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Leighton U #2
Caught Stealing
It's not stealing if he's meant to be mine.
Let me tell you how Holden Sykes operates. As the campus playboy and one-and-done king, he doesn’t do strings. Or repeats. Or names, for that matter. So when he tries making my best friend the next notch on his bedpost, I react poorly. Some would call it jealousy or an unrequited crush, but friends protect each other from making mistakes. The same ones I’ve already made. Which is why driving Holden away seems like my only option. Too bad he’s not giving up without a fight. Each prank leads to another until he turns this into a game far more precarious than intended. One filled with stolen moments and heated glances, drawing me into his orbit. But the undeniable attraction simmering between us leaves me caught in the crosshairs of an impossible decision. Loyalty...or love. *Caught Stealing is the second in a five book standalone college sports romance series featuring a road-tripping rubber ducky, two guys fighting for the upper hand, and enough cock-blocking shenanigans to make your cheeks flush. Not suitable for anyone under 18 years of age*
Let me tell you how Holden Sykes operates. As the campus playboy and one-and-done king, he doesn’t do strings. Or repeats. Or names, for that matter. So when he tries making my best friend the next notch on his bedpost, I react poorly. Some would call it jealousy or an unrequited crush, but friends protect each other from making mistakes. The same ones I’ve already made. Which is why driving Holden away seems like my only option. Too bad he’s not giving up without a fight. Each prank leads to another until he turns this into a game far more precarious than intended. One filled with stolen moments and heated glances, drawing me into his orbit. But the undeniable attraction simmering between us leaves me caught in the crosshairs of an impossible decision. Loyalty...or love. *Caught Stealing is the second in a five book standalone college sports romance series featuring a road-tripping rubber ducky, two guys fighting for the upper hand, and enough cock-blocking shenanigans to make your cheeks flush. Not suitable for anyone under 18 years of age*
422 pages, Paperback
First published August 9, 2023
1360 people are currently reading
9142 people want to read
About the author
C.E. Ricci
16 books4,579 followersCE Ricci is a USA Today and international best-selling author who enjoys plenty of things in her free time, but writing about herself in the third person isn’t one of them. She believes home isn’t a place, but a feeling, and it’s one she gets when she’s chilling lakeside or on hiking trails with her dogs, camera in hand. She’s addicted to all things photography, plants, peaks, puppies, and paperbacks, though not necessarily in that order. Music is her love language, and traveling the country (and world) is the way she chooses to find most of her inspiration for whatever epic love story she will tell next!
CE Ricci is represented by Two Daisy Media.
For all subsidiary rights, please contact Savannah Greenwell: info@twodaisy.com
Join CE Ricci's reader group here!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wreck...
CE Ricci is represented by Two Daisy Media.
For all subsidiary rights, please contact Savannah Greenwell: info@twodaisy.com
Join CE Ricci's reader group here!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/wreck...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,664 reviews
December 12, 2025
An angsty, toxic, steaming hot mess and I was SAT for every single second of it!!! God I loved this book so muchhhhh! Iced it was good but this one just hit so different I can’t even explain it Holden and Phoenix have my whole heart!! I’m devouring this series. Bye.
December 27, 2024
2/5
The review contains spoilers!
CE Ricci was right when she mentioned at the beginning that this book wouldn’t be for everyone, as unfortunately, it turned out that I belong to that group. I was already skeptical when I read the blurb, but I decided to give the whole series a try because it’s rare for me to commit to an entire series—I usually skip some books. At some short point I honestly thought I might even end up liking this one, but as you can probably tell, I didn’t. At least I’m closer to my goal of finishing the series.
About the story—Phoenix, or “Nix,” had a one-night stand with Holden that ended badly, as Holden was too drunk to remember anything about it. This left them both avoiding any mention of the incident for six months. Half a year later, Phoenix’s best friend, Kason, is about to make the same mistake with the school playboy, so Phoenix decides to step in and stop him. The problem arises when Phoenix ends up falling in love with Holden along the way, without telling a word to Kason. His mentioned best friend.
