Tag: Sports

Mini Reviews: Jock Blocked & Liar, Liar, Hearts on Fire, and Fool Me Once

Jock Blocked
Series: Copper Valley Fireballs, #1
Author: Pippa Grant
Publication Date: May 19, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

She can’t let him score…

Call it superstition, but when a guy bats as hot as Brooks Elliott, you don’t mess with what’s working. And what’s working is him keeping his pants zipped and doing all of his scoring on the field.

So when I hear he’s planning to ditch his V-card now that he’s been traded to baseball’s lovable losers — aka my home team and my reason for living every March through October — I do what any rational, dedicated, obsessed fan would do.

I make a plan to stop him.

But the thing about stopping him is that it requires spending time with him.

Lots. And lots. And lots of time.

And the more time I spend with him, the more I like him. Not as the guy who’s going to help save my favorite team and finally bring home a championship ring, but as the guy who’s helping me in my quest to bring back the team’s old mascot. Who also loves making pancake and bacon sandwiches. And who would do almost anything for his love of the game.

But after all this time of jock-blocking him… do I even have a chance?

And if I do, are we both destined to a life of celibacy in the name of winning?

Jock Blocked is a home run of a romantic comedy featuring the world’s most superstitious sports fan, baseball’s oldest virgin hero, a rogue meatball, an adorable puppy with a cussing problem, and the best lovable losers. It stands alone and comes with a happily ever after more satisfying than a game-winning grand slam.

My thoughts:

Jock Blocked is now in my top three Pippa Grant books. It was absolutely hilarious. Mackenzie was a crazy obsessive fan with all her superstitions. I loved the way she inserted herself into Brooks’ life in order to keep him celibate and winning games. There were so many funny moments and a crazy dog collar. I loved every minute of this rom-com.

Liar, Liar, Hearts on Fire
Series: Bro Code, #3
Author: Pippa Grant
Publication Date: March 24, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

The lies will come back to bite you every time…

Never borrow pants from your brother. Especially if he’s a size smaller than you are, because all that pressure in the junk will short-circuit your brain.

And you’ll lie to a woman in a club about your real name.

Leave her unsatisfied after making out in a bathroom.

Then find out that she’s the one thing standing in the way of your dreams. And she very much doesn’t like being lied to.

Now I have to convince Lila Valentine—the woman I can’t stop thinking about, my biggest regret, and my new boss—that I’m what’s best for the baseball team she’s inherited.

If we can’t work together to save the Fireballs, the commissioner’s forcing a sale and moving them across the country.

I’ll do anything to save my home team.

But the one thing I can’t do?

Keep my hands to myself.

Which would be fine, if she hadn’t been telling me lies this whole time too.

Liar, Liar, Hearts on Fire is a rocking fun romance between a single dad obsessed with baseball, an heiress with secrets, baseball pants, a rundown team, and rabid ducks. It stands alone and comes with a guaranteed happily-ever-after.

My thoughts:

If you’re a fan of single dad romances, you will love this book. Tripp is a great dad, and he shines in this book with his devotion to his kids. Lila is a sweet woman who falls for the man and his kids. It also has a small enemies to lover vibe that’s fun. It was just one of those really entertaining romances filled with humor and swoon worthy moments.

Note: I wish I had read this one before Jock Blocked because it kind of sets some of that book up, but it didn’t an affect on how I felt about either books.

Fool Me Once
Author: Nicole Williams
Publication Date: January 14, 2019
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Nicole Williams:

He wants a second chance with his first love.

Before he was writing chart-topping hits and smashing record sales, Chase Lawson was Emma’s childhood friend and first love. They promised each other forever, but forever expired at eighteen, when he landed a major record deal and left Emma and their hometown behind.

Ten years later, he shows up at their high school reunion with a proposition she can’t refuse. Six months. Seven figures. He gets a chance to clean up his reputation, and she gets the means to restore the old family farmhouse. It’s only for show—hold hands in public, kiss for the cameras—but boundaries blur behind closed doors.

It isn’t long before Emma feels her resolve slipping, crushed by the shadow of the boy she grew to love in the man selling out stadiums of present. Can Emma resist one of the most irresistible bachelors in the world? Or will she fall for the same man twice?

