Everyone leaves. It's all Kayla knows. So, when things finally go right, she can't believe her good fortune.
During the summer, she escapes her sheltered life and spends time with her Aunt Susan. It helps that Aunt Susan's next door neighbours have three hockey playing sons, and one almost son all around her age. They are her bridge to a normal world. If only her stupid crush on two of them would stop getting in the way.
Her seventeenth summer should be the best. But true to form...everyone leaves, including Kayla.
An emergency phone call rips Kayla from her summer plans, and throws her into a situation she's desperately unprepared for. And to top it off, she's nursing a broken heart. But surrounded by doctors, maybe one can heal her? Or will everyone leave her again?
***This is Book 1 or the Prequel to the Red Line Series. Kayla, and her men will continue their story in Changing On The Fly, Red Line Series Book 2.***
I enjoyed the first half of this book, the second half got a little creepy for reasons I'll go into below, which contain spoilers. I'm reading book 2, but I really did not enjoy the child abuse that was painted as a good thing in the second half.
Spoilers ahead
Ok, so to get to the second half of book 2 the main character is ripped away from her aunt. The guy disappear without any explanation and never make any attempt to clear things up which makes zero sense because they would know she didnt leave on her own accord. They would be flipping out trying to get word to her. She never calls her aunt at all. One of the guys' sister is in the perfect place to clear confusion, but, despite being her best friend never does.
Then we get to the hospital where a 17 year old girl is clearly abandoned and suffering abuse at the hands of her parents but not a single person in the hospital steps in to protect this 17 year old and we are supposed to be ok with a 23 year old doctor developing a sexual relationship with her. It is one thing for there to be a relationship with the boys she grew up with, but it is wrong on so many level for this 23 year old man to have a relationship with an abused girl who literally asked him what is love because she hasn't experienced it from her parents to know, for them to push her into the primary care giver of this baby in the NICU, never call child services when the teen is abandoned in the hospital with no means to shelter or feed herself for months with the parents not coming to see the baby at all. And this preditory doctor moving in on her and telling her he loves her and having sex with her. It's disgusting. But we are supposed to be like awe how sweet, he is falling in love with her while sexually groping her breasts in front of a bunch of med students are they try to force her milk supply to come in for her premature sister, because there is no way that would mentally f up a 17 year old girl and have the entire hospital shut down for malpractice. No y'all, it true love. Aren't you swooning.
Then her mom appears and is oh so excited to see you and we jump ahead in the story six years with no explanation of wtf her mom has been or this big brother who loved her so much he 100% abandoned her.
This book was so so bad. If it weren't such a short read, I never would have bothered to finish it. There's nothing to do with hockey beyond mentioning the sport. Instead the cover should be the FMC with a baby, because apparently all she's good for is being a stand-in mom for a useless stepmother. Completely lacking a backbone and still managing to be incredibly whiny at the same time. I had the ick start to finish and in no way can fathom ever wanting to finish the rest of the series. My actual rating is 0 stars.
I was all over this place with this book. I am going to add the second book in this review as they are already both out.
Junior "EH" follows Kayla, she starts out in this book at 16. Her family life is not a good one. She finds comfort in Hockey. At first helping her brother and then helping Kris and Ryan. She only gets to see them in the summers when she gets to stay with her Aunt. They are rising Hockey stars. She develops a crush on them over the years. When they finally return those feelings, things look better for Kayla. But the next summer, the boys unexpectedly leave, only to have her father come and retrieve her early. Her life takes un unexpected turn then, especially when she meets Adam. This first book is about a girl with her first crushes, what it's like to have life throw you a curveball and how you step up, and seeing what a mature relationship feels like.
I really enjoyed this book. This is a slow burn YA, for Kayla and the guys are just discovering love. She has a lot of curveballs thrown her way, and it's so satisfying to read of a character that steps up when needed, even one so young. There is some mature content, ****Spoiler ***** She cares for her premature baby sister, and helps in an interesting way I have not read before, but I feel it helps to show how she grows as a character.
