The Wilde Men Book 1: Wilde’s End by Saxon James

The Wilde Men Book 1

Hudson

Give me the smallest reason to make a bad decision, and I’ll jump in with both feet. Case in point: thinking that drunkenly buying an abandoned town with my brothers is a good idea. 

As builders, we plan to renovate and flip the town, maybe turn it into something worth seeing, but the longer we’re here, the more things feel … off. 

It’s not until a bearded mountain man breaks into my room in the middle of the night and threatens for us to get out of his town that I realize Wilde’s End isn’t as abandoned as we were told. 

But there’s nothing waiting for me in the life I left behind, and in making his demands, Wilde has accidentally tapped into my competitive side. 

Terrible decisions? Me? 

Wilde can bring it on. 

Wilde

I escaped to Wilde’s End twenty years ago, and since then I’ve dedicated my life to the town and the people who live there. Because if I focus on others, I don’t have the time or energy to face everything I’ve been running from. 

The Bellamy brothers coming to town is like three horsemen of the goddamn apocalypse. They leave destruction in their wake, and when the eldest, Hudson, ignores my very kind request to leave, it’s time to take things into my own hands. Protecting this town is all I know how to do. 

But I’ve never faced someone like Hudson. 

His stubbornness matches mine, and his attitude has an irritating way of worming under my skin. The more I push him, the harder he pushes back, until we’re locked in a game neither of us will walk away from. 

With his smart mouth, bullheaded recklessness and those damn eyelashes I’m starting to question whether I can win this one. 

But if I lose, this town isn’t the only thing on the line.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234576959-wilde-s-end

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

A great first book to kick off this brand new series! From all the sneak peeks of the characters Saxon has been giving, I had a feeling this series was going to be good and this first book definitely didn’t disappoint! The series kicks off with Hudson and Wilde. When Hudson and his brothers (but mostly Hudson) get this idea to buy a very rundown and abandoned town and fix it up, they never imagined that there were actual people living there. And some in particular are not happy to see Hudson and his brothers arrive. Their arrival and plans threaten Wilde’s home and there isn’t much he wouldn’t do to protect those under his care. Thus the war between Wilde and Hudson begins! It’s as entertaining as you can imagine with Wilde trying everything to get Hudson to leave and Hudson doing whatever he can to counteract it and act like he isn’t bothered. Because if Hudson is one thing, he is stubborn and will never back down from a challenge. But things take an interesting turn when the two act on the attraction between them. And neither are prepared for what hooking up means between them! And it’s only a matter of time until they’ll be forced to face their feelings. I loved this book! It was such a fun read watching these enemies fall for one another. I loved getting to know these characters and the town. I think we are going to have so many good books with the characters we have met so far! This was a great one to kick off the story with and I can’t wait to read more!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Desert Football Book 1: Hidden Plays by Christie Gordon

Desert Football Book 1

Sharing a locker room with my high school rival is bad enough. Pretending to date him? A terrible idea. Trying not to fall for him? Hopeless.

JJ 

Football is everything—my escape, my future, my one shot to prove I’m not my father’s disappointment.

Then Holden Cox appears. The golden boy who stole my MVP and made me doubt myself.

Now he’s my student trainer, living under my skin, touching me like he owns me.

And to prove a point, I challenge him to fake-date me.

It’s the only way my friends will shut up about my last boyfriend.

One lie. One kiss. One mistake waiting to happen.

Holden 

I’m in college to rebuild my future in football, not to be tangled with JJ Matthews.

I told myself I’d never fall for him. I’m not even sure I like guys.

But JJ is different. Always has been.

Now I’m faking kisses that feel too real and wanting things I don’t know how to name.

Keeping this secret could save us both or break me in ways my busted knee never did.

Hidden Plays is the first book in the Desert Football series, which is a spin-off of the Desert Ice Hockey series. It features rivals who can’t keep their hands off each other, a fake boyfriend scheme that feels all too real, a bisexual awakening that changes everything, and found-family teammates cheering for their happily ever after.

