Tag: sports romance

Book Review: Hands Down by Mariana Zapata

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 550 pages
Author: Mariana Zapata
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: July 2nd, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Before he was Big Texas, he was Zac the Snack Pack.

Bianca Brannen knows time–mostly–heals all wounds. Including those your once loved ones might have unintentionally given you. (Those just take longer.)

She thinks she’s ready when a call has her walking back into her old friend’s life. Or at least as prepared as possible to see the starting quarterback in the National Football Organization. Before the lights, the fans, and the millions, he’d been a skinny kid with a heart of gold.

Waltzing out of Zac Travis’s life should be easy. Just as easy as he walked out of hers.

BLESS YOUR HEART.

There was a lot to love about this, but one bone I need to pick.

Bianca.

I just struggled with her for way longer than I wanted. I’m always initially cool with who the character is in the beginning because GROWTH. But oh my gosh, I was just so tired of hearing I don’t want to be a burden on repeat that I lost focus. Zac is the SWEETEST. And I wanted more of them being together vs. them constantly apologizing to each other.

The friends to lovers is overall fine, even if not my favorite in this context. There were a LOT of nicknames. I actually didn’t mind all of them but one (kiddo). The ending is really sweet and I loved getting the little epilogue too. I even liked seeing a different side to Trevor too. There’s plenty of good nuggets in here at least. And the TWO cameos are without a doubt the best part.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 1 open door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief mentions of parental abandonment, cheating recounted, death of a love one recounted

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ARC Book Review: The Golden Goal (More Than a Game #1) by Annah Conwell

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 258 pages
Author: Annah Conwell
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 4th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Shaw Daniels is the bane of my existence.

Always has been. Always will be.

When we were kids, he annoyed me to no end by being good at everything. He didn’t have to study or really even try. Meanwhile, I tried too much and still lost to him.

Then when we were teenagers, our rivalry became twisted. He started sabotaging all my relationships. I retaliated by doing the same to him.

Now, we’re adults and we should be able to move on. But when I become a physical therapist for his professional hockey team, it seems as though we can’t let go of our rival tendencies.

Suddenly, our teasing starts to border on flirting. Bets are made and lines are crossed. The kind of lines that once crossed … you can never go back to the way things were before.

The Golden Goal is an enemies to lovers, brother’s best-friend hockey romcom for fans of sports romance. It has all the sizzling chemistry you love, without any explicit scenes. Check out the first book in the More Than a Game series, an interconnected standalone series based around four men in four different sports.

Thank you to the author for an eARC.

SHAW Y’ALL.

If you know anything about my romance reading preferences, y’all would know, HE FALLS FIRST is one of my favorites. And dang did Shaw fall HARD Y’ALL. I can’t even with him. The entire book turned me into a puddle. I am goo. Shaw was thoughtful, intense, silly and endearing in all the ways.

And I really loved Sutton too! Both of these main characters were written beautifully. While I wouldn’t call this enemies to lovers, I did love the snarky banter between Sutton and Shaw. I found myself smiling like a fool because of the well placed quips. It had a fantastic level of heat without the spice and those kissing scenes were FIRE.

I thought the plot was fast paced and easy to fly through. There were so many good stand out moments I could list (but you should go read and love on them so we can flail together). And there was actual hockey content in here so I can without a doubt say THIS is a sports romance.

And one you should read ASAP.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of parents with alcohol and substance abuse

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Book Review: The Right Move (Windy City #2) by Liz Tomforde

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Sports Romance
Length: 544 pages
Author: Liz Tomforde
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 1st, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

RYAN

She’s a distraction, that’s what she is.

I’m the newest Captain of the Devils, Chicago’s NBA team, and the last thing I needed this year was for Indy Ivers, my sister’s best friend, to move into my apartment. She’s messy, emotional, and way too tempting.

But when the team’s General Manager vocalizes his blatant disapproval of my promotion to Captain, referring to me as an unapproachable lone wolf with no work-life balance, I can’t think of a better way to convince him otherwise than pretending to date my outgoing roommate.

