Category Archives: Athletes

#review #audiobook #seriesstarter The Deal ( Off Campus 1) by Elle Kennedy narrated by Christian Fox and Lorelei Avalon

She’s about to make a deal with the college bad boy…

Hannah Wells has finally found someone who turns her on. But while she might be confident in every other area of her life, she’s carting around a full set of baggage when it comes to sex and seduction. If she wants to get her crush’s attention, she’ll have to step out of her comfort zone and make him take notice…even if it means tutoring the annoying, childish, cocky captain of the hockey team in exchange for a pretend date.

…and it’s going to be oh so good

All Garrett Graham has ever wanted is to play professional hockey after graduation, but his plummeting GPA is threatening everything he’s worked so hard for. If helping a sarcastic brunette make another guy jealous will help him secure his position on the team, he’s all for it. But when one unexpected kiss leads to the wildest sex of both their lives, it doesn’t take long for Garrett to realize that pretend isn’t going to cut it. Now he just has to convince Hannah that the man she wants looks a lot like him.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/45484397-the-deal

https://www.amazon.com/Deal-Off-Campus-Elle-Kennedy/dp/1775293939/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1778358089&sr=8-2

i bought this audio book and here is my honest review

Hannah was just a normal girl at Briar University, she stayed to herself, went to work and got good grades, in one of her classes when everyone bombed an exam she was the only one who passed, and when the star of the hockey team seen she passed he was on a mission to get her to help him pass the make-up exam so he can keep his grade point average and stay on the team. Garrett wasn’t one to back down from a challenge and when he seen Hannah had eyes for a football player, he offered to help her get his attention in exchange for her helping him study to pass the make-up exam. it works and while they were studying Garrett was getting Hannah to relax more and to have fun, but with having fun, it brings out more information about her he didn’t think he’d ever would have heard. her past is not like most and his life isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. will these two fall for each other or will it end up in the penltey box.

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

#wotr #attendingauthor #seriesstarter Conner (Glendale Magic 1) by Mary Warren

Sasha Maloof was a successful plus-size influencer, but she left it all behind after an incident with a stalker. She finds a new job managing social media for a hockey team. It might just be the fresh start she was looking for, the only problem is the infuriating team captain. But she can’t hide from her past forever.

Conner McPhee is captain of the Glendale Magic. He has devoted his whole life to hockey and is focused on finally bringing home the cup. That focus is tested when the Magic hire a new social media manager who is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen … and a distraction he didn’t need. But when her safety is at stake, he can’t help but be her knight in shining hockey pads.

Despite their rocky start, Sasha learns Conner is someone she can depend on and he learns there is more to life than hockey.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/205047063-conner?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=F8n5i0ljeB&rank=4

https://www.amazon.com/Conner-Hockey-Romance-Glendale-Magic-ebook/dp/B0CRSB75TZ/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1MRTAV5ILG1K1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.n7NkaKcw7juAiutSgPtBNUf3ssS2D01ug6viaMLiA3IRjLwahCvWT3QUKNQIEcN5nC3kt7F1crA6butGiClfnholb_Z_Oy-5HqQDsZLysGbJhtJxC1qTRKlI3cl_kRIVk4GY29ZmvhQycBR1JS249fRHE9aVOG_RXnda1aTNJIu7fgriK7juCHyGdQXpt9e6tDJR1KldVYc7MiFPQc6b8oNDLu2_ujQjR6lc9oqn9Yc.DqyBvsbCe6LfTXd0pY5A_sKYWDeKwcmlpi2MamAaDBs&dib_tag=se&keywords=mary+warren&qid=1775314184&sprefix=mary+warren%2Caps%2C407&sr=8-2

i bought this book and here is my honest review

Sasha a plus size influencer had to move away from her life because she ended up with a stalker. sending gifts to her house and not the po box she had set up for her followers and companies to send her things to promote. So now she’s got a job working with the Glendale Magic Hockey Team as their social media manager, working on getting the fans more involved and getting tickets sales. But Sasha caught the eye of the golden boy of the team, and his game hasn’t been the same when she’s been around. Conners shots have been off until he notice’s Sasha and starts showing off. Will Sasha be able to live her life without looking over her shoulder, can Conner get his head in the game without getting distracted more. or will they hot a slapshot in overtime and both be seeing stars.

