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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This is an enemies to lovers story done to protection! The animosity between Callie and Hayden was intense and to be honest most of the time I wasn’t even sure who’s side I was supposed to be on. They both had so much in their past that they were trying to overcome and their personal history made everything that much more complicated. But let me tell you, every time they had an encounter it had me flying through the pages as the sparks ignited! I loved the twists and turns throughout the book. Just when I thought they were in the clear another shoe would drop along with my jaw. I loved how unpredictable things were, definitely kept me on my toes until the very end. I can’t wait to continue the BU series because Callie and Hayden have some awesome friends and I can’t wait to read their stories.
A tragically beautiful love story.
This book ripped me open so many times. Callie having lost so much and Hayden struggling to forgive what she had done. Trying to avoid one another and their past is no easy task, when fate has other plans. After repeatedly running into each other on campus they are forced to tackle their problems.
Learning to forgive, trust, love, and conquer demons and fears together with a little push from the people who care most about them. This book was perfect, full of emotion that keep you wanting more. I’m looking forward to the next one. If I could give it more then five stars I would. Highly recommend this one.
If you are looking for an emotionally, complex story that makes you FEEL, try Anna B. Doe. I have yet to read a bad book by her.
Kiss To Conquer is a story of second chances, righting the wrongs, overcoming hurdles and self love.
This takes place in college but Hayden and Callie’s story begins before that. These two were never supposed to see each other again but fate chose otherwise.
My feelings were all over the place while reading. I laughed, I got mad, I cried, then I sobbed with the bonus epilogue!
Anna has started her new series, Blairwood University, off with a bang! I’m excited to see what she has in store for the rest of these characters!
‘Kiss To Conquer’ is the first full length college/sports romance book in the ‘Blairwood University’ series by the immensely talented author Anna B. Doe. It’s told in dual perspectives and follows the lives of Callie Stewart and Hayden Watson.
When in high school, Callie was a popular cheerleader with the world at her feet. But after a terrible tragedy, she starts college life feeling lost and broken, scarred on the outside as well as the inside. She feels tremendous pain and guilt over everything that has happened.
Callie and Hayden are enemies, but that wasn’t always the case. Back in high school they were friends, and not only that, he had the biggest crush on her. But after one stupid and impulsive mistake was made, everything between them changed.
Fast forward three years… Hayden is living the dream at Blairwood University. He is the star wide receiver for the football team and also popular with the ladies. Things are going well until he crosses paths with Callie, the girl who ruined his life.
To make matters worse, the two of them keeping bumping into each other. But despite the ill will that they feel, there is still a strong magnetic pull between them. The question is… Will they let the past ruin a chance at happiness together?
This book combined two of my favorite tropes… Enemies-to-lovers and second chance romance. I found it to be brilliantly written with a perfectly executed storyline and well developed characters that you couldn’t help but feel for and love. Five stars for Callie, Hayden and Kiss To Conquer!
OMG this story is college sports romance at its finest. It has an enemies to lovers troupe causing all kinds of intense emotion. Callie is our scarred heroine who has all kinds of secrets. She is filled with shame and regret at high school behavior she directed towards Hayden, our bad boy football player. As you continue reading, it is brought to lite that he paid dearly because of it.
They meet again in college which is not a happy reunion. Yikes you don’t understand all initially but as secrets are revealed, your heart will hurt due to the choices of the young. Oh be forewarned, when you think you know all, NOPE another shock will come your way. Eek SO GOOD!
These two characters do an excellent job heating up the page. Yummm. Fanning myself.
This author ends with a HUGE tease at the end… I can’t wait for the next read in this series. Wink.
Happy Reading Everyone! XOXO
Why this is my first book from the author? What’s wrong with me? This enemies to lovers, sports romance, brings so much depth in the trope, it’s full of love, great friendships, family drama, angst and romance. and let me tell you, I cried a lot of times trying to fit in their shoes. I didn’t want this book to end.