My rating is pretty low, so let’s move to the things that didn’t worked out for me in this book. Only at the beginning. These are my thoughts and opinions, so of course not everyone will agree.
I didn’t particularly like either of the main characters, though I did have a bit more of a soft spot for Holden. Phoenix, though… I just couldn’t like him, not even a little. The author was right when they said "not everyone will agree with their decisions” because I really hated most of Phoenix’s. I get that he wanted to help Kason, but lying about everything was definitely not the way to do it. Kason even asked him if there was something going on between them, and Phoenix lied. Holden wanted to be honest, but Nix kept pushing it off, until Kason found out in the worst way possible—seeing them together after a hookup. The worst part was when Phoenix did that with Holden while Kason was still involved with him, even though they weren’t exclusive. That’s just not what best friends do.
The next thing that bothered me was Kason and Phoenix’s friendship. They were supposed to be best friends, family, brothers since they were kids. They were supposed to be each other’s favorite people, yet they lied to each other—not just once. Imagine having a best friend who invites their hookup on a trip with you or who sees you in a toxic relationship and doesn’t say anything, even though they know it could end in heartbreak. And I’m not even talking about Phoenix judging Kason for not choosing the university that was best for him just because of the baseball program. Kason was practically “begging” him to come to Leighton instead of going to Foltyn for college. The problem is, it was Phoenix’s choice, and he could’ve said no. At least in the end, he finally chose his own happiness and put himself first.
The third thing that bothered me was how many times Phoenix mentioned and judged Holden’s sex life. So what if Holden liked hooking up with people? It’s his life and his decisions. There’s no reason to judge him for it.
About this weird love triangle, or whatever it was. It might just be me, but I thought it would’ve been handled a bit differently. If you’re okay with—or even like—the love interest trying to date/ hook up (not exclusively) with the other MC’s best friend, calling him handsome, going on a date, sexting, kissing him, or even dancing in a very obvious way with him, then you’ll probably be fine with it. The whole thing ends with Holden catching feelings for Phoenix in the middle of the book, but everything I mentioned happens first. So, just be warned if that’s not your thing.
I really liked the writing style, and it’s one of the reasons I finished the book in basically one sitting. However, there were a few sentences that, shall I say, were a bit questionable to me. For example:
What does that even mean?
Moving to the things I liked.
When Phoenix and Holden were finally together, even if it was unofficially at first, they had some really cute moments. That’s also probably why my rating didn’t end up being just one star.
I debated whether I should rate it a star-and-a-half or two stars, but I still liked some parts, so I went with the second option. This book turned out to be probably my least favorite in the series, but I still can't wait to read the rest. Especially the third and fourth books, the third book is about Hayes and Kason, the fourth is about Theo and Madden. Hayes was my favorite character in the previous book, he was described as "wicked smart, always studying, lives-in-the-library nerd", so I can’t wait for him and Kason, who is a virgin football player. Theo was my favorite character in this book. He was the most reasonable and smartest one here. Madden was not mentioned yet, as I remember, but probably will be in the next book. I can’t wait!
The review contains spoilers!
CE Ricci was right when she mentioned at the beginning that this book wouldn’t be for everyone, as unfortunately, it turned out that I belong to that group. I was already skeptical when I read the blurb, but I decided to give the whole series a try because it’s rare for me to commit to an entire series—I usually skip some books. At some short point I honestly thought I might even end up liking this one, but as you can probably tell, I didn’t. At least I’m closer to my goal of finishing the series.
About the story—Phoenix, or “Nix,” had a one-night stand with Holden that ended badly, as Holden was too drunk to remember anything about it. This left them both avoiding any mention of the incident for six months. Half a year later, Phoenix’s best friend, Kason, is about to make the same mistake with the school playboy, so Phoenix decides to step in and stop him. The problem arises when Phoenix ends up falling in love with Holden along the way, without telling a word to Kason. His mentioned best friend.
My rating is pretty low, so let’s move to the things that didn’t worked out for me in this book. Only at the beginning. These are my thoughts and opinions, so of course not everyone will agree.
