Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Kickin' It by Rachel Van Dyken


Love breaks the offside rule in New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken’s irresistibly sexy Red Card romance.

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.

Add to Goodreads –


Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~



Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Matt is on top of the world. He loves his life. He has a job that allows him to rub elbows with some great athletes and runs his own company. When his sister comes to him and asks to shadow him in his job because she wants to work with him.

Parker is a fantastic soccer play with a dry sense of humor. She's learned that to get what she wants, sometimes it takes some groveling and sometimes, it takes a very thick skin. When she is invited to stay in the house of a great sports rep, she jumps at the chance. Even though her first impression of him isn’t great, she has learned that sometimes, it is a good thing to give someone a second chance.

Matt and Parker start down a path that will allow them to find comfort in each other and their friends. When an opportunity knocks on Parker's door, will Matt have the courage to figure out what haunts her and push her towards her dream, even if it moves her further from him?

This was a sweet story with a snarky lead character. I loved her attitude and how she decided to live her life. It was heartbreaking and loving all wrapped into a great story. I can't wait for more!


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, but could be read as a standalone for sure.

I love sports romances, and this one is fun as it turns the tables with the soccer star, Parker, being female and having a bad reputation due to punching her coach. We soon discover that the reason why is one that she has not had the strength to admit to anyone, and just how much that is messing with her mind, as well as her future.

Luckily, her best friend, Willow, has a brother who played soccer himself and is now a top level agent. So, Willow manages to score them both digs with Matt, and get him to become her coach and agent! Of course, living and spending so much time together, they both have to fight a massive dose of chemistry. Matt because it is just wrong, and Parker because she fears history repeating itself.

When her ex-coach starts to cause more trouble, everything starts to unravel, and maybe together they will be able to face what needs to happen for Parker to move forward emotionally and with her potentially stellar career.

I loved the banter between the trio staying at Matt's – and Willow is just a blast, she was the perfect foil to the other pair, and made me laugh a lot! I am hoping that we have her story soon.


Mary☆☆☆☆☆
Matt is the sports agent of some high priced, high profile, great soccer players. Loves his life as a single man and loves his baby sister. While talking to her, she tells him she wants to be just like him, so she is coming home to learn from the best, him. What he doesn't hear is that her best friend/roommate is coming with her and they both need a place to stay. When Matt sees Parker, he is drawn to her but she is his sister's friend and that means she is too young for him.

Parker wants two things, have Matt be her agent and get her back on the soccer field. It's the only thing she wants until she sees Matt. She is drawn to him and would like to be more than just his client. But her past might get in the way.

Can Matt help Parker train to get ready to show the local team she is ready to play? Will Parker trust Matt enough to tell him what happened to her? Can they make a relationship work between them off the soccer field? Will Matt kill Jagger for trying to date his baby sister?

After reading the first book, I knew I wanted to read Matt's story and wow what a story it was. It has all the feels I love in a great story, I was laughing one minute and crying the next. I would recommend you read the first book, but you don't have to read it first. But why would you miss Slade and Mack's story? And I hope there is a story coming for Jagger and Willow.


Mary Jo☆☆☆☆
Triggers: Click HERE to see Mary Jo’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This is a great story that addresses what has been happening recently in women's sports. Young women are often intimidated by those in control – whether the person in control is a man or a woman. We see those in control – coaches and mentors – as having our best interests at heart. It’s only when something goes horribly wrong, do we see the red flags and other warning signs.

It’s in our nature to trust, to trust those in control, to trust those older than us, to trust those who should protect us. Once that trust is betrayed, we (the victims) often blame ourselves for the actions of the person who should have protected us. The abuser reinforces that belief by saying that the victim shouldn't have "dressed like that," "acted like that," or "had too much to drink."

It takes courage to stand up after having been abused, and often the victim stays in the shadows because who would believe her when the abuser has standing where she has none.

Only when the victim finds her strength can she release the blame and guilt she's placed on herself and give to the right person – the abuser. It can take months or years for the victim to find that strength, to give it a voice but at no time is she weak. After all, she has survived and continues to survive and will continue to survive.

This is one of those stories.


Also Available in the Red Card Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Risky Play Blog Tour.




Rachel Van Dyken is a Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and #1 New York Times bestselling author known for regency romances, contemporary romances, and her love of coffee and Swedish fish. Rachel’s also recently inked a deal for her Wingmen Inc. series—The Matchmaker’s Playbook and The Matchmaker’s Replacement—to be made into movies.

A fan of The Bachelor and the Seattle Seahawks (not necessarily in that order), Rachel lives in Idaho with her husband, a super cute toddler son who keeps her on her toes, and two boxers. She loves to hear from readers!

Connect with Rachel

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Rachel’s New Rockin’ Readers FB Group


https://amzn.to/2JPYvjz


Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Kickin' It (Red Card #2) by Rachel Van Dyken to read and review.

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