Defending Taylor (Hundred Oaks) by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Defending Taylor
Series: Hundred Oaks #7
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: July 5th 2016

Source:E-ARC from the Publisher. Thank you Sourcebooks Fire!

Summary from Goodreads:

Captain of the soccer team, president of the Debate Club, contender for valedictorian: Taylor’s always pushed herself to be perfect. After all, that’s what is expected of a senator’s daughter. But one impulsive decision—one lie to cover for her boyfriend—and Taylor’s kicked out of private school. Everything she’s worked so hard for is gone, and now she’s starting over at Hundred Oaks High.

Soccer has always been Taylor’s escape from the pressures of school and family, but it’s hard to fit in and play on a team that used to be her rival. The only person who seems to understand all that she’s going through is her older brother’s best friend, Ezra. Taylor’s had a crush on him for as long as she can remember. But it’s hard to trust after having been betrayed. Will Taylor repeat her past mistakes or can she score a fresh start?

Review

Thanks to my OTSP Secret Sister, it is official, I am a Miranda Kenneally fan for sure.  Defending Taylor was yet another great Hundred Oaks book!  Taylor made one mistake that drastically changed her senior year.  Having to transfer your senior year of high school cannot be an easy thing and Kenneally does not portray it as one.  The difficulties and challenges in trying to make friends with classmates that have known each other for years can be challenging and frustrating at times.  The drama surrounding her expulsion and then her integration into public school while a bit intense fit the characters and the story line. The side characters are always a welcome addition, the girl friends that Taylor makes help her embrace the change in her life.

The sports and romance were great!  While I only played soccer when I was super young, it is definitely a sport I get and really enjoyed reading about.  The dynamics between the players and the sometimes ball hogs was easy to relate to.  The love interest and romance were on point; I loved the older brother long term crush interest.  The romance and chemistry between the characters was well developed and progressed naturally throughout.

I love that Taylor embraces her desires both in her love interest and in her education. She works hard and studies her butt off to get where she wants to go.  Even though she makes a mistake she does not let it rule her and she overcomes it with the help of soccer, family, and friends.  Defending Taylor  has soccer drama, an older brother's hot best friend, and a super smart motivated main character; I definitely recommend it!

Jesse's Girl (Hundred Oaks) by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Jesse's Girl
Series: Hundred Oaks #6
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: July 7th 2015

Source:Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:

Everyone at Hundred Oaks High knows that career mentoring day is a joke. So when Maya Henry said she wanted to be a rock star, she never imagined she’d get to shadow *the* Jesse Scott, Nashville’s teen idol.

But spending the day with Jesse is far from a dream come true. He’s as gorgeous as his music, but seeing all that he’s accomplished is just a reminder of everything Maya’s lost: her trust, her boyfriend, their band, and any chance to play the music she craves. Not to mention that Jesse’s pushy and opinionated. He made it on his own, and he thinks Maya’s playing back up to other people’s dreams. Does she have what it takes to follow her heart—and go solo?

Review

I have a soft spot for books and movies that focus on a famous person falling for a non-famous person and Jesse's Girl does the popular trope justice!  Jesse is a swoony guitar playing, songwriting, country music star and Maya is a high school student wanting to be a musician.  I was immediately hooked; Maya and Jesse started off on rocky grounds because of his apprehension to new people who might be after just his fame.  It is easy to understand and feel the distrust Jesse feels.

Maya is faced with trusting a person who has trust issue all while dealing with a failing band, an ex boyfriend, and a strong desire to keep playing music.  I appreciate the choices and drive Maya exudes throughout the book. Maya wants to work for her goals even though she befriends Jesse.  She has dreams and is willing to fit for them while trying to juggle a new complicated friendship.  Jesse though, ahhh yes, he is gorgeous rock star that loves his family and wants to make Maya smile.  The friendship and courting are on point, I love the cute gestures and mix of rockstar-like dates and fun average dates.

Jesse's Girl has adorable dates, spontaneous concerts, and an unlikely pair that put together make a fun music-filled read!

Breathe, Annie, Breathe (Hundred Oaks) by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Breathe, Annie, Breathe
Series: Hundred Oaks #5
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: July 15th 2014

Source:Purchased

Summary from Goodreads:

Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can’t escape the guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.

But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she’s at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms…and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line.

Review

Breathe, Annie, Breathe is hands down my favorite Hundred Oaks book.  Everything about this book was what I was in the mood for and what I needed, which is saying a lot since I don't typically lean towards contemporary books.  BAB is Annie's story; Annie decide she is going to run a marathon is honor of her boyfriend who passed away.

The training and struggles Annie faces starting her training from ground zero and hating run was incredibly relate-able.  I have run a half marathon before (3 to be exact) and I don't like running; I mainly don't like it because my knees hurt, the long runs are hard on my joints, and I am not very good at it.  I have been told that long runs might not really be in my cards anymore but that feeling though, crossing the finish line and achieving a goal has me going back to try again.  When Annie faces struggles and has running pains I felt like I was right there besides her commiserating with her. I have felt the desire to get sick on a run and just collapse from exhaustion and I have only run half marathons so I can't even imagine doubling that. I just wanted to be at the finish line cheering Annie on!

Her drive and goals are impressive and motivating; after finishing this book, I wanted to get up and train again.  Aside from the running the romance was slow building and genuine.  I thoroughly enjoyed the dates and competitiveness in both Jeremiah and Annie.  Each individual had their own history to live with yet their back stories felt true and not contrived just for a plot point.

Breathe, Annie, Breathe has a cute athletic guys,  a motivating marathon training group, and a swoony love story.  Just read it :)

Stealing Parker (Hundred Oaks #2) by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Stealing Parker
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: October 1st 2012

Summary from Goodreads:

Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.

After a scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back.

Review

After Catching Jordan, I was super excited to jump right into Stealing Parker.  Stealing Parker focuses on another group of characters but with cameos from Catching Jordan characters. (Not going to lie, I need to remember names better, ha. It took me a second to remember who was who.) Similar to book one, Kenneally blends sports, relationships, and heavier topics into a fast paced compelling read.  This book focuses on Parker's relationship with baseball and softball.  Parker walked away from softball after her mother left her father.  The event rocked her world in a rough way.  Parker is faced with gossip, a lack of support from friends, and an overall sense of less.

Stealing Parker felt heavier to me than Catching Jordan.  The reaction Parker's church and friends had to Parker's mother's sexuality was not an easy read.  Parker need support and instead she had most everyone turn their backs on her or give her the cold shoulder.  The struggle Parker faces when questioning her church and her personal relationship with God was brutally honest and emotional.  Kenneally did her justice in her portrayal of the difficult situation Parker was facing.

Aside from the religious aspects , Parker also fell into a complicated romance.  While Parker stumbles and makes some mistakes, she stays strong; she learns and grows throughout the course of the book.  My primary reasoning behind the three star rating has to do with the romance.  Parks of the romance I just did not really like.

Stealing Parker was a heavier yet still enjoyable addition to the Hundred Oaks series.  I will caveat this book though: If religion and religious struggles are not for you, then this might not be the book for you.  Now to start Things I Can't Forget ;)