by Nikki Urang
Release date: November 11th, 2014
Published by: Spencer Hill Contemporary
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Format: Paperback, eBook
Format read: eARC
Format read: eARC
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SUMMARY
The Los Angeles Conservatory for the Arts is supposed to be a new beginning for Sadie Bryant. Moving across the country is exactly what she needs to escape the gossip surrounding her injury, the devastating betrayal of her ex-partner, and to rebuild her career as a solo dancer.
When the school announces that the annual Fall Showcase, a performance that secures a spot studying in London, will now require each dancer to have a partner, Sadie’s fresh start is a nightmare. Now she has to dance with Luke Morrison, the school womanizer with a big ego. Sadie doesn’t know how to trust Luke enough to dance with him after her last partner left her broken, but Luke is determined to change that.
Then, The Hit List comes out. A game of sexual conquest where guys get points for all the girls they hook up with—and it seems like every guy at the school is playing.
The girl worth the most points?
Sadie.
PURCHASE LINKS
EXCERPT
The war rages inside me. I want
fight or flight to take over, but there’s a third option in this scenario — surrender.
His lips hover centimeters over my
mouth and his shadow weighs on me like he’s pressed against my body. He leans
one forearm against the wall next to my head. His other hand remains flat
against the wall above my shoulder.
My thoughts jumble together in my
mind. I need to get away from here, away from him.
But my heart won’t let go.
Part of me wants to be this close
to him. The smell of his cologne mixes with the smell of sweat from the studios.
I chose to leave my past behind when I left New York. I want to start over, but
if he’s only after me for this game, it won’t be a fresh start. It’ll be a
replay of the pain I’ve already experienced. Except it’ll be worse.
I stay—physically locked by his
arms, mentally locked by his gaze, confused about what I want and what I should
do. He sighs and closes his eyes. His lips graze my temple and then his breath
is on my ear.
“I won’t kiss you while you’re
attached to someone else, but do me a favor?” he asks, a smile playing at his
lips.
“What?” My voice wavers, a
combination of panic and attraction.
“Tell your boyfriend he’s got
competition.”
REVIEW
Nikki Urang really knows how to tell a good story that I just couldn't put down! Regardless of how I felt about the characters, from beginning to end, I was completely committed to finding out what was going to happen to everyone... even though I have no knowledge of any sort in regards to professional ballet, dance, tap, etc. The author gave me just enough info to understand what the characters were doing and what they were trying to accomplish without missing a moment or lacking in the stories momentum.
After having her heart ripped apart and recovering from a dance injury, both faulted by her old dance partner back in New York, Sadie moves to L.A. to try to get a fresh start and pick up where she left off, without a dance partner. However, life can never be that easy... but she's determine to do what she has to do to stay on top, with no strings attached to her old life and without creating any new ones in her new life, she is going to work as hard as she can to prove to herself and her instructors that she is the best. With high hopes to not only make it into the Fall Showcase where she'll be able to perform in front of some of the biggest talent scouts, with the hopes of landing her dream job, but also win a scholarship of sorts to go to London, Sadie will only trust in herself to accomplish her dreams.
After having her heart ripped apart and recovering from a dance injury, both faulted by her old dance partner back in New York, Sadie moves to L.A. to try to get a fresh start and pick up where she left off, without a dance partner. However, life can never be that easy... but she's determine to do what she has to do to stay on top, with no strings attached to her old life and without creating any new ones in her new life, she is going to work as hard as she can to prove to herself and her instructors that she is the best. With high hopes to not only make it into the Fall Showcase where she'll be able to perform in front of some of the biggest talent scouts, with the hopes of landing her dream job, but also win a scholarship of sorts to go to London, Sadie will only trust in herself to accomplish her dreams.
But the instructors and department heads have made other plans. Everyone must be partnered in order to audition for the Fall Showcase. Not only that, someone has started a "Hit List", a game where guys try to hit on and score with the top 10 girls on the list. And Sadie, who just wants to be left alone, is on the top of that list.
And then Luke happens.
Not only is Luke the biggest player on campus, his parents are also prominent figures at the school, but he has just been assigned to be Sadie's partner.
Sadie has only been on campus for just a few short days, and she is completely overwhelmed and is starting to have panic attacks. How will she ever get over her trust issues in time to impress her peers and make her dreams come true???
The main issue between Sadie and Luke is communication. The back-and-forth banter, the hot-and-cold mood swings usually would cause me to say enough already, let's move on. However, for Sadie and Luke's story, it works. Every moment that they had together, good or bad, made them reflect and grow as individuals. Everyone's made mistakes. And they learn to accept theirs, each others, and more. It was really refreshing to see such honest and raw character development.
Also, Sadie was completely shattered not only by her ex-partner's, Patrick, betrayal and his involvement in her injury, but also, the fact that he was the only constant trust that she had in her life since her father past away and her mother blocked her out, is completely understandable and heartbreaking. At times, she seems a bit whiny and too quick to place 100% percent blame on Patrick. But, being that she was so young, so in love, and so trusting, one can understand that this was an extremely traumatic experience and time for her. And no one can truly understand her emotions unless they had physically and mentally went through what she had to go through, alone.
And then Luke happens.
Not only is Luke the biggest player on campus, his parents are also prominent figures at the school, but he has just been assigned to be Sadie's partner.
Sadie has only been on campus for just a few short days, and she is completely overwhelmed and is starting to have panic attacks. How will she ever get over her trust issues in time to impress her peers and make her dreams come true???
The main issue between Sadie and Luke is communication. The back-and-forth banter, the hot-and-cold mood swings usually would cause me to say enough already, let's move on. However, for Sadie and Luke's story, it works. Every moment that they had together, good or bad, made them reflect and grow as individuals. Everyone's made mistakes. And they learn to accept theirs, each others, and more. It was really refreshing to see such honest and raw character development.
Also, Sadie was completely shattered not only by her ex-partner's, Patrick, betrayal and his involvement in her injury, but also, the fact that he was the only constant trust that she had in her life since her father past away and her mother blocked her out, is completely understandable and heartbreaking. At times, she seems a bit whiny and too quick to place 100% percent blame on Patrick. But, being that she was so young, so in love, and so trusting, one can understand that this was an extremely traumatic experience and time for her. And no one can truly understand her emotions unless they had physically and mentally went through what she had to go through, alone.
Again, the author has definitely created some memorable characters in THE HIT LIST. I highly recommend it - a good quick weekend read you won't regret!
*An eARC was sent to me by the publisher for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
GIVEAWAY
1. Signed copy of THE HIT LIST + signed bookmark
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any loss, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.
1. Signed copy of THE HIT LIST + signed bookmark
2. YA prize pack:
DOON by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon
ALIENATED by Melissa Landers
ANOMALY by Tonya Kupera Rafflecopter giveaway
*Bumbles and Fairy-Tales will not be held responsible for any loss, damaged, unclaimed, etc. prizes.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Nikki Urang
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Nikki fell in love with books at a young age and looked forward to reading a book with her mom before bed every night. It was only a matter of time until her love of reading turned into a love of putting those words onto the page.
Now, her days are spent helping those overcoming opiate addiction and her nights are spent writing.
She lives in Minnesota with her husband and two stubborn cats.
I've always wanted to read The Hit List. It seems very interesting and the theme seems like my cup of tea. c:
ReplyDeleteHi! I just wanted to let you know I've nominated you for the One Lovely Blog Award :) You don't have to respond or do anything, I just wanted to let you know I think your blog is adorable!
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