Review: Some Kind of Perfect with Bonus Material (Krista & Becca Ritchie)

Some Kind of Perfect
Series:
 Calloway Sisters, #4.5; Addicted, #3.5
Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Publication Date: March 5, 2024 (Original: May 20, 2016)
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

The TikTok sensation Addicted Series concludes with Some Kind of Perfect, now in a print edition with special bonus material!

Falling in love was just the beginning.

Lily and Lo are childhood best friends and soul mates.

Ryke and Daisy are wild risk-takers and flirty adventurers.

Connor and Rose are genius rivals and intellectual teammates.

After ten years of laughter. Of heartache. And love. They’re all back one final time.


Some Kind of Perfect was the perfect epilogue to the entire Addicted/Calloway Sisters series. It gave the reader a look at every couple from the entire series and what their lives were like the ten years after Long Way Down ends. (The authors filled in some gaps from the glimpse Ryke gave us at the end of that book.) It was fun to see the evolution and maturation of all of my favorite characters.

My favorite thing about Some Kind of Perfect was that it was a happier, less angsty book than the rest of the series. This story felt like a happily ever after, and I loved that. Don’t get me wrong, there were still many different and sometimes tough situations for the characters to go through. They just didn’t put me on edge as much. Some Kind of Perfect was an amazing finish to this wonderful series.

As for the additional bonus content in this book… There is a playlist. I don’t really have any comments on that because I didn’t know most of the songs. There were also a few fun bonus scenes in the future. One was Moffy’s first day of high school from Lily’s POV. I could relate to how tense it made Lily and her thoughts on it. It was a sweet chapter. The next bonus scene was about the Cobalts and curfews. I loved this look at Connor and Rose parenting. The final bonus chapter is the Meadows family at the lake house, and it was eventful. Ryke was still standing up for his wife and family. It was fitting to have a bonus scene for each family to end the series.

If you’re a new adult romance fan, this series is not one to miss. The writing, characters, and plots are all amazing. It’s definitely worth the time it takes to read the entire ten books. I highly suggest binge reading it. 😉 I loved it and I think you will, too!

Review: Ice Cold Player (Nikki Hall)

Ice Cold Player
Series: Beyond the Ice, #1
Author: Nikki Hall
Publication Date: February 23, 2024
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC provided by WordSmith Publicity and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

A deal with the devil…

Gavin
Anyone but her. Eva Adams—the entitled, picture-perfect cheer princess. Incapable of empathy, patently manipulative, and absolutely beautiful. I can’t afford her drama—I just want to play my last year of hockey without being kicked out of TU, but there she is on my first day back. Crying. In a weak moment, I make her an offer. An agreement I never thought she’d take. Except she surprises me, and now I’m faced with a dilemma. Protect my secrets…or win the girl.

Eva
Anyone but him. Gavin King—the rebellious, coffee-slinging hockey god. Arrogant, irreverent, and way hotter than he has any right to be. Despite the lady tingles, I’d be happy to spend my last year at TU without seeing his face—or his tattoos—again. It should be easy. I have cheer, I have my friends, and I have nowhere to live. To my eternal frustration, he offers me a solution…for a price. When I take the deal, I can’t help wondering what else I’ll give him before the end.

Ice Cold Player is the first book in the Beyond the Ice series of interconnected standalones featuring the hockey players of Teagan University—an enemies to lovers, he falls first, forced proximity, college hockey romance with plenty of heat.


It was surprising when Mac and Eva didn’t get a happy ending or even a relationship in Play Maker, the last book in the Wild Card series. I think I can speak for Wild Card series fans when I say we hoped they would be end game. Then Blue stole Mac’s heart in the best way and Eva had some interesting interactions with Gavin at her favorite coffee shop. After that, I couldn’t be mad about Eva and Mac not ending up together. I had a feeling Eva and Gavin’s distaste for each other was going to lead to some amazing chemistry. I was right and it led to a great start to this new spin-off series.

