Book Review: Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Stealing Parker
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 1st 2012
Review Source: Sourcebooks Fire
Available: Amazon

Summary: (from goodreads) Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.

After a scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back.

Fans of Catching Jordan will once again be thrilled to read Miranda's next novel taking place at Hundred Oaks High. I think we all can relate to a school like Hundred Oaks High and its student body issues. This book took me way back to my own high school years, I was extremely excited that Parker was a softball player like I was. Now would I have chosen the path Parker chose because of the scandal with her mother, the answer would be a No. I use to put Softball above all else. Miranda can write some realistic fiction I tell ya. You honestly feel like you know these characters and are there next to them trying to figure out all their issues. I wanted to slap Parker at times. Now I will say this who did I love reading more about, Parker or Jordan? The winner is Jordan, maybe because it was the first book or something about Jordan and football clicked. I never got upset with Jordan like I did with Parker. That being said I still enjoyed both and would recommend this book. 

Stealing Parker is the story of a 17 year old ex-softball player at Hundred Oaks High. Parker had it all and gave it up when her mother came out as a lesbian and tore the family apart with her secret. Parker quit the softball team that she was a star player for, she became very aware of everything after the scandal. Its hard to ignore even when your church is gossiping about your family. She didn't want to give reason to anyone to believe she might become a lesbian like her mother because she was a softball player and curvy. So she quit the softball team and lost all her muscle tone by dropping 20 lbs. Then she got on the I'm going to hook-up with all the cute guys train to seal that she was anything but a lesbian. Instead of her ignoring the comments and looks for certain peers, she let that rule over her love for the game. Then Parker takes the flirting and boys to a whole other level when she starts to fall for the new assistant baseball coach Brian while she begins helping out with the baseball team. Her best friend tries to guide her in the right direction at all times since the scandal went down. Drew and Corndog are the only people she can probably believe and listen to, the rest will continue to talk no matter what Parker does to try and change their opinions. Will Parker be able to handle the race to Valedictorian and maintain her social life the way it is, and will she kiss the sexy new baseball coach? Intriguing right? I know!!!

Stealing Parker was just as funny and sweet as Catching Jordan. By the way did I mention Jordan pops up here and there. The book has a great flow and you will read it in one sitting. How can you put it down when someone might be about to kiss, I know I couldn't. Its real simple, if you loved Catching Jordan you will probably love Stealing Parker just as much. Now to wait for the next novel Things I Can't Forget coming out in March 2013. Stealing Parker in 5 words: Cute with a capital C!