The Wedding Confession by J.J. Knight

She sparkles. He growls. Baring their true feelings could be the start of a wild love story—or the end of it—in a sexy romantic comedy by a USA Today bestselling author.

One spilled glass of wine and bridesmaid Ensley James is ejected from a country club wedding in the rain. Ensley looks on the bright side. That would be her longtime crush Drew Daniels. The moody, broody, skin-pricklingly sexy groomsman is tossed out with her. Waiting out a hot spring storm in a cozy shed for two, it’s time for Drew’s confession: he’s strictly a one-nighter. Ensley’s dare? Give her three date nights and see where it goes.

A veterinarian like Drew is great when it comes to puppy love, but he has his reasons for his rules about women: no true feelings, just flings. So why agree to Ensley’s three-date challenge? Easy. Miss Ray of Freaking Sunshine is absolutely irresistible. Night after night, Ensley and Drew can’t ignore the heat, the growing intimacy—and the unexpected complications. Drew’s walls may be crumbling, but Ensley’s still at risk of being another tryst.

Especially with Ensley’s final confession. This one could be their rockiest challenge yet.

 

 

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
~ Also Available to Read & Listen with KindleUnlimited ~

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
When your BFF gets married and one of the groomsmen is your childhood crush, you try to stay away from him. But when the stepmother is a bridezilla in waiting, you have to help your friend make her wedding day the best.

Now Ensley is stuck outside the country club with Drew, and it is about to rain. Drew thinks if they continue around the side, they will come to the front and be able to get back inside. Needless to say, they don't. They only find a shed to hide from the rain and things get hot and heavy.

Now the wedding is over, and the couple is on their honeymoon. Drew is back home and working at his vet's practice and Ensley is back at her local bank. After several racy emails, Ensley decides to surprise Drew and visit him to continue their time from the shed when Drew misreads her visit.

Now they are getting along, Drew has calmed down, Ensley's vacation is coming to a close and she has to tell Drew she has to leave. How is he going to react to the news she is leaving? Can he forgive her? Will Ensley be able to make him see that they belong together?

I loved this story, there was so much banter between Ensley and Drew that made their past and present collide. Can they forgive and make a future together? I loved this one and can't wait for book two.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a fun read, with a very engaging female lead, and a pretty grumpy male one! It has a fabulous start at a wedding, which is being commandeered by a self-serving stepmother, until Ensley saves the day – but ends up being ejected from the event. Cue meeting up with her childhood crush, Drew, and starting a challenge to get him to see her for more than one hook-up.

Drew now has his own vet's practice three hours away from Ensley's home, and he has a very poor manner with humans, even if a great vet. When Ensley comes to visit, he makes a huge assumption that she wants a job and causes chaos in her life. It was fascinating to me how I couldn't decide who was more silly in that moment – Drew for making the assumption he could help her out by giving her a job three hours from her home, or her for not saying something about the fact she was just visiting...

Anyway, as she breaks down his walls, and he realises he has no desire to rebuild them, we get to enjoy two people who have known each other for a long time finally get the happiness that they deserved all along, and that is just what this romance reader enjoys!

 

 

 

JJ KNIGHT is the USA Today bestselling author of romantic comedies and sports romance. She’s a fierce mama bear for all the humans under her care: biological, adopted, and those in need of mom hugs. Her books portray characters who learn to push through hardship to find love and belly laughs.

Connect with J.J. Knight

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

 

ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of The Wedding Confession (Wedding Meet Cute #1) by J.J. Knight to read and review.

Black Flagged by Emma Jaye Release Blitz

Will a Black Flag end love before it leaves the starting line?

Dren is a mercenary, not a babysitter, yet protecting an F1 “bad boy” from his own recklessness is his next contract. The media darling everyone loves to hate is annoying as hell and a target both on and off the track.

Staying close is the only way to protect Karl from himself and others, but the forced proximity reveals the man behind the uncaring, flippant mask. In public and private, Karl craves attention, but it's not Dren’s job to provide it. But Dren can’t help falling for Karl’s provocative passion, and he shouldn’t because when the contract ends, he’ll return to the organization that holds his soul.

Karl avoids people he can’t trick, charm, or buy, and his new bodyguard falls into that irritating category. But before he knows it, Dren’s imposing presence becomes his seatbelt in the rocky, perilous world of F1 because there’s genuine concern and interest behind the gruff exterior.

