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The Spark Sisters #1
The Line Below
When my teammates drag me to a club for my 21st birthday, the last thing on my mind is meeting a new guy. I’m not the kind of girl who gets wrapped up in a stranger on a sweaty dance floor.Except, that’s exactly what happens.Only, the guy isn’t a stranger. He’s Jett Decker, the Olympic track star who has the entire campus buzzing with his transfer to our college. He may have given me his number, but I won’t use it. I refuse to be distracted by silly things like explosive chemistry. I’ve got my own Olympic dreams to chase.Turns out, whatever ignited on that dance floor can’t be put out by swimming laps.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 28, 2018
509 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
About the author
Ali Dean
47 books1,023 followersAli is a USA Today Bestselling author of sports romance. She has always loved to read, especially when there's a happily ever after, but found that there weren't enough books out there featuring girl athletes. So, she decided to work on that. Like the heroines in her books, Ali is an athlete, with running and skiing her favorite sports these days. Ali hails from Vermont and now lives in her own happily-ever-after in Colorado with her husband, two sets of twins, and golden retriever Pancake. When she's not pursuing an outdoor adventure, Ali's less healthy passions include ice cream, coffee, and beer.
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www.alideanfiction.com
www.facebook.com/alideanfiction
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
July 24, 2018
Huge thank you to the author for sending me a review copy of this book. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. This is a new adult sports romance, which tend to be a hit or miss for me. This one was definitely a miss. It follows this girl named Shay who is a swimmer for the Olympics. She has two sisters and all they talk about is their casual hookups and partying, I didn't know much else about them. Shay casually hooks up with this guy all the time (I can't remember his name), but then one night while she's at a party, she sees this guy she's never seen before and they just connect and start grinding on each other without speaking and it's love at first sight?
By page 50 they are already having sex, and the next morning after their one date he's already calling her "babe/baby" every single time he speaks to her, and askdjlaksd. The main characters Shay and Jett are so bland and forgettable and they don't have any chemistry. Jett was okay at first but he quickly got annoying the morning after they have sex, he starts bossing her around and she's like "you're so bossy" and he's like "you like it baby" like no.... gross. There's nothing I can't stand more than a controlling douche bag of a love interest. On page 59 she says: "He kind of sounds like a cave man, and I can't help it - I kind of like it." like what???? Of course, shortly after her casual hookup dude finds out about her new relationship that just started yesterday, he gets insanely jealous even though they also have no chemistry which forces a love triangle into the story with three characters who I don't care about. Then of course, she sees her new boyfriend Jett hanging out with another girl *gasp* but oh no it's okay they're just friends. And then the girl who is the "friend" says in front of both of them: "This girl is the best you can do?"
There is so much unnecessary annoying drama in this book and I don't like any of the characters. I just don't enjoy romances like this one. I need the tension to build between the characters before they get together, not for it to be love at first sight and they are already together after 50 pages.
By page 50 they are already having sex, and the next morning after their one date he's already calling her "babe/baby" every single time he speaks to her, and askdjlaksd. The main characters Shay and Jett are so bland and forgettable and they don't have any chemistry. Jett was okay at first but he quickly got annoying the morning after they have sex, he starts bossing her around and she's like "you're so bossy" and he's like "you like it baby" like no.... gross. There's nothing I can't stand more than a controlling douche bag of a love interest. On page 59 she says: "He kind of sounds like a cave man, and I can't help it - I kind of like it." like what???? Of course, shortly after her casual hookup dude finds out about her new relationship that just started yesterday, he gets insanely jealous even though they also have no chemistry which forces a love triangle into the story with three characters who I don't care about. Then of course, she sees her new boyfriend Jett hanging out with another girl *gasp* but oh no it's okay they're just friends. And then the girl who is the "friend" says in front of both of them: "This girl is the best you can do?"
There is so much unnecessary annoying drama in this book and I don't like any of the characters. I just don't enjoy romances like this one. I need the tension to build between the characters before they get together, not for it to be love at first sight and they are already together after 50 pages.
July 23, 2018
3.5 Stars!
This started out really strong for me. I loved how Jett approached Shay in the beginning. He was very upfront with what he wanted and expected. It's actually very refreshing. That never wavered but his take charge demeanor did kind of fizzle out over the book. The author had him coming on strong with the bossiness but then didn't carry it through the whole book. It's not a huge difference...but I'm a reader who likes the bossiness in my H's, so it was noticeable to me. There were also a few scenes I felt needed a bit more fleshing out. Overall, I enjoyed it.
This started out really strong for me. I loved how Jett approached Shay in the beginning. He was very upfront with what he wanted and expected. It's actually very refreshing. That never wavered but his take charge demeanor did kind of fizzle out over the book. The author had him coming on strong with the bossiness but then didn't carry it through the whole book. It's not a huge difference...but I'm a reader who likes the bossiness in my H's, so it was noticeable to me. There were also a few scenes I felt needed a bit more fleshing out. Overall, I enjoyed it.
July 13, 2018
2.5 stars.
This was solidly in the "alright" category. I haven't read an NA story in a good long while and there's a reason for that. I just can't connect to most of the MCs featured in NA stories anymore. They're either too immature or there's too much drama for me to really care. I just hand wave it all with a psh and move onto the next thing. However, I have enjoyed Ali Dean's stories in the past and figured this would be a good change from what I've been reading.
Despite the instalove in this one, I liked the romance. The MCs spent time together doing everyday things and they supported one another. I skimped (half skimmed, half skipped) the intimate scenes, which were meaningful and weren't too numerous, so that was ok. The H didn't come across as a manho like the Hs from the Stark Springs or the Pepped Up series. He was a genuine, alpha male college athlete and I liked him. The h, while a little frustrating with her doubts about the H, was pretty great for an NA h. She wasn't prone to hysterics or drama and she was a hard worker.
However, I do think that I am too old for this genre now, especially with Ali Dean's style of writing in the first person that always feel like more telling than showing. I might read more by her, but I'm going to have to be in the right mood for youngsters.
This was solidly in the "alright" category. I haven't read an NA story in a good long while and there's a reason for that. I just can't connect to most of the MCs featured in NA stories anymore. They're either too immature or there's too much drama for me to really care. I just hand wave it all with a psh and move onto the next thing. However, I have enjoyed Ali Dean's stories in the past and figured this would be a good change from what I've been reading.
Despite the instalove in this one, I liked the romance. The MCs spent time together doing everyday things and they supported one another. I skimped (half skimmed, half skipped) the intimate scenes, which were meaningful and weren't too numerous, so that was ok. The H didn't come across as a manho like the Hs from the Stark Springs or the Pepped Up series. He was a genuine, alpha male college athlete and I liked him. The h, while a little frustrating with her doubts about the H, was pretty great for an NA h. She wasn't prone to hysterics or drama and she was a hard worker.
