Review: Take Me On by Katie McGarry

Take Me On by Katie McGarry

Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.
West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her - fighting for her - is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.
Haley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.

Publishes in US: May 27th 2014 by Harlequin TEEN
Genre: YA contemp
Source: Harlequin Teen via Netgalley
Series? Yes. companion novels. Pushing the Limits #4
My Reviews:
#1 Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
#2 Dare You To 
#3 Crash Into Me

#5 Breaking the Rules Pushing the Limits #5 Release date: December 30, 2014 Yay for more Echo and Noah!

Buy it: Amazon|BAM|Barnes&Nobles|BookDepository|Indie|GooglePlay|iBooks

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    I wanted to read Take Me On because I have adored everything Katie has written and figured this would be no exception. I got this one from netgalley but not compensated besides free book, and doesn't effect how I review this book. 

    In West and Haley's story, we hit the ground running, just as Haley almost does when West nearly hits her with his car. This fated meeting shapes the next parts of their lives, sometimes bringing up bad memories, and getting into pasts that they are trying to escape from. We get a peek at how Rachel is doing, get to see Isaiah by her side, we meet again with Abby too, and it makes me so happy. She is one of my favorite side characters and I am still rooting for her to get her own book so we get to know more of her life instead of the front she puts on. We got to see inside a bit with Rachel, but still I wanted more. Anywho. I love this world within our world that Katie McGarry has written. Her characters have such depth, and they are flawed. They have very real problems that has shaped how they view others, and how they go about life. 

    I remember in Crash Into You, I had a lot of issues with Rachel's brothers, and surprise, West is a main character in this one, and I come to terms with what was going on in that handsome little head of his. He carries so much guilt for how he handled the money and even coming to a new view with her panic attacks, and the pressure they all put on her to keep their mom happy. With her so hurt and injured, he won't go and see her because he is convinced that she hates and blames him as well. 

   West is a fighter, but the heart that is under there really got to me. The relationship with his dad broke my heart and I can see how that sort of shaping will also change how you would relate with your sister. But I adored the way he was with Haley from the beginning. How he respects women even if he shows it in strange ways, and he really did try to help, even when Haley was convinced that he was doing anything but helping when he kept interfering. 

    They had so much chemistry that it lit up the pages and made me sigh. Their very touches effected the other so much. Which was kind of a miracle with how Haley shut herself down after her failure of a last relationship. She is wary of them too because of the naive choices she made that hurt her relationship with her family. Her brother Kaden and her cousin Jax are closest to her, and they lost some respect for her because she lied to protect them with how some things went down. And when West keeps getting thrown into her path, it is hard to admit that she is attracted to him. But they have a deeper connection to and more in common than either could have ever guessed, and some of that in common is things they wouldn't wish on their worst enemy. 

    The ending was perfect for both of them. Not only do we get progression and updates from Isaiah, Rachel and Abby, but we get some closure for West and Haley. They both had a lot to learn about themselves, life and work to do in order to really make sure they are going after their dreams. It took a lot of life's beatings for them to finally see the light and really understand some of the things that others have been trying to pound into their head whether about their actions, their images, their pasts, or about love in general. We get to see that although they had to make hard choices, choices that aren't going to end any time soon, that they have such a hope, love and support from their friends and family. 

    Family in this one was not pretty, but it was a continual theme. Adults screw up big time too, but unfortunately their mistakes also will extend to their families, and sometimes life just sucks and bad things happen. But our responses are what define us. That we still fight, that we are still living and not giving up can give more hope to others that we think. Haley is living in a messed up situation with her family, and they have to learn to stand up to the person putting a roof over their heads, because no matter what good is done, some things just can't be forgiven. West's family always had the money, but their mom was in such a tunnel vision depression from losing a daughter that too often she just didn't see the children still in front of her. But luckily both her and West's father have a lot of growth, and while there is still a long way to go with them, at least they try. 

    These books are so addicting and readable. They deal with real life tough issues, and then throws heart stopping first kisses, chemistry and a huge dash of hope for the characters you come to love, they are irresistaI fly through them and don't want to stop or real life to interfere while I am getting caught up in their lives, their romances, and the story they have to tell. And by the way I am with Tanya and Glass we need more in this series. 6 and #7 need to be about Abby and Ethan! Feel free to tweet with us/me #morepushingthelimts

   

Bottom Line: Another great one in the Push the Limits series getting a look at two new characters whose fates ran into each other.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Are you a more girly gal or a tomboy?