Callie Stewart has everything to give up on life. At a lot of times during my reading, I’ve kept thinking how in the world would I react to the events she went through? She is so strong, just trying to make the people who matter the most in her life proud. Trying to live with the guilt and her real life scar are proof of that.
Enter Hayden. I loved him a lot, the football player that had a golden heart and love deeply. He had so much right to feel angry towards Callie for what happened in their past, but I was glad that he never did anything wrong to her, at least intentionally. And when he learned the truth, the flip was switched instantly. He was so caring, loving and supportive of her that I could help but love him.
Hayden and Callie had and amazing chemistry and the star crossed couple had a lot of trust and to overcome to vc be together, learning how to start over and fully love. But what I love the most in this book was the friendships. Callie was so lucky to have Yasmin and Chloe as friends. Even though Yasmin had some mystery involved (which I think I found out what it is), I was so happy have she motivated Callie to be better and show support to her.
Another good friend is Nix, one of Hayden’s best friend, which I think in the end was one of Callie’s bff too. What a funny guy and I also loved how while supportive of Hayden, he also was so receptive of Callie. Actually none of his friends made any jokes because of her scars.
This is not your typical sports romance, since they seem to be much more mature then normal, which for me was a plus! While they had their happy end, I couldn’t tell if it was forever, they a happy for now, since you don’t get to see their future. I wish I could read at least a 5 years ahead of them, there was some questions about their future unanswered.
Now I can’t wait to read Nix and Yasmin book, it will be fun and witty, and if I’m right, Nix will fear his position on the team!
If you like sports romance and enemies to lovers, you’ll definitely want to read this! A story of love, loss, and forgiveness, it’s a seriously slow burn, that will have you aching for more.
Awesome, adorable and amazing. This book is totally worth the hype
This book is filled with delicious angst and enemies-to-lovers tension perfection.
Kiss to Conquer is beautifully written. This enemies to lovers is like no other. Hayden and Callie have a past they didn’t think they would ever have to face again, until they run in to each other at Blairwood University.
Callie lost so much in high school and is now left with both physical and emotional scars. She blames herself for her lose and feels like she needs the scars to never forget. But those scars bring about looks from others and lowers her self esteem.
Hayden is a big shot college football player who can get any girl he wants. His past may have been tainted, but he won’t let it ruin his future.
There may be tension between Hayden and Callie, but feelings of so much more begin to resurface and truths are exposed. With the help of Hayden, Callie is able to feel wanted, loved, and comfortable in her own skin. She learns to step out of her comfort zone and be happy, because that is what she deserves.
Anna B. Doe is a new to me author, so I was not sure what to expect going in. On the whole I give this book 3.5 stars. There was a lot I enjoyed about it. I thought Callie was a strong, likeable heroine who had done some selfish things in her past, but she also went through a heinous experience, I wouldn’t wish on anyone, and I certainly can’t blame her for the thick skin she has developed to carry on, or hiding away not forming friendships.
Hayden… I’m sorry to say, but for the first 50% of the book, I didn’t like him at all. His actions, his behaviour and most especially the way he acted towards and treated Callie, are not what I enjoy. I understand where his anger at her came from, but the way he acted was childish and unnecessarily cruel. After the 50% mark, he became a hero I could get behind, he ‘manned up’ and took responsibility for the hurt he caused and finally realised that the actions he resented Callie for, actually led him to a better place, a better life, whereas hers went the complete opposite.
When I read a book, I want it to leave me feeling satisfied with the ending, knowing that the couple are going to make it, and Anna certainly did that, not only with this book, but with the free bonus epilogue. There is also a sneak peek at book 2 in this new series, right at the end, that has me intrigued, so I will certainly be looking out for it later in the year.
This book by Anna B. Doe was one of her best books yet!! Her characters pull at your heartstrings, the sadness, heart break and sometimes soul crushing!! Will Callie and Hayden get their happily ever after or will a blast from past ruin all the hard work to make their relationship work?