However, I do think that I am too old for this genre now, especially with Ali Dean's style of writing in the first person that always feel like more telling than showing. I might read more by her, but I'm going to have to be in the right mood for youngsters.
August 5, 2018
Dramatic, with a side of angst. I’m a sucker for a sports romance and this one was a bit of a struggle for me. I couldn’t connect with the characters and the drama was too over the top. This was my first Ali Dean book and I’m grateful for the copy that was given to me. I do have another copy of an Ali Dean book that I’ll be reading, so just because this one wasn’t quite for me, I look forward to see what she has in store next.
3.5 stars.
3.5 stars.
September 3, 2019
Ehh.. I really struggled through this. I liked it in the very beginning and then everything just moved so damn fast. Jett seemed super domineering in the very beginning and Shay thought it was hot which baffled me. It was just too much to fast.
June 16, 2018
I recieved an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I have actually read every one of Ali Dean's books and I would say this ranks up there with Pepped Up and Black Ice. I always enjoy the effort she puts into exploring and explaining whatever sport her main character excels at without making it boring or over the readers' heads. I also enjoyed the relationship between Shay and her twin sister, Kick and look forward to her book. Overall, an excellent read.
June 27, 2018
4 1/2 Stars!
I have been meaning to read a book by Ali Dean but for some reason I never got around to it until this one. This was a good read and I will definitely pick up more books by this author.
Shay and Kick are sisters. They are both swimmers. Shay is the one that always tows the line. She's a great character. She meets Jett. Jett is a huge track star. They have great chemistry. Their relationship starts off strong and fast. Nothing felt off about these two. They are perfect for each other. Of course there are several bumps in the road for them to overcome. I really liked her sister Kick too and I'm hoping she gets a book next.
I have been meaning to read a book by Ali Dean but for some reason I never got around to it until this one. This was a good read and I will definitely pick up more books by this author.
Shay and Kick are sisters. They are both swimmers. Shay is the one that always tows the line. She's a great character. She meets Jett. Jett is a huge track star. They have great chemistry. Their relationship starts off strong and fast. Nothing felt off about these two. They are perfect for each other. Of course there are several bumps in the road for them to overcome. I really liked her sister Kick too and I'm hoping she gets a book next.
June 30, 2018
**REVIEWED BY CASSIE**
I was very excited to see Ali Dean making a comeback to writing full time and as soon as I saw The Line Below I knew I needed to read it. I will say it definitely lived up to my expectation. Dean writes the female athlete well. Not too sporty and not too girly. She also really excels at finding the balance with delving into the inner-workings of the sport while keeping the storyline important.
Shay from the outside would be categorized as a “little miss perfect” as she is smart, driven, and tries her best to appease her mom. It was interesting diving into her mind and the intricate battle she has with being a bit more brazen like her twin, Kick, and choosing the path she wants to take. I would never say Shay needed Jett to build her confidence, but I think the happiness he gave her helped her see how she could be even happier with following her heart.
As for Jett, and this will sound like an oxymoron but go with it, is a subtle and almost gentle alpha type. He loves to take charge, especially in the bedroom, but he does it in the most sensual and loving way. He is all heart as he wears it on his sleeve. Being an athlete himself he was easy to understand her passion which I loved. I feel like from this I need to read more “double athlete” type books again. His family life is one that everyone strives for and I think that made him that much more of a perfect match for Shay as she had a more luxurious but staged family life.
Again, I love when a book can give me the grueling details of a workout or meet/game/etc AND a strong storyline. I love the overall easy feel of the book despite a kind of scary/disturbing climax. This book is definitely for those who want a new sport to read about and a new hero to swoon over.
I was very excited to see Ali Dean making a comeback to writing full time and as soon as I saw The Line Below I knew I needed to read it. I will say it definitely lived up to my expectation. Dean writes the female athlete well. Not too sporty and not too girly. She also really excels at finding the balance with delving into the inner-workings of the sport while keeping the storyline important.
Shay from the outside would be categorized as a “little miss perfect” as she is smart, driven, and tries her best to appease her mom. It was interesting diving into her mind and the intricate battle she has with being a bit more brazen like her twin, Kick, and choosing the path she wants to take. I would never say Shay needed Jett to build her confidence, but I think the happiness he gave her helped her see how she could be even happier with following her heart.
As for Jett, and this will sound like an oxymoron but go with it, is a subtle and almost gentle alpha type. He loves to take charge, especially in the bedroom, but he does it in the most sensual and loving way. He is all heart as he wears it on his sleeve. Being an athlete himself he was easy to understand her passion which I loved. I feel like from this I need to read more “double athlete” type books again. His family life is one that everyone strives for and I think that made him that much more of a perfect match for Shay as she had a more luxurious but staged family life.
Again, I love when a book can give me the grueling details of a workout or meet/game/etc AND a strong storyline. I love the overall easy feel of the book despite a kind of scary/disturbing climax. This book is definitely for those who want a new sport to read about and a new hero to swoon over.
August 18, 2018
The Line Below
by Ali Dean
2.5 stars
This was a really sweet sport/ college romance. This story made me remember college years when tests grades, latest parities and boy crush were EPIC. Our couple Shay and Jett were very driven people. Shay is a college swimmer while Jett is an Olympian track champion. Been the best at their respective sport is crucial for them as much as their mutual heart and soul burning love.
The Line Below was my first read from Ali Dean. You can see that Ali took upon herself to know all the kinks of swimmers and track athletes from eating habits to techniques. If you love sweet sport romances and college romances this would be a pretty enjoyable read for you.
by Ali Dean
2.5 stars
This was a really sweet sport/ college romance. This story made me remember college years when tests grades, latest parities and boy crush were EPIC. Our couple Shay and Jett were very driven people. Shay is a college swimmer while Jett is an Olympian track champion. Been the best at their respective sport is crucial for them as much as their mutual heart and soul burning love.
The Line Below was my first read from Ali Dean. You can see that Ali took upon herself to know all the kinks of swimmers and track athletes from eating habits to techniques. If you love sweet sport romances and college romances this would be a pretty enjoyable read for you.
June 27, 2018
Shay lives and breathes swimming. Being in the water, she feels at home. But her friends want her to take a break. They go out. Let me just say, the meet up with Jett and Shay, goosebumps....The way he slipped her his number....lol, unexpected, funny, Jett smooth.
I liked this story. It was sort of fast, sorta instalove. Jett wants Shay and bad. He will make you swoon. Gah...I don't want to give too much away, but this was an easy read, easily zoned into the story of Shay and Jett. This was my first Ali Dean read, and it won't be my last. Looking forward to Kick's story.