Buy now and tackle all the feels. Because when it comes to love, these boys are playing for keeps.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238366167-hidden-plays

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

When it comes to love it seems like JJ just can’t find the one he was meant to be with. The last guy he liked ended up having feelings for his teammate and since then he has been trying to figure out a way to move on. Never did he expect that his high school rival would be his solution. When JJ sees Holden working for their college football team as a new physical trainer, he is less than happy. How can he trust Holden after how they acted around one another in high school? Especially when JJ has to put his trust in Holden when it comes to his health? All Holden wants is to be good at his job. He lost his chance for a football career back in high school after a terrible injury, being a physical therapist has become his new dream. But when JJ keeps giving him a hard time he isn’t sure what to do to gain his trust. Turns out, JJ has some ideas. JJ needs his roommates to back off about his love life and his ex. Having a fake boyfriend should do that right? He asks Holden to be his secret boyfriend and in exchange he’ll listen to him when it comes to his PT. But that sparks the beginning of what will be a very sweet relationship. Holden never felt attracted to guys before and yet JJ changes everything for him. He may still be figuring out who he is but with JJ by his side, he knows it will all be okay. Sweet story all around. It was nice to see JJ finally find his happy ending. And I really liked getting to know Holden as well! Looks like we have some interesting football players and I can’t wait to see the rest of them get their happy endings in this series.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Unlucky Ones Book 2: Unloved by Marley Valentine

The Unlucky Ones Book 2

From USA Today bestselling author Marley Valentine comes an all new emotional, hurt/comfort, polyamorous romance. 

We longed. We lost. We loved. Desperately. 

I thought I had my life all figured out. But after a college football accident leaves me deaf, I was learning how to live all over again.

I expected the anger, the frustration, and the struggle to readjust, but what I didn’t expect to happen amongst the chaos, was to fall in love.

Especially not with two men.

Rough-edged puzzle pieces, Rhys, Samuel, and I were nothing but aching memories, painful realities, and hidden scars.

We were products of our pasts, abandoned and unloved, messy and complicated. Individually we had baggage; together we had mountains to climb.

But when the three of us were tangled up in one another, spilling secrets in the dark, hearts beating in sync, nothing else mattered but them.

We needed to break the cycle, because they deserved love… And who knows, maybe I finally did too.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204259759-unloved

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

When Lennox takes a bad hit in his college football game, he could never have imagined what comes next. First off, the hit left him deaf and now he has to learn how to navigate this new reality of life. And his brother who left him behind four years ago returns when he learns about the accident. Lennox can’t decide if he is happy or still mad at him for leaving in the first place. And though there is a lot of mixed feelings, one of the biggest changes is that his best friend, the man he has loved for a long time now, is still by his side and may actually love him back. And when Rhys comes into their lives? It just makes everything more perfect. Samuel has done his best to not let Lennox know how he feels. Losing someone you love isn’t something he can bear again. But nearly losing Lennox? How can he pretend any longer. And meeting Rhys who fits flawlessly with them? Maybe it’s worth the risk. Rhys has struggled with addiction for a long time. He’s relapsed many times but he is trying so hard. All he wants is to see his little sister again. This latest round of staying sober has led him down an unexpected road. New friends to help him navigate sobriety and then Samuel and Lennox. His feelings for them only become stronger the more time they spend together and the fact that they want him too? It’s too good to be true. Can he hold on to it? I loved Lennox, Samuel, and Rhys’s story! Those three deserve one another and happiness. They fight hard to overcome the tough things life has thrown at them and they fight hard for one another. I loved getting to know them and watch them fall in love.

Hope’s Ridge Book 2: Fractured Grief by Kady Cordova

Hope’s Ridge Book 2

Indy

Less than a year ago, I lost my best friend, soul sister, my ride or die. I’ve been drowning in grief, but I need to stay strong for our daughter.

Lexi dreamed of escaping our religious, bigoted town, but she never got to the chance. I vowed to live the life she longed for and moved to Missoula to start my first job as a fully qualified physical therapist.

My first patient took me by surprise. He’s gorgeous, huge, and his sad eyes hold me captive. He makes me long for things I shouldn’t. As we get to know each other, my attraction only grows.

