Received in exchange for a honest review

I loved these two. Tristan was tres adorbs. He was a good ball player but feeling stressed. Alyssa a good ballerina but had a lot on her mind.

For Tristan the stress equated to his swing going away. He feels his parents placate him and don’t really see him. He is trying to be all he can be but he is lost. When he meets Alyssa at the batting cages things change. He sees a sweet fun honest girl. Not one to placate him but one who is herself. She helps him smile and relax. Makes him see beyond the forest and to the trees. The attraction between them is precious.

Alyssa is stressed by the financial situation of her dad’s business and getting into the ballet camp over the summer. So meeting a nice guy like Tristan who helped her heart soar and feel free helps her dancing. She also felt she could be herself around him. They both get close to each other and learn about one another before they even go out on a date.

One problem though-their best friends are crushing on them and each didn’t realize it. That does cause for a little drama but showed us the stuff Tristan was made of. When Alyssa gets the wrong impression of Tristan by something that was said to her she does go into insecure mode and instead of talking to Tristan she walks away. This hurt both of them and was the only time I was disappointed in Alyssa. The moment that Tristan put together at the end for Alyssa and her family to help raise money swoon city. He is truly a treasure as was this fun sweet romance.

The high school feels of this book!

I was like...woah..she knows how to play... I like her. Maybe 'cause she's boyish and all, although she dances ballet...still.. Alyssa is like one of the boys because of softball. I like her character. I really don't understand why did they hide their relationship in the first place.

Anyways.. This is a quick read (really... If only not on my day job..) and I enjoyed it. If you want a break for any dystopian series, I recommend this book!👌👌👌

This was so cute and I seriously love Highley's male leads - Tristan is sweet, genuine, unafraid of being honest even when it leaves him a bit vulnerable, and still strong and sexy. (Kyle, from the first book, is hard to top, but Tristan comes pretty darn close!)

He sounded so tentative, like he was scared she’d run away. She didn’t know many cute boys who weren’t totally confident in their ability to hook a girl. It was charming.

Alyssa is also a kick-ass female lead, strong-willed, funny, and caring. I loved how she made up her own mind (even how she was unafraid to choose ballet over softball, despite the role softball played in her life).

This girl was herself, and nothing else. That made her pretty much a unicorn, as most of the girls he’d known were too worried about what people thought about them.

The two of them together was a fantastic match and I really loved their dynamic. How they started off was fun, especially with Alyssa making the first move (a girl after my own heart!).

As there should be, there is a good dose of baseball in this and, as someone who isn't into baseball, I thought it was the perfect amount. It's written in a way that is immersive and with a great balance between baseball fan and baseball novice.

Every supporting character is just that - supportive without stealing the show. I loved seeing Kyle and Faith again, and the way they were woven in felt very natural. Lauren is a bit deplorable, but redeems herself (she is Alyssa's best friend, after all).

All in all, I really, really liked this and cannot wait for more of this series!!

This was a quick read and fun read. This book definitely had its flaws but overall I really enjoyed it.

Tristan is facing a lot of problems in his baseball despite being one of the top players in his team. Alyssa loves her ballet but she can do nothing when her father’s business is going out of market. They both begin to fall for one another when Tristan comes to her father’s batting cage for some alone practice. But things begin to fall out of control when both their best friends confess for a liking to one another. The only way out is to confess the truth or lose their friendship forever.

The plot was predictable and cheesy as hell but at the same time, it was quite enjoyable. Alyssa and Tristan start falling for one another when Tristan decides to do some practice to get out of his slump. Alyssa being a former softball player helps him out and Tristan discovers that she is his muse as well. I enjoyed their relationship. But then, both of Tristan’s best friend confessed he liked Alyssa and Alyssa’s bff confessed she liked Tristan which was kinda weird, even for them and it was quite natural that they couldn’t decide how to break it to them. It did feel a little unrealistic how everything was sunshine and rainbows at the end.

Nonetheless, the characters kept me interested throughout the book. Alyssa was pretty smart and confident and she spoke her mind. She and Tristan were pretty much a perfect couple. Tristan’s gesture to save her family business was really sweet. The other characters were pretty fun to read about as well.

Overall, Swinging at Love was a fun but predictable read. I liked the characters and the romance between Alyssa and Tristan. The writing was smooth and easy to read and the pace was even throughout the book.

Recommend it?