I didn’t particularly like either of the main characters, though I did have a bit more of a soft spot for Holden. Phoenix, though… I just couldn’t like him, not even a little. The author was right when they said "not everyone will agree with their decisions” because I really hated most of Phoenix’s. I get that he wanted to help Kason, but lying about everything was definitely not the way to do it. Kason even asked him if there was something going on between them, and Phoenix lied. Holden wanted to be honest, but Nix kept pushing it off, until Kason found out in the worst way possible—seeing them together after a hookup. The worst part was when Phoenix did that with Holden while Kason was still involved with him, even though they weren’t exclusive. That’s just not what best friends do.
The next thing that bothered me was Kason and Phoenix’s friendship. They were supposed to be best friends, family, brothers since they were kids. They were supposed to be each other’s favorite people, yet they lied to each other—not just once. Imagine having a best friend who invites their hookup on a trip with you or who sees you in a toxic relationship and doesn’t say anything, even though they know it could end in heartbreak. And I’m not even talking about Phoenix judging Kason for not choosing the university that was best for him just because of the baseball program. Kason was practically “begging” him to come to Leighton instead of going to Foltyn for college. The problem is, it was Phoenix’s choice, and he could’ve said no. At least in the end, he finally chose his own happiness and put himself first.
The third thing that bothered me was how many times Phoenix mentioned and judged Holden’s sex life. So what if Holden liked hooking up with people? It’s his life and his decisions. There’s no reason to judge him for it.
About this weird love triangle, or whatever it was. It might just be me, but I thought it would’ve been handled a bit differently. If you’re okay with—or even like—the love interest trying to date/ hook up (not exclusively) with the other MC’s best friend, calling him handsome, going on a date, sexting, kissing him, or even dancing in a very obvious way with him, then you’ll probably be fine with it. The whole thing ends with Holden catching feelings for Phoenix in the middle of the book, but everything I mentioned happens first. So, just be warned if that’s not your thing.
I really liked the writing style, and it’s one of the reasons I finished the book in basically one sitting. However, there were a few sentences that, shall I say, were a bit questionable to me. For example:
"he keeps swiping his finger over my prostate like a fu*kboy on Tinder."
What does that even mean?
Moving to the things I liked.
When Phoenix and Holden were finally together, even if it was unofficially at first, they had some really cute moments. That’s also probably why my rating didn’t end up being just one star.
“You have to stop looking at me like that.” My eyes follow the lines and planes of his face as I murmur, “I wish I knew how.”
I debated whether I should rate it a star-and-a-half or two stars, but I still liked some parts, so I went with the second option. This book turned out to be probably my least favorite in the series, but I still can't wait to read the rest. Especially the third and fourth books, the third book is about Hayes and Kason, the fourth is about Theo and Madden. Hayes was my favorite character in the previous book, he was described as "wicked smart, always studying, lives-in-the-library nerd", so I can’t wait for him and Kason, who is a virgin football player. Theo was my favorite character in this book. He was the most reasonable and smartest one here. Madden was not mentioned yet, as I remember, but probably will be in the next book. I can’t wait!
August 15, 2023
***4.0 rating***
“You fuck me up, Nix,” he murmurs, his lips brushing mine with every word. I smile against his mouth. “I know, baby. You fuck me up, too.”
Rating this book was quite the rollercoaster for me, as it wavered between a solid 3.5 stars and a deserving 4.0 stars. It left me genuinely torn. The main culprit for my indecision? Kason. Now, I'm sure there are folks out there who adore him, but I just couldn't quite warm up to him, at least not in this installment. To be blunt, he came across as annoyingly entitled to Holden – a bit too much to handle. His fervent irritation at Nix over Holden, when he had no legitimate claim, felt downright ludicrous. Yeah, they might have been in a "situationship," but let's be real, they hadn't even taken things to the next level. His possessive antics just rubbed me the wrong way. Plus, the fact that he used Nix like a security blanket, despite Chelsea's warnings of their toxic and codependent friendship, added to the irritation. Kason seemed to do whatever he pleased, including inviting Holden's crew over to Nix's house in Florida. Nix wasn't faultless either, but he always caved to Kason's demands due to some twisted sense of obligation. It's crystal clear that their friendship was anything but healthy, and this aspect grated on my nerves. Both of them acknowledge it, yet Kason's actions remain a central annoyance throughout the narrative. Nix's reluctance to spill the beans to Kason about Holden just seemed to drag on interminably, and when his eruption finally came, it felt more cringe-worthy than empathetic. Yeah, I get it, he had feelings for Holden, but honestly, it seemed more like an intense crush. I can't say I felt much sympathy. Call me heartless if you must.
