Playing Fate (Endgame Series, #1) by Leigh Ann Lunsford – Review by Moriah Venable

Playing Fate (Endgame Series #1)Playing Fate by Leigh Ann Lunsford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Playing Fate is the first book in the Endgame series by author Leigh Ann Lunsford. This is my first book by this author.

The novel is told between the POVs of Saylor Lewis, a 19 year old in her first year of college. She is from a small town and with the passing her father years before, believes that her father stopped loving her causing her to have trust issues. Her only goal is to study to retain her scholarship. She wants to be more social but still finds comfort in her own room. She moves into a house with two other girls, Emmberlee and Avery. The other point of view is Deacon who lives next door with the boys Caden and Mason. They have all grown up together. The boys play baseball but because of circumstances their original plan changes.

“As long as I could remember, we were all going to the Major Leagues. Our junior year we were scouted, and we all hand a future laid out in front of us. Cue Adriane…she blew my world apart, changed my plans, and Mason and Caden weren’t ready to give up the dream. They took it in stride when we couldn’t go to the majors. They followed me to college, and we are still learning to navigate this world. Caden has accepted it, but he doesn’t let it much bother him. He just ducks and rolls…block anything that will leave a lasting impression in his life.”

Saylor initially feels like an outsider but soon becomes part of the group. She feels an attraction to Deacon but because she hears about “Julie” all the time she believes that she is his girlfriend and doesn’t understand why he’d be pursuing her when he is with someone.

“Since I left my life, in New Mexico, I haven’t forged relationships. I was a loner by nature, even though I longed to fit in. I’m a regular oxymoron.” Saylor wants what any teenager wants: To feel like you belong somewhere. To find people who care about you.

She soons finds out that Julie is not his girlfriend but in fact his 4 month old daughter. The mother left and gave him all rights. Which makes her start to feel different towards him but still have her defenses up.

Deacon knows that Saylor is guarded because of her childhood, her father left, and is willing to wait for her to let down her defenses. She is obviously attracted to him but isn’t sure about starting a relationship with him because of her trust issues.

With the arrival of Deacon’s ex, thinking that he will get back with her, causesher to end things. With both of them miserable, the others excluding Emmberlee,who is the cause of bringing Adriane back, devise a plan to reunite Deacon and Saylor.

I really enjoyed this book. I related to Saylor because of her trust issues and her desire to want a new start by going away to college. I just wish she was not so back and forth. But I understood that too. I really didn’t like Emmberlee. I liked her at first but then her personality changed. I was hoping she would redeem herself.

I loved the scene when Saylor learns the truth about her father. Such an amazing scene. I really did love Saylor and Deacon’s relationship. And I fell so in love with Julie. Such a cute baby.

I am interested in reading Emmberlee’s story. Maybe we will learn more about her.

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An Unexpected Home (Cedarville #1) by Bree Kraemer – Review by Ashleigh Whitwell

An Unexpected Home (Cedarville #1)An Unexpected Home by Bree Kraemer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An Unexpected Home is the first book in the Cedarville series by Bree Kraemer. Written in third person, each chapter alternates between the story’s main characters, Leah and Brandon, giving the reader a well-developed and in-depth novel.

The story follows Leah as she moves in with her best friends, Carly and Melanie, to start her new life in Cedarville. Leaving behind her traumatic past is what Leah hopes to do, after her father and uncle’s lies destroyed her life in New York.; trying to convince people that she didn’t know they were stealing their client’s money is proving to be impossible. What Leah didn’t expect to find in Cedarville was Brandon, especially not half-naked and answering the door of her new home. Unable to deny her attraction toward him, Leah makes a bold move, only to be shot down. Realising what a mistake he had made, Brandon seeks out Leah and quickly the two form an intense bond. But their relationship is threatened by someone from Leah’s past; someone who is set on getting revenge. And the timing couldn’t be worse. Leah, Carly and Melanie are getting ready for the opening of their dance school, while her friends are having their own battles with boys. Cedarville felt like Leah’s perfect home, but are Brandon and her friends enough to keep her safe from her past?

Leah and Brandon have so much chemistry, which is evident from their first meeting. Although their relationship is intense and moves really fast, they are so perfect together and I loved that they got together so soon. This allows us to see more of their relationship, how it develops over the course of the story and how strong their bond is when they are faced with difficult situations. The friendship between Leah, Carly and Melanie is one all girls dream of, and reading their interactions was so much fun. Leah has to rely on them for support during her dramatic ordeal, but they are struggling with their own problems in their personal and professional life.

This book covers a variety of different issues, but all are executed really well. From the serious ones, to the more fun, Bree Kraemer has created a really coherent and enjoyable story. I loved the time that was spent on creating such wonderful relationships between the characters, and any reader would struggle not to find themselves completely involved in their lives. Knowing there will be more in this series stops me from being upset that this one is over! This was my first read of Bree Kraemer’s work, but it definitely won’t be my last.

Review  by @ashleighw

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