Yes.

Note: I received a copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Bad Boy Bargain (first book in the Suttonville Sentinels series) was my first book by Kendra Highley and I thoroughly enjoyed it. So I had high hopes for book two, Swinging at Love. Admittedly, this didn't live up to my high expectations.

Highley continued to do a great job of covering heavier topics that don't weigh the story down. Both Alyssa and Tristan have a lot going on and a lot to deal with. It was nice to have their lives feel realistic but not be completely depressed while reading about it.

That said, the romance and book itself felt rushed. My favorite romances are ones with a slow build and that was missing here. I also didn't find the story nearly as engaging as The Bad Boy Bargain. Alyssa and Tristan just didn't capture my interest as completely as Kyle and Faith.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I've really loved all of Kendra C. Highley's books, and this was no exception! I loved reading about Alyssa and Tristan, they had so much in common, baseball, and they were so great together!

It was really great to see Faith and Kyle again, because Faith is helping Alyssa with her dancing, and Kyle is the captain of the Suttonville Sentinels! So yeah, that was really great, because we got to see them together and happy while watching this new couple find similar happiness!

I read somewhere that these two are one of the author's favourite pairings that she's wrote, because they're both balanced and real and have their problems, and I agree! Tristan's got trouble with his swing, and Alyssa's family's batting cage business is on the verge of closing, and yeah, those two problems brought these two together!

Really enjoyed how everything came together in the end! I mean, she helped him with his swing with practical advice and her presence. And he helped her with a fundraiser! And while they both had stumbling blocks in the way-both of their best friends was interested in Alyssa and Tristan, when Alyssa and Tristan were interested in each other, yeah. Things worked out!

Such a fantastic book, and I can't wait to see more members of the Suttonville Sentinels find love!

This was a sweet and fun YA romance. Tristan and Alyssa were likable and interesting, both dealing with internal and external pressures common to many teens. Very enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I struggled with a 2 or 3 for this one. I enjoyed the baseball parts of the book, and honestly, that is what kept me reading. I was interested in seeing how things worked out for the team, Tristan's hitting issues, and also, what happened with Alyssa's family's batting cages. The romance part of the book was too formulaic and corny for my taste, though. Insta-love is a pet peeve of mine and this one veers into that territory, and things moved so fast between Tristan and Alyssa that it was unrealistic with how they had barely spoken yet were smitten and gushing over and about each other in what felt like minutes. I think the book will appeal to fans of romance novels, as the book follows the formula that is popular for the genre. It's just not my thing, but knowing that it would appeal to romance readers, who would not have my same issues, prompted me to bump my review to 3 stars.

Swinging at Love is the second book in the young adult contemporary romance series, called the Suttonville Senitels by Kendra C. Highley. I was so excited when I found out about this book. Seriously. I read and LOVED The Bad Boy Bargain and I thought it was just going to be a standalone, so when I found out it was going to be a series centering around a baseball team. I thoroughly enjoyed Swinging at Love. Just as much as The Bad Boy Bargain. This series is a welcome smash hit for me! Lately I have been finding myself gravitating more towards New Adult for my contemporary romances, and young adult for my fantasies. Oftentimes I am finding young adult contemporaries just a bit too immature in the characters. But the big exception to this seems to be the Entangled Crush line. I really enjoy their YA romances for the most part. (And I don’t think that just because a book is young adult that the characters get a free pass on being immature- not all young adults are immature, and I expect that to follow through in YA books too!)

Just like with the Bad Boy Bargain, this book is chock full of cuteness. That is the best way to describe it. It is like a smile in a box. I really liked Tristan and Alyssa. I still think Faith and Kyle were my favorite couple but I adored them so much that it is hard to come close. But Tristan and Alyssa did come close, and if it were for some lying and some miscommunication that irked me, they might have passed Kyle. But they are a close second and I can’t wait to see what the next story in the series is going to be about. I really enjoyed Tristan and Alyssa’s story. It has all the signature cuteness I have come to associate with Kendra’s books. It is my favorite thing about them.

Tristan is a star on the baseball team but he has lost his swing. And Alyssa’s family business is in trouble. Each of them are doing their best to save their respective thing and their paths cross and cris cross in the most adorable ways. If they only could have been a bit more honest with each other and with their friends I think this book would have been perfect. But live and learn. They are still young. I really liked their story.

