First things first:
Spice/heat: ????????????/????????????????????(3/5)
Violence/gore: 2/5
Dual POV
Male/Female
Tropes: first love, second chance, cinnamon roll hero
Interconnected Standalone
Triggers: content warning at beginning of book for history of domestic violence, off page.
Premise: The main female character is a single mother and real estate agent and is shocked to find out her latest client is her first high school love and current NFL rookie Kyle. She has an abusive ex husband and he wants to protect her so he offers a fake dating scheme to protect her from her ex. Sparks predictably fly.
Thoughts: I have read all the books in this series, and this latest one is on the sweeter softer side. Which is odd considered it centers heavily on a woman who has been abused and bruised by someone and lives in fear. I'm not sure what to make of this story as it pretty much resolves the romance aspect by the 60% mark and the rest is kinda like a really long epilogue even though it's not quite an epilogue. I kept waiting for a shoe to drop since the relationship they had was without challenge for the most part. They communicated, they were decent humans, basically there wasn't a lot of drama between them, which was nice but also hard to trust as a reader of romance novels where 95% of them use miscommunication or misunderstandings, or something to drive the plot forward. Over all I enjoyed it. Its a nice and refreshing break from the darker romance novels I have beeb reading as of late, thinking of you Pepper Winters and your Ruby Tears (sheesh).
Beyond that my only other comment is I was kinda taken aback that birth control wasn't discussed at all, despite multiple unplanned pregnancies... I just don't understand that level of recklessness. I understand being in the moment, but after already having two previous unplanned pregnancies, I cannot fathom the thought never even floating in their minds to use contraceptives or at least ask the status of birth control use. I would even understand if one of them thought about it and then reasoned that they were fine with any outcome, they wanted nothing between them, etc... but to not think about it AT ALL, was weird to me. This is written in first person POV so we are treated to their thoughts while hooking up. And neither thought of it at all. It legit caused me second hand stress.
Just had to mention that. I don't get anyone well into their 20s or older in the year of our lord 2024, not thinking about protection or birth control at all, not even once. Especially someone who has already experienced multiple pregnancies. Especially when neither character is even sure the other one would be happy about a baby.
Anyway, I look forward to seeing Braden get his happily ever after next with his cheerleader.
False Start: A Fake Dating Sports Romance (Red Zone Rivals)
4.4 | 5,777 ratings
Price: 5.99
Last update: 11-30-2024
About this item
From the Publisher
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| Customer Reviews |
5,777
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| Price | $5.99 | $19.99 | $11.99 | — | $0.99 |
| Shop all editions. | Read with your Kindle, Kindle app or KU membership | Paperback featuring Kyle Robbins | Paperback featuring special edition cover | Hardcover featuring special edition cover | Duet narration by Heather Schroeder and Wesley Mercer |
Top reviews from the United States
QsMoni
Sweet and surprisingly low angst for the subject matter
Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2024
Erika
Cozy Low Stakes Spicy Sports Romance
Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2024Kindle Customer
My favorite of the series!
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2024Sydney Hall
ehh
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2024
Emily J-H
Friends make the best life partners
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2024
The Romance Regent
5 star Second chance, football, single mom romance
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2024Kindle Customer
So happy
Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2024