Blog Tour Review & Giveaway: Third Degree by Julie Cross

I'm excited to be part of the Blog Tour for Third Degree by Julie Cross because I loved this story! This tour is hosted by AToMR.  For a complete tour schedule click HERE.  As part of my tour stop I have my review as well as the lovely giveaway provided by the publisher.

Third Degree by Julie Cross
Publisher: Flirt Random House
Publication Date: March 25th 2014
New Adult Contemporary Romance
Rating: 4 Stars

Random House | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Goodreads

Fans of Monica Murphy and Tammara Webber will savor this New Adult novel—a story about coming of age in the heat of the moment—from Julie Cross, the internationally bestselling author of the Tempest trilogy.

I used to be “Isabel Jenkins, child prodigy.” As lame as that sounds, at least it was an identity. But now I’m not sure what I am. I just failed the most important exam of my life—the emotional readiness test required to get into a medical residency program—and it turns out my parents can’t stand each other. Now I’m trying to figure out how to pick up the pieces of my life, and that means re-enrolling as a college freshman, but this time I’m shutting the books and majoring in being eighteen.

But so far, my roommate hates me and I’m not into the party scene. The only good thing about school has been getting to know my insanely hot RA. Marshall Collins makes me wonder about everything I missed while I was growing up too fast. Pretty soon we’re hanging out constantly, but for the first time, I find myself wanting more than a no-strings-attached physical relationship. And the lesson I really need is one Marsh definitely can’t teach me: love. Because I’m going to be alone forever if I don’t learn fast.

My Thoughts:

Third Degree was very different from the cookie cutter New Adults out there, different in a good way.  This story was first and foremost a romance, a swoony one with some definite heat. But it was also a story about fitting in, being “normal”, and the emotional effects when you don’t.

Isabel Jenkins is a genius and regarded as a bit of a freak. She’s already an MD at the age of eighteen having skipped most of her high school and in college by age twelve. Isabel is looking forward to entering into the surgical program at John Hopkins when her psyche evaluation gets her sidelined and rejected.  The doctor doesn’t think she has the emotional maturity and real life experience to handle the job. To Isabel, patients are just cases that need to be diagnosed, and she fails to see the human side of things.

Isabel is completely upset and decides to go back to school, and get the “normal college experience” by taking meaningless classes, making friends, and fitting in. Getting the real life experiences the doctor requires while she has to wait the mandatory six months to retake the exam.

College and fitting in is more of a challenge that Isabel expects, but her gorgeous RA, Marshall is ready and willing to help. He doesn’t seem bothered by Isabel’s oddities.  Marshall just seems to get her and Isabel definitely clicks with him.

This all sounds so superficial when you read the blurb or my description above, but this story went deeper and included issues I wasn’t expecting. Both Marshall and Isabel were dealing with things that impacted their self-perception.  Isabel was painfully awkward to the point of making me cringe at first.  I loved how Marshall helped her along the way without trying to change her inherently.  Marshall had his own issues which I won’t spoil, but Isabel was there for him, and I loved how they seemed to balance each other out, and lent support, because they both desperately needed it. Julie Cross introduced some real life problems, handled them with heart, and a doses of humor that made me smile.

I loved Isabel and Marshall’s romance.  It was tentative at first, but intense and passionate in all the right places! Very hot!

Third Degree is touching story that tugged at my heart strings, and stirred my emotions.  Julie Cross wrote a New Adult romance without the usual clichés, and it completely worked for me!

 

 

Advance praise for Third Degree

“With quirky characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and a touching romance, Third Degree is a refreshing entry in the New Adult genre. I can’t wait to read what Julie Cross comes up with next!”—Roni Loren, bestselling author of Need You Tonight

“I fell for quirky, brainy, socially awkward child prodigy Izzy and even more so for her sweet, compassionate, and hot RA, Marshall. I was rooting for their happily-ever-after and was sighing with satisfaction by the end.”—Christina Lee, author of the Between Breaths series

“Loved! Fans of Huntley Fitzpatrick’s My Life Next Door and Tammara Webber’s Easy will fall hard for this book.”—Krista Ritchie, co-author of the Addicted to You series

About the Author:  Julie Cross lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She’s a former gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former gymnastics program director with the YMCA. She’s a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and New Adult genres. She’s also a committed (but not talented) long-distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict.

Connect with Julie Cross:

Blog | Facebook | Twitter

As part of this tour the publisher has provided this awesome giveaway.  Simply fill out the rafflecopter below for a chance to win!

(1) Flirt Tote Bag and (1) Flirt Coffee Mug

(1) $25.00 Gift Card to the Retailer of you choice

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway