Sophie Andrews: Elite Player

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/246210831-elite-player

Book Blurb:

Hockey’s biggest playboy knocked me out with a puck. One minute, I’m taking pictures of the team, and the next, I’m in a hospital room. With a fiancé.

Due to his off-ice shenanigans, Nico Tremblay needs to prove to the front office that he has changed his ways or else. So, after he gives me a concussion and sprained writst, he concocts a wild idea to pretend we’re engaged. It would allow him to keep his spot on the team and get my family off my back.

There is only one small problem—no one would actually believe the gorgeous and charming left-winger could ever actually want to marry me, backward and inexperienced Josephine Atkins.

Except when he calls me his fiancée while staring at my lips, I almost believe it. Maybe it’s the concussion or a moment of wild rebellion against everyone I’ve ever known underestimating me…but I agree.

And then there’s no way out of this lie that binds us closer and closer together.

Tropes:

*Netgalley ALC *Fake Fiance *Fake Relationship *Sports Romance (hockey) *Bad boy MMC

*Virgin FMC *black cat FMC *family drama  *Playboy MMC *toxic family

*Golden retriever MMC *shy wallflower FMC  *3rd act break up *found family *spice

*reverse grumpy x sunshine *State Challenge Pennsylvania/West Virginia (Repeat)

Trigger warnings:  *SA (in past) *discussions of SI *bullying 

Thoughts:

Nico (MMC) is a playboy in the very beginning of the book he has to have a meeting about his off ice shenanigans with the ladies and basically is told if he can't change his ways and show that he can be a proper fit for the team he won't be on the team much longer, seeing that he is not on the first or even second line he knows this is real and he needs to get himself together... he needs to get himself together and fast.  So when the next thing that happens is hitting the photographer's assistant in the head with a hockey puck and knocking her out cold he knows he isn't off to a good start.

Josephine (FMC) has been living in Pennsylvania trying to make her own way in life away from her toxic family, she hasn't seen them in awhile but they for some reason decide to make a trip to visit her while in the hospital... hoping their visit will be short especially since her mother has brought up when she is going to meet her non-existant fiance and she doesn't want to get into that issue with her here... only Nico the hot hockey player and reason for her being in the hospital to begin with has been showering her with a wild amount of gifts and shows up at the wrong moment... now her mother and rest of her family believe him to be the "fiance."

Nico thinking this could actually work in his favor as a way to prove to team management that he has changed goes all in as Jo's fiance and he makes an arrangement with her to be her fiance help her with a few family events and she returns the favor for him then at the end of the season in a few months they can go their seperate ways.  Jo struggles with this thoroughout because Nico is one of the hottest guys in hockey and has women lining up to get with him... where she has little to no experience with men and grew up being belittled about her looks by not only her classmates but her own family as well how could anyone actually believe someone like him would want to be with a girl like her?  

As Nico and Jo grow closer together lines blur and it's hard to say when the fake part of their relationship even fell off.

This book discusses sensitive topics including childhood trauma related to SA, SI, and bullying so make sure to check your triggers prior to reading.  My heart truly went out to both leads and their past struggles.  

Jo helps Nico too in the ways that everyone thinks he is is just a party boy womanizer but he is so much more he is so sweet, supportive & protective he helps Jo shine she has been put down so much in her life that she doesn't even realize how truly beautiful she is and he has no problem putting anyone who says anything against Jo in their place, I seriously was so upset with her family most of them were awful and I'm glad that Jo by the end had the courage to stand up to them and let them know how their behavior over the years tore her down when she could have used the support.  

I also loved that our Hot hockey guy read romance and loved the fated mates trope... as he may have just found himself in his own romance novel the way Jo fell into his life and fit so perfectly... but how can he convince her that he no longer wants their arrangement to end he wants to keep her forever. 

This was a sweet fake fiance --> more romance and I enjoyed this one.  I listened to it and loved the narrators.  If you are in your hockey era add this one to your list! 

Have you read this one yet?  what did you think?

Annah Conwell: All That Glitters

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/243534739-all-that-glitters

Book Blurb:

They were best friends, until he betrayed her.

Marigold Belmore wants nothing more than to forget about Jameson Sinclair. So what if they’ve been friends since elementary school? Who cares that he was the one person she trusted most in the world?

Jameson showed her how little she mattered to him when he stole the internship they swore not to apply to. That kind of betrayal isn’t something a person brushes under the rug.

Marigold tries to escape Jameson’s brooding stares, but between their shared classes and working on the paper together, the task seems impossible. She refuses to let his presence get to her, but when she’s forced to document his road to hockey stardom, it becomes more and more difficult to ignore the tension.

As banter is exchanged and secrets are revealed, Marigold becomes certain they can never go back to being just friends.

All That Glitters is a college hockey romance with all the sizzle, none of the spice. If you love sports, found family, and academia, you’ll love the second book in the RomCom University series.