So I've been on an ice hockey kick, and I mean, I was reading everything I could get my hands on, I was watching the Stanley Cup games, and it was just 24/7 ice hockey. So going into this book, I expected the ice hockey romance with some twist. Unfortunately, that's not what this book is. First off, this one is an ice hockey romance. At the beginning of the book, we focus a lot on ice hockey because the main female character's brother played ice hockey. It was the only way she connected with her father to watch his practices and games. Later after the father remarried, it was the one thing that he stood up to his new wife so that the MFC could keep going to the ice rink with the dad. The girl would also spend a few weeks to a month with her maternal aunt over the summer. There she had the most fun her best friends were ice hockey players, and she would help them train because these guys were like in a national league. It was like a team that these outstanding players would play on before they got drafted to the NHL level. The book takes place in Canada. This time over the summer was also the only time she got to talk to these guys because her father wouldn't allow her to at home. She saw them a few times during the school year if their ice hockey team was playing her brother's team. Her dad and stepmom were super strict and horrible to her. There are a bunch of different scenes where she admits to how much that time at her aunt's house meant to her. She was never happier than to be with her aunt and didn't understand why they wouldn't let her live with her full time since they didn't seem to care about her when she was home. So she had a very toxic home life. I must also mention that she is in high school when all this is happening. Okay, so she and her two best guys friends had chemistry. They figured out a plan to be together. Still, before anything can happen, they disappear, and we later learn what happened. Still, it had to deal with their ice hockey careers. While they were away, Kayla was forced to come home and move into a hospital to care for a baby that her stepmom had prematurely. She's not even expected to survive, but the dad is like you are here to take care of her and do everything the doctor says. While there, she's literally brought her school work and falls for the dr, who she ends up dating. The two spend the whole school year together until the dad and stepmom appear one day and force her to go home and pretend it never happened. At that time, she's again ripped away from the oasis she created and can't talk to anyone because the cell phone she could get was taken away. Her family was horrible to her! The book just ends with her leaving and going to college in Boston to help her mom raise the twins that she just had. It was so insane, but I don't really think of this one as a romance. It's more of a contemporary book with some romance elements. I felt so bad for Kayla during this whole book because she had no chance until after she left and moved in with her estranged mother. We do get a HEA in the next book, which focuses on all 4 of these characters again.
To say this book was bad would be putting it mildly, but I will say in its favor that it is at least memorable. I just don’t know how else to describe the extremely long and detailed subplot where they induce lactation in an abused, underage girl in order to feed her preemie sister. “Insane” also works, I guess. Oh yeah, and “fucking tacky” too, given she gets aroused when the hot doctor manipulates her nip into the preemie’s mouth.
This girl participated in lactation play before she lost her virginity. Just, what the fuck.
THIS BOOK GLOSSES OVER AND ENCOURAGES CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
Most scenes in this book are ludicrous to anyone with half a brain. Lack of detail in the writing leads to very jumpy scenes.
I will admit I DNF-ed this one HARD CORE. Here is a little bit of the why:
Book begins with a 16yo with an overbearing stepmother, away visiting her aunt for the summer. She falls for two lifelong crushes and they like her too but want to share her. (Incredibly mature to work though and deal with those feelings as teens, and as a first love for all three involved, but ok, I’ll bite.)
Author makes it a point, multiple times, that she’s “no longer jailbait, now that she is 16!” Um, ok. Boys say stupid things but that gave me the ‘ick’.
End of summer, she goes back home and we get a dose of the home life, full of control and manipulation. She is in charge of feeding and caring for 3 younger siblings and must not be around men without a chaperone. Chores upon chores. Must be a “lady”. Yada, yada.
One weighted, albeit happy, scene where we see some hockey happening, we meet her father who is passive aggressive at best in his parenting and overbearing one minute and dismissive the next. Oh, and don’t forget the obligatory make out session in a closet with one of the crushes.
-whiplash much?-
Next we get..maybe a chapter…of a happy, second summer before she is ripped away from the aunt by her father, put on a bus, alone, for 9 hours. Father is 2 hours late picking her up from bus depot, and then she is dumped off at a hospital where she is to care for her brand new, premature (24 wk, I think) sister. A sister who, she was completely unaware existed. Not even given a warning before she was unceremoniously volun-told to be the caregiver for a high-risk infant. Parents are no where to be seen. No child protection services, no advocates for either child, no money or place to stay. Medical staff just seem ok with all of this. Oh, and now we have a hot new doctor that gives off childish, pedo vibes… Where’s a girl to sleep? Oh it’s fine she can bunk with the pedo-doctor! *Reminder: “she’s not jail bait.”
It went downhill from there… And one part in particular is just disturbing, unrealistic and completely unnecessary.
The male, love interest, doctor (not a lactation specialist) trying to get the 17yo who has never birthed a child to lactate in front of an audience? How is that even remotely realistic?
Never mind the abandonment, the mental and emotional abuse that is portrayed as “not abuse” or “for the best” and normal.
This book is not YA. It is twisted and truly morbid in its disgusting disguise of narcissistic abandonment. Red Flag after red flag after red flag! A good way to confuse lust and manipulation with love. Wow, just wow.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Kayla is a young teen through most of the book, only 17 at the end. She has too many people leave her, and she doesn't know why - her mother, her older brother, her two boyfriends who she has been slowly and sweetly exploring love with. Her stepmother is ridiculously strict, and it's not out of love - it's out of desire for control. In addition to Kayla's questions, I have questions that pulled me out of the story as being unrealistic, such as why her aunt or boyfriends didn't get her a secret cellphone so they could stay in touch more than 4-6 weeks in the summers, and why the boyfriends left late one night with no notice and no chance to say goodbye, even in a note. On top of all this, there were quite a few typos that frustrated me. I'm glad I got this book for free. I was looking forward to getting some answers in the second book, but found out in some reviews that wouldn't happen, so as much as I want to see them get their HEA, I'm skipping it. I read book 3, Checking from Behind, and enjoyed it much more. I think I'll go on to book 4.
