Mackenzie Bell loves two things: tennis and the Kendrick family. She doesn’t want to be anything like her mother, who hops from one husband to the next. It’s one of many reasons why she’s never dated. The other reason? She’s in love with her best friend’s older brother, Jesse Kendrick.This is a novella (short story) that was previously released as part of the Get Lucky Anthology, which is no … is no longer available.
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This was a sweet novella about two bestfriends wanting more than friendships but scared it might ruin their friendship. Will they take a chance.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Young adult story of Mackenzie who is a tennis prodigy at her high school. Despite her accomplishments, her mother couldn’t care less. He mother is always looking for the next rich husband. Mac spends most of her time at her friend’s Emma’s house. Emma’s family seems more like a family than her own. Only problem is, she has a crush on Emma’s older brother Jesse. Not wanting to risk her friendship with Emma or Emma’s family, Mac has learned to deal with her crush. Drama and some angst are in this clean short story. You easily get drawn into this teenage angst.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
(Review with spoilers)
Nice story. I love the book and I recommend it.
Mackenzie has grown through the story. She no longer seeks her mother’s approval, she no longer needs it. She can stand up to her, tell her how she feels. She doesn’t care what her mother thinks of her. It matters what she thinks of herself, and now she loves herself. She no longer needs to hide from anything, nor from her mother, nor from her feelings for Jesse. Now she is free.
I love Jesse. Yes, he goes out with a lot of girls, but none of them mattered as much to him as she did. He didn’t think he could have her love. If he had talked to her earlier, things would have been different? Or would Mackenzie have rejected him?
I love Emma, the biggest fan of their relationship, and Lincoln, who is a nice guy. And Sally, who easily sees what they both feel.
“You are too nice sometimes. It’s okay to tell a girl not to sit in your lap when you never asked her in the first place.” I love this phrase. Not only girls can (and should) talk if they feel uncomfortable, boys can and should do It.
I received an ARC from the author, and this is my honest review.
Terrific, PG, young-adult, sports romance
This PG, young-adult, sports romance is set in South Carolina. Sixteen-year old Mackenzie Bell comes from a wealthy family. Her beautiful, 41-year-old mother, Delilah (who is aptly named), is a serial divorcee and country-clubbing socialite who has broken up multiple marriages in her pursuit of a string of wealthy husbands. In the process, she has had little use for her daughter except as a prop, whenever she chooses to play the part of a doting mother in an effort to snare her latest man. Currently, she is about to net husband number 5, and Mac is disgusted with her mother’s amoral approach to relationships.
Mac was conceived when her mother cheated on her first husband, and it led to their divorce. Delilah has never told Mac who the man was. Fortunately for Mac, since her mother has never nurtured her, ever since she was a small child, she has considered her near neighbors, the Kendricks, to be her true family. They consist of loving and supportive parents who welcome Mac into their home to the point that she practically lives with them, Mac’s best friend Emma who is Mac’s age, and Emma’s older brother, 17-year old Jesse.
Mac has been secretly in love with handsome, athletic, compassionate Jesse for years, but she believes she can’t risk acting on the attraction because it would not only devastate her if it ended, but it might also endanger her relationship with the Kendrick family as a whole. For those reasons, she’s done her best to never let Jesse know that she feels far more for him than simple friendship.
This is a novella, not a full novel, but even so, it has a complete and extremely well executed arc of the classic, “friends to romance” plot. Mac is the star tennis player on her high school’s girl’s tennis team, and Jesse is the star of the boy’s tennis team. There are four types of scenes these two attractive and sympathetic protagonists have together that are emblematic of a deep and powerful, longtime friendship: their connection within the warm and caring family unit of the Kendricks; their one-on-one friendship in which he is, and always has been, very emotionally supportive of Mac; their pairing as a male/female doubles tennis duo for a sports competition, and ultimately, the two of them testing the waters to move into a committed romantic relationship.
I enjoyed every part of this well-written novella. Every aspect of an excellent, classic romance plot is here, and fans of romance will love that about it. In spite of the sexual part being G-rated, there is strong sexual chemistry between this couple, another crucial aspect of a memorable romance story.
If you are a fan of well-written, teen sports novels with a “girl power” focus, as I am, you will greatly enjoy this novella for that reason as well.
In short, for all the reasons above, I highly recommend this book to romance fans of all ages.