Am I willing to risk all I’ve ever worked for at a chance at love?

Am I ready to embrace my true self and step out of the closet I’ve always been in?

Seb makes me want to break my rules.

Seb makes me want it all.

Seb

A few months ago, I was shot. I almost died. I’m angry, frustrated and overwhelmed by the limitations of my healing body.

When I meet my new physical therapist, everything changes. He lights up my life in a way no one ever has.

I’m known as the quiet one, the stoic giant of my boisterous Greek family, but this man with a sunshine smile, makes me want to live out loud. He makes me want things I never considered.

But he’s my PT. He’s a single Dad. He’s grieving the loss of his best friend.

Would he even want to break the rules for someone like me?

Fractured Grief is a small-town, slow burn, single dad, MM Romance with two men facing their own grief and finding love, healing, and happiness together. This story features the stoic brother finding his person, a few surprises along the way, a family full of love, mischief, and colorful characters ready to step in and help each other at the drop of a hat, and a delightful eight-year-old who steals all their hearts.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238875419-fractured-grief

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

A few months ago, Seb was shot by someone trying to hurt his brother. And though he survived, the aftermath has been a constant battle of trying to regain what he lost when it comes to his body. It hasn’t been easy. And he’s been frustrated and overwhelmed by this big change but everything begins to change when he meets his new physical therapist, Indy. Indy is going through his own battle with grief. He lost his best friend a year earlier and has been raising their daughter alone ever since. Their dream was to get out of their deeply religious town and never look back. And that has finally happened. Just without Lexi. He is determined to give him and Hazel and fresh start and to have the future Lexi wanted for them, he just never imagined that he would find the love of his life in the shape of his first patient. It’s clear from the moment they meet, there is something between Seb and Indy. It’s like something has woken up inside them beyond their pain and grief. They need one another in more ways than one and they truly find their other half as they learn more about one another. I loved watching their dynamic and love grow with each passing page. They were so cute and sweet and just clearly meant to be! It was fun being back in this world with so many great characters. And I’m hoping we’ll see more books soon!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Cover Reveal!

WILDE'S END

The Wilde Men #1

by Saxon James

Cover, Blurb & Excerpt Reveal

Release Date: September 25, 2025

Cover Design: Story Styling Cover Designs

Photo: Wander Aguiar Photography

Model: Liam F.

Genre: M/M Bi Awakening Romance Standalone

Tropes: Enemies to lovers, small town, city boy x wild man, grumpy x snarky, hate f*cking

Microtropes: I had no where else to go, scars reveal, bearded Cinderella moment, get out of my town

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Synopsis

Hudson

Give me the smallest reason to make a bad decision, and I’ll jump in with both feet. Case in point: thinking that drunkenly buying an abandoned town with my brothers is a good idea.

As builders, we plan to renovate and flip the town, maybe turn it into something worth seeing, but the longer we’re here, the more things feel … off.

It’s not until a bearded mountain man breaks into my room in the middle of the night and threatens for us to get out of his town that I realize Wilde’s End isn’t as abandoned as we were told.

But there’s nothing waiting for me in the life I left behind, and in making his demands, Wilde has accidentally tapped into my competitive side.

Terrible decisions? Me?

Wilde can bring it on.

Wilde

I escaped to Wilde’s End twenty years ago, and since then I’ve dedicated my life to the town and the people who live there. Because if I focus on others, I don't have the time or energy to face everything I’ve been running from.

The Bellamy brothers coming to town is like three horsemen of the goddamn apocalypse. They leave destruction in their wake, and when the eldest, Hudson, ignores my very kind request to leave, it’s time to take things into my own hands. Protecting this town is all I know how to do.

But I’ve never faced someone like Hudson.

His stubbornness matches mine, and his attitude has an irritating way of worming under my skin. The more I push him, the harder he pushes back, until we’re locked in a game neither of us will walk away from.

With his smart mouth, bullheaded recklessness and those damn eyelashes I’m starting to question whether I can win this one.