Tropes:

*Netgalley ALC  *College Romance *Sports Romance (Hockey)  *Betrayal *drama

*child hood best friends --> rivals --> more *broken Trust *miscommunication/no communication

*Green flag MMC *just kisses  *State Challenge Georgia *Young adult

Thoughts:

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for this ALC 

Marigold (FMC) and Jameson (MMC) are both members on the school paper at first we just know Jameson to be Marigold's rival since he is the editor's favorite and seems to get all the praise in their team meetings... then it's shown that Marigold and Jameson used to be best friends until a betrayal happened. 

Marigold and Jameson decided that neither of them would apply for the internship until a series of events led to Jameson applying and actually getting the internship... Marigold couldn't believe that he would do this to her knowing how much this meant.  Jameson had his reasons but since she has been shutting down any conversations he tries to have about it he can't even apologize.

Marigold is burning the candle at both ends over loaded with classes, the paper, and now this special segment for the paper involving following the hockey team... which she has to work on with Jameson and he is on the team... she was hoping to get a break from him and sulk in peace over their lost friendship but how can she when he's everywhere she looks.

Jameson continues throughout the book to be a faithful friend to her even when she won't even speak with him, he is kind, protective and so sweet... seriously they have been friends since 3rd grade and she can't even give him time to explain himself?  

While this was a cute cozy listen, the main drama appeared in the form of Marigold being over the top upset over this internship that Jameson got and she didn't all because he didn't tell her when she hadn't been talking to him at the time... how was he supposed to tell her when she had been avoiding him?  

I think this book would have been better if the story had taken place in middle school or high school I just feel if they had been best friends since 3rd grade... an adult reaction would have been to have some form of conversation about it to allow him to explain what happened, but I found myself getting irritated with Marigold because every time he tried to talk to her about it she would run off or shut him down saying she didn't want to talk about it and he had betrayed her, I just didn't see it being that big of an issue and if they were really that good of friends she should have been proud of him for getting the internship out of all the candidates instead of treating him like hot garbage while he continued to try to win her and her friendship back.  

If you are not a fan of miscommunication/no communication you probably won't like this one it is a big portion of the book.  I might check out the rest of the series at some point. 

Have you read this one?  what did you think? 

Julia Jarrett: The Game Changer

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/237400006-the-game-changer

Book Blurb:

I hired a single mom to help make my small town fall in love with a baseball team. And now I’m the one falling in love…with her.

Buying a small town baseball team might seem an odd choice for a millionaire tech developer, but I welcome the challenge.

Moving back to my hometown and reviving the once-beloved Cedar Creek Thunder is an impulsive attempt to find a deeper purpose, and a life that is measured in happiness rather than dollars.

A chance encounter with the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen has my temperature rising from more than the tea she’s spilled on me. When she walks into my office for an interview later that morning, it quickly becomes clear there’s no one better suited for the job .

Isla Forrester should be off limits, but with a smile that pierces my soul, the single mom is fire wrapped up in sweet temptation.

I’ve always had thick walls around my heart, but Isla and her son are breaking them down.

Now my sole purpose is getting her to believe that loving her is no challenge at all.

Tropes:

*Hambright PR ARC/ALC  *sports romance (Baseball) *work place romance *Single Mom

*disability representation *cozy read *Boss/Employee *Age Gap *wealthy MMC

*small town romance *Spice *Forbidden Romance *slow burn 

*Green flag book boyfriend  *HEA  *low angst 

Thoughts:

Thank you to Julia Jarrett and Hambright PR for this ARC/ALC copy of the book.  

I listened to most of the book and the narrators were amazing Connor Crais & Heather Firth did a great job bringing these characters to life! 

Isla (FMC) is a single mom she has been out of work for a few months and thru a friend finds out a baseball team is in need of a marketing manager it is short term and a few hours away but she knows she can do this she loves baseball and is good at her job... unfortunately prior to the interview she runs into a super hot guy and tea gets spilled all over both of them... thankfully she has a spare shirt in the car after a change she arrives on time for her interview only to find that Mr. Handsome that she just spilled tea on is the owner and one she is interviewing with... not off to a good start.

Luca (MMC) was intrigued by the beauty who he ran into earlier and he knows she is fully capable of doing the job, the only bad part about this whole situation really is that as an employee she will be off limits... so why can't he get her out of his head?

Isla makes the move with her soon to be teenage son. She has been so focused on being a mom and making a life for herself and her son that her love life has been on the back burner... like not even a thought up until her hot boss comes into the picture but she can't go there what would everyone think if she was with the boss?  Also it's not just her own heart she would have to worry about if things didn't work out she has her son to think about.

As Isla and Luca work together to revive this small town team and learn more about each other they can't help but cross further over the line until there is no going back.

Luca is so sweet with Isla's son and it turns out they have more in common than Isla ever would have expected since they have a similar disability.  

