You know those stories where the smart girl tutors the dumb jock? This isn’t it.Blair: What’s the probability of insulting the one guy on campus I need to help me pass statistics? If I knew, I wouldn’t be standing in front of Wes Reynolds begging him to tutor me.Basketball player, sexy, arrogant, always sleeping through class… these are the things I knew about him. What I didn’t know is that … about him. What I didn’t know is that he is a seriously smart jock.
Wes:
What’s the best way to get rid of the peppy and unrelenting girl that keeps asking me to tutor her? If I knew, I wouldn’t be staring at her tan legs and attempting to teach her statistics.
Sorority girl, fine as f**k, determined, ball buster… these are the things I knew about her. What I didn’t know is that she is all the things I didn’t realize I wanted or needed.
Or that one semester with her would change everything.
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The Assist, the first book in the Smart Jocks series, was a fun sports romance that held my attention from beginning to end. I loved the twist away from the smart girl tutors the jocks. Blair and Wes were a cute couple and I loved their interactions and banter. The story was well-written with some angst added to the humorous mix. The characters were well-developed with great chemistry and the secondary characters all added to the story.
The audiobook version was narrated by Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke. These two brought the story to life. They created wonderful personalities for these characters and their pace and timing was spot on. I enjoyed listening to them narrate this novel.
#AudiobookObsessionReviewer
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this book. I usually don’t go for sports romances, and Rebecca Jenshak is a new to me author but I’m so glad that I had the chance to read/listen. the set up isn’t quite what you expect, it’s not the big alpha cocky jock seeking the nerdy girl tutor that isn’t really pretty and not worth his time so he looks past her. Instead the jock is the tutor and she is after him for help. I loved the dynamic between Wes & Blair and the build up in their relationship. The characters are a bit awkward, and really funny.
The audio by Erin Mallon and Jason Clarke was very well done. Erin is an old favorite and doesn’t disappoint. Jason is a new favorite and it is an absolute pleasure to listen to his narration. The two make a great duet for this book.
#AudiobookObsession
AudiobookObsession
In the midst of a bit of a reading lull and some burnout, I decided to take a chance on a new-to-me author writing in one of my all time favorite tropes: sports romance. I was looking for something to catch my attention, grab hold of my heart, and suck me in – completely – to the story.
And y’all? Rebecca Jenshak delivered.
I think this might be the first basketball romance I have ever read. I gravitate mostly towards football (my fave) and hockey, but I was drawn to these covers, and the buzz I’d been seeing in the book world, and so I made the easy choice to pick this one up. What I found was the sort of super addictive, banter-filled, NA goodness that I am powerless against. I was sucked in immediately and plowed through this story in record time.
I love the smart jock angle. I love that Wes was more than basketball and bros (though there’s a bit of basketball and bros – and frankly, I loved that too). It was such a fresh storyline, and I connected with Wes and Blair’s chemistry immediately. They were so much fun to read — flirty, sparky, and full of emotion. I also love the set-up for the series moving forward. I was left wanting more and excited for the stories I see coming down the line.
In all? This was exactly the escape I was looking for! I am happy, satisfied and all-in for more! ~ 4.5 Stars
Hot nerd-jock alert!!
“I’m hella impressed by the balls on this chick.”
Blair is full of positivity. She always tries to flip a negative into a positive. She’s peppy and not above a bit of coffee-muffin bribery to get on the good side of the star basketball jock, when she realises that he’s her one chance of acing her statistics class.
“He puts me on edge. He has this arrogant charm that makes me want to kiss him and punch him a at the same time.”
Wes Reynolds busts wide open the stereotypical image of a dumb joke. He’s hot. He’s an elite athlete. He’s also super smart. Blair is like a breath of fresh air but she’s a distraction he doesn’t need. Even though he doesn’t have time for relationships, his attraction and need for her has him stepping over the line, especially when the attraction is reciprocated.
“I think you might end up being the best thing that ever happened to me.”
This is a new-to-me author and I loved, loved, loved everything about this story. Blair is sweet, encouraging, and upbeat. She’s totally genuine and I could appreciate why Wes was so attracted to her. Wes is a really decent guy. Blair might see him sometimes as cocky but he’s actually thoughtful and really cares about his friends and her. I loved how much time he wanted to spend with her. They were so cute together!
I also really enjoyed the side characters and can’t wait for their stories. If you enjoy a sexy, amusing, charming, college sports romance, this is a must-read!