Eva was a confident, attention attracting cheerleader. She was in the process of rebuilding old friendships and looking for a new place to live. The last place she ever thought she would end up living was with her coffee house nemesis / hockey player Gavin. Gavin was a busy guy between hockey and keeping up with his brother. He knew letting Eva and her duck move into his hockey house was a gamble, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself from offering it. She hates him and can’t stand her privilege, but behind all that hate was a raging attraction. I loved seeing it combust. The two of them pushed and pulled against each other until they ended up together. I loved how it all happened and how they supported each other when it mattered most.

While Eva and Gavin were the center of attention in this book, others also had their time to shine. Henry the duck stole the show half the time. Then there were Gavin’s roommates. I’m highly intrigued by them, especially Cole. I’m glad he’s getting a book next. Oh, and Eva’s best friend Stephen was a lot of fun, too. I even enjoyed Gavin’s brother who could have easily been someone I disliked.

The only thing I might even complain a tiny bit about was how easily and neatly everything wrapped up for Eva and Gavin in the end. It was almost too easy for them. That being said, this is a sports romance, and I didn’t expect them to go through the ringer or anything. I liked that it a nice, light read.

It was very fun being back at TU with some favorite characters and some great new ones. I love what Nikki Hall did with Eva and Gavin’s romance. I can’t wait to read Cole’s book hopefully soonish.

Review: The Tomboy and the Captain (Ginger Scott)

The Tomboy and the Captain
Series: The Final Score, #1
Author: Ginger Scott
Publication Date: February 22, 2024
Publisher: Little Miss Write LLC
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC provided by WordSmith Publicity and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

It was supposed to be my year, but then he made a bet that I couldn’t refuse…

A star senior on the Tiff U volleyball team, it’s been my goal to come back strong after an injury that nearly took me out of the game. But I’m Laney freaking Price, and I’m taking my shot to make it on the new pro women’s team, despite the lack of support from my father.

The problem? Cutter McCreary. He is the Captain of the Tiff U hockey team, all-around loveable guy, and a total player. And did I mention a complete thorn in my side since freshman year? Yeah…that guy. His charms don’t tempt me.

Until…a mix up with our housing situation forces us into a bit of a predicament. We were both promised a room. The same room.

His proposal? A bet. We split the room in half—for now. Whoever falls in love with the other first has to move out. The winner gets to stay. But when strategic glances turn into late night talks, and fake kisses start to feel real, I’m finding myself without a game plan. And winning suddenly doesn’t feel like the only thing that matters.


Ginger Scott is a chameleon when it comes to writing. While her last book felt heavy and angsty, The Tomboy and the Captain felt lighter and fun. I flew through it, reading it in one sitting.

I adored the characters. Laney was a talented college volleyball player whose confidence had taken a little bit of hit with an injury. Cutter was the hockey team’s Captain and most sought-after campus hottie. Cutter is not Laney’s favorite person and when they accidentally end up renting the same room all bets are ON. They are both determined to end up the sole inhabitant of the room. First, they have to find a way to get along while they share the room, and that’s where the fun comes.

These two don’t hate each other the way Laney wants them to. I loved how they got to know each other better and the emotional connection they made. Most of the time things were fun and flirty, but there were also some harder things they had to deal with. They way they got through those things together made my heart happy. Their romance was so sweet. 

The side characters were great. Ivy, Laney’s best friend, was driven when it came to her school and work but also highly entertaining. Ivy’s brother Matt was obnoxious but in a way that made me both laugh and shake my head. Cutter’s mom and brothers made me smile a lot. Laney and Cutter had a good group of people surrounding and supporting them.

I had such a good time reading The Tomboy and the Captain. New adult sports romance is where Ginger Scott’s writing shines the most for me and she knocked this one out of the park. If you enjoy college sports romances, you won’t want to miss this one. 

