#BookCouplesChallenge Day 14

Today’s topic is another of my favorite tropes in romance.

Why? You will say that in high school there are cliques and petty people. It’s a difficult moment as hormones are raging (pimps too unfortunately) you make bad decisions as that boy you gave everything just crushed you heart soon after. So why bother right?

Well I don’t know but I love it. Especially the “shy next-door” girl being the love interest of the king of the “IN” crowd.

So again a few contenders and one winner today!

Tate and Jared in Bully by Penelope Douglas

It was my first Pen and I loved it! Even if the “IN” guy is not especially protective of the heroine 😉 

Synopsis:

My name is Tate. He doesn’t call me that, though. He would never refer to me so informally, if he referred to me at all.

We’re neighbors, and once, we were best friends. But then, one summer, he turned on me and has made it his mission to screw up my life at every opportunity. I’ve been humiliated, shut out, and gossiped about all through high school. His pranks and rumors got more sadistic as time wore on, and I made myself sick trying to hide from him. I worried about what was around every corner and behind every door.

So I left.

I spent a year studying abroad and bathed in the freedom of life without Jared. Now I’m back to finish up high school and get the hell out of here forever. I’m hoping that after a year of breathing room, he’s moved on and forgotten all about me.

But even if he hasn’t changed, I have. I’m not interested in avoiding him or turning the other cheek anymore. We’re going to go head to head, because neither of us wants to back down.

Favorite quote:

“You’ve already made me cry countless times.” I raised my middle finger to him slowly, and asked, “Do you know what this is?” I took my middle finger and patted the corner of my eye with it. “It’s me, wiping away the last tear you’ll ever get.”
― Penelope Douglas, Bully

Goodreads -> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18090508-bully

Amazon -> http://amzn.to/2yC8dk2

Kate and Henry in Heart on a Chain by Cindy C. Bennett

This book was heart breaking and heart warming at the same time as Henry was so protective of Kate.

Here is an excerpt of what I wrote:

“How to describe it best?
I would say its a struggle for survival against so many odds.
Kate has been the scapegoat of everyone at high school, beaten by her mum and at best ignorde by her dad. She’learned to hide in the background, avoid the bullies and even eat her only meal seated on the floor for god’s sake!
Then comes her savior: Henry. He is her childhood sweetheart, coming back like a knight in shining armor.
Henry is a truly great guy, not afraid to defend Kate and earn her trust.
There are lots of drama but what impressed me is Kate’s compassion and her ability to forgive.
It’s a heart and tears book and you’ll experience great churning emotions.”

Favorite quote:

“Kate, I’ve loved you for years. I mean, I know twelve-year-olds don’t know what love is, so I guess I should say I’ve really liked you for years. But when I saw you this year, I knew. I knew we should be together. I just didn’t know how hard you were going to make me work to get you to even like me. So, yeah, of course I want you to love me back.”
― Cindy C. Bennett, Heart on a Chain

Goodreads -> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10295484-heart-on-a-chain

Amazon ->http://amzn.to/2hzwcgn

Mason and Sam in Fallen Crest High series by Tijan

Confession: Mason is one of my favorite book boyfriends ever!

Synopsis:

Mason and Logan Kade are two brothers who did their own thing. They were rich and expected to attend her school, Fallen Crest Academy. They chose public school and now Samantha has to live with them. The problem is that she doesn’t care at all: about them, about her friends, about her cheating boyfriend, or even about her parent’s divorce. But maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe change is a good thing.

Favorite quote:

“People are snakes, you just have to figure out their different colors, but they’re all the same. Everybody wants something.”
― Tijan, Fallen Crest High

Goodreads -> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16134551-fallen-crest-high

Amazon -> http://amzn.to/2hzgTEw

Natalie and Rhodes in Weightless by Kandi Steiner

I know Natalie is just out of high school and it’s maybe borderline with the topic but she is not in college yet! And I loved this book too much not to feature it.

Here is an excerpt of what I wrote about it quotes intertwined:

“It will be a lonely journey for Natalie to morph the chrysalis into a butterfly.

Her coach, Rhodes, will play a crucial part in her transformation. He’ll push her shout at her, he’ll be relentless. All you’ve seen in movies when the trainer kicks his client’s behind you get here!
Rhodes was a mystery gorgeous but closed off. He was the high school bad boy always in juvie turned hot personal trainer. He made some wrong choices because he needed money for his own reasons and I did not expect we would get “that” when I ordered the book. Rhodes truly grew on me, he was like those Russian dolls, always another layer to get to the core and he hid a bright and surprising personality.

