I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
A Heartbeat Away from You
by Ann M. Miller
Published by Sword and Silk on August 16, 2022
Genres: YA Sport Romance
Pages: 270
Format: ebook, Kindle, Paperback
Goodreads
BookBub
Get Your Copy at: Amazon
After a daredevil play on the baseball field leads to a four-minute long cardiac arrest, seventeen-year-old Ali Benton is lucky to be alive. Now she wants to make the most of her second chance—and she’s not going to let a pesky little pacemaker, or her helicopter dad, slow her down.
Between chairing multiple school clubs and working two jobs to help his single mother pay the bills, Max Delaney has got every second of every day planned. His childhood nemesis, Ali, doesn’t figure into any of them. But when her overprotective father offers him cash to keep an eye on her and steer her away from baseball, his plans change.
Ali can’t figure out why Max, the condescending know-it-all, is sticking to her side like Krazy Glue, and Max can barely tolerate headstrong Ali. But opposites attract, and before long, fighting turns to kissing. Even as sparks fly, the secrets they’ve been keeping threaten to tear them apart. When Max learns Ali’s been putting herself in harm’s way and playing ball in secret, he struggles with how to tell her father. If he tattles, he’ll lose her trust. If he doesn’t, he may lose her heart…in more ways than one.
A Heartbeat Away From You by Ann M. Miller has two teenagers finding their way together despite who they are to each other.
Will Ali play baseball again? Or will her pacemaker be the end of her love for the game?
Alicia Benton
Alicia “Ali” Benton is a seventeen-year-old girl with a pacemaker in her heart. Six months earlier, they found out that Ali has bradycardia and that she needs a pacemaker. Ali lived with her mom in Toronto before moving back to her hometown to live with her father. She and her father have a lot of issues to talk through, but they don’t. Ali has a lot happening to her, but not all is bad.
Overall, Ali is a very stubborn teenage girl who, like many teenagers, once she has her mind set on doing something, she is going to do it. Throughout the story, though, Ali has grown from a tenacious teenage girl to a girl who realizes that she needs to be careful and conscious about how she is living her life. Like talking to her dad about what happened on the day that not only changed her life but how it affected her dad as well. I like Alicia even though she is stubborn. But she realizes her mistakes and wants to fix them.
Max Delaney
Max Delaney has changed so much from the last time Ali saw him five years ago. For Max, the way he solves his problems is to have a schedule that has everything he needs to do planned out for the day or the week or anything. I honestly don’t see the problem with that since I love having a good plan and schedule to go about my day. Max tries to help his mom out as best as possible even though he is still a teenager and should be enjoying his free time instead of worrying about bills or anything else his mom needs help handling.
The one thing I disliked about Max is that he agreed to watch over Alicia for money, but I also got where he was coming from. Well, sort of. Max, much like Ali, changes throughout the book as well. They both changed each other, which is a good thing. I love these two together and believe they complement each other. You know the whole opposites attract scenario.
Five Stars
A Heartbeat Away From You by Ann M. Miller is a fantastic read, and I enjoyed every moment. Ms. Miller has done another fabulous job of making me fall for her characters and worry about them. Ali and Max pulled me into their world with their unique voices.
I am giving five stars to A Heartbeat Away From You by Ann M. Miller and recommending it to anyone that likes young adult sports romance in their lives.
I hope you enjoyed this review of A Heartbeat Away From You by Ann M. Miller.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
About Ann M. Miller
Ann Miller writes young adult novels about first loves, family secrets, and magic. She grew up in Nova Scotia, Canada, where the local bookmobile fed her diet of Nancy Drew mysteries, Sweet Valley High books, and Stephen King horror. After graduating from the University of King’s College, she moved to Newfoundland, an island that makes up for its unforgiving climate with beautiful coastlines and majestic icebergs.
When she’s not reading or writing, Ann can be found spending time with her husband and son, or binge-watching Netflix while curled up with the two four-legged members of her family.
Captured in Paint is her first novel, and she has several more in the works. Take a look at Ann’s website.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Leave a Reply