Review: 1st Place Checkered Flag Winner for authors debut
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 12, 2014
Okay so the number one thing I liked most about this book is that there wasn’t a whole lot of angst; just some feistiness and grit on behalf of heroine, Keira.  She’s pretty kick ass.  She knows what she wants, she doesn’t give up, and she doesn’t crawl away and disappear into herself when troubles arise.  She pulls herself up by the boot straps and marches on. She’s damn near awesome.  She comes from the “right” side of the tracks, wealth, and an all girls private school.  She is working at the Silver Poplars Spa and Resort over the summer when she meets Vin.Vin, he’s the bad boy who’s doing some illegal things on the side trying to help his dad get out from under his uncle’s thumb.  He wants to go straight and with some luck, love, and some in your face honesty from Kiera; he may just get to the straight and narrow.  While he’s also working at the resort it’s not because he wants to; he got arrested for “drag racing” and his punishment was working at the resort for community service hours.  Vin really got on my nerves which is unusual because I never dislike the main guy character.  He was a bit wishy washy and a bit more than over protective, thinking he knew what was best for Keira.  He really irritated me.They end up facing more dilemmas after the sun sets that last night at Silver Poplar.  Vin doesn’t like the school Keira is moving to.  He doesn’t seem to think it’s good enough for her; nothing good enough for her.  Not him, not the school, not her father, nothing But will Vin be able to accept the changes that Keira’s life is bringing into his own? Will he go “legit” for her?  He has to put her first, before it’s too late; but will he?I, too, like most everyone else loves the fact that these two were already together when we meet them. We experience the highs and the lows of maintaining a relationship. What it takes make it thrive, even in young love, you always have to fight for it if you want it; to make someone yours.  There’s a lot in this book that relates to older relationships, as well; Priorities, honesty, trust, and fighting to make it work.On a side note, the supporting characters in the book are fantastic! I mean so good I can’t wait to read their stories and I hope beyond hope that each one gets their own.  For instance - David – Keira’s gay guy best friend. He definitely needs his HEA and I hope to read about; Lily – Keira’s crazy drama club president girl best friend who dates the football player, yep need that story too.  I would really like to read about Dom and Nicki, Vin’s brother and sister.  I think there’s definitely a story for Nicki, the feisty ballet dancer; and of course, Leo, Vin’s best friend.  What best friend doesn’t deserve his story to be told???I have to share the following quote from Grease because there is a part of the book where this is the dialog I pictured being said rather than what was said.  I LOVE IT BEYOND WORDS! It was great!________________________________________Danny: That's cool, baby. You know how it is, rockin' and rollin' and what not.Sandy: Danny?Danny: That's my name, don't wear it out.Sandy: What's the matter with you?Danny: What's the matter with me, baby, what's the matter with you?Sandy: What happened to the Danny Zuko I met at the beach?Danny: Well, I do not know. Maybe there's two of us. Why don't you take out a missing person's ad? Or try the yellow pages, I don't know.Sandy: You're a fake and a phony and I wish I never laid eyes on you!So, to make a long review a bit shorter, read this book. This is a very good book that I read in one sitting. I really think it’s a first place checkered flag win for Ms. Hensen’s debut book. I am much honored that she offered me the book for honest review.  I will be reading the rest in the series, no doubt about it.