Mary Warren is an indie romance author known for writing inclusive, body-positive love stories that blend warmth, humor, and heat. Her books feature plus-size heroines, emotionally soft heroes, and relationships built on mutual respect, banter, and deep emotional connection.

Writing across contemporary, paranormal, and fantasy romance, she creates stories where characters are seen, healed, and deeply loved. She is also the founder of Fat Girls in Fiction, a community dedicated to expanding representation and celebrating joyful, affirming romance for every body.

#NewRelease #ReleaseDay – Between Love and The Game by S.J. Chaynie

Get ready for a forbidden sports romance between a former NFL player turned college coach, and the determined graduate student athletic trainer who has sworn off athletes.

Years of being an NFL quarterback taught me a lot of things. Expecting the unexpected was one. And it had always worked for me on and off the field. Until it didn’t. Until I met Trinity Maxwell. One second, we were having a crash course in couponing, then the next I was asking her out on a date. But the following day, when she walked onto my field the first day of practice, everything changed. She wasn’t just the new graduate student athletic trainer that would be shadowing the college football team I coached. No, as luck would have it, she was also our head coach’s daughter. The same head coach who thought it would be a great idea to have her living across the street from me so I could keep an eye on her. Ignoring our feelings should be easy. It was over before it even started. Besides, nothing could come of us but a dozen code of conduct violations and a scandal of the year title. But she was on my field, constantly in my head, and somehow managed to wedge herself inside of my heart. Unfortunately, nothing stays a secret in this town for long. Someone’s been watching, and they have the power to ruin us both. One wrong move could change everything. My lifelong football career could be ripped right out of my hands and her fragile reputation as a female in a male dominated industry was on the line. It wasn’t just between right and wrong anymore. The stakes were so much higher. For the first time in my life, I realized I had to make a choice. Between love and the game.

Between Love and the Game has a guaranteed HEA and NO cheating. Please read author note for sensitive topics.

Here

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Angie

I received this book from the author for an honest review.

Trinity and Preston.  EEEPP!! The chemistry was EVERYTHING you want and expect with a SJ Chaynie book.

Trinity has moved near her not-so-beloved father to pursue her Master’s degree. She needs to survive the year at his college, working with his football team and seeing him with his new wife and family.  Gross right.

Preston is the assistant coach who has been eyed for the COACH COACH position next fall.  He is thrilled and knows he needs to keep his head down and focus.

An accidental run-in at the grocery store changed everything.  Trinity and Preston meet and soon are texting, which turns into a DATE. She is excited until… she is introduced to him as a student and to her as a coach she will study under.

The two try to fight the pull, but LORD, it is not possible. The chemistry….HAWT!!  HAWT!!!

Sneaking around and seeing each other while Trinity learns a lot about her dad in the process of it all.  When things flip upside down, they are not sure what will happen.  Can they be together, or will she get the boot since she is the student and he is the coach?

I seriously love the world SJ created.  I am not a huge football girl, but this story even I understood, no long-winded talks about football jargon.  LOL  Thank goodness for me, or my eyes would have glazed over.

 

S.J. Chaynie is a small-town Texas girl who has found a love for writing. She enjoys writing romance, with a sprinkle of suspense, and a little humor. If she is not busy writing her newest ideas, she is spending time with her husband and two beautiful daughters. She believes a good book and a lot of laughs is the best medicine. She brings suspense, love, angst, and sometimes the occasional heartbreak to her stories. Always a HEA, but every character and story she holds close to her heart and hopes they touch yours as well.

