Reaching Rose
Hunter Hill University Series – Book 3
By J. P. Grider
Synopsis
Rose Duncan is dancing on Broadway. She’s spent hours a day for the last two decades to get there, and now she’s living the dream. She’s happy, she’s driven, and life couldn’t get any better.
Ben Falco is a pitcher whose only goal is to make it to the Major Leagues. He keeps his grades up, he doesn’t party, and he stays away from committed relationships – they’ll only distract him.
But when Ben meets Rose, she’s no dancer, and she’s certainly not happy. In fact, she doesn’t seem to be living at all. Yet something about her makes him want to know what’s turned her into this shell of a person, and if he can be the one to reach inside her mind and pull her out.
Ben doesn’t want a relationship. Rose doesn’t want to get better. But once their hearts collide, it’s a whole new ballgame.
Reaching Rose is a story about Rose and Ben, and a little about their friend Johnny Gleason – a genius who has plans of his own until they too slip from his grasp. This is a tale about love, loss, and guts, and the ability to play hardball when life throws you a curve.
Michel’s Review
Reaching Rose by J. P. Grider is the first book I have read by this author When I saw this book on Net Galley the synopsis intrigued me. I decided to give this author a go. I have to say I am very impressed with this author’s writing.
Reaching Rose is quite different from most books in the New Adult genre. It has all of the elements that readers expect in a New Adult romance. There is heart wrenching angst and an almost impossible romance. It also has so much more. It deals with real life issues that many people go through. It shows the pain of loss, the change in one’s self image, the loss of dreams, and the rebuilding of one’s life in all aspects.
Rose Duncan has been a dancer all of her life. She has finally gotten her big break and landed a part in a broadway show. Three weeks before the show opens, Rose is in a horrific accident. This accident causes her to lose one of her legs. The devastation of losing a limb along with the devastation of losing her life long dream is more than she can handle. Her road to recovery is a long and very painful journey. She no longer knows who she is or what she wants in life. The one thing that helps her move forward is her new friendship with Ben Falco.
Ben met Rose when he entered a specialized rehab facility for a knee injury. He is intrigued with the silent troubled girl he sees daily in the rec room. This girl is lifeless. He wants to reach her and let her know there is hope. What starts as a tentative friendship will turn into so much more. In the end this relationship with Rose will help him face the truth about his injury and future as a professional baseball player.
Both Rose and Ben will learn many life lessons. They will also learn that there is more than one dream in the journey of life. They will both find new realities. They will conquer their fears. Rose will learn that her disability is not the end of her dancing career. Ben will learn that life is more important than a career.
This book touched me in so many ways. I admired both of the characters. Ben captured my heart with his positive outlook and persistence. I loved how patient he was with Rose.
I will definitely be reading more from this author.
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The Hunter Hill University Series
Calling California – Book 1
Disclaimer : This is a story about money – the lack of it vs. having plenty. Money WILL be mentioned – it is essential to the story and essential to the growth of the lead female character, who WILL eventually learn that money does NOT make the world go ’round. And neither do the people who have it.
Cali Parker is poor. She has a lot on her plate – her father is dying, she’s working to help pay the rent, and she’s two-years behind in college.
Griffin Brooks is rich. He has not a care in the world – he’s acing his engineering courses, his hobby is restoring his fifty-thousand dollar classic car, and he has a different girl on his arm every week.
When Cali sees Griffin on her first day of class, she’s immediately smitten and thinks she’s found the perfect guy. When Griffin sees Cali at the bank, he immediately forgets the blonde he was with that morning. Then they meet, and their worlds collide.
Cali doesn’t belong in Griffin’s world, and he doesn’t understand hers. But just when Griffin convinces Cali that their two different worlds can blend, a secret is revealed that tears them apart.
Is their love strong enough to bring them back together, or will their worlds drift further apart?
Mending Michael – Book 2
There is a fine line between love and hate.
When bartender Mick Ross first sees Holly Buchanan walk into Donny’s Bar, his heart comes to a halt. That is, until she serves him her fake ID and reveals her true nature when she’s declined her drink.
Holly thinks Mick is an ass, and she has no clue why he can’t stand her. Though, she does enjoy looking at his ass.
So, when Donny hires Holly to waitress at his bar, she must either deal with Mick’s hatred toward her or give him a taste of his own medicine.
Tensions are high.
Comments are made.
Hearts are hurt.
But if there really is a fine line between love and hate, then Mick and Holly must decide on which side they stand.
Reaching Rose – Book 3
Rose Duncan is dancing on Broadway. She’s spent hours a day for the last two decades to get there, and now she’s living the dream. She’s happy, she’s driven, and life couldn’t get any better.
Ben Falco is a pitcher whose only goal is to make it to the Major Leagues. He keeps his grades up, he doesn’t party, and he stays away from committed relationships – they’ll only distract him.
But when Ben meets Rose, she’s no dancer, and she’s certainly not happy. In fact, she doesn’t seem to be living at all. Yet something about her makes him want to know what’s turned her into this shell of a person, and if he can be the one to reach inside her mind and pull her out.
Ben doesn’t want a relationship. Rose doesn’t want to get better. But once their hearts collide, it’s a whole new ballgame.
Reaching Rose is a story about Rose and Ben, and a little about their friend Johnny Gleason – a genius who has plans of his own until they too slip from his grasp. This is a tale about love, loss, and guts, and the ability to play hardball when life throws you a curve.
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Author Bio:
J.P. Grider is a New Adult and Young Adult author. She is the author of seven novels. Her young adult series The Honor Trilogy consists of A Touch of Honor, A Man of Honor, and A Heart of Honor, while her first two novels – Unplugged (A Portrait of a Rock Star) and Maybe This Life – are standalone adult contemporary novels. Her most recent release is the new adult romance Mending Michael, which is the second in her Hunter Hill University series. The next book in the series – Reaching Rose – will be released in May, 2015. All the books in the Hunter Hill University series are standalone books and can be read in any order.
You can follow J.P. on Facebook at J.P. Grider, Author, on Instagram and Twitter @JPGrider1, and on her blog at jpgrider.com
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