To her credit, Chelsea did warn that this book might not resonate with everyone, thanks to the morally grey and questionable choices the characters would make. The secret tryst between Holden and Nix, behind Kason's oblivious back, wasn't a deal-breaker for me. The prolonged suspense did test my patience, but overall, it was bearable. Yet, Kason's presence in the storyline proved exasperating and occasionally hindered my enjoyment. But, and this is a big 'but,' my affection for Holden and Nix managed to tip the scales towards a 4-star rating.
Their dynamic as a couple was simply riveting. Yes, they drove us up the wall with their maddening antics, but their tit-for-tat games to one-up each other were nothing short of comical. Nix's masterful art of cockblocking Holden at every turn was a genuine riot – had me laughing out loud! And oh, the covert romance they kindled, sneaking around Kason's obliviousness, was a delight to watch unfold. Although Holden may have begun as a classic f-boy, deep down, he's more like a golden retriever in disguise. Their chemistry was addictive, blending humor, vulnerability, and sweetness in a unique concoction. For the sake of dear Holden and Nix, I wholeheartedly grant this story its 4-star rating. Now, let's keep our fingers crossed that Kason redeems himself and dials down the annoyance factor in his own book. Without his disruptive influence, this could've easily been a 5-star rating. Alas, such was not our luck.
Expect:
-enemies to lovers
-Secretive situationship/relationship
-Sports romance (American football x baseball)
-Reformed fuckboy turned golden retriever
-So many sexy moments 😏
-Entertaining moments between MCs
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-Possessiveness/Jealousy
-Love triangle
-Unhealthy/codependent friendship
-Annoying man named Kason
Don't come for me if you loved Kason. 🙊
_____________________________________
Conflicted what to rate this because I loved Holden and Phoenix. Couldn't for the life of me stand Kason and how the story dragged out Phoenix coming clean about everything 😩
Idk what to rate this
Guess I'll come back when I figure it out lol.
______________________________
This is coming out on August 9th!! not in December lol
“You fuck me up, Nix,” he murmurs, his lips brushing mine with every word. I smile against his mouth. “I know, baby. You fuck me up, too.”
Rating this book was quite the rollercoaster for me, as it wavered between a solid 3.5 stars and a deserving 4.0 stars. It left me genuinely torn. The main culprit for my indecision? Kason. Now, I'm sure there are folks out there who adore him, but I just couldn't quite warm up to him, at least not in this installment. To be blunt, he came across as annoyingly entitled to Holden – a bit too much to handle. His fervent irritation at Nix over Holden, when he had no legitimate claim, felt downright ludicrous. Yeah, they might have been in a "situationship," but let's be real, they hadn't even taken things to the next level. His possessive antics just rubbed me the wrong way. Plus, the fact that he used Nix like a security blanket, despite Chelsea's warnings of their toxic and codependent friendship, added to the irritation. Kason seemed to do whatever he pleased, including inviting Holden's crew over to Nix's house in Florida. Nix wasn't faultless either, but he always caved to Kason's demands due to some twisted sense of obligation. It's crystal clear that their friendship was anything but healthy, and this aspect grated on my nerves. Both of them acknowledge it, yet Kason's actions remain a central annoyance throughout the narrative. Nix's reluctance to spill the beans to Kason about Holden just seemed to drag on interminably, and when his eruption finally came, it felt more cringe-worthy than empathetic. Yeah, I get it, he had feelings for Holden, but honestly, it seemed more like an intense crush. I can't say I felt much sympathy. Call me heartless if you must.