I liked this story. It was sort of fast, sorta instalove. Jett wants Shay and bad. He will make you swoon. Gah...I don't want to give too much away, but this was an easy read, easily zoned into the story of Shay and Jett. This was my first Ali Dean read, and it won't be my last. Looking forward to Kick's story.
January 14, 2019
2.5 Star
This book had so many things that I loved --- twins, a sports romance... But while it started out strong, it just fizzled out for me. I couldn't really connect to the MC's... But maybe this meh-ness is just me bec I have friends who liked this book a lot.
This book had so many things that I loved --- twins, a sports romance... But while it started out strong, it just fizzled out for me. I couldn't really connect to the MC's... But maybe this meh-ness is just me bec I have friends who liked this book a lot.
July 16, 2018
I am a bit of a sucker for a sports romance, so I was super excited to get my hands on this one. Admittedly, it was my first time reading a book by Ali Dean, but i am certain that it won’t be the last. THE LINE BELOW is a standalone, new adult romance about a college swimmer (Shay) who falls for an Olympic track star (Jett). I really loved the writing and felt like the characters were easy to connect with. Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read.
July 23, 2018
This review was copied from my blog: romanticallyinclinedreviews.com
The Line Below by Ali Dean
If college romances, boy drama, and sports references are your thing, then Ali Dean’s The Line Below is sure to capture your romantic spirit. I couldn’t say no to a book about swimming after spending nearly my entire childhood on a swim team (I was pretty darn good, too).
The Line Below wasn’t disappointing. It thrust me right back to my college years with all the boy drama that seemed so serious at the time. Looking back all that boy-chasing was an obvious waste of my time. I could have read at least one full book in the time I spent making out with that guy dressed as Eeyore at a Halloween party. Sigh. But I did end up meeting my husband at a college party, so maybe that boy thing wasn’t all that bad.
From the little I know about college athletes—my husband was on the water polo club team—I can say that it is my belief that Ali Dean did her research into the cult-like phenomena of college sports. The rumors about the swimmers are the same that circulated around my campus—especially the parts about them being bottomless pits. I think their plates rivaled the football players.
There is no doubt in my mind that athletes of all shapes and sizes and sports will find plenty to resonate with in this sexy story. Shay Spark, our dedicated heroine, suffers a personal failure and a subsequent questioning of what her future is going to look like. She’s fiercely independent, strong-willed, and quite street smart.
The Line Below is also not without its diversity. I’m sorry to say that the number of diverse novels I read is rather small compared to the overall number, unfortunately. Jett Decker, the Olympic hero of our story, is black and Shay Spark is white. It’s not a main aspect of the story (believe it or not I’ve read many a review where the reader is upset if a big deal isn’t made over the differing races), but it does come up a few times throughout among their peers and family. Ali Dean wonderfully hired a sensitivity writer as a part of her editing process which I love hearing.
Shay and Jett’s relationship is fireworks from the beginning in a way that will have you remembering what it was like to be young and in love—unless you’re still in college in which case get out of here you’re making me feel old. There’s serious chemistry between the two and the relationship could get realistically juvenile, but in a way that made the story more real rather than detracting from it (but if ‘teen’ drama isn’t your thing then this is a warning). There was no bullshitting from Jett and some serious patience from Shay.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters and the fun they brought to the story. I am definitely intrigued by some romantic subplots, especially between Shay’s twin sister and her beau. My favorite part of this novel is that I really enjoyed Ali Dean’s style of writing. Everything flowed perfectly and the pace of the story was always perfect. If you’re looking for a romance novel between mature adults with adult problems like paying bills and similar stuff, then this probably won’t be the read for you. But if you’re looking for something sweet and sexy between two college athletes with wacky friends, then The Line Below is where it’s at.
The Line Below by Ali Dean
If college romances, boy drama, and sports references are your thing, then Ali Dean’s The Line Below is sure to capture your romantic spirit. I couldn’t say no to a book about swimming after spending nearly my entire childhood on a swim team (I was pretty darn good, too).
The Line Below wasn’t disappointing. It thrust me right back to my college years with all the boy drama that seemed so serious at the time. Looking back all that boy-chasing was an obvious waste of my time. I could have read at least one full book in the time I spent making out with that guy dressed as Eeyore at a Halloween party. Sigh. But I did end up meeting my husband at a college party, so maybe that boy thing wasn’t all that bad.
From the little I know about college athletes—my husband was on the water polo club team—I can say that it is my belief that Ali Dean did her research into the cult-like phenomena of college sports. The rumors about the swimmers are the same that circulated around my campus—especially the parts about them being bottomless pits. I think their plates rivaled the football players.
There is no doubt in my mind that athletes of all shapes and sizes and sports will find plenty to resonate with in this sexy story. Shay Spark, our dedicated heroine, suffers a personal failure and a subsequent questioning of what her future is going to look like. She’s fiercely independent, strong-willed, and quite street smart.
The Line Below is also not without its diversity. I’m sorry to say that the number of diverse novels I read is rather small compared to the overall number, unfortunately. Jett Decker, the Olympic hero of our story, is black and Shay Spark is white. It’s not a main aspect of the story (believe it or not I’ve read many a review where the reader is upset if a big deal isn’t made over the differing races), but it does come up a few times throughout among their peers and family. Ali Dean wonderfully hired a sensitivity writer as a part of her editing process which I love hearing.
Shay and Jett’s relationship is fireworks from the beginning in a way that will have you remembering what it was like to be young and in love—unless you’re still in college in which case get out of here you’re making me feel old. There’s serious chemistry between the two and the relationship could get realistically juvenile, but in a way that made the story more real rather than detracting from it (but if ‘teen’ drama isn’t your thing then this is a warning). There was no bullshitting from Jett and some serious patience from Shay.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters and the fun they brought to the story. I am definitely intrigued by some romantic subplots, especially between Shay’s twin sister and her beau. My favorite part of this novel is that I really enjoyed Ali Dean’s style of writing. Everything flowed perfectly and the pace of the story was always perfect. If you’re looking for a romance novel between mature adults with adult problems like paying bills and similar stuff, then this probably won’t be the read for you. But if you’re looking for something sweet and sexy between two college athletes with wacky friends, then The Line Below is where it’s at.
June 26, 2018
Panty Scorching-1
Storyline-3/3.5
Angst-1
Tissues-0
Overall Rating-3/3.5
Kindle eArc provided by Author
Reviewed by Stephanie
Shay feels most like herself when she is in the water. Swimming is her one true passion and in it she finds her solace. When she is in the pool she doesn’t have to worry about the expectations her mother places on her or living up to her popular twin sister Kick’s reputation or least of all her I’m not ready for a relationship pseudo boyfriend Julian. In the pool it’s just her, and the line below.