 

 

#wotr #attendingauthor #shortstory Double Contact by Christy Pastore

As a professional baseball player, women have never been a challenge.
Until I met her.
Brunette. Beautiful. Vivacious.
Just as I’m ready to take my shot, my teammate jock blocks me.
Turns out he saw her first.
That was two years ago.
As luck would have it, our paths crossed again, and this time, I don’t waste a second.
I want my chance.

Lark and Brenner’s story first appeared in the limited release anthology Playing To Win. This novella has been revised with additional chapters.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56038433-double-contact

https://www.amazon.com/Double-Contact-Christy-Pastore-ebook/dp/B08NRWMHK7/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1Z7ZS1NT5SBGF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ky_McjwxjYj8Q7VUTWDhFg3MA04JVTW011ADk8unCQpCZy1pbmWQP5ATcQl6rsgUoGv5OtIpiMBBHMoNOOd7ovpMucJJDB9a2ix3KQITAsRlMsY448Do1jdEUax7-navM6ceepXqVGeaD2Cux1ryYFj-Slze6UUFf2e4CdW7BlU6-_xbVqMbqqAiEvVZMFfxbLgEX1Rn6Kt0N41Rq39n1DMnF3x26GC5i33_Zgz-294.NoxOQwmKUnn9jd0gKbyUo8KHnJVcAvcOrLlawzUqGms&dib_tag=se&keywords=christy+pastore&qid=1772122097&sprefix=christy+pas%2Caps%2C177&sr=8-2

i bought this book here is my honest review

Brenner had a great baseball career but after an injury he had to retire. Now he covers sports for a new station and his covering his old teammates ex-girlfriend; Lark who is on her way to the Olympics for beach volleyball. Brenner always had a thing for Lark and all these years later he is finally getting his chance. All the stars have aliened for these two and it seems almost too good to be true. But does Lark feel the same way about Brenner? Also, can going for the golf mean more than one thing. follow these two athletes in two different paths come together and hit homeruns.

International Bestselling Author and self-proclaimed french fry addict, Christy Pastore writes sexy, contemporary romance books that contain no nonsense (mostly) heroines and swoony gentleman with a naughty side.

Readers so overwhelmingly embraced one Wicked Gentleman, Jackson Hart specifically, turning many of her #AuthorGoals into a reality.

When Christy’s not turning her risqué thoughts into something worth reading, you’ll find her geeking out on all things pop culture, obsessively stalking Pinterest for home interior ideas, lunching with friends, or researching her next vacation destination.

She has strong opinions about folding laundry, fruity wines, the Oxford Comma, fashion, and mixed vegetables.

Christy lives in central Indiana with her husband and their three loveable cats, Cheeto, Dorito, and Brew. But as cute as they are, please send scratching posts asap because they’re slowly destroying the furniture.

#wotr #attendingauthor #partofaseries Dear Lyla (Love Notes Season 2 #4) by Danielle Keil

Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.

Lyla Moore has been waiting for hers for years, ever since her older brother had been involved in the Secret Admirer organization and numerous of his friends participated.

She knows all about the tradition thanks to him, but there’s one thing she never foresaw—the way her admirer sends his clues. It’s unlike anything she thought it would be, and honestly, she’s a little intimidated.

Lyla has a starring role in the spring musical at the end of the month, and her admirer is using that to his advantage. He’s sneaking around the theater, leaving her notes Phantom of the Opera style.

