Moonshot

With having a couple days to think about this story, I’m giving it a full four stars.★★★★I have read my fair share of Alessandra Torre books in the past and I’ve enjoyed each one I’ve picked up, so when this one started making buzz around social media, I knew I was going to read it. It wasn’t a matter of if but when. The cover alone was simply gorgeous and there was enough hype for me to buy the book without really knowing anything about it.So basically I went in blind, only to read the prologue, chapters 1&2 and be left completely confused. I didn’t know which way was up, but before I called it quits, I went on Goodreads and read the synopsis. The synopsis I should of read since latching eyes on Moonshot’s cover. If I was intrigued with the cover, the blurb I read had me reeling… My interest was piqued x 100.So I grabbed my copy of Moonshot and started reading from page one.CONFUSION NO MORE!!! :)So if you’re going to read AT’s newest release, I suggest reading the summary because I guarantee it will have you opening your Amazon account and one-clicking this book.Moonshot was witty, steamy, mysterious and strangely addicting and told in duo POV, well.. more like three POV’s if you count the short excerpts from the New York Times.Let’s talk about all the things I loved about this book. Of course as I’ve mentioned before, the cover & the synopsis had me making heart eyes <3 <3The next thing I really loved was the writing. It was completely different, in my opinion, from Torre’s other work. The chapters were short having just enough info to digest and it didn’t have any unnecessary dialogue. Another thing I enjoyed about this book was 17 year old Tyler. Torre presented her as a mature teen and I loved that. Her curiosity and enthusiasm toward the sport she grew up in had me wanting to turn on my TV in search for a baseball game.Ty Rollins was raised knowing all about The New York Yankees, Of course it helped that her father was apart of the team and spent almost her entire time out in a field. For Ty, the Yankees were known as family, having been with them, traveling right along with the team since the young age of 7 and being their ball girl, she didn’t care that her life wasn’t like any regular 17 year old and she was okay with that. She preferred it that way.“I loved my life, my team. I had spent so much time in pinstripes that it felt like my skin.”Now let’s talk about Chase Stern.Where to start with him… hmm.. I didn’t love him right off the bat ;) but I’m not gonna lie and say I wasn’t intrigued because I was. My first impression of the famous Chase Stern was.. “what a freaking douche. Give me more.” and you’ll know why if you decide to read Moonshot. ;)Another thing I really loved about this book was the sport aspect of the story.Baseball. I’m not much for sports much less be the first to read a book about it. Yeah, when I’m in the mood for a sports romance I’ll look up the latest release but it’s not my go-to genre. But with this one, idk, the way Torre wrote about baseball and weaved it into the story with forbidden love and mystery made me want to actually learn more about it. Yeah, I’ve been to a couple baseball games but none that made me want to claim a team and go die hard fan over. With reading Moonshot, a sports romance, that has to do with the Yankees! Yeah, I’m all in. I want to learn the ins and outs of this particular team.Go, Yankees!!!!Torre did an amazing job with the mystery aspect of this book as well. It kept me at the edge of my seat, coming up with crazy theories as to why the killings were happening and by who. I was hooked 90% of the time. Which leads me to the things that I wasn’t a big fan of. This is my personal preference when it comes to reading that can have me be a bit picky.When I first rated this book, my rating was between a 3-4. The reason my rating was between a 3 & 4 is because I can be a bit picky, as I’ve stated up top. When I read a book that has forbidden love, I want angst. I want to feel the anticipation dripping from it’s pages. I don’t want things to be rushed. So when I can across a scene or two in Moonshot, I was a bit disappointed. When “love” was declared only after a couple weeks of the characters knowing each other kinda had me rolling my eyes. But that’s just me and my pickiness.But here’s the thing, I wouldn’t of minded as much of the “love” being declared so soon if it was done or worded differently. Idk, maybe that’s dumb of me to notice or to even add in my review but it bothered me to the point that I almost DNF’d. And you would think that 17 year old Ty saying she was in love with this baseball player was the problem, but it wasn’t. What bothered me was when Chase declared his love.I sort of expected that one or two scenes to be played out a different way, but whatever. That’s just me.Another thing that made my heart deflate was the big reveal of the mysterious murders. I expected a jaw-dropping-WTF-No-Way-GET-THE-FUCK-OUT-OF-HERE reaction. But my reaction was… “Oh, okay”“Hmmm” “okay” “but why ?”And the explanation was simple and my reaction even more so, but regardless I continued reading.The last chapter was sweet and everything I hoped it would be. Easily enough, besides the minor scenes that almost had me DNFing, it was a great read and I would most definitely recommend it. <3

