The past tore them apart.After a terrible accident took everything from Callie Stewart, enrolling at Blairwood University is supposed to be a chance at a new beginning.Living his best life, Hayden Watson, star wide receiver for the Blairwood Ravens, is heading straight for the NFL draft and nothing is going to stand in his way.The present brings them together.Their paths were never supposed to … together.
Their paths were never supposed to cross, but when they do, all those old demons and feelings come rushing back. Hayden thinks he knows all about Callie’s life before Blairwood and he’s not ready to let go of the past, much less forgive her for what she has done three years ago.
One thing’s for sure… it’s going to take more than a kiss to conquer their broken past.
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Kiss to Conquer is another great story by Anna B. Doe. This book is an emotional, gut-wrenching read that you can’t put down. I loved this story, the characters are so realistic and raw. Callie is suffering from a tragic loss. She meets Hayden at college and he is an unpleasant blast from the past. These two clash at every meeting yet they are undeniably drawn to each other. This is a great enemies to lovers romance and I highly recommend.
What a great book! The past has a way of catching up to you. And it is no different for Callie and Hayden. Callie is just trying to get on with her life after it all fell apart three years ago. And Hayden is working on his future. But when these two bump into each other, some old wounds open up. Are they able to move on and heal each other? In this book we have lots of guilt and lots of forgiveness that needs to occur. We also have friendship and love. Great college romance that I definitely recommend.
Oh my…. Was this book for real?! I can’t even begin to describe how much I loved this novel. How on earth did I not know about Anna B. Doe before? I was absolutely mesmerized by Kiss to Conquer —book one in the Blairewood University series— and I just didn’t want to see Hayden’s and Callie’s journey come to an end. I was very pleasantly surprised by Anna B. Doe’s writing: it was flawless, and I’m not even exaggerating. The book was so fast paced, the characters were all amazing and I just fell in love with the plot. I kept saying ‘just one more chapter’ over and over again even though I knew full well I wouldn’t be putting down the book for the next hour at least.
Kiss to Conquer is anenemies to lovers, sports romance with a fair amount of steam and loads and loads of angst!
When Callie Stewart first sets foot on Blairewood university she never expected to come face to face with Hayden -Hades- Watson. They used to know each other during highschool, were even friends for a while, but something happened that broke them apart. Well actually, someone happened -Callie, to be specific. Let’s just say she took advantage of Hayden’s crush for her and leave it at that. They hadn’t seen each other in years and as they’re both about to realise, the tables have turned. Callie used to be the famous, gorgeous and little bit spoiled girl everybody wanted to have -including Hades- and Hayden was the clumsy, weird kid who couldn’t so much as catch a ball. Now? Callie is the shadow of the girl she once was, she’s battling with her own demons. She learned in the painful way just how shallow and how self-centered she used to be, and now she’s anything but. She had to let go of anything of value to her, including her flawless beauty.
And Hayden? The clumsy, shy boy turned out to be one of the best football players the university has to offer, heading straight for the NFL. Oh, and he’s drop dead gorgeous. When he sets eyes on Callie after all those years, he can’t believe in his eyes. The girl who destroyed his life has the audacity to appear in front of him and say she’s just…. sorry? Like that would account for something. Even after so long he can’t fight the attraction he feels towards the woman who first owned his heart, but he also feels anger. Hatred. Little does he know Callie more than paid for what he did to him all those years back. But he’s about to learn it, because these two won’t stay away from each other.
I absolutely adored Hayden. He’s such a passionate, focused, determined character with a heart of gold. He was deeply hurt by what Callie did and had every right to be angry with her, but once he realised how hard those last few years had been for her he let go of those feelings, he forgave her and tried to help her move on.
Callie was such a strong character who almost let guilt suffocate her. Life left her with soul deep scars, that were even visible on the outside. She needed a strong person like Hayden to lean on to, and she needed to feel worthy of love and happiness.
The chemistry between Callie and Hayden was truly amazing! Anna B. Doe truly did the enemies to lovers trope justice.
I’m so so SO excited to read about Nixon and Yasmin in the upcoming Blairewood University book! The build up was truly amazing and I have a feeling Kiss to Forget will be angsty af! Can’t wait!
This is actually my first book from this author and it instantly grabbed me from the moment I started reading! The writing style easily flowed off the pages and the story told was both emotional and amazing.
I loved how these characters were anything but perfect it made the story relatable. You could feel every emotion both Callie and Hayden were experiencing. I love when a book speaks to your soul and that’s exactly what Kiss to Conquer does. This was a very emotional read but it was so well done.
I love a good college romance, enemies to lovers read and this was right up my alley. I cannot wait for book 2 in the Blairwood University Series.