Review: My Anti-Hero (Tijan)

My Anti-Hero
Author: Tijan
Narrators: Andi Arndt, Teddy Hamilton
Publication Date:
February 8, 2024
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Sports Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

I shouldn’t have agreed to this. What was I thinking?
Appearing on a local news show? Just because something happened to me?
I live mostly in isolation on purpose.
But here I am.
I was so nervous that I needed the make-up chair, twice.
And then I walked past his room.
He’s a giant—no softness, all muscle.
And a rich beard that made me want to rub myself all over it.
He made me see stars, literally, because the second time I saw him, I tripped.
Or I would’ve, but he caught me, and the cameras were rolling.
Soon, that clip will be trending because he wasn’t just another guest on the show.
He’s Brett Broudou, the Kings’ newest football star.
We couldn’t be more opposite.
The only special thing about me is the reason I was on the show.
Brett, the Super Bowl champion, and me, the survivor who helped bring down the infamous Midwest Butcher.
Brett might not think he’s anyone’s hero, but he’s about to become mine.


If you’re a Fallen Crest High fan, I know you were as excited as I was to hear Brett Broudou was getting his own book. I’ve been wondering what happened to that dude since the FCH series ended. Now, I know. A lot has happened.

Brett has left his rough past mostly behind. He plays professional football with Stone Reeves from Enemies and against Mason Kade. And, finally, he’s been given his chance at love with Billie, the one woman who escaped a serial killer as a child, who avoids both the media and other serial killers who may want to take her down. Billie is pretty much a hermit with a close circle of her friends and family until she has an adorable meet cute with Brett on live TV. Brett’s celebrity status should scare her off, but she can’t stay away from the guy and her lusty feelings for him.

Brett and Billie’s romance was a wild ride filled up hills, valley, twists, and turns. It was classic Tijan with the slightly rambling writing and narration that has become like home to her readers, but it was also much more. It was probably one of the darkest Tijan books I’ve read. The serial killer plot was grittier, more suspenseful, and intense like her mafia books. The romance was just as addictive but lustier than most of her others, which is saying a lot. Brett and Billie were endearing, but also might just be Tijan’s horniest couple yet. I loved their connection and devotion to each other.

The side characters were also great. I loved Billie’s family and friends. They added some important moments in Brett and Billie’s story. I also enjoyed getting to know more about Brett’s family and where they were now. Plus, there were some cameos FCH and Enemies fans will love as much as I did.

I do have to admit there were a couple of things that weren’t my favorite that popped up in this book. Tijan has a habit of her heroine’s feeling a migraine coming on at least once in every book it feels like. Usually it happens multiple times, but luckily it was only once here. I wouldn’t mind her moving on from that trend. Same with all the aching references. But maybe I would miss those if they weren’t there. I don’t know. I wasn’t a fan of Brett calling Billie “Little Billie” as a nickname in passionate moments. It might not have bothered me if I had read it over hearing it said. It just sounded weird and not very romantic. It gave me the “ew” factor. I could easily look past these things, though. They didn’t hinder my enjoyment much. Oh! One last little thing… I would have loved even more Brett chapters.

Overall, I had a great time being in Brett Broudou’s world. I enjoyed his and Billie’s love story and all of the drama that went along with it. I can’t wait to find out what’s next from Tijan because I’m already missing her characters.

Review: Long Way Down with Bonus Material (Krista & Becca Ritchie)

Long Way Down
Series:
 Calloway Sisters, #4; Addicted, #3.2
Authors: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Publication Date: February 6, 2024 (Original: November 20, 2015)
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

The TikTok sensation Addicted Series continues with Long Way Down, now in a print edition with special bonus material!

With a seven-year age difference, Ryke Meadows and Daisy Calloway have faced an uphill battle in the eyes of the world and their families. Known as the most adventurous, fast-paced couple, their next step has always been elusive to the rabid media.
 
