#Awestruck (2019)

About the Book

Book: #Awestruck

Series: #Lovestruck #3

Author: Sariah Wilson

Genre: Contemporary Romance — Clean, but STEAMY!

Release Date: January 8, 2019

A sweet all-American story of love and revenge.

Ambitious intern Ashton Bailey is about to get closer to her dream of being a sports announcer. All she has to do is prove that too-perfect-to-be-true NFL quarterback Evan Dawson isn’t quite as wholesome as his contract requires. It’s also the perfect opportunity to get delicious payback on the boy who broke her teenage heart. At least that’s her plan. But she forgot just how easy it is to crush on the irresistible charmer. #OhNoNotAgain.

Evan has a knack for getting through the opposing team’s defenses, and he won’t let this tall, redheaded knockout be the exception. He’s determined to make things right between them and earn back Ashton’s trust—and maybe her heart, too.

Then the press mistakenly announces their engagement, and Ashton and Evan find themselves going along with the lie. Now the whole world is watching as Ashton flirts with attraction and disaster. But while revenge is sweet, it just might come at the cost of something sweeter still.

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My Thoughts

Well, I’ve done it. I’ve gotten to the end of the #Lovestruck series. I found a lot to love about this series, but I think my favorite thing is how much it made me love reading again. I was in a really BIG funk before I found Sariah Wilson’s novels and now, after voraciously reading through The Seat Filler and the #Lovestruck series, I feel excited once again to get lost in more fictional worlds. So, Sariah Wilson, if you are reading this review, “Thank you!” I truly hate when I get in those reading funks. They make me so sad.

But I digress. Let’s get to the review!

As far as #Awestruck goes, I really enjoyed my time with Ashton and Evan. I found the storyline highly engaging. Yes, this was another novel I stayed up well past my bedtime to read. I also loved the characters. They are all well crafted, very relatable, and super endearing, especially Ashton’s niece and nephew. Sariah Wilson has a gift for writing children. Her young characters are always so precious and hilarious. I did struggle a little with Ashton towards the end of the story because her immaturity is SUPER frustrating, but she works through everything and grows to be a well-rounded young woman so I’ll forgive her for making me want to flick her in the forehead a few times. LOL! #Awestruck is another steamy romance — the chemistry between Ashton and Evan is seriously undeniable. I will say, though, that compared to the first two books in the series, this story is way more tame in the steam department. For the first half of the book Ashton is seeking revenge against Evan and really appears to hate his guts. Kind of dampens the chemistry a bit. But once she gets out of her own way, fiery sparks really fly between Ashton and Evan, and it’s pretty great.

The best part of #Awestruck is Evan. He is a one-of-a-kind hero, and I’m not just saying that cause it sounds good in a review. He really is unique. “What makes him so unique?” you ask. Well, it’s his strength. I don’t mean physical strength, although he is a very strong man. He’s a quarterback for crying out loud, the guy has to be strong. But that’s not the kind of strength I’m talking about. I’m talking about his strong moral code. When Evan was young he promised someone close to him that he would remain a virgin until his wedding night, and he has kept that promise ever since. There are several things I like about the chaste element in this story, but I especially love that it is a male character making this choice. That, in my personal reading experience, is something left to most Christian fiction characters or female clean-romance characters. I’ve never really read a contemporary romance novel where the man chooses to be chaste and sticks to it. It is cool to see a male character who illustrates a deep sense of self-control and respect for himself and for others. I’m not going to lie, it is pretty sexy. Another characteristic I appreciate about Evan is his ability to recognize when he is being a control freak and when he needs to loosen up a bit. As a control freak, myself, I can personally attest that loosening up and allowing others to have some control over a situation is not an easy thing to do. I really like how Evan is able to recognize when he’s going down his control-issues path, how he physically stops himself in the moment, and how he takes responsibility for going there and then apologizes to the one he is with for trying to be the boss. That level of self-awareness and self-control is impressive.

There is so much more I could say about #Awestruck as it’s a really fun and engaging read, but I think I will end here. #Awestruck is a Contemporary Romance I highly recommend. If you are in the mood for a well-written, super sweet romance that will keep you turning pages well into the night, then #Awestruck is the book for you!

Note to Christian-Fiction readers: This book is STEAMY. There is no sex but the kisses are amazing and intense. If intense kissing is a deal breaker for you, I would recommend not reading this book. It’s also not a Christian story, just to be clear.

I borrowed a copy of this novel in eBook form through my Kindle Unlimited subscription on June 19, 2021, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.