The Hard Count

De: Ginger Scott

Narrado por: Kai Kennicott, Wen Ross

Nico Medina's world is 11 miles away from mine. During the day, it's a place where doors are open - where homes are lived in, and neighbors love. But when the sun sets, it becomes a place where young boys are afraid, where eyes watch from idling cars that hide in the shadows and wicked smoke flows from pipes. West End is the kind of place that people survive. It buries them - one at a time, one way or another. And when Nico was a little boy, his mom always told him to run.

I'm Reagan Prescott - coach's daughter, sister to the prodigal son, daughter in the perfect family. Life on top. Lies. My world is the ugly one. Private school politics and one of the best high school football programs in the country can break even the toughest souls. Our darkness plays out in whispers and rumors, and money and status trump all. I would know - I've watched it kill my family slowly, strangling us for years. In our twisted world, a boy from West End is the only shining light. Quarterback. Hero. Heart. Good. I hated him before I needed him. I fell for him fast. I loved him when it was almost too late. When two ugly worlds collide, even the strongest fall. But my world...it hasn't met the boy from West End.

©2016 Ginger Scott (P)2016 Ginger Scott

Very deep, emotional read! I loved it❤️

Loved this heartwarming story about an unlikely love between two people at complete opposite sides of the track. A very deep, emotional read that I couldn’t put down! I absolutely love Nico and Reagan! This is my first read by Ginger Scott but it’s definitely not my last! She is an amazing writer and I can’t wait to read more by her! Wen and Kai did an awesome job on he narration!

A amazing story that changes your life outlook

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Because it shows you how not to judge people you never know what someone is going threw. Plus just where you live doesn't mean your like your environment.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Nico the boy never gave up to prove everyone wrong and he loves his family and friends so much it made you fall in love with him too

What about Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross ’s performance did you like?

I loved it all they really brought the story to life

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did I couldn't stop listening to it! Amazing story that makes you say Hoorah with them

Any additional comments?

Amazing book that I'll never forget that needs to be a movie

YA Sports Romance!

The Hard Count is a standalone ya romance told in first person single pov with a guaranteed hea. This author takes two poles apart class of people & artistries a melodious love saga. An enlightened exposition on class, prejudice and kin. The boy from the wrong side of the tracks gets a chance at making a name for himself & the daughter of prestigious high school football coach who Is creating a film about what role football plays in her family life & school.
A blend of melodrama, love, politics, & sports all rolled up together to create a compassionate listen.

Narated by Kai Kennicott with appearances of Wen Ross sprinkled through out the narrative. Kai Kennicott's performance was flawless. All the right sentiments are visible at the right time. Tone and pace flows through smoothly. Wen Ross never disappoints, but this one is all Kai with her perfect performance. Kai brings the character & narative to the real world.

Get ready to smile and ugly cry!

What did you love best about The Hard Count?

I love that the two main characters in this book come from the same town but are very much from two different worlds. Nico is from the "wrong side of the tracks" while Reagan is the daughter of the prestigious high school's football coach. Both have their own issues to deal with because nothing is ever what it seems to be on the outside and we get to see that. Also, if you're missing Friday Night Lights, this has that same feel to it.

Which scene was your favorite?

There is this scene toward the end of the book - the scene that made me ugly cry - and it was this extremely profound moment for one of the main characters that engulfed all of the other characters and it was such a shared exprerience that it's a scene that will stay with me for a very long time. I'm not going to give it away, but let's just say thinking about it now is still making me tear up and I listened to the book a few weeks ago.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did listen to it all in one sitting... and it was amazing.

Any additional comments?

Nico and Reagan attend the same high school where Nico is trying to be valedictorian and get a scholarship to college and Reagan is the making a film about the role football plays in her family and school as her father is the head coach and her brother the star quarterback. Nico and Reagan have always been at odds until her brother gets injured and she sees something in Nico that makes her think that he would be the perfect fit for the team, all she has to do is convince both Nico and her father of it.

This book is so well written! It pulls you in from the start, grabs onto your heart and doesn't let go. It touches on so many different topics but the main one is the adversity that faces people and the opportunities to change lives. There's sports, politics, drama, love and an endearingness that comes across so wonderfully that it makes for a memorable story. The narration is spot on, Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross do a great job with their respective parts. I cannot recommend this book enough! It was highly engaging and entertaining, while still having that gravitas that makes a story rise above so many others. It took me by surprise how much I loved this book! You will not regret listening to this one!

Loved this deeply emotional YA sports romance!

