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A review by kimberlyfaye_reads
All Played Out by Cora Carmack
5.0
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If you follow my blog at all, you know how much I loved the first book in Cora Carmack's Rusk University series. All Lined Up was everything I could possibly ever want in a new adult sports romance. This is exactly why I hated admitting I was disappointed in the second book in the series, All Broke Down. Now, don't get me wrong, Silas was all kinds of hot and amazing and, even if I didn't feel like I ever really connected with Dylan, I loved the two of them together. It was the thing that happens near the end of the book that threatened to ruin it for me. I love Cora's books, but I was a little afraid that it might've ruined the entire series for me. I can unequivocally say now, after finishing All Played Out and seeing what Cora intends to do with All Closed Off, I'm ready to once again Bleed Rusk Red.
In reading the first two books in the series, I can honestly say I never had a deep love for Mateo Torres. I mean sure, he came off as smoking hot and I imagined I would enjoy watching him on a football field, but he didn't strike me as the kind of guy I'd ever call one of my top book boyfriends. Oh, how very silly I was. About halfway through All Played Out, I realized he was a strong contender for Top Cora Carmack Book Boyfriend, a spot Cade has held onto since Faking It. There was definitely more than meets the eye to this cocky jock who spends his time bouncing from woman to woman.
Nell was a heroine after my own heart. In fact, I saw a lot of my high school self in her. My friends and I were all total goody goody types who got excellent grades and were friends with the teachers. I mean, to this day I'm Facebook friends with several of my teachers and at least every few months, my mom runs into one of my old teachers and they talk about how much they adored me. (And I've been out of high school a LONG TIME now.) But, I digress. Nell. I liked her. She was a little shy and a lot unexperienced, but I loved how she came out of her shell and started to experience life during this book. It made me reminisce about doing the same when I was a freshman in college.
I loved Mateo and Nell together. Despite how different they were, they made a fantastic pair. I never would've pictured him with a girl like her, but damned if I didn't really enjoy reading about it as it happened. I really liked how they got to know each other and grew together, learning about each other as they learned about themselves as well. The romance was sweet and sexy as could be. I do love a good reformed bad boy.
One of my very favorite things about this book was the friendship that developed between Nell and Stella. If you read my review of All Broke Down, you know how torn up I was about what happened to Stella in that book. I can't say I'm over what happened, but I feel better after getting some serious Stella time in this book. She has a long way to go, but she's finding herself again. And, most importantly, she has people who really care about her and are there to help her. I hope Nell will play an important part in Stella's story in All Closed Off.
I loved this book. It had all the humor, heart, sexiness and awkwardness I have come to expect from Cora's books. I think her fans, as well as fans of the series and new adult in general will really enjoy this book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
If you follow my blog at all, you know how much I loved the first book in Cora Carmack's Rusk University series. All Lined Up was everything I could possibly ever want in a new adult sports romance. This is exactly why I hated admitting I was disappointed in the second book in the series, All Broke Down. Now, don't get me wrong, Silas was all kinds of hot and amazing and, even if I didn't feel like I ever really connected with Dylan, I loved the two of them together. It was the thing that happens near the end of the book that threatened to ruin it for me. I love Cora's books, but I was a little afraid that it might've ruined the entire series for me. I can unequivocally say now, after finishing All Played Out and seeing what Cora intends to do with All Closed Off, I'm ready to once again Bleed Rusk Red.
In reading the first two books in the series, I can honestly say I never had a deep love for Mateo Torres. I mean sure, he came off as smoking hot and I imagined I would enjoy watching him on a football field, but he didn't strike me as the kind of guy I'd ever call one of my top book boyfriends. Oh, how very silly I was. About halfway through All Played Out, I realized he was a strong contender for Top Cora Carmack Book Boyfriend, a spot Cade has held onto since Faking It. There was definitely more than meets the eye to this cocky jock who spends his time bouncing from woman to woman.
Nell was a heroine after my own heart. In fact, I saw a lot of my high school self in her. My friends and I were all total goody goody types who got excellent grades and were friends with the teachers. I mean, to this day I'm Facebook friends with several of my teachers and at least every few months, my mom runs into one of my old teachers and they talk about how much they adored me. (And I've been out of high school a LONG TIME now.) But, I digress. Nell. I liked her. She was a little shy and a lot unexperienced, but I loved how she came out of her shell and started to experience life during this book. It made me reminisce about doing the same when I was a freshman in college.
I loved Mateo and Nell together. Despite how different they were, they made a fantastic pair. I never would've pictured him with a girl like her, but damned if I didn't really enjoy reading about it as it happened. I really liked how they got to know each other and grew together, learning about each other as they learned about themselves as well. The romance was sweet and sexy as could be. I do love a good reformed bad boy.
One of my very favorite things about this book was the friendship that developed between Nell and Stella. If you read my review of All Broke Down, you know how torn up I was about what happened to Stella in that book. I can't say I'm over what happened, but I feel better after getting some serious Stella time in this book. She has a long way to go, but she's finding herself again. And, most importantly, she has people who really care about her and are there to help her. I hope Nell will play an important part in Stella's story in All Closed Off.
I loved this book. It had all the humor, heart, sexiness and awkwardness I have come to expect from Cora's books. I think her fans, as well as fans of the series and new adult in general will really enjoy this book.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.