“My ability to succeed in the pool has always been within my control, and mine alone.”
Since Shay eats, breaths and sleeps swimming, you can barely find her anywhere else besides the pool and class. So when her sister and their roommate talk her out of spending another night in pajamas and Netflix binging to go clubbing she almost regrets the decision until she is on the dance floor. Suddenly she's dancing with the hottest guy she has ever seen. The guy just turns out to be Olympic silver medalist Jett Decker.
“That was off the charts. Magnetic. Sparks-flying kind of hotness right there.”
Jett is one of the most wanted guys on campus and is used to getting what he wants and what he wants is Shay. From the first moment he saw her sparks were flying and he can’t get the sweet and gorgeous swimmer off his mind. So he wants all in when it comes to Shay and he isn’t afraid to let her know. These two fall into a pretty serious relationship quickly, almost too quickly for my taste. I really liked how they supported each other and through that their relationship grew.
This was my first read by Ali Dean and it took me a little while to get through the first half of the book because I honestly just had a hard time connecting to the characters and parts of the book were just all over the place. That’s always a struggle for me because then I end up losing interest. I am glad I finished the book and got to see how Shay and Jett’s story wrapped up.
Storyline-3/3.5
Angst-1
Tissues-0
Overall Rating-3/3.5
Kindle eArc provided by Author
Reviewed by Stephanie
Shay feels most like herself when she is in the water. Swimming is her one true passion and in it she finds her solace. When she is in the pool she doesn’t have to worry about the expectations her mother places on her or living up to her popular twin sister Kick’s reputation or least of all her I’m not ready for a relationship pseudo boyfriend Julian. In the pool it’s just her, and the line below.
“My ability to succeed in the pool has always been within my control, and mine alone.”
Since Shay eats, breaths and sleeps swimming, you can barely find her anywhere else besides the pool and class. So when her sister and their roommate talk her out of spending another night in pajamas and Netflix binging to go clubbing she almost regrets the decision until she is on the dance floor. Suddenly she's dancing with the hottest guy she has ever seen. The guy just turns out to be Olympic silver medalist Jett Decker.
“That was off the charts. Magnetic. Sparks-flying kind of hotness right there.”
Jett is one of the most wanted guys on campus and is used to getting what he wants and what he wants is Shay. From the first moment he saw her sparks were flying and he can’t get the sweet and gorgeous swimmer off his mind. So he wants all in when it comes to Shay and he isn’t afraid to let her know. These two fall into a pretty serious relationship quickly, almost too quickly for my taste. I really liked how they supported each other and through that their relationship grew.
This was my first read by Ali Dean and it took me a little while to get through the first half of the book because I honestly just had a hard time connecting to the characters and parts of the book were just all over the place. That’s always a struggle for me because then I end up losing interest. I am glad I finished the book and got to see how Shay and Jett’s story wrapped up.
June 30, 2018
I was very excited to see Ali Dean making a comeback to writing full time and as soon as I saw The Line Below I knew I needed to read it. I will say it definitely lived up to my expectation. Dean writes the female athlete well. Not too sporty and not too girly. She also really excels at finding the balance with delving into the inner-workings of the sport while keeping the storyline important.
Shay from the outside would be categorized as a “little miss perfect” as she is smart, driven, and tries her best to appease her mom. It was interesting diving into her mind and the intricate battle she has with being a bit more brazen like her twin, Kick, and choosing the path she wants to take. I would never say Shay needed Jett to build her confidence, but I think the happiness he gave her helped her see how she could be even happier with following her heart.
As for Jett, and this will sound like an oxymoron but go with it, is a subtle and almost gentle alpha type. He loves to take charge, especially in the bedroom, but he does it in the most sensual and loving way. He is all heart as he wears it on his sleeve. Being an athlete himself he was easy to understand her passion which I loved. I feel like from this I need to read more “double athlete” type books again. His family life is one that everyone strives for and I think that made him that much more of a perfect match for Shay as she had a more luxurious but staged family life.
Again, I love when a book can give me the grueling details of a workout or meet/game/etc AND a strong storyline. I love the overall easy feel of the book despite a kind of scary/disturbing climax. This book is definitely for those who want a new sport to read about and a new hero to swoon over.
Shay from the outside would be categorized as a “little miss perfect” as she is smart, driven, and tries her best to appease her mom. It was interesting diving into her mind and the intricate battle she has with being a bit more brazen like her twin, Kick, and choosing the path she wants to take. I would never say Shay needed Jett to build her confidence, but I think the happiness he gave her helped her see how she could be even happier with following her heart.
As for Jett, and this will sound like an oxymoron but go with it, is a subtle and almost gentle alpha type. He loves to take charge, especially in the bedroom, but he does it in the most sensual and loving way. He is all heart as he wears it on his sleeve. Being an athlete himself he was easy to understand her passion which I loved. I feel like from this I need to read more “double athlete” type books again. His family life is one that everyone strives for and I think that made him that much more of a perfect match for Shay as she had a more luxurious but staged family life.
Again, I love when a book can give me the grueling details of a workout or meet/game/etc AND a strong storyline. I love the overall easy feel of the book despite a kind of scary/disturbing climax. This book is definitely for those who want a new sport to read about and a new hero to swoon over.
April 2, 2023
Engaging, New Adult, woman-power, sports romance
Shay Spark is a scholarship, competitive swimmer on a university team in the midst of her junior year, and she has Olympic potential. She spends over 20 hours a week swimming, and the title refers to the lines painted on the bottom of the pool delineating competitive lanes that she spends most of her life staring at. Shay has set school records for multiple events, the 100- and 200-yard butterfly in particular. Her goal for the year is to win an individual national championship.
Shay's fraternal-twin sister, Lydia, nicknamed Kick, has a great deal of athletic potential as well. She is on the same swim team as Shay, but she doesn't have the same fire in her belly for swimming that Shay does. Kick is not swimming at her full potential both because she thinks she can never truly measure up to Shay no matter how hard she tries, but mainly because Kick is too rebellious to be as dedicated and self-disciplined as Shay.
