*I received an ARC
in exchange for my honest review*
Sam
Bradford has it all—he’s the #2 tennis player in the world,
plenty of girls want to date him, and he’ll never want for money.
At least, that’s what he thought until his accountant stole
everything and disappeared. Interpol has no idea where to start, and
neither does the American F.B.I., so Sam figures he’ll just have to
take care of his body and play a few extra years to make it
back.
When Blair Paddington, the accountant’s daughter and a friend of a friend at Whitman, shows up and claims she can help Sam get his money back he’s torn between wanting justice and the very real possibility that Blair is just as big a con man as her father. When she promises not only money, but justice, Sam agrees—but only if he can go along on the search.
The two of them set off on an adventure neither rich kid is prepared for—cheap hostels, the same clothes three days in a row, and nothing but a backpack of possessions—so they can fly under the radar as college lovers on a winter break. In spite of Blair’s shady family, her daring and resourceful personality strike Sam’s interest and he finds himself falling for the one girl he shouldn’t.
When they finally find her father, the truths that come to light not only make Sam question his affection for Blair, but could cost him more than money—if they can’t work together one last time, neither of them may be going home. Ever.
When Blair Paddington, the accountant’s daughter and a friend of a friend at Whitman, shows up and claims she can help Sam get his money back he’s torn between wanting justice and the very real possibility that Blair is just as big a con man as her father. When she promises not only money, but justice, Sam agrees—but only if he can go along on the search.
The two of them set off on an adventure neither rich kid is prepared for—cheap hostels, the same clothes three days in a row, and nothing but a backpack of possessions—so they can fly under the radar as college lovers on a winter break. In spite of Blair’s shady family, her daring and resourceful personality strike Sam’s interest and he finds himself falling for the one girl he shouldn’t.
When they finally find her father, the truths that come to light not only make Sam question his affection for Blair, but could cost him more than money—if they can’t work together one last time, neither of them may be going home. Ever.
Sam and Blair first
met when they were on holiday in St.Moritz with friends. Sam showed
his interest in Blair but Blair turned him down, not wanting to hook
up with a guy who gets every girl he wants, and too afraid to get
closer to people and actually having to trust them.
“She reminded
me of an animal in the woods, one trying to decide whether or not to
take the carrot out of my hand. Scaring her away was the last thing I
wanted.”
When they meet again
Blair tries her best to ignore her growing feelings for Sam, his
charm and him trying to make her see how good things could be if she
would just let it happen. They are on a mission: getting Sam's money
back; at least that's what Sam thinks is the plan. But for Blair it's
way more than that.
“And there was
no doubt I would lose him. The only question was when.”
After her mother
died, it's always been Blair and her father, or just Blair. Her
father's been gone most of the time, wanted by Interpol and the FBI
for stealing rich people's money.
But how much does
Blair know about Sam's stolen money when she comes to him to team up
with him to track down her father? That's what Sam tries to find out
while slowly falling for the only girl he probably shouldn't fall
for.
“You're really
pretty when you smile. For a devil.”
Sam is not the
typical rich bad boy, the manwhore known for his way of fucking
around. Sure, he had his fair share of women but I like the side of
him we get to know in Staying On Top.
I like how different the story is, compared to the other Whitman
University books (which I also highly recommend). I'm not the biggest
fan of book series but this is one of the best I've ever read. I love
the characters, how they all have their life outside of university.
LylaPayne told Sam's and Blair's story in a great way. During their road
trip we get to know both of them, how they discover their feelings,
how they try to hide them and how they fight them. It's told in a
gorgeous way of two people getting to know each other, trying to be
friends when they know there's more than that. Their feelings develop
slower than most of the NA loves in books and it's so much better, I
think. It creates an anticipation and excitement, and I loved every
page of this book.
I
couldn't put it down and love Lyla's writing style. She's an
inspiration for my own writing and that's what makes books special
for me. This one is special and I highly recommend it.