When a fiery crash gets Karl suspended for dangerous driving, can the pair find his mysterious enemy before Karl loses his career and Dren?

This M/M romance from Emma Jaye features an arrogant F1 driver with a hidden past and a bodyguard who is in way too deep. Set in the high-octane world of Formula 1, it features fast cars, spectacular crashes, heated rivalries, and of course, a HEA.

**Each book in the Lights Out collection is a standalone story, and the books can be read in any order.**

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Lights Out series!
For book one, Team Orders, click HERE.
For book two, Full Throttle, click HERE.
For book three, Pole Position, click HERE.
For book four, Scoring Points, click HERE.

 

 

Book 5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I am really enjoying all of these Formula 1 based M/M stories by a group of talented authors. Although each one can be read as a standalone, the stories interlink – and in this one, we finally get to read Karl's side of the story!

Karl Neumann, the bad boy of the circuit, the one most likely to cause others to hit out – in one case, whilst holding a koala which got dropped! It has been very easy in earlier books to dismiss him as the rich nephew of an owner, racing only due to his parentage and the money to make him a reasonable driver.

Well, be prepared for a completely different side to this man! As we get to learn about his family history, the threats which he hasn't even clocked, and the real way that his family come by their money... let alone how Dren, his bodyguard, was raised to behave! WOW!

I was fascinated by the insight into an Albanian brotherhood of the most horrific violence, but honour. I loved that Karl and Dren found the person who valued the other more than themselves, but in that very act understood that they too had value.

Really great way to turn it all around, and to see incidents both on and off the track from a different viewpoint. That it also provided a scorchingly hot romance was just the spray of champagne on the winning trophy!


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Black Flagged is the fifth installment in the Lights Out multi-author series. Each book is made to be read as a standalone, BUT you get so much more out of them if you read them in order.

Karl Neumann is the "bad boy" of Formula 1. Fans love him and other drivers love to hate him. He's egotistical and conceited but that's what he wants everyone to believe. Throughout the rest of the books in the series, you get to see what other racers see in Karl. In Black Flagged though, you get to see a side of Karl you never expected. When he's not "on" for everyone else, he's a completely different person. I can honestly say I wasn't excited about this one since Karl just rubs me the wrong way in other books, BUT I loved seeing the other side of him. And Dren... hot damn, Dren was everything I needed and more. I was so invested in the suspense and thrill of this story. I loved getting a "darker" read involving F1.

Emma Jaye is a new author for me and if they are anything like Black Flagged, I am looking forward to going through the rest of her back log!

 

 

EMMA JAYE is the #1 Amazon bestselling author of angsty, dark MM paranormal, scifi, and contemporary series, including Incubus, DeMMonica, Paint, Lies, and Malthusia.

Born in Hungry Bottom (yes, it's a real place) as an unexpected twin, she was destined to be a little different!

She loves putting damaged, often sweet and funny characters through hell before letting them have a well-earned HFN or HEA.

Writing sci-fi, paranormal, and contemporary romance with m/m, m/f, and multiple partner characters, she concentrates on men who love men these days. She blames her rebellious muse (who looks like Chris from the Paint Series) for the hot aspects tickling the angst, and the humor cuddling up with the hotness.

She always answers questions and comments from readers, so feel free to get in touch.

Connect with Emma Jaye

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Jaye's Jezabels

 

 

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Black Flagged (Lights Out #5) by Emma Jaye to read and review.

The Sweetheart List by Jill Shalvis

What makes life sweet?
Freshly baked bread
A cool lake on a hot summer day
The comfort of a cozy bookstore
Second chances and new beginnings

When Harper Shaw’s life falls apart, she knows it’s time for a change. She removes everything that doesn’t spark joy—from her soul-sucking job to eating kale to making lists—and sets off for the last place she was happy, Lake Tahoe (who wouldn’t feel good there, right?) to fulfill her dream of opening her own bakery.

With her Sugar Pine Bakery in between a tavern, owned by sexy, grumpy Bodie Campbell, and a bookstore, run by her new BFF, she feels a peace she’s never experienced since… well, forever.. Then she meets Ivy, a teenage runaway, who barrels into her heart. She sees a lot of herself in Ivy and takes her under her wing, but the teenager has secrets…

When those secrets explode, it changes Harper’s new world, and she’ll learn, it’s never too late to start over, it’s never too late to figure out your life, and best of all, it’s never too late to let yourself believe in love.