When I normally think of a College romance I think of Young Adult romance and I have read so many that I could not even finish but Anna pulls you in and keeps you in during the journey. The emotion she put into this story is unbelievable and far from what I expected, it was powerful. It is a story that you can truly feel the emotions deep into your core.
– https://aliciasbookblog106921670.wordpress.com/2020/11/23/kiss-to-conquer-by-anna-b-doe-review/
I really enjoyed this book. I love books about sports and romance so this one was perfect, besides the characters were very well written and I loved the whole story. Callie and Hayden were amazing and their friends were the best too. This is the first book in the series so we just have to wait to read about them.
In high school Callie Stewart used to have it all–popularity, a hotshot quarterback boyfriend, and a future career as a dancer… That is until a terrible accident changed her life forever. Three years later and BWU is supposed to be a new start for her, until she bumps into him.
Hayden Watson used to be a nobody, just a clumsy sophomore football player crushing on the high school’s queen b, but she ruined his life. A cross country move and three years later, and now Hayden aka Hades is BMOC and a star BWU football player with NFL prospects. Everything is golden until Callie Stewart comes back into his life.
Funny how the past doesn’t always stay in the past…
Kiss To Conquer, book one in the Blairwood University series is the perfect blend of several of my favorite tropes (NA/College, sports, and enemies-to-lovers), and was my first book by Anna B Doe. The story and characters she has created hooked me from the start, and I could not put this book down.
Cannot wait for Yasmin and Nixon’s story in book 2!
Callie and haydens stories is absolutely heartbreaking, bitter towards each other for what happened in the past.
I absolutely love stories like this, they make you feel absolutely everything and I did, so much hurt, heartbreak and ill feeling, the past tore them apart, can the future heal them
This is my first book from Anna but it definitely won’t be my last, I was absolutely gripped from the start, I couldn’t put it down, I read it in one sitting.
Hayden and Callie’s story was emotional and intense.
Callie’s story was so moving and tragic, things were only looking worse for her until she runs into Hayden. What starts as hatred soon trues into a healing that both characters needed.
Anna B. Doe’s Kiss To Conquer is a Young Adult, enemies to lovers romance that packed in a ton of emotion. Angst, hurt, passion and healing…wrapped up in great writing and delivered with great characters. Beautiful!
Kiss To Conquer by Anna B. Doe
(Blairwood University #1)
Kiss to Conquer by Anna B. Doe is the first book in the Blairwood University Series. It is a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers sports/college book filled with angst, guilt and second chances.
Kiss to Conquer introduces us to Callie Stewart, who in her high school days, seemed to have it all. Beauty, riches, friends and family. That is until a terrible accident takes it all away from her leaving her scarred and alone.
Three years later she is determined to fulfill her parents’ dreams of attending the same college that they did. Thinking she would be able to start fresh in a new school on the other side of the country where no one knows her, her plans come to a halt when she runs into none other than Hayden Watson.
Hayden has had a shitty childhood. With absent parents and getting expelled from high school, his life has picked up dramatically since attending Blairwood University. He is now a popular jock and has friends he considers family. Life is good until he sees Callie Stewart, the girl he loved who ruined his life. The moment he sees her, all the anger and feelings he had hidden away suddenly come rushing back to the surface. She’s still as beautiful as ever but she’s changed. He can’t help but wonder where her scars come from or why she hides herself. What happened to the bubbly outgoing girl he used to know? He’s still angry with her and his plans to avoid her don’t work, not when they have the same class and can’t seem to stop running into each other everywhere they go.
Callie is shocked to see Hayden again after all these years. While she still feels guilt for what she did, she can’t help but notice how he’s turned out. He’s not the quiet lanky kid who couldn’t catch a ball anymore. He’s all man now, with chicks chasing him and he’s on the football team. Wow, how times have changed. She can’t change the past and doesn’t deserve his forgiveness, but it’s hard when every time they run into each other he either stares daggers into her or she can’t help how her body responds to him.
So what happened that made Hayden hate Callie so much? And why does she shy away from attention when she was once the center of it?
I loved how this book had young adult angst, drama, forgiveness, friendship and romance. The characters felt realistic and the chemistry and magnetic pull between Callie and Hayden is a force to be reckoned with. I can’t wait to see what’s installed next for Blairwood University.
This was my first book by this author and I’m looking forward to reading more of her books.
Callie carried so much pain inside her that you could feel it on the pages. My heart ached and the more the story played out laying out questions of the past she and Hayden shared while also delivering some devastating answers.
