Tag Archives: sports romance

The Hearts We Fumble (Braysen U 4) by Brooke O’Brien-review

Posted on by
14

🏈💙The Hearts We Fumble (Braysen U 4) by Brooke O’Brien-review🏈💙

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 25, 2025

Football rules everything in our small town. Under the stadium lights of the Gridiron, no one plays under more pressure than Zane Kinnick—the hometown legend and future NFL star who’s spent his life proving he’s built for the spotlight.

And me? I’ve always been the one risk he wasn’t willing to take.

I’ve loved Zane for as long as I can remember. My next-door neighbor. My brother’s best friend. The boy who swore I was off-limits.

For years, he kept me at a distance—until the night we finally gave in.

Then he walked away like it never happened.

Now, he’s done pretending. The stolen glances have turned into lingering touches. The tension we ignored is finally snapping. And for the first time, he’s tearing down all the walls he’s built between us.

But we aren’t the only ones holding on to the past. His rival is out for blood, using me and the people he loves to get inside his head, feeding him lies, and twisting the truth.

Because this rivalry? It’s not only about football.

It’s about secrets that refuse to stay buried. And when the truth finally comes out, it won’t just change the game—it’ll shake up his world.

•••••

REVIEW:THE HEARTS WE FUMBLE is the fourth instalment in Brooke O’Brien’s contemporary, new adult BRAYSEN U erotic, football romance series.This is Braysen U senior Zane Kinnick, and Wyatt Vaughn’s story line. THE HEARTS WE FUMBLE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary Wyatt is Colter Vaughn’s sister (The Games We Win #1).

Told from dual first person perspectives (Zane and Wyatt) THE HEARTS WE FUMBLE follows the second chance relationship between Zane Kinnick and Wyatt Vaughn.Zane Kinnick and Wyatt Vaughn have been neighbors for most of their lives, and Zane is best friends and teammate with Wyatt’s brother Colter but several years earlier Zane broken Wyatt’s heart, and our heroine has never forgiven Zane for what happened or why. Fast forward to present day, Zane and Wyatt’s tempestuous relationship barely hides ongoing sexual attraction, an attraction everyone else sees but our story line couple but all is not well in Zane Kinnick’s life-a successful father who demands perfection from his son, a perfection that is about to be sidelined when a rival takes aim at the people in Zane’s life

The world building follows Zane as he struggles with the fall-out of his father’s betrayals; the secrets and lies that will push Zane to confront everyone involved, and a family whose dysfunctional dynamics will be played in real time.

The relationship between Zane and Wyatt is one of second chances: a bestfriend and teammate’s sister; a small town influence akin to ‘Friday Night Lights’. As Wyatt battles between head and heart, our hero is determined to prove he is worthy of Wyatt’s love. The $ex scenes are numerous, provocative and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large and colorful ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters. We are reintroduced to include Colter and Ava (The Games We Win .5) Beckham and Hallyn (The Rivals We Hate 1), Hayes and Everly (The Plays We Fake 2), Tatum and Reed (The Fouls We Make 3), Knox, Coach Ferentz, college rival Luca Calloway, as well as the introduction of Zane’s father James Kinnick.

THE HEARTS WE FUMBLE is a story of secrets and lies, competition and determination, forgiveness and acceptance, family and love. The premise is captivating and entertaining; the characters are charismatic and dynamic; the romance is passionate and ravishing.

 

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Rivals We Hate
The Plays We Fake
The Fouls We Make

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA Today Bestselling author Brooke O’Brien writes steamy and swoon-worthy new adult and contemporary romances.

She believes a love worth having is worth fighting for, and she brings this into her stories where her characters risk it all for love.

If Brooke’s not writing or reading, she’s probably spending time with her family, binge-watching the latest crime documentary, indulging in chocolate, or watching Hawkeye football or NBA basketball.

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/brookesbookbabes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorbrookeobrien

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbrookeo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorbrookeo

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorbrookeobrien

Website: https://www.authorbrookeobrien.com

Share

The Fouls We Make (Braysen U 3) by Brooke O’Brien-review

Posted on by
15

🏈The Fouls We Make (Braysen U 3) by Brooke O’Brien-review🏈

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 20, 2024

I’ve sworn off dating football players. After my last relationship ended disastrously, I’ve given up on love entirely.

Determined to start over fresh, somewhere far from Rixton, Tennessee, I impulsively transfer to Braysen University. The Carver twins were like brothers to me growing up. So, when they offer me a place to live until a dorm room frees up, I accept.

Reed Hendrix is as irresistible as he is off-limits. Sleeping in the room next to him could complicate things. Not only because my brother warned Reed to stay away from me but also because falling for him would break my own rule.