Bottom line: if you are looking for a quick young adult romance that is super cute and has characters you will love (who are not at all annoying) check out Swinging at Love and the Suttonville Sentinels series. I loved the mature, yet still age appropriate, characters featured in this extra cute romance.

I absolutely ADORED this book! It was perfect YA romance- the characters were so likable and the romance so sweet. Baseball was my favorite sport in high school (I kept stats for the team!) and there's a special place in my heart for hot baseball players! I so hope that Kindra Highley has another book planned for this series because I loved books 1 and 2!

Swinging at Love is a sweet romance story between two teens. Alyssa used to be an amazing softball player but she quit to be a ballet dancer instead. Her family’s batting cage business isn’t doing so well now that there’s a big shiny sports complex in town. Tristan is the outfielder for his high school team and they’re hoping to go all the way this year and win the state championship. The only problem is, he hasn’t been able to hit the ball lately. If he can’t get his swing back, the team isn’t going to make it to the championship game, and his dream of being captain of the team is over.

I recently read the first book in the series, The Bad Boy Bargain, and really enjoyed the spin the author put on it. So, I was really excited to give this story a read. The author just has such a way with making the reader fall head over heels in love with her characters. When Alyssa finds out that her family’s batting cage business is on the rocks, she does all she can to help out. She gives her parents her ballet camp fund, she does her best to learn how to do maintenance on the batting equipment, she even refuses to take payment for her hours at work. Tristan is a guy who just wants to get his swing back. So he drives out to the edge of town to some old-school batting cages to practice where no one would notice him. However, when Alyssa pops in and gives him some pointers on how to help better is swinging average, he soon realizes that she has a calming effect on him. He, too, is loyal and when he finds out that her family is struggling to keep their business open, he devises a plan to help out. Both of these characters were just too cute.

One thing that was a little annoying was the drama or conflict in the story. The whole not telling people because you don’t want to hurt their feelings was silly. Not to mention the jumping to conclusions instead of just talking it out bit that also took place. I guess they’re teens and they are going to not think clearly but I just thought it to be a bit silly. Everything could have been avoided or solved if they just talked. However, my issues with that weren’t enough to damper my feelings towards the story. I still found them adorable.

Swinging at Love is a super cute young adult romance that centers around an outfielder and a ballerina. I loved the tight-knit family aspect that Alyssa has, and I loved how close Tristan was with his teammates. It was great getting to see Kyle and Faith again. From the acknowledgements at the end of the book it sounded like this book wasn’t necessarily planned and was something her editor brought to the table. So, I’m not sure if this is going to now turn into a series or not but I’d love to see Dylan find his HEA.

I really enjoyed The Bad Boy Bargain (it’s the kind of fluff readers are looking for when they are in a reading slump), so I was excited when this sequel was offered to me. Swinging at Love takes place in the same high school and even includes cameos from the lovebirds in book 1, Faith and Kyle. But this time the story isn’t just about ballet and landscaping. It’s about love and baseball and the little bits in between.

Alyssa is a strong-willed and confident dancer. She also happens to be a kickass softball player but maybe that’s because she spends a lot of time working at Swing Away, the batting cages owned by her family. With extensive (and expensive) repairs that need to be done and the new sports complex in town stealing all of their business, Swing Away is at risk of closing forever. Needless to say, Alyssa is stressed out. How can she focus on her ballet audition when her family’s beloved business is going under?

Tristan is a batsman on the high school baseball team. He’s suffering from a batting slump and striking out more often than he’d like to. To get away from the pressure of it all, he wants to practice somewhere outside of town where he’s less likely to run into his teammates. Somewhere like Swing Away. Is he ever going to get out of his head long enough to get his swing back?

I hate to say it, but it’s like love at first sight between Alyssa and Tristan. It’s kind of annoying but mostly cute, so I’m not complaining. Alyssa is just the person to help Tristan get out of his slump, but there’s plenty of drama amongst their friends to create a little delay from the inevitable.

Overall, this was a very fun and fast-paced read. I love reading about sports that I know nothing about. My baseball experience is limited to one Toronto Blue Jays game (which was fantastic) so I’m obviously not informed on all the ins and outs of the game, but I still loved reading about the practices and stuff. Athletes are like mysterious creatures to me. What makes them good at the game? Or bad? What drives them? In this case, romance is the catalyst for success.

