2.5 stars -- I received a free copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

Well, this book was kind of a disappointment. I've enjoyed other books by this author, both YA paranormal and NA contemporary, so I was excited to see her book on NetGalley and immediately requested it! I was even more intrigued with a book that would show cheerleading in a good light (instead of the villainous light we usually see it in).

But. :( Then I started reading. And I guess the overarching theme of my feelings for this book is that it's flat. The characters are flat. The plot is flat. The chemistry is flat. Honestly, it's been a while since I've felt so ambivalent towards characters. Well, I guess I felt quite a bit of dislike for Freya, so that's more than ambivalence. But in all honesty, I really just didn't understand who either of these characters actually were. They had a lot of "paper traits" (which is a new term I'm going to coin). ie ON PAPER they could have been really interesting characters. But we never really got to understand them as individuals, so I felt nothing for either of them really. Well, except extreme annoyance towards Freya.

The book starts off with both characters having secrets, even from the reader, and that shit just annoys me. Luckily it didn't last very long, but I don't understand why the author chose to start it as a secret in the first place, b/c it wasn't that big a deal. And I guess that's the whole thing...we did not get enough backstory of either character to really understand what shaped them. The author tried, but it fell flat. Freya's personality and attitude was honest to goodness CONFOUNDING to me. Why did she have trust issues? Why did Mia's family's love not make up some of that? Why would her parents neglect make her less trusting? Why was she so mean and rude to Rhett? Why did she not want a relationship? WHY WHY WHY??? We're told some reasons, but I need to be shown them, and I never was. So I had no empathy for Freya whatsoever. And because we weren't given enough about Freya, I couldn't do anything but dislike her more and more for the way she treated Rhett. Like seriously, she was just a straight up jerk. For a book that was trying to show cheerleaders in a better light, Freya kind of failed inadvertently. Luckily the sport looked pretty cool, but she was even kind of mean and judgemental to her fellow cheerleaders. And the over the top hysterical way she reacted to things just had me raising my eyebrows and writing her off. I don't get it.

So how in the world did I end up rounding up on this book? Well, I guess Rhett. Though maybe even he's not a good enough reason. He was also flat, the same thing -- we were told so many things about him, but we weren't shown. I didn't feel enough for him, though I felt more for him than Freya. He started off in the book appearing like a TOTALLY different kind of guy, and honestly his personality felt like it did a 180 after the first chapter. I don't get that. But after the 180, he was kind of sweet, and intriguing, and he had a lot of paper qualities that I should have fallen in love with. And I did like him. I mean, he was patient, kind, funny, charming. But I don't understand why he was interested in Freya. Like not at all. And despite all those paper qualities, I still didn't *feel* anything for him.

I felt like the author took shortcuts in places to make the plot work. Particularly having Rhett be into break dancing and jiu jitsu. Why was he into those sports? Who got him into those sports? How could he afford that? It was convenient though, b/c then it made his proficiency at cheerleading make sense.

*sigh* After writing all this out, I think I'm going to have to round down. I just don't think there's enough to justify rounding up. Because I have another peeve. The writing around the dialogue was incorrect I think. And because of that, it was ridiculously hard to figure out who was speaking, and so it constantly took me out of the book. I had hoped it was just in the ARC version, but I glanced at the sample and it appears to still be the case. I'm not an editor or proofreader, but I know when something's wrong, and this was not done well in this book. (like he would speak, then she would laugh in the same paragraph, then there would be a new paragraph and more dialogue, and sometimes it would be her speaking and sometimes it would be him -- an exaggeratedly simple example).

So yeah. Bummer. Mega bummer. I might still round up. Rhett really did have so much potential. *sigh* I hate writing reviews for books like this... :(

Into Your Arms tells the story of Freya and Rhett. Its a sweet new adult romance with some angst and drama. I didn't feel this one was too deep like many new adult romance I read and would make a good holiday/beach read.