It was a fun an easy read! I started with book 2, but I loved this one just as much! I can’t wait for book 3!
So this was my first book by this author. And I have to say I really enjoyed it. Wes was just to die for. Nerdy and smart jock, yes please
Blair I have to say sometimes annoyed me. Especially the issue with her ex. Why didn’t she just speak up or tell someone.
Blair is failing her economics class, and she needs to get an A. Reason being her ex is blackmailing her to do most of his class work as well. So she needs this A, but its just not happening. So how is the jocks getting A’s in this class. Who is tutoring them. So she confronts Wes, but inadvertently she insults him by assuming he has a tutor. So what does she do, she keeps hounding him to be her tutor.
Wes doesn’t know how to get rid of the annoying sorority girl that keeps hounding him to tutor her. But he also can’t deny how hot she is either. So what does a guy have to do to get the girl… I guess tutor her.
Enjoyed the storyline. Everything about Wes just had my heart melting. This book has romance, hot jocks, awesome friendships and lots of chemistry between Wes and Blair. I would definitely recommend this book if you love sports romances.
Gosh I loved this one! My first read from this author & definitely won’t be my last.
Wes and Blair were so relatable and I loved their friendship as much as I loved their chemistry. What’s not to love about a hot jock who’s also a hot nerd? Sign me up!!! Plenty of banter, smart character development and well rounded supporting characters made this a really easy read. I have already grabbed book 2 because I need more of this group of characters. Definitely recommend.
4+ stars
This is an easy read and I really liked the take on the smart athlete helping out a fellow student. Wes seems to have it all, smarts, looks, athletic prowess – what’s not to like. I really liked Blair’s character and her sassiness and her refusal to back down to get what she wants. And she has to figure out how Wes is acing her statistics course. Her unintentional insults were lol funny!
Wes goes through a period where he deserves to be throat punched (you’ll understand the reference once you read the book), but he’s determined to right his wrongs.
Blair has to deal with an unspeakably dou**y ex and it’s great when she finally stands up for herself – in more ways than one.
This was a quick, entertaining read and I look forward to the rest of the series.
I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.
This book was an unexpected joy! I am not a huge fan of sports books, but this author’s take on a basketball team was amazing. It was in depth with not just the basketball but with the unique relationship between Blair and Wes. While both of them try and fight it, there was no denying their chemistry right from the start. Their quick wit and banter made it so I could not put this book down! Their passion was stunning as well. Not just for each other but their aspects in life. Blair with her motivation and Wes with his basketball. Even when things take a nasty turn, they are both fighters. While I could have smacked Wes at one point, I got where he was coming from as well.
Overall, this was an amazing college romance that keeps you on your toes but makes you swoon as well. I loved the idea and concept behind it! I am honestly in love with this authors writing as well. She has amazing flow and character development!
I’m a sucker for YA sport romance and this one just spoke to my heart. I loved the way Wes and Blair got to know each other. The banter between them was funny, engaging and the chemistry was off the charts. I could contact on so many levels with Wes with having been left without the sport he loves so much. It takes a great toll on you and it makes you “bitter” for a while. That’s why I loved how he pushed through and decided to make her his for good.
I’m jumping right to the next book because I’m super excited to see how Joel gets put in his place
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
THE ASSIST (Smart Jocks 1)
By Rebecca Jenshak
I have so much love for new adult sports romance. Rebecca Jenshak delivered such a great book. The storyline and characters are great. There are so many laugh out loud moments.
Blair and Wes had great chemistry. Their characters were well developed and I enjoyed their banter and was hilarious. The secondary characters played such a great part that you look forward to their own stories.
This book had me hooked and is a highly recommended read.
I have to say up front that this is the FIRST book that I have read from Rebecca… And it will NOT be the last for sure!
The writing is so ‘grab you and not let go’. The interactions with all of the characters makes you feel as if you are right there with them. Read this book in a few hours, could not stop. Cannot wait to go and read the rest of Rebecca’s work!