To her credit, Chelsea did warn that this book might not resonate with everyone, thanks to the morally grey and questionable choices the characters would make. The secret tryst between Holden and Nix, behind Kason's oblivious back, wasn't a deal-breaker for me. The prolonged suspense did test my patience, but overall, it was bearable. Yet, Kason's presence in the storyline proved exasperating and occasionally hindered my enjoyment. But, and this is a big 'but,' my affection for Holden and Nix managed to tip the scales towards a 4-star rating.
Their dynamic as a couple was simply riveting. Yes, they drove us up the wall with their maddening antics, but their tit-for-tat games to one-up each other were nothing short of comical. Nix's masterful art of cockblocking Holden at every turn was a genuine riot – had me laughing out loud! And oh, the covert romance they kindled, sneaking around Kason's obliviousness, was a delight to watch unfold. Although Holden may have begun as a classic f-boy, deep down, he's more like a golden retriever in disguise. Their chemistry was addictive, blending humor, vulnerability, and sweetness in a unique concoction. For the sake of dear Holden and Nix, I wholeheartedly grant this story its 4-star rating. Now, let's keep our fingers crossed that Kason redeems himself and dials down the annoyance factor in his own book. Without his disruptive influence, this could've easily been a 5-star rating. Alas, such was not our luck.
Expect:
-enemies to lovers
-Secretive situationship/relationship
-Sports romance (American football x baseball)
-Reformed fuckboy turned golden retriever
-So many sexy moments 😏
-Entertaining moments between MCs
-Grumpy x Sunshine
-Possessiveness/Jealousy
-Love triangle
-Unhealthy/codependent friendship
-Annoying man named Kason
Don't come for me if you loved Kason. 🙊
_____________________________________
Conflicted what to rate this because I loved Holden and Phoenix. Couldn't for the life of me stand Kason and how the story dragged out Phoenix coming clean about everything 😩
Idk what to rate this
Guess I'll come back when I figure it out lol.
______________________________
This is coming out on August 9th!! not in December lol
August 13, 2023
⛔️mild spoilers
This was a cute and enjoyable read but don’t expect anything new or fresh because the book has exactly the same vibes as the books before so after one or two you start to see a pattern with these guys and the author. Nevertheless I have to say that I stuck with it until the end mostly because of Holden. He was a sweetheart and I was invested in his HEA ,although to be honest I kind of thought he deserved better than Nix. Phoenix and his bestie Kason were so freaking obnoxious( Phoenix was such a coward it was unbelievable).
In truth, I loved the first half of the book, but then again, I always love the 50% of every enemies-to-lovers books,I love their animosity and their banter. Unfortunately what I also hate about them is exactly what happened here too : they got from “I hate you” to waaaay too sappy in a blink of an eye. And I wouldn’t have been THAT bothered by it here because one,they didn’t really hate each other and two, if I had liked Phoenix a bit more. Sadly, I didn’t. I felt a slight imbalance there, I felt that Holden was the one to fall first, the one who fell harder and the only one who fought. Phoenix was just there , going with the flow while always judging, slut-shaming and mistreating Holden in favor of his oblivious and annoying bestie (and ironically being quite a shitty friend to his bestie too) .
I loved their chemistry though, it was sizzling and the sex scenes were hot .
And of course we have the 70% OTT dramatic telenovela break up where I wanted to smack Nix so hard because he was hurting my poor Holden and where the author compromises and tries to get away with the total lack of appropriate groveling by making Phoenix tell Holden that he would grovel if he wanted him to (to which of course Holden says “no” ). Nice try, Miss Ricci but I still would have liked to see more than the cliché “big gesture” from him (which wasn’t even thaaaat big )
Overall it was an easy read -no surprises, no angst and nothing life altering (although it did have the premise for a bit of heart-wrenching angst). I think I won’t be reading the next book because as I said they’re already predictable and because I didn’t care enough about anyone else in the book (much less about Kason, if his book is next.)
PD. In my opinion a sex scene as an epilogue is kind of tacky .