But if I lose, this town isn’t the only thing on the line.

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Add to your TBR List!

GOODREADS LINK

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Excerpt

I’m not a bad guy. I’m not even a mean one. But when it comes to this town, I’ll do anything I need to in order to keep it safe. For me and for all the people who have landed here. Wilde’s End is a safe haven from the harsh realities of the outside world, and that will never change for as long as I have the power to protect it.

It’s the same man sleeping in the downstairs bedroom as last time—Hudson, according to his ID—and I creep closer, curious if he’s still as attractive as I remember or if I’ve built him up in my head. Unfortunately, even watching him from a distance all week isn’t enough to prepare me for seeing him again.

He’s unnaturally fucking hot.

I hate him for it.

Thankfully, it won’t be a problem for much longer.

On a night out, he’s exactly the type of man I’d pick out of a crowd. Here, in my town, he’s exactly the type of man I never want to see again.

So I cross to the bedroom window and shove it open so hard the glass shudders in the frame.

The man’s jolt upright takes a few seconds too long to be useful under attack. He grunts, then mumbles something unintelligible as he sets an unsteady hand to his forehead. At first, I worry he’s going to roll right over and fall back asleep, but slowly, his eyes blink open. Once. Twice.

Then they drift to me.

He watches me for one sleepy moment before he jumps so hard his back hits the wall. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Wilde,” I forcefully admit, folding my arms across my chest to stop the way my hands keep folding into fists.

Hudson’s jaw is working madly like he’s trying to choose how to respond, and his gaze keeps darting to the door. The last thing I want is to have to deal with all three of them when I can have him pass on my message, so I get my warning in before he can call for help.

“Leave.”

“Excuse me?”

“I want you gone.”

His fists curl into the bedding as the shock melts away and a panicked sort of anger takes over. “What the fuck do you mean by that?”

“Keep your voice down,” I force out through my teeth.

He chokes on his response. “You’re not going to break in here and tell me what to do.”

“I can and I am.”

“Fuck you.”

“I said to keep your damn voice down.”

“Make me."

“It would be too fucking easy.” The way he’s bringing my blood to boiling has me desperate for a fight. He’s supposed to be scared. Supposed to cower and promise to leave.

I underestimated him.

Hudson meets my eyes. “My brothers will get here before you have a chance to lay a hand on me.”

A bitter smile tries and fails to cross my face. “I have no interest in touching you. I’m here to talk.”

“Talk?” The way he spits the word makes it clear he doesn’t believe me. “You broke into my house to talk?”

“Yes.”

“Get out.” He isn’t bothering to keep quiet, and it’s rattling me.

“I told you to shut up.”

“And I told you to fuck off.”

I move closer to his mattress, standing at full height, and look down at him. He’s coiled for a fight and watching me like a caged animal. “Don’t test me,” I warn.

The blond man snorts, the wariness slipping from his face as a spark of defiance takes over. “You broke in here. You don’t get to make the calls.”

This conversation proves, yet again, why I hate people. All he had to do was keep his mouth closed and let me talk so I could be on my way, and instead, he threw self-preservation out the window. I could kill him out here, and no one would ever know.

He’s lucky that while I might be many things, I’m not a murderer.

But I am low on patience.

I cross to his bed in two strides, crouch down, then grab hold of his calf. The inflatable mattress makes it too easy to haul him close enough for me to get in his face.

“I’m only going to say this once,” I warn. “Get your people, and get out of my fucking town.”

Instead of looking intimidated, he leans closer. “Or what?”

“You don’t want the answer to that question.” Just thinking of Lynx has tension tugging at my muscles.

“I’m a pretty curious guy, actually.”

“There are people out here …” My grip on him tightens. “That you don’t want to test.”

His gaze, silvery in the darkness, moves from one of my eyes to the next. “You’re lying. This town is abandoned.”

“Then what the hell am I doing here?”

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Pre-order Link

Amazon Universal ~ https://geni.us/WildesEndPL

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Giveaway

One of Five eARC's for Wilde's End

a Rafflecopter Giveaway

ENTER HERE

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About the Author

Saxon James unapologetically writes happy endings for LGBT+ characters.

