Pepped Up and Ready (Pepper Jones Book 3) by Ali Dean comes out May 28th (available for pre-order already) and in honor of that I’ve joined up with the Pepper Jones blog tour.
Pepped Up (Pepper Jones #1) by Ali Dean
Release Date: 08/25/13
238 pages
Summary from Goodreads:
Pepper Jones is ready for an epic cross country season. She wants to qualify for Nationals, and she’s willing to do anything it takes to make it happen. She can handle long miles and hill sprints, but boys? That’s an entirely different challenge.
Pepper’s never considered revealing her deeper feelings for her longtime friend, Jace Wilder. After all, he’s got the personal magnetism and good looks to hook just about any girl in town –and he has. Their friendship stands apart from high school social circles, and they’re both just fine with that (or at least they pretend to be).
That is, until running star Ryan Harding moves to town. When it comes to running, Pepper’s goals are clear. But when it comes to Jace and Ryan, it’s nowhere near as simple.
Add to Goodreads | Read My Full Review of Pepped Up From a Few Weeks Ago
All Pepped Up (Pepper Jones #2) by Ali Dean
Release Date: 07/10/14
290 pages
Summary from Goodreads:
(This is the second book in the Pepper Jones series. The following description contains spoilers for Pepped Up, which should be read first.)
Pepper Jones knew that being Jace Wilder’s girlfriend wouldn’t be simple. But she didn’t predict just how many complications would arise from his past. Jealous girls? That she expected. Family secrets? Not so much. At least Pepper can always hit the trails to clear her head… except when it comes to racing. The high expectations from her phenomenal cross country season haunt her, and she can’t seem to get psyched up for track season. Pepper’s junior year at Brockton Public is full of challenges on and off the track, but she’s not afraid to face them.
Review of All Pepped Up – Warning, Contains Spoilers
In book two, All Pepped Up, we join Pepper Jones a few months after nationals have ended. Pepper and Jace are officially a couple & about to face some harsh realities of every day life. A surprise visitor pops in to start the book and secrets about Wes and Jace’s friendship come forward. Pepper is faced with the reality that two of her best friends have been hiding a major secret from her for the last few years.
While attempting to clear her head, Pepper heads out on a long run in the snowy cold Colorado weather that does not end well. Not only does Pepper risk injury and health it brings forward questions about her ex-boyfriend Ryan as he is the one to discover her towards the end of her run.
At the same time Pepper is officially burned out on racing after a long and exciting cross country season in Pepped Up. She is forcing herself to race but ultimately is honest with herself that her heart isn’t in it this season.
Pepper tries to solve her running problems while dealing with the truth about Jace and Wes when rumors start around school about Pepper and Ryan. Not long after Pepper and Ryan rumors start, new rumors start about Jace & a former fling Madeline. With someone out to get her, Pepper and Jace’s relationship is put into question and they wonder if they can find a way to trust each other again.
Overall I liked the concept of the book and the secrets that were revealed. It explains a lot of questions that Pepper had from the first book in the series. I also enjoyed that Ali Dean addressed the fact that athletes do get burnt out, even in high school. Pepper’s heart clearly wasn’t in her track season like it had been for cross country.
It was a great read and perfect for a teenager to pick up and read through when they are looking for someone they can relate to.
Pepped Up and Ready
Pepped Up and Ready hits stores on May 28th, you can pre-order your copy now or hold out until it’s release! Check it out on Goodreads and join me in reading it at the end of May!
About the Author
Ali Dean lives in Colorado with her husband, twin babies, and golden retriever. In addition to reading and writing, she loves the outdoors- everything from marathon training and biking to snowboarding and skiing.