Can Lyla find her phantom in time or will she watch as everything goes up in flames?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/232495845-dear-lyla

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Lyla-Love-Notes-Season-ebook/dp/B0F72ZLVTB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3V580Y31L5KKC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.FUoRMSWibeXre4kj9YpNMAgRuPe6NflW31jheOszkvM04Ob4Qjut1bG9S4TX6HSrtPozHWPfaYvmK6arxqhWfuNNJyRm37Dr00HK1E70aW4.dOO2pqlY-_BJyCRxIaOx_Rx1DKZkYPpxieE8vFipwxU&dib_tag=se&keywords=dear+lyla&qid=1747074556&sprefix=dear+lyla+%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-1

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book here is my honest review

Lyla is a legacy and just like her mentor Mya, Lyla has found herself with the famous teal envelope during no other time then the spring play, which she got the lead role. She doesn’t have time to follow clues around with the play she had to focus to nail her role, but her admirer made her clues come to her with being the Phantom of her dreams. her brother tucker was pumped that it was his little sister’s month and can finally learn about it and being a part of the best tradition at Ryder High. will Lyla be able to figure out her Phantom of her Oprea before the end of the month or will she get the hook before the time is up.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.

Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

#wotr #attendingauthor #partofaseries #YA Dear Wyatt (Love Notes Season 2) by Danielle Keil

Everyone at Ryder High knows what it means to have a teal envelope taped to their locker on the first day of the month.

For Wyatt Anderson, it seems like an April Fool’s Day prank.

She quickly realizes it’s not, but the way her secret admirer sends his clues might just be.

Wyatt is one of the smartest girls in school, but the ciphers she’s given to decode really test her abilities.

On top of that, the answers she uncovers make no sense. Until she realizes how to connect all the clues together…

The other problem? She finds herself around one of her tutoring clients more often than usual… and with that proximity comes some feelings she wasn’t expecting.

It all comes down to the last letter and the last clue. Can she solve the toughest one yet or will she throw in the towel for another guy?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/230836450-dear-wyatt

Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Dear-Wyatt-Love-Notes-Season-ebook/dp/B0DKMJ22FG/ref=sr_1_3?crid=AEG4GL1V80EE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.d37oRl5emRxKFLvRqalW34JPi7sxJvPtjgpSs_IxZ9ZJfPLlf_z1FtuMOJxUZf73PapjzWZzuRBVZnymmvQswvOOzOZk8hE2wAAxkPQa8IpVJk5NPkzj1XSDhhQ4MgTCFkzTfpCgxlC8C5J4WZh5p5ehqDs8UAIP_kDh7p52LR5tyIFUqcKvVndhMoFwkklouvSg5d1g0_JWB_Q2-ma6gJZkVJXRnCyE5vqrnYIp1-0.mXeIyQ1aNp1t-0OfIdWCmHsYWrY3NrIJpArgUEdorhQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=danielle+keil&qid=1744046638&sprefix=danielle+keil%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-3

Review by Twinsie Dee

i bought this book here is my honest review

One of Ryder Highs bright, smart and bubbly tutors is about to get her turn in the spotlight Wyatt Anderson got her famous teal envelope and was now this month’s “IT” girl. Which at first was difficult because she’s already on the shorter side and didn’t know what the crowd was gathered around, but the closer she got to her locker she quickly figured it out. Wyatt may have gotten her envelope on April Fools, but this was no prank, now she had clues to solve, classmates to tutor and keeping up with her life and own schoolwork. Follow Wyatt as she decodes this month’s clues and tries to figure out who the guy is while her heart starts to fall for someone who might not be behind the letters. This might be my favorite book yet (shh don’t tell Max) I loved Wyatt, her guy and their friends.

Danielle Keil grew up and spent the majority of her life in the Chicagoland area. A recent transplant, she is enjoying the Mississippi life, especially the pool in her backyard.
Danielle is happily married for over 10 years, and has two young children, a daughter and a son, who are exact replicas of her and her husband.

Danielle’s love language is gifts, her Ennegram is a 9w1, and she loves everything purple.
The way to her heart is through coffee, chocolate and tacos (extra guac).

#Review – Late To The Game by Brian Anthony Ziroli


High School football is as important as religion in states like Texas, Alabama, and Georgia. Not in a little town on the North Carolina shore. No, there it’s more important than religion. A story that takes place in 1985 and is told by its star quarterback, Johnny Pelligrino, this is the best chance for the West Pennington Pirates to win that elusive state championship. What can stop them?