I loved Kayla, she is such a strong character that takes everything in her stride. I can't understand her father though, how can your love for one of your children take a backseat to your second wife. And what happened to her brother after he moved out? I would have liked to find out more about what happened with her family, at least to see Kayla confront them. Kris and Ryan were young and foolish and did little for me. Adam was such a great character, he won my heart from almost the first interaction. So I found it slightly difficult to understand the difficulty Kayla had with forgetting about the two boys. She just seemed older than she was. However disliking them is a good thing in this book, I liked how they have to make up quite a lot before everything is perfect. I would not recommend to only read this book, as a lot of answers and questions are answered in the second book. It is a bit of a shame to find quite a few spelling mistakes in the book though, maybe have another person read the book thoroughly for the next book.
I have read this book a few months ago, but my mind often keeps going back to it and I was a little mad at myself that I didn't write a review before. So I'm just gonna state the reasons why it pops up in my head so regularly:
Every time someone asks me about a book that should get more recommendations, I think of this one. Every time someone asks me which book made me fall in love with a female main character, I think of this one. Whenever someone wonders what book made my heart break a little, I talk about this one. And each time I find myself in a bit of a funk, I think about rereading this one.
So I believe more people should read this book, and spread the love for it with me.
Anyone reading this book who does not live in Canada, must remember that the age of consent in Canada is different from other countries such as the USA.
Kayla’s parents are horrible negligent neglectful people. Kris and Ryan are nice but they take her for granted. Adam is sweet and he is my favorite of the three men in this book. Desiree is sweet and a wonderful friend.
The foreplay and cuddles in the story were enjoyable to read but the s3x was boring. The author chose to “fade to black” when it came to the s3x scene … disappointing. Yawn.
This was kinda boring, no substance whatsoever in the initial relationships and such a weird and abrupt ending which made no sense and had no closure. Kayla was a really unlikeable fmc. She was just a pathetic door mat to literally everyone. And how the hospital allowed things to turn out like they did made no sense. The last few chapters were just depressing and not in a good way. It the next book was KU i may have considered it but I'm not paying to read her be pathetic again over boys who didn't deserve her and the man who she didn't deserve.
Really enjoyed this book..I was up all night reading because i just had to finish it once I started. I really loved Adams character he was so sweet and really took care of Kayla when she had no one else. Her parents ughh if you can even call them that was horrible but thankfully she had Adam there to help take care of her and show her kindness. I was really liking Kris and Ryan at beginning but now I'm not sure what to think. Looking forward to book 2
First, let me say that TB Mann is an awesome writer. However, this story, judging it on its own merit left much to be desired. Most pointedly in how a love that had been so desired and fierce could die in the face of poor communication that is this day and age just does not seem plausible 🙁 I’m going on to book 2 and sincerely hope and pray that it makes up for book 1.
Ok confession time? I thought I've reviewed this book before since I've read it like a dozen times. I own the book in paperback too along with book 2. This tells the story of a love Kayla has for 2 boys next door when visiting family. How the break up is and how is meets yet another amazing guy when she is helping with her baby sister. Her life however turns upside down and she lost contact with the guys...
I like some hockey themed sports romances, but this one was meh. Too little character development, and the author might have tried to use the tired Kindle technique of breaking one book into three segments trying to get readers to pay $4.99 per section.
Either way the writing was ok, but with not enough character development I didn't really care for the characters, so I will not be reading any more of this series.
I was not expecting such an emotional rollercoaster. It was a really great story and it was well written. It's VERY slow burn, and even the small amount of spice that's there is mild, but it fits the story so well. I absolutely loved this book, and can't wait to find out what happens next.
I really enjoyed this book. A few things pulled me out of the story but not often enough to make me enjoy it any less.
I grabbed this book during that free romance thing where they have hundreds of free ones to choose. Really happy I did since now I get to explore this new author!
Started out good then @90% it switched from first person pov to 3rd… not sure why the author decided to to do that.. I hate reading in 3rd person. So during that section I just skimmed it lost all my interest. So would love to finish the story to find out how they reunited. I hated her parents. Specially what they did to her about Chloe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Great storyline and Kayla is a very sweet character who is treated horribly. I can’t wait to read the next book to find out what happens in her relationships with the guys!
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book and boy am I glad I did!!! This book blew me away. I really enjoyed it and read it in one sitting. A certain doctor stole my heart (FYI--HE'S MINE, LADIES) I would definitely read more from this author!
This was kind of a weird story but I liked it. Kayla had absolutely no control over her life and I felt terribly for her. I love her and Adam together.