Blurb:Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means.
Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.
West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her-fighting for her-is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.
Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.
Title: Take Me On (Pushing the Limits #4)
Author: Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Expected Publication Date: May 27, 2014
RATING: 5/5 STARS
The Cover Contessa's Review:
I would like to thank Harlequin Teen for approving me for a copy of this on Net Galley to read and review. I absolutely love this series so I was itching to read this. Receiving this book in e-format has in no way influenced my impression or review.
So like every other cover in this series I love this one. And I appreciated it even more after I finished reading this book. Because it truly captures the essence of this book's plot.
If you haven't read the first books in this series, stop here. I can't promise that you won't see some spoilers, although I'm trying to keep it spoiler free. Plus, you really have to read Katie's other books, because they are just that good and they give you a bit of the background for the world you're walking into.
West Young, I really wanted to hate him. I mean, I was really mad with him when I read Crash Into You. I hated how he treated Rachel's relationship with Isaiah. And he didn't live up to big brother status for me in that book. But once I read this one, I totally understood why. West is so broken. He seems like this well put together guy who just like to fight with people. But deep down, he's truly trying to get the approval of his rather, who has pretty much cast him off as no good and useless. Throughout this whole book, all I could do was grab my chest when I was reading West's POV. I mean his account of his life, how he lived, what he had to live with was truly heart wrenching. McGarry has a way of taking a character I really wanted to hate and turning it around to make me love them. She did this with Isaiah and now she's done it with West. Every part of me bleeds for him and wants to fix him. He's so instant on being this tough individual who can do for himself he doesn't let anyone else take care of him. He needs some taking care of! And, while I was totally annoyed with West in CIY for what he did to Rachel, he does redeem himself in this book because he had no idea what he did would put her in such danger. West is cocky and sometimes I wanted to punch him, but in the end I just fell in love.
Haley is such a strong character. Her main concern is her family. She doesn't want anything to happen to them. She does everything in her power to protect them, including putting herself in danger. Her life is so hard. And she's gone to every length possible to keep her family from knowing things that would make them upset. But in the long run it really hurts her more. And she keeps it inside and it eats her up. They want to help care for her, but she can't open up to them without thinking they are going to pay for her "sins". I love how loyal and protective she is. But at the same time she's totally vulnerable. And talk about screwed up family dynamics. I can't stand Haley's uncle, he just uses the family for his own benefit and also abuses them.
I think the character I fell in love with even more than before in this book was Abby. This girl needs her own book. She's witty and totally selfish for the most part. But, she grows to actually care for West, in a strange way but still. I love that she showed loyalty to him and how much she tries to help him, without actually telling him what he needs to know. In the long run, she definitely becomes an essential part of his development.
Overall, the characters in this book are amazing. They really develop well. You see them grow and change and turn around. I love how independent in a good way Haley and West both become. And the romance is so sweet. She doesn't want to get involved, but she can't resist him. He wants her and is determined to win her over but without her knowing who he truly is. I think he changes the most in this book, although we didn't know Haley before so it's hard to say. But going from West in Crash Into You to him in this book, it's amazing the transformation he makes.
McGarry also includes a lot of twists and turns so you never really know what road it's going to take. All the while, she makes it heart wrenching and sincere. There wasn't a moment that didn't pull at my chest and make me want to keep reading on. Honestly I really couldn't put this book down. The plot is interesting and racing. McGarry infuses love, friendship, trust, and hard knocks in this book. There isn't a moment where you won't feel some kind of emotion.
And Katie's writing, well, if you enjoyed her other books, you are not going to be disappointed with this one at all. She does a phenomenal job with displaying the emotions of the characters and showing us the world she's built so well.
If you liked Katie's other stories, there's no way you won't like this. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has enjoyed Jennifer Armentrout's Wait For You or Kasie West's The Distance Between Us. I need more. I know there will be another Echo and Noah book, but there's so much potential to have tons of books in this series surrounding all these fabulous character. I can only hope Katie will do it!
KATIE MCGARRY was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings, and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.Katie would love to hear from her readers. Contact her via her website, katielmcgarry.com, follow her on Twitter @KatieMcGarry, or become a fan on Facebook and Goodreads.
We've talked a lot about this book on fb Brooke, lol! So you totally know how I feel about it. Katie sure knows how to bring out the feels, I hope she writes more and more books xD
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