While Shay's father is kind to her and supportive of Shay's swimming, her mother is harshly critical and demanding of Shay. She is a highly successful business executive who wants Shay, who is an A-student, to follow in her footsteps. In that regard, Shay is working on a double major of math and business. Even though everyone else in her life believes in Shay as an athlete, her mother sees competitive swimming as merely a temporary sideline to the really important things in life. She wants Shay to get a prestigious internship in a big city during the coming summer as a vital step toward ultimately achieving a high-paying corporate management career. Shay can understand her mother's motivation, but Shay knows if she takes the internship route, she will have little time to swim and will get out of shape. Instead, Shay wants to keep training with her outstanding university coach over the summer to improve her Olympic chances during or after her senior year. Unfortunately, because her mother's oft-repeated, rigorous opinions strike her on a primordial level, they cause Shay to doubt her own passionate desire to make swimming a post-BS-degree, professional goal.
On her 21st birthday, Shay meets Jett Decker, a fellow university student. He is not only a "big man on campus" as a major track star, his local fame has expanded nationally because he has won a silver medal at the Olympics. Jett immediately makes his strong interest in Shay apparent, and before long Shay and Jett are seeing each other exclusively.
Between her commitment to swimming, keeping up her schoolwork, exploring her feelings for Jett, and worrying about Kick, whose self-destructive tendencies with men and booze seem to be spinning out of control, worries about whether her future career should be business or swimming becomes a heavy burden for Shay to bear, to the point that it begins to affect her performance as an athlete.
This New Adult novel, with a strong, capable, intelligent, elite-athlete heroine, is simultaneously a romance novel, a coming-of-age story, and classic women's fiction.
Shay's love interest, Jett, is not a typical New Adult romance hero--and thank goodness for that. The vast majority of NA heroes drink like fish and are promiscuous up until they meet the heroine. Jett does not drink or do drugs and he has no problem, before or after connecting with Shay, fending off the advances of the many women who throw themselves at him as a gorgeous, ripped, successful athlete. He also is what is known in the romance genre as a "multicultural" hero who has "light brown skin." His father is mixed race in that Jett's paternal grandparents consist of a white grandfather and a black grandmother. Jett's mother is Puerto Rican. This unincorporated, island territory of the U.S. has an intriguing gene pool which is a mix, across its 400-year history, of Europeans primarily from Spain, Africans (originally brought in, as in the continental U.S., as slaves), and the Taino, who were indigenous aboriginal inhabitants found throughout the Caribbean islands.
What is typical, and expected in the romance genre, is that Jett has a strong, assertive personality. But beyond that basic requirement, there is the added positive extra that Jett is secure enough in his masculinity to respect and support Shay's strength. Though we occasionally experience Jett's point of view in this novel, the main point of view through 90% of the book is Shay. The one drawback about the romance, at least for some romance fans, is that this is essentially an "instalove" type of romance.
The core relationship in the novel, which is central to Shay's coming-of-age growth arc, is her relationship with her powerful, intense mother. Even though, in terms of the on-stage presence of her mother, there are not many actual pages of the novel portraying this crucial relationship, those scenes make a big impact to Shay's story.
In the tradition of women's fiction, Shay also has three other important female relationships: her sister, her maternal aunt Coco who is only 14 years older than Shay, and her close friend, roommate and fellow member of the swim team, Beatrice. I enjoyed very much reading about these relationships.
As is the case in all of Ali Dean's sports-themed novels, the descriptions she offers of athletic training and competitions are extremely authentic and so well written they are riveting to read. I'm a big fan of novels about talented, dedicated female athletes, and Ali Dean writes some of the very best.
In a refreshing change from the incessant, graphic, and often crude sex scenes in most NA romance novels, though Shay and Jett, naturally enough, as adults, have a sexual relationship, their lovemaking scenes are not at all graphic. In fact, there is very little description beyond the undressing and kissing phases of their sexual encounters, and their physical relationship is always tender as well as passionate.
I am happy to report that there is very little swearing in this book, which is a pleasant change from the incessant F-bombs in most NA novels.
The one familiar trope that is so much a part of NA, college-setting romances that is frequently found in this novel are multiple scenes of drunken parties. Fortunately, the drunkenness occurs primarily among subcharacters, and only occasionally is participated in by Shay.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Hero: 4 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Setting: 4 stars
Romance Plot: 4 stars
Woman-Power Sports Plot: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
Shay Spark is a scholarship, competitive swimmer on a university team in the midst of her junior year, and she has Olympic potential. She spends over 20 hours a week swimming, and the title refers to the lines painted on the bottom of the pool delineating competitive lanes that she spends most of her life staring at. Shay has set school records for multiple events, the 100- and 200-yard butterfly in particular. Her goal for the year is to win an individual national championship.
Shay's fraternal-twin sister, Lydia, nicknamed Kick, has a great deal of athletic potential as well. She is on the same swim team as Shay, but she doesn't have the same fire in her belly for swimming that Shay does. Kick is not swimming at her full potential both because she thinks she can never truly measure up to Shay no matter how hard she tries, but mainly because Kick is too rebellious to be as dedicated and self-disciplined as Shay.
While Shay's father is kind to her and supportive of Shay's swimming, her mother is harshly critical and demanding of Shay. She is a highly successful business executive who wants Shay, who is an A-student, to follow in her footsteps. In that regard, Shay is working on a double major of math and business. Even though everyone else in her life believes in Shay as an athlete, her mother sees competitive swimming as merely a temporary sideline to the really important things in life. She wants Shay to get a prestigious internship in a big city during the coming summer as a vital step toward ultimately achieving a high-paying corporate management career. Shay can understand her mother's motivation, but Shay knows if she takes the internship route, she will have little time to swim and will get out of shape. Instead, Shay wants to keep training with her outstanding university coach over the summer to improve her Olympic chances during or after her senior year. Unfortunately, because her mother's oft-repeated, rigorous opinions strike her on a primordial level, they cause Shay to doubt her own passionate desire to make swimming a post-BS-degree, professional goal.
On her 21st birthday, Shay meets Jett Decker, a fellow university student. He is not only a "big man on campus" as a major track star, his local fame has expanded nationally because he has won a silver medal at the Olympics. Jett immediately makes his strong interest in Shay apparent, and before long Shay and Jett are seeing each other exclusively.
Between her commitment to swimming, keeping up her schoolwork, exploring her feelings for Jett, and worrying about Kick, whose self-destructive tendencies with men and booze seem to be spinning out of control, worries about whether her future career should be business or swimming becomes a heavy burden for Shay to bear, to the point that it begins to affect her performance as an athlete.
This New Adult novel, with a strong, capable, intelligent, elite-athlete heroine, is simultaneously a romance novel, a coming-of-age story, and classic women's fiction.