Where do we begin?

Johnny is trying to deal with the pressures and struggles of high school, his first love, an overbearing father, and the entire town depending on him and the Pirates to win the school’s first state championship. He could not have imagined what he’d experience in this senior year. One night, at the County Fair, something happens to one of the
seniors, and a friend of Johnny’s. What happened? Who did it? How does Johnny get so involved? How will this impact their season? Johnny will eventually find out that his head coach holds many old secrets, let alone being the most powerful figure in the entire community. Who can Johnny trust? His friends? His coaches? His family? Anyone?

A story that is filled with drama, love, lost relationships, and twists and turns along this very important season in West Pennington history. How will it end?

Goodreads

Amazon

Review by Twinsie Kelly

First things first, high school in the 80’s! What a different time it was. It will definitely remind you how different things are today. Johnny, the star quarterback in small town North Carolina and a lot is riding on him taking the team to the championship. It’s his senior year with lots of classes, girls, and lots of pressure trying to lead the team and be who everyone expects him to be. It’s a LOT of pressure. Things are going good, really good. Things go from great to bad in about 3 seconds flat. Johnny walks away but it eats at him. One thing leads to another and an unexpected party brings out the truth. With the turmoil and the guilt eating at Johnny, he finds out that some people, even the ones you really trust, are not trustworthy at all. Tons of secrets are coming out and he really struggles with what and how he should handle things. He was learning at a young age that you really could not trust anyone and to be careful who you hold out as heroes. When everyone is telling you to “do the right thing” but they are not taking their own advice, how do you really know what the right thing is?

I have to tell you that Late to the Game was like going back in time. It was very refreshing to go back to the 80s and hang out. The author does a great job at the world building and giving the characters some depth. While there are some very heavy parts of the story, there is a lot of wit and banter that will have you laugh out loud (or LOL as we say nowadays)! It is a great coming of age story that will throw a few curveballs your way (I know this is baseball, not football, but I couldn’t think of a better way to say it), but it keeps you on your toes right to the very end. Then BAM! PLOT TWIST!

Give it a try, you won’t regret it, even if you are late to the game!

#wotr #attendingauthor #partofaseries Scoring the Player (Indianapolis Eagles 2) by Samantha Lind

Cocky, man whore, player…. Those are all ways I have been described by the media and countless women. Are they accurate? Possibly. But, that’s all I let the media see of me, Brian Kelly, defensive player for the Indianapolis Eagles Hockey team. I have no intentions of settling down and changing the media’s perception of me. I can’t tell if women are after me for my bank account, the status symbol of being with a professional athlete, or if they really want me for me. Then I meet her. The one woman who doesn’t let my charm affect her or cause her to jump directly into my bed. Can I possibly change my ways and settle down?

Grounded, selfless, giving…Those are all the ways my family and friends have described me. Are they right? Possibly. But, I’m so much more, and need some passion and excitement in my life. My best friend is moving on and I want that someone special to share all that life has to offer. Let it be known that I, Kinley Williams, want the right someone special. So why did he have to crash into me? The one man who is so clearly wrong for me. Then again, he doesn’t seem like anything the tabloids claim him to be. So is he really all that wrong?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38401629-scoring-the-player

Amazon https://amzn.to/44AfvDV

Review by Twinsie Dee

Brian is the know player and womanizer or the Indianapolis Eagles. but here lately he’s started thinking about settling down. after winning the Stanley Cup and traveling to Alaska to add some team member to the captain’s hometown day with the cup, he was stopped in his tracks when he spotted Kinley and he wanted to have her forever. Kinley is Becca’s bestie and friends with Scott, Brian’s teammate and friend. she has seen that he is a bit of a player but after being hurt so many times in the past she isn’t giving in to his charms after a week in Alaska Brian has to fly back home, with phone calls text and some facetime calls they find themselves back together to see their best friends get engaged with their rekindling will Kinley give into Brian and her happiness for her future or will she let the fact that there are miles between them keep them apart.