While not writing, SM is a readaholic and Netflix addict who regularly lives on a sustainable diet of chocolate and coffee.

Member of SCBWI.

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Connect with Saxon

Website: https://saxonjamesauthor.com/

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Love the Game Book 2: Offside Play by Becca Steele

Love the Game Book 2

From USA Today bestselling author Becca Steele comes a new standalone MM sports romance set in the Love the Game universe.

When my Premier League season comes to an abrupt end thanks to an injury and subsequent transfer to another team, I decide to surprise my brother by flying out to Canada to catch him in the NHL playoffs.

I never planned on sleeping with a man for the first time on my very first day in Calgary. A man who turns out to be my brother’s grumpy, antisocial teammate.

I never planned for it to happen again.

And again.

We’re professional athletes. His life is in Canada and mine is in the UK. 

I know there’s no future for us. So why can’t I make myself stay away from him?

Love the Game is an MM sports romance shared world, and features books from Willow Thomas, Becca Steele, Jodi Oliver, EM Denning, Becca Seymour, Becca Jackson, EM Lindsey, and Cora Rose.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228390716-offside-play

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

When Jude arrives in Canada to surprise his brother, he decides that this is a chance to explore a part of him he hasn’t really had a chance to. But what he never expects is that his one night, very hot hook up with a stranger would be facing him the next day…as his brother’s teammate. Cody has kept his head down and his distance from everyone. He is used to being on his own and coming off as the silent, grumpy antisocial guy on his NHL team. So it’s just his luck that he hooks up with his teammate’s brother. But there is something about Jude that can’t make him stay away. And he tries. As Jude and Cody spend the next few weeks together secretly seeing one another, it gets harder and harder to let go of the other. But they are both professional athletes living in two different countries. They have no future. Right? I loved these two!! I love their sunshine and grumpy dynamic and how Jude is really the only one who sees Cody’s soft side. Cody really does keep to himself and when he isn’t at hockey, he is coaching hockey to teens in secret. He doesn’t want recognition, he just wants to help the kids out. Yet, he lets Jude see that part of him. Though long distance may not be ideal, I love that they aren’t ready to let go of one another just yet. And they’ll hold on as tight as they can until they have no choice. Really sweet story overall! With some great character and familiar faces if you read other Becca Steele books! I really enjoyed this one and am looking forward to more books in this series!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For Puck’s Sake Book 13: Total Assist by Crea Reitan

For Puck’s Sake Book 13

His submission is beautiful.

Shively

I’ve made my life a complete facade. It’s works for me. I’m successful and have a career I wouldn’t trade for anything. 

One night threatens all of my carefully constructed walls. 

A single night with one of my players unlocks and unleashes a secret need in me to submit and now I’m willing to put everything on the line to be his perfect submissive. Even at the cost of my career.

Dasan

The D/s lifestyle has always been tempting. In the back of my mind, I know I’ve wanted a sub of my own. But as a figure in the public eye, sometimes living the way you want becomes a challenge that can end with attention you simply don’t want. 

One evening challenges my decision to act upon this lifestyle desire when Coach Shively and I share a night together that teases the possibility of something we both deeply desire. As we push the boundaries of this secret relationship, one thing is perfectly clear - 

Shively Myers is my perfect, sweet submissive and I need to keep him at all costs.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236004208-total-assist

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Shiv knows that having a crush on one his players is a bad idea. But there is something about Dasan that speaks to him. And despite the flirting Dasan does with Shiv, he never imagines that Dasan would feel more for him. Until one night they find themselves breaking all the rules and discovering a part of themselves they didn’t realize existed. And while they know starting any sort of relationship outside of their hockey coach/player one is a bad idea, they realize that what they both have been looking for is one another. And giving that up? Well, that’s impossible. Not when feelings truly kick in and they explore a part of themselves that has been waiting for the right person to explore. Dasan and Shiv’s story really focuses on them discovering this dom and submissive relationship with one another. They are learning together. Figuring out what works for them and what doesn’t. What works as a couple and as individuals. They create their own world when it comes to this relationship and have another when they are player and coach. They never want to mix it because they know that there could be consequences if their relationship got out, but even still, it’s clear the longer the story goes on, the harder they are falling for one another. As usual, I love seeing familiar faces in this story as well as getting to know Dasan and Shiv! And of course, we meet new characters where I just want their stories as well. Overall, I really enjoyed Dasan and Shiv’s story and can’t wait for the next one in the series!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What Fury Brings by Tricia Levenseller

