i adored the first book in this series, the bad boy bargain, so i was thrilled to hear that there would be a second book set in this same world. we got to catch up with kyle and faith, who are still going strong but we get to know some pretty amazing new characters in tristan and alyssa.

i hope there is a third, a fourth, a fifth--honestly, however many stories highley has set for the suttonville sentinels i promise to read them. swinging at love brings tristan murrell, center fielder and clean-up batter for the sentinels, into focus. the sentinels have reached the state championships and just when tristan needs to hit every baseball thrown his way, he's hit a slump instead.

alyssa kaplan has all sorts of problems. she's training for a ballet camp that she's not sure she can afford to go to given that her father's business is on the verge of closing. her father owns the swing away batting cages, but a new sports complex has opened and is decimating their business while the state inspector has demanded they invest in upgrading their facilities in order to remain open. the swing away is alyssa's home away from home, even if she gave up on her softball career for ballet it doesn't mean that she doesn't love the game.

so when tristan shows up at the swing away to try to work out his batting problems he doesn't expect to encounter anyone from high school. in fact, he was counting on not encountering anyone from high school. except alyssa can see that there is something wrong with his swing, and her softball experience and years of watching others swing make her the perfect person to diagnose his problem. it's not his balance. it's not his mechanics. tristan can't stop thinking. he needs to get out of his head and let his body do its thing. so alyssa kisses him. partly to get his mind off everything going wrong from him in that moment. but also because he's cute and funny and she couldn't resist surprising him.

it's a good kiss. when he tries to swing again, he connects with the ball. at first, he thinks it's a fluke, but when he finds himself spending more time at the swing away in order to be closer to her and finding that his batting is working, he knows that being around alyssa is the key to sorting out his problems. alyssa loves being with him too. he takes her mind off her family problems, never minimizing them or dismissing them, just by listening and being supportive.

i think one of my favorite things about tristan and alyssa's relationship is that there is never any doubt that they are absolutely crazy about each other. they connect so beautifully in ways that are just so sweet and swoonworthy. it was such a delight to read. that isn't to say that the course of their love runs smooth, they realize too late that their best friends have fallen for them in a sort of crush mix-up, which would be fine except the state baseball playoffs and ballet camp auditions are coming up and they don't want to spook their friends. they try to keep their relationship on the down-low, but neither of them enjoys sneaking around and they hate lying to their friends. it all blows up anyway and for a while, they try to stay apart but that makes no one feel better. there's a misunderstanding caused by one of tristan's teammates that hits the heart of alyssa's insecurities, but tristan is eventually able to smooth it over.

throughout the all those tough moments, you see how much happier, stronger, better together, than they are apart. and it's just a delight to read. i felt happier, stronger, better after reading. there's something so uplifting about young adult romance--i think it's that there is so much room for possibility.

This was a really cute, fast read. I liked the story, and the characters were great but everything seemed even more rushed than the first book. I wish it was a little slower, I wish there was more build-up to the romance, the way it did in book one of the series.

Swinging At Love (Suttonville Sentinels #2)
Kendra C. Highley
Book Review: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ❣
This is the second book in the Suttonville Sentinels series. It can be read as a standalone. However, I would recommend you read book one first because I loved it (but it's not essential). The characters; Kyle and Faith from book one (The Bad Boy Bargain) feature in this story.

The series is about Baseball players meeting their perfect ballerinas. It's set in high school, and it is intended for the sweet 16 audiences (U.K.). There is high school drama which the older audience may find a little immature.

Tristan is an Outfielder and is afraid he is losing his touch. He needs to work on the problem and hit some balls pronto. Tristan goes to Swing Away hoping to find a secluded place to practice. What he finds is the answer to his problem. He meets the girl of his dreams, but after their first date, he realises he might not be the only one who has noticed her. Que high school drama. This story is a one man love story no love triangle.

Alyssa has her own problems, and Tristan is the perfect solution.

I don't want to give too much away, so that's as much as I'm saying.

4.5 stars out of 5. This series is full of potential, and I look forward to reading the next one.

*Thanks to Netgalley and the author for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review*

ebook £2.22 or £12.99 Paperback
Expected publication: March 13th, 2017

The second book of the "Suttonville Sentinels" series, SWINGING AT LOVE, by Kendra C. Highly is a definite home run. Readers will fall in love with the wonderful main characters, Alyssa and Tristan. Perfect blend of high school drama; romance; following your heart; family dynamics; and baseball action. Part of a series but can be read as a standalone. Definitely recommend!

Loved, loved, loved it! Alyssa and Tristan are perfect for each other. Alyssa is awesome - she's strong, yet vulnerable, sassy yet sweet. Tristan is swoon-worthy with his hella-hot looks and thoughtfulness. This story has all the feels. I read it in a day - couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read more from this author.

More baseball players! That is precisely what passes through your mind when you finished reading Kyle and Faith's story. Hopping right into this book, you're hooked. There is absolutely no reason for anyone to not like this book. It's a quick, fun read. I love Tristan and Alyssa. The chemistry between them is just . . . Aaah! Love it! And I am big on sweet sports romance. I will read about any type of sports player, but baseball?! Baseball is my deal. Always has been. Mix a dancer into the mix. I don't know how to dance that well, so when a character dances in a book, I imagine it is me. I totally imagined that while reading.

Kendra C. Highley is one of my top favorite authors. The first book I read from her was Finding Perfect, and that book is forever one of my top favorites. And then there was Defying Gravity that follow a supporting character from Finding Perfect and I knew I would love anything this author writes. And it is the completely truth. Loved The Bad Boy Bargain, and now I love this book. All we need now is for Kendra to write another surprise. Because I was totally surprised when this series appeared.

Tristan is one of his school's best baseball batsmen but he's having a slump. For some reason he has lost his mojo and nothing he can do makes it better. His best friend Dylan is the pitcher and keeps giving him pep talks but nothing seems to help.

Alyssa's family owns and runs Swing Away, a small local business with eight run down batting cages, which is being squeezed out by a new multi-sport arena called Top Sports which has batting cages, a bar, bowling lanes etc. She and her best friend Lauren are trying out Dallas Ballet Conservatory and practicing every moment they get at Madame Schuler's with their other friend Faith (the lead in The Bad Boy Bargain).

Tristan decides to work on his swing in peace and chooses to avoid Top Sports where the rest of the team hang out, instead going to Swing Away where he meets Alyssa who gives him some pointers about his game. Alyssa and Tristan are instantly attracted to each other but unbeknownst to them Dylan is also attracted to Alyssa and Lauren is attracted to Tristan - cue a quartet of confusion!

This was a really cute, fun romance featuring baseball. I know nothing about baseball, so lots of it went over my head, but it seemed quite detailed. Tristan and Alyssa are all round great characters, hard working, respectful, loyal and family-orientated. I also thought the love quadrangle was well-handled and had a slight twist.

Thoroughly recommended, be aware this is a teen imprint so Alyssa and Tristan are 17-ish, the romance is PG but very sweet and you don't need to know much about baseball to enjoy.