Moonshot by Alessandra Torre4 stars!!!“Baseball shouldn’t be life or death. Baseball shouldn’t determine fates.”Ty Rollins was the daughter of a baseball super star, after the death of her mother, her father, Frank, couldn’t bear to part with her so she grew up on the road. From seven years old Ty was a staple in the Yankee’s fold and they became her family. Now seventeen years old Ty is more entrenched in the Yankee’s than ever. Ty, is a Yankee’s ball girl, the players and management adore her alike, she bleeds baseball, has stats coming out of her ears and has an arm on her, she is definitely one of the lads and the team. She eats, sleeps and breathes baseball. Having been on the for most her life she is home schooled and as such is quite isolated and because of this is a bit naïve and innocent when it comes to the opposite sex. However, having been so sheltered and definitely off limits to any player she has never been in a position to explore that side of herself. The owner’s son is interested and the parents try to push them together but Ty just doesn’t really feel that way about him at all despite the peer pressure. However, when Chase Sterns comes to the Yankee’s all of her spidey senses are definitely on high alert, she has admired him for years, has followed his career, has loved him from afar and now he is a Yankee.“He was born to wear our pinstripes.”I loved Ty from the start, for someone that had had an unconventional life she had made the most of it and loved the way her life had turned out, she wouldn’t have it any other way. The relationship between Ty and her father, Frank brought tears to my eyes and was one of the most beautiful relationships between father and daughter I have had the pleasure to read about. Alessandra Torre really delivered on that connection and it is one that will stay with me for a very long time. The sense of camaraderie within the team, the fact that they all look after Ty and the fact that Ty looks after them like a mother hen was heart-warming and although I’m not American I really wanted to go to a baseball game, this book was that infectious.“Men had been killed over kisses like that. Careers had been lost. Hearts had been stolen.”Chase Sterns is twenty-two, a baseball star and his reputation precedes him. He more than makes use of the trappings of fame that a baseball star garners, especially with the female of the species, even team mate’s wives, hence his trade to the Yankees. Chase was a bit naïve but he uses the fame, the drugs, the women to forget, but there is a lot more to Chase than just the exceptional hitter. But being his age and his rapid rise to success, bad decisions are a given, but when his latest indiscretion gets him to the Yankees he feels it is hardly a punishment at all.“Life is a series of stupid decisions interrupted by luck.”It was obvious that Ty and Chase would meet, but these two were on an inevitable collision course…literally. From the time they first meet, battle lines are drawn. Ty wrapped up in her hero worship and Chase literally falling at the feet of a girl that sweats baseball and exudes it with every word that leaves her lips. A girl that knows the game but most importantly a girl that takes her time to really get to know him, not the superstar. While their first meets are not so amicable, Chase soon has Ty making decisions she would never make, but it is “their time” that really cements this friendship and as these two learn about one and other it is obvious that the chemistry is present in spades, it was palpable.“And just like that, five blocks away from the Marriott Marquis, we were official. Officially together. Officially committed. Officially screwed.”Sometimes fate has other ideas though, maybe the time isn’t right, maybe it wasn’t their time but a truly lifetime bond was made, a first love, but now five years later with mistakes under their belt their paths cross once again.“As a teenager he had corrupted me. As a woman, he had ruined me.”For me the first half of this book was an outstanding five star read, I was emotionally invested with both characters and my heart broke for them and loved them all at the same time. Alessandra Torre really nailed that forbidden love, but a love that was true and strong none the less. Yes, they were young, but the heart wants who the heart wants and sometimes you just have to listen to it. For me though, the second half was a bit flat and Alessandra Torre delivers an element of suspense and mystery as a side plot to Ty and Chase’s all-consuming love story. This, I personally felt wasn’t needed and detracted from what was in itself a fantastic story. When the reveal came and the reasons behind it, it was a WTH moment for me and a bit of an eye roll moment. None the less, the beauty of Ty and Chase kept me captivated from start to finish and everything about them had me smiling from ear to ear. From midnight chats, to runs, to text messages to flinging notes, everything about these two pulled at every heart string. I adored these two individually and especially as a couple. As ever, Alessandra Torre delivered an exceptional read and her writing once again totally captivating…now I need to find baseball in the UK…“For a moment where everything had finally come together, something felt off.”

