First, I had to remember how to breathe. Then, I had to learn how to survive. Two years, three months and sixteen days had passed since I was the Rowe Stanton from before, since tragedy stole my youth and my heart went along with it.

When I left for college, I put a thousand miles between my future and my past. I’d made a choice—I was going to cross back to the other side, to live with the living. I just didn’t know how.

And then I met Nate Preeter.

An All-American baseball player, Nate wasn’t supposed to notice a ghost-of-a-girl like me. But he did. He shouldn’t want to know my name. But he did. And when he learned my secret and saw the scars it left behind, he was supposed to run. But he didn’t.

My heart was dead, and I was never supposed to belong to anyone. But Nate Preeter had me feeling, and he made me want to be his. He showed me everything I was missing.

And then he showed me how to fall.

I’m that teenaged girl who has MS. You haven’t met me, but you’ve seen me around. You probably know my sister. We’re twins, and she’s the pretty one. Maybe you’ve heard about my reputation, how much I like to hook up at parties—how easy it is to get me in bed, get what you want, and forget about me after.

Forget what you think you know. I’m leaving that girl behind.

College is all about new beginnings. So from now on—I’m just Cass. And the rest…it isn’t written yet. And no one else gets to write my story for me.

I’m the selfish one. I suppose that’s the nicest thing people say about me. I’ve heard the other things, too. “Paige Owens is a pretty girl with nothing else to offer. She’s just a good time at a party. She’s stupid, heartless, cold and useless. All she cares about is getting a guy to look at her. Why would anyone want to be her friend?”

Some of those things are true. Others were true. They’re all hurtful.

None of it matters.

I’m ready to make the hard choices. I’m ready to face the consequences. I’m ready to be the girl I was before, and I’m done being the one who lost her way.

I’m ready to become the girl Houston Orr sees when he looks at me.

Houston isn’t a star athlete. He doesn’t play in a band. He’s never going to be president, and his life is so far away from simple and easy it isn’t even funny.
He wasn’t part of my plan. But I’m starting to think plans are overrated, and maybe our stories are what we make them. And mine depends entirely on me, and the choices I make…starting now.

Houston is my fairytale. He’s perfectly imperfect. He’s poetry and life. He’s truth and heartbreak, all rolled up in a tall body with dark hair, broad shoulders and green eyes that lull me into submission. He’s nothing I ever thought I wanted, but the very thing I need. He’s the only guy I’ve ever really loved, and he thinks I’m a princess. I fell into him, and now I’m holding on.

But sometimes life takes away our ability to choose. Sometimes…things aren’t in your control. Sometimes, it hurts to be selfless. My only hope is that when it comes time to choose, I get it right.

Welcome to my once upon a time and wish for happily ever after.

Interview with Ginger!

Why New Adult… what’s the draw for you as an author?

I think everyone has a sweet spot for the stories they love, and as a writer, the stories they love to tell. For me, it’s coming-of-age through high school and college. My tastes were honed on the great John Hughes, and I feel like the new adult genre gets to take that feeling—all of the angst and twisty stuff he did so well—and mix it in with some real adult situations. I love that new adult doesn’t shy away from how people really talk and behave. We mess up when we’re young. We say stupid things. We make really bad decisions. And ugly happens. I love that this genre dives right in. I love this time in people’s lives. I loved it in mine—not that I want to go back, mind you. It’s just such a unique phase in our lives—so many firsts. So much to learn.

What is the best/most difficult about writing the NA genre?

It’s the same answer for both—finding the unique threads for a story. I gravitate to adversity. Maybe it’s the athlete in me, but I love seeing challengers. There are a lot of really great characters in the new adult genre, and a lot of great new adult sports stories, but as a writer in that category, we all want to build the one who’s unique. We want our heroes and heroines to leave a mark when you get to THE END. For me, the most important part is that they feel real—that what they’ve been through feels like you’ve sat with them and held their hands through it all. I want you to miss them, and think that they exist somewhere off that page or screen. If I can do that, then I’ve met my goal.

We know why we love your characters, but why should other readers? What is it about them that you think people will connect with most?

This sort of goes with what I mentioned above. What I hope for so very much is that readers find them to feel real. I want their flaws to scratch away at you, to seem tangible, and I want the words they say to sound like they would when they’re talking to you. I hope what readers find when they settle into one of my stories is that time stops, and they’re suddenly sucked into this friendship circle I’ve created. I want it to be so real that you don’t want out.

What character and/or scene are you most proud of?