Luca is an engineer and created a sensor chip for prostethic legs so that they fit and work better with the individuals body, selling this invention but keeping partial ownership rights in the company he has been able to support his dream of building up his home town minor league baseball team.  

Luca even though he is handsome and successful he does struggle with his own thoughts of self doubt and worries over how people will receive him and his disability. 

This was a lower stakes, low drama cozy read it was sweet to see these 2 come together, work thru their own insecurities and learn that its ok to rely on each other and let down their guard because love is right in front of them they just need to reach for it.  I really enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

I liked this one but here are some negatives from other peoples reviews:

* sexual encounters are unequal between partners FMC only having had a few encounters and the MMC at least coming off a longer term relationship (more experienced).  While I also found this to be a bit on the unbelievable side it didn't bother me too much.  

* Luca knows that Isla's son is missing a limb but with holds this information from her for awhile and continues to have conversations with others about how she probably wouldn't want to be with him if she knew he was missing a limb.  --> I found this to be more his insecurities showing as he was not only older but also coming out of a failed relationship he was nervous about starting over with someone new especially knowing that he was in a position of power as her boss so perhaps this was just a way to talk himself out of pursuing her, I also don't feel there was anything wrong with him not telling her about this until he was ready they were not together at the time she was his boss.

*boring

*the couple was so mature and communicated so well there was not much angst

Lulu Moore: The Third Baseman

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/98279801-the-third-baseman

Book Blurb:

My name is Jupiter Reeves, and I am a fraud.
It’s not that what’s written about me isn’t true.
I am the greatest third baseman of my generation, possibly ever.
I am surly and unapproachable.
I do have a constant scowl, with an armour of tattoos.
And to the outside world, I play my role as the bad boy of baseball like I was born to do it.
But when the doors are closed and you boil it down, I’m nothing more than a man who lost his heart too young, with no prospect of getting it back... especially as I still have no idea where its current owner is.
That was until I was offered an opportunity I couldn't refuse:
Leave the Los Angeles Dodgers - where I've played my entire career - and join The New York Lions in exchange for tracking down the one woman who's consumed me since the day I first saw her fourteen years ago.
Job done.
Now we're under the same roof once again; except Marnie Matthews wants nothing to do with me, or my heart.
So along with winning the Commissioner's Trophy, I have the added challenge of winning back the only woman I've ever loved before the season ends, and convince her to stay in New York with me.
I might have been stupid enough to lose her once, but I'm definitely not going to do it again.
Marnie Matthews is about to become the biggest achievement of my life.

Tropes:

*Sports Romance (Baseball)  *Second chance for romance  *High school sweethearts 

*flashbacks *work place romance *Playboy MMC *STEM FMC *Grumpy bad boy MMC

*Tattoos for her *nicknames *spice *Dual POV *First loves 

*State Challenge New York (Duplicate) *miscommunication/no communication 

*reconnection after over 10 years apart *book 1/12 for 12 recommendations by 12 friends

Thoughts:

I recently decided to do the 12 recommendations by 12 friends book challenge and after putting all of the recs on a wheel and spinning I got this one for book 1 pick.  

Jupiter (MMC) had a childhood dream of becoming a professional baseball player for his dream team (The Dodgers) and he had been living his dream life getting drafted after high school to his dream team... to the outside observer he had it all so everyone is stunned when he makes the move across the country to play for the New York Lions, what could cause this life long Dodger to make this move?... Love.

Marnie (FMC) is brilliant she has been working at NASA for years but out of the blue gets a job she can't turn down... seriously it's a lot of money and she figures why not?  Her marriage is at its end and she could use the change of scenary so makes the move from Texas to New York to work for the Lions baseball team only to find out after she gets there that her ex-boyfriend the first guy to ever break her heart is at the root of this move... what?  

This story swaps back and forth between today and the past where we as the readers get to see young love blossom between our two leads, young Jupiter makes the choice for both of them to break up their relationship before he graduates and in turn crushes both of their hearts... now years later he still hasn't gotten over this girl and hopes that in time maybe she will give him a second chance.

Marnie guarded at first (understandably so) towards Jupiter attempts to keep her distance as best as she can but the powers that be have other plans when they keep putting him in her path first as the team appointed player to meet with her while she works on her plans to create a winning plan for the team... then the more time they spend together she has a harder time keeping her distance because the truth is even with so many years apart and even with other relationships in between she's never forgotten him either... but what if he breaks her heart again?  

This was a cute second chance for romance I enjoyed the scenes going back to high school so we could see how their relationship started from this and the dual POV you could really see how broken up Jupiter and Marnie were over the relationship ending and seeing that years later the love for each other was still there.

Some negatives for me about this book (most of this didn't really decrease the enjoyment of the book for me I just kind of went with it but found it off) :

*I wondered why it took 14 years for Jupiter to try to find Marnie again (and only after this trade opportunity happened)... you would think that if he had been thinking about her all this time he would have tried to find her before this?