What a fantastic YA sports romance! Ginger Scott really took the Uptown Girl/lovers from two different worlds trope and crafted an incredible love story in addition to a profound commentary on class, prejudice, and family.

The book was narrated primarily by Kai Kennicott, with a few chapters sprinkled in narrated by Wen Ross. I think this was Kai's best performance that I have listened to to date. It was emotional and captured first love and that youthful hope and innocence so well. I loved the verbal sparring and slow burn between Nico and Reagan. It was the perfect tempo and the scene on the overpass/bridge following Homecoming was so perfectly sweet and tender. Just as moving though, was the importance of family (both Reagan and Nico's) as well as community and the bonds of friendship and brotherhood. This was an emotional listen for me. It had me holding my breath and my stomach flipping and turning in knots at certain points. And yes, tears were shed as well - both happy and sad.

The Hard Count was such an unexpected and wonderful surprise! I can't recommend this book enough!

Full of heart!

This was an unexpected read. I saw a few friends had read this and really liked it. Even going in thinking I'm pretty sure I'll like it too, I was surprised with the effect it had. This is one of those stories that start out kind of slow and then it builds and builds until the end you when you finish and you sit back and think man that was really good! It's the kind of story that stays on your mind long after you finish reading it.

This is YA story that deals with the struggle with quite a few issues. Our main characters is Reagan, a teenage girl from an all american family. Her dad is the private school's football coach. Her twin brother is the star quarterback and her mom is the stay at home mom who heads all the social parties.

Then you have Nico. He's a scholarship kid who lives in a bad neighborhood. His brother got mixed up with a gang, got his girl pregnant and then said girl takes off and he isn't in the picture either. I won't say where he is since it's not revealed right away. Nico's mom is already a single mom but now she takes care of the granddaughter as well. Nico's family is Mexican. That shouldn't even need to be mentioned but it plays a role in some of the issues being dealt with in the story.

With the little bit of background I gave you, you can probably already see the issues that will come up in the story. That may be predictable but there were unpredictable elements as well. I never thought about the issues the author brings to light that the teenage girl and her all american family dealt with because of her dad being a coach and the snobby women the mom has to deal with.

The story really showed that no matter the race, rich or poor, we all have issues in our life that we deal with. Issues that shape and mold each and every one of us. One of the best things I loved about this story was how much good can come from these issues.

Nico was an exceptional hero. His and Reagan's relationship was incredibly sweet and what we would want our children to experience in their lives. I've never read this author before and this book has me excited to see what else she has written.

I listened to the audiobook and highly recommend it to audio lovers. The narrators were really good and did such a wonderful job putting heart into the reading of this story. Audiobook arc provided by author.

Amazing!!!

This was a exceptionally well-written and emotional story. I listened to this all in one sitting and didn't want the story to end. Narration was really well done!


I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review

Unexpectedly Great! Outside my normal genre.

Ginger Scott is a new author to me. I typically do not listen to YA or NA books, but this one was awesome. I thought the author did a great job developing the characters and writing the overall story. Both Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross did fantastic performances. They added so much emotion and feeling to the book that one would not get just reading it. Due to the length of this listen, I could not listen to it all at once, but I wanted to. So glad that I listened to something new outside my normal genres. I was provided with this review copy audiobook at no charge by my request and have voluntarily left this review.

tissues are in your best interest

For some, football is king...
Others, it's a religion...
a livelihood...

And for her family is suffocating. Reagan's family is drowning in the sport they love. Grasping for ways to numb everything.

But Reagan clings to hope and maybe the one person she hates the most. She clings to him because he could be everything they need.

Ginger Scott killed me. I have a massive headache for the crying jag. I refuse to say what happened. Spoilers aren't my thing, but DAMN woman!!!!

I may be a softy but I was sobbing!!

The story of Reagan and Nico was brought to life by two talented people. The narrators make a great duo. I just wish we had more Nico.

I actually loved this book.

What made the experience of listening to The Hard Count the most enjoyable?

Kai's performance sucked me in, battered my heart and spit me out into a sniveling mess. The writing was everything I had ever wanted in a book. I needed some time after it was over, a grieving process of sorts. I didn't want the story to end, and even though it was 'just' a young adult novel, it had plenty of drama and intrigue to keep me interested and wanting more. Wen's addition to the story, while minimal, was an important piece, and he pulled it off spectacularly.

What does Kai Kennicott and Wen Ross bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Kai's narration was very emotional, she didn't hold back. When the characters were angry, you knew it, and when they cried, Kai brought sensitivity and passion to her reading.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely

Any additional comments?

I was given a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.