This answer is different for me every time. I have a handful, and I think it depends on my mood when I’m writing this answer. Right now, this answer is Tyson Preeter. I mentioned above my admiration for those who stare down adversity, and Ty is the epitome of that for me. I wanted to write a disabled character that was in many ways a tribute to those I see overcome obstacles every day, and I think I did that with Ty. He’s an incredibly masculine, unbelievably confident, borderline (okay, not even borderline) cocky male lead. He’s also bound to his wheelchair thanks to a paralysis after an accident in his teens. What I’m deeply proud of, though, is his vulnerable side. Ty has regrets and has lived with depression, and sometimes his situation makes him angry—but he fights through it, because he’s also amazingly strong. I’ve been blessed to know a few Ty’s in my life, and they inspire me. They inspired him (minus the sexy arrogance part). There’s so much about Ty’s strength that I think is sexy, and I think you see that most in his subtle moments, when nobody is really watching—the way he lifts himself to a chair, the way he finishes a workout, the love his has for his mom. Yeah…right now, this answer is Ty.

Tyson and Cass are both dealing with physical limitations … where did the inspiration for that come from, and what kind of research was necessary to get it right?

I wanted their story to be one of strength and overcoming as much as it was one of love. Ty and Nate were inspired by two brothers I knew at Arizona State University when I went there, and I know a few people who are affected by the same paralysis Ty is. I leaned on them, interviewing them and studying their habits to see how they move and work through things. Cass is living with multiple sclerosis, and a good friend of mine was diagnosed with the disease when she was in high school, much like Cass. She’s now a spokesperson on behalf of MS. She was my most vital beta reader.

We love the Preeter and Harper Sibling dynamics… Did you draw on your own experiences/bonds to create them?

I am very close to my brother, but our ages are farther apart than most of my sibling characters. I think that closeness I feel for him definitely finds its way into my words, though. But beyond that, I draw on many of my friendships—ones I had when I was in high school and college, and those I have now as an adult. I think the best siblings are also the best friends. And I think the honest conversation that flows in that relationship—the mix of love and humor—is what makes it special.

Did any of your characters surprise you by doing something you didn’t expect?

All. The dang. Time!
I love it when that happens though – those moments, they’re the most real on the page.

True passion for baseball beats off the page in your Falling Series, how did you come to deciding to make Nate a catcher of all positions? LOVE the line about him being able to read people well because of this…

I bleed warning track dirt. Baseball is in my soul, and as much as people love to hype the pitchers and the big hitters, I’ve always been a catcher kinda girl. Buster Posey can do no wrong, and those are the guys telling those hotshot flame-throwers what kind of pitch to throw anyway. Nate’s character was built on a certain amount of quiet strength and integrity, and I just felt like the type of man he is would clearly be behind the plate, not on the mound.

What was your inspiration for the Falling campus/community setting?

The McConnell College campus was inspired by a mix of Oklahoma State University and the old ballpark for Arizona State, Packard Stadium. I got the idea for the first book, This Is Falling, while sitting in the left field grass during Packard’s last year in use. That place has a certain feeling to it, and I used it to fuel my story.

Are there plans to continue any of their stories in the future?

There are no concrete plans, but I am very open to the idea of revisiting them down the road. I spent a year in their lives—but only a year. I wanted the series to be this glimpse, with a start and a finish. But I won’t say goodbye for good—I enjoy them too much. I’m sure the Preeters will demand I pay attention.

What was the best piece of writing advice you ever received?

Quit worrying about what everybody thinks, and leave your fear behind.

What inspires you? Sight? Sound? Scene?

I’m inspired by real moments—sometimes it’s tragedies, sometimes reunions, and sometimes it’s just a glimpse into someone’s life. It’s the human spirit, and it’s ability to overcome, to love, to flirt or be angry, or to lay itself on the line. I have started a few of my stories, ones that I’m most proud of, with those very moments—the ones that send a person down a certain path. All I do is follow them to see if they stay there or veer off on their own.

How do you deal/solve writer’s block?

I push through it. I write and tell myself I can delete or rewrite it all later, just making myself get it on the page. More often than not, I go back and reread, and those are some of my favorite scenes.

What time of day do you find the most inspiring? Why?

Late, late, late at night. I wish this wasn’t so, because I forgo sleep often. I’m at my best when the rest of the world is snoring.

What are you currently reading?

I just finished a manuscript, so I’ve been on a reading break. I’m about to take on a Tijan Fallen Crest though.

What’s next for you? Are you working on anything right now that you can tell us about?

I just sent a follow-up to Wild Reckless off to the editor. This one, Wicked Restless, is about the brother in the first book—Andrew Harper. He’s young and his older brother did his best to shelter him from the tragedies that hit their household. You can’t go through life so protected and not come out with a host of issues, though. And Andrew’s were so much fun to explore. Add in a first love and a dose of sacrifice and you have a story about revenge and redemption. I’m super proud of it, and I can’t wait to share it. It will be out in late October.

Favorite MLB team? 🙂
Diamondbacks, win or lose. Always my boys.

Favorite ballpark concession food? 🙂
The Chicago mix—caramel and cheese popcorn.