My thoughts:

I don’t know what it is, but I love contemporary romances involving country singers. I think it’s the thought that maybe some of the songs they have written are about their love interest. Yeah, that’s probably it. This one was especially fun because the main character Emma, who was the MC, was Chase’s ex-high school sweetheart. It was also less than 200 pages and flew by. The only thing I wasn’t a fan of was the ending. I didn’t like the choice Chase made because it felt a little forced. I wish Emma’s actions had been different, but that didn’t keep me from falling for this romance.  Fool Me Once was a fun second chance romance.

Review: Varsity Heartbreaker (Ginger Scott)

Varsity Heartbreaker
Series: Varsity, #1
Author: Ginger Scott
Publication Date: May 28, 2020
Genre: Mature Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports
Note: This review is for an ARC from WordSmith Publicity and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Lucas Fuller is a lot of things.
He’s the boy next door.
He’s the first crush I ever had.
He was my first kiss.
He’s also the only person who has ever broken my heart.

For two years, I’ve wondered what happened to the us I used to know.
We were best friends, and then suddenly…we weren’t.
I tried to run away from it. I even changed schools just to make the hurt disappear.
But no matter how hard I tried to not think about Lucas, I just couldn’t stay away from the high school quarterback with perfect blue eyes and so many secrets.

I’m back. We’re seniors now. We’ve grown—all of us. And Lucas Fuller might be different, but I’m different too. This is my time to take risks, to experience life and to fall in love for real.

I want Lucas Fuller to be a part of my story, but I know for that to happen, I need to know the truth about our past.

One of the things I have always loved about Ginger Scott’s writing is that she evolves with each book. It’s like she’s five different writers in one body. To me, that proves how talented a writer she is. I feel like each new release has gotten edgier and spotlighted something different but just as important as the last. While I love that, I have to admit that I have missed her mature YA/NA contemporary sports romances. There’s just something so pure and fun about them. Needless to say, I was SUPER excited when I learned she was returning to that type of romance novel with Varsity Heartbreaker.

Varsity Heartbreaker was exactly what I needed during this crazy time. It got me out of a major book funk. I loved the whole vibe it had going on. It was slightly angsty, but not overly so. June dreads going back to her old high school where her ex childhood best friend and next door neighbor, Lucas, reigns. Her new best friend Abby pushes her to broaden her horizons, which puts her in the same orbit as Lucas. The plot was messy in the best way with a slight mysterious feel wrapped around what went down to make Lucas abandon his friendship with June.

I loved June. Her teenage embarrassment, frustration, and crush were spot on. I usually like my romance novels to have dual points of view, but this one was perfect with just her. I loved being in her mind and experiencing her figuring things out.

Lucas was frustrating to say the least. For much of the book I just wanted to shout at him to give it up and admit to what was going on with him. I’m not complaining about that, though. The secrecy around his character was fabulous for the storyline and June.

With everything going on with June and her feelings toward Lucas, I was surprised that there was actually something (I dare say) even better than their romance going on in this book. I think I might have loved the friendships even more. June and Abby’s was fun. Lucas and Tory’s seemed like a great bromance. The one that really got me, though, was June and Tory’s friendship. That one made me smile so hard and laugh quite a bit. If I was SUPER excited about Varsity Heartbreaker, I don’t even know how to describe how excited I am for Tory’s book. Thank goodness it’s coming up next!

As you can tell, I loved Varsity Heartbreaker. I would bet on the fact that it’s going to be a hit with fans of Wild Reckless, Waiting on the Sidelines, and This is Falling. Or with anyone who loves a mature YA sports romance. It was a great read, one I didn’t want to be over. If I was a cheerleader, I would do some sort of cheer here for Ginger Scott and what a winner she and this book are.

Purchase Varsity Heartbreaker
 
 
Goodreads TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52481990-vh1
 
Head over to Goodreads and vote for Varsity Heartbreaker as a May 2020 Most-Anticipated Romances!
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/144341.May_2020_Most_Anticipated_Romances
 

Pre-Order books two and three in the series here!
Varsity Tiebreaker – https://amzn.to/2zluA2u
Varsity Rulebreaker – https://amzn.to/3bgh7pN

About the Author:

Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling and Goodreads Choice Award-nominated author of several young and new adult romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, Blindness, How We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After, The Girl I Was Before, Wild Reckless, Wicked Restless, In Your Dreams, The Hard Count, Hold My Breath, and A Boy Like You.