Hayden was a total a** at the beginning and a few times I found myself questioning whether he was going to be a book boyfriend I would fall in love with or if I was going to want to punch him. It only took a few chapters to have a better understanding of Hayden and while I still felt some of his antics were unnecessarily cruel I started to fall for this football star that had his heartbroken by a girl and so he spewed hateful words to hide that broken heart.
The chemistry between Hayden and Callie was electrifying. This is an emotional roller coaster between an utterly devastating past and a broken heart that never healed. Hayden and Callie start off with hateful words between longing glances and eventually their feels and mine turned into swooning, cheesy smiles and heartbreak.
Broken people finding their way to healing and happiness with some twists, turns and a few tears along the way. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
“The scars you can see aren’t even the ugliest part of me.”
Callie Stewart has travelled across the country to attend Blairwood University. Although the past three years have been laced with extreme guilt, grief and the ultimate loss, she decides to take the leap and attend her parents alma mater. She’s gone from popular “it” girl in high school, to a loner and recluse with ugly scars you can see and ones you can’t. When she unexpectedly runs into someone from her past, things deteriorate quickly. Hasn’t she lost enough? Will Hayden ever forgive her for what she did in high school?
“How did a California princess turn into a Beast?”
Hayden Watson wasn’t always a hot and popular star wide receiver. He was once the kid from the wrong side of the tracks. After an unfortunate event happens while in high school, he moves to New England with his grandmother to attend Blairwood University. Everything is going great for Hayden until he runs into the one person he never thought he’d see again, Callie. Only now, she isn’t the girl he once knew. There’s now a scar that marks her perfect face. Why is she here after what she did to him in high school? He doesn’t make anything easy for her. But once he finds out the secret she keeps close to her heart, he’s heartbroken for her. But when the truth about his father is revealed he could lose her forever. That isn’t an option.
“We can create our own life, our own destiny, but I need you to be with me. I need you to fight. Fight for you, for me, for us. Can you do that? Or better yet, do you want to? Do you want to fight for us Callie? Because I need you to choose me.”
This book was 4.5 amazing stars. This is the first book I’ve read by Anna B. Doe. Her characters are very relatable. She builds such a heartbreaking world (at first), but the strength Callie and Hayden display was awe-inspiring. My heart absolutely broke for Callie. Hayden was a complete jerk in the beginning but he was exactly what she needed. He was her Prince Charming. I can’t wait for book 2!
This book is extremely catchy and easy to read!
When I started reading this book I needed to know what had happened. As to Callie as to Hayden. It didn’t disappoint me when I finally found out, I loved the way the author did the reveal and how it led to it.
I mostly loved that Callie was not a all got together person who knew what she wants from life, has a perfect life or amazing and easy life. Even tho what happened was the worst thing ever, I still can’t thank Anna (author) for writing her like this. With emotional and physical pain. A lot of people are going through this. To me Callie was someone I needed right now in life. She kind of showed me what is going to happen if I’ll give up or won’t do what I want.
Hayden? I loved him too! From the athletic side to his nice and beautiful side. I loved how he supported Callie and loved her nonetheless. Her scars? He didn’t try to make her hide them, NO! He embraced them! And that’s something I thought would be the other way. He’s kind of like a perfect guy, you know?
This story was really amazing, from head to toe. The author – Anna – did an amazing job in writing! So good I laughed and cried! I don’t cry often when reading book and this was just so damn special, the way she wrote it and what was happening…it just made me bail my eyes.
If you are looking for a book with someone who doesn’t seek revenge but rather acceptance and love, this is for you!
This is the first book of Anna’s that I’ve read and I positively cannot wait to dive into the rest! Kiss to Conquer pulled me in immediately and didn’t let go until I finished it… four hours later! I couldn’t put it down!
Hayden and Callie’s history together is INTENSE. I’m talking she burned him so badly that he should’ve been turned to ash! It’s incredible to see how the author rebuilds their relationship because honestly after learning what Callie did making her still be an FMC that I found myself growing to love was phenomenal.
I particularly loved the friendships Callie has in the Kiss to Conquer. It was a really nice change of pace to have an FMC make two female friends. I’ve started to become used to FMC’s not having anyone or being bullied by all other girls in the story. Which reminds me!, Callie not having the perfect body/face, THAT right there made me fall even more in love with Kiss to Conquer.
Female friends, an amazing relationship development, and a normal girl that isn’t a supermodel just made this a top five contemporary MF romance for me.
Bringing you another MUST READ romance! This was an emtional read, you wondered what the angst is about, and the history both Callie and Hayden have that torn them apart. The painful suffering was heart wrenching on both sides’. Beautifully written with such powerful feelings into this story. It seems fate either wants them together or were they not meant to be together in the first place? (Read to find out) The luxury lifestyle seems to reverse from their to the present where one’s carries alot of burden than the other has but it was very deep reading Callie’s side and then reading Hayden’s side is equally endearingly painful. Both of them aren’t perfect yet they fit together so perfectly in every way!
