BLOG TOUR: All Lined Up (Rusk University #1) – Cora Carmack + Review & giveaway!

Released: May 13th, 2014

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cora Carmack follows up her trio of hits—Losing It, Faking It, and Finding It—with this thrilling first novel in an explosive series bursting with the Texas flavor, edge, and steamy romance of Friday Night Lights.

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.

"Sometimes it's hard to see past our own broken pieces."

*COPY PROVIDED BY AUTHOR FOR AN HONEST REVIEW*

All Lined Up is Cora Carmack at her best. The build up of their connection was slow yet intense. It wasn’t rushed or forced. The chemistry between Carson and Dallas flowed ever so smoothly, with a few bumps they got over along the way. This book is definitely one of my favorites of this year!

The book lived up to my expectations. Cora Carmack always develops the characters completely both individually and as a couple before they really get their happily ever after. Both Dallas and Carson had their own demons and problems to solve, and so, with this book, that was exactly what they did.

Dallas Cole has always lived in her father’s shadow – hell, even to her father, she came second after football. She had loved the sport once until it slowed down her dreams and career. That’s why she refused to have any connection with the sport. Ever. Especially not football players.

And I . . . I’m still stuck. In my father’s shadow. In Texas. In this lame state school with a joke of a dance program.

I couldn’t imagine how she must’ve felt. I mean, if I was her, I’d be extremely pissed. But Dallas holds it all inside and she probably doesn’t realize that her lack of communication with her father is also one of the reasons why her father doesn’t get what she’s going through, especially considering how protective she is.

Then there’s Carson who has problems of his own. Carson’s not as privileged as Dallas, and so it’s difficult for him to keep up his grades and also play football for Rusk. He wants to achieve the best but it’s hard for him to also stay on scholarship. He cannot be sidetracked by a girl. Especially not his coach’s daughter.

Yet, through all that, they managed to work things out.

“I can’t walk away from you because I don’t want to. There are a thousand things I want and need to do, but you trump all of them.” — Carson

My God, how do you not love this man?

And one of my favorite quotes from the book:

"Do you ever think that maybe that's all people do? Fix some things and break others? And we all just live in this giant cycle where we screw things up and hurt people we love, and then we turn around and try to atone for that by fixing other things. And maybe we're all just waiting on our turn for a broken heart and the person who will fix it."

MY RATING:

4.5 APPLES!!!!!

✭ BOOK LINKS ✭

(Click book cover for Goodreads link)

♕ All Lined Up (Rusk University #1) ♕
Amazon | Barnes&Noble

US ONLY
Signed copies of ALL LINED UP for 5 Winners!

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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.

Check her out in these sites:

Website | Facebook | Twitter

✻ ✻ ✻

This tour was hosted by InkSlingerPr.

[Review] Finding It – Cora Carmack

Released: October 15th, 2013 

Sometimes you have to lose yourself to find where you truly belong...

Most girls would kill to spend months traveling around Europe after college graduation with no responsibility, no parents, and no-limit credit cards. Kelsey Summers is no exception. She's having the time of her life . . . or that's what she keeps telling herself.

It's a lonely business trying to find out who you are, especially when you're afraid you won't like what you discover. No amount of drinking or dancing can chase away Kelsey's loneliness, but maybe Jackson Hunt can. After a few chance meetings, he convinces her to take a journey of adventure instead of alcohol. With each new city and experience, Kelsey's mind becomes a little clearer and her heart a little less hers. Jackson helps her unravel her own dreams and desires. But the more she learns about herself, the more Kelsey realizes how little she knows about Jackson.

"I think home is wherever you are happiest."

Cora Carmack is back again! Unforunately, I wasn't too big of a fan of Faking It but I was in love with Bliss and Garrick's story. So, I'm happy to announce that this book did not disappoint me. Absolutely beautifully written with a wonderful storyline about finding yourself and finding the right one. Kelsey and Jackson's story blew me away and sent me on a roller coaster of emotions as they try to move on from their past and discover who they are.

One word I'd use to describe Kelsey Summers would be reckless. From what I saw in her "adventures" travelling Europe, all she did was party and party and party. And basically got drunk. She wanted to have the time of her life.

I wasn't too big of a fan of that because I don't really like characters who don't think before they act. But Kelsey's was thoughtful in a way. She didn't know what she wanted and she was exploring all these different things to find that out. She wasn't the type of girl who just sat in her room with a bucket of ice cream, pining over Prince Charming.

Jackson, on the other hand, has been through too much shit. But he is mm-mm, delicious.

Soldier Smolder. He was even more gorgeous up close, which was only magnified by his deep voice.

God, I love a man with a deep voice.

I just really liked Jackson's character. 

And I loved a few quotes by Kelsey:

We live our lives as if we're at the center of our own universe, but we're just tiny pieces of a shattered whole.

"Women love a mystery. But only if we think we can figure it out."

"The past is frozen. Written in stone. But the future isn't."

Oh and great idea for the plot twist in the end even though I totally guessed it.

Minor Faults:

MY RATING:

4 AND A HALF APPLES!!!!!

★ Amazon | B&N | Kobo ★

❤ READ MY REVIEW OF HER BOOKS ❤

Faking It (Losing It #2) ❊ 4 APPLES!!!

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.

Check her out in these sites:
Website | Twitter | Facebook 

[Review] Faking It - Cora Carmack

Released: June 4th, 2013
Mackenzie "Max" Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they might just get a heart attack. Even worse, they're expecting to meet her nice, perfect boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her. Until she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave all his issues back in Texas. So far, he's managed to keep all of his problems and had very little chances to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a ridiculous request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when he plays the role a little too well, they're forced to keep the act going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

Faking It was one of the releases I looked forward most to this year. I abso-super-duper-lutely loved Losing It, which focused on Cade's best friend, Bliss and her man, Garrick (who's British!). I loved Cade in Losing It and here, I am abso-freaking-lutely, completely, head-over-heels in love with him. This book was funny, sweet and heart-wrenching. Cora Carmack didn't disappoint me again! Faking It made me cry my eyes out and laugh until I peed myself (metaphorically of course).

Guys, Cade, guys! CADE WINSTON! He was just the most adorable little fucker. He was snarky, funny and just gorgeous. If you loved Cade in Faking It, you are going to be addicted and head-over-heels with him here. He was the sweetest guy ever. We know more about his home life and also his issues in the past, which gives us a deeper understanding to his character.

Max Miller. Wow, she's definitely made it into my list of top-favorite-heroines of all time! She was so strong and tough, but when we see her family and go through her mind, we understand how hard it's been for her and how she's actually very vulnerable and afraid. I liked how Cora gave us two sides to her.

MY RATING:

4  GIVE-ME-CADE APPLES!!!

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

❤ READ MY REVIEW OF HER BOOKS ❤

Finding It (Losing It #3) ❊ 4.5 APPLES!!!

About The Author:

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who's had her share of different jobs, such as boring ones (working retail), fun jobs (working in a theater), stressful work (teaching), and finally her dream job (writing). She loves placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible to help them get a boyfriend out of it.

Check her out in these sites:
Website | Twitter | Facebook