Yet it’s unnerving how quickly I find myself giving in to my feelings for him. Before I know it, we’re stealing glances and sneaking around, dangerously toeing the line between flirting and fooling around.

The more I unravel at the hands of Reed, the harder it is to resist falling for him. When my past catches up with me, it’s more than my heart on the line.

They say some rules are meant to be broken.

When secrets are revealed, I can only hope my heart isn’t left broken too.

••••

REVIEW:THE FOULS WE MAKE is the third instalment in Brooke O’Brien’s contemporary, new adult BRAYSEN U erotic, football romance series. This is college football player Reed Hendrix, and fellow student Tatum Pierce’s story line. THE FOULS WE MAKE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

NOTE: Due to the nature of the story lie premise, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Tatum and Reed) THE FOULS WE MAKE follows in the wake of Tatum Pierce’s arrival at Braysen University. Tatum Pierce has secrets, secrets that keep her up at night, threatening to break her hard fought need to remain under the radar. Meeting Braysen U football player Reed Hendrix threatens all hopes of not breaking her no-relationship policy until she discovers Reed will be one of her new roommates at Braysen U but all is not well in Tatum’s life; the past has followed and found our story line heroine, and the threats have become dangerous and real.With the help of Reed Hendrix, Tatum is hoping to move forward without always having to look back.

The world building follows two intersecting paths: the building romance and relationship between our story line couple, and the past that continues to threaten our story line heroine. Always trying to keep a low profile, the past has tracked Tatum Pierce, and her nightmare is about to begin anew.

The relationship between Tatum and Reed is a close proximity, friends to lovers,immediate and strong sexual attraction. Needing a place to live, Tatum finds refuse with her brother’s best friends at Braysen U, friends that are all members of the university football team. Under the protection of our story line hero, Tatum finds herself beginning to relax until the past discovers the who, where and why. Falling for Reed is easy, but protecting her heart is more difficult and dangerous. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters include Colter and Ava (The Games We Win 1) Beckham and Hallyn (The Rivals We Hate 1), Hayes and Everly (The Plays We Fake 2), as well as the introduction of Tatum’s brother Talon Pierce and his friend Wren, Colter’s sister Wyatt, Zane and Knox. The author has plans for a ‘hockey’ romance series featuring Tatum’s brother Talon.

THE FOULS WE MAKE is another story of betrayal and obsession, secrets and lies, power and control, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is captivating, haunting and intriguing; the romance is spicy and spirited; the characters are determined, clever and realistic.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
The Rivals We Hate
The Plays We Fake

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA Today Bestselling author Brooke O’Brien writes steamy and swoon-worthy new adult and contemporary romances.

She believes a love worth having is worth fighting for, and she brings this into her stories where her characters risk it all for love.

If Brooke’s not writing or reading, she’s probably spending time with her family, binge-watching the latest crime documentary, indulging in chocolate, or watching Hawkeye football or NBA basketball.

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/brookesbookbabes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorbrookeobrien

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbrookeo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorbrookeo

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorbrookeobrien

Website: https://www.authorbrookeobrien.com

Share

The Plays We Fake (Braysen U 2) by Brooke O’Brien-review tour

Posted on by
15

The Plays We Fake (Braysen U 2) by Brooke O’Brien-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/ThePlaysWeFakeGR

ABOUT THE BOOK : Release Date March 29, 2024

I’ve heard the rumors about the football players in our small town. Trouble always has a way of finding them, and the girls can’t get enough of their wild ways.

Hayes Carver has the bad-boy reputation down to go with his scoring records and good looks.

Everything changes after the game that destroyed his image and painted him as a dirty player. From the press and social media to his coach and teammates, the pressure is building, and he can’t seem to escape the constant scrutiny.

When his limits are tested, Hayes turns to me for a way out.

He proposes that I play along as his fake girlfriend in hopes it changes the narrative and takes the pressure off him.

The rules are set in stone. Faking a relationship with him won’t be easy, and falling for him is out of the question.

Yet the more time we spend together, the more the lines between what’s real and fake begin to blur.

Hayes needs me to help save his reputation, but to do it, I’ll have to risk my heart.

••••

REVIEW:THE PLAYS WE FAKE is the second instalment in Brooke O’Brien’s contemporary, new adult BRAYSEN U erotic, sports romance series. This is university students, football player Hayes Carver, and Everly Winthrop’s story line. THE PLAYS WE FAKE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary. Hayes is Beckham Carver’s brother ( The Rivals We Hate 1). There is a slight cross over between books one and two.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Hayes and Everly) THE PLAYS WE FAKE follows the fake relationship between our story line couple. Everly Winthrop often helps assist with the school media program but our heroine has no time for holier than thou sports stars, especially Hayes Carver. Hayes is struggling with bad publicity following an on-field incident and having a full-time girlfriend may help clean up his bad boy image. Enter Everly Winthrop, the woman with whom Hayes will fall in love but Hayes is keeping secrets, threats against his future and the people he loves, and in this, Hayes is battling his conscience and the secrets that may be revealed.