Ginger Scott is an Amazon-bestselling and Goodreads Choice Award-nominated author of several young and new adult romances, including Waiting on the Sidelines, Going Long, Blindness, How We Deal With Gravity, This Is Falling, You and Everything After, The Girl I Was Before, Wild Reckless, Wicked Restless, In Your Dreams, The Hard Count, Hold My Breath, and A Boy Like You.

A sucker for a good romance, Ginger’s other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. (She’s also a sucker for a hot quarterback, catcher, pitcher, point guard…the list goes on.) Ginger has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for more than 15 years. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://www.littlemisswrite.com.

When she’s not writing, the odds are high that she’s somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork ’em, Devils).

Social Media Links:
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GingerScottAuthor
Twitter: @TheGingerScott
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/thegingerscott/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/GingerScottAuthor
Google: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+GingerScottAuthor/posts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/GingerScott
Website: http://www.littlemisswrite.com

Review: Game Changer (Kelly Jamieson)

Game Changer
Series: Wynn Hockey, #5
Author: Kelly Jamieson
Publication Date: June 9, 2020
Publisher: Kelly Jamieson
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Jackson Wynn

I don’t want anything to do with my crazy family’s drama, which I’ve been watching unfold from a distance over the last year, but now my grandfather has Alzheimer’s and I feel I need to at least make a quick visit to see him. My hockey season’s over, all I have to do is get through my teammate Steve’s wedding, and then I’m on a plane to Los Angeles to do my family duty. After that, I’ll head home to Manitoba for some summer R&R at the family lake cottage.

Molly Flynn
Nobody’s expecting what happens at my wedding, which becomes pandemonium. I need to get out of there. Fast. Who do I turn to? Jackson Wynn, one my fiancé’s teammates. He’s been a friend to me since I met Steve. For one night, we hide out in his condo, but he’s leaving in the morning for California. I want to go with him.

Jackson
I can’t take Steve’s fiancée with me to California. He’s going to flip shit over this. But the lying cheating bastard kind of deserves it, and I’ve always had a soft spot for Molly. Or maybe not so soft…because she’s not only sweet and kind, she’s hot as hell. This is a bad idea for so many reasons, and I sure as hell don’t need more drama in my life, but I can’t say no to her.

On this nutso trip, neither of us expect Molly to bond with my bonkers family…especially my poor, confused grandpa. And neither of us expect to bond with each other.

Game Changer was hands down my favorite book in the Wynn Hockey series yet. It was Kelly Jamieson’s writing at its best. What did I love about it? Well, everything.

To be more specific, I adored the entire scenario. The way Molly’s wedding went down, to her hitching herself to Jax’s vacation, to the way they fell in love. It was all so fun and cute. I think what really made it my favorite, though, was the bond between Molly and Jax. They were already trivia buddies and it was easy to see that they had always had a special connection and friendship. That connection made for some humorous situations as well as some sexy ones.

I also loved that there wasn’t as much Wynn family drama in this book. It was simpler in that area, and it made it easier to spend more time on the actual relationship in the book. I hope if there are more books to come in this series, that they follow this trend.

I think the thing I loved about this book most was the epilogue. I don’t think I’ve read one quite as perfect as that one in a while. It was utterly fabulous.

I guess if I had to complain about one thing it would be the cover. That guy doesn’t scream Jax to me.

Review: Sure Shot (Sarina Bowen)

Sure Shot
Series: Brooklyn, #4
Author: Sarina Bowen
Publication Date: May 12, 2020
Publisher: Tuxbury Publishing, LLC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

A new stand-alone hockey romance from USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen.

On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, sports agent Bess Beringer is ready to make some changes. Armed with a five-year plan—indexed and color coded—she’ll tackle her personal life with the same zeal that she brings to her successful agency.

