by Cora Carmack
Series: Rusk University #1
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
In Texas, two things are cherished above all else—football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both. Dallas Cole loathes football. That's what happens when you spend your whole childhood coming in second to a sport. College is her time to step out of the bleachers, and put the playing field (and the players) in her past. But life doesn't always go as planned. As if going to the same college as her football star ex wasn’t bad enough, her father, a Texas high school coaching phenom, has decided to make the jump to college ball… as the new head coach at Rusk University. Dallas finds herself in the shadows of her father and football all over again. Carson McClain is determined to go from second-string quarterback to the starting line-up. He needs the scholarship and the future that football provides. But when a beautiful redhead literally falls into his life, his focus is more than tested. It's obliterated. Dallas doesn't know Carson is on the team. Carson doesn't know that Dallas is his new coach's daughter. And neither of them know how to walk away from the attraction they feel.
Sweet Romance- √ Low drama- √ Great characters √. Cora Carmack’s new Rusk University series begins with All Lined Up and you are going to want to add it to your TBR pile. Carmack delivers a refreshing new adult novel without the stereotypical characters we usually find. Instead, it offers two sweet, level-headed characters in a delightful coming of age tale with romantic moments to make you swoon and giggle.
The formula for new adult has been bad boys, wild nights and drama. Carmack brings the reader characters who take college seriously and it was delightful. They are focused on their dreams, and pleasing their parents. In the midst of finding themselves they find something more and it was a joy to watch it unfold.
Dallas Cole has grown up on football. Her single Dad is a coach and despite wanting to pursue dance in New York, she finds herself attending the college where her Dad is the new head coach. To make matters worse, her high school (ex)boyfriend is now the lead quarterback. When she reluctantly attends a fraternity party with her best friend, circumstances have her falling into the arms of Carson McCain. The two instantly connect, and the banter between them is delicious. Dallas is not ready for a relationship, especially with her Dad in such close proximity. Carson the second string quarterback needs to focus on school and the game. The two decide to be friends and the tale that unfolds is delightful.
All Lined Up offered a slow building romance that was heavy on sweet tender moments with just enough heat to curl your toes. The tale focuses on self-discovery, pushing yourself towards goals and mending parental relationships. There are a couple of side stories woven into the tale adding some realistic drama, and giving depth to the characters. I connected with both Dallas and Carson. Their relationship developed slowly with awkward moments, laughter and that dance we all love when the atmosphere crackles with attraction. We witness growth in the characters and get to cheer them. While college and football go hand and hand, do not shy away from this if football is not your thing. The book has powerful messages of inspiration, and the game is a backdrop to our characters.
All Lined Up was a refreshing tale and an easy transition for those who like young adult contemporaries, but have avoided the bad boys and drama ladened new adult genre. All Broke Down is the next book in this Texas set series and will release in October of 2014. In the back of the book Carmack talks about growing up in Texas, football and her Dad making the tale even sweeter.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Berls
What a refreshing take on New Adult! I’ve grown tired of the wild bad boys too – so to hear that they are serious about life and college is a nice twist. OH and yeah, I hate sports too 😉
Camille
I pre-ordered this and it’s just a couple of hours away from release. I’m so excited to read and start this series! 🙂 Thanks for the review Kimba 🙂
Ellen
I really enjoyed this one to. Great review.
Glass
I read only first paragraph of your review – I stopped there because I want to read this – but you got me on how this is different kind of NA and not something we got used to when it comes to the genre.
kimbacaffeinate
Well enjoy Glass 🙂
Diana Leigh
Hmm…maybe. I like that it’s low on the drama. 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Agreed it is nice for a change:)
aurian
This sounds good Kimba, and I can so relate to hating sports.
Livia
Glad you enjoyed the read. Maybe too vanilla/sweet for me, so I don’t think I’ll give it a try myself. That cover though… gawd. I think Cora Carmack deserved better, and I’ll just leave it at that.
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Livia, I mix things up so sweet is ok sometimes 🙂
Gina
Sounds like a delightful read. .. Love this particular “formula”. Sweet with characters you care about. Great review!
kimbacaffeinate
Agreed, thanks Gina 🙂
Sharon - Obsession with Books
You had me sold at sweet characters, low drama & a slow building romance! I’m keen to read this authors new series, I enjoy her Losing It books.
A great review Kimba! 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Sharon ..enjoy it!
ShootingStarsMag
This sounds like a very realistic story, and I like that the author adds something a bit different to the NA genre. I like books set in college!
kimbacaffeinate
It was very realistic Lauren, i hope you get a chance to read it
Lindy
I can’t wait to read this one! I love slow building romance, and I’m so glad that this story strays from the usual New Adult formula! I’m really excited to read something new with sweet tender moments, deep characters, laughter, and inspiration. Amazing Review Kim!!!
kimbacaffeinate
Enjoy Lindy!
