Review: Challenging and Refreshing
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 30, 2014
After reading Imaginary Lines and falling completely in love with The New York Leopards series, I was so pumped to start Rush Me. Despite reading the last book first (as I'm prone to doing) and knowing how the characters end up, I wanted to know how they earn their happy ending. Given how loving and sweet Abe from Imaginary Lines was, I kind of expected the same thing out of Ryan Carter. Boy, was I wrong, but that's okay.Ryan Carter is a veteran quarterback for the New York Leopards. Because he's a famous athlete in the one of the world's largest cities, Ryan is a bit jaded when it comes to women and relationships. When he accidentally meets Rachael Hamilton (nothing says awkward like stumbling into a bj session), who's most undecidedly not impressed by his celebrity status, Ryan is at first disbelieving, but then becomes intrigued. Rachael grew up with her face in a book, she doesn't notice athletes and assumes their all dumb jocks. After repeatedly insulting Ryan, who isn't quite sure she's not being coy and trying to manipulate him, writes him off as someone she could never take seriously.A series of coincidences, along with some really adorable teammates (especially Abe) keep Ryan and Rachael in each other's orbits. As they get to know one another, the two begin to see the real person behind that faade. Ryan is defensive and a bit insecure. Rachael can be really patronizing when it comes to athletics, not impressed by his money and refuses to let him treat her. All of this has him convinced that she believes he's not good enough for her. As for Rachael, she just doesn't see how the famous Ryan Carter, who's dated supermodels, could ever be seriously interested in her. These two had a hard road, and I won't lie, they frustrated me to the max. BUT. I love that Parr made these two into complicated, layered characters who had to learn to trust each other, and know that the other was for real. That frustration, the build-up, made the happy ending all the more worth it.Loving this series!Favorite QuotesAs though he could read my thoughts, he smiled in satisfaction. Or maybe my face held no originality compared to all the others he had read. I thought, why not? We were alone. He didn't know that I didn't do one-night stands, that I didn't care for frat-boy jock types, that I wasn't that girl. And he was beautiful, and I was lonely, and maybe, just briefly, I could let down my walls and be carefree and reckless and young.He met my gaze, his bright and unflinching, a lake in August, sky at dawn, and my heart pitter-pattered. "Is this a game?"Shocked, I shook my head. "No. No, not at all."He let out a breath. Behind him, the guests moved slowly, a blurred sea of wool and sold, black and jewel tones. Ryan stood out, the one note of reality in the wash of strangers. "Because I don't think I could deal with that."Ryan smiled a little tightly. "Hey."Andi, never known for tact, spoke loudly, as though she was double-checking. "Ryan Carter. The football player.""Yeah." He kept the syllable short, and his eyes sought mine.I leaned into him. "He's also a very talented crayon cartographer, punster, and he makes mean French toast."