A big, tall, ripped hunk of hockey player who’s just been traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers is not a part of that plan. Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz has a lot of baggage. He’s a ride-or-die loner with a bad reputation. He’s on the rebound. He’s also the sexiest thing on two legs, and for some crazy reason it’s Bess that he wants.

She knows better. But then she falls stupid in love with him anyway. And for a while it seems like maybe he’ll do the same.

Until she asks him for the one thing he can never give her…

*Sigh* I needed this book. With everything that’s going on, it was nice to be able to reach for a new release from Sarina Bowen in one of my favorite series. Sure Shot was everything I’ve come to expect from the Brooklyn series. This hockey romance had it all: sweet, sexy, funny, a tiny bit of angst. It was contemporary romance perfection.

Bess Beringer is a character whose book I’ve wanted for ages. She’s a tough sports agent who has put her career first until now. I loved how she wanted more balance for a her life and was determined to make the right decisions for herself. It was fun watching Tank derail her plans in the best ways.

Tank was a “bad” guy hockey player who was actually more of a sweetheart. He had some issues to work through. The more I discovered about him, the more I liked him. Tank and Bess were perfect for each other in the best of ways. I even liked their drama.

I don’t want to give away the big problem in this book, but I do want to say that I felt like it was handled really well. There wasn’t a magic fix, but a well talked out one. Communication is key, and I loved that is was actually used in this romance.

Another great thing about this book and series is that there are so many characters from past books that make cameos or are a large part of the story. I loved seeing them all again and how they interacted with Bess and Tank. It was like a big party.

Sure Shot was a fictional coming home. I loved everything about. I hate that I’m done reading it and have to wait for another Bowen book. I’m hoping we get more in this series.

PURCHASE LINKS:

Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook | Audio

All in one link page: https://shor.by/SureShot

Goodreads: https://geni.us/SureShotGoodreads

Goodreads Giveaway going live on April 2: https://geni.us/GoodreadsGiveawaySS

Review: A Secret for a Secret (Helena Hunting)

A Secret for a Secret
Series: All In, #3
Author: Helena Hunting
Publication Date: May 12, 2020
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

From New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting comes a new romance about trading secrets, breaking the rules, and playing for keeps.

My name is Ryan Kingston, and I’m a rule follower. I’ve never been in a fistfight. I always obey the speed limit. I don’t get drunk, and I definitely don’t pick up random women at bars.

Except the night I found out that my whole existence has been a lie.

I got drunk. And picked up a stranger.

Her name was Queenie, and she was everything I’m not: reckless, impulsive, and chaotic. We did shots and traded secrets. And ended up naked at my place.

She left me a thank-you note in the morning and her panties as a parting gift. But no way to contact her.

Six weeks later I’m sitting in the first official team meeting of the season, and there she is. I neglected to mention that I’m the goalie for Seattle’s NHL team.

And Queenie? Turns out she’s the general manager’s daughter.

Ryan Kingston has been one of my favorite characters in the All In series, so I was very excited to learn he was getting his own book. I was also a little surprised because everyone knows King has had a long term girlfriend forever. I was so curious to find out what went down with Jessica for him to get his own book!

I have to admit that at the start of A Secret for a Secret I was slightly confused. Things with King and Queenie started immediately, and I couldn’t help but wonder if I had missed something in the last book? I even went back and read, and I don’t think I did. King eventually told me what was up with the whole Jessica thing, but I guess I wanted something more explosive or maybe a Prologue with the information. It wasn’t until I knew what had happened that I felt like I could really be own with Queenie and King’s story. As for that story…

I loved it. I mean, really loved it. Queenie was this self-professed wild, whirlwind of a gal. Everything about her was messy, and I loved that. Her flaws felt real, which in turn made her come to life off the page. She had a ton of insecurities, but was actually a smart and beautiful woman. People just had her hating on herself. King, on he other hand, was a straight-laced good guy. I could totally identify with his rule following nature. I loved his need for order balanced out with Queenie’s haphazardness. Their personalities complimented each other so well. I also loved how they supported each other, especially King supporting Queenie. (I just felt like she needed it more.)