I have rated this novel as being PG because there is a lot of underage drinking, including drunkenness. But there is no sex, only kissing.
I rate this novella as follows:
Heroine: 5 stars
Romantic Hero: 5 stars
Subcharacters: 5 stars
Romance Plot: 5 stars
Girl-Power Sports Plot: 5 stars
Setting: 5 stars
Writing: 5 stars
Overall: 5 stars
This was a cute read. Very short. Mac and Jesse have been in love with each other for years. Everyone knew it but they fought it for a long time until finally Jesse says something and they start dating. Mac’s mom is a piece of work. Didn’t like her. They ended up beast teammates in tennis. Great ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a nice quick read. I did wish it was a little longer and explained a little more but it nice a short. Something to tide you over.
Can a friendship of twelve years shift to a relationship? Mac is been in love with Jrsse since they meet but he is her best friends big brother and the only family she has, thanks to her mother habit id changing husband so often. Tennis wil bring them together.
This is my first read from this author and I am so glad I took a chance. This story was so well done; heartwarming, endaring, fun, smart and realistic. The characters were ones I could relate to and understand and their decisions in life very humble. I enjoyed the dialogue and how the characters developed. This was more then a sports romance, it was a story about life. I received an ARC via Hidden Gems and I am leaving an honest review.
Cute, Short Read
The writing draws you in and keeps you involved throughout the whole story, I found myself in love with not only the characters but also the world that was created.
The descriptions of the characters and their feelings are so involved, you can truly picture it in your mind. Their attitudes toward the events that are happening makes the story even richer.
I received a free copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily.
I thought this was a short but sweet story with great characters and a believable storyline. The characters were interesting. I only wish it was longer. I felt such a connection with her character. Good story.
Cute and quick YA read. I love reading about young women who realize their worth and that they are worthy.
I’ve never had a crush or admiration for my best friend’s brother because it doesn’t feel right. (Well, that’s just me, personally) as much as possible, I don’t show interest or flirt with him because it’s:
– cringeworthy (I just don’t see him as my boyfriend material)
– it’s awkward! Of course, think about the repercussions. What if we break up, what will happen to the people involved or around us? It’ll get messy.
-I don’t want to talk to my best friend about my mush romance with her brother. Eew LOL
Thankfully, I didn’t experience that! I don’t have to go over the doubt and confusion of having my best friend’s brother as my boyfriend. Good thing, my best friend is an only child! Hahaha!
But really, what will happen if I’m in that situation? Well, you can’t say no to love, can you?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am enjoying the journey that kept me entertained. An attention grabber that will bring you have you at the edge of you seat with characters that kept your interest really well eager to read more.
She loves tennis and she will not be like her mother going from one man to another. Although she is still in love with her best friend brother. Can they make a match made in heaven? See what will happen between them
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book however all thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.
I loved this! It grabbed me from the first page, kept me til the last and enthralled me in between. Well worth your time to read it.
This is the 3rd book I’ve read written by Ali Dean; she has done an great job at writing a good book; I will definitely be reading more of her books.
The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.
I loved the chemistry between the characters.
I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.
It was another good read by Ali Dean. Her characters are always clear about their sports successes and need to work on everything else in their lives.
The novella has a known story of the best friend’s brother but the characters are charming.
It is a good read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a fun little book. It was a pure blast to read. It was wonderful. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book in exchange for a free copy.
Sweet and romantic – friends to lovers.
This is another great story from this author. This time short as it was previously part of an anthology but as previous novels I have a pleasure read perfectly thought through and very well written. I hope maybe this could evolve to some kind of series. Would be a really good start. But back to the subject it is sweet, very romantic and heartwarming. A little bit bitter as when I read about relationship mother daughter or thereof lack of it. But not everything in life is perfect. I enjoyed this story very much.
I can’t imagine having a mother you are trying to endure because her mother has a penchant for collecting husbands. Mackenzie puts a lot of her energy into her tennis, which she is good at and she clings to her best friend’s family. She is especially interested in her best friend’s brother – how many of us have been there? – but it is too risky for her to consider acting on it because she needs the connection with his family. The really sweet movement of their relationship from friends to more was really nice. I am so glad that since they are both best in tennis on the respective boys and girls tennis teams and they team up to do doubles. I am also glad that given Mackenzie’s aversion to her mother’s ways that their relationship is advanced in a more romantic less sexy way. This was a complete story in a novella package. Great job!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.