The world building focus on the fake but growing relationship between our story line couple: their friends and potential enemies, the game of football, and the threats made against our story line hero. Everly reveals a slightly dark blemish about her past, a past that is about to become up close and personal.

The relationship between Everly and Hayes begins acrimoniously. Hayes is desperate to clean up his reputation as the social media campaign against him becomes dangerous and dark. Everly finds herself falling for our hero, someone who is so much more than the rumors and lies. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate-Hayes likes to talk dirty in the bedroom but he is a one woman kinda guy and from the outset he is hoping for something more.

Most of the previous story line characters return including Beckham and Hallyn, roommate Colter Vaughn and his girlfriend Ava; Reed Hendrix; Everly’s roommate Willow, as well as several teammates, and hockey player Talon Pierce, and his sister Tatum.

THE PLAYS WE FAKE is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, family and friendships, relationships and love. The character driven premise is strong and haunting; the romance is seductive and provocative; the characters are determined and dynamic.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one THE RIVALS WE HATE

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

USA Today Bestselling author Brooke O’Brien writes steamy and swoon-worthy new adult and contemporary romances.

She believes a love worth having is worth fighting for, and she brings this into her stories where her characters risk it all for love.

If Brooke’s not writing or reading, she’s probably spending time with her family, binge-watching the latest crime documentary, indulging in chocolate, or watching Hawkeye football or NBA basketball.

Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/brookesbookbabes

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorbrookeobrien

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbrookeo

Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorbrookeo

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authorbrookeobrien

Website: https://www.authorbrookeobrien.com

Share

Kiss Hard (Hard Play 4) by Nalini Singh-a review

Posted on by
10

KISS HARD (Hard Play 4) by Nalini Singh-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 3, 2022

Daniel Esera is a young god on the rugby field, a sexy and charming man who’s got the world at his feet. There’s just one problem: his sudden potent attraction to his number one nemesis–Catie River. No. Just no. Not happening.

Catie River is on her way to Paralympic gold, and she’s not about to allow Danny “Hotshot” Esera to derail her plans. Too bad her body isn’t cooperating. Even worse? Her heart might be coming along for the ride. No. Nope. Never.

The pair are united in their desire to remain enemies… until a stranger’s reckless action threatens both their careers. Now, the only way out for Catie and Danny is to pretend to be in a relationship. How bad can it be? They’re adults in full control of their hormones and their hearts. There will be no kissing. No PDA. And definitely no falling in love.

Let the games begin.

••••••

REVIEW: KISS HARD is the fourth instalment in Nalini Singh’s contemporary, adult HARD PLAY erotic, romance series. This is soon to be twenty-five year old, New Zealand rugby star Daniel Esera, and Paralympian Catie River’s story line. KISS HARD can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Catie is Isa Rain’s sister (Cherish Hard 1), and Daniel is Jacob Esera’s brother (Love Hard 3).

Told from dual third person perspectives (Daniel and Catie) KISS HARD follows the frenemies to lovers fake relationship between soon to be twenty-five year old, New Zealand rugby star Daniel Esera, and Paralympian Catie River. A night on the town with friends finds Daniel Esera a victim of a drug assault at the local bar. Noticing something was wrong, Catie River immediately took charge, getting our hero to the hospital just in time. As both Catie and Daniel were fodder for the paparazzi and local sports news, Daniel wanted to keep everything on the down low but the possibility of a major fallout found Daniel and Catie embarking on a ‘fake relationship’ in an effort to keep the media at bay. As Daniel and Catie’s fake relationship begins to take on a life of its’ own, Daniel finds himself at a professional crossroad, a crossroad that is about to pull our hero away from the woman with whom he is falling in love. What ensues is the frenemies to lovers relationship between Daniel and Catie, and the potential fall-out as time apart forces our couple to reconsider the future with or without the person who has stolen their heart.

Catie River never considered her own happily ever after having watched her own parent’s relationship implode. Years earlier, an accident cost our heroine her legs, changing Catie’s life forever. Her relationship with Daniel has always been fraught with antagonism and irritation, anger disguising a palpable sexual attraction. Daniel Esera’s life as a professional rugby player has stagnated, and the recent incident at the local bar could quite possibly threaten our hero’s career. A fake relationship with Paralympian Catie River is the key to possibly redirecting his life but Daniel never expected to fall for our story line heroine. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We welcome the return of Catie’s sister Isa and her husband Sailor Bishop; Gabriel and Charlotte ; and Daniel’s brother Jacob. We are introduced to Catie’s friend Laveni aka Veni, and fellow rugby player Viliame Vili Serevi; Catie’s mother Jacqueline, and her father Clive and girlfriend Gloria; as well as Daniel’s parents Allison and Joseph.