5 Favorites

Favorite Song (right now)
This changes…a lot. Right now, I’m digging Young and Unafraid by Moth and the Flame.

Favorite Book (right now)
Hmmm, also changes. I’m going to go with Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld.

Favorite TV Show/Movie
Dirty Dancing. I know it’s not epic or academy worthy or whatever, but every time it’s on. Every. Time!

Favorite Word
Moxie

Favorite Color
Orange

Review

I buddy read this series with my lovely friend Corey… we’ve been on the hunt for some fun, sweet sports romance and this series just hit every right note with us. The boys are swoony and sweet… the girls strong and smart and the story arcs totally well developed and interesting!

Corey and I both loved the Preeter brothers. We did feel that at times Nate was unrealistically perfect, but after circling back through some favorite scenes 😉 we found that we loved him that much more. It’s okay to escape a bit into a lovely young college guy who falls hard… right?

But for Corey… it was Ty… he was real. Straight off the page, his frustration and disability just screamed off the page for her, and the best part within him was his slow surprise of falling in love with Cass. It wasn’t necessarily subtle, but between the lines, he fell more and deeper and it was just very endearing to her. And maybe the fact that he didn’t necessarily fight the falling in love part. Whereas Nate was like a loverboy. Nate grew tremendously too. His patience and understanding with Rowe was very mature.

I personally really loved Houston’s story and I think that probably has a lot more to do with my life situation than anything else. I can totally understand his stress and concerns and the constant desire to prove that he can do it all. His situation was incredibly sad but the way he loves that little girl was really just too sweet to ignore.

The story plots overall were really well done -though at times we both felt that some of the back story for Cass & Paige was a bit dramatic… we do realize it’s at time necessary in order to build on the series and create the sequels, but we’re both fans of the quiet and sweet moments and Scott definitely delivered on those to outweigh some of the other dramatics.

Overall my favorite story I think was probably Houston and Paige mostly because Paige really had to do a lot to make me like her. I was totally on the fence about her since book 1 for REASONS… but as we get to know her and see what’s happening in her life I found that I really did like her and to see her character grow was exactly what I needed. And Houston… I have a thing for single dads if you didn’t know and he’s seriously so sweet and really looks deeper to get to know Paige. I do have to say that the drama is a bit high in this one, and a bit too much at points, but I don’t even care because Houston.

Corey’s favorite was definitely Ty and Cass. She thought it was refreshing to focus on ‘differently abled’ main characters. It makes it fresh, honest, and sexy. Cass’s drama was a bit off the chain in her opinion but it was current and possible.

One of Corey’s favorite things about this NA series phenom. Is the hope of getting more of the periphery characters we come to know and love. Other than not really caring what happened to Paige (sorrynotsorry) Corey was grateful that Houston was such a swoonfest, to make that story bearable. (I can’t believe I left that in … COREY!!)

Being completely honest, Corey said she didn’t truly connect with Ty until his own story. She found him a bit garish and his ego a bit overwritten in the first. But as she got to know him, he became her favorite. The sex scenes in the second book were written so well. So tender, especially the second. Such a realistic and imperfect peek into their growth and love. When he says ‘thank you’ to Cass because all he truly wanted to do was hold her during love making was incredibly real and poignant.

I myself thought the series itself really tied together well… all three books had characters that you can’t help but find yourself caring about, story arcs that are interesting and well developed and though I would have liked to see a bit more Nate/Rowe & Ty/Cass in the final book to tie the three together even more I was happy that we did get bits of them.

We thought the writing for the series was tight. Very compelling and honestly we thought very on point emotionally for the age and experience of each of them. Especially the few years Ty had on most of these characters, really came across.

If we had one complaint it would have to be that the second book is told in parallel with the first book so we get a lot of the same story just from a different couple’s point of view… that really didn’t work for us as a whole. I get why Scott had to do it that way, (Cass and Ty’s relationship develops at the same time Rowe and Nate’s does) but I really wish we could have seen it in a different timeframe.

Overall we’ve quickly become Ginger Scott fans and can’t wait to see what she has in store in the future. We’ve already read the start of her next series, Wild Reckless, and fallen in love with Owen Harper and we’re anxiously waiting for Andrew’s story which comes out soon!!

If you’re looking for a fresh and fun voice in the new adult genre then you’re definitely going to want to pick up the Falling Series by Ginger Scott and anything else she has coming down the road! We dove into this one for the sports romance aspect and ended up staying for wonderful story arcs and amazing characters! Grab these as soon as you can!

Thank you so much to Corey for reading these and sharing her thoughts with me for this review! AND BIG HUGE Thanks to Ginger for doing the interview with us!! We’re very excited for everything she’s got next!

One follower will win a set of the Falling Series Audiobooks!!
Please see Giveaway page for blog rules!
a Rafflecopter giveaway