Kathy
Great review! I still have not read a book from this author! But I do have some of her books (either I won or bought on sale). But everyone is talking about this, so I have to read it soon!
kimbacaffeinate
I am glad you have a few and hope you try them Kathy 🙂
anna
Swoonage and giggling totally works for me 🙂 I need to get all caught up on her books soon. I’ve really enjoyed her so far. Glad you had a good time with it!
kimbacaffeinate
Yay glad you enjoy them Anna. This was sweet and giggling is always welcome
Angela Adams
Sounds like a great read and an addition to my TBR list…thanks for the post!
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Angela ..enjoy!
Wendy Darling
Ooo, Kimba! You’ve read this already! I love Cora Carmack’s other series, so while I’m not the biggest football fan (okay, not a fan at ALL), I’m really looking forward to this one. So good to hear that you enjoyed it!
kimbacaffeinate
No worries on the football, we don’t spend a lot of time with it. Enjoy Wendy 🙂
Wendy Darling
Oh, that’s a relief! Thanks for easing my mind.
Now, football PLAYERS are just fine, though. 😉
blodeuedd
Nah, not for me
kimbacaffeinate
I am not surprised my friend:)
Katherine
I’ve got to stop reading your reviews! I keep adding books to my TBR pile and the poor things on the verge of explosion as it is!
kimbacaffeinate
:snort: I do apologize Katherine but if it makes you feel better I suffer the same fate when I visit blogs. I am a one-click wonder.
Lauren
I am a bit burned out on the darker NA books, and I absolutely love Texas football (FNL!!) so I’m definitely going to give this a read. It sounds like a really sweet romance. Lovely review!
kimbacaffeinate
Enjoy Lauren. I think because I mix genres so much from YA, NA and Adult I haven’t gotten burned out yet..but this was sweet 🙂
Heidi
It’s about time that we get some NA romances that are all about bad boys, drama and broken people. I have been meaning to read this author because I know Jenny loves her. I will add this to the old TBR.
kimbacaffeinate
This was refreshing but not all NA books are like that. Sadly some of the more trendy ones were. I hope you enjoy it Heidi
Valeria
This author has recently been brought to my atention, when her novel Losing it was on sale, so I downloaded it and am trying to make some time to read it. Ever since I’ve been hearing great things about her as an author, so I’m pretty excited now.
kimbacaffeinate
Enjoy Valeria. I find her books to be great escapes
Braine Talk Supe
Wonderful, this sounds like the opposite of what I avoid in NA. I hope she sets a new trend, NA with substance and not just wild guys and girls humping like bunnies
kimbacaffeinate
hahaha..Well not all NA is like that but I know what you mean. I want more then, “I cannot breath without you” and drama, drama, drama. 🙂
finley jayne
Thanks again for answering my email about blog hosting 🙂 I have my new blog up and running, with a generous dose of glitches yet ugh, lol. Lots of adjustments yet, but I’m officially moved over now!
kimbacaffeinate
Congrats Finley and yeah we all go through those in the beginning.
Sharlene Wegner
Thanks for the excellent review! Can’t wait to read this!
kimbacaffeinate
Thanks Sharlene..enjoy! I hope your weather is warming up. We are enjoying lots of spring showers and everything is greening up
Sharlene Wegner
We had 3 nice days on LI & then today, it rained. Not as warm as usual, but my legs are not shorts-ready, so that is fine with me!
Debbie Haupt
Thanks Kimba, do you think this reads well with adults too or is this one strictly for YA/New Adult fans?
I love the fact that it’s a kinder/gentler New Adult series
deb
kimbacaffeinate
:blinks: *looks around* Well I am an adult and I loved it 🙂 Yes, these characters are adults so I think it is appropriate for older YA to 99.
Debbie Haupt
Thanks Kimba 😉
Candace
I don’t do NA often, but this sounds like one I might enjoy! Sweet romance and low drama sounds like a win!
kimbacaffeinate
This is YA in college Candace
tonyalee
I adored this too! It was nice to be able to connect and relate to likable characters, without the drama and angst, and the romance was SO SWEET! But I love that there was so much more to this than the romance!
