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leahkarge's review
4.0
GUARDING HIS HEART is a fun summer romance with great banter that comments on several important topics and does so very well.
Read the full review on my blog!
Read the full review on my blog!
anabelsbrother's review
4.0
It's a case of love at first sight with me and Guarding His Heart. I mean, look at that cover! Total romance vibe. And I'm happy to report that after finishing this book, my love for this book is even stronger.
Full review at Romances Ever After.
E-ARC is received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Full review at Romances Ever After.
E-ARC is received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
karentje's review
4.0
This was a lovely romance story with a great hero and heroine.
Jasmine and Kevin are very well-rounded and realistic characters. They have both been bruised by life & love, and when love comes a knockin', it isn't a magical cure-all for all their issues and insecurities. They have to take a chance and risk getting hurt.
I completely understand Jasmine's initial reluctance to start something with Kevin, who wouldn't be daunted by two exes and 4 kids? Relationships can be difficult enough when it's just two people.
The banter between Kevin and Jasmine was delightful, especially the flirting when they first get to know each other.
Jasmine's a really strong and confident woman, which I really loved! I was completely sold onJasmine's project and felt more than a little disappointed that I couldn't go out and buy her book or go watch her exhibit.
Kevin's a good father and a good man, who does his utmost to maintain a good relationship with both his exes and to be there for his children. He's very determined to be strong & put together, to not be seen as weak. And that is his downfall... because it keeps him from realising how much he cares for Jasmine and it's also the reason why he doesn't want to be honest with her about his rheumatoid arthritis.
I wanted to shake Kevin at a certain point... he took a long time to get to his senses! But he made up for it in the end with a lovely grand gesture!
The supporting characters are very well-written, and helped create a sense of family and support for the hero and heroine. There were quite a lot of "extra scenes" with the supporting cast so to speak, that, though necessary to show the reader who Kevin and Jasmine are and what they've been through, sometimes also slowed down the pacing of the story a bit too much to my liking.
All in all, a very enjoyable read.
Jasmine and Kevin are very well-rounded and realistic characters. They have both been bruised by life & love, and when love comes a knockin', it isn't a magical cure-all for all their issues and insecurities. They have to take a chance and risk getting hurt.
I completely understand Jasmine's initial reluctance to start something with Kevin, who wouldn't be daunted by two exes and 4 kids? Relationships can be difficult enough when it's just two people.
The banter between Kevin and Jasmine was delightful, especially the flirting when they first get to know each other.
Jasmine's a really strong and confident woman, which I really loved! I was completely sold onJasmine's project and felt more than a little disappointed that I couldn't go out and buy her book or go watch her exhibit.
Kevin's a good father and a good man, who does his utmost to maintain a good relationship with both his exes and to be there for his children. He's very determined to be strong & put together, to not be seen as weak. And that is his downfall... because it keeps him from realising how much he cares for Jasmine and it's also the reason why he doesn't want to be honest with her about his rheumatoid arthritis.
I wanted to shake Kevin at a certain point... he took a long time to get to his senses! But he made up for it in the end with a lovely grand gesture!
The supporting characters are very well-written, and helped create a sense of family and support for the hero and heroine. There were quite a lot of "extra scenes" with the supporting cast so to speak, that, though necessary to show the reader who Kevin and Jasmine are and what they've been through, sometimes also slowed down the pacing of the story a bit too much to my liking.
All in all, a very enjoyable read.
rcold's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
This book was an enjoyable read with very likable characters.
llamareads's review
4.0
I absolutely adore the cover (THAT SKIRT!) but I think it vastly under-represents how steamy this book is. This is the third book in a series about Jacksonville Gators players, but the first I’ve read, and I thought it worked perfectly as a standalone.
Kevin’s marriage to his high school sweetheart fizzled under the stress of being a famous basketball player, and he hasn’t had much luck in relationships since then – though he does have four much-loved children to show for it. At 36, he’s staring down retirement, as his injuries have grown worse and almost caused his team to lose the last championship. Everyone else seems to think he’s an inspiration, which is why he’s modeling naked for the cover shoot of an athletes-in-motion special issue. Flirting with the photographer is more fun than he expected, and when he meets her again later that day, he’s hooked on the chemistry between them. While Jasmine’s known for her celebrity photography, after this last shoot she’s taking time off to photograph cabins lived in by blacks during the Reconstruction, with a gallery showing and a book deal lined up. The last thing she has time for is an affair with an avowed playboy, especially since she’s worried he’s just the type of guy she could lose her heart to. She’s got her own relationship issues, as well as juvenile diabetes, which her last boyfriend resented. Can they both let down their guards long enough to let love in?
