Title: Ramping Up

Author : Zoe Dawson

Series: Mavrick Allstars #1

Release date: June 21st 2016

Rating : 4 Stars

 

Blurb : The world of extreme sports just got a little steamier! Zoe Dawson’s pulse-pounding, emotional series follows the wily young female agents of Mavrick Allstars as they chase their dreams—and meet the chiseled athletes who make them come true.

 

Helena “Lena” Mavrick is ready to prove that she can play with the big boys. Working at her father’s internationally renowned agency, Mavrick Allstars, Lena sets her sights on one of the most coveted phenoms out there: a twenty-four-year-old surfer caught ripping it in a viral skateboarding video. Signing him would be a huge win—and his marketing appeal isn’t the only thing that makes Lena’s heart skip a beat. Trouble is, fraternizing with the client is against company policy.

 

Professional surfer Gunner Smith lives under the absolute control of his coach—until he takes the ultimate risk and starts over as a skateboarder. Gunner swore he wouldn’t give up his freedom again, but Lena’s out-of-the-blue offer makes him think long and hard. She’s smart, she’s bold, she’s got sponsors lined up around the corner—plus she’s drop-dead gorgeous. He’s just not sure his coach will let him get away that easily, because he’s not just Gunner’s coach, he’s also his father.Gunner is used to hiding his tortured past. But when his steamy affair with Lena threatens their future, he must decide whether he will sacrifice everything for the woman who’s stolen his heart.

 

Review : I think “Ramping Up” (Mavrick Allstars #1) by Zoe Dawson was my first Skateboard novel ever. I could relate to the flair of the places it was set to take place – I have seen similar places in California and loved watching the guys and girls doing their tricks with their boards.

 

I think that was what drew me to the book. But I have to admit that I struggled a little with the terminology of skateboarding – but that has nothing to do with the book – yeah well and readers should know … at the end of the book are some explanations hidden for those used phrases.

 

Lena and Gunner were two interesting and well developed / written characters. Gunner slightly better than Lena I felt. I could not always catch Lena’s PoV in certain situations. Sometime she seemed to be totally on the same page like Gunner and sometimes she was so far off with her fancy clothes and money background. She seemed so different from him, but than suddenly she was all in. I could not quite follow her.

 

Gunner on the other hand was easy to get. He was kind of lost and floating but he still never lost the focus on the big picture. The only thing where he felt undetermined was when it came to his father and in parts I think that was understandable considering the background.

 

Basically his whole life was one sacrifice until the day he met Lena…the question is only if he would be able to change that situation and grab the chances that will come his way.

 

Interesting book with unusual characters (at least for me) – its worth the read….

 

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