Ironically, I was in a reading slump before I read this book so it looks like romance was the cure for me as well. Pick this up if you’re looking for a fun and flirty story!

*3.5 stars

Alyssa was a ballerina who had given up softball because of her greater love of dance. She was still a really good softball pitcher. Her family owned "Swing Away", a batting cage/practice business in a town that a new, sparkly Sports Center that was driving their family business into the grown. She was determined to find a way to help save her family business but she didn't know how to get started.

Tristan played baseball for the local high school team. He was the number 2 hitter but he was in a slump and didn't know how to break it. He went to Swing Away for some batting practice and this pretty girl helped diagnosis the problem he was having with his batting. There was an instant connection between them. She became his good luck charm.

There was some teenage drama, some grown up issues that they both faced but this was a sweet book about teenage romance. My one criticism of the book was the smattering of foul language. While I know kids now days use that kind of language, it is a turn off for me.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Alyssa and Tristan have something in common: a love for baseball. They just don’t know it yet. So when Tristan shows up at the batting cage business Alyssa’s family owns, they hit it off pretty quickly. But what happens when two jealous BFF’s get involved, the family business starts going down, and the important baseball player loses his swing—all at once?

Swinging at Love was a cute sports romance set in high school. The entire book revolved around baseball (and the romance), since the characters met through baseball, one of them was on the high school baseball team, and the other’s family owns a baseball-centered business. I am not a person who is particularly interested in baseball, but getting dosed in the sport in Swinging at Love was still enjoyable. The part of the book that actually centered on the sport was explained simply enough that even someone with as little knowledge about the subject as I have could understand it and not be lost in the jargon.

I loved the romance. The two of them getting together wasn’t dragged out the entire book, or even half of it, really. Alyssa and Tristan admitted their attraction for each other early on and spent the rest of the novel working out all the problems that appear, for instance, two jealous best friends. Their relationship happened quickly, certainly, but that is how attraction is. They don’t make the mistake of saying their attraction is love, but love definitely developed by the end of the story. I will mention, though, that I did not appreciate the lies they told to their friends about their relationship.

I really liked this book. I would give it a higher rating, but I needs more depth for me to do so. It is a cute chick flick, but it was too straightforward and simple to be considered great literature. It is instead a fun, fast read intended for teen girls looking for entertainment, and it achieves its purpose.

Content warnings: sexual innuendos and some swearing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Chapter by Chapter and NetGalley. All opinions are expressly my own.

Good book and characters! I read it in one sitting

Thank you to Entangled Teen and Netgalley for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.


I reviewed the first book The Bad Boy Bargain on this blog, so check out that review first!!


This is the second book in the Suttonville Sentinels however, you don't necessarily need to read book one in order to know what is going on in this book.


Alyssa is a dancer, but once upon a time she played softball and she was really good at it. So it's no surprise that she loves working at Swing Away, the batting cages her family owns. However, things are going well and she is worried that her dad will have to close the business down.


Tristan is a big hitter, but lately, he hasn't been hitting anything and he is worried that he is going into a slump at the worst time of the year. The playoffs so when he wants to hide it from the team and yet practice he heads over to Swing Away because no one goes there.


While he is practicing Alyssa comes over and helps him out, but after they part neither one can stop thinking of each other. Alyssa thinks he is stressing himself out, and Tristan is intrigued by the girl who knows so much about baseball.


Things run into a major problem when it is revealed that their best friends have a thing for them. Tristan's friend asks Alyssa out and Lauren tries to flirt with Tristan. Instead of coming clean about the start of their romance they try to hide it. Once Dylan catches them everything blows up in their faces. Will Alyssa be able to help her dad save the business? Can she help Tristan get out of his slump?



This was every bit as good as the first one, I read it all in one sitting. Alyssa is a great character, she is practical, solid and the kind of person you want to know for real. Tristan is sweet, hot and a rocking book boyfriend. Together they were unstoppable and I was so glad how things worked in the end.

If you are looking for a good romance to pass an afternoon away then look no further!

Super cute book!

The sequel of Bad Boy Bargain is just what I expected, well written, cute boys, lots of baseball, interesting girls and plenty of swoon.