Shay's love interest, Jett, is not a typical New Adult romance hero--and thank goodness for that. The vast majority of NA heroes drink like fish and are promiscuous up until they meet the heroine. Jett does not drink or do drugs and he has no problem, before or after connecting with Shay, fending off the advances of the many women who throw themselves at him as a gorgeous, ripped, successful athlete. He also is what is known in the romance genre as a "multicultural" hero who has "light brown skin." His father is mixed race in that Jett's paternal grandparents consist of a white grandfather and a black grandmother. Jett's mother is Puerto Rican. This unincorporated, island territory of the U.S. has an intriguing gene pool which is a mix, across its 400-year history, of Europeans primarily from Spain, Africans (originally brought in, as in the continental U.S., as slaves), and the Taino, who were indigenous aboriginal inhabitants found throughout the Caribbean islands.
What is typical, and expected in the romance genre, is that Jett has a strong, assertive personality. But beyond that basic requirement, there is the added positive extra that Jett is secure enough in his masculinity to respect and support Shay's strength. Though we occasionally experience Jett's point of view in this novel, the main point of view through 90% of the book is Shay. The one drawback about the romance, at least for some romance fans, is that this is essentially an "instalove" type of romance.
The core relationship in the novel, which is central to Shay's coming-of-age growth arc, is her relationship with her powerful, intense mother. Even though, in terms of the on-stage presence of her mother, there are not many actual pages of the novel portraying this crucial relationship, those scenes make a big impact to Shay's story.
In the tradition of women's fiction, Shay also has three other important female relationships: her sister, her maternal aunt Coco who is only 14 years older than Shay, and her close friend, roommate and fellow member of the swim team, Beatrice. I enjoyed very much reading about these relationships.
As is the case in all of Ali Dean's sports-themed novels, the descriptions she offers of athletic training and competitions are extremely authentic and so well written they are riveting to read. I'm a big fan of novels about talented, dedicated female athletes, and Ali Dean writes some of the very best.
In a refreshing change from the incessant, graphic, and often crude sex scenes in most NA romance novels, though Shay and Jett, naturally enough, as adults, have a sexual relationship, their lovemaking scenes are not at all graphic. In fact, there is very little description beyond the undressing and kissing phases of their sexual encounters, and their physical relationship is always tender as well as passionate.
I am happy to report that there is very little swearing in this book, which is a pleasant change from the incessant F-bombs in most NA novels.
The one familiar trope that is so much a part of NA, college-setting romances that is frequently found in this novel are multiple scenes of drunken parties. Fortunately, the drunkenness occurs primarily among subcharacters, and only occasionally is participated in by Shay.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Hero: 4 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Setting: 4 stars
Romance Plot: 4 stars
Woman-Power Sports Plot: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
June 20, 2018
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I have read all but ONE of Ali Dean’s books, and she NEVER disappoints! Her characters are so incredibly real; full of weaknesses and doubts and real life issues.
Ali writes about athletes and personal challenges they face. Shay is no different; she’s strong and fierce and full of big dreams for her passion for swimming. But her fears and doubts are holding her hostage. Partly without her seeing it herself. Shays journey through this novel had me in tears. By the end, reading how far Shay has come and how much stronger she has finally allowed herself to be is both inspiring and endearing. We need more novels encouraging women to be strong.
With several twists and turns throughout Shay’s journey, this book kept me fully invested and intrigued the whole way through. The characters are fun and real, interesting and unique. I love her sister, Kick, and am PRAYING for her own novel to come next!
Another win for Ali Dean; nobody writes a sports fiction like her.
I have read all but ONE of Ali Dean’s books, and she NEVER disappoints! Her characters are so incredibly real; full of weaknesses and doubts and real life issues.
Ali writes about athletes and personal challenges they face. Shay is no different; she’s strong and fierce and full of big dreams for her passion for swimming. But her fears and doubts are holding her hostage. Partly without her seeing it herself. Shays journey through this novel had me in tears. By the end, reading how far Shay has come and how much stronger she has finally allowed herself to be is both inspiring and endearing. We need more novels encouraging women to be strong.
With several twists and turns throughout Shay’s journey, this book kept me fully invested and intrigued the whole way through. The characters are fun and real, interesting and unique. I love her sister, Kick, and am PRAYING for her own novel to come next!
Another win for Ali Dean; nobody writes a sports fiction like her.
November 8, 2018
Ali Dean is a new to me author, and I'm really glad that I've gotten the opportunity to read her, as I absolutely LOVE her writing style. Shay is part of a twin sister package, and finds herself the shier one to boot. However, when it comes to swimming, the pool is where she ultimately shines, and her dream is to go to the Olympics. She's had a friends with benefits thing going with a boy that she's been crushing for a while, and while she's not hooked up with anyone else, he can't say the same thing, but on her 21rst birthday, she meets Jett Decker when she's dragged out with her twin & friends, and all of a sudden, she gets swept off of her feet. But Jett doesn't want to hook up, nope, he wants more from her, and so they go on one hot journey together. Like their chemistry is so electric, that it lights the sheets on fire! Of course, there are a couple of people who aren't quite as happy about them being together, so that throws out some twists that I didn't see coming, which flips the switch for the f-bombs to drop. Finally, the entertaining cast of secondaries provided a whole bunch more to this already amazing story, so yeah, I couldn't get enough! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
May 16, 2022
The Line Below by Ali Dean is a college sports romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Stacey Glemboski. This is the first book in The Spark Sisters series.
This is the second series of Ali's that I have read and it won't be me my last. Her romances have a bit of drama but overall I would classify them as sweet romances that will leave you with a smile.
Jett and Shay have an instant connection in this book. However, I liked that still had to work through some drama to know that their feelings were real. I also really enjoyed getting Jett and Shay's points of view throughout the book.
Stacey did a great job on the narration. I look forward to listening to more of her work in the future.
I would recommend this book if you like sports romances, college romances, or contemporary romance.
Audiobook Obsession Reviewer
This is the second series of Ali's that I have read and it won't be me my last. Her romances have a bit of drama but overall I would classify them as sweet romances that will leave you with a smile.
Jett and Shay have an instant connection in this book. However, I liked that still had to work through some drama to know that their feelings were real. I also really enjoyed getting Jett and Shay's points of view throughout the book.
Stacey did a great job on the narration. I look forward to listening to more of her work in the future.
I would recommend this book if you like sports romances, college romances, or contemporary romance.
Audiobook Obsession Reviewer
September 18, 2018
These two books were lovely. I would happily read them again. I don't often read sports romance but Ali Dean converted me at least for the time being. Great New Adult Romance story!
Jett and Shay were perfect for each other.
(full review will be posted here soon)
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Jett and Shay were perfect for each other.
(full review will be posted here soon)
For other reviews and more Subscribe/Like/Follow
Blog: http://glimpsesofmybooks.blogspot.com
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November 10, 2018
This is my first time I've read book by Ali Dean. I'm so happy that she gave me a chance to read "The Line Below". I love the book because New Adult and Sports Romance are my favourite genre of books. Trough this book I've learn few things about swimming and that is great. Shay and Jett are a such great couple. I can't wait to read the next book about Kick 😍!