 #1 New York Times-bestselling author Tricia Levenseller makes her adult debut in What Fury Brings, a sexy, empowering romantasy featuring a warrior general who must kidnap and train a husband in order to take her rightful place as queen.

There's a shortage of men in the kingdom of Amarra. After a failed rebellion against the matriarchy, most noblemen in the country are dead. Now the women of Amarra must obtain their husbands (should they want one) by kidnapping them from other kingdoms.

Olerra, a warrior princess vying for the throne, is determined to prove her worth by kidnapping a husband. And not just any husband. To outmaneuver her treacherous cousin, she needs the best. Fortunately, the second-born prince of their greatest enemy is widely known for both his looks and his sweet, docile temperament. He's the perfect choice to secure her claim to the throne.

Sanos, heir to the Kingdom of Brutus, has nothing but contempt for the idea of a society run by women. Trained from birth to fight, lead, and follow in his father's overbearing footsteps, his path has always been set. Until he takes his younger brother's place in a drunken prank and finds himself kidnapped, carted off to the Amarran Palace, and informed that he is to become the husband of Queen Potential Olerra. Sanos needs to escape before anyone learns his real identity, but the more he gets to know his captor, the less sure he is of what he truly wants.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220908944-what-fury-brings

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My Review: 3.5/5 Stars

Olerra’s kingdom is a matriarchal one. Their goddess blessed the woman with the power to overthrow men and flip the tables on them and their cruel treatment of women. Many years later, Olerra is in competition to win the throne against her cousin but she is at every disadvantage. Including not being blessed with the goddess’s gift of strength. So she has proven herself in other ways throughout the years without anyone knowing her secret. But now, she must win the title of heir and her time is running out. If she wants to make changes to her country then she has to win. That plan includes using an old tradition. The one of kidnapping a husband. She sets her sites on the spare heir of the kingdom of Brutus. But without realizing it, she has stolen the actual heir.

Sanos hates his father and wishes the day he can escape from him. Yet he never imagined being kidnapped would do that. Or that pretending to be his brother for a moment, would lead to such a mess. Now he must survive Olerra and her brutal kingdom. Yet, he can’t help but notice the difference between Olerra and many of the noble women in her society. Or the fact that when she turns the table on his own country, that she has made some many points. While Olerra hopes to win his heart, he is adamant that won’t happen. But every moment he learns something new about her, well, his heart may just be softening. 

I won’t lie, this was a hard book for me to get into. I love this author and she is brave for doing a book like this. She really does a nice job of flipping the table and showing you a world where the women are in charge and what their side of cruelty will look like. There is definitely a mix of good and bad, but what really makes the difference is that Olerra isn’t one of the harsher ones in her kingdom. Though she has a softer touch and wants to make changes to help everyone in her kingdom. And interesting story for sure! 

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fighting Spirit by Anna Harrison

 

As the mascot for Allbreck University’s football team, the last thing Ruth expects during a late-night practice session is getting thrown over someone’s shoulder and stuffed into the back of a minivan.

She’s been kidnapped by players from Beaufort College, Allbreck’s fiercest rivals, in some kind of prank-gone-wrong. When all hell breaks loose and the perpetrators bail, it’s Rowan - their intriguing center - who gets left to pick up the pieces.

Ruth doesn’t need another catastrophe, with the unmanaged ADHD that’s taking over her life and a sort-of-ex who acts like they were never more than friends, she’s got enough to deal with. 

All she wants is a way to get home, unfortunately the only guy who can help is the one who wants nothing to do with this night and even less to do with her.