Behind the scenes, heartbreaking troubles continue to test Ryke and Daisy’s resilience and shape their future together.
 
They promise:
To never slow down.
To never compromise who they are.
To never abandon their love for each other.
 
But preserving their happiness also means taking more risks. As a professional free-solo climber, Ryke is no stranger to danger, but his next step with Daisy wagers more than just his health. With their lives on the line, Ryke and Daisy head towards the vast, wild unknown.


With every book added to the Addicted/Calloway series, I find a new favorite. Long Way Down has definitely filled that spot. It was a very beautiful “conclusion” to Ryke and Daisy’s love story. (I say “conclusion” because it was supposed to be The End, but the authors gave us a really cool epilogue novel.)

I’ve loved Ryke’s character since the beginning of the series. His honest, blunt approach to life appealed to me. I also loved his swearing. (Hey, there was just something kind of sexy about it!) He felt more real to me than the other characters. Daisy hasn’t always been my favorite, but Long Way Down really endeared her to me. I felt like I actually got to know her in this book. Her raw connection with Ryke made more sense to me and I loved the playfulness they continued to share.

The story wasn’t all fun and games, though. There were some very intense moments that had me worried. The suspense was brutal at times. But those moments lead to really moving moments between the characters, so it was well worth it. Long Way Down was another amazing addition to this series.

As for the added bonus content… There is a Halloween bonus scene from Lo’s POV that has the guys bonding and a hilariously scary time for the entire gang. There is also a short bonus text thread that was a lot of fun.

I know I’ve said it with every review for this series, but I think new adult romance lovers need to read this series. It’s simply amazing. I’ve grown so attached to the characters and I’m not looking forward to the series ending. So, go read it!

Review: The Summer Playbook (Jaqueline Snowe)

The Summer Playbook
Series: Central State Football, #2
Author: Jaqueline Snowe

Publication Date: February 6, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Sports Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Mackenzie Mallinson is an expert at two things—playing soccer and talking about soccer. Wait, there’s a third too. Crushing on her best friend’s twin brother, the star quarterback for the football team, but no one knows about that. Her senior year is her last shot at fun before entering the pros, and she refuses to let soccer be the only thing that defines her. She wants to live life to the fullest, and that requires a summer bucket list.

Dean Romano might have a line of people wanting his signature, but he’s been off his game since someone he trusted hurt him last year. Once the life of the party, he misses the old version of himself. Not the guy who slept around version, but the fun, carefree, let’s enjoy my time on earth version. With his senior year on the team starting, he wants to get back to having a good time, and the perfect opportunity arises: The Summer Playbook.

Mack needs to let loose but wants to do it with someone she trusts. Dean wants to find his mojo again with someone who doesn’t care about his potential NFL career. The two pair up to complete a bucket list of fun while ensuring there are no feelings involved. Some items are easy, like dance on a bar or go to a concert, but skinny dipping? Body shots? Things heat up, but they both agreed their deal ends once they check off every item on the list. The question remains: is love something you cross off a list or a game you can win?


ADORABLE.
FUN.
SWEET.
STEAMY. 

Do I need to say more to get you to want to read this book? I guess I should give a little more insight what a heartwarming romance The Summer Playbook was. 

Mack has had a crush on Dean from the moment she met him. She’s never acted on her feelings because his twin sister is her best friend, and she knows he’s not into her. When Mack decides to let loose the summer before her senior year of college with a list of crazy, fun things to complete, she’s surprised when Dean offers to do the list with her. Dean has some stuff he wants to move on from and Mack’s list (and Mack herself) feel like the perfect way to do just that. But only for the summer. This leads to a summer of exploration, new friendship, feelings neither know what to do with and a lot of fun. 