Don’t miss our reviews of other books in the Sunrise Cove series!
For book one, The Family You Make, click HERE.
For book three, The Backup Plan, click HERE.

 

 

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Hardcover (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
Avon (HarperCollins)

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth book in the Sunrise Cove series – and whilst I definitely think that you should start at the beginning, you would find this a great story even as a standalone. There are a group of lovely characters in this book, but you really would find it hard to beat Bodie, Harper, and Ivy for being totally engaging and wonderful people. Jill Shalvis is so talented at writing about relatively normal parts of life and making them meaningful. It makes every story seem like it really could happen in the next town over – I love her style!

I loved Harper's theory about solving many issues with an offer of her homemade cookies. It was definitely something that smoothed ruffled feathers a few times. I am not going to reveal the plot but be ready for some very moving moments. There has been real hurt in these lovely people's lives, and it has made them cynical and hardened to love. Watching them give love, even when wary of accepting it, is a testament to how special they are. When Bodie and Harper give themselves a chance at being together, she discovers passion in a way that she had not realised was possible before.

Lovely ending, and definitely there are some other brothers who need to find their happily ever afters too!

 

 

 

New York Times bestselling author JILL SHALVIS lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is, um, mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

Connect with Jill Shalvis

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

 

ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of The Sweetheart List (Sunrise Cove #4) by Jill Shalvis to read and review.

Scoring Points by H.L. Day Release Blitz

Can two warring team principals in the cutthroat world of F1 ever admit that there’s more to life than scoring points?

On the surface, Kurt Whitford has everything. A successful business. Good looks. Money. A famous popstar girlfriend hanging off his arm. And as the icing on the cake, he’s just been announced as Nebula’s new team principal. The downside? The opposition. It's seventeen years since Kurt has seen the infuriating and irresistible Gio Rossi, but the man hasn't changed a bit.

Whatever Kurt Whitford has, Giovanni Rossi can surpass. Well, except for the girlfriend. Despite needing to keep his sexuality on the down low, he’s not that far in the closet. And if Kurt thinks that Gio’s ready to let bygones be bygones, he couldn’t be more wrong. Gio hasn’t forgiven. Or forgotten.

As a long-rooted rivalry kicks off once more and sparks fly both on and off the track, can Gio and Kurt go head-to-head without the media getting wind of their true feelings? Or is their undeniable sexual chemistry about to prove their downfall?

This M/M romance from H.L Day features enemies-to-lovers, opposing teams, secrets that go way back, and suppressed feelings. Set in the high-octane world of Formula 1, it features fast cars, spectacular crashes, heated rivalries, and of course, a HEA.

**Each book in the Lights Out collection is a standalone story, and the books can be read in any order.**

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Lights Out series!
For book one, Team Orders, click HERE.
For book two, Full Throttle, click HERE.
For book three, Pole Position, click HERE.

 

 

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is part of the wonderful F1 M/M series which I am enjoying greatly – thanks to all the talented authors.

Kurt and Gio are now team principals in F1; they knew each other in their early racing days – Gio had all the support from his family, something which Kurt certainly did not. They did not part on good terms, as young drivers, but now have to be in pre-race meetings together, and lead their teams in an honourable way. This could be a challenge when their feelings clearly still run deep, and the hurt has not entirely disappeared.

I loved the mixture of F1 team dynamics, and the need to consider the visuals of two opposing principals spending time together, but also the benefit of someone who understands exactly what you are going through – hugely engaging and deliciously romantic.

Another winner for me!


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Scoring Points is the fourth installment in the Lights Out series. Lights Out is a multi-author series that can be read as a standalone but characters from other books are sprinkled throughout. I do recommend reading all the books in the series to get the full effect of the series and characters.

Kurt Whitford is Nebula’s new team principal. It's his first season as the principal but he's been involved in racing almost his entire life. When he was in his teens, he was a kart driver, and his biggest nemesis was Giovanni Rossi. Kurt's had a lot of firsts with Gio, but he was so confused about his sexuality that he knew being gay wasn't something that was accepted by his father or racing. So, for seventeen years he's hid who he really was, and he's thought about Gio but never contacted him until they find themselves against each other on the grid.

Giovanni Rossi has always dreamed about being a team principal. He knew if he couldn't drive and be the best, he'd be a principal. When it's announced that Kurt Whitford will become the team principal for Nebula, all those feelings from seventeen years ago come rushing back. And if antagonizing Kurt and getting under his skin gets a reaction from than man, he's willing to do whatever it takes.