This is my first book by this author and I am so glad I found her…new author to stalk…you are welcome. Wes is a college basketball player that is really the heart of the team, oh and did I mention he’s really smart too…nice. So…he’s the hot smart jock. Blair is a ray of sunshine that is being black mailed by her not so nice ex. These two meet when they have a class together, she basically infers he is a dumb jock. Ok, so this was actually a lot funnier than it sounds, and he thought it was funny too. I think he really liked that she did not fall all over him because he was the hot college jock. She’s not doing well in the class because of the not so nice ex and ends up convincing him to tutor her in the class, after a game of PIG…so funny. These two were just a lot of fun and super cute too. Even though he doesn’t want a commitment and is too “busy” for a girlfriend, these two spend a lot of time together. I love how their story progressed, it was such a great read.
I have to give a shout out to his roommates that are also some of his teammates, they are a lot of fun. And when they couple name them with Bless, loved it. Great secondary characters, her tough as nails roommate Vanessa and her doting boyfriend Mario. And her adorable bestie Gabby. Another shout out that Wes was from Kansas…just sayin.
This was a safe read, there was a little om and ow drama, nothing big, the not so nice ex became the pos ex and a basketball groupie overstepped a bit. Despite Wes being a popular jock, he’s not a manwhore, just a smart guy playing his favorite sport. These two have so much chemistry and they are hot af. Loved the build up and it was so worth the wait. There was a sad incident and he did do some pushing away for a hot second, but obviously he missed our girl, because she is adorable. An epilogue and an hfn. I would have loved to see a bit longer out for these two, but such a good book. Such a great writer and I cannot wait to read more from her. Next book please *grabby hands*.
The Assist was a great read! Although this is the first book in the Smart Jocks series, I happened to read it second. Each book can be read as a standalone.
I loved jumping back into Valley U and catching up with the other characters. Already knowing some of their fate made the catch up even sweeter.
#Bless or Blair and Wes as a couple were perfectly matched. For this new adult novel it was filled with humor, great chemistry, had a great flow and there wasn’t over-the-top drama. It contained the perfect mix to make it a great start to a series, plus just an overall fantastic book. Now that I’ve read both book one and two I’m really looking forward to the third book.
Blair needs an A in statistics. She cannot fail. She always works hard to achieve her goals and never backs down from a challenge. So when she sees that the jock who appears to sleep in the back of the classroom is passing the class she approaches him for help. Well first she insults him, then she eventually ask him for help. Isn’t that how all great friendships are made?
Wes has a championship on the line this season, he doesn’t really have time to help a girl who insults the entire jock population, but she is tenacious and he can’t help but find that sort of cute. He doesn’t make promises, he doesn’t have the time, but becoming friends with Blair comes easy and eventually becomes necessary like breathing.
What happens when two people dedicated to something else can’t find the time for each other, but also become consumed by thoughts of the other person? What happens when college ends and all the reasons for staying away suddenly become non-existant?
Wes and Blair seem so different, but really they are two perfect souls. Rebecca Jenshak really knocked this couple out of the ballpark.
A sensational college sports romance! Adored both Wes and Blair from beginning to end! The super smart, all star jock and the sorority girl in need of some tutoring were the perfect pair. I loved that both characters had a level head and knew who they were deep inside. Their social status on campus didn’t define them, making them much more than their collective campus roles.
The predicament that Blair found herself in with her ex made me cringe and hope that Wes would step in and shut it down before it had a chance to escalate and backfire in her face.
I really liked the story line of this read, regardless of how typical and common it was. I thought the two main characters and the many side characters are what made this such a great read. It had all of the components you crave in a sports romance and much more depth than you’d usually expect.
This was a sweet and sexy story about learning to trust and support someone through the good and bad, and finding the strength in yourself to preservere. Worth the read!
Overall Rating: 4.5
I received an email the other day asking if I would be interested in reading and reviewing Rebecca Jenshak’s books. Her PR group likened her to Sara Ney (whom I love), and I was “game” (pun intended). Whenever you encounter a “new to you” author, there is always a little trepidation. Will I like their style? Can they develop a story that allows me to escape into his/her characters’ worlds? Even more, is it readable? At least, these are the questions I ask myself.
Let me say, Rebecca Jenshak’s writing was a PLEASANT surprise. Her PR group was right. She reads a lot like Sara Ney, but she has her own voice, which I think is important to point out.