June 29, 2018
Jett is the staple of swoon worthy men! At first you might get the impression that he comes on strong but when get to know him, you read his story and know that he’s the way he is because he’s been burned before and wants to get it right when it comes to Shay!
Shay has always done what was expected but when she meets Jett her life goes off course but in the most beautiful way because he won’t let her fall!!
Their relationship starts fast but I when you have to strong athletes, with chemistry like they do you can’t expect less! From the second they meet their fates are sealed but everyone around them that need to catch up! Together can conquer anything and I love how open these two are with one another! I hope to see more of them and I am now hooked on Ali Dean can’t wait to read more from her!
Shay has always done what was expected but when she meets Jett her life goes off course but in the most beautiful way because he won’t let her fall!!
Their relationship starts fast but I when you have to strong athletes, with chemistry like they do you can’t expect less! From the second they meet their fates are sealed but everyone around them that need to catch up! Together can conquer anything and I love how open these two are with one another! I hope to see more of them and I am now hooked on Ali Dean can’t wait to read more from her!
June 29, 2018
Ali has done it once again! This books is absolutely addictive! Once I started it I couldn’t put it down! I love the hot and steamy romance, the friendships and the suspense. I can’t wait for more from Ali! Her books never disappoint!
July 6, 2018
SO excited for this book! I love EVERYTHING Ali Dean writes
August 28, 2018
3/5 (C)
January 31, 2019
Captivating sports, filled with emotions and drama romance story. Strong characters. It is well-written, I enjoyed reading. It was a pleasure to review.
June 25, 2018
A swimmer who falls for a track star! I love a good sports romance and have read all of Ali's books! The Line Below was a really great read as well!
September 16, 2018
This was my first book by Ali Dean, I like college romance novels, so The Line Below was a book I was glad to read.
Shay Spark is our heroine, a twin to her sister Kick and both girls are part of their college swim team. It doesn't take long to establish that the Spark sisters are very different, yet have a very close relationship. Shay is serious about her swimming career; but mentally battles with the idea of going pro with her Mother instilling in her that it isn't a viable career path. Kick however is more extrovert, more relaxed and isn't as passionate about swimming as her sister.
Shay has been casually involved with another member of her swim team - Julian, for 12 months now, making herself available for random hook ups when he decides he needs her. However after sharing one hot and steamy dance floor session with out Hero Jett, Shay decides that random hookups are not want she wants or needs - and after that dance floor session you ask Julian who?
Jett is a track athlete, and a silver medal Olympian who has set his eyes on Shay. He is a family man, and knows what he wants and strives to make it happen. Jett is upfront with Shay, saying he wants her and is all in from the start, he is direct and claims Shay as his from day one (swoon).
So the book covers several elements of the story and I liked that is was multifaceted. Obviously it's a romance book so we follow the relationship between Shay and Jett, that is met with support from most of their team mates, which was great to see. However Julian doesn't take Shay's new relationship status well and he is the thorn in the side of them both in more ways than you expect.
Shay and Kicks relationship throughout the book, was one I really loved, reading their differences, yet their closeness was written with clarity and sincerity. Written as a loving sisterly relationship with elements of jealousy yet a strong loyalty is one I admired. I especially enjoyed seeing Kick stick up for Shay as the more extrovert sister, when she was needed the most.
Another element to Shay and Jett's journey is the well handled issue some characters within the story had with ethnicity. I found this highlighted real life issues amongst the differences in social class and race within the highly competitive sporting fields. It wasn't made into a huge issue but it was written sensitively but realistically.
Overall a well paced novel, with descriptive writing and likeable characters. I definitely found myself more drawn to the relationship between Shay and Kick than the romance element to the story. There were not any big blow you away kind of moments; but that said the book was an enjoyable one, one that is true to life within the whole college sports universe. The ending was a nice little touch between Jett and Shay, leaving me with a big smile on my face and eager to dive into Kick next!
Shay Spark is our heroine, a twin to her sister Kick and both girls are part of their college swim team. It doesn't take long to establish that the Spark sisters are very different, yet have a very close relationship. Shay is serious about her swimming career; but mentally battles with the idea of going pro with her Mother instilling in her that it isn't a viable career path. Kick however is more extrovert, more relaxed and isn't as passionate about swimming as her sister.
Shay has been casually involved with another member of her swim team - Julian, for 12 months now, making herself available for random hook ups when he decides he needs her. However after sharing one hot and steamy dance floor session with out Hero Jett, Shay decides that random hookups are not want she wants or needs - and after that dance floor session you ask Julian who?
Jett is a track athlete, and a silver medal Olympian who has set his eyes on Shay. He is a family man, and knows what he wants and strives to make it happen. Jett is upfront with Shay, saying he wants her and is all in from the start, he is direct and claims Shay as his from day one (swoon).
So the book covers several elements of the story and I liked that is was multifaceted. Obviously it's a romance book so we follow the relationship between Shay and Jett, that is met with support from most of their team mates, which was great to see. However Julian doesn't take Shay's new relationship status well and he is the thorn in the side of them both in more ways than you expect.
Shay and Kicks relationship throughout the book, was one I really loved, reading their differences, yet their closeness was written with clarity and sincerity. Written as a loving sisterly relationship with elements of jealousy yet a strong loyalty is one I admired. I especially enjoyed seeing Kick stick up for Shay as the more extrovert sister, when she was needed the most.
Another element to Shay and Jett's journey is the well handled issue some characters within the story had with ethnicity. I found this highlighted real life issues amongst the differences in social class and race within the highly competitive sporting fields. It wasn't made into a huge issue but it was written sensitively but realistically.
Overall a well paced novel, with descriptive writing and likeable characters. I definitely found myself more drawn to the relationship between Shay and Kick than the romance element to the story. There were not any big blow you away kind of moments; but that said the book was an enjoyable one, one that is true to life within the whole college sports universe. The ending was a nice little touch between Jett and Shay, leaving me with a big smile on my face and eager to dive into Kick next!
September 18, 2018
I read this book in one sitting, if that is any sign of how much I loved it. I am all for a sports romance novel, and my favourite thing about this one, is the main character Shay, is the athlete. Yes so is the drool worthy male lead, but it was so awesome to read about an elite female athlete. The fact she was a swimmer just solidified my love for this book. I was a competitive swimmer for a very long time so this hit me so close to home!
If you're looking for an awesome romance read, I highly, highly recommend this one. I can't wait to get started on Kick tonight!
