Successful, high-profile sports agent Matt Kingston thinks he can handle anything. Then soccer player Parker Speedman shows up at his door. She is young and gorgeous, has natural talent, and is looking for a team. She’s also a hothead with a punchy past who floored her last coach on live TV. Despite his misgivings, Matt agrees to be both her agent and her coach. Professional common sense says she’s off-limits. But what can he say about the raw attraction between them?

Parker plays soccer with her heart and soul. But after the events of the last year, she’s shaken. She’s already seen what a powerful man can do to a female athlete’s career. And her beloved dream is in the hands of a sexy, gorgeous man with the uncanny ability to slip past her defenses…and into her heart.

Now Matt and Parker are about to learn that when it comes to love, the only way to win is by breaking every rule they know. And by playing nice. Real nice.

Title: Kickin' It
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Series: Red Card Series Book 2
Pages: 247
Genre(s): Contemporary, US
Hot Buttons: recollections and aftermath of abuse of power / sexual abuse <-- highlight to reveal (may contain spoilers)

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This book is the second in Van Dyken’s Red Card series. While it does stand alone, there are two main reasons why you should read the first in the series, Risky Play. The first is that Slade, Jagger and Mack appear again in this book (as Matt did in the first - Slade and Mack’s love story). And the second reason is because that book was just as good as this one and well worth a read!

This story features superstar agent, Matt Kingston. Matt is driven, successful, hot and single minded. Oh, and grumpy. That is my crack right there. Love a grumpy hero! Even better that he’s so determined not to fall for, or then act on, his changing feelings for his new houseguest. So that’s grumpy and principled. Mmmm hmmm!

That new houseguest is Parker Speedman - the hottest young soccer player just coming into the leagues. She’s feisty, smart-mouthed and got quite the attitude on her. She’s combative and yet, she’s hugely vulnerable underneath. It’s hard not to love her - or at the very least want her to succeed both professionally and personally.

I loved Matt and Parker together. They rubbed sparks off each other constantly - but for valid reasons rather than just fighting for fighting’s sake. There was a heat and gorgeous chemistry with these two that made me root for them from the get go. And when they finally gave in? Delicious! (And in a wine cellar with fluffy blankets. That is the new dream!)

The real success of this story is that it tackles a delicate and upsetting topic with enough emotion to make you truly care, yet with enough tact to not let it overshadow the romance that we’re all really here for. It actually enhanced that romance and made it all the more deserving when we get our happily ever after. Oh, those feels, man! (With that said, the topic of abuse of power, especially with regards to sexual abuse/rape, may be a trigger for some, even though, as I’ve said, it’s handled very well.)

Van Dyken’s writing is so on point, it pulls you right into the story and makes you care for these characters from the first. And aside from our main love story, she writes male friendships so well. I just love Slade, Matt and Jagger together and their banter. I could probably read a whole book of them just taking shots at each other, bickering and bantering! Jagger and Willow (Matt’s sister) get together in this book but I’m still holding out hope for a full book with Jagger as our hero. That man’s ego is far too massive not to get a whole book dedicated to watching him be floored by love. Fingers crossed!

This is the second book I’ve read by Rachel Van Dyken and the second that I’ve loved. She brings her worlds and her characters to life and I think it’s time for me to go buy and read her backlist as she’s fast becoming a favourite of mine.

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Buy this book now:

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AUTHOR BIO!

 

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

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AUTHOR LINKS!

               

To subscribe to Rachel's newsletter, click here.

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* I received this book from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review. *


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The Red Card Series:

Click to see other books by Rachel Van Dyken

What else can a virgin do when she’s ditched at the altar? Seattle heiress Mackenzie Dupont is treating herself to a single-girl honeymoon in Mexico and a desire to relinquish her innocence to a gorgeous one-night stand. Fake names. True pleasure. But when she wakes up alone, Mackenzie realizes just how much anger is left in her broken heart.

