One genius idea.
Zero interest in a relationship.
The plan is simple: a brand new, hot, preferably funny, definitely single male will fill one of those seats for every Bears game at Soldier Field. And I’ll fill the other.
I can’t think of a better way to use the season passes I’d bought for my ex-husband. I am a woman of plans, and this one’s foolproof.
Until Zach Bowen offers to be my practice round.
He’s infuriating. Presumptuous and overbearing. And absolutely, undeniably gorgeous. Any woman with a heartbeat would be attracted to him, and mine picks up speed every time he speaks.
But as I said, I’m a woman of plans — and I’m not backing down on this one.
One night. One game. And then, his time’s up.
He can try to change the rules, but here’s the truth: he can’t win if he’s playing the wrong game.
Book slump? sigh Maybe? I don't know, but I do know that I am struggling with this one, so please understand I mean no disrespect with this review. I feel like I was completely misled, to be honest. I am not necessarily mad, but more like sad, shocked...and yes, let down by this book. I was promised an angsty sports romance. That is not what I got with this one. Like, at all? Yeah, at all. I didn't make it out of the prologue without having to breathe through an eye roll....and it kinda went downhill from there. I do know that some things were going on while she was writing this book, so I can only imagine it affected her emotionally while it was written, because this isn't the Kandi I know and love and have read and heavily, easily recommended.
This is what I was promised in this book:
✓ Sports Romance
✓ Football
✓ Fall Vibes
✓ Enemies-to-Lovers
✓ Based in Chicago
✓ Angsty AF
✓ Sexy AF
I will basically touch on these points and why I felt this wasn't what was promised, because I was really upset about the actual content of this book and the way it all came together, but I am not going to break down the book like I normally would because this is clearly a me thing....again. The only things I can say for sure that were delivered for me was the Fall Vibes, Based in Chicago and Football. I know, I sound upset. Sorry, but I think I am more sad than anything else.
First of all, there wasn't ANY angst. None. Not the signature, climb the walls, gut-wrenching, stomach clenching angst that I know Kandi can give me. She's one of my favorites. I mean, I call her my Guru of Angst. Unfortunately, it was all aggravation for me and zero angst. It was frustration with Gemma and head-shaking wonder with Zach with how far he bent over backwards for her - for. no. reason. I don't say that lightly because Kandi has written some of my favorite angsty books of all time. All. Time. Let that sink in. She can write angst like NO other and I will easily admit that. Unfortunately, with this one, it felt like a long fall off a short cliff.
Sports Romance, to me, indicates a player of a sport is one of the main characters....or there is a sport job somewhere. This is most likely my error and my misunderstanding because it was sports-centric, so we were at the stadium and watched a lot of football in this one. So if that classifies it as a sports romance, I can roll with it I suppose. The hero played in high school and was apparently good enough for the pros but life stepped in the way, but there wasn't anyone in any sports per se. I would actually classify it as a contemporary romance.
And I am not sure where the enemies to lovers tag comes in. I don't understand this classification, because they weren't enemies. Not by any means. SHE had issues and SHE pushed him away due to HER insecurities, but it was not an enemies thing at all. At. All. The biggest let down for me was the CrAzY that was her heroine. I just couldn't with her and her "special brand of anxiety", because apparently we get to classify our anxiety now. I think that was the single biggest turnoff for me, after her list-writing, abnormally weird denial she had. Or it was just weird. But it definitely wasn't normal.
I know there was some funny parts to this book because I did chuckle a time or two. And I did enjoy the buildup we originally got with Gemma and Zach, because you could feel that immediate attraction and the bond they quickly formed. Zach was a freaking angel. A sweetheart and you could argue that he is what book boyfriends are made of. But dangit...he turned into mush and a doormat because he was apologizing for her issues after the whole 'letter debacle' that they went through. I didn't get it and I was really rather upset at the turn of events that led them down the path taken. I know that is a big thing for me because I like my men strong, and I love when they fight for the woman that makes their world turn, but I don't like when they are made to feel like something is their fault when it most definitely is NOT. I just didn't like Gemma or the way she treated him, and I hated the way she made him feel as if this was his fault just because he was a man. Literally.
When you have an author the caliber of Kandi Steiner, one that has written one of my favorite, angstiest, nail biting books everrr, saying she has written an angsty, sport romance, I knew to expect angsty and I knew it was gonna be good. Well, I don't know what happened here, but the angsty in this one was not angst at all. It was anger inducing frustration. It was a "special brand" of annoying is what it was. I am so upset at how this one turned out, but I am glad I am in the minority on this one. This was a purchased book, so there won't be a giveaway for this one. I am very sad about this book...it kinda broke my heart a little bit, but I'm thankful that this was clearly just a me thing based on her reviews and ratings. You may love it....just as many others have, but this one fell short for me.
Blark....
~BEE
~MEET KANDI STEINER~
Kandi Steiner is a Creative Writing and Advertising/Public Relations graduate from the University of Central Florida living in Tampa with her husband. Kandi works full time as a social media specialist, but also works part time as a Zumba fitness instructor and blackjack dealer.
Kandi started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.” She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic (like most girls brought up on Disney movies).
When Kandi isn’t working or writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, talking with her extremely vocal cat, and spending time with her friends and family. She enjoys beach days, movie marathons, live music, craft beer and sweet wine – not necessarily in that order.
Join her group Kandiland HERE.
~CONNECT WITH KANDI~
No comments:
Post a Comment