Another great part of this book was all the cameos from previous players. It was nice to see Alex, Violet, Shippy, Stevie, RJ, and Lainey. I also loved the addition of Queenie’s dad and King’s crazy clan. All of these characters added something special to Queenie and King’s relationship. Oh, and I can’t leave out the “villains” of this tale. They also added some GREAT drama.

Overall, A Secret for a Secret was a great addition to the All In series. I loved getting King’s story and meeting Queenie. They were adorable together. I could have kept reading about them. I am really hoping this is not the end to this series because it’s so much fun to read. I need more of these characters!!!

Review: Not My Romeo (Ilsa Madden-Mills)

Not My Romeo
Series: The Game Changer, #1
Author: Ilsa Madden-Mills
Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Publisher: Montlake
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports
Note: This review is for an ARC an is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ilsa Madden-Mills delivers a smart and sexy contemporary romance about a smoking-hot professional football player and the small-town girl he can’t resist.

We start off with a lie on Valentine’s Day.

My blind date isn’t the studious guy I expected: he’s a drop-dead gorgeous player with sinful amber eyes. Somehow we end up at his penthouse. I blame the gin and tonic.

The next day I learn he’s Jack Hawke—bad-boy professional quarterback with a murky past. The NDA he has me sign should be a warning that he isn’t a regular person. Please. I sign it Juliet Capulet, so goodbye, famous football player with abs of steel, and good luck tracking down this small-town librarian.

But Jack keeps showing up in places I least expect him. Just when I’m sure he’s gone, he waltzes into my community theater and wins the part of Romeo to my Juliet. How’s a plain, mostly innocent girl like me supposed to resist a man like him?

Is Jack my real Romeo…or will this gorgeous football player only break my heart?

ADORABLE.

That is exactly how I would describe Not My Romeo. I loved it from the very first chapter with the hilarious case of mistaken identity all the way to the swoon worthy end. There were a lot of bumps in the middle, but they were all relatable and felt true to a real relationship.

Elena was a great main character. She was this tight-laced Southern belle who had a sultry side. I loved her slight awkwardness and overall attitude. She was the perfect match for a professional football player who didn’t trust anyone.

Jack… Well, Jack was misunderstood by a lot of people. He had his reasons for being the “jerk” that he was, but he truly had a good heart. Even when his dumb actions made me mad, I could understand him. I rooted for him and Elena.

Jack and Elena’s romance, like I said before, wasn’t an easy one. There were so many feelings, history, and other people adding to their issues. I mention this because those people were a smart addition by Madden-Mills. Every single one of them added to the fun of this story. I absolutely loved them, and I can’t wait to find out which one of them is going to get the next book. I’m already imaging some of the fun combinations that could happen.

Honestly, I could gush about this story for a long time. It was just such a great contemporary romance. It contained a bit of Madden-Mills’ trademark angst, but also proved once again that she write a more lighthearted romance. I absolutely loved every minute of reading it, and it’s sure to put a smile on your face like it did mine.

Review: Heartless King (Maya Hughes)

Heartless King
Series: Kings of Rittenhouse, #5
Author: Maya Hughes
Publication Date: April 23, 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult, Sports
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Two blue lines. That means not pregnant, right? Right? Oh, sh*t.

Five years ago, Colm Frost asked me to marry him and I ran. I ran from my painful past too raw and fresh to escape. He was the only one who looked at me like I wasn’t broken and made me believe it. He made me feel it.

Now, he’s the hot, angry, hockey player on the mend.

I’m the physiotherapist who’s supposed to get him back on his feet.

I don’t think our night together was what his doctor prescribed, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t dreamt of him every time I close my eyes. I woke up beside him with my body still singing from the way he fanned the flames of my desire, but I couldn’t stay.

His lips on my neck. His hands wrapped around my waist. His impressive…ahem, touch leaving me breathless.

One moment of wild inhibition and it’s come back to bite me in the butt. Kind of like he did that night.

But a baby? Our night was supposed to be a one time thing, closing a door on the future I couldn’t handle.

Will this new bump in the road be everything we needed to find our forever?

Heartless King is a standalone friends to enemies to lovers, accidental pregnancy romance that brings all the laugh out loud, angsty feels!