KISS HARD is a story of family and friendships, relationships and acceptance; struggle and healing, love and understanding. The premise is inviting and captivating; the romance is flirty and energetic; the characters are ambitious and charismatic.

Previous Reviews and Reading Order

Cherish Hard
The Rebel Hard
Love Hard

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Share

The Right Way by Katie Ashley -Review tour

Posted on by
11

The Right Way by Katie Ashley-Review Tour

 

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 2, 2020

After witnessing his younger brother’s death in a tragic accident, Jonathan Nelson desperately tries losing himself on the gridiron. No matter how hard he tries keeping his head above water, he’s drowning in a sea of grief. Compounding his inability to get his head on straight is Presley—the girl who had a complicated relationship with his brother, Jake, and who is pregnant with his child. At first, Jonathan only harbors resentment and animosity to Presley when she moves in with his parents. But the more the two are thrown together, the more his feelings for her begin to change, and the more confusing Jake’s loss becomes.

Presley Patterson never imagined finding out she was pregnant just a month before graduating high school. She also never fathomed losing the baby’s father to a tragic accident. Needing support for her and her unborn child, she seeks solace by moving in with Jake’s parents. She isn’t too surprised to find an adversary in Jonathan, but she isn’t about to let him ruin the first stability she’s ever experienced. Surprisingly, the animosity towards Jonathan begins to fade and is replaced by more amorous feelings. Taking a chance on Jonathan means risking the perfect world she’s built for herself and her daughter.

Can the two move on from the specter of Jake in order to find a future together, or will their wounded hearts remain unhealed?

••••••••

REVIEW:Jonathon Nelson’s college football career hangs in the balance. After having some precarious situations on the field, his coach finally gives him the ultimatum of seeking some psychiatric help or no longer being allowed to practice / play on the team. Regretfully, Jonathon knows he is right. After recently witnessing his younger brother Jake die in a tragic accident at the age of 18, his life has drastically changed. Jonathon comes home to help Presley Patterson move into his parents home. Harboring ill will and discontent their encounter at his parents house does not go so well. Presley claims after the death of Jake that she is pregnant with his child. This does not sit well with Jonathon and he says some things he quickly comes to regret.

Once having confirmation that Presley was pregnant with Jake’s child he soon realizes that he spoke out of turn and too soon! Upon apologizing to Presley they slowly come to an understanding that the most important thing in all of their lives is Jake’s child.

What started out as discontent slowly turns into friendship and then once the baby is born their love continues to grow for each other.

Jonathon is a cocky, arrogant jock who’s mouth speaks without thinking. He says some hurtful things to his brothers baby momma. He is quickly out in his place by his dear friend and once he realizes he read the whole situation wrong, he makes amends for what he says! Once baby Evie is born, I absolutely fell in love with the way he fell for the baby and Presley!

Presley didn’t have the best reputation in school growing up, and she knew a lot of people didn’t approve of her on again, off again relationship with Jake. But when she winds up pregnant to him, he ends up dying before letting anyone know what the situation is. Luckily he wrote a letter before his tragic death, in it he explains that he is the baby’s father and he will take care of her! Presley soon finds out that what she feels for Jonathon is much different than what she felt for his brother Jake.

The coming of age of two young people, determined to put the baby that has come into their lives first! Heart-warming and beautiful!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Erin K

 

Katie Ashley is a New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon Best-Selling author of both Indie and Traditionally published books. She lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her daughter, Olivia, and her spoiled mutt, Duke. She has a slight obsession with Pinterest, The Golden Girls, Shakespeare, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Scooby-Doo.

With a BA in English, a BS in Secondary English Education, and a Masters in Adolescent English Education, she spent eleven years teaching both middle and high school English, as well as a few adjunct college English classes. As of January 2013, she hung up her red pen and expo markers to become a full-time writer. Each and every day she counts her blessings to be able to do her dream job.

Although her roots are firmly planted in the red Georgia clay, she loves traveling the country and world to meet readers and hang out with fellow authors. When she’s not writing or chasing down her toddler, you might find her watching reruns of The Golden Girls, reading historical biographies, along with romance novels, or spending way too much time on Facebook.

CONNECT WITH KATIE

➜ NEWSLETTER: http://bit.ly/2ljVosh
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/katie.ashleyromance
➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (ASHLEY’S ANGELS):facebook.com/groups/ashleyangels
➜ WEBSITE: www.katieashleybooks.com
➜INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/katieashleyluv
➜ TWITTER: twitter.com/katieashleyluv
➜ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/katieashleyluv

 

Share