This was a cute and enjoyable read but don’t expect anything new or fresh because the book has exactly the same vibes as the books before so after one or two you start to see a pattern with these guys and the author. Nevertheless I have to say that I stuck with it until the end mostly because of Holden. He was a sweetheart and I was invested in his HEA ,although to be honest I kind of thought he deserved better than Nix. Phoenix and his bestie Kason were so freaking obnoxious( Phoenix was such a coward it was unbelievable).
In truth, I loved the first half of the book, but then again, I always love the 50% of every enemies-to-lovers books,I love their animosity and their banter. Unfortunately what I also hate about them is exactly what happened here too : they got from “I hate you” to waaaay too sappy in a blink of an eye. And I wouldn’t have been THAT bothered by it here because one,they didn’t really hate each other and two, if I had liked Phoenix a bit more. Sadly, I didn’t. I felt a slight imbalance there, I felt that Holden was the one to fall first, the one who fell harder and the only one who fought. Phoenix was just there , going with the flow while always judging, slut-shaming and mistreating Holden in favor of his oblivious and annoying bestie (and ironically being quite a shitty friend to his bestie too) .
I loved their chemistry though, it was sizzling and the sex scenes were hot .
And of course we have the 70% OTT dramatic telenovela break up where I wanted to smack Nix so hard because he was hurting my poor Holden and where the author compromises and tries to get away with the total lack of appropriate groveling by making Phoenix tell Holden that he would grovel if he wanted him to (to which of course Holden says “no” ). Nice try, Miss Ricci but I still would have liked to see more than the cliché “big gesture” from him (which wasn’t even thaaaat big )
Overall it was an easy read -no surprises, no angst and nothing life altering (although it did have the premise for a bit of heart-wrenching angst). I think I won’t be reading the next book because as I said they’re already predictable and because I didn’t care enough about anyone else in the book (much less about Kason, if his book is next.)
PD. In my opinion a sex scene as an epilogue is kind of tacky .
May 11, 2024
5/10/24
Finally did an audio re-read of Phoenix and Holden and 🥹
How did I love the so much more after hearing their voices. Christian Fox absolutely bodied Holden and Jacob Morgan as Phoenix? Swoon.
These two are the embodiment of inevitable. I love them. That’s all.
8/3/22
”I don’t know if he’ll forgive me for falling in love with you.”
**I read this story as a beta read however all thoughts and opinions are honest kay thanks**
•••
When CE Ricci announced that this next story was going to be a football/baseball, grumpy/sunshine, fuckboy falls first story I was SOLD. Listen. There are few things in life that make me as happy as a baseball love story and this one is that bitch. Okay let’s get into it.
Holden and Phoenix GO THROUGH IT to get to their HEA. Holden the fuckboy sees no one but Phoenix, however as hard as Phoenix tries he has a huge decision to make, love or loyalty?
This love story is tumultuous and rocky and magnetic and fucking inevitable. Phoenix and Holden are very much the definition of meant to be and you can feel their chemistry from the very first moment they meet (which is spicy lemme tell ya). Their love has just enough push and pull to keep you hanging on through the entire ride. But this story? It ain’t predictable. You work for it too.
”I want him to be mine in every sense of the word. And I’m not gonna stop until it happens.”
Okay this is me desperately trying to not give anything away before people get to read their story but trust me when I say that Phoenix and Holden may just be your new favorites, because they definitely are mine. I love them. I miss them. CE Ricci never misses and this is no exception, she really knocked this story out of the park❤️
⭐️4.91/5
🌶️4.5/5
Finally did an audio re-read of Phoenix and Holden and 🥹
How did I love the so much more after hearing their voices. Christian Fox absolutely bodied Holden and Jacob Morgan as Phoenix? Swoon.
These two are the embodiment of inevitable. I love them. That’s all.
8/3/22
”I don’t know if he’ll forgive me for falling in love with you.”
**I read this story as a beta read however all thoughts and opinions are honest kay thanks**
•••
When CE Ricci announced that this next story was going to be a football/baseball, grumpy/sunshine, fuckboy falls first story I was SOLD. Listen. There are few things in life that make me as happy as a baseball love story and this one is that bitch. Okay let’s get into it.
