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.
more
What a stellar start to Anna B Doe’s brand new Blairwood University series. This one is an angsty, slow burn romance and beautifully written.
Callie is the popular cheerleader throughout her high school years. As we read on we’re slowly introduced to Callie’s past and get to learn more about what’s hurt her so badly.
Back in highschool Hayden had a crush on Callie. fast forward to college and he is the star wide receiver on the football team and a cocky playboy to boot. Now that crush he once had is gone and replaced with hatred.
We’ve been gifted a fabulous enemies-to-lovers second chance romance. There is so much emotion in this one that really grabs you and pulls you into the story.
My Rating: 3/4
Type: Standalone
Genre: Contemporary Romance , Enemies to Lovers
Narration: Dual POV
Primary Characters: Callie & Hayden
Source: ARC – Courtesy or Author/publisher
Review
Anna is a new author for me and I’m glad I picked this book. Totally liked the writing style. Book starts with Callie entering Blairwood university. She has a past with Hayden, who is now Blairwood’s star wide receiver. They don’t like each other; they want to move on but fate brings them face to face again and again.
Callie is scared physically and emotionally. She has made some bad decisions in past which is weighing her down. Callie has moved from being cheerleader to brooding reclusive girl and Hayden from lanky, clumsy to popular star receiver. Hayden is determined to not forgive her. Now 3 years later even with their hatred and anger they still cannot avoid the pull between them.
The reason for Hayden’s hatred was completely justifiable. We really see the growth of their relationship as the book goes along and their stories develop. I admired Callie for all that she has endured and staying strong giving back whenever necessary. What caused the rift between them? What new revelations do they face? Can they really forgive and move on?
This is a college “Enemies to Lovers” romance about a second chance to forgive, mend and move on. Secondary characters were awesome. Nixon, Jasmine, Chole, Emmett, Maddox and Zane they were epitome for friends. They knew when to push whom and how to make the other person open up when situation demands.
Story is a beautifully written with angst and emotion along with good twists which makes this a perfect onetime entertaining read.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for honest review.
Blog – https://meander23.com
Anna B Doe has a knack of writing stories full of emotions and powerful descriptions that give you an in-depth feel of what the characters are feeling. Hayden and Callie’s tragic past, re-union and the struggle to a bright future is something to behold. Kudos Anna for giving us another gut-wrenching story and characters and series to look forward to.
My first book by Anna B. Doe and she didn’t disappoint. I’m already looking forward to the next one.
Kiss to Conquer is a slow burn, passion filled enemies to lovers romance laced with angst. Anna B. Doe takes you on an unexpectedly emotional journey of two people on the path to forgiveness, second chances and shows what happens when you choose happiness.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.
This book was just ok for me. I enjoyed the characters, it was just hard for me to get into.
Talk about an amazing enemies to lovers story filled with so much angst that had me at the edge of my seat. Callie was once the ever popular and beautiful highschooler that had everything going for her until tragedy struck. Trying to start anew and start college, she just wants to stay under the radar. That is until she runs into someone from her past. Hayden was the popular football player on campus, seeing Callie again was the last thing he ever expected. This story is emotional as hell and tugged at my heart. Everyone deserves a second chance and these two definitely did. Loved this story!!
A Kiss to Conquer is my first book by this author, and whilst I liked it, I did struggle with my feelings towards the hero Hayden, I am definitely in the minority when I say that it took me a few chapters to warm up to him, I sometimes felt like his words were a bit too harsh.
This enemies to lovers story, was a little different in that it’s our heroine Callie, who has hurt the hero when they were in high school. Shocked to see Callie, at the same college as him Hayden isn’t exactly welcoming or friendly.
Callie suffer a tragedy, and she isn’t the same person anymore I think this is why I was more drawn to her, than Hayden to be honest. When this couple do eventually get together, they were actually quite sweet and enjoyable to read about.
I will definitely read more of this authors books, and I’m intrigued to read the next couples story, because the heroine is somewhat of a mystery & we don’t really know a lot about her from what we’ve seen.
This is my first read by Anna B. Doe and it most certainly won’t be my last.
Kiss to Conquer was an emotional, angsty enemies to lovers that had me feeling allllll the feels.
Although Callie and Hayden’s relationship was rocky and their past a little broken, I loved watching them grow.
I can’t wait to see what Anna comes up with next!
“The scars you can see aren’t even the ugliest part of me.”
Anna B. Doe is a new author to me, l absolutely loved Kiss To Conquer and will surely be reading more by this author! Callie and Hayden’s journey will pull you into their story from the very beginning to the end, wanting to know the why’s, secrets and heartache! Loved the other characters! Loved the ending and bonus epilogue! Bring on Nixon and Yasmin’s story!
This was a heartbreaking and intense enemies-to-lovers story. With flashes of the past to illuminate the present, Anna does a phenomenal job telling Callie and Hayden’s story.
The character development alone is subtle perfection. The personal growth that both Callie and Hayden experience is real and relatable. I appreciated that they both developed personally outside their complex and evolving relationship.
Overall, Anna writes a real and gutting romance that gives love an unexpected second chance. With an ending that left me salivating for the next couple’s story, I truly enjoyed Kiss To Conquer and anxiously await the next book!
Kiss to Conquer is an enemies-to-lovers, new adult sports romance that is an angsty, emotional ride. Callie and Hayden have a complicated past that’s slowly revealed throughout the book. Callie is a beguiling character; you know that she has faced some tragedy that has fundamentally changed her, but you don’t know the extent for much of the story. She carries so much guilt from her past that she closes herself off from everyone around her as a self-imposed punishment. Hayden is a cocky football player, but as his history is revealed you discover more and more layers to him. I loved to see how these two characters grew throughout the story, and how they reconciled their pasts to create a future together. It’s an engaging story of love and forgiveness.
