Illegal Formation - Shanna Swenson

Illegal Formation by Shanna Swenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Illegal Formation is the fourth book in the Gods of the Gridiron series and also perhaps the darkest. Our hero and heroine, Quillan and Vada have both been hurt and faced pain in their past. They seem themselves as damaged and it takes a while for them to realise that while they might be broken when they are together they are complete once more.
I have to admit that I struggled with Quillan at times, I'm not a huge fan of overbearing controlling types and he clearly shows lots of characteristics of this type of character. This book also deals with abortion, which can be quite a contentious topic. This probably isn't the place to enter into my thoughts on the topic, but it is quite a brave thing to talk about in a book. There's always the danger that by putting your characters into either the pro-choice or controlling women's bodies categories, then it might make readers who hold alternate views off that character.
Quillan is quite sweet when he finally understands what Vada is coming to mean to him. He does have to go through a few stages of trying to control her. I'm not entirely sure that someone as strong as Vada would have willingly agreed to all that he wants. It all works out in the end and for the purpose of an enjoyable read, I can let it go.
I liked Vada and Quillan as a couple, they both have a darkness that is part of who they are, but that also means that they work well together and make a good couple. I enjoyed this final instalment in the Gods of the Gridiron series.

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Pass Interference - Shanna Swenson

PASS INTERFERENCE by Shanna Swenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pass Interference is the third book in the Gods of the Gridiron series and deals with Paxton Guthrie, AKA Poseidon. He has no interest in a steady relationship or settling down in any way, but when Rebecca Ryan 'wins' a date with him, he finds that he can't help but want to be with her.
When Becca and Pax's date goes really well and they are caught in a slightly compromising position by photographers, they both find that their lives have been turned upside down. Becca loses her job and Pax is suspended from the team. To try and put everything right, they decide to pretend that they are much more involved than they really are. But, the more time that they spend together the more real their feelings become.
I do enjoy fake marriages that lead to love and while this isn't quite that, it does sort of fit into that theme. Becca is a studious quiet type and while she is very different to Pax, they work well together. Their relationship has a few stops and starts, but ultimately it's obvious that they make a good couple.
While this is the third in the series, it will also work well as a standalone novel. We see plenty of the characters from the previous stories, but it won't ruin your enjoyment not to have read about them. We do see little glimpses of the couple from the next story too, which I'm looking forward to reading.
This is a very enjoyable series, even if like me, you really know nothing about American Football. If you haven't read any of the previous books, then I would recommend you go and check them out.


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False Start - Shanna Swenson

False Start

Almighty Zeus , thrower of thunderbolts… Ha!

Brett “Brickhouse” McFadden may be called Zeus on the Gladiators football field, but when the man who’s been his best friend and favourite receiver for over a decade gets killed instead of him, he’s completely helpless and left to pick up the pieces Hunter “Hermes” Thomas left behind.

The one and only constant in Brett’s life has always been his hidden love for his first best friend, Madison Thomas, the perfect girl he fell in love with at seven—yes, seven—years of age, who also happens to be Hunter’s widow. Love is complicated after all!

Now that Hunt’s gone, Madi needs him more than she ever has, and Brett feels utterly blessed to be given this second chance, but will the shameful guilt be enough to kill him too?

Madison Thomas, CEO and VP of the Atlanta Gladiators, thought her life was well-established until the unimaginable happened; the abrupt death of her husband, Hunter. Her overdependence on her best friend, Brett, begins to intensify as the darkest days of her life follow and she finds herself bombarded with the regrets of her past…and the unavoidable attraction she’s always felt for the perfectly-sculpted “king of the gods”.

As new revelations come to light, Madi starts to see that Hunter wasn’t the husband—or man—she thought he was. Now, she must storm past the FALSE START she was given and embrace the possibility of a do-over with the one she’s always wanted—Brett McFadden.

Will the “god of thunder” prove to be the better contender for Hera’s heart or will this long-suffering Olympian forever remain fourth and inches from his ultimate goal line?