From their very first flirty interactions, Jasmine and Kevin had a ton of chemistry. I loved their flirting, and I also adored how assertive Jasmine was in bed. It’s so refreshing to find female characters who know themselves well enough to tell their partners what they want AND to have their partners listen and respect that. Outside of bed, though, they both have trust issues. Jasmine wants a real lasting relationship, and she doesn’t believe that Kevin can give that to her. Kevin is tied up in knots over his decision to retire, but unwilling to share the truth about his health issues with Jasmine since he doesn’t want to burden their “fun” relationship with his angst. His entire self-worth is tied up in basketball, and he can’t imagine anyone – from him agent, to his teammates, to Jasmine – wanting him if his career is over. Watching both Jasmine and Kevin slowly open up to each other was delightful!
I loved that Kevin had a great relationship with his kids and their moms (he has two children from his failed marriage and twins from a ex-girlfriend). There are so many stereotypes around sports celebrities, especially black ones – that they’re deadbeat dads who don’t care about their kids or exes, dumb jocks who spend their millions as soon as they make them, that they forget their roots as soon as they hit the big time. Following advice from older players, Kevin invested his money in businesses around his hometown of Silver Springs, a farming town that was founded by free blacks during the Reconstruction but had been foundering as nothing more than a place for tourists to drive by on the way to Myrtle Beach. His family is such an important part of him, and I loved that Jasmine appreciated that as well.
Overall, this was both a deliciously sexy and utterly heartwarming book, and I will definitely be looking up more of Ms. Williams’ work!
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
“I’m a decent dude with an uncertain future, a body breaking down on me, four kids and two women whose hearts I’ve already broken. I’m not trying to drag anyone else into that.”
Kevin’s marriage to his high school sweetheart fizzled under the stress of being a famous basketball player, and he hasn’t had much luck in relationships since then – though he does have four much-loved children to show for it. At 36, he’s staring down retirement, as his injuries have grown worse and almost caused his team to lose the last championship. Everyone else seems to think he’s an inspiration, which is why he’s modeling naked for the cover shoot of an athletes-in-motion special issue. Flirting with the photographer is more fun than he expected, and when he meets her again later that day, he’s hooked on the chemistry between them. While Jasmine’s known for her celebrity photography, after this last shoot she’s taking time off to photograph cabins lived in by blacks during the Reconstruction, with a gallery showing and a book deal lined up. The last thing she has time for is an affair with an avowed playboy, especially since she’s worried he’s just the type of guy she could lose her heart to. She’s got her own relationship issues, as well as juvenile diabetes, which her last boyfriend resented. Can they both let down their guards long enough to let love in?
“It looks scarier than it is,” she said to try to make him feel better. “I’ll do better tomorrow. It’s just that my brain and body don’t always sync up. I think I can push forever, and my body reminds me it’s not invincible.”
His face said he could relate. “That is a hard pill to swallow. Your body not doing what your brain still thinks it can do.”
“You have no idea.”
His sigh was full of defeat. “You’d be surprised.”
From their very first flirty interactions, Jasmine and Kevin had a ton of chemistry. I loved their flirting, and I also adored how assertive Jasmine was in bed. It’s so refreshing to find female characters who know themselves well enough to tell their partners what they want AND to have their partners listen and respect that. Outside of bed, though, they both have trust issues. Jasmine wants a real lasting relationship, and she doesn’t believe that Kevin can give that to her. Kevin is tied up in knots over his decision to retire, but unwilling to share the truth about his health issues with Jasmine since he doesn’t want to burden their “fun” relationship with his angst. His entire self-worth is tied up in basketball, and he can’t imagine anyone – from him agent, to his teammates, to Jasmine – wanting him if his career is over. Watching both Jasmine and Kevin slowly open up to each other was delightful!
“Is your grandmother the only reason I got flowers?” she teased.[…]
“That, and when I saw them, I thought of you. Bright, colorful, happy.” He watched her from the door, one shoulder leaned against the jamb. Since that day she’d gotten sick and he’d helped her, he hadn’t crossed the threshold. She appreciated him respecting her space but really wished he’d cross into it and kiss her again.
She grabbed her clutch purse and strolled back over to him. “You should have led with that.”