I adored Mack and Dean. I loved how focused Mack was on her future soccer career and improving the lives of future athletes. She was a little self-conscious, which made her relatable. Mack’s wanting to push herself out of her comfort zone was inspiring and also a great way to bring her together with Dean. Dean was the big man on campus as Central State’s quarterback. A former player (in the non-football sense of the word), he was working through some trust and mental setbacks. The way he worked through his thoughts and feelings made me love him. Mack and Dean had chemistry that leapt off the page and a swoony emotional connection. I adored every minute they spent working on their list and building a bond. I also loved how Snowe didn’t make one of them sacrifice their sport for the other. 

Being the second book in the series brought back some of the great characters from the first book. I adored seeing Lo and Luca and the rest of the roommates. Callum cracked me up and I loved how he was “one of the girls”. Speaking of the girls, I loved the girl gang showing up to support Mack. These characters were all so fun and I hope the rest of them get books of their own in the series. 

So, yeah. I can’t recommend this book enough. If you love college sports romances that are adorable, fun, sweet, swoony, and steamy this book is for you. 

Mini Reviews: The Enforcer (Keelan), Bossy Devil (Ivers), and Behind the Net (Archer)

I’ve been in a sports romance reading mood. Here are three mini reviews for hockey novels I’ve read lately. Surprisingly, they all have kind of a second chance vibe to them. That’s not my favorite trope, but it worked for all of these.

The Enforcer
Series: Lakeside University, #1
Author: Avery Keelan
Publication Date: June 23, 2022
Publisher: Avery Keelan
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

I’m normally not a big second chance romance reader because there are usually a lot of flashbacks. Thank goodness this one didn’t have any since there were only two years between them breaking up and getting back together. I loved Nash and Violet’s romance. I felt a true connection between them. They had their issues, especially moving on from the past, but they worked hard on them together. Sometimes Nash drove me nuts with his avoidance of stuff, but he was trying. Their relationship was really passionate, too. Although, I could have done without the “petal” nickname because it made me want to gag. And I wasn’t bothered by what both Nash and Violet did when they weren’t together, but it will rub some people wrong. They weren’t saints. That made their romance feel more real to me, though. Overall, a great start to the series. I was disappointed to find out I couldn’t binge the rest of the books, as they seem to be unavailable anywhere. 🙁

Bossy Devil
Series: Nashville Devils, #5
Author: Melissa Ivers
Publication Date: January 5, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

Late last year I binged the first four books in the Nashville Devils series. They were so much fun, and I couldn’t wait for the next book – even though it was Gordon’s, and I wasn’t that fond of his character. He changed my mind pretty quickly in this book. His father had a huge impact on his life in ways he couldn’t even imagine. I immediately loved Riley. She was a strong, single mother. She guarded her heart and her daughter with all she had. I loved that Gordon’s reuniting with Riley brought the things that mattered to him back into focus and corrected some wrongs between them. I also loved that the flashbacks were kept to a minimum and this book focused on their reuniting and love in the present. This book was a great addition to this steamy hockey romance series. 

Behind the Net
Series: Vancouver Storm, #1
Author: Stephanie Archer
Publication Date: June 30, 2023
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½

My thoughts:

Behind the Net was good, but it could have been great. It fell prey to the current trend of being overly long. I adored the characters, loved their backstory, felt their connection, got irritated at their dumb choices, and loved the places the romance and story went. It just didn’t need to be 424 pages. The first half of the book could have been edited down a bit because there wasn’t enough going on there besides set up and Jaime and Pippa’s longing. I want to try the second book because it’s about Pippa’s sister, but I’m hesitant knowing that one is about the same length as this book. 

 

Series Review: Rules of the Game (Avery Keelan)

I’ve been in a sports romance mood lately, so when Amazon recommended the Rules of the Game series to me and it was in KU, I thought why not. I accidentally started with the second book in the series, and I enjoyed it, so I went back and read the first. I will say that I think the covers with the male models fit this series better than these illustrated covers, but for once I also like the illustrated covers.