*He takes forever to tell her why he broke up with her in the first place... she needs this closure (and we do too!  don't keep us hanging... although I kind of figured what it was about prior to the reveal)

*Jupiter is pushy towards getting back together, he gets this job made for her, she is just trying to settle in and she is fresh off of a divorce... let her have some time before just telling her you're going to be getting back together, what if she doesn't want to get back together with you it's been a long time and you did break her heart... P.S. When are you going to apologize? 

*MMC is a player on and off the field it was said in passing he has slept with many other women... but he was upset that Marnie had been married, was she supposed to sit around waiting for you for the rest of her life?  

Piper Rayne: The Troublemaker

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242504370-the-troublemaker

Book Blurb:

A fake marriage deal was never in my life’s plan.

Especially not to Easton Bailey.

Chicago Colts flashy shortstop.
The kind of man built for a good time and allergic to forever.
And the one who just slid a ring on my finger… on paper.

It’s supposed to be simple.
A mutually beneficial arrangement.
I play nanny to his son. He plays husband to my family.

No emotions. No complications. And absolutely no falling for each other.

Turns out pretending to be a family is the fastest way to break every rule we set.

Because he watches me like it was never just a deal.
Because he trusts me with the person who matters most.
Because the more we pretend, the less fake it feels.

And now the man who was never supposed to stay is the one I can't lose.

Tropes:

*Hambright PR ARC/ALC  *Sports Romance (Baseball) *Marriage of convenience

*Former playboy *Single father *Surprise Baby *Nanny (kind of) *friends with benefits

*Found family *Forced proximity *State Challenge Illinois (Repeat)

Thoughts:

Easton Bailey is a single hot baseball star and he's used to all the perks that go along with that including all the women.  He doesn't do long term relationships he's more of a one and done unless you include a friends with benefits situation he's had with Hadley... he's happy with how things are going and doesn't forsee anything changing in the future... until a baby gets dropped off with a note saying that it's his baby... only now his playboy lifestyle is seeming not as great as it did yesterday because he doesn't even know who the mom could be... he doesn't know how to care for a child what is he going to do the season is starting soon!

Hadley comes from a wealthy family, her mom and sister are cold her brother while supportive has his own family, she has been living a care free lifestyle traveling all over the world going on adventures and never setting down roots anywhere... when she comes home for her grandmother's funeral and reading of the will the only thing she really would like is the bookstore that holds countless memories she's honored that her grandmother would give her the store... until she finds out there is a stipulation.

In order for Hadley to keep the store she needs to be married for at least a year... how is she supposed to do that?  She doesn't even have a boyfriend.  The only one she can think of is her long time friend with benefits Easton... only when she reaches out to him she finds out that he has a surprise of his own a baby.

Easton needs a stable nanny for his son, Hadley needs to be married... win/win for both of them they marry long enough to fit the stipulations of the will then after that time he can find out other arrangements for the baby and they can go to their separate ways, no big deal! 

I loved watching Easton and Hadley's feelings grow over time since they already had a friendship they settled into their new relationship dynamics with ease... the only problem was not developing further feelings and keeping things separate. 

Easton receives a little (or big) push towards getting closer to Hadley in the way of his family coming to town unexpectedly now he is having to share his room and his bed with Hadley... how is he going to keep his hands off of her?  

Hadley begins to help Easton with his search for the mother of his baby, deals with her new found life in the public eye, family drama and trying to help a friend thru a difficult time all while figuring out how to take care of a baby and navigate her growing feelings towards not only Easton but also his son Tanner leading to feeling torn how is she ever going to let both of them go at the end of the year?  Could something more be possible?  

I received an ARC and ALC and once I started listening to the ALC the story really was so much better I loved the full cast narration and thank the author and Hambright PR for allowing me an early listen copy! 

Have you read this book/Series?  How did you like it?  What other books by this author would you recommend?  

Piper Rayne: The Rulebreaker

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/242501711-the-rulebreaker

Book Blurb:

I’m the coach’s daughter. Falling for one of my father's players was never the plan.

Especially not Decker Davis.
Chicago Colts third baseman.
Dependable. Steady. The guy everyone trusts.
And the man who’s spent years keeping his distance—especially from me.

We have history. The kind that ten years and a thousand miles can’t touch.
So, this time, I promised myself I'd be smarter.
No getting attached. No blurred lines. And definitely, no falling.
He broke every last one within the first week.

Because Decker doesn’t just show up for me. He shows up for my daughter.
Because he fits into our lives like he was always meant to be there.
Because he looks at me like I was never something he wanted to lose.

And suddenly, the walls I've spent years building don't feel nearly as solid as they used to.

But if I let him in, I’m not just risking my heart—I’m risking hers too… and I already know what losing him costs.
I won’t let my daughter pay that price.

