New Adult Mini’s: Sacked by Jen Frederick & Anything but Broken by Joelle Knox

What he wants he gets...
Knox Masters is a quarterback's worst nightmare. Warrior. Champion. And...virgin. Knox knows what he wants--and he gets it. All American Football player? Check. NFL pros scouting him? Check. Now, he's set his sight on two things. The national title. And Ellie Campbell. Sure, she's the sister of his fellow teammate, but that's not going to stop him. Especially not when he’s convinced Ellie is the one.

...but he's never met her before.

But Ellie isn't as sure. She's trying to start a new life and she's not interested in a relationship...with anyone. Beside it's not just her cardinal rule of never dating her brother's teammates that keeps her away, but Ellie has a dark secret that would jeopardize everything Knox is pursuing.

Knox has no intention of losing. Ellie has no intention of giving in. ~ Goodreads


My thoughts: I’ve read a few books by this author and for whatever reason ( & I can’t even pinpoint why), I just don’t connect with her writing or characters. By all accounts I should have loved this book. The hero is as nice and loyal as can be and it’s relatively low angst for the NA world but nope…didn’t really care about anyone.

Knox falls head over heels instantly for Ellie. She’s the one. He’s also a virgin. Some people might take issue with the insta-love but I didn’t. Having an instant connection with someone isn't the same as an insta-relationship and Knox has to work overtime to woo Ellie. It was the virgin thing that got on my nerves after a while. It’s by choice – so he can focus on football – but jeeze Louise do we have to hear about it on almost every page?? It seems like it’s all anyone can think or talk about it. That and how many women poke their tits at him (his words – not mine).

The book was well written – well edited and for anyone looking for lower angst NA, I’m still going to recommend it to fans of the genre. It just wasn’t for me.

***  

After five years, tragedy brings Hannah Casey back to Hurricane Creek to bury what’s left of her family. She’s flunking out of college, haunted by scandal, and the only person who cares is Sean Whitlow, an irresistible bad boy with a soft spot for her. The problem? He’s her dead sister’s ex.

Sean doesn’t bleed red, he bleeds motor oil. During the week, he struggles to turn his auto repair shop into a profitable business. But when Saturday night rolls around, he’s the reigning stock-car king of the local race track. He doesn’t know how to lose–or how to walk away and leave Hannah alone with her grief.

Between her grades and her wealthy family’s dark secrets, Hannah’s barely holding her life together. And the last thing Sean needs is to get tangled up with another Casey girl. As the attraction between them spins out of control, they’ll either find a love with no limits–or go up in flames. ~ Goodreads


My thoughts: I was a little worried about the premise at first. Bad boy Sean Whitlow falls for his ex’s baby sister. The potential angst & squick factor was high but I really enjoyed Anything but Broken.

I thought the whole book was going to be Hannah trying to resist the “bad boy” and Sean trying to resist an “innocent” but nope – they liked each other, felt an attraction and went for it – openly and honestly. They also had a nice friendship in addition to the sexual chemistry.

For the life of me, I can’t figure out how Sean is the bad boy he's advertised as in the summary. He’s soooo nice, patient and gentle with Hannah. I guess because he races cars? Is a mechanic? That seems based more on stereotypes rather than any actions on Sean’s part. He’s an awesome guy.

There is a big secret of course, which I could have lived without. Not because it was poorly written but because I had it figured out so early on that I got impatient for them to catch on. It all comes to a head too late IMO. The resolution ends up being rushed but otherwise this was an emotional, well written romance.