Blog Tour and Review: Blocked by Jennifer Lane

New Adult Contemporary/Sports Romance

Released October 21, 2014

Synopsis 

College freshman Lucia Ramirez has a secret crush on Dane Monroe. He’s a tall drink of water — blond, brash, and one hell of a volleyball player. Hijole. Lucia hopes her volleyball scholarship to his school will make him notice her.

Too bad what’s noticeable is Dane’s obvious hatred for Lucia. Her family’s politics contradict everything he stands for. And politics are front and center in both their families. Dane’s mother is about to face Lucia’s father in the race for US President.

When Secret Service throws them together, Dane can’t deny his frustrating attraction to Lucia’s athletic curves and sweet faith in the world. Amid the intense pressure of college athletics and presidential politics, can opposites not just attract, but overcome overwhelming odds to be together? Or do their differences block their match from the start?

Buy Link

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Excerpt

But ever since I’d seen Dane on TV a year ago, I’d been infatuated. His mother had spoken at a Highbanks rally, and she’d invited him and his little sister up on stage at the end of her speech. Tall, fit, and tan, his blond hair shining in the stage lights, he’d grinned and waved to the crowd. “I love this state so much my son Dane is a scholarship volleyball player here!” Senator Monroe had crowed. I’d leaned closer to the TV and felt my heart flutter. That Adonis plays my sport? He couldn’t have been more perfect, and I’d devoured media coverage of him ever since.

Now that I’d met him in person, my dream of being his girl had shattered.

Boxes and gym bags littered the thick carpet of the bedroom, and I knew I should get up to unpack. When my Secret Service agents had offered to help me set up my room, I’d waved them off, citing fatigue. But really, I’d known I was seconds from a meltdown, and I couldn’t let them see me cry.

When a growl gurgled in my stomach, I realized I hadn’t eaten dinner yet. More tears fell — I had no clue where the kitchen was in this place. And it wasn’t like Dane would graciously give me the grand tour. Not to mention I wanted to avoid having him see me eat. He probably already thought I ate like a pig, given my size.

With a sigh, I covered my eyes with my forearm. I was even too tired to dig out my mp3 player and listen to some Neil Diamond. It wasn’t quite eight p.m., but maybe I should crash early and put this awful first day at Highbanks behind me. At least I knew the next day couldn’t get any worse.

Review

Lucia Ramirez and Dane Monroe's parents are running against each other in the race for US president, that alone puts the odds against them having any kind of relationship. 

Lucia recently transferred to the same college that Dane is attending. They're both on scholarships thanks to their amazing volleyball skills. They seem to hate each other, but things are not always what they appear. When the secret service arranges for them to live together, political differences start to blurred and physical attraction starts to surface. 

Will these two be able to make it through the pressures of school, politics and public opinion?

This was a very sweet and refreshing book. It's a story that builds over time and takes us into the journey of two young adults dealing with the pressure, not only of the life their parents chose, but also the day by day stress of a very competitive sport and doing well in school.

I really liked that the characters were perfectly imperfect. Yes, he is a handsome and the guy that every girl, wants but no one knows what's behind his facade. And the same thing happens with Lucia, she's a beautiful woman who is fighting an internal battle with herself when it comes to the way she looks and her projection to the world.

I'm always hesitant when I see an author mix another language in the story, but I have to say that the use of the Spanish words matched the story well, were spelled correctly and they made sense within the content of the story.

The only fault I would say I found with this story was that it dragged a bit at times. We had way too many details about certain things and others, which in my opinion could've been addressed a bit more or deeply, were just overlooked somewhat.

All and all it was a very entertaining and lovely coming of age story. 

And I LOVE the ending! Some people might not, but I really liked it.

About the Author

Get psyched for romance with psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane! By day she witnesses growth in her psychotherapy clients, and by night she wrangles misbehaving fictional characters as she writes sports romance and romantic suspense with a psychological twist. She can’t decide which is more fun.

A swimmer and volleyball player in college, Jen wove some of her own experiences into Streamline—a military mystery about swimmers. And readers can dip their toes into Jen’s world of swimming romance by sampling her free New Adult novella Swim Recruit.

College volleyball romance Blocked is Jen’s newest release, launching 10-21-14. Peek inside big-time college sports and even bigger national politics when the offspring of two presidential candidates find out whether opposites really do attract, or their match is blocked from the start.

Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love. She is also the author of The Conduct Series, a romantic suspense trilogy that includes With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, and On Best Behavior. Ultimately, whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry.

In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, hanging out with her plus-size, “I’m not fat, I’m big-boned” Izzie cat, and visiting her sisters and their families in Chicago and Hilton Head.

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