3.5 stars
Anna B Doe is a new author for me- but I love some college, bully/love-hate to love romances, and the cover is simply FANTASTIC, so I scooped up an advanced read of this. And, overall, it was a solid start to a fascinating series.
Plot is a trope know and love- old friends separated by some issues and/or misunderstanding find themselves in the same college. Push-pull attraction ensues. Callie is scarred physically and emotionally from her bad decisions, weighed down by the oppressive toll of guilt. She’s changed, looking to start fresh, when she bumps into old friend Hayden. He’s been wronged by her- we don’t know how- but the former awkward, clumsy teen is now a popular jock dreamboat. And he’s NOT happy to see her. They keep crossing paths, he wants to do what he can to make her want to stay away but he has old, long-buried feelings resurfacing. She just wants to be left alone to wallow in her trauma. Side-by-side to this angst push-pull, we’re also trying to figure out just what happened to Callie and what she did to Hayden. The characters are interesting, both flawed but incredibly likeable. I appreciated both of their journeys, and we have a good group of side characters waiting in the wings (Nix!) that may even be more compelling. They kept me turning the pages. And the steamy times were DELICIOUS (love the dirty mouth on Hayden!)
What held me back from rating this as a top read was just some uneven tempo and unneeded plot meandering. This is a series set-up, so we’re clearly lying the groundwork for future books- but some of the extended scenes focusing on leads with secondary characters just felt too long/much- it pulled from the romance. (side note: The secondary guys were more interesting than the girls- not sure WHO is going to get books, etc.) The first part of the book is interesting but VERY meta- just a lot of what our characters are thinking, which made it drag a bit, especially with two big mysteries looming. And the burn/connection is slower…. It does get steamy, but the relationship progression could be tweaked pacing wise- a lot of love-hate, fast physical attraction, fast emotional connection (which I never fully felt)- very little time is spent on the development of romantic relationship- basically they go from zero to 100 (we get like two paragraphs of “we’ve been together for _time…”), I need a bit more of the 50- when they’ve decided to date, are starting to REALLY know each other, before they are steady. These characters are totally changed since they last knew each other- I’d love to see them rediscovering each other more, so I could know them better, too. It made the “twist” feel out of character and also just unnecessary. There are just parts of this book that we don’t need (the twist, the scholarship thing, some side character stuff). A little reduction to make it tighter and this would easily be a ⅘ star read. Just needs a little tightening structurally.
I did enjoy the book and characters, and I’m excited about what is next in this series. This crew of characters is interesting, and this author can write some romantic steam and delicious angst!
Kiss To Conquer is one intense and emotional journey!! Callie and Hayden’s heartbreak and angst tugged away at me and got me all kinds of invested in their story. These two characters bring the heat and burn up the pages in this hard to put down must read!! Five stars for Anna B. Doe and her gift of storytelling!!
I am absolutely obsessed with this new world I have discovered from Anna B. Doe!
The secondary characters are fabulous, loyal and fun. I’m looking forward to reading more from this series.
Hayden and Callie are amazing.
Their chemistry is phenomenal and despite their history (newsflash: it’s pretty insane!) they can’t fight their attraction.
Friendships, romance, grief, fun, and forgiveness all come in to play in this addictive read. Being on the next book!
Kiss To Conquer is the first book to a new series by this author and she never disappoints. If you haven’t read any of her books before there is no better time then now.
This is Callie and Hayden’s story and its a pretty emotional. A good enemies to lovers/second chance story. Callie has been through so much and she just wants to do what her parents would have wanted her to do and that’s attend Blairwood University. Hayden has been enjoying his life at Blairwood University until he sees Callie and it brings back all his feelings about the past and how Callie changed things for him. Avoiding each other forever is impossible and soon they will have to come face to face with the past, the present and a possible future no matter how messy things may get. Its a story of pain, grief, loss, and the power of forgiveness and love.
I have read all of Anna B. Doe’s books up to date and there are so many reasons why I love them all. Her characters and storytelling are the best. She has that magically way of making you feel all the raw emotions and things the characters go through in each story. Each character is different and unique making you want to know more about them. I can’t wait for Nixon and Yasmin’s story.
