Swinging at Love

Suttonville Sentinels, #2

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Pub Date 13 Mar 2017 | Archive Date 09 Nov 2022

Description

"Kendra C. Highley is at the top of my list for insta-buy, must-read, and I-need-that-book-now authors!" —Moriah Chavis, A Leisure Moment

Outfielder Tristan Murrell has a problem. As the number two slugger for the Suttonville Sentinels, his team is counting on him to make their very first run at the state championship. But he has a secret—his swing has totally deserted him. Lately, he can’t hit anything. He needs to fix the issue and fast…but how?

Ballerina Alyssa Kaplan has a problem, too. The gleaming new sports complex in town has left her family’s batting cage business on the verge of going under. Nailing her audition for a prestigious dance company is everything, but there’s no way she’s letting some shiny, big-box company destroy her family’s livelihood.

Tristan needs a miracle. So does Alyssa. And maybe, just maybe, Tristan’s secret weapon might be the girl of his dreams...

Disclaimer: This book contains hot, shirtless baseball players, kisses that bring a ballerina to her knees, and a lot of baseball smack-talk.

Each book in the Suttonville Sentinels series is STANDALONE:
* The Bad Boy Bargain
* Swinging at Love
* The Perfectly Imperfect Match

"Kendra C. Highley is at the top of my list for insta-buy, must-read, and I-need-that-book-now authors!" —Moriah Chavis, A Leisure Moment

Outfielder Tristan Murrell has a problem. As the number two...


Advance Praise

Praise for The Bad Boy Bargain (Suttonville Sentinels, #1):

5 stars: "The Bad Boy Bargain is everything you'd want in a book: an intriguing story, lovable characters, a swoon-worthy guy, some humor, and a whole lot of heart." --Erin Fletcher, author of All Laced Up

5 stars: "Kendra C. Highley's writing is vivid and imaginative. I especially loved the way she describes movement, it makes her story come to life really well." --Suze, With Love For Books

5 stars: "This sweet adorable romance ticked all the boxes for me. It was a quick, entertaining read that left me with so many good feels. I'll definitely be checking out more of this author's work in the future." --Siobhan Davis, My YA & NA Obsession

5 stars: "This was absolutely adorable. It was perfect for a Valentine read....

Praise for The Bad Boy Bargain (Suttonville Sentinels, #1):

5 stars: "The Bad Boy Bargain is everything you'd want in a book: an intriguing story, lovable characters, a swoon-worthy guy, some humor...


Available Editions

EDITION Ebook
ISBN 9781633759299
PRICE $2.97 (USD)

Available on NetGalley

Send to Kindle (EPUB)

Average rating from 82 members


Featured Reviews

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.

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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

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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!

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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.

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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.

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Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review

Oh dear, here we go again. As if Kyle and Faith were not enough in the first book the second one comes out. I actually had no idea this was going to be a series. I remember reading about Tristan in the first book and oh wow if I thought I loved him in the first book, this one is entirely on a different level.

Alyssa, a ballerina who loves to dance is practicing for the summer camp audition with Lauren (do you remember these two? It actually took me a while to notice that I read the first book and loved it! This series reminds me of The Fine Art of Pretending, loved that book too). Alyssa is caring, confident and knows a lot about baseball and pitching. I guess she would since she used to be a pitcher for the softball team but she leaves it as she loves dancing more. Enters Tristan, who is also really sweet and faces a big problem as he can't seem to hit the ball and his team are counting on him. He doesn't know what the problem is, he comes to Swing Away to practice and have some privacy from the team and here meets the alluring Alyssa.

Alyssa, who is a bit of a expert offers to help him with his troubles. As they slowly start to spend more time with each other, they become increasingly fond with one another. Although the relationship begins with rocky start thanks to Dylan and Lauren but its all in good in the end.

I really loved how they are both willing to go to extreme lengths to help one another, Alyssa helps Tristan and Tristan helps Alyssa save Swing Away, but will they succeed?

OMG! Kyle and Faith are really LOVED up in this book, I wanted more Kyle and Faith. I am hoping they end up married and have adorable babies. You can also see a big change in Kyle thanks to Faith and vice versa.

I am beginning to love the authors writing, it makes me fall in love with the characters all over again. I love how everything seems to just flow and nothing is ever easy for the characters even when I wish they were. There are twists and turns and winning each other back. I love it when the guy has to work for winning his girl back it makes it so much joy reading it. Loved Kyle and Tristan *swoons*.

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I received a copy of this book from entangled teen through netgalley.

Swinging at Love was such a fun book. I would have read it faster, but I wasn't home much the past couple days. I think most readers will finish it in one or two sittings. I'm starting to love the sports romance books some of the Entangled Teen authors have been putting out. I really loved Alyssa and her strength. Every character was likeable and I hope there are other books that will follow.

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I had read the first book in this series and was excited to get the invite to read this one. And it was exactly what I wanted to read.

I loved Alyssa and Tristan. She's smart and stands up for herself and it was so much fun watching her put baseball boys in their place. I loved that some of them took her for a stupid girl and she showed them up at baseball. Tristan is sweet and loyal and knows when to back off and not always save the day. The two of them were absolutely delightful.

Yes, there were some miscommunications that drove me mad, but again, I was so wrapped up in what was happening, it was easy to overlook. I loved the ending and the epilogue and of course the fact that Faith and Kyle were in the story. I can't wait to see who is next.

**Huge thanks to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**

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Fabulous YA read! I really loved this second book in the Suttonville Sentinels series but is completely stand alone. We do get to see how Kyle and Faith from book 1 are doing. There is lots of baseball stuff in this book but you don't really have to know or even like baseball to appreciate this story. Tristan and Alyssa are a great couple and really bring out the best in each other. I really enjoy the writing style of Ms Highley and how well she develops her characters. I really felt like I knew these two. The story has a nice quick pace to it and is a very easy read. I would definitely recommend this one.

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Basically I really liked this book. It's been a while since I sat down and read a teen romance but this one was pretty cute and about baseball, so really loved that. It was low on the angst and drama and just a lighthearted and hopeful read that had me smiling and thinking about those awkward and shy high school years.

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