My first book was The Assist. This book is part of her Smart Jocks novel series. First of all, what’s not to love about a series written about “smart jocks”? Not that I love typical stereotypes, but The Assist was refreshing in that Wes, the male hero, of the book is fairly intelligent. This story follows Wes and Blaire who meet in a business statistics class. Blaire, the over-achieving, sorority girl, is struggling with the class, and she wants to do well in it as it will set her up for the college’s MBA program. Noticing Wes and his fellow basketball players in class, she quickly realizes that he barely pays attention to class, yet scores well on the tests. Wanting to figure out his secret to success, she engages in several embarrassing exchanges with him when she realizes that he isn’t your typical “lunkhead” jock. Instead, his experience as a basketball player coupled with a photographic memory makes the subject easy for him. Their story really begins when Blaire negotiates tutoring with him, using her persistence and moxie. Through the course of their tutoring, they realize their mutual attraction to each other and waffle on acting on it. Wes’s life, college basketball, is all-consuming, and, given it is his senior year, he wants to give everything to it. Will his life make room for Blaire? Will they find their HEA? That is the crux of this story.
So, right off the bat, I loved these characters. They were equal parts funny, frustrating, and $exy. As a jock, Wes is refreshing, as it’s important for others to see him as more. He’s affronted when Blaire thinks he’s cheating or receiving tutoring as a reason for his success in the class. While her tenacity in pursuing his truth about the class annoys him (for good reason), it is also the impetus for his initial attraction to her. He feels a connection to her pretty early, but his experience with girls on campus slow his actions towards her. When he realizes that she isn’t like most of the girls he’s encountered on campus, Blaire absolutely turns his head, and the story begins. There is a depth to Wes that resounds through the story. He is more than a guy with a drive for basketball; he is the heart of his team. When an unexpected turn of events occur, it changes the tenor of the book for a time, adding layers to Wes and Blaire’s story. I loved it.
Additionally, this book is funny especially Wes’s relationships with his fellow basketball players, Z, Nathan, and Joel, as well as his connection with Blaire. I found myself laughing aloud at their antics. The humor is a nice balance to the seriousness of some of the topics within the book. Remember, these are college students, so their future is tentative and scary. Wes is a senior who must face the end of his basketball career at the end of the year. His insecurity about it provides some of the angst of the story. Contrasting that with the humor shows Jenshak’s ability to intertwine humor with drama.
Lastly, Blaire is everything you love in a heroine. Here’s the thing. I’m not usually a fan of sorority girls. Call me judgmental, but they are usually shallow and mean in most NA romance books. However, Blaire breaks that mold in this book. She is compassionate, tenacious, and makes everyone better. She improves everyone’s lives in this book, especially Wes’s. She doesn’t do it through manipulating him. Instead, she pulls back when he pulls away from her, and she waits for him to pursue her. Even though she was the pursuer at the beginning of the story, Wes takes on that role to attempt to win her over in the end. She is the type of heroine with a strong sense of self-worth that she doesn’t get overshadowed by Wes. Instead, they complete each other, making their story special.
I took a chance on Rebecca Jenshak, and I am so thankful. I quickly inhaled The Assist and launched quickly into the second book in the series, The Fadeaway (the review is forthcoming). And I haven’t looked back. If you love New Adult sports romances with a balance of humor and angst, then you’ll love Rebecca Jenshak. Yes, she is similar to Sara Ney, but in the end, she is all her own.
Dumb jock and the prissy sorority girl – ya think?!
But that’s not all there is to this story!!!
This is my first book by this author, and I loved it a lot. Great writing style, awesome chemistry, lovely group of friends, a little drama, hot hot hot scenes.
This book had me hooked from the first to the last page!
The Asssist is a fun New Adult romance. Enroll at Valley and enjoy the eye candy or in this case aural pleasure. With a healthy dose of humility this feisty sorority girl manages to snag herself the ultimate prize…a tutor for statistics. What did you think I meant!?! LOL.
These smart jocks will have you curling your toes and bouncing in your seats. No pompoms necessary but Joel probably wouldn’t mind them! Grab a stretch of the bleachers and invite your friends. You aren’t going to want to miss these!
I can’t wait for book 2!
Smart Jocks Book One.
Blair Olson is a junior at Valley University, but her future rests on her statistics grade. When she notices that the hot jock with a boot sleeping through class is getting A’s on his tests, Blair knows she must find his tutor. No way could he sleep through class and still pass. However, Wes Reynolds is insulted when she asks about his tutor. Apparently, he is not just a dumb jock. Can Blair convince Wes to tutor her, or will her dreams go up in flames?
If you’re looking for a fun NA book with smart athletes, driven sorority girls and inspirational quotes, this is the book for you!
AudiobookObsession