Pepper I’ve made it this far and I’m not about to slow down now, in fact I’m ready to start breaking some records. With my junior year of college quickly approaching, I know it’s time to step it up a notch if I want to run professionally after I graduate. Hoping for a race day breakthrough, I wonder if it’s actually a mental barrier holding me back and if so, how am I supposed to confront what I … what I can’t see? Letting my past be my guide, both on and off the trails, I listen to my heart and finally know what it takes to win it all… trust. In Jace and myself.
Jace
I want Pepper back. Anyway I can have her, however she will take me. I’m reluctant to bulldoze my way into her life, having already crushed her once (okay, probably a few more times than that) before, but I’ll do whatever it takes. I just need to remind her what we had- what we have, and what’s at stake, but first, I’ll have to get her to listen to me. What happens if I’m too late and she crosses the finish line without me?
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I loved this book. It was a great ending to the series. The way real topics, that are struggled with daily, were touched upon, was perfect. They can be hard to discuss but the book was so eloquent in opening them up for discussion. I loved that marriage wasn’t the end to this awesome couple. I’m sad to see their story end, but am completely satisfied with how everything turned out.
Exciting fifth book in a compelling YA/NA sports romance series
This YA/NA novel is the fifth book in a six-book series about Pepper Jones and Jace Wilder, whom we have previously encountered in book 1, PEPPED UP, book 2, ALL PEPPED UP, book 3, PEPPED UP AND READY, and book 4, PEP TALKS. The books in this series are not stand-alone, and it is recommended that they be read in order. Note that this review will be a spoiler for books 1, 2, 3 and 4 if you have not read them yet.
It is Pepper’s junior year and Jace’s senior year at the University of Colorado in Denver. Pepper is living off-campus in a house with female teammates from her cross team, and Jace is still living off-campus in the same house with fellow football players where he has been since his sophomore year.
Jace and Pepper have been separated for almost two years, and both have grown a lot in that time, especially Jace. In their own way, each has, for the most part, recovered from the excruciating pain of their breakup, and they are living full lives as sports stars who have plenty of friends and are studying to complete a bachelors degree. But neither has dated anyone else in all this time, and neither has stopped loving the other.
All this time, Jace has been watching over Pepper from afar in a protective way. But he has felt unworthy of approaching her directly to ask for a second chance, knowing how cruelly he deserted her. He can’t believe she would ever want to have anything to do with him again. However, with the encouragement of his father, his half-brother Wes, and Bunny, Pepper’s grandmother who raised her and helped raise Jace as well from the age of 4 to 18, he is determined to try, to the best of his ability, to be in Pepper’s life again. If not as a lover, as a friend.
Pepper’s goal is to become a professional runner, possibly an Olympic contender, after she graduates from the University of Colorado less than two years from now. But lately, she has been experiencing a mental barrier that is stopping her from competing as strongly as she has in the past.
When Jace unexpectedly comes back in Pepper’s life, offering friendship and maybe something more, she realizes she has forgiven him for hurting her so badly two years ago. But if she allows herself to feel too much for him, how can she trust him to not abandon her again, both emotionally and physically, if tragedy recurs in his life?
This book has three main plots: Pepper’s running career, her reunion romance with Jace, and an antagonist who attempts to sabotage their budding relationship. There are also several other fun subplots involving romantic relationships between subcharacters which have built across the series and which are happily resolved in this book.
Pepper remains a very sympathetic heroine, both as an elite athlete and in her relationships with her friends, her grandmother, and especially her assertiveness with Jace, calling him to account for his treatment of her in the past. In addition, as in the previous books, the sports plot is filled with vivid and enthralling details of Pepper’s experiences as an elite sports competitor.
The author once again alternates points of view between Jace and Pepper in this book, as she did in Book 4. In this book, though, we get more of Jace than in the previous book. This allows us to be up close and personal with him and discover how and why he has grown out of his emotional breakdown of Book 4. There were two things I deeply wanted to see for Jace, and I think it is an important spoiler to bring this up for true romance fans. He got professional help from a counselor rather than the false narrative so many romance authors fall into that, “true love heals all.” No, it doesn’t! Secondly, Jace thoroughly grovels in repentance to Pepper for the harm he did to her in book 4 before she fully forgives him. It is absolutely inexcusable in a romance novel to fail to include such vital groveling when a romance hero commits an offense as great as that of Jace in book 4. Good job, Ms. Dean!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. This is a series I will read again and again. I am looking forward to reading the final, sixth book in the series: PEPPED UP AND WILDER.