I know basically nothing about baseball. I mean I know the basics, but I have never actually watched an entire game nor do I know anything about the intricacies when it comes to balling.. I know cricket quite well and I know all about loving a sport, being caught up in it, breathing and living the sport.
And that's what Highley did a brilliant job at describing. While I might not quite get all the sporty jargon when it comes to baseball, I felt what it meant. I could relate to the two MCs love for it, the feeling of the players in a game. Which is my favorite part about the book. I get why people love baseball, Tristan's worries and problems. Same for Alyssa.

Highley shines in descriptions of feelings and situations. Beautifully written.

The character building is really well done for the MC's. Same goes for the close friends.
However not all of the support cast feels rounded and finished. I am not that impressed with the meanie for example and even the parents felt at times a bit unfinished.

The plot is sweet. Though it's very insta. I didn't mind it that much, except for the sudden soulmate discussion- I just thought woah they are what? 16 or 17?! and met.. a few weeks ago? take a deep breath and take it slow peps...

There was a fair amount of angst, which I actually really loved. And Highley hinted a few issues, that were actually quite interesting. But I felt all of it was resolved really fast, which kinda seemed to take away from the seriousness of the issues.

The end is swoony and perfect and left me totally smiling. The perfect end to a enjoyable cute & fluffy.

A must read for lovers of the genre.
I can't wait for the next installment!!

Narrated in third person, Swinging at Love, volume 2 of the series, tells the story of Tristan and Alyssa, two students full of dreams that are going through a complicated phase in life.
He is a dedicated baseball player who is going through a emotional block and can not bounce the balls coming at him, which is making him worried and stressed.
She is a ballerina who helps her father care for the Swing Away gym, a place to practice baseball , but with the arrival of a more modern gym, her father is finding very difficult to keep his place open, which is making her worried and stressed.
Thanks to the sport, they meet each other , the attraction is immediate, especially because Alyssa has already been a softball player, and they begin to realize how essential they are for each other lifes life .
Alyssa is very entertaining and spirited and Tristan soon enchants with the way of the girl that even insecure with him, realizes how the guy is a true enchanted prince. Awnt .... I want him for myself ....
The book is very cute, showing how important is the presence and support of the family for the young man besides being a cute love story.
With a light and funny writing and using the baseball dialect, Kendra C. Highley made me know and experience this sport that has always been an unkonwn for me. I had o truely good time in too many scenes that describe the game and I came to the end knowing the difference between Ball and Strike hahahahahahaha ..... An evolution!
Great was too the constant presence of their friends, bringing dynamics to the plot. I arrived at the end, happy and smiling and I wanting more.
A great read for teens and also a great hangover cure for adults..
5/5 stars

I loved book one of this series, and couldn't wait to jump into this.

Alyssa Kaplan loves working at her family's business. They have indoor batting cages, but the business isn't doing well thanks to the new sports complex in town. Then one day one of the players on the high school team comes in and everything changes.

Tristan Murrell has been having a horrible time hitting. He's too wrapped up in his head and can't seem to hit. He doesn't want the team to know how bad he's struggling, so he goes to the small batting cages that the team doesn't usually use. It's there he meets Alyssa, and once he does, he can't stop thinking about her.

Alyssa is able to help Tristan with batting, having played softball in the past. She can't help but notice how attractive he is, but she thinks she's average - nothing special. Once they realize they have feelings for each other, a lot happens. A lot you don't want to miss.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was fast paced and sucked me in from the very start. Tristan was a great character, and I loved how Alyssa fit with him. Together, they were perfect. I also enjoyed how the main characters from book one also played a part in it. All-in-all, a great read.

My Review





First sentence....


"There's a sound that can only be made by an aluminum bat striking a baseball. TING!"

I knew I was going to like this book by that first sentence. I am a tomboy at heart and love sports, so right away I knew that Alyssa and I were besties. That being said, I dove into this with big hopes. Alyssa's character was good and I loved her desire to work hard and help her father's batting cages work. She didn't even mind getting dirty messing with tools.... ehemmm.... yup, that is me! A girl after my own heart.

Tristan was a great character as well. A baseball player with skill, but was having a bit of a slump. The way Tristan and Alyssa meet was cute and made the story what it is. I didn't really appreciate the "let's date and not tell our friends" type of deal for it only to last like 2 days. But other than that I enjoyed the story and the characters. There were some definite swoony kisses and teenage angst mixed in for the win! What girl, no matter what her age, doesn't like some shirtless jocks and some testosterone filled sports? I sure do!! and this one was good, clean and a quick , fun read.