Great review, lady!
kimbacaffeinate
Sweet Tonyalee I am excited that you adored this one too 🙂
Carmel
I’ve been trying to broaden my romance horizons lately, and I like that this isn’t your stereotypical New Adult title. Maybe I’ll add this one to my summer titles-I-won’t-be-reviewing reading list. Thanks for the recommendation!
kimbacaffeinate
This is a perfect beach read Carmel 🙂
Mary
Yep. Football. It’s like breathing down in Texas. Even the Pee-wee stuff, which is crazy to me. Love good banter! That really makes a book for me. (But what’s up with the cover? She looks really uncomfortable…)
kimbacaffeinate
hahaha…ya know I thought the same thing.
Lily B
oh I get so giddy when I hear about a NA novel that’s different from the “norm” – eh I shouldn’t even call it a norm -.- stereotypical? Maybe.. who cares…
Anyway, yeah this sounds more like college type novel I would enjoy and people I can actually identify with normally.
kimbacaffeinate
Yep, every day people in this one 🙂 Enjoy Lily
brandileigh2003
The slow build and tender moments sound like they were written for me.
kimbacaffeinate
Yes, and I think you will like the family issues as well.
Lenore
I’m so glad you liked it! It was one of the better NA reads for me lately. Thanks for the review!
kimbacaffeinate
Yay 🙂 I am happy to hear you enjoyed it too Lenore!
Jenea
I really like the sounds of the romance, slow ones are the best ones to read about. Great review.
kimbacaffeinate
Oh I so agree Jenea 🙂
kindlemom1
You had me at low drama!
I actually already planned on picking this one up so yay!
kimbacaffeinate
magic words my friend, magic words 🙂
Nick
I’ve been waiting for your review ever since I saw that you had gotten the book! Yay! I’m so excited to see you enjoyed it, Kim. I can’t wait to purchase a copy myself next week. Cora Carmack knows how to write sweet guys and I, who is already sick of all the bad boys in NA, am so happy to hear that Carson is a good guy. The friendship that develops between the two sounds adorable! I can’t wait to read it.
Great review, Kim!
kimbacaffeinate
Carson was sweet and the guy studies *passes out from shock*
Kristin
I completely scanned your review (sorry!!!!!!!!) b/c I broke down and grabbed this book based on everyone having it on their piles, including you – I saw you had it coming up to review. I’m glad I did b/c I KNOW you don’t give your 4 cups of coffee easily 😀
kimbacaffeinate
Enjoy my friend!
Michelle
Great review! I agree with you on the NA stereotype. Good to hear that this book is different.
kimbacaffeinate
I love a bad boy too, but it was nice to step away from the norm Michelle 🙂
Bieke
Yay, adding this one to my TBR. I’m not a big fan of the cover though. Great review Kimberly!
kimbacaffeinate
You are not alone in your assessment of the cover..LOL
Franny
I haven’t heard all good things about this author, but this series definitely gets me curious, since it looks like Jaci Burton’s Play-by-Play series meets Friday Night Lights (the TV show). I’m intrigued. Too bad the cover looks like one of those B-series books where you clearly see that it’s just a *bad* copy&paste job. In terms of design, I would’ve expected a lot more from Harper Collins, but I’ll keep this read in mind to add to my TBR. Thanks, Kimberly! 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Yeah the cover made me shiver, but thankfully the story delivered.
Melliane
oh it souds nice. I haven’t read a lot of NA yet, only 2-3 I think? But they were nice so I’m curious to read more now. I’m glad this one was an interesting mainly with low drama. I’ll have to keep an eye on it.
kimbacaffeinate
This was refreshing and sweet Melliane
Tanja
You say low drama and you have me. The last few books I’ve read were full of unnecessary drama and I’m so tired of it. This one sounds like a great book and I love sweet romance. Great review, Kim 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Some of it can be over the top. I like angst but it needs to be balanced and not dare I say stupid.
Jessica
It would be really boring for me to repeat your checklist, so let me just say–AGREED. I really liked Losing It, so this book was already on my radar, but again, you just further sold it 😉
kimbacaffeinate
hahaha..accepted 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
Gotta love the slow building romance. That is always my #1 for romances. But that cover. Hate it!
kimbacaffeinate
Yeah..I wasn’t loving it either 🙂
Lupdilup
Is a sweet day for me. I just read a review of another book that reminded how much I enjoy reading a sweet and tender romance, and this sound like it fits the bill too. I’ll be keeping my eyes open for this one 🙂
Thank toy Kimba!
kimbacaffeinate
I like Carmack, her characters are well done and the tales engaging Loupe.
Naomi
Awww…. now I know I will love this book! Us Aussies tend to have a little fascination with American Football, and this one sounds kind of sweet! Dallas and Carson sound like nice characters and I know I’d like them!
Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace
kimbacaffeinate
Enjoy Naomi I am quite sure you will enjoy this 🙂