Tag: gracie graham

Book Review: Let You Love Me (Boys of Riverside #5) by Gracie Graham

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 601 pages
Author: Gracie Graham
Publisher: Self Publishing
Release Date: June 30th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The first time I met Lane Turner was a stroke of fate.
The second time was a slap in the face. Turns out, she’s my coach’s daughter, completely off-limits. But that doesn’t stop me from wanting her.

Falling for Lane will be easy. Crashing through her walls, not as simple. When I find out she has a daughter? Complicated. But I’m anything if not determined, intent on dismantling the carefully constructed armor around her heart. Proving to her I’m more than just a college athlete is my number one mission in life. Showing her she’s worth it is a close second.

But everyone has their limits, the scars that bind them. Broaching the topic of her daughter’s father is a hard no. Lying is mine. So when her past comes knocking on my door in the form of retribution, I start asking questions. I’m ready to fight for us, but is she?

I FINISHED THE SERIES!

And this was a great book to end everything too. I adore Teagan and loved getting his story. I loved the college setting and all of the football content too. This book had me cheering on a love at first sight play that I wasn’t mad about one bit.

There’s the usual level of drama and chaos I’ve come to expect from this series and I loved the tangled web it wove. I was glued to my kindle waiting for that last shoe to drop and see everything hit the fan before being smoothed over. I will say that Lane frustrated me over one aspect where I thought her secrets were being held on to a little too long.

I enjoyed the swoon and heat from the romance and all of the really sweet moments with Sophie. I loved so many scenes and how they impacted the story and characters. It was fun getting to hear from the previous characters too and I will definitely be reading whatever Gracie Graham writes next.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Sports Romance
  • Language: high (way too high, there were hundreds of f-bombs)
  • Romance: vague open door
  • Violence: mild
  • Content Warnings: teen pregnancy (recounted), hazing, physical altercations

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Book Review: Love at Second Down (Boys of Ann Arbor #2) by Gracie Graham

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: NA Sports Romance
Length: 433 pages
Author: Gracie Graham
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: June 24th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Three years ago, Avery Astor ruined me. Now she’s back to finish the job.

I had the girl.

The scholarship.

The future.

They say quarterbacks have short memories.

But I remember everything.

Every promise. Every plan. Every damn kiss.

Avery Astor was supposed to follow me to college. Instead, she broke me in half and left me to rebuild my life from scratch.

That was nearly three years ago.

Now I’m in my junior year of college in the Big Ten, laser-focused, and headed to the national championships. I’m completely off-limits.

Until she shows up. At my school. And at the worst possible time.

She says she’s here to win me back and there are reasons she left that I don’t know, and she can’t tell me.

The problem is . . . I’m not the guy she left behind.

And I don’t want to be won.

A NEW FAV.

This is easily going in to one of my top books from Gracie Graham. I was glued to my phone y’all. A unique second chance romance you should read too!

I didn’t know how I would feel about Avery being the chaser/wanting the MMC back (because I feel like it’s often the other way around). As the book progressed I started to enjoy it all the more. I wish Avery had stopped saying I can’t tell you yet, but overall she was an FMC to admire and I liked her tenancity.

I was very much obsessed with Damon too. There’s something about a man eternally down bad that works so beautifully when written well. And GG 1000% achieved that nuance. I loved seeing this group of friends again and really appreciate that both Damon and Avery have strong support groups that banter and love them well.

The classic dash of drama/suspense that Graham likes to add in was present here too. I thought it was intriguing and watching it unfold kept those pages flying. I can’t wait for the next book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Sports Romance
  • Language: high
  • Romance: 2ish open door; innuendo throughout
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content warnings: loss of loved ones (recounted), blackmailing

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Book Review: Tell Me You Love Me (Boys of Riverside #4) by Gracie Graham

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Sports Romance
Length: 385 pages
Author: Gracie Graham
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 28th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Brynn Nichols is an enigma wrapped up in a riddle I can’t decipher.

She’s my best friend’s twin sister, the only girl immune to my charms. Far too wholesome for a player like me. Getting under her skin is my favorite pastime. And it’s not hard to do considering how much she hates me. But when football and summer classes take us to the same college, her brother makes me promise to watch over her. Keep an eye on her since he can’t.

I try to resist her, I really do.
She’s off-limits.
Too good for me.

There are a million reasons acting on my attraction toward her is wrong. But her biting remarks and constant scowls aren’t enough to keep me at bay.
Especially when her psycho roommate leaves her in need of a place to stay. Inviting her to bunk with me for the summer is the worst possible idea.

But I never said I was smart.
Several kisses and one heated encounter later, I’m in over my head.
If her brother finds out about us, he’ll kill me.
So, we agree to keep it quiet.

But there are demons lurking behind her smooth skin, soft lips, and long blonde hair. Reasons for her ire I don’t know about. And when I discover the truth, the lines between loyalty, love, and friendship are drawn. Now I’m so far away from the line, I can’t even see it anymore. And with the way I’m feeling, I’m not sure I want to.

LOVE THE CHEMISTRY.

This book about lit my kindle on fire. I love this series and loved that this one had a college setting. Two people clearly destined for each other kept butting heads until they realized it?? Yes, I love that vibe. Brynn and Jace were the best kind of opposites attract and I loved the brother’s best friend trope here too. The edge of forbidden-ness was fantastic.

I didn’t love the way some of the third act was handled. It didn’t make sense with the character and story progression at that time. I felt frustrated more than anything but I am grateful that the ending fully came together in a really sweet manner. I loved seeing previous characters and all of those romance book moments that make you swoon. I’m excited to finish this series soon!

Overall audience notes:

  • New adult sports romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: moderate innuendo; fade to black
  • Violence: moderate
  • Content Warnings: sexual assault and attempted r@pe, absent parents

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Book Review: The Love Playbook (Boys of Ann Arbor U #1) by Gracie Graham

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: NA Sports Romance
Length: 404 pages
Author: Gracie Graham
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: February 28th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A brand new reverse grumpy sunshine, college football romance in a new series of standalone romances.

Charlotte Baker is the grump to my sunshine and the star of all my unrequited fantasies.

She checks all my boxes while all I seem to do is piss her off.

But I’m a wide receiver in the Big Ten. I’m used to winning, and my golden retriever personality is sure to wear her down.

Those cutting looks she gives? Just a cover. Secretly she wants me; she’s just loathed to admit it.

Those snarky comments? They’re simply a way to hide her attraction; she just can’t see it yet.

Oh, and did I mention I just discovered her father is engaged to my mother?

Now she’s saltier than normal.

But I won’t let this forbidden romance get me down. I have a plan, a way to win her over and secure my mother’s engagement to her father at the same time.

On paper, my plan is I’m going to show her what it’s like to be romanced. I’m going to woo her. I’m going to throw the Love Playbook right at her.

Lettie might have made it clear that she’s not interested in me, but I’m nothing if not persistent.

All she needs is a little persuasion.

Right?

I LOVE FOOTBALL.

I love a good Gracie Graham book and I am so happy to have this spin off series! It was incredibly swoony and I love golden retriever MMC’s and black cat FMC’s.

There’s a lot of family drama that’s complicated and brings the contention. I liked how things worked out in the end though and that some good resolutions were found. The found family text chains and group dynamics are so fun and I love the college setting.

Great chemistry and banter. It’s heated and an easy read to fly through. Looking forward to the next one!

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Contemporary Romance
  • Language: high
  • Romance: fade to black
  • Content warnings: divorce, a parent with depression (theme throughout)

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