Defenseless (Diamond Girls #3)
Release Date:
01/17/15
Swoon Romance
Summary from
Goodreads:
High school
senior, Claire Reilly’s world revolves around All-Star cheerleading. The
Diamond Girls, are gearing up for a major competition, which, if they win will
allow them to compete at Worlds for the first time. But the unimaginable
happens, and both Claire and her team are rocked by a devastating loss.
Determined to get to Worlds any way she can, Claire finds help from the last
person she imagined would give it—up and coming UFC fighter and notorious bad
boy, Ryker Vaughn.
Fouled out of
the octagon by a dirty opponent and a vicious kick to the head, Ryker loses
control when he learns he may never fight again. Angry over the loss of his
mother, an unsupportive family, and the world in general, he gives up, gives
in, and unleashes his rage—destroying part of his cousin’s cheer gym in the
process. Things go from bad to worse when Ryker is given an ultimatum: help the
Diamond Girls compete for a bid to Worlds, or go to jail.
Overwhelmed
with anger, sadness, and grief, the unlikely pair learn that what you see is
not always what you get, and that the most difficult losses sometimes open the
door to a frightening, yet amazing new future.
Buy Links:
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Review: I was so excited when I received the email about the blog tour for this book. I had the opportunity to read and review the first two books in the series last year, and I absolutely loved them. In fact, I gave them both a rating of 5-stars. I do wish that I could remember them a bit better at this point, but it has been awhile, so I guess that just means I need to go back and read them again! Still, I was thrilled to see that the third book in the series had been released (I'm pretty sure that this is the last one, though I could certainly read more!), and I had no doubt that it was going to be great just like the other two.
I really enjoy Dane's writing, and the way that she handles difficult topics and situations. Since it is a book for teens, she seems to understand how important it is not to preach at her readers about the importance of not doing certain things that could lead to severe consequences. Instead, things happen to the characters that cause deep emotions for the reader. At least it did for me, and I am assuming most people would feel very similar things. I think that this is one of those books that everyone could get something out of, but certainly young adults.
I really liked Claire as a character, she was relate able, and it was certainly easy to feel for her as she went through some difficult things. Just like with the first books, I really like the concept of the cheerleading squad and reading about the relationships between the girls. I do think that this would be even better if I could remember the other books more clearly, another reason why I do want to go back and re-read. Still, she was certainly a character that I enjoyed reading about.
The very beginning of the book definitely through us into the story and gave some difficult situations that caused a lot of emotion, at least in me. We know how bad texting while driving has become these days, and so I was glad that an author wrote this into their book. I don't think that it gets talked about nearly as much as it could in YA. Still, Claire has to deal with a lot of guilt due to this situation in the book, and I did feel awful for her because of it. Dane did a wonderful job of writing it, though. Like I said earlier, nothing about it seemed preachy at all, but it certainly serves to prove a lesson.
Ryker, the guy in the book, was great as well. Despite not being a very nice guy at the beginning, I had no doubt that he was going to transform into a character I would love (this is contemporary, after all, and I certainly like to think I know my contemporary...). The poor guy was dealing with quite a bit himself, and I do think that the fact that he had to work along with the cheerleaders to help them get to World was a great addition to the story. Sure, he had some serious issues that he had to work through, but it was wonderful to see him grow as a character. I was certainly right, too; I loved him by the time the book was over.
Over all, I would say that this book was just as great as the other two in the serious. Again, Dane has a beautiful writing style that I really enjoy, and it causes me to fly right through her books without wanting to put them down. I do hope that maybe some time in the future we might get some more Diamond Girl stories, but for now I am quite thrilled with what Dane has given us. I think that these are books any contemporary lover would enjoy, so go pick them up!
I really enjoy Dane's writing, and the way that she handles difficult topics and situations. Since it is a book for teens, she seems to understand how important it is not to preach at her readers about the importance of not doing certain things that could lead to severe consequences. Instead, things happen to the characters that cause deep emotions for the reader. At least it did for me, and I am assuming most people would feel very similar things. I think that this is one of those books that everyone could get something out of, but certainly young adults.
I really liked Claire as a character, she was relate able, and it was certainly easy to feel for her as she went through some difficult things. Just like with the first books, I really like the concept of the cheerleading squad and reading about the relationships between the girls. I do think that this would be even better if I could remember the other books more clearly, another reason why I do want to go back and re-read. Still, she was certainly a character that I enjoyed reading about.
The very beginning of the book definitely through us into the story and gave some difficult situations that caused a lot of emotion, at least in me. We know how bad texting while driving has become these days, and so I was glad that an author wrote this into their book. I don't think that it gets talked about nearly as much as it could in YA. Still, Claire has to deal with a lot of guilt due to this situation in the book, and I did feel awful for her because of it. Dane did a wonderful job of writing it, though. Like I said earlier, nothing about it seemed preachy at all, but it certainly serves to prove a lesson.
Ryker, the guy in the book, was great as well. Despite not being a very nice guy at the beginning, I had no doubt that he was going to transform into a character I would love (this is contemporary, after all, and I certainly like to think I know my contemporary...). The poor guy was dealing with quite a bit himself, and I do think that the fact that he had to work along with the cheerleaders to help them get to World was a great addition to the story. Sure, he had some serious issues that he had to work through, but it was wonderful to see him grow as a character. I was certainly right, too; I loved him by the time the book was over.
Over all, I would say that this book was just as great as the other two in the serious. Again, Dane has a beautiful writing style that I really enjoy, and it causes me to fly right through her books without wanting to put them down. I do hope that maybe some time in the future we might get some more Diamond Girl stories, but for now I am quite thrilled with what Dane has given us. I think that these are books any contemporary lover would enjoy, so go pick them up!
Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
About the Author
I'm a lover of books (YA & Adult romance), chocolate, reality television, and am a proud mother to three All Star cheerleaders. Woot!
I'm a lover of books (YA & Adult romance), chocolate, reality television, and am a proud mother to three All Star cheerleaders. Woot!
I write Contemporary YA romance with cheerleaders.
Yep. I write what I know, and it's my hope that my stories will not only take
you on a romantic journey that will warm your heart, but that you'll find a new
respect and interest in the sport of Cheerleading you may not have had before.
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