What I Liked
Shay - I loved Shay's character in this. She is so strong and resilient. She pushes herself so hard to be perfect in everything she does. She deals with a lot of stuff, but does so very gracefully. Don't get me wrong she has her moments, but they make her character human and believable.
Jett - Okay. Stop. Jett is amazing. I absolutely adored his character. He was that kind of alpha male guy, but who wasn't an asshole. He knew what he wanted and went for it. His undeniable support and love for Shay sealed him as maybe one of the best book boyfriends I've read about in awhile.
Kick and Shay's Relationship> - I love books that have twins in them. Their dynamic always fascinates me. I love how even though they don't always get along, they always have each others backs. While you kind of see them drift apart at times during the book, when it counts they're there.
Trigger Warning - There is a sexual assault in this book. However, I felt like it was done as well as it can be. The aftermath of it though is what I liked. How everyone supported the victim and the assaulter got what was coming to them. There was actual justice for once for the victim, which I feel doesn't always happen.
What I Didn't Like
Julian - Now I know I am not supposed to like him. But man did I hate him. He is such an idiot and I don't know what else to say about it.
Shay and Kicks Parents - I understand parents want the best for their children, and for them to be successful. However, the total lack of support towards Shay's swimming when she is an elite athlete frustrated me.
The Racial Issue between Shay and Jett - I just didn't think it was necessary. I understand where Ali Dean was coming from on it, but it was only a big deal in the book for like one chapter that I felt like it didn't really need to be there.
Overall I absolutely adored this book. It was so good and definitely helped pull me out of my reading (and reviewing) slump!
If you're looking for an awesome romance read, I highly, highly recommend this one. I can't wait to get started on Kick tonight!
What I Liked
Shay - I loved Shay's character in this. She is so strong and resilient. She pushes herself so hard to be perfect in everything she does. She deals with a lot of stuff, but does so very gracefully. Don't get me wrong she has her moments, but they make her character human and believable.
Jett - Okay. Stop. Jett is amazing. I absolutely adored his character. He was that kind of alpha male guy, but who wasn't an asshole. He knew what he wanted and went for it. His undeniable support and love for Shay sealed him as maybe one of the best book boyfriends I've read about in awhile.
Kick and Shay's Relationship> - I love books that have twins in them. Their dynamic always fascinates me. I love how even though they don't always get along, they always have each others backs. While you kind of see them drift apart at times during the book, when it counts they're there.
Trigger Warning - There is a sexual assault in this book. However, I felt like it was done as well as it can be. The aftermath of it though is what I liked. How everyone supported the victim and the assaulter got what was coming to them. There was actual justice for once for the victim, which I feel doesn't always happen.
What I Didn't Like
Julian - Now I know I am not supposed to like him. But man did I hate him. He is such an idiot and I don't know what else to say about it.
Shay and Kicks Parents - I understand parents want the best for their children, and for them to be successful. However, the total lack of support towards Shay's swimming when she is an elite athlete frustrated me.
The Racial Issue between Shay and Jett - I just didn't think it was necessary. I understand where Ali Dean was coming from on it, but it was only a big deal in the book for like one chapter that I felt like it didn't really need to be there.
Overall I absolutely adored this book. It was so good and definitely helped pull me out of my reading (and reviewing) slump!
July 5, 2018
Ali Dean is a great writer of sports romances. Especially those that deal with the high school/college student. She doesn’t have a lot of angst but enough to keep you interested. She has them flawed and dealing with issues that are relevant for that age and for what is happening where her characters are and she does it with sensitivity and grace.
Here we have her characters in different sports having an instalove and chemistry. Jett is a runner. he has achieved the dream that Shay has-to win an Olympic metal. Only Jett isn’t stuck up or believing he is better than anyone. He is down to earth and focused. He is supportive and kind. And he is attracted to Shay from the moment he sees her in the pool. Their first meeting on the dance floor is where we see the chemistry but Jett doesn’t exactly come off in a good light. He comes off as a arrogant athlete really. So glad they got a chance to see who the other is.
Shay is focused on succeeding and not tipping the apple cart in her family. Her twin is the one who bucks the mom system and so she tries to make up for it. Even if it isn’t what she wants. Meeting Jett is a complication but the attraction is one that can’t be ignored.
Their relationship is instant and sweet. Jett is a sweet alpha but very understanding and supportive. He helps her see where she wants to be after school and supports her all the way. Their relationship is tested by self doubt from Shay and a fellow swimmer who goes off the deep end but these moments bring them closer and makes them stronger. They learn to communicate more and be more open. That is what you take away from these two-they are honest and real with one another. They don’t hold back-their fears, laughter, failures and accomplishments. These two hep buoy one another and are each other’s rock.
The story is sweet, sexy when needed to be and entertaining. Jett and Shay are good for one another and face the issues that come up together and with honesty and openness. They are each others rocks and their journey together has you smile. Told in both Jett’s and Shay’s story we get to see where they are and how they are feeling but also their passion for their sport and what goes into their training and how they make time for each other and why. Now I hope we see what is up with her sister Kick because she was a great and I think more complicated character than we saw and deserves her story to be told.
Here we have her characters in different sports having an instalove and chemistry. Jett is a runner. he has achieved the dream that Shay has-to win an Olympic metal. Only Jett isn’t stuck up or believing he is better than anyone. He is down to earth and focused. He is supportive and kind. And he is attracted to Shay from the moment he sees her in the pool. Their first meeting on the dance floor is where we see the chemistry but Jett doesn’t exactly come off in a good light. He comes off as a arrogant athlete really. So glad they got a chance to see who the other is.
Shay is focused on succeeding and not tipping the apple cart in her family. Her twin is the one who bucks the mom system and so she tries to make up for it. Even if it isn’t what she wants. Meeting Jett is a complication but the attraction is one that can’t be ignored.
Their relationship is instant and sweet. Jett is a sweet alpha but very understanding and supportive. He helps her see where she wants to be after school and supports her all the way. Their relationship is tested by self doubt from Shay and a fellow swimmer who goes off the deep end but these moments bring them closer and makes them stronger. They learn to communicate more and be more open. That is what you take away from these two-they are honest and real with one another. They don’t hold back-their fears, laughter, failures and accomplishments. These two hep buoy one another and are each other’s rock.
The story is sweet, sexy when needed to be and entertaining. Jett and Shay are good for one another and face the issues that come up together and with honesty and openness. They are each others rocks and their journey together has you smile. Told in both Jett’s and Shay’s story we get to see where they are and how they are feeling but also their passion for their sport and what goes into their training and how they make time for each other and why. Now I hope we see what is up with her sister Kick because she was a great and I think more complicated character than we saw and deserves her story to be told.
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