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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
✨️ 4.25✨️
Okay so I was really excited about this release and it gave me what I wanted. The tension, the chemistry, and the banter were all solid. However, I was not expecting how deep this was going to get especially with Holden and Julep's past. There were times when my heart HURT for the both of them and how much they went through but in the end, they essentially saved each other. Spice was also pretty solid and now all of I sudden I need to find a pool. Something I didn't really like was how it was borderline insta-love? I might be reaching a little too much but there were times, especially during the book where there were hints insta-love. When first meeting Mary, I thought she was pretty cool but what she said at one point in the book to Julep was out of pocket. After the out-of-pocket statement I'm not the biggest fan of Mary but who knows maybe the last book will blow me away.
Okay so I was really excited about this release and it gave me what I wanted. The tension, the chemistry, and the banter were all solid. However, I was not expecting how deep this was going to get especially with Holden and Julep's past. There were times when my heart HURT for the both of them and how much they went through but in the end, they essentially saved each other. Spice was also pretty solid and now all of I sudden I need to find a pool. Something I didn't really like was how it was borderline insta-love? I might be reaching a little too much but there were times, especially during the book where there were hints insta-love. When first meeting Mary, I thought she was pretty cool but what she said at one point in the book to Julep was out of pocket. After the out-of-pocket statement I'm not the biggest fan of Mary but who knows maybe the last book will blow me away.
3.5 rounded up. The first half was 5/5 but then it lost me for a reason I’m finding very hard to pinpoint, it’s just a feeling I guess?
4.6⭐️
Sometimes we read and it feels like insta love for the sake of it, but this feels like connected traumas, hearts connecting. Idk. It just totally worked. It was sweet and heartwarming and you felt happy and got sad at the right time. And the issues were resolved and despite that one moment where you’re like, please don’t let this come back as the uh-oh event, it was a good and reasonable moment in time. This review feels ramble-y, like my attempts to avoid spoilers has led to random words together. So, in summary. Well done emotions. Successful HEA. Love the uncles.
Sometimes we read and it feels like insta love for the sake of it, but this feels like connected traumas, hearts connecting. Idk. It just totally worked. It was sweet and heartwarming and you felt happy and got sad at the right time. And the issues were resolved and despite that one moment where you’re like, please don’t let this come back as the uh-oh event, it was a good and reasonable moment in time. This review feels ramble-y, like my attempts to avoid spoilers has led to random words together. So, in summary. Well done emotions. Successful HEA. Love the uncles.
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Kandi did something absolutely amazing with this book. She paired together two unbelievable resilient human beings and created an epic love story for them both.
Holden is QB1 and the leader of his team. He is devoted and loyal. On the outside he is this confident, happy-go-lucky ray of sunshine. It’s only when you get close to him do you realize all the trauma he has endured. Football is the thing that keeps him grounded, the thing that makes him feel alive. I loved watching his passion, even from on the bench. P.S. His uncles are such wonderful characters! I absolutely loved the chapters they were in!
Julep. Omg I could write so much about the sweet, sweet girl. She does not deserve the guilt and stress she puts herself through. She closes herself out from any glimpse of happiness because of things she holds herself accountable for from her past. I think we can all see a little of ourselves through Julep’s character and that means the world to me. I loved seeing Kandi adding a bit of her own personal hobbies into Julep’s character (pole) and I adored those scenes when you could see how much it saved her life.
The steam in this is irresistible. I mean most forbidden romances are but omg!! My jaw was dropped while reading this!! MARK MY WORDS: the window scene and the pool scene… WOWZAA!!!
Kandi killed this as she does every book and I’m soo proud of her!! Cannot wait for Leo & Mary’s book next!!
Holden is QB1 and the leader of his team. He is devoted and loyal. On the outside he is this confident, happy-go-lucky ray of sunshine. It’s only when you get close to him do you realize all the trauma he has endured. Football is the thing that keeps him grounded, the thing that makes him feel alive. I loved watching his passion, even from on the bench. P.S. His uncles are such wonderful characters! I absolutely loved the chapters they were in!
Julep. Omg I could write so much about the sweet, sweet girl. She does not deserve the guilt and stress she puts herself through. She closes herself out from any glimpse of happiness because of things she holds herself accountable for from her past. I think we can all see a little of ourselves through Julep’s character and that means the world to me. I loved seeing Kandi adding a bit of her own personal hobbies into Julep’s character (pole) and I adored those scenes when you could see how much it saved her life.
The steam in this is irresistible. I mean most forbidden romances are but omg!! My jaw was dropped while reading this!! MARK MY WORDS: the window scene and the pool scene… WOWZAA!!!
Kandi killed this as she does every book and I’m soo proud of her!! Cannot wait for Leo & Mary’s book next!!
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
sometimes all you need is a good old sports romance
- I literally have nothing much to say about this other than how much I dislike the name julep, and also how I feel like coach Lee didn’t really have a good motivation/ conviction for his behaviour and relationship with Holden- like I get it, but it definelty needed work and depth
- I literally have nothing much to say about this other than how much I dislike the name julep, and also how I feel like coach Lee didn’t really have a good motivation/ conviction for his behaviour and relationship with Holden- like I get it, but it definelty needed work and depth
"He looked at me then, and tears pricked the corners of my eyes unbidden when he did. Because I'd never been so nailed down like that, never had someone look at me with the same kind of pain and horror mirrored in their gaze. I'd never been seen. It was like he'd lifted up the rock I'd been hiding under, blinding me with sunlight as he peered down at me with a magnifying glass"
He fell first! Holden and Julep have my heart! I love love loved them. The way they supported each other and understood each other was so beautiful. I'm a sucker for a good sports romance and this did not disappoint, as Kandi never does. This wasn't just your typical forbidden coach's daughter story - it was so much more emotional due to the circumstances of both their pasts. I loved that there was a role reversal here, with the heroine being the damaged one that needed saving, instead of the hero. Holden fought through Julep's walls by being open about his own pain, bringing them even closer together. It was also great to catch up with Zeke & Riley and Clay & Giana. Looking forward to the next book in the series where I think we might have a little bit of a reverse grumpy/sunshine scenario.
He fell first! Holden and Julep have my heart! I love love loved them. The way they supported each other and understood each other was so beautiful. I'm a sucker for a good sports romance and this did not disappoint, as Kandi never does. This wasn't just your typical forbidden coach's daughter story - it was so much more emotional due to the circumstances of both their pasts. I loved that there was a role reversal here, with the heroine being the damaged one that needed saving, instead of the hero. Holden fought through Julep's walls by being open about his own pain, bringing them even closer together. It was also great to catch up with Zeke & Riley and Clay & Giana. Looking forward to the next book in the series where I think we might have a little bit of a reverse grumpy/sunshine scenario.