Without giving too much away as I don't do spoilers, Freya moves away from her family and friends to start a fresh while she works through some things and finds 'herself' (I think that's the best way to put it without giving a spoiler). She hasn't time for boyfriends and doesn't want to deepen her friendship by off loading what has happened, she's keeping a big secret and only her best friend at home knows. Then Rhett comes into her life and accepts a drunken dare from Freya on a night out. The story really unfolds from there I'd like to say. Rhett and first was the perfect book boyfriend for me. But as the story went on he came across a bit too much in touch with his feminine side. He felt like the 'gay best friend' at times (Take away the sexual chemistry). I guess I like a bad boy and although he seemed that in the initial chapters when Rhett and Freya meet he soon loses that edge. This was no way a fault on the book, he just wasn't my cup of tea if you like (Its like when you have to choose between Sam or Dean Winchester. Sam's nice and all but Dean just comes across as far more appealing - see Bad boy lover here LOL)!. Rhett also comes with his own baggage which I felt was handled and wrote to well in this book. In fact even Freya's 'issues' in the book were wrote in such a manor I felt that Chelsea had really researched (or knows someone who has gone through what Freya and Rhett had) the subjects.

I did find at times this was a little slow for me which is why I think this is more of a 3 star for me. The latter half of the book does pick up which is great but I would have rathered a more even flow. 3 stars, a sweet NA romance I'm sure many will love!

This was my first book by this author and I was really excited to sink into this yummy NA storyline. Unfortunately it fell completely flat for me. I felt like the set-up was forced and...cliche? The dialogue was so stiff for me and I have to say - I really, really did not like Freya. I felt like there was an agenda to paint cheerleaders in a different light, which I fully support. However every other character came off like a total stereotype and ultimately I was so distracted by all these things that I never connected to characters or storyline.

It was disappointing, but I think this is just not the series for me. I may try another of this author's work because I've heard fantastic things. This just felt way too immature and contrived angsty for me.

Having read and enjoyed other books by Chelsea Cameron I was looking forward to reading this one and ‘Into Your Arms’ was a sweet read that tells the story of Freya and Rhett. About how they meet, what secrets they have and what they have dealt with in the past.

Unfortunately for me this was a book that I just didn’t feel or connect with in the same way as I did with her other books. I struggled with Freya’s character and her back and forth along with her attitude at times. Rhett was a bit too good to be true but that is what is what we want in a book boyfriend.

Overall this was a sweet tale that had some angst and was heart warming at bits. There were a lot of parts of the book that I enjoyed and it will in no way stop me from reading more from Chelsea Cameron’s work but this just didn’t hit the spot for me.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

DNF - no review left. Couldn't connect with the characters.

Actual rating 3.5/5

I've read several books by this author and I've always enjoyed all of them, so I knew it would not be different with this one.

"Into your arms" is NA romance written in a dual PoV, so we get to know Freya's and Rhett's perspective and thoughts, which I appreciate, because it helps the reader to know the main characters better. And what about them? I really like that they break the mold. I love that Rhett is a soft boy (even though he looks like a really tough one) who's head over heels in love with Freya; and that Freya is that stubborn girl who doesn't want to know anything about having a boyfriend or opening up to people.

Another thing that I really like about this story is that it features cheerleaders that aren't cast as the villains. Even more, cheerleaders that enjoy reading! And yes, Chelsea M. Cameron had me at the first "Pride and prejudice" reference ^^

Also, I found the secondary characters really interesting (specially that interracial f/f couple) and I hope we can get to know them better in the next instalments :)

In my opinion, "Into your arms" is not Cameron's best work (it can be a bit repetitive and the ending is kind of rushed), but it's still a cute (and steamy) story that you can read in one sitting.

the squad stories series opens with into your arms, where cheerleader freya has moved up to maine state university from texas in order to search for her biological mother. when fellow student rhett approaches her at a bar, she dares him to join the cheerleading squad never expecting to see him again. except he takes her up on the challenge. and in spite of his relative inexperience when it comes to cheerleading, he is exactly what the squad needs in order to have a chance at making nationals.

freya spends most of her time irritated by rhett. it's really hard to understand why, because all he is doing is being a nice guy. he is trying to get to know her and she is so antagonistic that it makes little sense. because the truth is she actually is attracted to him and knows that he's a nice guy. so it's really hard to reconcile how she treats him for most of the novel with how patient and forgiving and not insane rhett is with her.

when she forgets to be annoyed by him and forgets that she has commitment issues, freya has the ability to be pleasant. and the reality is that she did get a raw deal and she has reasons to be gun shy. but her over the top reaction to rhett's revelation that he grew up in the foster care system still makes no sense. he confesses something personal and difficult and she runs away and is upset because they both had crappy childhoods? that's just not a normal way to react, and even when freya acknowledged that her reactions weren't appropriate this self-awareness didn't feel right, because she would do nothing to apologize or mitigate these behaviors.

rhett and freya manage to get on the same page, but you wonder why he bothers with it. freya is kind of a shrew. and he's pretty much the perfect guy. maybe if the two characters had been less extreme, freya less shrill and rhett less dreamy, it would have been easier to redeem the relationship. as it is, i'm not sure it works.