Suffering a tragic personal loss, pro soccer player Slade Rodriguez has his reasons for vanishing without a goodbye. Right or wrong, he’s blaming the beautiful and infuriating stranger he never wants to see again. They’re both in for a shock when Mackenzie shows up as his new personal assistant. And they both have a lot to learn about each other. Because they share more than they could possibly know, including a common enemy who’s playing his own games. And he’s not afraid to get dirty.

Now there’s only one way Mackenzie and Slade can win: to trust in each other and to stop hiding from the lies they’ve told, the secrets they’ve kept, the mistakes they’ve made, and the attraction that still burns between them.

Title: Risky Play
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Series: Red Card Series
Pages: 288
Genre(s): Contemporary, US
Hot Buttons: death of a parent / grief <-- highlight to reveal (may contain spoilers)

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Oh, my my my…where has Rachel Van Dyken been all my life and why is this the first book of hers I’ve ever read?! Seriously - this book hit all the marks for me and then some.

To get all the important bits out the way first - this is the first book in Van Dyne’s Red Card series - which I’m hoping will continue to focus on players from Slade’s Seattle soccer club. But this book stands completely alone - no pesky cliffhangers - and has the required HEA.

While being keen to read this story, I was also slightly wary based on a couple of things from the blurb. I tend to shy away from heavy emotions - such as grief - in my romances. And, I was already annoyed at Slade for blaming Mackenzie for his father’s death before I even picked up the book. So if you’re in the same position as me - please believe me when i tell you to put your fears at rest - this book is worth taking the chance on and then some.

The first thing I noticed is Ms Van Dyken’s writing style. It’s so fresh, fast and you’re engrossed in the book before you even realise what’s happened. Reading it feels like you’re chatting with your bestie - it’s funny, comfortable and I just loved when I could really get stuck in and spend some time with the characters. The chapters are also quite short, which I found tempted me to read just one more. Then another. And another.

Normally in a novel I fall in love with one of the main characters more than the other. Not so in this book. I loved both of them. Everyone. And Alfie the dog, too!

Slade is perfection in his annoying, jackassy, sexy, teasing way. He was so broken that I just wanted to give him a big ol’ hug. And then slap him around the head for being such an idiot on more than one occasion. But I still loved him.

Mackenzie turned into one of the best heroines for me - which surprised me quite a lot. She grew so much in the course of the book - from quite a shy, reserved person who bent to the whims of others, to a strong - yet still vulnerable - woman who became herself and owned it. At times, I saw so much of myself in her fears and vulnerabilities that I was in awe of the connection I felt with her.

But it was when Slade and Mack came together that things really came to life. I felt the heat and the sparks, the anger, recriminations, the teasing and the nervousness. It was just their connection - no matter how you framed it - they clicked. And it was glorious. The little texts they sent each other. The banter. Top notch.

And that extends to more than just our main couple. The banter between Slade and Matt. And Slade and Jagger. And Slade and Jagger and Matt. It just made my day - it was bloody hilarious! There was a total bromance going on with those three and I’ve got my fingers firmly crossed that both Jagger and Matt get their own stories in the rest of this series and we get more moments of magic between those lovely men.

I’m not going to lie, I shed a wee tear with a few of the scenes about Slade and his Dad. But it never goes too deep, which I’m thankful for. There were many occasions where I laughed out loud and even more when I found myself sighing in delight with my hand clutched at my throat like a Victorian virgin. Sigh.

It was also delightful to read a book where our hero - despite being a worldwide celebrity - has the same fears as the heroine about their relationship. That he puts himself and his feelings on the line before our heroine. That there truly is balance in their relationship.

You can tell how much I rated this book because I’m giving it five stars despite this atrocious line being included:

“What the hell kind of name was Joanna, anyways?”

*side eye*

This is the kind of book that really rings my bell. It’s sexy, sweet, funny and with banter for miles. A really highly recommend romance and an author I think I’ll be heading out to buy up her back catalogue. 5 stars.

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Buy this book now:

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AUTHOR BIO!

 

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

------------------------

AUTHOR LINKS!

               

To subscribe to Rachel's newsletter, click here.

 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* I received this book from the publisher/author in exchange for an honest review. *

The Red Card Series:

Click to see other books by Rachel Van Dyken