Offside
Series: Rules of the Game, #1
Author: Avery Keelan
Publication Date: December 5, 2022
Publisher: Avery Keelan
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

I’m actually glad I read Shutout prior to Offside. Not because I didn’t enjoy Offside. I did. A lot. I say that because Shutout gave me a taste of Keelan’s writing before I read this one. This book was about 250 pages longer, and I felt those pages. There was so much good stuff to Chase and Bailey’s romance, but almost too much. At 60% it felt like it should be wrapping up. At 75% I was wondering what else could possibly happen. Big stuff did happen after that, but I couldn’t help thinking some readers might not be so patient for the HEA. That being said, I did love the characters and their romance. I felt their emotional connection and chemistry and loved their relationship. The epilogue was a little weird to me because of how it jumped 3 years into the future when book 2 takes place not too long after this one, but it was still fun to find out where things ended up between them. I would say this is well worth reading, just be prepared to be in it for the long haul. 

Shutout
Series: Rules of the Game, #2
Author: Avery Keelan
Publication Date: November 21, 2023
Publisher: Avery Keelan
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

Seraphina and Tyler officially meet when she switches college and moves in with her brother and a couple of his teammates. Little does her brother know that they meet in a nightclub before. They know they can’t act (again) on their attraction, but their chemistry is too much to look away from and they end up sneaking around to be with each other. I loved the dynamics between Sera and Tyler. They both wanted the same type of relationship and built a strong friendship along the way. I loved their text questions and the way they were there for each other. Sera was dealing with her mom’s cancer and Tyler with the pressure to perform on the ice. It was all done really well, and this story still managed to be light and fun with all of the heavy stuff hanging over their heads.

Overall thoughts:

Like I said above, I’m glad I read book 2 before book 1 even though I enjoyed them both. I hope this series isn’t over. I would love to read more about some of the supporting characters, like Bailey’s brother or the new addition to Ty’s team this season. I also wouldn’t mind a book for Dallas and Siobahn. I’m looking forward to reading more from Keelan in 2024. 

Review: I See London (Chanel Cleeton)

I See London
Series: International School, #1
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Publication Date: December 26, 2023 (Original: December 20, 2013)
Publisher: Canary Street Press
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

For the first time in print! New York Times sensation Chanel Cleeton’s international, angst-fueled romance is perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Lucy Score.

Maggie Carpenter is a small-town Southern girl who’s never been kissed. She’s ready for a change—and to leave her ordinary life and a failed attempt to get into Harvard behind. She accepts a scholarship to the International School in London, where she’s suddenly mingling with the privileged offspring of diplomats and world leaders.

When Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the life she has always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari, wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only problem? There’s someone else, someone she can’t seem to keep her hands off of.

Half French, half Lebanese and impossibly rich, Samir Khouri has made it clear to Maggie that despite their intense attraction, he doesn’t do relationships. He’s the opposite of everything she thought she wanted—a player with no interest in commitments—but she just can’t keep away. Torn between her dream guy and the one haunting her thoughts, Maggie must fight for her own happy ending. But in a city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in the blink of an eye.

International School
Book 1: I See London
Book 2: London Falling

I’m a big fan of Cleeton’s more recent books, so it was fun to go back to where her publishing journey started with the re-release of I See LondonI See London was different from what I’ve read from Cleeton so far. The writing was still great, but I could see how much it has blossomed over the years. This was a new adult romance set at university on London. Originally released in 2013, this book had all of the qualities NA romances of that time. Maggie, having been rejected by Harvard, excepts a scholarship to study in London. While there, she learns a lot about herself and makes some frustrating decisions – the way teenagers do. She meets new friends, starts a relationship, and longs for another guy’s attention. There’s a bit of a love triangle that isn’t shocking in how it turns out and some fun drama. I wasn’t quite sure what to think of the cliffhanger ending. I didn’t love it, but it did make me interested in what might come next. Overall, it was a good read. Not quite what I would expect from Cleeton these days, but a good look back at where she began.