This is a new author to me, and I loved all the angst with this one. It was so well written. I loved seeing Kurt's walls come down until he felt comfortable with who he really was. Gio and Kurt were enemies, but the line between love and hate is thin.

I can't wait to see what's next in this series!

 

 

H.L DAY grew up in the North of England. As a child she was an avid reader, spending lots of time at the local library or escaping into the imaginary worlds created by the books she read. Her grandmother first introduced her to the genre of romance novels, as a teenager, and all the steamy sex they entailed. Naughty Grandma! Romance novels were forgotten for a while when real life got in the way: university, clubbing, work, moving to London, and more work.

When life settled down (slightly) H.L Day stumbled upon the world of m/m romance. She remained content to read other people’s books for a while, before deciding to give it a go herself.

Now, she’s a teacher by day and a writer by night. Actually, that’s not quite true—she’s a teacher by day, procrastinates about writing at night and writes in the school holidays, when she’s not continuing to procrastinate. After all, there’s books to read, places to go, people to see, the gym to visit, films to watch. So many things to do—so few hours to do it in. Every now and again, she musters enough self-discipline to actually get some words onto paper—sometimes they even make sense and are in the right order.

Connect with H.L. Day

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Day's Den

 

 

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Scoring Points (Lights Out #4) by H.L. Day to read and review.

Drive Back to You by CD Rachels Blog Tour

Formula Q is the fastest motorsport in the world. Only the highest-performing athletes can make it to the grid. They drive fast, work hard, and play hard, but off-camera, anything goes.

The public knows me as Daisuke Matsuro, aka ‘Kid Dynamo,’ the rookie driver from Japan. What no one knows is how close I was to one other driver on the grid growing up.

As a teenager, Robesy Robespierre was everything to me. He was my best friend, we were closer than brothers, but I pushed him away. Now, we’re neighbors who race against each other in front of the whole world. I want a second chance more than anything, but he hates my guts.

Over time, though, that old familiar spark returns between us. After a series of unthinkable life changes, Robesy and I become closer than ever. Nothing in my world will ever be the same, but I refuse to move on without earning his forgiveness.

I thought my dream was to be a professional Formula Q driver. Now, though, all I want is to drive back to Robesy. He’s my home, this is our race, and everything is on the line.

Drive Back to You is a male/male motorsports romance novel. It involves best-friends-turned-enemies-turned-lovers, card games, sexual awakenings, rooftop pool dates, a romance that has been ten years in the making, and yes, lots of racing action worldwide. It is book three of a series, has a HEA, and can be read as a standalone.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Formula Q series!
For book one, Drive to Thrive, click HERE.
For book two, Drive to Feel Alive, click HERE.

 

 

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

“You uh… you were baking?” Daisuke points to the dish rag in my lap.

Berto and Hunter still aren’t paying attention as game music blares from the speakers. “No,” I reply. “I was… blowing my nose in this. Boom.” I toss it at his shoulder. “Voila. Now you are sick.”

Daisuke stares at me in shock before his face softens. I frown at him in faux-anger with plenty of real anger laced in there.

Daisuke folds the rag in his lap, seemingly content with this weird olive branch I’ve offered. “Worst Christmas gift ever,” he says.

Before my face can actually crack up, Berto and Hunter turn back to us.

“Hey, so we can play a game while we wait for the cookies to cool,” Berto says.

“Yeah we can…” Hunter pauses and looks between us on the couch. “Did you two meet already?”

“Yes,” I say as Daisuke says, “No.”

I glance at him then add, “We were at your Thanksgiving thing.”

“Right, that’s what you meant,” Daisuke says. “We were… both there.”

Hunter’s blue eyes dart between the two of us. Berto might be naive, but his boyfriend is a perceptive guy; he’s like a counselor or something, and Berto claims he’s the “smartest, coolest guy ever.”

“I read that you two grew up in Montreal,” Hunter says, carefully choosing his words. “Are you guys friends?”

“No,” I say, just as Daisuke says, “Yes.”

We fully rotate to glance at each other. We used to be able to read each other’s minds, and now we’re both in sync, yet completely off at the same time. “We’re not friends… we’re competitors. Because he’s driving for McLuther now.”

“Eh, that’s for the season,” Berto says, picking up cards. “Tonight we’re all mates.” Daisuke looks relieved, but Hunter seems dubious about my response. My former best friend and I are going to need to work things out in order to exist in the same circles.

