It’s All in How You Fall by Sarah Henning

 

“Gymnast Caroline Kepler has three state balance beam titles, a new trick even most elites can’t do, and chronic, undeniable back pain. While she might never be an Olympian, she has dreams of leveling up to elite, making Nationals, and competing in college. But when one epic face-plant changes all that and Caroline’s back pain goes from chronic to career-ending, her dreams are shattered and her life is flipped upside down.

Enter Alex Zavala, a three-sport athlete who’s both incredibly cute and incredibly off-limits. He offers to give Caroline a crash course in all the sports she’s missed, and she has an offer for him in return: For every sport Alex teaches her, she’ll play matchmaker for him. Deal done, Caroline “dates” new sports with Alex for the rest of the summer, which is loads more fun than wallowing in despair. Just as Caroline starts to see herself as more than her past athletic successes, she picks up something she didn’t bargain for: a big fat crush on Alex. Turns out life was way easier when it was just layout-fulls and beam burns....” - taken from Goodreads.

I enjoyed this sports themed teen romance. It is a bit heavy on the sports, especially gymnastics but any Olympic fan will have no problem with all of the details. Caroline Kepler's gymnastics career comes to a screeching halt due to a back injury. Devastated to retire at the age of 15, Carolyn is adrift until her brother's best friend Alex offers to give her a crash course in ball sports. To pay him back for his kindness, Caroline offers to fix him up with his longtime crush, her friend Sunny. But it isn't too long before Caroline realizes the true depths of her own feelings for Alex when they sneak up on her unexpectedly. The true question is, does he feel the same about her?

Visit Sarah Henning’s website.

The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

“Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.

2) Marry him.

3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?” - taken from Goodreads.com

Once again, this book proves why the author has become one of my favorites. Writing fierce female characters is her forte. Alessandra is a girl who is determined to be in charge of her own destiny. With her take-charge attitude, she has her sights on ruling the kingdom, alone. What she doesn't plan on is falling in love with the Shadow King. A great fantasy read for fans who love a whole lot of romance thrown in. Swoon-worthy indeed.

 

Visit Tricia Levenseller’s website.