Series Review: Wild Card, Books 0.5-4 (Nikki Hall)

A couple weeks ago I got an author newsletter that recommended sports romances. One of those was Nikki Hall’s Front Runner. I read it and fell in love with all of the TU players and characters. It started me on a binge read and now I’m giving you mini reviews for each book in the series. If you’re a fan of college sports or football romances, this series is for you! It’s in KU, if you use that program.

Game Changer
Series: Wild Card, #0.5
Author: Nikki Hall
Publication Date: May 10, 2022
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance, Novella

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ 

My thoughts:

I wish Derrick and Nadia’s romance was a full-length romance instead of a novella simply because everything has to happen at a faster pace in a novella. I loved these characters, and I adored them together. I enjoyed how their relationship progressed and the drama that unfolded. I can only imagine what’s next with that stinking coach by what they went through (and also because I started at book 2 and got a hint). This was a strong start to the series I’ve fallen in love with.

Rule Breaker
Series: Wild Card, #1
Author: Nikki Hall
Publication Date: September 23, 2022
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

My thoughts:

I have to admit I wasn’t so sure about Soren after his introduction in Game Changer. He seemed like a bit of a jerk. Hall changed my mind about him with how he treated Vi. Vi was cool. She was a strong person and could give Soren a run for his money. I loved how their fake dating turned real. Their chemistry was fire! They were a great couple, and their story was a lot of fun!

Front Runner
Series: Wild Card, #2
Author: Nikki Hall
Publication Date: March 24, 2023
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

My thoughts:

I can’t remember which author recommended Nikki Hall’s Front Runner in their newsletter but THANK YOU! I loved this college football sports romance between the male quarterback and the new to the team female football player. RJ/Riley/Loralei was a great character pushing through challenges most female athletes don’t have to. Parker Shaw was an all-around good guy and a great team captain. I adored how they pushed and supported each other. Their romance was forbidden by the university, but their attraction and chemistry are too much for them to withstand and it led to a great romance. I was impressed by Hall’s writing and storytelling. I can’t wait to binge the rest of the series.

Hard Hitter
Series: Wild Card, #3
Author: Nikki Hall
Publication Date: June 23, 2023
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

My thoughts: 

It was apparent in Front Runner that Noah had a crush on his friend’s younger sister and that it was going to be a problem for him because he valued his friendship and wouldn’t push its boundaries…That was until he can’t fight his feelings anymore in Hard Hitter. I loved Noah. He was the strong, silent type and a great person. Chloe was a little harder to love, but only because I hated that she put up such barriers and wanted to keep secrets. I adored their romance. Their emotional connection was sweet, and their chemistry was fire.

Play Maker
Series: Wild Card, #4
Author: Nikki Hall
Publication Date: September 29, 2023
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

My thoughts:

My first thought at the end of Hard Hitter was no Mac and Eva? That was a relationship I wanted to see happen. Then I read this book and wondered how I ever pictured Mac and Eva ending up together because Adam and Blue were something special. I switched to Adam because Blue calls him by his first name and not his nickname. Blue saw the “real” Adam beyond his extroverted football star status. I loved how she supported not only his football dream but all his others. Mac/Adam was a great guy who took with Blue’s heart and feelings. She was the introvert to his extrovert, and it worked well. Their relationship may have started off as friends, but it was easy to see why it progressed to more. I adored Adam and Blue together and I’ve never been happier that I didn’t get what I originally wanted.

Overall thoughts:

Like I said at the beginning of this post, if you love sports romance you should give this series a try. It’s a lot of fun with a great cast of characters. Once I finished the series, I had to sign up for Hall’s newsletter to get all of the extended epilogues. I didn’t want to be done with the series! I’m excited Hall is spinning off this series with Eva’s book and staying at TU. I am sad I have to wait for Ice Cold Player because I want to keep binging!