All Lined Up: A Rusk University Novel (Rusk University, 1) Paperback – May 13, 2014

Ok, I'll admit it. I have been putting off writing this review forever because I know no words can do this book justice. If it were up to me, I would just gush endlessly about how much I love-love-loved everything about this book and the story and the characters in lieu of a review. My review will probably be more of a ramble than anything resembling a coherent review, so stick with me while I go total fangirl on you. "In Texas, two things are cherished above all else – football and gossip. My life has always been ruled by both."I was absolutely thrilled to learn that one of my favorite new adult authors was writing a series about football, Texas and love. Because, does it really get any better than that? I'm a total football addict. On Saturdays during football season, you can expect to find me camped out on the couch from noon until at least 10 PM watching game after game after game. I watch Sportscenter at the gym. I follow a TON of my alma mater's players (and former players) on Twitter. I watch the draft. Friday Night Lights will always be one of my all-time favorite shows. Yes, my name is Kim and I am a football addict. So, of course I was ecstatic to find out about this series, especially once I realized Cora's a coach's daughter and would bring that perspective to the book, making it even more real. “I don't know that dancing fixes anything. I don't feel magically happy because of it. My problems don't disappear when the music ends. But I understand life better when I dance, and understanding is half the fight of surviving.”"You really want to have a conversation about what's not healthy?" She leans on the high-top table next to me and mimics, "Oh, Stella, he's so sweet and so nice. And I think I really like him. OH... JK HE PLAYS FOOTBALL. HE'S DEAD TO ME."If you asked me what I loved most about All Lined Up, I wouldn't even begin to be able to narrow it to one thing. If I had to, however, I would say it was the characters. They feel more like friends than characters in a book. They were all just so realistic and multi-faceted and amazing. I would totally be friends with them in real life. The ladies of Rusk University are strong and sassy and among some of my favorite in NA lit. First off, you have Dallas, the dancer, reader, no-time-for-other-people's-bulls***, coach's daughter who hates football. I connected with Dallas. Hard. Minus that whole football-hating thing however, but even that made sense to me. I could understand her mixed feelings about football and the players. It would be expected. Her best friend Stella was all kinds of awesome. She's the life of the party, constantly trying to get Dallas to break out of her shell and loosen up. She reminded me so much of my best friend and roommate – except for the obvious differences like her being a tiny Asian pixie and him being a 6'3" gay man. Other than that, they could be the same person. "I'm kidding, little lioness. I'm not looking to hook up with you. I just find your honest refreshing. That makes you better company than every person I've run across tonight."The guys of Rusk U are nothing to sneeze at either. Of course, Carson is my favorite. I fully suspect I'll change favorites at least twice as I read the rest of the series, but Carson will always have a place in my heart. The best part about him? He wasn't a stereotypical football player! Yay! Whether this is because he's second string or because he worked hard to get where he was, or just because he was a down home country boy who was raised right, I don't know. But he was unlike the other football player characters I've read in other books and I loved it. He was sweet (and hella sexy) and driven. He had goals and took nothing for granted. Ryan is probably my second favorite male in the story. The team manager who is smart, funny and cute. He's a charmer and he's right up my alley. Levi, the starting QB and Dallas's DB (douchebag not defensive back) ex, is someone who will have to work pretty hard to redeem himself in my eyes, but if he doesn't, I'm ok with that. The other bad boy of RU, Silas, has me all kinds of curious. I have a wee bit of a crush on him and I can't wait for his book. "And I... I'm still stuck. In my father's shadow. In Texas. In this lame state school with a joke of a dance program. And now I'm stuck at my first frat party with the ex who broke my heart. Yay college."In All Lined Up, Dallas is away at college, trying to make a name for herself and find herself. It's not easy when you live in the shadow of a football coach father. While she would be beyond content to stay home and read or watch a movie, her friend Stella insists on dragging her out to a party. It's at that party she not only runs into her ex, but is hit on by a total player and ultimately winds up meeting Carson in an attempt to escape from the other two. They forge a quick connection without really knowing much about the other. Carson is trying to stay focused, which of course means staying away from girls, but something about Dallas makes him rethink that. Dallas learns he's a football player and has mixed feelings because she swore she'd never date another football player, but there's something special about him that makes her want to give him a chance. What happens between them? Well, you'll just have to read and find out."My voice is little more than a growl as I say, "You cannot do things like that, Daredevil, and expect me not to pull you onto my lap and kiss you senseless.""I can't walk away from you because I don't want to. There are a thousand things I want and need to do, but you trump all of them. You drive me to distraction, and all I want to do is get lost in you. All I want to do is make you lose it, too."I think it could go without saying that I absolutely loved Dallas and Carson together, but there, I said it anyhow. They made a fantastic pair. They had a TON of chemistry and it went beyond just the physical stuff. If you're looking for really steamy scenes, you won't find an abundance of them in this book. The ones that are there do have a fair bit of heat though. There was no doubt to me that what Dallas and Carson was real and worth fighting for, if both of them could get out of their heads long enough to give in and let it happen. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a book that's overly dramatic or riddled with angst. Thank goodness. I don't think my heart could have taken it. It still gave me a huge case of the feels though. "I loved the way one person could start a chant, and soon a stadium of thousands had picked it up and were screaming in unison. I loved that kids who didn't give a crap about school were suddenly belting the school song from the top of their lungs. I loved those tense moments before the start of a play when everyone is wishing and hoping exactly the same thing, and the whole stadium holds its breath."The world-building in All Lined Up was fantastic. I felt like I was back at college, especially during the football game and party scenes. I was completely into the world of Rusk and nearly ready to trade my old gold and blue Mountaineers gear for maroon and gray. It didn't feel like I was reading about these characters and this fictional university. It felt like I was living it, or at the very least, watching it on a big screen. "God, do they make WD-40 for flirting? Because I am rusty."All Lined Up has the humor and heart I've come to expect from Cora. There were quite a few lines that made me literally laugh out loud and even more that left me grinning. There are some phrases I have decided I need to incorporate into my daily life ("dear, sweet Jesus riding a unicorn" anyone?). I know this story is personal and special to Cora and her passion for it came through in every word. Make sure you read the "behind the book" portion after you've finished the story. I think it will give you an even deeper appreciation for how she put herself out there with this book and that glimpse into her background made the book that much more meaningful to me. "No easy days."I seriously can't recommend this book highly enough. There's a little something for everyone in All Lined Up. With characters I adored, great friendships and sweet and sexy romance, all built around a sport I love in a fictional setting that felt beyond real, it was the total package for me. I will reread this one for years to come, particularly during my least favorite months of the year (you know, the off season) when I'm desperately looking for anything to hold me over until football is back. To say I can't wait for the next book in the series would be a HUGEmungous understatement. "Go Red. Fight Red. Bleed Red."I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. Quotes come from the review copy and may differ from the final version.