This is book that needs multiple genres to describe it and you could wonder if that results in a rather confused end product, but it doesn't, it works. Despite this having elements of YA-contemporary, sports romance, romantic suspense, forbidden love, side of thriller, there is coherency in how it fits together, supported by passing years. This read has a strong romance element, especially early on and needless to say the physical side is full of the chemistry and heat you would expect from Alessandra Torre.Ty is a 17 year old, travelling with her coach dad and the Yankees. Chase is their new star player, emphasis on the player. One of the elements of this book I enjoyed was the penning of Ty as a young woman, I don't recall an AT book with a young coming of age feel before and this was written in a very tangible, fresh way. Equally, I enjoyed the passing of time. But don't get too comfortable, because an abrupt halt, twist and turn is just around the corner, and again and again. This is well known Torre territory but I can never see these things coming and I love this so much. I had no idea where these characters would end up but I certainly enjoyed the journey.The tension and angst was almost unbearable at times, I took a few breaks to cope with story developments and twists. This doesn't draw away from the enjoyment, but sometimes I just need to pause to ease the tension. There were some appealing side characters in this book, Ty's dad, the dog and Tobey (yes, I do mean Tobey). All in all, this was cleverly weaved together with strong writing.

I tried!I really, really tried to gel with these characters but I couldn't. Ty, was just to hypocritical in her opinions at times and I understand this is a cheating trope but how she navigated the affair didn't intrigue me at all. If anything I was more curious about the murders than the romance between the main characters.The storyline had great potential but the way they were set out and started in audio came across odd, as if there wasn't a flow to the story. I was hoping Moonshot would make me fall in love with Alessandra but after reading a couple of her books I don't think we're gonna work out and that's okay.

After reading another of Alessandra Torres books last week I discovered that I had this on my kindle from last year so thought it was about time I read it.I was hooked within the first few chapters and had such a massive soft spot for Chase the minute I read about him.When Chase first sets his sights on 17 year old Ty his world is flipped upside down in a way he would never expect.Full of twists, turns and drama this book managed to keep me drawn right into the story not wanting to put it down. Absolutely love Ty and Chase together!