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in this high-octane series, and another very enjoyable read.

For me, the biggest theme in this story is how love is love, and attraction is very much a person thing, rather than necessarily of gender. As 'Dice' joins Formula Q and returns to the ambit of his teenage best friend, 'Roll,' he discovers both what is missing in his life, and the why. As we get both sides of the story, we know that there are some revelations to come, but being in the mind of a man who chose not to even consider bucking his father's will, it is both sad and sweet to watch the light dawn. There is also an important thread about mental health running through this book, which I felt was carefully addressed.

As they navigate their relationship, their families, and their Formula Q fame, these two make for a very appealing couple. A really good round out to the trilogy, with the bonus of meeting up with earlier couples and seeing how life has been moving forward for them too.

 

 

 

CD RACHELS has been coming up with stories since he was little. First, it was fanfiction, then YA queer novels, and now he's moved up to the big leagues of adult MM romance. In 2020 during quarantine, he burned through more male/male romance books than he ever had in the previous 29 years combined.

He believes there aren't enough BIPOC MC's in MM romance, and he's on a mission to change that. He lives in New York City with the love of his life and works in health insurance. If you're reading this, he's honored that you took the time to help support him as a self-published author.

Connect with CD Rachels

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  TikTok  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: CD Rachels' Chill Discourse Room

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Drive Back to You (Formula Q #3) by CD Rachels to read and review.

The Star by Beth Bolden Release Blitz

Tight end Landry Banks knows the score when he signs with the Charleston Condors in a rebuilding year.

New owner. New coach. New players. New rules.

But one rule hasn’t changed: Don’t hook up with your best friend’s little brother.

Rookie quarterback Riley Flynn knows what it takes to make it in the NFL. He’s in Charleston to prove himself—to the world and to his teammates, but mostly to his older brother, who’s never believed he could be a star.

The last thing he expects is for his brother’s best friend Landry to welcome him with open arms and an offer to become roommates.

Riley’s always believed Landry was straight—but the way Landry keeps checking him out leaves him suddenly unsure. And Landry’s hot looks certainly don’t help squash the crush he’s always had on his brother’s best friend.

Revisiting his teenage crush isn't part of the plan. But as he and Landry fall into a rhythm of thrilling plays on the field and sizzling tension off it, there's no denying their connection.

Riley isn’t willing to trade becoming the next big NFL superstar for love. But with a man like Landry Banks waiting to catch anything he throws at him, maybe he can have both.

The Star is the first book in a new series, which is a spinoff of the Miami Piranhas series, but reading those stories is not necessary before starting this series.

 

 

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

“How many years do you and Aidan have between you?” Landry answered Riley’s question by asking one of his own.

Riley leaned against the counter, clearly at home with a knife in his hand. Even a big shiny chef’s knife. If Landry tried to use that, he’d probably accidentally cut off a finger. At the very least, an emergency room trip would’ve been in his future. But not Riley. And more than anything else, that confirmed what Riley had just claimed.

They didn’t know each other very well, despite the fact Aidan had been his best friend forever.

“Almost eight years,” Riley said. “So yeah, when I wasn’t the annoying little brother anymore, you guys were gone and busy with your own lives. I get it.” He shot Landry a look. Were his eyes full of heat, or was that just Landry’s currently overactive imagination? “I guess we’re gonna be making up for lost time now.”

Landry swallowed hard. “Guess we are.”

“Don’t sound like I’m gonna march you down to the cliff and push you right off,” Riley said, laughing. “I promise it won’t hurt too much to get to know me.”

Oh, it wouldn’t hurt at all.

What was going to hurt the most was keeping his hands off.

“Is that what all the boys say to you?” Landry teased before he could reel the words back.

Riley fluttered his eyelashes. God, he was temptation incarnate. “The girls, too. I don’t discriminate, baby.”

“Right.” Landry wanted to say, me too, as long as the guys look like you, but he didn’t because what if this wasn’t what this was? What if he was wrong?

Then there was the fact he knew enough about coming out that it wasn’t necessarily right to do it just because he enjoyed flirting so much with Riley—and wanted him to keep doing it.

“Though,” Riley said, shooting him another look from underneath those killer lashes, “I do tend to prefer the boys, so you’re not entirely wrong.”

Landry swallowed hard. “Is that… is that a thing? Can that be a thing? A preference even if you’re bisexual?”