I really liked the premise for Into Your Arms. A heroine AND hero cheerleader? You’ve got my attention! And the hero is also bearded, has tattoos, and works/wants to work with kids? BE STILL MY HEART! And all of that was cute and different and enjoyable, don’t get me wrong! But as much as I liked the idea of the story and even the first, hm, maybe 50% of the book, after that things got a bit repetitive, nothing seemed to be moving forward in any way, and then the last 15% was very rushed, trying to wrap up the plot about the heroine’s mother as well as the jump to “I love you/HEA”, but not doing it in an entirely satisfying and believable way.

It wasn’t a bad read by any means, but I felt like the first part was a lot stronger than the latter, and while overall it was a quick, cute read that I enjoyed, I was still a bit disappointed, too. As much as I loved watching these two slowly build a kinda-friends-kinda-fuck-buddies-kinda-wait-what-are-these-feels relationship, and all the adorable domestic moments (he loves to cook, too – did I mention that?! *swoon*), it also made for a bit of a lackluster read after a while, with not much else moving the story forward. And even the plot about her finding her birth mother wasn’t truly compelling, and really didn’t come into play on page – minimally so, even then -- until the last 15% or so (and wasn’t really handled the best, at least for me).


So. Points for a cute couple, points for a unique hero and having a romance where the cheerleaders are not the Evil Bitches but the heroines (and hero). But the execution of the story did fall a bit flat for me. I enjoyed the journey but wasn’t wowed by it. I highlighted quite a few quotes, which is always a good sign though! I do like Cameron’s writing, and have read some of her previous novels, and I’m still curious enough about this group of characters to come back and try the rest of the series. This one was nice but could have been a bit tighter in the story and pacing.

I didn't like Freya at all. I couldn't connect with or understand her at all. She was selfish and horrible to him, and,I kept,rooting for him to leave her.

I am so bummed about having to give this review, but this was a DNF- did not finish- for me.

I was so excited to read a new book from Chelsea M. Cameron. But the parts that I did read were SO full of over-the-top angst that I had to walk away.

Sadly I didn't enjoy this one at all. For college students I found these characters very immature and I just couldn't connect with them. Not sure why Freya was so secretive but I found her very frustrating. Rhett was very cute but what he saw in Freya I'm not sure. I really didn't care how the story made it seem like anyone could just walk into the gym and join a cheer squad. I've been around cheer long enough to know that just isn't the case.

I loved this author book " my favorite mistake" I like how they first meet it was cute
How Rhett got to talking to her. And how he was with the kids at the day care.

Freya has completely uprooted herself from everything she knows to find something or someone she knows nothing about. Her Texas home is now in the rearview mirror and her new life in Maine is straight ahead. Her mind is on two things; cheer and finding out who she really is. Nowhere is there room in her life for guys; At least not until she comes across Rhett and all of his hotness. Not only is he hot but he’s charming and one of the nicest guys she’s ever met. Even though she’s made it perfectly clear she’s not interested he continues to pursue her and her walls crumble down slowly and pretty soon, he’s as much a part of her life as cheer is, but with her secret she can’t completely let him in.
The last thing Rhett ever expected to do was find himself on a cheer squad but when sexy Freya dares him to show up for try outs and he makes the team he finds not only does he like it, it gets him closer to Freya; but Freya is a closed book. He knows she’s just as attracted to him as he is to her but she’s keeping him at arm’s length. Freya is definitely hiding something and Rhett’s determined to learn her secret so he plays the game the way Freya wants, as just friends, but the more time they spend together the harder and deeper he falls and being friends with Freya just isn’t enough.
I really, really wanted to love this book but unfortunately, I could only like it. I loved the story line and the characters but something was just off to me. There wasn’t that thing to make the story completely gel for me. I felt like it was hard to understand Freya because I just didn’t get enough of her background. What I got was that she didn’t have the best childhood; her parents weren’t the most loving and she finds out by accident that she’s adopted but that’s basically it. There wasn’t enough meat to her backstory. I mean she completely up and left her old life there had to be a bit more that led to the decision. Speaking of Freya, can you say Ah-noy-ing. I feel like I got more from Rhett than Freya. As for Rhett, he was a really nice guy; honestly…a little too nice considering the way Freya treated him. At time I found his actions a little creepy and stalker-ish but for the most part he was pretty decent.
While the primary story didn’t work for me, what did work was the desire to learn more about the supporting characters. Since is the first book in a series, I’m kind of hoping to learn more about Freya’s friend Tobi and Rhett’s friend Jem. I think there are definitely some juicy stories there. I’d also like to learn more about Freya’s friend Mia and her family that pretty much took Freya as their own. So I’ll be keeping a look out for books from these guys.