He tried to keep his distance with Natalie as he felt guilty, unworthy. He did not want to taint her with his dirt but was attracted to her and blew hot and cold, rejecting Natalie more than once.

”Why? Because I’m the only one who’s actually fat?”…”You’re not, Natalie. You’re weightless. The world hasn’t touched you yet. You’re not heavy with the weight of pain and guilt.”

Patiently Rhodes will help Natalie to gain confidence, to become a new woman, the one she was destined to be while she helped him to see his true worth.

”It was as if we were finding our confidence together-me in my body, Rhodes in his ability to be better than his past.”

”And maybe that’s the thing about weight – thought it hurts when we feel its added pressure on our lives, it only makes us stronger in the end.”

Goodreads -> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29840196-weightless

Amazon-> http://amzn.to/2jrxniO

Reagan and Nico in The Hard Count by Ginger Scott

This book is about so many things it’s amazing how the author treated them all without being just too much but rather flowing so effortlessly one into another.

Here is an excerpt of what I wrote some quote included:

I melt in a puddle of goo when Nico romanced his girl with flowers got the best chariot he could afford to take her to school. I dare you not to love him as above all his qualities he also is good through and through, protective of his family and he knows how to properly romance a girl.

”Just don’t ever stop looking at me. Look at me like you expect more. Look at me like it isn’t going to be easy. Make me earn it. I’ll earn it. I’ll never stop trying to earn it … to earn you.”

This story made me think about all the prejudice we can entertain against others because we don’t know them, sometimes we don’t even want to know them and live in our own bubble with our biased view about life.

But above everything else, what I loved most in this book is the writing. Silent confrontations, a chest rising with tiny breaths, the quirk of a brow, the slant of an eye, a foot ready to kick the ball… the storytelling was compelling and reminded me of the slow motions used in films and it was a fitting analogy for Raegan’s passion. There was so much in what was left unsaid.”

Goodreads -> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30304059-the-hard-count

Amazon ->http://amzn.to/2AIO0L1

And today my winners are ….

Aria and Levi in Art & Soul by Brittainy C Cherry

I loved that book so much! And when I adore a book I become pushy and wants everyone to read it. Brittainy’s writing is just so beautiful *sigh*.

Here is some of what I wrote about the book:

“This book was an unending well of emotions. The waterworks was going at full blast and I finished my read with a red nose and a huge smile. Yes, I’m sad but it’s the good kind of sad, the one that makes you feel alive after an incredible read, filled to the brim with so many thoughts and memories you want to shout: READ IT!
It’s the kind of story that makes you feel every little thing the characters experienced: loneliness, despair, fear, joy, sadness, hope, love…
The writing is incredibly deep and beautiful it makes your soul weep and sing.

rom the girl no one knew existed, Aria is now the school “whore”, bullied, mocked, rejected and insulted. She was so isolated and lost my heart broke each time I read about it.
Her only support, aside Simon, came from a new boy: Levi.

Levi is one of my favorite male characters in all the books I’ve read so far. He is the like of Kyland and Archer (Mia Sheridan), so pure and beautiful inside out.
He is “apart”, an oddity, an oxymoron would tell you this words wizard and violin player. Oxymoron, a word that ” in the end means nothing as both parts of an oxymoron kind of cancel each other.”
Levi’s been raised by his mom in Alabama, in the middle of the woods. His mom is unstable and he’s moved in with his father to rekindle their connection and try to be close again.

Levi truly sees the real Aria when no one does. When he first saw her while feeding the deer in the forest and at her first school day, all I thought about was Birdy’s song “Little Ghost” :
”Little Ghost unlike most you don’t miss a thing, you see the truth.
I walk the halls invisibly,
I climb the walls no one sees me,
No one but you.”

(…)

God, I was a sobbing mess!

But I’ve also been extremely happy to witness the incredible friendship with Simon, the huge strength demonstrated by Aria and Awkward Abigail, both fighting their own battle. I was lucky to read about absolute love and selflessness as Aria decided to make her gift.

Now, I’m sad the journey with these exceptional characters is over. I want to keep them and cherish them a little longer.”

Favorite quote:

“Love openly,” my heart whispered. “Love unconditionally,” my heart begged. “Love the struggles,” my heart taught. “Love in the moment.”
― Brittainy C. Cherry, Art & Soul

Goodreads -> https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23264731-art-soul

Amazon -> http://amzn.to/2hseqrV

And you who are your favorite high school sweethearts?

Thanks for reading.