This book is best suited for adults and older teens because of a realistic portrayal of underage drinking and drunkenness and underage sex (though none of it is graphic). There are some relatively minor occurrences of off-color language.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Romantic Hero: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Setting: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Girl-Power Sports Plot: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
I thought that this would be the final book for Jace and Pep but it’s not. It’s a little disappointing that I couldn’t get an epilogue that shows what they talked about at the end of this book. Five books, and it gave us a HEA. but for me it doesn’t feel like the “complete” ending I was hoping for. Don’t get me wrong, once again this was a good read even if it was slow but I expected more. Pep and Jace are trying to rebuild their friendship but it isn’t so easy after being hurt. The threats keep coming from different directions and Pep always seems to be the one getting hurt. What happened with Clayton wasn’t all that surprising, I knew he had a lot to do with what happened. I was so happy for Buns, she deserved her HEA too. This was a good one time read for me. However, I don’t think I will continue with this series. It wasn’t bad but it isn’t one that I want to continue after reading 5 books and not getting the complete ending I had hoped for. I really wish this would have given me the ending for Pep and Jace and maybe had other books for Wes and Zoe but also have Pep and Jace making appearances in their story. Was it worth reading? Yes. Would I recommend it? I’d say give it a try and see if it works for you.
Two years later. Through therapy and self discovery, Jace wants to win back Peppers heart. but is it possible, after he did the unthinkable? He decides to show Pepper that his mind is in a better place and he still loves only her. But will Pepper trust him and slowly let him back into her heart?
Stacey Glemboski narration flows from one character to another with ease. She brings the angst, raw emotion and personality to each character. I enjoyed listening to this story.
audiobookobsessionreview
Cynical Pepper, and this is not a good look on the girl that is usually optimistic, but I guess after the way the last book ends it makes sense. Hallelujah it has Jace scrambling ???
This story has some intrigue, suspense, and answers to past occurrences and Stacey did a great job telling it all.
Reviewed for Audiobook Obsession
SO Pepper Jones and Jace have been broken up for 2 years and we finally get a glimpse into what he is feeling and thinking!!
I loved this book, I loved getting to finally get inside Jace Wilder’s head and getting to see the other side of it all. But can we talk about Clayton for a second? I mean what the WHAT?! I knew there was something off with him but WOW.. just wow. I can’t even form an intelligent sentence about him right now. I was shocked to say the least!
Jace decides he is ready to have Pepper back in his life, I was kind of upset considering the fact that he really hurt her and I wanted her to make him work for it but at the same time I was celebrating! I mean how could you not, Pepper and Jace are just meant to be. I love the way the book played out and loved the HEA.
This is one of my favorite couples that I have read, I enjoyed watching Pepper gain her own self confidence while she was without Jace and I love the fact that he is so open and honest at the end once he finally grows up and seeks help. They both learned quite a bit about love and life while they were separated and even though I HATED the separation I realize after the fact that it was a really good thing for them as individuals which in turn made them stronger as a couple.
And we can’t forget Bunny, I mean seriously everybody needs a Bunny in their lives! I love seeing her get her HEA too! Such a great added bonus to the story line.
Pepped Up Forever
Pepper Jones, Book 5
By: Ali Dean
Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski
I have loved this series from the start, and watching the transformation of Jace and Pepper has been wonderful. I really loved this part of their journey for a couple of reasons. As a junior in college Pepper has set new goals for herself, and at this time in her life needs to learn and become intuitive. Ali Dean has picked up on all her cues, found her weaknesses and has let us watch Pepper mature into a wonderful young woman. As we have been involved with Jace too, we have seen him go from high school to college with goals in mind, troubled past and the fortitude to make change. I love it! It’s a great story, let’s us carouse with “our” friends to parties, see old friends and crazy ones and the best, to see Gran! It’s so much fun, I can’t get enough. And with Stacey Glemboski at the wheel with her amazing narration, she brings it all together with her impeccable voices, consistent from book to book, giving us that community feel as we listen. I can’t wait for the next one!
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4.5 stars for Pepped Up Forever by Ali Dean. This is book 5 in the Pepper Jones series. This book starts out 2 years later from the last book. Pepper and Jace are both doing good on their own, but they could be doing great together. Jace knows he messed up with what he did to Pepper but will she ever forgive him. He feels he will never be whole without Pepper. Pepper loves Jace but don’t know if she can ever trust that he wouldn’t do it again . I love these two together, and I felt this book contained a lot of feelings between the couple and others. This series is truly amazing and you wont be upset about reading it .
Pep Talks left me heartbroken for Pepper and Jace and I was hoping that this one would put the pieces back together. In Pep Talks thing happen with Jace and Pepper and now Jace realizes what he did. Jace is different in this one. I didn’t like him in Pep Talks but in this one it’s hard to not love him and root for him to get Pepper back. Pepper always been fierce and strong and we continue to see how strong she is. This ending of this one was what I have been hoping for since book two.