Under the Bleachers: a Novel by K.K. Allen, Shauna Ward Published by Self Published Publication Date: February 28th 2017
Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org
Find on: Goodreads
One kiss can change everything.
Fun and flirty Monica Stevens lives for chocolate, fashion, and boys … in that order. And she doesn’t take life too seriously, especially when it comes to dating. When a night of innocent banter with Seattle’s hottest NFL quarterback turns passionate, she fears that everything she once managed to protect will soon be destroyed.
Seattle’s most eligible bachelor, Zachary Ryan, is a workaholic by nature, an undercover entrepreneur, and passionate about the organizations he supports. He’s also addicted to Monica, the curvy brunette with a sassy mouth—and not just because she tastes like strawberries and chocolate. She’s as challenging as she is decadent, as witty as she is charming, and she's the perfect distraction from the daily grind.
While Monica comes to a crossroads in her life, Zachary becomes an unavoidable obstacle, forcing her to stop hiding under the bleachers and confront the demons of her past. But as their connection grows stronger, she knows it only brings them closer to their end.
It’s time to let go.
To have a future, we must first deal with our pasts. But what if the two are connected?
Cocktails and Books received this book for free from Blog Tour in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
KK Allen does it again with Under the Bleachers a companion novel to Up in the Treehouse which was one of my favorite books of 2016. When I knew Ms. Allen was writing Monica and Zach’s book whom we met in Up in the Treehouse I was more than excited to go back to this world she created.
Monica Stevens is on the surface, fun and flirty who loves fashion and food (especially cake). Working at BellaCurve she has gotten to know NFL Seattle quarterback Zach Ryan well but has always kept him at arms length. That all changes one night after an event that she and her company puts together for Zach. Knowing she cant get involved with the sexy quarterback she does everything she can to distance herself. Flash forward 6 months when Zach comes back to BellaCurve for another event and Monica has been promoted from office manager to a production assistant who is put in charge of the event. Now she is going to be working closely with Zach and the chemistry is still there, can she stay away from him to spare his feelings or can she give in knowing that the secret she is carrying is going to shake up his entire world?
Zach has been attracted to Monica for months and when things finally start moving in the right direction he is more than happy. When he doesn’t hear from Monica for 6 months he is more than confused. Then when he finally has to spend time with her he is hoping the attraction is still there, but no knowing why she is always keeping him at arms length has been confusing especially when he knows Monica has feelings for him. When her secret finally comes out can he still trust her?
What KK Allen does really well is spin a story with complex characters that tug at your heartstrings and she does it again with Monica and Zach. Monica on the surface is all put together but when we start to get to know her she is hurting more than she lets on to her friends. Ms Allen writes Monica authentically when it comes to someone’s past especially parents divorce and how it impacts you as an adult. Zach is humble, honest and so vulnerable when he loves he does so with his whole heart which makes it difficult sometimes to understand why Monica makes the choices she does. When Monica’s secret finally comes out the payoff is fantastic. Told in dual POV’s you as the reader get to go on Zach and Monica’s journey and really get to know both characters. The secondary characters are also an interquel part of the story and we get to see Chloe and Quinn again from Up in the Treehouse which I loved.
All in all Ms Allen weaves a wonderful story that puts the reader through so many emotions. If you are looking for a new author do yourself a favor and read Under the Bleachers, I promise you will not be disappointed.
