Saturday 17 May 2014

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Cora Carmack's "All Lined Up (A Rusk University Novel)."

The Hopeless Romantics Book Blog are pleased to be a part of the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Cora Carmack's "All Lined Up (A Rusk University Novel)."

Amazon UK    http://amzn.to/1uXJeku
Amazon.com   http://amzn.to/1jmo1Hl


Synopsis: 

In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both.

Dallas Cole loathes football. That's what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers, and put the playing field (and the players) in her past.

But life doesn't always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football star ex wasn’t bad enough, her father, a Texas high school coaching phenom, has decided to make the jump to college ball… as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again.

Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting line-up. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead literally falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It's obliterated.

Dallas doesn't know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn't know that Dallas is his new coach's daughter.

And neither of them know how to walk away from the attraction they feel.

Blog Tour Review: Surj Harvey

Cora Carmack has a knack of writing books that draw you in, characters that are so easy to relate to and story lines that you are able to lose yourself in and "All Lined Up" ticked all those boxes and much more. I loved everything about this book... it was realistic, romantic, heart felt, and even funny at times with just a touch of angst to let you know your heart's was still beating. 

Was this your conventional college romance? Absolutely not. Yes there were certain elements of that but this was also about two individuals who had hopes and dreams but who were faced with so many hurdles, so many set backs that at times achieving their goals just seemed like an impossibility. Cora Carmack gave me a realistic view of college life and trust me, it wasn't all frat parties and beer pong. 

For Dallas Cole, college was supposed to mean independence from an over baring father and from football.... until said father took a job coaching her college football team!!! She'd spent her whole life playing second fiddle to the damn sport and just when she thought she'd got her break, it was there yet again like a noose around her neck, suffocating her at every turn. 

In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. 
My life has always been ruled by both.

I completely understood why Dallas was the way she was. She'd been brought up in a male dominated environment... her father single highhandedly raising her and boys either fearing her or using her because she was the coach's daughter. As a result, she guarded her heart like a national treasure and was very weary of letting people in. She tended to keep herself to herself, only venturing out to parties when her best friend twisted her arm... but even then it was a chore she just didn't enjoy. 

I will never be the person who cares more,
because that person is always the one that gets hurt more. 

You could say life well and truly sucked for her but I loved her character. She was a little awkward but still sassy, feisty and very quick with the sarcastic come backs!!! Just the kinda woman I like. 

And Carson McClain... another one with his own truck load of problems. Coming from a not so affluent family, getting into college hadn't been an easy ride. Instead, it had meant the whole family had had to tighten the purse strings just so he could do a year at Rusk University, prove himself as a quarter back and earn a scholarship, setting himself up for a bright future. A lot of sacrifices had been so he could have this opportunity which meant Carson would have to bust a gut to make sure he got on the team!!! 

I need to stay focused on football, of how it's the only chance I stand of a decent future. 

I adored Carson. He wasn't your average college jock ... he was a hard worker who never lost site of the end goal. Parties and getting wasted were so far down his agenda it was untrue... and women.... just a distraction he couldn't afford to have. And that's why I rooted for Dallas and Carson to work... because they both faced uphill struggles when it came to their future aspirations but they both deserved to be happy with someone who was genuine! And Carson was genuine. He was a gentleman of the best sort, ready to defend Dallas's honor at the drop of a hat!!! Swoon worthy and cute all in the same breath. 

"I want you Dallas. I have since the moment I met you. And when you're actually ready, 
I won't waste one moment before taking you to bed. 
But you're more than this. We're more than this."

I loved the slow build when it came to this couple's relationship. Despite the very obvious attraction, both (understandably) had their own reasons to keep what they shared platonic. There was too much at risk for it to be anything more!!! Yeah right. The butterflies in my belly were break dancing with the chemistry they shared. It was brilliant. The looks, the not so innocent touches made my heart do a happy dance and there were moments I was willing for what they had to turn into something more.... yeah I know, I'm just greedy!!! But if you're looking for lots of hot, steamy sex to fill the pages of this book, you won't find it here but what you do get will not disappoint... Cora Carmack knows how to write spine tingling, flirty and very sexy foreplay and that was more than enough for me. 

I don't know what's next, not for me or him. All I know is that Carson McClain
came into my life and disrupted absolutely everything, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

I can't wait for some of the secondary characters to get their own books: Stella (the crazy ass best friend) and Ryan of course who was the hottie who was a great listener but next in line to have his story penned is Silas.... mmmm not quite sure how I feel about him.... he was a jack ass but I have a feeling he might just win me over. 

Cora Carmack's writing is engaging and she has this amazing ability to give you characters that are realistic and the situations they find themselves in not only believable but also relatable. And to top it off, despite not knowing a sausage about american football, at no point did I struggle with this aspect of the story line. If anything, the whole nervousness, the anticipation surrounding the games only enhanced my enjoyment of the book!!! Come on, who doesn't like a load of buff hotties running around a field playing catch????? 

"All Lined Up" was a fabulous read and cannot wait for more from the students at Rusk University. I rated this book 4 hearts.

Cora Carmack Bio:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

Author Links:


Giveaway for 5 signed copies of ALL LINED UP for 5 winners-US Only.
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5 comments:

  1. my favourite thing about heroes that play sport is their athletic bodies ;)

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  2. i agree with joanne i like their atletic bodies denise smith

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  3. Athletes have a certain confidence about themselves. Sometimes a little too cocky, but usually they have some insecurities within them too. Not to mention that they are in great shape and have sexy bods!

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  4. Well, I think, athlete book characters are team players. They know how to work well with others and are good at opening up to the right person. They also are super sexy and the lady characters have a hard time keeping their eyes and hands off of them!

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