Oh. My. GOSH! I’m on FIRE from this book! The feels, the feels, the FEELS! I need a drink. Cora Carmack, you ROCK my world! I finished this book in less than FIVE HOURS! It was THAT fantastic, THAT enthralling, THAT hot!I haven’t even finished the Losing It series, but I knew that I needed to read this book as SOON as it came out. Because I’ve heard NOTHING but great things!ALU is a sports-centered story, which drew me in immediately. I am a football fan. A HUGE one. I grew up with football because my mother grew up with three brothers, who loved football. So guess what she passed down to me. A love for Texas teams – college and professional. So right away, I am in LOVE with Dallas Cole (her name and her knowledge of the game). Dallas’ father is a football coach who, because he’s a single father with a teenage daughter, instilled ALL he knew about the sport into her head. She, unwilling, develops a love/hate relationship with the sport because she always felt second to football in her father’s eyes. Dallas, an aspiring dancer, is strong-willed, honest, beautiful, smart, and just all-around fascinating. I liked her from page one.Then we have Carson McClain, a walk-on football player (or that’s what he aims to be once he gets Coach Cole to notice him), with extremely humble beginnings. Cole is the perfect depiction of how I wish my encounters with college athletes were. He’s sweet, flirtatious, humble, loyal, protective, and just a really decent guy. From the moment, Cora introduced him to me, I fell. Hard. I immediately trusted him to do right by Dallas, the girl that I already began to care about.The meet-cute (that’s a film/tv term, but it’s definitely appropriate in this case) was perfect. Carson’s instant flirting game was on. Dallas tried to fight, but was failed miserably. I just found myself wanting them to have all good things in life right away. But both characters had so much to deal with. For Dallas, a controlling father coupled with her own mental prison (insecurities, fear, etc.) and for Carson, his goal was getting a position on the Rusk University football team as well as a scholarship. As a walk-on, that’s really hard to do, so it required a lot of focus. They both struggled to balance their mutual attraction with their personal goals. Not to mention, that Dallas’ aversion to all things football put up another wall of protection against what Carson represented for her.Carmack does a phenomenal job of painting the picture of what it’s like to be a coach’s daughter. The responsibility, burden, expectation that it comes with. Watching Dallas struggle was hard, but it was executed so well. It was honest, it was believable. It was just real. I felt for Dallas. She was in a lot of personal pain.Cora’s depiction of Carson as a walk-on football “practicer” was great as well. You witnessed all of the blood and sweat that went into being noticed by your coach. Carson didn’t get accepted to Rusk on a full scholarship. He had to earn his. And he knew it and worked hard for it.Cora also shows what happens when those worlds collide. When the desires of the heart overpower the need to protect it.The character development of Dallas and Carson was done so seamlessly. There was never a time where I felt something more could have been done with these two characters. And the supporting characters, from Stella to Ryan to Levi to Silas to the delicious Coach Cole (yes, I LOVED him), were perfect. How they interacted with Dallas and Carson, how they aided in their development — it was so fluid and natural.The emotional and/or intimate scenes between our two lead characters were absolutely feels-worthy. I felt so much. They were written in such a way that you couldn’t help but be a little warm after reading them. Cora has a way a writing just enough to keep you wanting more. And there’s satisfaction in that. I was rooting for these two before I even know I was. It was obvious how attracted they were to one another, to us as readers, more than anything.Two of my favorite themes of this book are: forgiveness and healing. Witnessing the forgiveness of friends and family, while seeing the healing of new and old relationships. It’s a very well-rounded story. There’s so much more than what’s presented to you at face value. Dallas had some realizations to reach, as did Carson. And it was a beautiful gift waiting to be unwrapped.I loved it all. I couldn’t stop smiling. I couldn’t stop laughing. There were some zingers throughout the book that I want tattooed on my body! As well as some very perfect quotes that hit me personally.“Oh s***. S*** taking a s*** on a s***!”“Because sometimes in life, you just have to stand there and do nothing. Overwhelmed by all the versions of ourselves that exist in our minds — who we want to be, who we should be, who we’re not, and who we are — it’s a jungle that can ensnare your feet and confuse your eyes. But sometimes if you stand still, all those things will snap back into place like a rubber band. And if you can get past the sting, you can keep moving, nor quite whole, but held together for a moment.”I could honestly go on and on about this book. There’s no stopping me. But it would get repetitive.Basically, if you want sports, love, family, friendship, humor, and an all-around fun time. This is the book for you!Well done, Cora Carmack. Well done.