*Hambright PR ALC/ARC  *Sports Romance (Baseball) *Childhood best friends  

*Family Drama  *single parent (FMC) *Green Flag book boyfriend *Brother's Ex *Second chance  *disjointed narrative/time line  *long past history  *Found family

 *Miscommunication/no communication *Slow burn

*Coach's daughter *Close proximity *Spice  *State Challenge Illinois (Repeat) 

Thoughts:

This is the 3rd book in this series and while it can be read as a stand alone I do wish that I had read the previous books in the series first as the characters from the previous books make appearances into this book as well.  

This story begins with Penelope (FMC) Single mother moving to Chicago to be closer to family (her father) who is the coach for a MLB team.  Penelope just wants to settle down her life with her daughter and maybe start dating again... only there is on big problem and that is she is now thrown into a situation where she has to be in regular close proximity to the man she has been pining for most of her life at this point, Decker to make matters worse her father is still his coach and they have a long past history of things never being the right time.

Decker is a baseball superstar he is under a lot of pressure this season (more so than previous years) to perform well and keep his spot on the team he's about to be a free agent and his contract his going to be up meaning he could be moved anywhere... and he will have to go with the flow if he wants to keep playing and he still has at least a few good years left.  He is now on a team with his twin brother Foster and they have been working hard to repair their relationship after some things happened in the past that Decker was once worried would be beyond repair... he can't let anything get in the way of this progress and he really doesn't need any additional stress.

In comes the coach to wreck his plans of no extra stress... he has been voluntold that he needs to work closely on a project with none other than the woman he has been in love with most of his life... Penelope... oh no he can't do this.

Throughout the book we see that their past history which was once that of close friendship there was always bigger feelings that they were always holding back for one reason or another with things never being the right time... and now there are outside factors where they know they could never be together without ruining other relationships that are just now mending... so even with the strong pull they have always had for each other can they ever really be together?  

But Decker begins showing up for Penelope not only for their joint project but he also starts making time in his busy schedule for her daughter to help her reach her goals... it's really hard for Penelope to not feel everything for this man when he is not only not keeping his distance from her but he is also burrowing further into her heart.  

The pacing of this book felt off to me it took awhile to actually get going where for most of the story our couple is not together.  I was unsure of the timeline of events at any given time due to the story swapping from past to present with snippets of the twin brothers therapy sessions thrown in.  Once the couple finally got "together" there wasn't much time left in the story so it made everything else feel rushed.  They spent so much time not together that I didn't feel fully invested in their relationship.  

I appreciated the segments with the brothers together going to therapy it helped them through their unresolved issues with each other I think it helped them see each other and their past history in a different light which ultimately helped them to get over their discrepencies. I wish there had been more scenes in the book with the brothers outside of therapy or work.  

I get our couple has a complicated history... but with so much of the story being back and forth long term pining, the wrong "time" etc... it was a relief when things finally started moving forward with our couple actually being a couple I was wondering at points if it would ever happen for them!  

This was my first book from this author and while it took me a bit to get into I did end up enjoying it enough to check out the rest of the series.  

I loved the multi cast narration and I truly feel like it helped me enjoy this story so much more.  

Thank you to the author and Hambright PR for this ARC/ALC copy 

Sarah Adams: The Cheat Sheet

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58100280-the-cheat-sheet

Book Blurb:

Is it ever too late to leave the friend-zone?

Hi, my name is Bree Camden, and I’m hopelessly in love with my best friend and star quarterback Nathan Donelson (so is half of America, judging by the tabloids and how much the guy dates). The first step is admitting, right? Except, I can never admit it to him because he clearly doesn’t see me that way, and the last thing I want is for things to get weird between us.

Nothing but good old-fashioned, no-touching-the-sexiest-man-alive, platonic friendship for us! Everything is exactly how I like it! Yes. Good. (I’m not crying, I’m just peeling an onion.)

Our friendship is going swimmingly until I accidentally spill my beans to a reporter over too much tequila, and now the world seems to think me and Nathan belong together. Oh, and did I mention we have to date publicly for three weeks until after the Super Bowl because we signed a contract with...oops, forgot I can’t tell anyone about that!

Bottom line is, now my best friend is smudging all the lines and acting very un-platonic, and I’m just trying to keep my body from bursting into flames every time he touches me.

How am I going to make it through three weeks of fake dating Nathan without anything changing between us? Especially when it almost-sort-a-kinda seems like he’s fighting for a completely different outcome?

Send help.
XO Bree

*Sports Romance (Football)  *Wealthy MMC x poor FMC  *Football star x ballet dancer 

*Best friends forever --> more  *long term pining (both sides)  *rom-com  *Light and fluffy

*Cozy read  *Fake dating *Girl next door  *Green Flag boyfriend  *no spice 

*miscommunication/no communication *State Challenge California (Repeat) 

Thoughts:

So I haven't really read a lot of the more "popular" books of recent years but picked up this one since I had it in my audible library and hadn't had a chance to get to it yet and needed it for a book bingo card spot for a team competition I'm doing "New Release 2021" while I'm not upset about listening to this book and I think that the narrator's did great... you can't do wrong with listening to Teddy Hamilton (iykyk)... I had a like/dislike time with this book.

