SERIES MINIS: Make it Count, Make it Right & Make it Last by Megan Erickson

10 October 2015

Make it Count (Bowler University #1)
by Megan Erickson (GoodreadsWebsiteTwitter)
Published by William Morrow Impulse on June 3rd, 2014
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, College
Format: eBook (336 pages)
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

ADD TO GOODREADS
Kat Caruso wishes her brain had a return policy, or at least a complaint hot-line. The defective organ is constantly distracted, terrible at statistics, and absolutely flooded with inappropriate thoughts about her boyfriend’s gorgeous best friend, Alec…who just so happens to be her brand new math tutor. Who knew nerd was so hot?

Kat usually goes through tutors like she does boyfriends—both always seem to bail when they realize how hopeless she is. It’s safer for her heart to keep everyone at arm’s reach. But Alec is always stepping just a little too close.

Alec Stone should not be fantasizing about Kat. She’s adorable, unbelievably witty, and completely off limits. He’d never stab his best friend in the back…

But when secrets are revealed, the lines of loyalty are blurred. To make it count, Alec must learn messy human emotions can’t be solved like a trigonometry function. And Kat has to trust Alec may be the first guy to want her for who she is, and not in spite of it.

New Adult is my new guilty pleasure, especially college set romances. It definitely makes up for my lack thereof  insufficient lovelife and wild moments when I was still in college,  and makes me want to relive a couple of moments--not! Okay, maybe some.

Our heroine was a character I had a hard time warming up to. Kat is failing Statistics--terribly--but she doesn't know it's because of her dyslexia, as she's unaware of her disorder and labels it as her being easily distracted. Sure enough, she had the bark and bite I constantly look for in a heroine, but her constant pity party was a headache. She whined and cried, although understandable because of her constant feeling of being dumb, it was a little too much for my taste at first. But reading further, it's safe to say her character was definitely a realistic portrayal of vulnerable girls who hid behind smiles and pretty faces.

Meanwhile, Alec's character was absolutely loveable even though he's considered as the third party of Kat's relationship with her boyfriend, he is still such sweetheart and another addition to my book boyfriends list. Add the fact that his hairdo is literally the twin to Grease's Danny Zucko's.

Kat and Alec weren't exactly friends. She was his best friend’s pretty girlfriend, and he was her boyfriend’s annoying nerdy best friend. Hence, these two always devoted their alone time in banters and sassing each other out. But spending time together has made them develop feelings for one another. However, let me clear this up: there is no cheating, and Kat's boyfriend, Max, wasn't exactly the guy you'd root for anyway. The romance build up was what I enjoyed the most, other than the secondary characters. It was slow and sweet, yet steamy, just like how I like my romances.

Make it Count was a fun read, and definitely nerdy which will have you giggling non-stop.


Make it Right (Bowler University #2)
by Megan Erickson (GoodreadsWebsiteTwitter)
Published by William Morrow Impulse on September 9th, 2014
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance, College
Format: eBook (336 pages)
Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Max Payton lives by two rules: Size and strength win any fight, and never show weakness.

When a rash of assaults sends Bowler University for a tail spin, Max volunteers to help teach a self-defense class. One of the other instructors is the beautiful pixie-faced girl he keeps butting heads with…and who challenges everything he thought he knew.

Lea Travers avoids guys like Max - cocky jocks who assume she's fragile because of a disability caused by a childhood accident. She likes to be in control, and something about being with Max makes her feel anything but. But during the moments he lets his guard down, Lea sees a soul as broken inside as she is outside. Trusting him is a whole other problem...

When the assaults ramp up and hit close to home, Lea and Max must learn, before it’s too late, that true strength can come from vulnerability…and giving in to trust is sometimes the only way to make things right.

Make It Right has got to be my favorite of the series, which, to be frank, was absolutely unexpected, since our boy Max wasn't exactly a likeable character in the previous book. In Make it Count, he obviously has his own issues--family issues to be exact, particularly with his dad, but that wasn't enough to make me feel bad for him. But in his book, Max is the smore you crave--a hard cracker on the outside, but all soft, delicious gooey marshmallow on the inside.

Readers meet Lea before the first book ends, and get a glimpse of her sweet, yet sassy nature but Megan Erickson definitely gives more depth to her character in this novel. At five feet, she's the definition of small but terrible, and the fact that she's a black belter just made her cooler in my book. She's fierce yet vulnerable at the same time, and absolutely selfless.

The romance between Max and Lea was one of my favorites. These two hard headed knuckleheads clashed head on and made every turn of a page sizzle with lots of tension! But don't get me wrong, they, of course, don't fight all the time, because Max definitely turns into a softie when it comes to Lea and the thought of it just makes me feel all giddy!

The plot is mostly centered on Max and his family problems; the way he tries to be the person he isn't just to please his father. It was a touching read, and it sure made me fall in love with Max's character, unlike my first impression of him in the previous novel, and kudos to Megan Erickson for that!

Make It Right was sweet and fluffy, and quite emotional, but it was definitely a wonderful read!


Make It Last (Bowler University #3)
by Megan Erickson (GoodreadsWebsiteTwitter)
Published by William Morrow Impulse on January 6th, 2015
Genres: New Adult, Contemporary. Romance
Format: eBook (352 pages)
Amazon | Barnes & Noble

ADD TO GOODREADS
After graduating from Bowler University, the last place Cam Ruiz ever expected to find himself is his hometown. A bad job as a bouncer and worry over his mom’s health make living in Paradise anything but. There’s only one thing that can make his return any harder—running into the only girl he’s ever loved.

Tate Ellison made a mistake when she was eighteen, one that cost her the best thing she’s ever had. She’s always hoped the regret of losing Cam would fade over time. Too bad it’s only grown. She took comfort in the fact she’d never have to face him again, so his presence in Paradise throws her for a loop.

The pull between them is instant and when the truth of what happened years ago tumbles out, they share a mind-blowing kiss...which leads to more. But the past has a way of repeating itself. When all the cards are on the table, Cam and Tate must decide what they are willing to do to make it last.

The Bowler University gang has graduated and Make it Last is the first book in the series that isn't set in campus, so it's got a much more emotional impact compared to the previous novels. Make It Last is all about family, old flames and reconciliation.

There's a sense of maturity in the characters in Make it Last. Cam's has made his intro in the first book, but readers would barely get an idea of who he really is, as he's only mentioned to be a guy with a serious side who likes to play video games, but it's definitely obvious that there's more to his personality which is explored [in this book], especially his backstory. His character didn't appeal to me as much as Max's, but he was surely a sweet character to read about and among the boys--Alec and Max--he was the most mature of all.

Reading about Tate's character was an emotional rollercoaster. She was the most realistic among all of Megan Erickson's Bowler University heroines. Her character was so raw and had so much depth--so flawed, so weakwilled, but still so strong at the same time, as she steps up as the provider for the family, and chucks away her aspirations for the sake of the people she loves.

Second chance romances are my favorites because of that sense of nostalgia hanging around between the couple. There's the memory of the before, and the crave for a reset. There's the lust, of course, but there's also the longing, which I always love to read about. However, as much as I prefer the slow burn type of romance, Cam and Tate still have feelings for each other, so the reconciliation was a little rushed for my taste.

While Make It Right was the fun book, Make It Last was a tearjerker. There's lots of heartfelt and saddening moments, but don't fret, Megan Erickson's humor is still found inbetween the drama.


If you're a fan of Cora Carmack's Rusk University series, and Elle Kennedy's Off-Campus series, this series should be your next read!