I feel like I’ve been waiting on this last Kings of Rittenhouse book for a long time. It was nice to finally get Colm’s story — and his side of things when it came to everything that went down in the last book. I can’t say I loved or even liked how he dealt with Liv and Ford, but finding out how he hit rock bottom cleared some things up. His actions/reactions didn’t make me feel bad for him, but it did make me understand him. When the blurb talks about angst, it’s pretty much all Colm created.

Imogen (or Imo for short) was one of those nice people who give everything to others. She sacrificed so much of herself to her past, her clients, and to Colm. Her journey in this one was just as important as Colm’s — if not more so. So, yeah, she had big stuff going on too.

Colm and Imo together… Sigh. These two had nothing but an uphill battle. A lot of that was due to their separate issues and things only got easier when they worked together. I loved that. I could truly feel their relationship building as they worked through Colm’s injury. Col and Imo were actually great together.

As for the accidental pregnancy… I have some mixed feelings about this one. I don’t wan to give too much away, but how the timing all worked out was fine. It was where things went with it after. I felt like I was missing some doctor appointments and such. I guess maybe that part of the story felt rushed? I mean, I like what the pregnancy did to the love story.

Overall, I found Heartless King to be a great ending to a wonderful series that I will miss.

Mini Reviews: Parental Guidance, Throw Like a Girl, You’d Be Mine, & Pike

Hi, friends. Today, I’m sharing with you four quick reviews.

Parental Guidance
Series: Ice Knights, #1
Author: Avery Flynn
Publication Date: May 31, 2019
Publisher: Entangled Publishing LLC (Amara)
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Sports

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

All I want is to play hockey on the Ice Knights, instead, I’m in a viral video for all the wrong reasons and my mom—yes, my mom—has taken over my dating apps. Then, when I think it can’t get any worse, the fates deliver Zara Ambrose, a five-feet-nothing redhead with more freckles than inches and who’d rather be anywhere other than on a date with me.

Now a bet with her friends and my PR nightmare have us both stuck in this go-on-five-dates-with-the-same-person hell situation. But if we band together, we can get the whole thing over with and go on with our lives. It’s perfect! No feelings. No future. No fuc— *ahem* fun. No naked fun.

What could go wrong? Nothing—as long as I remember the rules. Don’t notice the way she looks in a dress. Don’t react when she does that little shivery sigh thing whenever we touch. Don’t think about the fact that she’s never had a toe-curling orgasm that wasn’t self-delivered and just how badly I want to change that.

Five dates—that’s it—and then we go our separate ways. At least, that was the plan..

My thoughts:

A while back I read Awk-Weird, the second book in this series, and absolutely adored it. I was excited to go back and read the first book in the series. I didn’t fall in love with Parental Guidance the way I did Awk-Weird. It took me longer to get into the story. It wasn’t until Zara and Caleb met (a bit into the story) that I started to love it. Parental Guidance ended up being a cute read with characters I loved. It’s worth the read, so power through the build up to Zara and Caleb meeting to get to the good stuff — all those hilarious dates.

Throw Like a Girl
Author: Sarah Henning
Publication Date: January 7, 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sports

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Friday Night Lights  meets Morgan Matson’s  The Unexpected Everything  in this contemporary debut where  swoon-worthy  romance meets underdog sports story.

When softball star Liv Rodinsky throws one ill-advised punch during the most important game of the year, she loses her scholarship to her fancy private school, her boyfriend, and her teammates all in one fell swoop. With no other options, Liv is forced to transfer to the nearest public school, Northland, where she’ll have to convince their coach she deserves a spot on the softball team, all while facing both her ex and the teammates of the girl she punched… Every. Single. Day.

Enter Grey, the injured star quarterback with amazing hair and a foolproof plan: if Liv joins the football team as his temporary replacement, he’ll make sure she gets a spot on the softball team in the Spring. But it will take more than the perfect spiral for Liv to find acceptance in Northland’s halls, and behind that charming smile, Grey may not be so perfect after all.

With well-drawn characters and a charming quarterback love interest who’s got brains as well as brawn, Throw Like a Girl will have readers swooning from the very first page.