Things I enjoyed were the friends to more, while there was no spice in it was a cute and flirty time since our couple had a long term friendship and had both been in love with each other since forever... but both of them were too stubborn/afraid to talk about their real feelings essentially both putting each other in the long term friend zone.  

There were a series of funny events throughout and I really enjoyed Nathan's team mates lending a hand to give ideas to help him finally get his dream girl who has been right there the whole time waiting for him to say that he wanted more.  A large chunk of this book was both of them wanting the other one to "make the first move" or show them that they wanted more than just being in the friend zone... 

So I don't mind a small amount of miscommunication/no communication I'm a big fan of historical romance and that's a big trope for those types of books... but through at least 80% of the book it is back and forth on both sides with the dual POV showing that they both have been so in love with the other one they can't even catch feelings for anyone else longer term and now that they are finally both single and happen to now be in a fake dating situationship after the FMC has a drunken tell your feelings in the bathroom to a reporter of all people... they are now using this as their chance to maybe see if there is something more but doing it covertly like "how would she react if I got closer to her and held her hand" ...  all of this was while still not talking about their true feelings gah!  someone just tell the other one you love them already so this story can move forward.

The book is over 300 pages and while it was a cute, fluffy and sometimes funny read/listen I think it would have worked much better as a high school rom-com both the lead characters I think were meant to be quirky but came off as in the 13-17 range instead of being almost 30.  I could go on more about some other things but this book has over 40,000 reviews so I'm sure that everything possible has already been said about this book.

To finish this one I honestly just started imagining them as 10 years younger and I enjoyed it a lot better 😅 it became one of those cute Disney rom-com's that I used to enjoy when I was in high school.  

The only real conflict was one that they were both inflicting on themselves by not having  any real conversations about how they felt about each other.  But if you are looking for something on the light and easy side you might enjoy picking this one up!

If you've read this one what did you think?  

Sophie Andrews: Going Deep

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/241795226-going-deep

Book Blurb:

As a teacher, I'm burned out and a nanny gig for the summer should be a perfect reset. Too bad my boss would be football's bad boy—and my brother’s best friend.

I'm not a fan of Camden Long. He’s rude, arrogant, and never misses an opportunity to throw a few verbal jabs my way. The tight end is well known for his reckless behavior on and off the field, yet when tragedy strikes and he suddenly finds himself responsible for his teenage sister, his life is thrown into a new level of chaos. That’s when my brother volunteers my help.

I don't want to say yes, but I can't say no, and tell myself it's just for the summer.
Except the more I learn about the man beneath the conceited façade, the less I want to leave Camden or his sister. Especially when he loses all of his cocky attitude and rasps out, “I need you.”

*Netgalley ALC New set 1/7 *Sports Romance (Football) *Brother's best friend  *Team mates sister  *Teacher x football star  *Grief  *ASL representation  *State Challenge Pennsylvania *Spice *Cozy comfort read  *forced proximity  *Nanny (kind of)  *enemies --> more  *some miscommunication *secret relationship *Guardian of a younger sister (MMC) *Tabloid drama  *Drama with the ex *Slow burn 

Thoughts:

Camden Long is an arrogant playboy on and off the field he's known for his wild antics and his current team has tried to curb his off the field activities by having someone look after him... only that guy isn't doing a great job since he keeps getting into trouble he's young, wealthy and handsome he could get pretty much any woman he wanted he loves to live in the fast lane and at this point sees no reason to change anything about the way he's currently living his life... until something unimaginable happens.

Camden's parents passed away in an accident and not only is he now dealing with feelings of grief he knows that the last time he talked with them they were disappointed and now he has to figure out how to care for his teenage sister who is deaf, heartbroken and now torn from the home she grew up in and moved across the country to his sterile unlived in looking penthouse apartment.  How can he take care of his sister... he hasn't been making very good life choices recently.

Nadine (FMC) is a teacher while she loves her job she's tired of a lot of things including the lack of support at the current school she's working at speaking with her brother he talks her into finishing out the school year and staying with him for the summer while she figures out what to do next.  

In comes the proposition... no not that kind.  Camden needs someone to help his sister while he's at work he knows she doesn't need a "nanny" but she does need some help getting settled into her new life with him and Nadine has experience with sign language and working with kids her age.  He will do anything even pay her a huge salary anything to make this transition for his sister easier. 

Camden's girlfriend is not supportive she's obsessed with being in the spot light and they really don't have all that close of a relationship to begin with but after losing his parents it's been pretty clear who is there to support him and she's not even really on the list... Who is there for late night calls and emotional support is the last person he expected to depend on so much his "not nanny" and best friends little sister Nadine.  

Thankfully Camden finally comes to his senses and ends his relationship with his superficial model girlfriend... but she apparently hasn't gotten the memo... insert some additional drama.