“Of course it can. Sexuality is a pretty fluid thing when it comes down to it. Surely I don’t have to tell you that.” Riley had gone back to chopping lettuce, like their conversation wasn’t sending shockwaves through Landry.

He means: surely, your brothers explained that to you. Not that you personally are… well… fluid.

But maybe he was. More than he’d ever imagined he was.

“Logan and Levi are less on the fluid side of things,” Landry explained.

“Ah yes, your brothers. The ones who would’ve apparently found me irresistible.” Riley grinned.

They wouldn’t be the only ones.

Landry flushed. The way Riley was looking at him with those gorgeous eyes, like he could see right through him, down to the place where he was questioning everything, and unlike Landry, it was like he knew exactly what all this meant.

Even if he couldn’t possibly.

“Don’t tell me that isn’t normal for you,” Landry said, trying to equal Riley’s casual approach to the subject of just how fucking hot he was.

But Riley just shrugged. “Don’t tell me you wouldn’t love it if, every once in a while, people saw you as more than a pair of pecs and a head of blond hair? I kinda liked it better when I was that scrawny kid nobody paid attention to.”

Even if Landry ignored how he looked, giving his looks the barest attention in the mirror every morning, he knew people still watched him. Approached him. Felt like they deserved a piece of him.

“Yeah, I get that,” Landry said quietly.

Now, suddenly, it was hard to see Riley as just his abs and his biceps and those dreamy eyes.

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shannan – ☆☆☆☆☆
The Star is the first installment in the Charleston Condors series. The Condors is a spin-off series from the Miami Piranhas. You do get to see some cross over from the Piranhas.

The Charleston Condors are in a rebuilding year after the new owner cleaned house and got rid of players and coaches who were behind the previous year’s issues. When Landry Banks gets an offer to play for the Condors, he doesn't know what to expect but wants to be part of what the new owner has in mind for the team. When the starting quarterback goes out with a season ending injury, the team is scrambling for his replacement. The last thing Landry expects is to get called into Coach's office, being asked about Riley Flynn and if he thinks he would be a good fit for the Condors. Landry didn't realize how much his best friend’s younger brother grew up over the years and when he sees him at his XFL game, that one encounter changes everything Landry thought he knew about himself.

Riley Flynn is the younger brother of Aidan Flynn, an NFL QB1. That's Riley's dream, to be a QB1, but he isn't built like a typical quarterback. Riley has fought tooth and nail to get the opportunity to show what he can be. When the Condors give him an offer, Riley is too happy to accept, especially with Landry being on the team. Riley has had a crush on Landry for as long as he can remember. Can Riley fight the feelings he's always had for his brother’s best friend? Can he be the quarterback he knows he can be?

Landry was everything Riley needed to see that he could be his own man and not live in his brother's shadow. I loved how the relationship between these two built throughout this story.

I was a huge fan of Bolden's Piranhas series and was completely overjoyed at finding out we were getting more football romance!! And The Star did not disappoint – and I instantly fell in love with Landry and Riley and can't wait for more with the characters we met from the team!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in a new series, but as any Bolden fan will know, this is not the first NFL series from this talented author. So, you may find that once you have read this one, you can go back and read about the Piranhas too.

Landry has decided he has had enough of cold weather and moved to play for the Condors. This team has been subject to disgrace and has been bought by a young IT billionaire, who is making things right. The expectations of the NFL are low, but the players, coaches, and whole team are not going to be the also rans if they can possibly avoid it. Landry's best friend, Aidan, plays in Toronto, and his younger brother Riley has just been signed to play for the Condors too.

What we soon learn is that Riley has had a crush on Landry for nearly a decade, but as the much younger, and smaller brother of his BFF, he held no hope. When Aidan arranges for Riley to stay with Landry to settle in, he is not sure how that will work out. Unbeknown to him, Landry has suddenly discovered that Riley is definitely all grown up and the hottest person he has ever seen.

As Landry becomes aware of his unexpected feelings, and Riley is trying to make a name for himself, not in the shadow of his brother, we also get plenty of football and growing team dynamics. I loved it all – and there are lots of side plots which I am already looking forward to being developed.

Another win for me!

 

 

A lifelong Pacific Northwester, BETH BOLDEN has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She has published over forty novels and novellas.

Connect with Beth Bolden

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Beth’s Boldest

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Star (Charleston Condors #1) by Beth Bolden to read and review.