I have no words!This is really difficult for me to review because it just went somewhere I totally wasn't expecting and I don't think the blurb signals it either.Tyler Rollins has literally grown up with baseball. After her mother's death Ty spends her time with her father, the legendary closer Frank Rollins, and the New York Yankies. As an unofficial ball girl its her job to get the team anything they want/ need: an inhaler; lucky bat; or a girl's phone number.Chase Stern is the bad boy of baseball, a golden star on the field he is a nightmare off, his latest escapade? Having an affair with his team-mate's wife and then punching said team-mate in the face when he catches them. That got him canned from his team and the Yankees pounced.It's a foregone conclusion, a seventeen year old baseball-mad girl and a twenty-two year old sporting God, especially when Ty is more interested in Chase's athletic performance than his performance between the sheets.This is the first half of the book, exactly what I expect from Alessandra Torre: well-written, well-researched (ok, she might just be a super baseball fan); intelligent characters; and great dialogue.Some of the chapters are prefaced by writing by a sports commentator which hint that there is more going on, and so it transpires. The second half of the book is set four years later when New York is gripped by a serial killer who seems to be killing young blonde women, their deaths somehow linked to the Yankees. People have speculated that the killer only strikes when the Yankees lose their chance at the World Series and so the team are desperate to win this year.Although we were made aware in the blurb and from the introductory commentary that there is more to this book than some NA romance the abrupt change of focus still came as a bit of a shock. I'm not a great fan of serial killer novels but this was the background to the relationships between the characters and I was certainly kept guessing right up to the moment that the big confrontation occurred.Highly recommended for anyone who likes baseball, NA, serial killers, New York and true love.

What a ride I have just been on! It's no secret Sports Romances are up there with my favorites, so obviously I had to pick this one up. I started this book last night just before I went to bed, and reluctantly couldn't read it all night long, but picked it straight back up this morning and have not put it down since. Needless to say I have achieved very little today, although I have just finished an absolutely SUPER-DUPER sports romance, which actually has so much more as well. It's a second chance love story to an extent, but there are also deeper things happening and a brilliant bit of suspense and mystery running along side the main story.In this book we meet Tyler Rollins. She is the seventeen year old daughter of her Dad, a Yankees legendary closer, travelling with the team, the way she has since she was seven years old. She's never missed a game! Enter Chase Stern, the bad boy of the baseball world - he's been transferred to the Yankee's following his indiscretions with his previous team. He sleeps with his team mates wives, and gets himself into trouble...ALOT. But he's a superstar - he's good at what he does; he scores home runs and wins games. Ty, having followed Baseball her whole life, hero-worships him! He's the god of baseball, and he's come to their team; the Yankee's family!! He's also extremely FORBIDDEN! So decides it's best to simply keep out of his way. Easier said than done when she walks into the locker room and discovers him naked. And that starts the slippery slope of their attraction and connection. Yes he has an 'interesting' past to say the least, but Ty brings out something different in him. She see's things in him no one else has, and he won't take advantage of that. Kisses are one thing though....Men had been killed over kisses like that. Careers had been lost. Hearts had been stolen.There's some amazing sexual tension, lots of angst and plenty of romance! And my word some of the scenes are hot and swoony!He couldn't. Never again, not with anyone else. Nothing would ever, after that moment, compare. Not with her cry, not with her reaction, not with her kiss. A woman shouldn't be created in such heartbreakingly beautiful combinations. A woman shouldn't, in fiftenn minutes, have the ability to ruin him for life.By the end of part one you will be wondering how this happened? What have you just read? How can anything ever be the same again? Arrrrggghhhh, what have I just read... where can this story go?!Then part 2, 4 years later another story is created and that's when everything REALLY WILL CHANGE!! OMG... the suspense... I was hooked! 2nd half was amazing....Alessandra Torre has woven a wonderful tale, which by the time you are half way through, simply need to know where everything is going to link in with everything else and how the book is going to end. I was kept guessing, and then when the big moment happened - WOW!!! I didn't see that one coming!!! I honestly don't know want to say too much about this book - go in blind! You will thank me for it.I loved how the book was written, and loved Alessandra's writing style. I loved the short chapters which kept me guessing and wanting to read 'just one more'. Although the book was written from Ty's PoV in first person, we also had plenty of Chapters featuring Chase as well (these are in the 3rd). I loved the mix up of chapters, the short bursts of insight into the events going on throughout the story. I don't know a lot about Baseball, but that doesn't matter. Loved Loved Loved this book! A real page turner, which will keep you guessing and not want to put it down until you have read the very last page...