My thoughts:

I’ve wanted to read Throw Like a Girl since I first saw the cover and title. It was just so fierce and cute at the same time. The story was pretty much the same. Liv was a star softball player who made a huge mistake that ended with her at a new school playing football after being recruited by Grey, the quarterback. I loved that Liv was tough, but also had a softer side. I like that she stood up for herself even when she was embarrassed or hurt. I also loved how she was the one with the athletic prowess. Liv was able to transition quickly between sports and I thought that it was great because you see that with guys in books but rarely girls. This book was one that was over before I was prepared to part ways with the characters.

You’d Be Mine
Author: Erin Hahn
Publication Date: April 2, 2019
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Annie Mathers is America’s sweetheart and heir to a country music legacy full of all the things her Gran warned her about. Superstar Clay Coolidge is most definitely going to end up one of those things.

But unfortunately for Clay, if he can’t convince Annie to join his summer tour, his music label is going to drop him. That’s what happens when your bad boy image turns into bad boy reality. Annie has been avoiding the spotlight after her parents’ tragic death, except on her skyrocketing YouTube channel. Clay’s label wants to land Annie, and Clay has to make it happen.

Swayed by Clay’s undeniable charm and good looks, Annie and her band agree to join the tour. From the start fans want them to be more than just tour mates, and Annie and Clay can’t help but wonder if the fans are right. But if there’s one part of fame Annie wants nothing to do with, it’s a high-profile relationship. She had a front row seat to her parents’ volatile marriage and isn’t interested in repeating history. If only she could convince her heart that Clay, with his painful past and head over heels inducing tenor, isn’t worth the risk.

My thoughts:

This is another book I wanted to read when it came out, but never got to. It wasn’t until I read (and LOVED) an ARC of her upcoming book that I rushed back to buy You’d Be Mine. I couldn’t wait to read more from Hahn. I knew I loved her writing, but I was even more impressed knowing this was her debut novel. It was perfection. I loved everything about it. Annie and Clay were such amazing characters and their story warmed my heart. I hate that I have to wait to read another book from Hahn. I love her writing so much!

Pike
Series: The Pawn Duet, #1
Author: T.M. Frazier
Publication Date: March 24, 2030
Publisher: Frazier Publishing
Genre: Dark Romance, Contemporary, Fiction

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

**A King Series Spin-Off**

Born into chaos. Baptized in the gutter.
I was raised by the violent laws of the streets, spilling blood without the hindrance of useless emotions or connections.
Unfeeling. Unloved. Alone.

My life was perfect.

Until her.

While on a manhunt for a mysterious enemy, one hellbent on taking both my business and my life, I find Mickey. She’s covered in mud, rambling nonsense, and clearly out of her mind.

She’s also a distraction I don’t need.

That is until I discover a connection between the girl and my enemy.
Mickey isn’t a distraction anymore.
She’s the perfect weapon.
One I’ll use to exact my revenge.

The plan is an easy one, but there’s something about Mickey that’s making it more and more difficult.
A familiarity I can’t place. A need I can’t explain.
A want I have to deny.

After all, she’s not mine to keep. She’s a tool. My pawn.
My sacrifice.

My thoughts:

I don’t know… I’m not sure what’s not sitting right with me about Pike. Maybe it was the speed of the story. Everything moved so fast — I even was a little confused at one point. Or maybe it was that I didn’t 100% buy the level of attraction between Pike and Mickey at times because of the situation at hand. Then, there was the frustration I felt not knowing what Mickey was hiding… It might have been all three of these books combined. The only time I felt like I could truly enjoy things was when Preppy made himself useful. Pike totally needed his levity. So, yeah. This one wasn’t my favorite in the series, but I’m still looking forward to finding out what happens next. Maybe I’ll fall more in love with Pike and Mickey as things go on.

Review: The Trade (Meghan Quinn)

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The Trade
Author: Meghan Quinn
Publication Date: March 12, 2020
Genre: Contemporary, Sports, Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Synopsis:

Can you pinpoint a time in your life where you realized you are completely and utterly screwed?

I can. I got the dreaded phone call, the one every baseball player hopes and prays never comes.

I was traded. Yeah, that phone call.

Traded from my long time team of over ten years. And not just to any team, but my childhood rivals; the Chicago Rebels.

