Winning nationals wasn’t the only dream that came true. I also walked away with the heart of the one boy I couldn’t live without. I knew that being Jace Wilder’s girlfriend wouldn’t be simple. But how could I have known all the hurdles we would face? Drama at school? That’s a given. Jealous girls? That I expected. Family secrets? Not so much. At least I can always hit the trails to clear my head… … clear my head… or so I thought.
The high expectations from my winning cross country season still haunt me, and hold me hostage. I can’t seem to get psyched up for what comes next. My competitive spirit is fading and I’m lost without it. What will I do when my one constant is no longer my safe place? Life on and off the track is spiraling out of control, leaving me in its wake as I struggle to remember who I truly am.
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All Pepped Up
Pepper Jones, Book 2
By: Ali Dean
Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski
Ali Dean certainly has me entrenched in this series! Book two takes us through the beginning months of Jace and Pepper’s relationship. It’s fun, flirty, angsty, and full of all those teenage issues. We have a little mean girls, a little partying, some social media stunts as well as bringing family closer together. Dean writes in a conversational style, so it’s like we are actually there, listening to what is going and are experiencing all the emotions and feels of their lives. The sports aspect is still important, but the focus is more on the relationship of Pepper and Jace, with Wes, Gran and Annie. I look forward to see the growth of the story continue in book 3!
Stacey Glemboski continues to bring this story to life. I love her voice as it flows through the story. What I find really amazing is her ability to go from high school student to grandmother flawlessly. She has a great range and variety of voices as this cast grows. Each character is easy to hear and her performance is a pleasure.
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This is book two in the Pepper Jones series. You should read book two first. This one picks up where book one left off. Jace and Pepper are now boyfriend and girlfriend. Pepper struggles in this one. She dealing with mean jealous girls an she’s losing her running competitive spirit. Jace and friend Wes have a secret that they share with Pepper. Pepper gets a little mad but I didn’t really understand why she was upset about it. I liked this one but it wasn’t as good as the first one.
Excellent sequel, R-rated YA/NA girl-power, sports novel
This book is the second in a soon-to-be, six-book series about Pepper and Jace, whom we first met in book 1, PEPPED UP. These books are not stand-alone, and it is recommended that they be read in order. Note that this review will be a spoiler for book 1 if you have not read it yet.
This series is set in a small, mountain city in Colorado, and the series offers fascinating local color from this lovely setting.
At the end of PEPPED UP, Pepper and Jace have just officially begun dating, after 14 years of being close friends, making book 1 a classic “friends to romantic partners” story. There is also an exciting sports-related plot in book 1, with Pepper becoming one of the top, female, high-school runners in the country. Book 1 takes place during the first semester of Pepper’s junior year in high school and Jace’s senior year, making her 16 and him 17 at the time. This book continues in the second semester of that same school year, and Jace turns 18 during this book.
Anyone looking at Pepper’s life from the outside might assume she has it made. She’s a pretty, slim, star athlete, and she’s dating the school’s gorgeous star quarterback, who is the most popular guy at her school. But Pepper has never cared for the type of adulation that is so much a part of her charismatic boyfriend’s life. He’s a natural leader, with both male and female teens hanging on him wherever he goes. Pepper is the opposite. She much prefers to stay away from parties, fade into the background in general, and at all times avoid the excess drama that seems to prevail among the partying seniors in Jace’s crowd.
Unfortunately, drama is stalking her every step now that she and Jace are an item. Jealous ex-lovers of the formerly promiscuous Jace are extremely displeased that he is out of commission, and one ex-fling of his in particular, a beautiful, sexy vixen who is as popular as Jace, is determined to steal Jace from Pepper (the classic, “Evil Other Woman” antagonist). In addition to fending off scheming teenage girls, a family secret about his father that Jace has kept from Pepper for years is suddenly revealed, and she is hurt that Jace has not trusted her enough to confide in her about it long before now. And just to make Jace’s parent issues over-the-top complete, his recovering-addict mother, who deserted him when he was a baby, resulting in lifelong abandonment issues within Jace, has unexpectedly moved back to town. Pepper is worried that she will suck in Jace, convincing him she can offer him the maternal affection he deeply longs for, only to leave him behind again and break his heart once more.