I’d been wanting to read All Lined Up since it was first released and eventually managed to snag it a couple of months ago on kindle really cheap – I’m sure it was like 59p – so you know I couldn’t say no to that. But it was a very well spent 59p because All Lined Up was just as good as I was hoping it would be.Dallas Cole has grown up around nothing but football. Her father coach football and her ex-boyfriend is a quarterback but for Dallas, she hates the sport because she’s always comes second to it. Moving to Rusk University is supposed to be her way out but when her father takes a new coaching job and her ex-boyfriend gets a scholarship there, football seems to be following her everywhere. So when she meets Carson McClain – someone she has an instant connection to – she’s devastated when she finds out he plays football too but can’t deny the attraction between them.Carson McClain needs to become Rusk University’s staring line up to get the scholarship he needs to continue school. But when Dallas Cole comes into his life he is determined to not get distracted and more importantly finding out that she’s the new coach’s daughter should turn him away but it doesn’t. No matter what Dallas has Carson’s full attention and soon these two discover what it’s like to have something else to focus on.It’s been a while since I’ve read a new adult story because I find I have to be in the right mood for a new adult story but Cora Carmack did a great job with All Lined Up. I find myself hoping I can get around to reading All Broke Down sometime soon.I really enjoyed both Dallas and Carson and the fact that it’s told in a dual narrative is a bonus to. I liked Dallas, I loved that she was head strong and determined. But I think I liked Carson more. What surprised me was he’s not your typical football player. He doesn’t play around with girls. He’s not a player. He’s quiet and dedicated. And most of all he’s honest. He surprised me. I was expecting another bad boy that reforms because of the girl but Carson really isn’t that. He’s already a good guy and that was totally unexpected.In all, All Lined Up is a good and easy read and one that makes you invest in the characters. I can’t wait to read more from Cora Carmack.