Nadine knows that Camden is... or at least was all the things the media said about him but she's now seeing a softer more caring side and maybe they got off on the wrong foot when they first met... suddenly their barbs are turning into comfort and support and is she actually falling for this guy?  But has he really changed?  And what about the vultures (reporters, social media, public in general) can she handle that kind of life?  

The Narrators did a great job, I loved that Camden's sister was so involved in the building blocks of their relationship and Camden and Nadine both showed up for not only for his sister but also eventually for each other.  

This was a really cute book that had me rooting for this couple to finally just get together already! This was a cozy comfort read for me and I plan to read/listen to this again in the future. 

Thank you to netgalley and the author for this ALC!  

Have you read this one?  What did you think?  

Alexandra Shaw: The Quarterback

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239150816-the-quarterback

book blurb:

Zoey:

My life is anything but perfect—but I’ve gotten really good at pretending it is.

My ballet career busted before it even began, all because my body changed. And my love life? That’s been doomed from the start, too. Why? Because I’ve been in love with one guy since I was a kid. And that’s exactly how he sees me.

Gary Robinson, quarterback of the Seattle (NFL team), I’ve known him since I was twelve and in love with him since I was thirteen!

He’s never said anything, thank God. I don’t even think he’s realized it. Maybe when I was little, but now he definitely has no clue. But regardless, he’s been a constant in my life—those piercing blue eyes, that easy charm. His goofy sense of humor!

He’s everything I want but can’t have… Loving him isn’t the hard part—hiding it is.

But then he walks in on me while I’m FaceTiming with my sister, being completely ridiculous while sunbathing by the pool—instead of laughing it off, he gets…angry.

And suddenly, pretending gets a whole lot harder.

Gary:

Being a professional quarterback for the Seattle Steelheads? That was always the dream.

But Zoey? I never saw her coming.

Not only is she the coach’s daughter, but he’s also my friend. His wife is my cousin!
She’s always been there—cute, talented, sweet as hell. She’s never been anything more than the cute kid that had a crush on me once.

When did she grow up?

I’ve never been in a serious relationship before, even a not serious relationship. But now, after seeing her at the pool…I can’t unsee what I saw. And—well, I don’t want to.

*High Gravity ALC  *Age Gap *Sports Romance (Football) *Best friends Daughter  

*Coach's daughter *Dancer FMC  *MH Body image struggles  *Rom-Com *Spice

*Found family  *Protective MMC  *novella  *Reformed Playboy MMC  *Banter

*State Challenge: Washington  *long time crush (FMC to MMC) *Cinnamon Roll MMC

Thoughts:

I had seen this authors books around and had a few on my TBR so when this one came available as an ALC through High Gravity I had to grab it to check it out!  

I didn't read the blurb beforehand but I checked it out after I started listening to it and I wasn't sure if I would like it or not I'm not opposed to age gap but I was concerned that the fact that Gary (MMC) is friends with Zoey's (FMC) dad and had met her when she was younger I wasn't sure how this was going to play out... turned out to be not as big of an issue as I thought it would be.

Gary (who knew someone named Gary could be so hot) is a player on and off of the field on the field though he's the star quarterback... he doesn't have girlfriends he's more of a one night stand kind of guy.  Zoey has had a crush on Gary since she was a young teenager but knows it will go nowhere he doesn't see her as a woman... moving on from her crush she starts dating her current boyfriend... now ex after she caught him in a compromising situation but he apparently hasn't received the hint that they are done.

Gary and Zoey grew closer as friends since Zoey started going to college he just likes hanging around her she's easy to talk to and fun... he knows it's wrong but very recently he's started feeling differently towards Zoey and doesn't know what to think about it... he can't act on these feelings obviously.

Zoey is home from college when Gary catches her in a compromising situation then one thing leads to another and it is fireworks!  Zoey is dealing with a lot of shame about her body since gaining some weight (it doesn't help that her ex-boyfriend and dance instructors were always commenting about her weight gain).  I loved how sweet and thoughtful Gary is towards her in helping her see she is beautiful just the way she is no changes needed.  

I appreciate how the author acknowledges the age gap but put them in a situation where the feelings they had were growing over time after she was an adult so them ending up together didn't feel forced or wrong, it felt inevitable it was meant to be. 

I also enjoyed that they were not hiding their relationship Gary once given the chance went above and beyond to be the perfect out in the open boyfriend even fessing up to his friend (knowing his friend might be livid).  

The narrators did a great job bringing these characters to life.  This story had me laughing throughout, I loved cinnamon roll Gary and how thoughtful and caring he was.  Even though it's a shorter book it doesn't really feel "insta love" there is enough build up of their relationship prior to the book starting that you can see how both leads would be having feelings for each other.  I loved watching Gary go from playboy to all in for the right woman and Zoey come to learn that she doesn't need to change who she is to please others. 

This was a spicy fun quick read and I enjoyed it!  