Hayden is such a sweet and hot romantic! I love reading his parts alot; a football player and has it easy now than he had before. His hatred towards Callie is so strong when he saw her, yet he can’t deny the fact he knew he felt something for her; first and long lost love from the beginning. He just makes you swoon over you can’t help want this guy! (I know I do! ).
Callie took abit of time to get used to…I didn’t like her right away but overtime she grew on me. Eventually I just felt really bad for her (in an empathic way), she had so much baggage of guilt weighing on her, she put herself to the lowest thinking she didn’t deserve anything but the price she paid up during the years after the incident. It was overwhelming that I’m having an emotional hangover thinking of these two iconic couple!
Received this digital arc copy from the author for an honest review!!
Anna B. Doe has crafted a beautiful, emotional read with Kiss to Conquer. I was mesmerized from the very first pages!
Callie and Hayden knew each other back in high school, but the past tore them apart before they really ever had a chance to begin anything. It ended with Callie having major regrets and Hayden hating the girl who once held his heart.
Fast forward years later, and these two will meet again. As you can imagine, it isn’t something either expected or even want. When old feelings emerge, things get even more complicated.
Callie has come to Blairwood University hoping to begin her life again after she was involved in a devastating accident that took everything she held dear away. She is nothing like the girl Hayden knew, not by a long shot. Loss changed her in ways he could never imagine. To be fair to him, she wasn’t the most likeable person in high school as I saw in the flashbacks to their teen years. She was pretty self-centered, selfish, and cared about the trivial things in life…popularity. I like her much better now.
Hayden has changed as well. It was almost like they switched personalities in a sense. He is now the most popular person on campus, and she shuns all attention. Although, Hayden wasn’t as self-centered as Callie was. Much of Hayden’s attitude is because of his painful past. I could definitely understand his dislike for Callie. Because of his good heart, he is able to forgive her for her past mistakes.
Callie doesn’t believe she deserves a good life. She can’t seem to forgive herself for her past. With Hayden back in her life, she thinks happiness might just be a possibility.
“But over time I accepted my destiny. Accepted the life I was forced to live without people I loved the most in it. But I never started to dream again. Until now. Hayden…he makes me want to dream again. He makes me want to have a different future. Believe I can actually deserve it.”
Both Calie and Hendrix deserve all the happiness in the world, but it will NOT be easy. It seems life just keeps throwing them curveballs. They will have to fight for their HEA, and it will take both of them to do it!!!
This is such a beautiful, emotional romance with some twists. Through this couple, Doe showed her readers that the past doesn’t have to define you. I couldn’t help falling in love with Hendrix and Callie!!!!
This is a hate to love romance between two people that feel guilt at one stage of this beautiful book. You meet Callie a mysterious girl who keeps to herself and hides a past and Hayden the typical hot and popular footballer. When these two literally crash into each other they don’t realize how much they are going to effect one another. Callie intrigues me the whole way through, wanting to know what’s happened to her and why she is the way she is, so not willing to let anyone in and talk about her home. These two have history and it wasn’t the best. It got Hayden to the place he is now but not without turmoil.
Callie was the girl that everyone wanted to be but a life changing moment changed everything for her. The whole way through I wanted know what caused her so much pain and I kept making up theories. Hayden and Callie keep fighting this chemistry they have had from the moment they realized they were both at the same university. They feel each other before they see each other, it’s so beautiful written. It isn’t until truths are told Hayden lets go of the past and starts working on the future with Callie. They both give in to the inevitable that they truly are meant for each other and it’s sweet to read how connected they are and how easy things grow between them.
There are a lot of twists and turns even until the end that you don’t expect. When you think everything is going well other things are revealed, they both are hurt but Hayden keeps fighting for the girl he has always loved. You will laugh, smile, cry and then smile of happiness. I highly recommend this book and cannot wait to read more by Anna B. Doe. I received this as an arc to give an honest opinion.
This story is an angsty, second chance/enemies-to-lovers romance.This author definitely built up the suspense of discovering the characters hidden battles. My heart broke for Hayden and Callie, their story tragic and almost too much to bare. I wanted to throw my kindle in frustration, my emotions being put through the wringer. I definitely need to read what comes next in this series. First read by this author and I very much enjoyed this story!
What a book!!
This book has so much emotion!! The two main characters have been through a lot in their lives and within this story you get to see them develop and grow both as individuals and more. The friendships, connections, passion and storyline will draw you in and keep ahold of you. Really looking forward to reading more from this group!