When Rowan accepts a coaching job for after graduation, he knows that things are going to change. He just didn’t think that that change would feel like losing everything before his last playing season is even over.

His dad’s disappointed in him, his head coach’s expectations are growing, and his teammates treat him more like staff than one of their own.

When his team shows up drunk one night with their rivals’ kidnapped mascot, they assume that once again he’ll clean up their mess. 

But when she takes off the oversized toad head and he gets his first look at those big green eyes, he realizes he might have bigger issues.

Even long after the night is over, their connection keeps pulling them back together. But Ruth can’t handle any more distractions, and Rowan can’t give his team any more reasons not to trust him. With everything to play for and their hearts on the line, can they make it into the end zone?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223501449-fighting-spirit

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

When this story popped up on my feed about a girl who is the mascot for her college and she gets kidnapped by the rival football team for a prank, I had to find out more. It sounded way too hilarious to pass up. And I ended up loving this story! After poor Ruth is kidnapped by some very ridiculous football players that seem to realize a little too late they messed up, she is saved by one of their own who can’t believe his teammates were this dumb. Rowan can’t believe his team and knows consequences for them are coming but yet he can’t seem to stay away from Ruth. There is something about her that draws him in and soon the two of them end up striking up a friendship. One he craves more and more each day until he realizes that those feelings are turning into a lot more. But will the team be as understandable for him falling for someone at their rival school? For Ruth, her struggle with ADHD makes school a challenge and making friends and having relationships, even more so. Yet getting to know Rowan and being with him turns into so much more than she could have ever imagined. Has she actually found someone who can love her for who she is? I adored these two. They had so much playful banter and I loved watching their relationship develop throughout the story. This was definitely a fun and sweet read! 

The Comebacks Book 0.5: Cherry Picker by AJ Truman

The Comebacks Book 0.5

 Bill

At the end of a long business conference, I’m eager to get home to my daughter. But a snowstorm strands me in Chicago for the night with my assistant Tate Cherry.

He’s very cute and very off-limits, no matter how much he’s flirting with me tonight. My willpower is put to the test though, when we’re forced to share a hotel room.

Even more so when he makes me an offer I’m unable to refuse.

Tate

After two years of working under Bill Crandell, and fantasizing about being under him in other ways, fate is shining down on me. Tonight will finally be the night we consummate the unnerving tension crackling between us.

It’s my last shot with Bill. I can’t screw it up and develop real feelings for my boss. Not tonight.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/233714058-cherry-picker

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My Review: 4/5 Stars

Bill has had a very long crush on his assistant. A cliche, he knows. But how can he not have feelings for Tate when he has spent the last two years getting to know him? But he won’t cross that line. Even when they are stranded in a blizzard overnight waiting for their flight back home and have to share a room. He’ll resist. But when Tate makes an unexpected move, well Bill’s willpower is only so good. Tate has wanted Bill for two years and tonight is the night he is taking his shot. Maybe Bill won’t return his feelings completely, and it will be one night only. But he’ll take it. Neither are prepared for the chemistry between them once they finally give in to the attraction or that fact that neither want to let the other go. This was a sweet story to open the series. Bill is the leader of the Comebacks, the hockey team he puts together with his friends. And we get a nice sweet story between him and Tate. I remember really liking book one, so I was glad to come back to this world as I wait for book two’s release!

New York Legends Book 1: Thrown for a Loop by Sarina Bowen

 

New York Legends Book 1

Fans suspect that the bad boy of hockey has a few skeletons in his closet. They have no idea he also has a sparkly bodysuit… #toepick! 

When they met at figure skating camp ten years ago, Chase Merritt was a scrappy hockey player from the wrong part of town, and Zoe Carson was the up-and-coming ice princess. They fell in love faster than you can say triple toe loop, until Zoe makes a fateful error that ends up costing Chase dearly. 

Almost a decade later, their fortunes are reversed. Chase is the MVP of the New York Legends hockey team, while Zoe—their new skating coach—has years’ worth of personal and professional bruises. It’s hard to face him again—all six feet and two hundred pounds of muscle and swagger. 