Anna has created another great universe in Blairwood University, and I’m looking forward to reading more about the wonderful cast of characters that inhabit it in future books.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book
Hayden is a swoon worthy football player that hasn’t always had it easy. Callie is trying to heal from the worse day of her life. A must read enemies to lovers. The way this story is written you will scream, fan yourself, laugh and fall in love with all these characters. There are so many wonderful characters and scenes that you just can’t get enough. Hayden and Callie story is a beautifully written with angst and emotion that makes it pure perfection.
Hayden is one of the most popular players on the football team and is heading for the pros and he is determined to make sure nothing stands in his way. Callie moves across the country to hopefully get a chance at a new beginning after everything that she has been through. When Hayden and Callie run into each other, neither are willing to let go of the past and make it a goal to attempt to avoid each other but when the universe has a different plan for them will they be able to forgive and conquer their past?
Kiss to Conquer is another great story from Anna B. Doe and a great start to the Blairwood University series. The angst and tension between Hayden and Callie is gripping and will keep you invested through the whole book. The suspenseful edge will have you flipping the pages to find out the secrets that Hayden and Callie are hiding. I loved this book right from page one and can not wait for the continuation of the Blairwood University series.
*ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review*
Kiss To Conquer
Book 1 Blairwood University
Anna B Doe
5 +++++ Stars
A M A Z I N G ! ! Absolute masterpiece!! Very well written and developed! Love the realistic characters and their chemistry! Quite the emotional read! Kept my interest throughout! This is her very best book up to date!
I loved it so much! Can not wait for the next book in this series!
*4.5 STARS*
How is this my first Anna B. Doe book?! Her writing is wonderful and so enjoyable.
Anna B. Doe has written an angst-filled enemies-to-lovers sports romance like no other. Hayden (swoon) and Callie are such incredible characters and their story is a Must Read. I couldn’t put it down and that ending! Can’t wait for book 2!
This was my first read from this author and I genuinely enjoyed it! The characters were very relatable, there was the right amount of angst and tension, and the sexy scenes were HOT. Plus there was a real connection between Callie and Hayden!
These two went to high school together, where Callie was the beautiful popular girl and Hayden was the shy, sort of nerdy boy who didn’t have many friends. Now in college, their roles have completely reversed. There’s a mystery as to why Hayden despises Callie, but underneath all the animosity is a love they can’t deny.
I loved the journey both of our characters went on — Callie was so strong, and truly evolved into the person she always wanted to be, while Hayden has a beautiful evolution of his own.
I really enjoyed this book and will be looking forward to more in the series!
**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!**
I was given this book by the author in return for an honest review.
This is the first book I have read from this author and I really enjoyed it, I will definitely read book 2 to catch up with everyone’s life next.
I love college romances, its definitely one of my favourite romance tropes, always gaurenteed a good read with them.
The storyline in this book was really beautiful, I loved that not everyone was a super model and that it showed scars and all!! This book really touched my heart with the tragic past both Callie and Hayden came from. I loved that this pair went through so much, not just together but also in the years apart but they were still drawn to one another. Sometimes horrible bad things happen but you just have to make the decision to let it go and live your life.
It’s a small world and this book really shows us just that. Do we ever know what is around the corner in our lives?
I also loved all the others in this book and look forward to see them in more detail as the series goes on.
Thanks for the chance to read this great book.
We all do stupid things when we are in high school but Callie’s mistake got someone expelled. Not just anyone but Hayden Watson. Can Hayden ever forgive her for her mistake?
Hayden was just a shy skinny kid back in High School when the mistake affect his future and broke his heart. But Hayden isn’t that kid anymore. He is now the star wide receiver at Blairwood University.
Now that they are both attending Blairwood, old feeling begin to return. Feelings of guilty, love, and attraction. They both have a past and secrets, they just don’t know how connect that past it.
Hayden and Callie are great together. This book a great read, I never wanted to put the book down. Also the extra epilogue is amazing.
( .)
:
Callie Stewart was once the popular girl everyone wanted to be friends with. She had everything anyone could dream off. Beauty, popularity, status, money, a sexy boyfriend and the perfect parents.
and like all the popular girls, she always put herself first. Always. But life as she knew it abruptly ended due to a tragic accident. And all was lost.
, , . . . .
Hayden Watson was a clumsy teenager who had a crush on the beautiful Callie, until she did something that changed his life forever and now all that love was turned to pure hate.
Three years later they both meet again only to find out that they are attending the same university. but they can’t seem to stay away from each other. Callie is no longer the same person she was 3 years ago, she lost everyone and everything that mattered to her, but Hayden is not falling for her lies again.
This was a college enemies to lovers romance about second chance, about forgiving oneself, about moving on and letting the past be where it belongs; in the past.
, . . , .
This is my first book by Anna, but it certainly won’t be the last.
Anna was one of my first KU authors that I discovered several years ago and she has quickly become one of my favorite new adult authors.
Callie runs into Hayden at her first night in college and his disdain for her can be felt on the pages. Callie and Hayden went to the same high school and had a tumultuous ending to their friendship at the time. Callie was in a terrible accident that resulted in scars on her face and body and as a result she has kept to herself for the past 3 years.
Hayden and Callie’s relationship is definitely filled with it’s ups, downs, and secrets. There were several parts in the book that definitely made my jaw drop as they were revealed. I loved the supporting characters and how this book set up for a series with these characters.