On top of all the people problems weighing Pepper down, she is also enduring trouble with her passion, running. She feels immensely pressured by perceived high expectations of her now that she is a national champion, and for the first time her intense joy in running has vanished, and her competitive spirit in track races along with it, due to her angsting over the possibility of becoming a failure.
I found this sequel just as compelling as book 1. So much so, in fact, that I could not stand to put the book down after I started it, staying up long into the night to read it straight through. I am a big fan of YA/NA sports romances where the heroine is a dedicated athlete, especially when the author keeps a strong balance between the romance and the heroine’s struggles with her sport. Once again, as with book 1, PEPPED UP, talented author, Ali Dean, has pulled off this difficult artistic feat.
Pepper is a very sympathetic heroine, and I appreciated Jace’s important emotional growth arc within this book, as well. I especially enjoyed the loyalty and protectiveness both Pepper and Jace display toward each other. I also felt that, in spite of there being no graphic portrayals of sexual activities–and no intercourse–between this attractive couple, that the sexual chemistry between them is very strong. Which is always a big plus in a romance novel.
Pepper’s loving, eccentric grandmother, Bunny, who raised her after her parents died when she was a baby, remains a central figure in this novel, and is a wonderful addition to the series. I also love Pepper’s dog, Dave, her frequent running partner whom she describes as a “multi-colored, short-haired mutt.”
This book is best suited for adults and older teens because of the underage drinking, underage sex (between various teens), and illicit drug use of many of the teen characters. Importantly, though, within this book, Jace is drastically abstaining from all three of these troublesome activities compared to his behavior in book 1. Pepper remains a virgin who respects her body enough to avoid drugs and drink very little alcohol, especially compared to most of the other hard-drinking teens in this series.
I rate this book as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Romantic Hero: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Setting: 5 stars
Girl-Power Sports Plot: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars (less)
This is a series that must be read in order so if you haven’t read the first book don’t start this one yet. There is no denying how much Jace loves Pep and what she means to him. In this book a blast from the past comes back and although I know Pep is feeling a little protective over Jace, I believe that it’s up to him on how to handle the situation and she should just support him. This story is full of drama, jealousy, revenge and back-stabbing. More secrets also comes to light and I think Pepper is taking it to heart a little too much but at the same time I understand why she could feel that way. Madeline needs to get herself together instead of trying to ruin things between Pep and Jace because Jace no longer wants to be with her. Although this story had a ton on drama, the flow of the story was still slow and I had to fight against skipping pages to get through the story. It wasn’t a bad story, it’s just that I’m finding it so slow but I do still enjoy the characters that I did in the first book. However, since I have the next book in the series I will be reading it but once again this story will be a one time read for me. So, was it worth reading? Yes. Will I read the next book? Yes. Would I recommend it? I would say to give it a try and see if it works for you. It’s not a bad story-line it’s just that this story is missing that something special that would make it great for me. Well that and the pace of it.
Pepper has lost her desire for competitive running. It’s her junior year, her heart is not into competing anymore. But she loves to run. why is she felling that way? What made her change?
What does Pepper do when pictures from her past go viral all over the school ? And the video of Jace with another girl gone viral?
Who sent them and why? She does what she always do to clear her head, is run.
High school pranks that go too far to try destroy her and Jace relationship.
Ali Dean writes about theTeenage parties, sports, truth, lies, betrayal, belief, courage, insecurities and love. i thoroughly enjoy this series.
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
All Pepped Up by Ali Dean is the second story in this series, it is packed with angst, drama, petty jealousy, getting to learn some hidden secrets, but it is also watching Pepper grow from a naive girl to a budding woman will Jace struggles to find his path in it all. Stacey Glemboski guides us through all with her narration.
Reviewed for Audiobook Obsession
This is book 2 in the Pepper Jones series.
Pepper and Jace are finally, FINALLY together and it is great! What can go wrong? Ha more like what can’t go wrong.
Between jealous exes and old secrets it seems like there are too many obstacles for Pepper to handle. Pepper is lost and doesn’t know who she is or what she wants anymore, she’s in turmoil and can’t seem to find the way out. Her old escape isn’t even there for her anymore, she doesn’t know who she is without running and she doesn’t have her competitive drive anymore and that bothers her. What is wrong with her that she doesn’t even like to run anymore? Is she already burned out?