And anger. Chase is in hot water with management, and refusing to work with Coach Zoe no matter how badly he needs to shore up his stride—and his image. Until a journalist digs up an old video of Zoe and Chase performing a skating program, and the internet goes wild. 

Management seizes on the opportunity for a P.R. redemption, ordering Zoe and Chase to reprise their flashy routine. 

Skating with him again—to a love song, of course—is pure agony. But it’s also Zoe’s only chance to unpack the truth of what really happened that night ten years ago. And to at least find forgiveness, if she can’t win back his heart.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223778118-thrown-for-a-loop

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

When Zoe and Chase were eighteen and nineteen, they fell in love as counselors at an ice skating summer camp. It was the greatest summer of their lives until everything fell apart. Ten years later, Zoe’s ice skating career is long over and she is starting her new job as a skating coach for the New York Legends. The same team Chase is now starring on. She can’t help but be wary about seeing him again after all these years. Knowing it was her fault that their summer ended badly but yet she also doesn’t fully understand why he never spoke to her again either. And when he sees her, yeah there are definitely some harsh feelings there. But she wants this job to work out more than anything, so she will do what she can to get Chase listen to her and let her help him with his skating which has been suffering lately. And in doing so, she may just learn more about the truth about what happened all those years ago. And maybe they can finally find their way back to one another. I love hockey romance by Sarina Bowen! She is just the best when it comes to them. I love that we have a new team with a whole lot of interesting characters to explore. And a familiar cameo as well. I really loved getting to know Zoe and Chase. Their second chance romance is just so sweet and I loved that they were able to find their way back to one another after so long. Definitely looking forward to seeing where this series takes us!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Letters of Enchantment Book 0: Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross

Letters of Enchantment Book 0

Born ​in the firelit domain of the under realm, Matilda is the youngest goddess of her clan, blessed with humble messenger magic. But in a land where gods often kill each other to steal power and alliances break as quickly as they are forged, Matilda must come of age sooner than most. She may be known to carry words and letters through the realms, but she holds a secret she must hide from even her dearest of allies to ensure her survival. And to complicate matters . . . there is a mortal boy who dreams of her, despite the fact they have never met in the waking world.

Ten years ago, Vincent of Beckett wrote to Matilda on the darkest night of his life―begging the goddess he befriended in dreams to help him. When his request went unanswered, Vincent moved on, becoming the hardened, irreverent lord of the river who has long forgotten Matilda. That is, until she comes tumbling into his bedroom window with a letter for him.

As Fate would have it, Matilda and Vincent were destined to find each other beyond dreams. There may be a chance for Matilda to rewrite the blood-soaked ways of the gods, but at immense sacrifice. She will have to face something she fears even more than losing her magic: to be vulnerable, and to allow herself to finally be loved.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222376906-wild-reverence

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

Way before Iris and Roman, there was a story about a mortal and a goddess. Matilda is not like the other gods. She belongs to both the Underlings and Skywards. A herald of the gods, Matilda’s magic makes her a messenger. But she is so much more than that. As Matilda grow and learns of her magic, she finds herself meeting a mortal in her dreams. Vincent. For years these two find one another again and again in dreams until the day comes where everything changes. It’s a long time until Vincent and Matilda meet again. When Matilda is given a message to save Vincent’s life, she doesn’t hesitate to go. Together, they must face Vincent’s enemy and protect his people. It’s a battle mixed with gods and mortals. But it’s also a love story as Matilda and Vincent. Matilda has always been taught to be strong and protect her weaknesses and she knew she always had a soft spot for Vincent. But she couldn’t tell you what that meant until she is with him again. And while Vincent may have given up when Matilda disappeared, it doesn’t take him long to realize what his feelings for her were. What a great story! It took me a bit to fall back into this world, but it was so interesting to get a better look at the gods and goddesses before we are mortals in the very far future in the middle of a war. I loved getting to know Matilda and Vincent. Their story is longing and passionate and just tugs at your heartstrings the whole way through. Get ready for magic, twists, and turns and a beautiful love story!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.