I loved that Kevin had a great relationship with his kids and their moms (he has two children from his failed marriage and twins from a ex-girlfriend). There are so many stereotypes around sports celebrities, especially black ones – that they’re deadbeat dads who don’t care about their kids or exes, dumb jocks who spend their millions as soon as they make them, that they forget their roots as soon as they hit the big time. Following advice from older players, Kevin invested his money in businesses around his hometown of Silver Springs, a farming town that was founded by free blacks during the Reconstruction but had been foundering as nothing more than a place for tourists to drive by on the way to Myrtle Beach. His family is such an important part of him, and I loved that Jasmine appreciated that as well.
Overall, this was both a deliciously sexy and utterly heartwarming book, and I will definitely be looking up more of Ms. Williams’ work!
I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
essiemv's review
5.0
This is a great story of two people who have to deal with physical ailments and emotional baggage who fall in love even though they’re both scared of what that means. Synithia does a fantastic job of giving us a love story that feels real, like Kevin and Jasmine are my friends and their happiness matters to me.
This was my first ARC (advance reader copy) and I am so glad I found Synithia on Twitter because I got a great story with a hot basketball player and a sexy photographer 🏀📸
This was my first ARC (advance reader copy) and I am so glad I found Synithia on Twitter because I got a great story with a hot basketball player and a sexy photographer 🏀📸
trinielf's review
4.0
This was my first Kimani title and book by this author and i really enjoyed it!
I liked Jasmine right from the start, how she doesn't quickly show she's fallen for Kevin's charms, although she has lol. Their chemistry was amazing and so obvious from the start. So much banter, which is my absolute fave.
The author did a great job of showing Jasmine's passion for her work, as well as her fears that the new project she's embarked on may not be well received, but i love how while she passionate about her new project she never disparages fashion photography as frivolous.
My favourite thing is how both MCs have their fears and vulnerabilities about the changes in their career paths. Kevin has rheumatoid arthritis and is fearful for what will happen when he retires. This is one thing making him hesitant about engaging in a serious relationship with Jasmine. I loved seeing this vulnerable side of Kevin. I really felt when he was surprised his agent would still want to rep him even after he retired from basketball. That was a touching scene because we see how worried he was. And when he told his boys about it? Man, my heart was just so full.
Jasmine's also dealing with some baggage from her step mother but they meet and hash it out. That was a really pivotal scene as well. How, outside of each other, both MCs had internal conflicts to deal with.
Jasmine also has juvenile diabetes which adds even more vulnerability to her character where in the past men she's been in relationships weren't exactly caring about when she had to take her insulin shot. Kevin really won we over even more here. He was great when she wasn't feeling well.
And Kevin big gesture after they break it off was so sweet??? I loved how he tailored it to who Jasmine is and not some generic gesture. It shows he knows her!
And whoo boy, the author brings the sexy here. These two are fiiiire together.
I really enjoyed this title and i'm gonna have to go back and read the other books in this series!
Alsoooo how could i forget that cover. That cover enticed me first then i wanted to know more about these two. It's so stunning! And Jasmine wears the outfit on the cover in the book! :D
I liked Jasmine right from the start, how she doesn't quickly show she's fallen for Kevin's charms, although she has lol. Their chemistry was amazing and so obvious from the start. So much banter, which is my absolute fave.
The author did a great job of showing Jasmine's passion for her work, as well as her fears that the new project she's embarked on may not be well received, but i love how while she passionate about her new project she never disparages fashion photography as frivolous.
My favourite thing is how both MCs have their fears and vulnerabilities about the changes in their career paths. Kevin has rheumatoid arthritis and is fearful for what will happen when he retires. This is one thing making him hesitant about engaging in a serious relationship with Jasmine. I loved seeing this vulnerable side of Kevin. I really felt when he was surprised his agent would still want to rep him even after he retired from basketball. That was a touching scene because we see how worried he was. And when he told his boys about it? Man, my heart was just so full.
Jasmine's also dealing with some baggage from her step mother but they meet and hash it out. That was a really pivotal scene as well. How, outside of each other, both MCs had internal conflicts to deal with.
Jasmine also has juvenile diabetes which adds even more vulnerability to her character where in the past men she's been in relationships weren't exactly caring about when she had to take her insulin shot. Kevin really won we over even more here. He was great when she wasn't feeling well.
And Kevin big gesture after they break it off was so sweet??? I loved how he tailored it to who Jasmine is and not some generic gesture. It shows he knows her!
And whoo boy, the author brings the sexy here. These two are fiiiire together.
I really enjoyed this title and i'm gonna have to go back and read the other books in this series!
Alsoooo how could i forget that cover. That cover enticed me first then i wanted to know more about these two. It's so stunning! And Jasmine wears the outfit on the cover in the book! :D
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