Completely and utterly screwed, right? Wrong. The trade was the least of my concerns.

I met a girl. Natalie. Man, she’s perfect.

I swore I would never get involved with anyone during the season. Too complicated. But can you believe I have zero restraint when it comes to this girl? I couldn’t get her out of my head and the more I talked to her, the more I realized I needed her in my life.

So what’s the problem? Why am I screwed? Because, Natalie, the girl I can’t stop crushing on, yeah . . . she’s married.

At least, that’s what I was told . . .

The Trade wins. It’s officially my favorite book in this series.

There wasn’t anything I didn’t love about it. Cory F-ing Potter was easily became one of my favorite Meghan Quinn heroes. I loved him from the beginning for his respect of Natalie’s relationship status and he continued to grow my impression of him. He had his moments of stupidity, but all in all he was a great person. Same for Natalie. She was sweet and her insecurities were easy to identify with. They way Corey and Natalie clicked personality wise is too cute for words. The way the got each other made for some EXPLOSIVE chemistry.

The fact that we get some very fun moments with cameos from the couples in the previous book made this book even more entertaining and fun to read. There wasn’t anything not to love about The Trade. Bravo, Meghan Quinn!

Add to Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2Pn6QjR

AVAILABLE NOW!!!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2PX9cWz
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Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2TzycW8

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About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling Author, wife, adoptive mother, and peanut butter lover. Author of romantic comedies and contemporary romance, Meghan Quinn brings readers the perfect combination of heart, humor, and heat in every book.

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Connect with Meghan:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meghanquinnauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7360513.Meghan_Quinn
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authormeghanquinn/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorMegQuinn
Website: http://authormeghanquinn.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/meghan-quinn
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2LitE4x

Review: Bench Player (Julianna Keyes)

Bench Player
Series: Charleston Thrashers, #2
Author: Julianna Keyes
Publication Date: March 30, 2020
Publisher: Julianna Keyes
Genre: Contemporary, Sports, Romance
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ½

Synopsis:

ALLISON

As Public Relations Manager for the Charleston Thrashers, I’m responsible for protecting the team’s reputation. But after our right fielder gets sent to prison and we lose the World Series, my own reputation takes a huge hit. There’s only one way I can save my job: by revamping Connor Whitman’s tarnished ex-con image. Keeping my eye on the ball isn’t a problem until I discover what’s underneath his unkempt exterior—a man who’s unexpectedly vulnerable and distractingly sexy. Now, my professionalism is sailing far into foul territory.

CONNOR

I’ve served my time, and now I’m determined to reclaim my spot in the Thrashers’ outfield. Unfortunately, the new General Manager doesn’t want an aging ex-con on the roster, so I have no choice but to go along with Allison’s annoying scheme. Her bossiness drives me crazy—but so do her legs and her hair and her all-too-rare smiles. I can’t afford to fall for anyone when my focus needs to be on baseball, but love is a game I’ve never played before, and for the first time ever, I’m out of my league.

After reading Team Player, I was excited to hear there was going to be a second book in the Charleston Thrashers series. Bench Player was a great sports romance read. It had an almost enemies vibe going on at first, which then turned into a sort of forbidden lovers thing. Both of those tropes were done well and made the romance all the more fun.

I loved Allison. She was tough as nails, but also had a softer side. I loved her relationship with her grandfather. It was adorable! It might have almost been sweeter than her relationship with Connor…

Connor was a character I haven’t read before  in a sports romance. Sure, I’ve read about players who need some sort of image overhaul, but I don’t think I’ve ever read the ex-con angle before. I loved how it changed him. He was standoffish at first and had every reason to be. I loved seeing his character growth over the course of the story, and how his relationship with Allison changed how he saw a few things.

Allison + Connor = Fire! I loved their banter and chemistry. They seemed too opposite to make sense at first, but then that was what made them make sense together. I loved the ups and down they went through to get to their finish line.

The only thing I didn’t like in this book was something close to the end. It made me sad. I just wish the story hadn’t gone there. I felt like it maybe it didn’t need to.

Other than that one thing, I loved this book. I’m really hoping this series continues as there are a couple more players I would love to see get their own story.