I had only ever read one of Cora's books before reading this one but I enjoyed it so much that every book she brings out I try and get my grubby hands on it and this one was no different. I'm glad I did get this book as I loved it...I do feel as though the cover is a little bit cheesy but I can imagine the couple on the front cover is Carson and Dallas. I do like the font used for the title as it reminds me sport which is heavily involved in this story.I can't believe I forgot to do a review for this book (but in my defence I thought I already had) and that it took me so long to read it as there was nothing wrong with this book and as a matter of fact I loved it. From the very beginning I felt strongly invested in the story as I was completely hooked and just wanted everything to turn out the way I felt like it needed to end. Even though there was an instant attraction between the two main characters it still felt like it was longer before they felt anything more than lust for one another even if it wasn't as long as what I had initially thought. The chemistry between these two characters definitely felt like it jumped out of the pages even when they wouldn't admit to their feelings I felt like us the reader knew better. For some strange reason I love books that are sport related as I can't stand to watch most sports but it doesn't seem to matter when reading about the sports. I think the reason why I love the sports related books is because I feel like I can feel their passion in what they want to do and it adds another dimension to the book. All Lined Up isn't just about sport and romance but also about the relationship between father and daughter as well as pressure you get from family and team mates. What I really enjoyed about this book is that it made me laugh out loud but there was also some really heartbreaking parts as well which sure kept me on my toes. I loved the ending as it felt like a lot of things was cleared up but not everything was perfect which makes me want to see if we find out more about hose in the up and coming books even if they are from different characters perspectives I'm sure we will still see more from Carson or least hear about him.I loved the two main characters as well as some of the side characters but there was a couple that I couldn't warm up to main one being Levi not sure I even want him to get his own book. I loved Dallas's character as even though on the outside she seems fine but the more we find out about here everything is far from fine with her making her a more real character. Carson I absolutely adored he was so sweet as I am used to the male characters in New Adult books being the bad guy but he is far from a bad boy but I love him all the same. There was a couple of characters that I wasn't too sure about but then by the end they really grew on me which I'm pleased about as one of those characters was Silas and his book is next!Overall another hit from Cora Carmack and now I need to read some more of her books and I hope that is sooner rather than later.

I pre-ordered this book, as soon as I could. I've become a fan of Cora's new adult novels in the last year. I was introduced to the Losing It series via twitter and I read the three novels in quick succession, so it was a no brainer that I would be reading this. I was also told by a friend that the male MC Carson was her favourite of Cora's so far so it was also a challenge to see if he could out do Jackson Hunt from Finding It!The story is about Dallas Cole and Carson McClain. The two meet at Rusk University where to begin with they both know very little about each other. Dallas is hampered by her father's reputation as football coach and is trying to get out from under his strict rules about how she can live her life and Carson is from a family not swimming in cash, trying to prove his skill on the football field is worthy of a scholarship to see him achieve his dream.The characters have this instant connection when they first meet, not just a chemistry but on a deeper level too, born out of common personality traits. I liked that neither character knew much about the other allowing them to form a relationship and bond that wasn't based on preconceptions made by either of them. I got swept up in their first meeting right along side them and enjoyed that palpable chemistry that was set there and then.Throughout the story you get a feel for both characters and their feelings about each other, and their goals and dreams for their time at university, through the dual narration. I love a story that has a dual POV, especially when you get one side of the story form the male lead character because it almost feels sneaky getting to see what he's thinking. It worked well in the story because both characters have a lot more going on than meets the eye, and than what they both reveal to each other in the beginning of the story - so you get to know them both as individuals too.Although both characters do take part in some of the stereotypical college things like frat parties and football parades Cora embraces some of the deeper and not always evident issues that college students face, high expectations and insecurity. It's not written in a patronising or judgemental manner but more like someone who has already been there and been through it all. I think that facing the reality of being a student is what New Adult is about, you're finding yourself and your way in the world, and it won't always be perfect or work out first time but there's almost always someone who has been in your shoes too.The relationship between Dallas and Carson quickly becomes romantic in the face of their undeniable chemistry but it remains more of a romantic relationship than a physical relationship throughout the story until nearer the end. I loved that Carson totally went against all of the footballer stereotypes and looked out for Dallas and her feelings.New adult novels are something that I've just been introduced to in the last year and I love them, probably mostly because it's my age range. It you enjoy new adult and haven't read any of Cora's novels before you should definitely give the all a go!

I recently finished Friday Night Lights and wanted something to help to cure my FNL hangover. This was the best antidote. The books is cute, sexy and funny. Topped off with the great suspense of college football. All Lined Up is everything I wanted to read about and more. Carson is cute and a FOOTBALLER! The best combination. Dallas is a dancer, with her dad being the coach of the team. The two meet at a party in a Romeo and Juliet style scene. All Lined Up reminded me of FNL but was completely different yet gave me the same feels. The writing was so passionate and on point when the football team is being played I feel as if I am actually there. I don't know all the rules of the game but I am beginning to learn. As soon as I had finished with this book I couldn't wait to buy the next book in the series. Now to wait patiently for "All Played Out". So freaking excited!

I have to say that I'm not usually one to read romances but after a particularly tough week I decided I needed something light-hearted to make things a little better and this book certainly did that! This book was a steal when I got it and I wasn't let down. Following Dallas through her journey as Rusk is one experience I couldn't put down. Putting things together with her football-coach father and putting her own issues to bed while meeting and falling for the hottest guy she has ever seen is hard for Dallas but that's what she strives to do throughout this novel. As Carson comes into her life she finds it harder and harder to say no despite all of her perceptions but it seems that it was just right.