The Hook Up: Volume 1 (Game On)

The Hook Up (Game On #1) by Kristen Callihan4.5 stars!!I’m not going to say it was love at first sight. No, it was more like oh, hell-yes-please, I’ll have that. With a helping of right-the-f**k-now on the side.I must admit, I have been in a bad place this week; it has to go down in history as one of the worst weeks ever!! My reading mojo took a battering too and I just couldn’t get motivated to read and that is unheard of. So, I picked up The Hook Up, it has been sitting pretty looking at me since release day and my reading diary just hadn’t given me the time to get there yet and my hands have itched to read this. I have stayed away from reviews and Goodreads because I didn’t want this one to be spoiled. So I dove in!This book can be summed up in two words DREW BAYLOR; I fell hook, line and sinker. Drew is the star quarter back for his college football team, also co-captain. With this title come responsibilities and a reputation. It is easy to lump all jocks in the “meat head, player” category but Drew was different, so so different. He gave off that air of “jock” but deep down he was just Drew Baylor and all he wanted was for someone to see him, just Drew, not Battleaxe or Drew Baylor the football player, just little old Drew. I loved Drew Baylor!!“I think you’re beautiful,” he says softly. “Beauty fades,” I choke out. “Not when it comes from inside.”Anna Jones, I could have seriously head butted her at times but I could understand her insecurities, I have been there, done that, got the T-shirt and not wore it well at all. She is studious, curvy and a red-head, but her curves are in all the right places, she is all woman. However, we all know how school can be and how cruel girls are and Anna did not escape high school unscathed. She has a serious complex, as far as she is concerned, she is not pretty and she is too fat. No boy has ever shown an interest in her romantically and her expectations are not that high anyway as her mum is hardly the poster girl for having happy, loving relationships, so Anna has sworn off men.Anna and Drew meet in class, it becomes immediately obvious that Drew is interested but Anna is wary, just waiting for some prankster to come out and say “really!! You seriously think he would be interested in you!!” But the truth be told, Drew has it bad, having never had to work to get the girl, Drew is baffled, but he listens to sound advice he received years ago and goes after what he wants and what he wants is Anna Jones. She doesn’t make it easy either, which in the book world is unusual, she plays hard to get and the friendship that develops between these two makes for fantastic reading. Intelligent conversation along with the banter makes for a funny, interesting read.“MY MOTHER ONCE told me that the most important moment in my life wouldn’t be when I won the National Championship or even the Super Bowl. It would be when I fell in love. Life, she insisted, is how you live it and who you live it with, not what you do to make a living.”I loved the banter between these two; they batted off each other and complimented each other beautifully. They brought out the best in each other; they literally shone in each other’s company. As much as Anna annoyed me a times, I really felt for her, I wanted her to realise just how beautiful she was inside and out and was glad that Drew made it his mission to make her see what he sees. Drew was another complex character, seemingly having it all, but nothing could have been further from the truth. He never opened up to anyone…until Anna Jones. He bared himself, warts and all to Anna, he wanted her to see just how much she meant to him and it was this endearing side that made you love him all the more.“I’ve just experienced the hottest, most erotic, life-changing sex of my life, and I don’t think I’m going to get a repeat. Tonight was obviously an ill-advised hook up for her. And I’m so screwed because it was the best thing that has ever happened to me.”The dual POV’s really aided this read, I felt conflicted reading Anna’s POV’s, I wanted to hug her and smother her, I wanted to give her a kick up the back side too but most of all I just wanted her to believe in herself. She was by no means timid and shy, she had inner-strength and was a ballsy character when she wanted to be, but those insecurities were always festering under the surface and occasionally they would erupt, sometimes with devastating consequences.“You’ve destroyed me, Anna Jones.” I know exactly what he means, because he’s destroyed me too.Drew’s POV’s were enlightening, through these we saw his soft side, we also really got to understand just how strong and deep his feelings were and when he hurt I hurt. I must admit, I did shed tears, whether it was because I have been an emotional mess this week I don’t know, but this book got to me in places.“You shine so brightly, Drew. And it’s beautiful to me, but I didn’t know how to live under your light.” He frowns, his expression growing fierce. But his words are low, strong. “What people see? That is only gloss. But, Anna, you light me up. Drew. Not the player. You didn’t know how to live under my light? I don’t have a light anymore unless you’re there.”In summary, this was a fantastic read, I totally loved it, loved the characters and I love Gray too! I can’t wait for his book. I read it in one sitting and could not put it down. Perfectly written with a balanced blend of emotion, angst and humour and as you can tell I highlighted the hell out of it. I cannot wait to read more from this author.“My world lives in your palm, Anna.”

First thing that must be said, the man on the cover makes me cringe. He is not my Drew. No way Jose. Not at all. Nope, not even looking at him.Second thing that must be said, this book is so damn sweet.Third thing that must be said, never in the history of romance books have I been so desperate for them to just kiss. Lips meeting maybe some tongue action, but please just kiss the girl (I love a Little Mermaid quote).I want so badly to be Anna and have a hot hunk of a man like Drew so hopelessly head over heels in love with little ol me. Curves and red hair would be good too.Just thinking about the relationship between Drew and Anna has my body humming as if it's at its own, personal happy hour.Kristen likes quotes about light and sun but when they are this good who cares?"And I ignite, burning brighter than the sun.""I feel the heat and power of his gaze on me like rays of the sun.""You shine so brightly Drew. And it's beautiful to me, but I didn't know how to live under your light.""Anna, you light me up. Drew not the player. You didn't know how to live under my light? I don't have a light anymore unless you're there.""I just know that the moment she walks out of this house, she'll take the sunshine of my day with her."And just like that I have Stevie Wonder singing Sunshine of My Life on repeat in my head. Even more reason for me to love this book.

This book was FABULOUS!It started off slightly humorous but as you read more…oh, the feels!Drew Baylor, star quarterback at his college and well on his way to football stardom. He lost his parents a few years earlier and has no other family. His football team are his family. Girls and fame have come easily to him, but he’s ready to finish college and itching for something more in his personal life. The moment he hears Anna Jones’ dulcet tones and looks into her eyes, he’s an absolute goner.Anna’s from a one-parent family ever since her father left them when she was young. She had a miserable time in high school – overweight, sullen, overlooked. She’s completely blossomed since being in college and after one failed relationship, she sticks to hook ups. Drew has a stunning effect on her but she tries to shut him down and out. She’s running scared – afraid to trust the well-known quarterback, and shies away from the attention that an association with him would bring.One hot, sexy encounter changes the dynamics between them and it’s game on! Drew is determined to have her and they eventually find themselves in a non-relationship – a never-ending hook up.This is the best college romance I’ve read in a while. It portrayed a wealth of emotions: angst, fear, lust, passion, despair, and all-consuming love. I loved the sizzling chemistry between Anna and Drew – the compulsive, uncontrollable desire between them. I loved how Drew was all-in from the first but proceeded with caution, slowly breaking down through Anna’s emotional barriers. This story gave me tingles! I couldn’t put it down and absolutely loved it, and have bought the other two novels in the series!

i read these books in the wrong order and was therefore affected by that common problem - sameness.Each story not only shares characters, they speak with the same voice, the plots have a shared feel and pace. It would probably be better not to read them concurrently.The author could also do with the help of an editor who can untangle convoluted sentences.