The only problem? Faking it feels far too natural.

Having a fake girlfriend wasn’t supposed to be messy but having Indy under my roof and in my bed is complicated, especially when she wants all the romantic parts of life that I could never give her.

INDY

I never imagined I’d be living with my best friend’s brother, NBA superstar Ryan Shay. Even more unbelievable? He needs me to act as his loving girlfriend who’s suddenly changed him into a friendly and approachable guy.

Because, well…he’s not. He’s controlling of his space and untrusting of others.

Our arrangement isn’t one-sided, though. I’m in a wedding coming up, one where every one of my childhood friends, including my ex-boyfriend, will be in attendance, and there’s no better date than my ex’s celebrity hero.

Blurred lines make it almost impossible to separate real from fake. Falling for my roommate was never part of the deal, especially when Ryan is quick to remind me that he doesn’t believe in love.

I’m a romantic and can’t help fantasizing that he’ll change, but soon enough, I find myself questioning if sharing a roof with my best friend’s brother was the right move after all

STOP IT RIGHT NOW.

Y’all. I had zero plans to binge this book in basically a day and I COULD NOT STOP LISTENING. I absolutely get the hype around Ryan Shay now and he’s officially a new favorite.

I loved that the whole vibe of this book was quiet love is the loudest. Those kind of moments are my favorite when reading a romance book and Ryan and Indy both did so many things for each other that were quiet and without fanfare that showed just how much love was between them. I was SMITTEN. And could honestly sit here and list moment after moment that was beautifully tender and heartfelt and melted me into a puddle (but also the protective and jealous moments SENT ME). I have not recovered.

I loved seeing the characters from Mile High and I love the friendships and sibling relationships. They are strong and caring and only add to how much this book sings. It’s a new sports romance favorite of mine.

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3-4+ open door; mild innuendo
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: cheating (recounted), infertility discussions

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Book Review: I Got You by Stacy Williams

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 474 pages
Author: Stacy Williams
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 16th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Sacrifice…is there any too great? How far would you go to protect the innocent?

Maggie is living from one day to the next and making things up as she goes. Her life is four kids and a whole lot of chaos, but the best kind. Two years ago, she gave up her dreams, and after a devastating loss, she may have to give up one more. With four kids depending on her and not a chance she’ll let them down, she’s about to learn just exactly how far she’ll go to keep them safe.

Shane just lost the only thing he’s ever loved – the only thing he was good at – the only thing he’s ever wanted. After a career-ending injury upends his life, he’s forced into a coaching career he’s not even sure he wants. Just weeks into his new position, he finds himself tugged back to a time he’d prefer to never revisit. Now, Shane’s left with a decision that could change everything. It’s the one thing he told himself he would never do.

I Got You is a touching love story that reminds us that when everything else fades…love stays.

This is a closed-door contemporary romance that still offers plenty of spice.

AN INCREDIBLE DEBUT.

I am blown away by this book. I LOVED IT. I was absolutely SENT by this slow burn romance. Then tension between Maggie and Shane is next level and I love it all. And this really brought the steam without the spice and I will now be shouting to everyone to pick this book up ASAP.

I loved the journey Maggie and Shane went one, especially Shane. He is one I wanted to shake and hug all in the same breath. I loved the realistic nature of the romance and how he truly had to break down some walls and realize just how much love was around him. And I loved how Maggie was the embodiment of a sunshine character. Sunny and brave and doing everything she can to keep her siblings. And those siblings!! I loved them all. Realistic kids were her super sweet and I wanted the best for every one of these characters.

There were SO MANY good moments. This is a longer contemporary and you don’t even notice. The moments MATTER. The quiet, loud, angry and swoony filled. This does lean to the heavier side and will make you feel deep. The swoon and tenderness and all the dang things. I’m sitting her going over scene after scene in my mind because this is now living rent free.

I CAN’T WAIT for the next book.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: closed door
  • Violence: low
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: loss of parents (recounted), child abuse (recounted), parental abandonment

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