DNF at 48%.

Full disclosure I'm not that keen on cheerleading and calling it 'cheer' doesn't help, but really it's the two principal characters that I don't relate to/ like.

First off it has several of the YA/NA characteristics that irritate me beyond belief. First person POV, alternate first person POV, lip biting, adoption, children's homes, shitty childhoods, stupid names, and oh the angst!

Rhett (yup, stupid name) is just too good to be true. He reads the classics, he works with children, he cooks, his apartment is clean, he is good-looking with a beard and tats, he joins the cheer leading squad on a Dare and pow, he's the best guy on the squad.

Freya is a total drama queen, she makes a big thing out of her 'secret' which is NOTHING. She has supposedly moved to Maine to do 'something' but frankly at 48% through the book she has done nothing more than look on Facebook once. She apparently doesn't have time for Rhett but is happy to mooch off him for food and getting s angry at him FOR NO REASON.

When I start to make angry notes on my kindle I know it's time to quit.

Recommended if you like high angst young college romances.

I wanted to love Into Your Arms. I really did. It was just so boring, and I couldn't stand Freya. By 40% into the book, I found myself skimming. I wanted to DNF it, but I thought maybe the end would make up for the slow paced middle. It didn't. The reason I couldn't stand Freya was because she of her self-talk about Rhett. She wanted him, but she knew she shouldn't. There wasn't anything wrong with him, so I'm not sure why that had to take up so much of her inner monologue. If there was anything wrong with Rhett, it was how into her he was or his weird nickname for her. I do have to give credit to the author for positively spotlighting cheerleading as a sport, and making Rhett cute with his love for kids.

I'm really surprised by how flat I found Into Your Arms. I enjoyed the author's earlier NA romances, particularly For Real and My Favorite Mistake. But I found myself repeatedly checking if the author of those fun college romances was the same as this shallow, repetitive, listless story.

Freya is a recent transfer from Texas to Maine where she wants to pursue her college cheer career and figure out her origins. Other than her name, there is nothing particularly likable about Freya. The way she treats Rhett, her parents, surrogate parents, friends, and everyone around her shows how emotionally withdrawn, childish, overwrought, and self-centered this chick is.

And if you dislike Freya, then it makes it more difficult to understand why Rhett pursues her as ardently as he does. Rhett is some kind of lumbersexual cheerleading savant (he joins the squad just to get close to Freya) who has endless patience with Freya constantly dismissing his interest in her with such cutting, sophisticated remarks like, "You're so weird" like some emotionally stunted pre-teen. Rhett cooks for her and endures rounds of her emotional outbursts. Frankly, I couldn't understand what he found attractive about her in the first place.

Here's an example of Freya's frequent flyer freakouts:(view spoiler)

Every time Freya is upset about something, she runs and hides in her apartment. Although she claimed to have transferred to Maine to (view spoiler), the only thing Freya ever does is eat junk food, complain about Rhett, and have sex with Rhett. Then, (view spoiler) And even though Freya admits to herself she didn't handle it well and should apologize to Rhett, she still makes the poor guy grovel over and over. My eyes hurt from rolling.

I really hope the author returns to her earlier style of writing where the characters were original and sweet, as I think I'm done with this cheer squad.

Review Into Your Arms was a nice, gentle read. The characters and story were sweet and I really liked how the main characters were cheerleaders and how that whole aspect was spun with a very positive steer.

For me the story started really well and I was intrigued as to how the plot and story was going to pan out, however, the middle section of the book stalled a little for me and felt somewhat repetitive. The last 40% of the story though was great and really picked up and it ended on a real high.

Overall an ok read for me.

I requested this book because I have enjoyed others from the author but this one didn't work for me. I did finish the book and thought the end was better, but the writing felt rushed or off and the story was too predictable.

I enjoyed this book