Pepper faces quite a few trials and tribulations throughout this book, it is very much an emotional roller coaster for her, she is dealing with a new identity as Jace’s girlfriend which comes with struggles of it’s own but without running on her side what does she have to turn to?
Audiobook Review:
All Pepped Up (Pepper Jones # 2) brings more to the narrative and character’s continue to blossom. We get more of the personal relationships in this book, with sport moments sparingly placed. A YA sports romance blended together with angst, fun & flirty moments, and HS drama-prone gravity swirling through the pages. Family secrets brought to light creating a spiral effect.
In the end, more questions and look forward to listening to the next audio in this ya sports romance.
Stacey Glemboski performance was just right and a joie de vivre to listen to
Audiobook Obsession
Pepper Jones Greatness Continues! Fabulous Audible Listen
All Pepped Up
Pepper Jones, Book 2
By: Ali Dean
Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski
Ali Dean delivers more Pepper Jones’ greatness in this second book of her series. I am loving and thoroughly enjoying this series. It is well written with interesting storylines that are completely engrossing, once you start the book you do not want to put it down. The characters are well developed and continue to grow and evolve. Pepper Jones broke things off with Ryan at the end of the 1st book and she is finally where she belongs with Jace. The two are a force to be reckoned with. Wes and Jace are on good terms and they share some info with Pepper that leaves her with mixed feelings. Pepper has some inner struggles of her own, insecurities about running and staying on top. And then there are the outside forces in the form of the mean girls who try to stir up trouble for Jace and Pepper’s relationship. Ali Dean does a great job capturing teenage angst and H.S drama. I loved how Jace handled himself and some of the challenges, mainly Mad-Evil. I also love how Pepper manages to find her inner strength in both her racing and her self confidence in her personal life. I can not recommend this book and series enough, great for any age, young adult and up. Ali Dean, thank you for another great heartfelt story I am looking forward to what comes next for these great characters.
I listened to the Audible edition, Stacey Glemboski is a wonderful narrator and voice performer. She continues to bring these characters to life, giving each their own voice and personality and a whole lot of heart. I love her take on these characters, she makes them sound as real as Ali Dean wrote them to be. Stacey is a talented and entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another amazing listen
Thank you @AudiobookObsession #AudiobookObsession #AudiobookObsessionReviewer
** I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy.***
OMG, this book was crazy good. As you follow Pepper’s story this time around it gets hectic, and boy does that take a toll on her. Ali Dean delivers a good story in this second book. So Pepper wants to keep her relationship with Jace on the low, but you need to realize that Jace is a popular guy so it doesn’t stay secret for long. Then you get a new twist in the story about Jace and Wes that you don’t see coming. As well as being introduced to Jace’s Mom and boy does the emotional roller coaster ride for Pepper begins immediately. During this book she is trying to establish who she is and how to handle things. I feel sorry for her at one point or another and then have to remind myself that she kept herself in the dark about a lot of things. However, I do agree that Jace and Wes played a huge part in keeping things from her. Had that not happened, she would have been able to accept her new status sooner. In this case, sadly that is not what happens and it affects her ability to run. Once she was able to accept it, boy does she show it. Now the question is : does she finally find the love with Jace or not? Only time will tell, and they go through a lot physically and mentally. Well Pepper, this was a great book to read and can’t wait for book 3.
Things are smooth sailing for Pepper and Jace . . . . until they are not. Oh the high school drama!!! I am loving this series! I love watching Pepper navigate the world of mean girls, boyfriend drama, and trying to figure out her place.
4.5 stars for All Pepped Up by Ali Dean . This is book 2 in the Pepper Jones Series. I am falling in love with Ali Dean’s writing. This series is pulling me in and not letting go. All of the characters bring something to the story. In this book we are learning more about Jace and Pepper. The things/people the face in this book could rip them apart. I love Pepper. I think she is one of the most determined characters I have ever read in a book like this. She knows what she wants and works hard for it . We still get to read about all of the characters we love , and those we love to hate . I am telling you that you will love this series.