Book Review: Waking Olivia by Elizabeth O’Roark

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Waking Olivia
Author: Elizabeth O'Roark
Reading Level: New Adult
Genres: Romance | College | Sports
Released: March 14th 2016
Review Source: NetGalley

A college track star with nothing to lose.
A coach who may lose everything to save her.

Will Langstrom has a failing farm, his father’s debt and a struggling college track team. The last thing he needs is Olivia Finnegan, a beautiful but troubled new transfer student.

Olivia Finnegan is her own worst enemy, with a past she can't seem to escape, and the last person she wants help from is a cocky track coach she can never seem to please.

Refusing to be pushed away, Will is determined to save her.
And determined to resist an attraction that could destroy them both.

I loved everything about Waking Olivia. The story contains so many elements that I normally don't get in one book, so when I read the description on NetGalley, I just knew I would connect with this book and I sure did.

Let's begin with the romance, it doesn't happen right away, which I don't know about you, but I prefer some build up and work put into the relationship. Eighty percent of romance stories don't put work into it, it's like this cosmic thing over and over again. Maybe once or twice but not every romance should be that way. I wanna read that the two people falling for each other, struggle with it and fight against it for whatever reasons and they don't just fall into each other arms right away. Waking Olivia provides that and more. Once it does happen, you will feel so relived and just so happy for the them.

Then the next element I heart, is the sport content of the story. I have always has sports in my life since I was little and still at my age it's a constant. So stories that incorporate sports are always a plus but when the female character is the one involved in said sports, I hit jackpot. Waking Olivia lets us see into the world of collegiate level track and that it's hard work and tons of dedication. I really admire Olivia and her struggles as she tries to stay on top of her sports while dealing with everything else from her past.

Waking Olivia was just perfect, the story doesn't weight down on you and it keeps you going at the speed of Olivia's running. The author did a great job incorporating Olivia's past and her current situation and how a coach is able to go above and beyond to help his athlete. Yes lines were crossed but coach knew this was the only way he could help this young women in succeeding not just in her running but with her life in whole. When everyone was giving up on Olivia, Will had all the faith in the world in her.

I hope you pick up a copy of Waking Olivia if you haven't already.