Want an “at a glance” look at what I thought? Check out my Review On A Post-It or my “Final Thought”
Dallas’s whole life has revolved around football (which she hates) — she’s from Texas and her dad was always the head coach of whatever different school they moved too. She’s starting her first year at Rusk University, where her quarterback ex-boyfriend goes, and her dad has just become the new head coach there to fix their awful team. She meets Carson at a party on her first night there. Carson is a transfer student and is trying out for the team as backup quarterback — just hoping he’ll make the team so he can get a scholarship. When Dallas and Carson meet and have this instant attraction that is NOT what they expected for that night, they have NO idea who the other is and how they are connected to that football team.
I want to go re-watch Friday Night Lights! TEXAS FOREVER!
1. TEXAS FOREVER: Okay so I am not really a football fan but I tolerate it. Friday Night Lights made me get excited and understand what Texas football is all about. While it’s not as exciting to READ the football scenes as it his to watch the beautiful Tim Riggins running down the field, Cora Cormack really captured the spirit of the football community and what it means and I enjoyed being immersed in that. She really nailed everything I know about Texas football culture (at least what Friday Night Lights taught me haha).
2. Holy Hot Massage: Okay, so this was a pretty sexy romance and I don’t think I’ve ever had to fan myself whilst reading about a MASSAGE before. I loved the tension once they figure out that she’s the coach’s daughter and he’s on the team. Them trying to resist the attraction and be friends made the sexual tension practically become its own character in this story. Since I’m still a romance newb I still giggle at some of the romance-y terms during sexytimes but I found it to be…I don’t even know where I’m going with this? How do I talk about the sex in a romance novel without sounding like a perv? It was good? I liked it? Well done, characters! (I’ll have you know I’m laughing like a hyena right now and Will is saying that he’s pretty sure I should be embarrassed if I keep this bit in here).
3. He said/she said: It was a dual narrative and I really thought it worked well to see both Dallas & Carson’s perspectives — especially when they realize their connection to the coach. This was a romance so a lot of the focus WAS on their attraction and them overcoming their obstacles with the whole coach’s daughter/player on the team thing but I loved watching Dallas really start to take control of what she wanted and stop living in the shadow of her dad and football. I didn’t feel like I really FELT her passion for dance though that was a big part of her so that fell a little flat with me but I really loved the parental plot line. I will say that while there was some substance beyond the romance…I wished for a stronger connection personally to THEM. I liked them and I loved their romance but I never felt like I super KNEW them.
+ enjoyability & readability, loved the setting, romance I wanted to root for
– just needed to feel more to get to a higher rating — nothing WRONG, just lacked that certain OOMPH.
Re-readability: No, I probably wouldn’t reread it.
Would I buy a copy for my collection? I think if you are a fan of the author you’ll probably want to own this one. I already own this as I got it for review but if I had borrowed it I probably wouldn’t buy it just because I know I wouldn’t re-read it/it’s not a favorite. I WOULD totally buy this one for my sister who loves New Adult romance though! (I only add books to my collection I would re-read or that were favorites).
people who like sports in their books, Friday Night Lights fans, people wanting books set in college, people looking for a good New Adult romance!
All Lined Up was a fun and pretty sexy romance to read set in the heart of Texas! I loved the tension that came with her being the coach’s daughter and him being the backup quarterback! All together an enjoyable read that felt like Friday Night Lights went to college and I’ll be certainly reading more from this series and will be excited to get to know new characters! I’d also love to read her other books! Also, Carson is hot but he’s no Tim Riggins! SORRY!
* Have you read this one? What did you think? Similar or different from me? I would LOVE to hear regardless!
* If you haven’t read it, is it something on your radar or that you think you will read?
* What are some other books that will give me the Friday Night Lights FEELS?
* Also, because I was really awkward in my second point, HOW IN THE HELL DO YOU TALK ABOUT SEXYTIMES IN YOUR REVIEW?
DannyBookworm says
I loved this one so much – but then, I’ve also been already a big fan of Cora Cormack before. Oh and.. I absolutely LOVED Friday Night Lights and was obsessed with this show for quite a while, this had a similar feeling for me!
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library says
This is the 2nd good review of this book I’ve read so far. I’ll definitely have to pick it up. The whole sex scene thing in romances still makes me a little uncomfortable and I’ve been reading romance for years! I don’t feel like I should be looking but I can’t not look because I’m reading. It’s a conundrum! Sounds like a fun lightweight read.
Lynn M says
I really like your review style – letting us know if you liked the book well enough to re-read it (that indicates a keeper or not for me) and what you though the book needed to move it up your scale. Great review!
As far as talking about a book’s sexytimes without feeling pervy or like a 13 year old girl reading the naught bits of “Forever” for the first time, I think if you just mention the level of steaminess (kisses, mild, hot, super-burning!) and if you found it well done, without too many silly euphemisms, or if you thought it was over the top. Personally, unless the sex scenes are really well done, I tend to find myself skimming any of the ones that aren’t the characters’ first time because they start to get redundant. In fact, one of the factors that I use to judge a book is how well the sexytimes are integrated into the story – are they important to the relationship’s growth or are they just gratuitous and could be left out altogether.
Michi says
I read a few of cora carmacks books. She’s really a hit and miss author for me but I’ll check out this one!
btw I love the new rating system/graphic
Jessica (MsBooklover89) says
You are such a fantastic reviewer – just saying! I love the way you rate books! I know not everyone loves rating books out of 5, (I do, because it portrays my overall feeling of a book in star form lol) but each star means something different to everyone so it can be difficult sometimes! I haven’t read much NA and I’m not one who loves the very graphic “sexytimes” (Fifty Shades of Gray scarred me forever) I’m always hesitant to read NA because of that and my stereotype of them but I do have some on my TBR list I want to read! I have read one that is deemed NA but without all the sex and it’s amazing one of my new favorite books! It’s called Making Faces by Amy Harmon (don’t let the cover fool you too much, it’s AMAZING) highly recommend!! I need to find more NA gems like that! I guess technically Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell and Just One Day Duology by Gayle Forman is NA because it’s main characters that range from 18-25ish and are set in college, first job, etc – after high school. But they didn’t feel like the typical NA I expect! Alright that is all, I did not read this book lol but I do want to binge watch Friday Night Lights on netflix 🙂
Valeria @ A Touch of Book Madness says
I loved your new rating system! So cute and original. Plus I think it really represents the way you feel over certain books. I caan totally get the feel you got from a certain book.
ashley says
I love and adore your new review system. I already loved your reviews (and you know that!) but it’s always fun to mix it up!
Trina says
I like the rating system!
Lily says
I’m actually quite a fan of Cora Carmack’s books so i have every intention of picking this one up and like you think that i’d really enjoy the whole ‘university’ setting of All Lined Up! Great review jamie! i’m glad you liked this one (and the new rating system is pretty original/cute)
Lily
Leah says
So I’m still debating this one. When I first heard about it I was intrigued, but I’ve been completely burned in the past by books that claim to be sports-related (specifically Wild Cards), so I was pretty hesitant to read it. That and I’m still super new to New Adult (the few I’ve read I’ve either REALLY loved or REALLY hated). I do feel better about it knowing you enjoyed it, so maybe this might be one to grab from the library!
Lisa is Busy Nerding says
A book about Julie and Saracen! That’s what this is, right? (it is in my mind thank you bye)