but it's marketed as a YA book. I really think it's more New Adult—not for sensuality but I just felt the characters who were supposed to be in the 18-20 year old range sounded older, like 23-25. There were several times when I was pulled out of the story when their ages were mentioned because the characters just sounded too mature.
There's some violence. It deals with addiction (gambling) and recovery. But I thought it was a great story. I want to read more by this author. 4 1/2 stars.
There's some violence. It deals with addiction (gambling) and recovery. But I thought it was a great story. I want to read more by this author. 4 1/2 stars.
February 6, 2018
I read this book in one afternoon because I literally couldn’t put it down. I even found myself pulling out my phone to read it during my 2 hour long anatomy lecture because I just had to know what happened next! I love Shoot the Moon! Tate is such a conflicted guy, and yet I adore him. If you want to get lost in a great story, READ THIS BOOK.
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