I’ve been excited about this ever since I heard about it. And it didn’t disappoint. Childhood friends/couple to enemies back to friends/lovers stories are catnip to me. They’re not always done right, but this one nailed it. I could have done with a bit more insight into Hayden, but him and Callie really went through it.
I felt so much of the angst and it nearly made me cry a time or two.
For sure I’ll be picking up a LOT more of this authors work. So engaging and beautifully written.
I received an advance copy of this for review and my opinions are my own and haven’t been influenced.
Diving into this book I did not expect to like it the way I did.
The characters were very much flawed, but also fleshed out enough to imagine them as human beings along with their characteristics.
I liked Callie even as she was a bitch towards Yasemin, Hayden and the others at the beginning. I like the way she was not perfect in any way and that she had her own demons to deal with.
The traumatic experience she has had had played a big role in her life. Her being with Hayden and developing into a better version of herself which led her to get professional help was interesting to read about and felt very real.
Hayden on the other hand was different from what I thought he would be like. And his love for Callie only grew as the book progressed. I honestly thought he would be a bigger jerk and asshole, but he was way too good to be that person.
The only thing that I noticed that lacked was the fact that Hayden’s ex girlfriends, or should I say: hookups, have disappeared very fast after Callie and him got into a relationship. Which is good, but a bit of drama about girls is never enough.
And I feel totally sorry that it took me longer to read this book then necessary, because it was way too good.
All in all, I would definitely recommend this book.
Kiss To Conquer is the first book in the Blairwood University Series and is an enemies-to-lovers sports romance.
This book is about Callie Stewart. Three years ago she had a horribly accident which changed her life forever. Now she is enrolling at the Blairwood University to start new … or so she thought. Here she meets Hayden Watson, the star football player.
They know each other from high school. Back than Callie was the cheerleader and was one of the popular people in school while Hayden wasn’t one of them and had a crush on Callie, but she didn’t return his feelings and hurt him. When they met again he was very different from how she used to know him…
This is my first read from Anna B. Doe and I must say … WHY HAVE I NEVER READ A BOOK OF HER BEFORE? I loved this book so much, you have no idea! I must admit that it took me like 3-4 chapters to get into the story but then I just couldn’t put this book down. It is a very beautiful and also emotional story and I would recommend to everyone to read this story.
I really can’t wait for the second book in the Blairwood University Series!
I got an ARC provided in exchange for a honest review.
The word conquered definitely seems appropriate with how I am feeling after reading this book.
It conquered my heart.
It conquered my soul.
And I loved every second of it!
You guys this enemies to lovers story was absolutely tragic and beautiful all wrapped up in a bow! I love this trope because I can’t seem to get enough of broken characters that you get to fall in love with, whilst watching them find themselves and each other, but what makes it’s even more wonderful is when you have an author that can create a world where you are so thoroughly invested in it that before you know it the entire day has gone and you’ve found a new book to recommend!
So not only is it one of my favourite tropes but it also contains my favourite style of writing… Dual POV… I adore this! I love getting to know what is going on inside both their heads, mainly because I’m unashamedly nosey hahahaha! Plus I also find it draws you more into the story..You feel so much more and I find I become more connected to the characters.
The journey you are taken on is so intense and heart-breaking but also stunning and unique. I mean from beginning to end you are left with some many mixed feelings of hope, love, fear, pain, and ultimate healing. You can’t help smile so wide it hurts your cheek bones at some points and then the next ugly crying so hard you have to be thankful you are on your own with no make up on! Oooooh what a rollercoaster it is…
So to sum up… Anna has done a superb job of taking two incredibly broken, complex, strong characters and made a true masterpiece that is filled with drama, angst, mystery, surprise, and of course love. And lets not forget the secondary characters… here’s hoping they get to share their stories because I am hungry to know more and loathe to leave so soon.
This was my first time ever reading any of Anna’s work and I’m thankful I got the privilege and honour to have had an early copy to read.