Kick

By: Ali Dean

Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski

Length: 5 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Buzzing anticipation. Floating weightless. Adrenaline rush. All the best feelings wrapped into an emotional high that never gets old. I think I might be addicted to falling in love.

When rising rock star Jack Kingston comes to play on our college campus, I think he’ll be just another fix. Instead, he flips everything around and makes me question who I am, what I want, and why I do what I do. After he leaves, everything changes.

Pushing myself in the pool, struggling to keep up with my twin sister, it’s what keeps me from losing myself entirely. Swimming isn’t my passion. It’s my source of stability. When I find the courage to finally start pushing my boundaries, I discover success in ways I never imagined, both in and out of the water.

When Jack resurfaces, I'm forced to decide between facing my fears or letting them spiral out of control as my past catches up with me...threatening to pull me back under. It's time to sink or swim.

©2018 Ali Dean (P)2018 Ali Dean

This was REAL...

What started out as a story that I thought would be a typical romance, quickly turned into a story about some real issues that could easily occur on college campuses in real life. Ali has a way of addressing these issues and making you understand that some things are just not your fault even when you try to justify it to yourself. I don't want to mention details regarding specifics, but bottom line; LISTEN/READ THIS BOOK! I thoroughly enjoyed it even though evoked some tough emotions and thoughts from me. Well done, Ali!

Good Romance

Kick is on the swim team with her sister and is living the college life, all the hook ups with no expectations. She is determined to hookup with Jack after watching his band play. She gets more than what she expects and he wants more from her. This is a romance where she finds who she is and keeps the man she wants by her side through her journey.

Good Young Adult Story

I received this audiobook free for an honest review. I thought this story was geared more toward young adult than any other genre. I believe the young adult could relate better than the other type of listeners. However, it was a story that I couldn't stop listening to. The characters were well developed, with depth. There were lessons to be learned within this story for those who are trying to figure themselves out. The narrator did a good job with the characters. Overall, this was a great listen.

Great story!

I absolutely loved this story!!! It was a fantastic read! It can be read as a standalone but it does happen after The Line Below story that is about Kick's sister. I read The Line Below first and I did enjoy reading them in order. You definitely get to see and get to know Kick in the first book. You know that there is something going on with her but not exactly what is going on until this one. I loved getting to know Kick throughout this story. It does deal with some hard topics. WARNING: Rape and all the feelings of guilt/shame and where that line is for it to be rape. I thought that it was handled very well! It's realistic I think as well for how Kick handled it and felt about it afterward. I loved getting to see Jack again. He is a great guy and I loved him. He handles Kick great for the most part. I love how direct he is. This book is fairly explicit in the sex department. I would say that this is definitely in the New Adult genre and not so much Young Adult per the sexual aspect of things. It's nothing over the top or super explicit but you do get some details of it. It didn't bother me at all, I actually enjoyed having that as part of the story. Everything blended and flowed very well so it just felt like it was meant to be there. I absolutely loved getting to see Shay and Jett again as well some of the other characters. I would love to see more in this world that Ali Dean has created! The story pulled me in from beginning to end and I wasn't quite ready to leave the Spark Sisters. Hopefully we will get to see something of them in a future story, even if it's just a type of bonus one to catch up with them and how they are doing in their relationships and swimming.
The narrator did a great job with showcasing voices and emotions to bring the story to life.

Emotional and Riveting

Title: Kick
Author: Ali Dean
Format: Audio
Narrator: Stacey Glemboski
Genre: Romance - NA, Sports (Swimming), Rockstar
Standalone: Yes
Part of a Series: Book 2 of the Spark Sisters series
POV: Kick and Jack
Steam Level: Steamy
5/5

Kick's story was amazing! We see a bit of it in Shay's story and some more of Shay and Jett's HEA in Kick's story but you don't need to have read The Line Below (Shay's story) to enjoy Kick (but I recommend it because it's a great story). Kick's story is sweet, steamy and very emotional. Ali Dean turns up the sweet, sass and tear ducts in Kick's story. I'm addicted to Ali Dean's writing and Stacey Glemboski does a fantabulous job narrating these books.

I received this audiobook for free from Audiobook Obsession. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Another great sports romance

Ali Dean writes great sports romance. She writes in a way I can picture the athletes and the bands actually performing. It’s best to listen to, and Stacey does a great job in narrating both voices. I recommend this fantastic audiobook.

Another winner from Ali Dean.............

Kick is the second book in this new adult series, and it can easily be read as a standalone but is so much better after reading Below the Line. I fell in love with Kick and her twin sister Shay in the first book, so I was very excited to hear Kick's story. She is a highly accomplished young woman, but she constantly seems to be seeking something missing in her life. When she meets Jack, a rock star just rising to fame, her life changes after the few short hours she spends with him. Unlike the typical rock star image, Jack is a kind, level-headed young man, and he actually wants a serious relationship with Kick. Up to this point, she has been the love them and leave them type, and his response to her attitude makes her question everything in her world.

So many times in this book, I just wanted to give Kick a hug and tell her that she was worthy of Jack's love, but I know she needed to take this journey of self-discovery on her own, no matter how difficult and painful. Those early adult days may be far in my rear view mirror, but the author's writing made me remember that challenging time in my life, and I was very emotionally invested in Kick's HEA by the end. Luckily, the book is not all angst and drama, and Kick's inner strength and determination as well as some loving support from her sister Shay and Jack help her to reach a terrific place in the end.

Stacey Glemboski narrates both books in the series, and she is an amazing narrator. She has a very light, youthful voice, and she brings a lot of emotions to an already emotionally moving story. She is the perfect choice for this new adult romance genre.

I received a copy of this audiobook at my request in exchange for this honest review.

Loved it

Kick, has problems of her own she gives out the vibe of, live in the moment for excitement, partying, hooking up! But she is really insecure with the plans for herself .
She is scared of not knowing what she really wants. Is she swimming for herself or just something to do with her sister. It's the only thing that keeps her grounded. Her life of one night stands change after meeting A musician, Jack Kingston. He has her questioning herself, she doesn't do relationships, but does she feel comfortable with the one night stand? What makes Jack Kingston so different?
This is a story of truths, lies, insecurities, hidden secrets, having confidence in self and finding love. its about Kick finally rethinking what matters most in her life.
Ali Dean explores the struggles and commitments to become a collegiate athlete! Showing Kick at her strongest, weakest and most vunerable. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. Stacey Glemboski is phenomenal in her narration. Her voices and personalities for each character were spot on! Her ability to transition from one character to the other is flawless. 🎧#audiobookobsessionreviewr.

Kick

Kick (Lydia) thinks she has herself figured out. Jack is an up and coming Rock Star. One night together turns Kick’s world upside down. She must find herself so that she can believe in her and Jack. The chemistry between the characters is hot.


🎧 audio obsession

Another great story from Ali Dean!

I have already read kick and loved it! I was excited to listen to the audio version of this book. Stacey Glemboski did not disappoint! Her performance was spot on portraying the characters emotions and struggles. Her performance made this book even better. I would give it 10 stars if I could!

Kick is a girl addicted to falling in love at least for the day. She likes the control and being in control of the situation. She likes the euphoria of meeting someone and deciding when it’s time to leave. These types of arrangements suits her just fine until she meets Jack.
Jack is in a band and is smitten with kick he wants more from kick then her normal arrangement. Jack turns her world upside down and makes her rethink what she wants. But something is holding her back, an event from her past. Will kick be able to overcome this to be able to completely fall in love?

This book can be read as a stand-alone, but I would recommend reading the first book The line Below to get some back stories on some of these characters.