My Review

False Start by Shanna Swenson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second book in The Gods of the Gridiron series is all about a love that has stretched across almost all of the hero and heroines lives and love after loss. It's also a friend to lover book, which I do really enjoy. Since he met her when they were both seven years old, Brett has been in love with Madi. Unfortunately, when they were younger, he didn't take his chance with her and made her think that he wasn't interested. His best friend Hunter jumped in and got the girl. Now, after a terrible car accident, Brett finally has a chance with his dream woman, but they both need to deal with the grief of Hunters loss before they can move on.
As I mentioned, I do enjoy friends to lovers romances and this certainly falls into that category. It means that things can move quickly, keeping the pace of the story and your interest, but without having to suspend belief when it comes to how quickly they fall in love. These are characters that already know everything about one another and the foundations for love are well established. Having said that, with the death of her husband, both Madi and Brett have a lot to deal with before they can really and fully be together.
I enjoyed the unfolding of their story. I think that the death of Hunter was dealt with well. Madi does move on quickly, but I think with her knowing Brett so well and already having feelings for him, that still works well. It's clear that Brett is a much better match for her than Hunter was and there are things that come out about their past relationship which reinforce this idea.
I enjoyed this latest book in the Gods of the Gridiron series and I'm looking forward to finding out what comes next for this group of athletes.

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Game Changer - Kelly Jamieson

Game Changer by Kelly Jamieson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Game Changer is the fifth book in the Wynn Hockey series, but the first that I've read. I believe that previous characters do appear in this book, but it's not in a way that it would affect your enjoyment of the book if you haven't read previous ones. It certainly didn't reduce my enjoyment not to have read them. The story starts with the wedding of Molly and Steve, or at least it should be their wedding. But, after Molly discovered that he'd been cheating on her the previous evening, she decides to read out the texts that he shared with the other woman and leaves him at the altar. Jax, Steve's teammate comes to her aid and helps her to escape from the wedding and go into hiding for a bit to get over what has happened. The more time that they spend together, the more obvious it becomes that really they belong together.
I'm never sure about romances where one of the characters moves on from another serious relationship so quickly, but in this case, the chemistry just worked. Jax and Molly were friends before all of this happened and he wasn't particularly close to Steve, Molly's ex. I really liked Jax and Molly and they worked really well together. Although this isn't really a friends to lovers story in the usual sense, it has elements of that, which is something that I always enjoy. It was also interesting to read about Jax's grandfather, who is suffering from Alzheimer's. It was both very sad and dealt with well.
This was a very enjoyable romance. If you're heavily into sports romances, then this might not completely hit the mark, as there was little of that side of things, despite Jax being a professional player. This book is set almost entirely on the offseason. It's not something that I particularly look for in a book though, so didn't matter to me.
I really enjoyed Game Changer and I'd be keen to read more in the Wynn Hockey series if I get the chance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Bench Player - Julianna Keyes

Bench Player by Julianna Keyes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I should start by saying that what I know about baseball would fit on the back of a stamp and still leave room for a margin. It seems to be a bit like rounders but played seriously by adults and it's not cricket. That's all I know. That didn't stop my enjoyment of Bench Player though. This is actually a story about two people sorting out what is important in life and rethinking their priorities.
I liked both Connor and Allison. They were both characters who have to prove who they really are, as opposed to the image that those who work with them see them. They are both passionate about what they do and the Charleston Thrashers and I think that it is this shared love that helps them to see beyond the preconceived ideas they have about one another. Both characters grow as the story progresses and I think that really added to the romance element of the story
I didn't know how this one was going to work out. Obviously, one of the many reasons that romances are popular is that they offer a happily ever after. That's not to say that this one doesn't, but I did wonder for a while there what form it would eventually take as it seemed impossible for everyone to get what they wanted.
I enjoyed this read and would be more than happy and keen to read more in the series. It didn't matter that I have no baseball knowledge, but I think that someone who does enjoy the sport would enjoy this book just as much as someone like me who doesn't.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Love Hard - Nalini Singh

Love Hard by Nalini Singh
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit that when I started the first chapter of Love Hard, I wasn't sure if it was going to be for me. I really shouldn't have worried. The next thing I knew, the time had just flown past and I was engrossed. This was a gripping read, made extra enjoyable for me as it was set here in New Zealand, which is sadly something that I don't come across that often.
This book had some of my favourite elements: A strong female lead, a very sweet male lead, enemies to lovers and baggage that is dealt with realistically, not just brushed over. It also features rugby, which isn't essential in a romance, but being one of my favourite sports certainly wasn't something that I didn't enjoy.
The romance between Jake and Jules was lovely. They are clearly into each other long before it's obvious to either of them. I like the way that they complimented one another and were written so that it was clear that they would make a good team in the future as their romance progressed. I also really liked daughter, Esme. Having two girls of my own of similar ages I can certainly relate to the Elsa obsession and in the case of my youngest, love of rugby.
This is the third in the Hard Play series and while the characters from the previous books are mentioned and appear, it didn't matter that I hadn't read those books. If anything, it just made me want to go back and check them out, which I certainly shall at some point in the near future. This was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to reading the younger brother's book in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.


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