Have you read this one yet?  what did you think?  

S. Rena: On Thin Ice

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/239680503-on-thin-ice

Book Blurb:

God of Malice meets Pucking Around in this spicy hockey romance where one freshman becomes the twisted obsession of three university hockey players.

I only have one shot to make a life for myself, and more than just my future is on the line. My baby brother is still back in the dump I escaped from, still living in a house of cigarette butts stuffed in beer cans and slurred arguments. So now that I've gotten to Sovereign Kings University, I have to make it worth it. I'll keep my eyes down, ignore the rich kids’ taunts, and graduate.

At least that was my plan before I busted the knee of a hockey player. Having possibly ruined the team’s chance of a championship, I'm now the target of the players. The golden boy captain, Alexander, is the ringleader of my popular bullies. Every day Kane—the tall, dark and perpetually pissed-off defense—finds a way to humiliate me. Yet, being painfully ignored by the huge, reserved goalie they call Mountain may just hurt the most.

When the guys aren’t making my life a living hell, they’re twisting me up inside with desire and giving me glimpses of the real them. But can I risk losing my heart to one hockey player—let alone all three? I’m certainly in for a long, hard season.

*College Romance  *Hockey/sports  *Darker vibes  *Enemies --> More  *why choose 

*spice  *taboo relationship *rich kids/poor kids  *Bully *Trigger warnings (check yours) 

*death of parent (in the past)  *family drama  *multi-cultural characters *Netgalley ALC 

*Multiple POV  *family secrets 

Thoughts: 

Sam (FMC) has had a tough life made even tougher since her mother passed away and she's stayed in custody of her step father to protect her younger brother.  Only now she's leaving her brother to focus on her studies at a new college across town if she does well there this will be huge for both of them she can fight for custody and give them both a better life.

Shortly after arriving she sees a familiar face in Kane (MMC #1)... only he doesn't welcome her like she thought he might he is moody and pushes her away.  Kane doesn't want Sam at his school she knows his history that he has worked so hard to hide from everyone (including his closest friends) and he needs to keep things together finish out the school year and make sure that his mother (who is mentally ill) continues to receive the care she needs in the super expensive facility he can't do any of that if Sam gets in his way.

Alex (MMC 2), Kane, and Mountain/Bryden (MMC #3) live together in the house that Alex's father has bought for them off campus even though he's not supposed to Alex throws a big party.  One of the popular girls invites Sam and she finds herself in a predicament where she is cornered by one of the Hockey players outside it's fight or flight and she fights... originally set on keeping her head down and pushing herself to succeed flying under the radar this just put her on the map for all the wrong reasons and now everyone is mad that she just possibly ruined the teams chances at finals which is coming up soon. 

Instead of listening to what happened at the party the leadership at the school takes the hockey player's side... but she is at that point thrilled not to be expelled, although her sentence might be worse she now has to work as the hockey players assistant (sharpening blades, filling up waters, clean up, washing jerseys) all while surviving the bullying and taunting that is now happening.

My heart went out to Sam she was put in a terrible situation and was trying to make the best of things in a world where the rich and powerful rule.  Throughout the book the lead characters lives all intertwine but for a good majority they are not "together" it is more of a love triangle (square?) until the last 5 or so chapters when things come together... *I will put a spoiler down below

All of these characters are dealing with their own hard times but over the course of the story you see Sam falling for each of the guys for different reasons.  There is a lot of family drama going on throughout this Alex's dad is the head of the school and he is shady and secretive.  Wanting to find out why she is even at the school Sam uncovers news to her that her mother went to this same college she never told her she went there and since she has passed she can't ask her any questions wanting to find out more she begins to investigate which leads down a rabbit hole of bad things that happened and were covered up but someone doesn't want Sam digging and when she begins to receive threats who is there for her... all 3 of these guys and if she's being honest with herself... and the guys when it comes down to it she can't let go of any of them.

I didn't really dislike any of the main characters but certain parts felt rushed especially the ending.  I only truly felt Sam developed a relationship naturally with Bryden as they built a friendship after being paired together in one of their classes for Alex and Kane it was more of a insta lust situation even though she did know Kane previously he went out of his way to not be friendly to her when she re-entered his life.  I appreciated the mystery in the story I just wish that that this section was built up better instead of being rushed towards the end of the book and I think that it could have been extended instead of having a spicy situation right after the big reveal of all of the information. 

I listened to this as an ALC and felt all of the narrators did a great job with their parts.  This one was just ok for me I feel that there was too much going on at the end which is another reason in how it felt really rushed to wrap everything up.

**Possible spoiler***

Kane knows and has known that he and Alex share the same father, the father has been paying for Kane's mother to be in an expensive mental health institution if he keeps quiet and doesn't announce that he is his illigitamet son.... two brothers being with the same girl at the same time and then in a relationship with her after I'm not a fan of this plot point... family shouldn't be getting that close, that parts a no for me.