Nets and Lies by Katie Ashley Published by Self-Published on Feb 5, 2013
Genres: New Adult
Format: ebook
Source: Purchased
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Always awkward in her 5’10 frame, Melanie Reeves finds her saving grace through basketball. Not only is she the varsity team captain, she’s the pride of Coach Thompson, who holds the keys to a college scholarship. Melanie has also found 'courtly' love with Will, Coach T's handsome, ball-playing son. When Melanie is on the court, everything is perfect....until she is forced to face an opponent who doesn't play by the rules.
Jordan Solano's power lies in her beauty and sex appeal. Never afraid of breaking the rules, she engages in a scandalous flirtation with the school's married basketball coach. But the flirtation quickly turns into accusation, and Coach T's job and reputation are placed in jeopardy after Jordan charges him with rape. Jordan's own reputation has the school administration unwilling to believe her. That is, until she makes a startling claim - she's not the only victim.
Suddenly, all eyes are on Melanie, and it isn't for her amazing free-throws. A man's job, a girl's reputation, and her boyfriend's entire world now rest in Melanie's hands. She has to decide: keep her secrets and protect her future, or put an end to the lies...and lose everything.
Liezel’s Thoughts:
“…the past held a darkness that blotted out the sun. But the future…it was so bright.”
I absolutely loved Katie Ashley’s The Proposition/The Proposal so I thought I would give this one a shot. I was hesitant at first but I went ahead and read it. While the writing was good, the storyline bothered me so much it took me awhile to finally decide how I felt about this story. Reading other reviews, seems like I’m the only one that feels this way but I need to say it anyway.
I found it disturbing honestly. It was like watching a train wreck. I read a lot about abuse and worst tragedies but never have I felt this strongly about a book. I don’t know if it was because it was because minor/s were involved or was it because how detailed that particular scene was described but it was something that just turned me off from the whole story. Normally, if the book was good enough I could have most likely overlooked that scene but I just couldn’t.
I couldn’t even imagine how all of this would have been for Melanie. The lying, the deceit and the guilt that she must have felt. Ugh, so depressing. If Jordan wasn’t conniving, another young woman with so much potential would have been utterly destroyed. I can’t imagine how her life would have ended up if Coach Thompson was never caught. And how many other young lives he would have influenced.
“Because I love you. That’s why I can look at you each and every day and not think of him. All I think of is how much I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
There were a lot of strong points to the story as well. The lesson to learn is that you aren’t alone. Friends or family, they’re there to help and protect you. There are all sorts of resources out there if you needed help and someone to talk to. No matter who you’re trying to protect, you shouldn’t have to go through this alone. Also, everyone deserves a second chance. A chance to change, a chance to mature. Like in Jordan’s case.
All in all , it was a good story but it just wasn’t my cup of tea. I read a book to escape and to be entertained… this book just made me sad and depressed. Even if Mel and Will did get their happy ending, getting there was just too painful to me.
The Verdict:
My casting Picks:
Cory Monteith as Will Thompson.
Dakota Fanning as Melanie Reeves.
Matt Dillon as Coach.
∞ ∞ ∞
“Forgiveness was about more than just words – it was action and feelings.”
About Katie Ashley
Katie Ashley is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Best-Selling author. She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her daughter, Olivia. She has a slight obsession with Pinterest, The Golden Girls, Shakespeare, Harry Potter, Designing Women, and Scooby-Doo.
With a BA in English, a BS in Secondary English Education, and a Masters in Adolescent English Education, she spent eleven years teaching both middle and high school English. As of January 2013, she became a full-time writer.
Ilene (BinkyBecky)
I hadn’t heard of this book before. I may have to check it out. I love your picks for the movie roles – Well Done! -Ilene