Samantha Lind is a USA TODAY Bestselling contemporary romance author. Having spent the first 27 years of her life in Alaska, she now calls the mid-West home, where she lives with her husband and two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, watching hockey (Go Knights Go!), and listening to country music.

#review #standalone Cupcake by M. Andrews

From the time I was able to hold a ball, I have lived and breathed football. It controlled every aspect of my life. The game consumed me, that was until I met a sweet feisty blonde, pastry chef named Pippa Montgomery. The moment I laid eyes on her she turned my world upside down. Now all I want is to live and breathe her. Grayson Bennett looks like the all American boy next door, but beneath his sweet charming personality beats the heart of a dirty talking sex god, who with a single touch of his hand turned my boring existence into a wild ride of hot sticky sex. Grayson also gave me the confidence to go after what I really wanted… Him. They say some love stories are complicated, but our story gets a little sticky.

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31294778-cupcake

Amazon https://amzn.to/3XyoW4e

Review by Twinsie Dee

Grayson is the hot football quarterback and Pippa is the sweet baker. When Grayson has a goal in mind he sets out to win his trophy. Everything he never seen in his future he now wants with his sweet cupcake. This book will get you hot bothered and wishing you were with the quarterback

M. Andrews resides in Seattle with her husband and two kids. She spends most of her time with her family and reading anything she can get her hands on. She’s a coffee lover with a mighty sweet tooth.

M. Andrews has always had a passion for writing. She started out writing short stories and fan fiction as a way to give the voices in her head an outlet. She took the leap into writing books when she found herself living in a new city, giving her the opportunity to finally live out her dream of being a writer.

#wotr #attendingauthor #seriesstarter The Perfect Pitch (Indianapolis Lighting 1) by Samantha Lind

Derek

The sound of the gavel crashing down,

Has my life flashing before my eyes.

Learning to play ball.

Falling in love,

Marrying an incredible woman and starting a family

Becoming a starting pitcher for the Indianapolis Lightning.

Everything I ever wanted… Until I struck out.

The same success that gave me the life I dreamed of,

Took it all away.

I’d do anything for a second chance,

Even throw the perfect pitch.

Jillian

A signature on a piece of paper…

It binds you to someone, or it can tear them away.

It broke my heart to file the papers.

Gutted me to sign them.

But this isn’t the life I envisioned.

Tired of competing to be his number one priority,

I had to walk away from the man I loved.

I needed to be strong for our girls, for me.

Life goes on.

People can change.

Now he wants a second chance.

But can I forgive the man who threw it all away, and trust that he won’t do it again?

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50873746-the-perfect-pitch?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=rBh9MdmN47&rank=6

Amazon https://amzn.to/3AOzTlz

Review by Twinsie Dee

I bought this book and this is my honest opinion 

Derek just heard worst thing he’s ever heard in his life the judges gavel stating that his marriage is officially over. His wife Jillian filed for divorce because she was fed up with his parting and acting like he was single when she was home all the time raising their girls when he was on the road playing baseball. With the marriage final that gave Derek the biggest wake up call he ever had, it was time to get his shit together and get his family back at any cost. Jillian was heartbroken and hurt that she no had to send her kids overnight to their dad’s, she never wanted to file for divorce but he I didn’t have a choice. Will Derek get his head outta his ass and be able to win his wife and her heart back or did his one shot get thrown away with his past. Wow this was such a good story and of course throwing kids into the story line makes it better. 

Samantha Lind is a contemporary romance author. Having spent the first 27 years of her life in Alaska, she now calls Iowa home where she lives with her husband and two sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading, watching hockey (Go Knights Go!), and listening to country music.