Holden and Phoenix GO THROUGH IT to get to their HEA. Holden the fuckboy sees no one but Phoenix, however as hard as Phoenix tries he has a huge decision to make, love or loyalty?
This love story is tumultuous and rocky and magnetic and fucking inevitable. Phoenix and Holden are very much the definition of meant to be and you can feel their chemistry from the very first moment they meet (which is spicy lemme tell ya). Their love has just enough push and pull to keep you hanging on through the entire ride. But this story? It ain’t predictable. You work for it too.
”I want him to be mine in every sense of the word. And I’m not gonna stop until it happens.”
Okay this is me desperately trying to not give anything away before people get to read their story but trust me when I say that Phoenix and Holden may just be your new favorites, because they definitely are mine. I love them. I miss them. CE Ricci never misses and this is no exception, she really knocked this story out of the park❤️
⭐️4.91/5
🌶️4.5/5
August 10, 2023
✰ 5 stars ✰
i'm sorry in advance for how long this review will be, i was just so invested in these characters 😭🩷
the situation between holden and phoenix was very very messy. but it's the type of mess i love to read about. this is reformed play boy where said play boy is also a golden retriever sunshine and he falls first. my absolute fav. they don't make the best decisions, you will definitely want to smack phoenix upside the head plenty of times, but i could not find myself getting mad with him. he had a lot to overcome personally and everything that lead to what it did felt necessary for the growth of his character. would i have dealt with it differently personally? yes. but it was also a very unique and complicated situation. i loved all the sneaking around and how that brought forbidden vibes to their relationship. it kept me on my toes the whole time. so while i couldn't put this down for even a second, it was also hilarious. books that make me laugh my ass off are my favorite so this immediately gets extra points due to that. 🤣
phoenix and holden had a failed one night stand and 6 months later holden is back in phoenix's life bc his best friend, kason, has taken an interest in holden. there is a disclaimer at the beginning that says this doesn't necessarily fall under a love triangle and cheating but there is some gray area surrounding the topics. so of course that made me nervous bc i'm not a fan a love triangles at all. to be clear, kason and phoenix both like holden but holden likes phoenix only. i wouldn't classify this as cheating either bc holden and kason agreed to a non exclusive relationship (they didn't even really do anything besides kiss a couple times and dance anyway). it's just a shitty situation bc phoenix starts to hook up with holden knowing kason has feelings for holden. but i was pleasantly surprised with how it went down bc it's clear who the end game is and i loved how holden was set on phoenix from the start.
holden was a beautiful soul who had such a carefree, fun, sexy personality. an absolute gem of a character. i loved his commitment to fighting for phoenix. no matter the circumstance, he was not letting anything keep him from phoenix, he fell first and hard. he was aware of phoenix's situation but never pushed him and always supported and encouraged him to put himself first for once. phoenix was complicated but i loved him, and i feel people will either hate him or love him. he is the most loyal person you will ever meet and his loyalty turns into a double edged sword. over the years he's entered into a co-dependent relationship with kason (it's nothing more than brotherly love between them dw). kason doesn't have an easy past and ever since they first met, phoenix has been his protector.
phoenix not wanting to tell kason about his relationship with holden i understood. he didn’t want to lose a friendship he's been dependent on for half his life, he was just so stuck in this routine of putting himself last and that wasn't an easy habit for him overcome. so he was in a battle between trying not to hurt his life long best friend or finally allowing himself to find happiness. it definitely helped that i didn't like kason that much. he knew the hold he had over phoenix and he used it to his advantage. kason and phoenix were doomed from the start without holden anyway, holden was just the catalyst to them realizing the toxicity of their friendship. it sucked how some things went down, but i feel like it was the only way to make phoenix truly realize and he needed someone to fight for him, which is exactly what holden did.
i was very invested in these characters and their journey. the love these two had was unmatched and there was no way they could survive without each other. i really enjoyed the roller coaster CE Ricci put us through plus with the amazing hate to love, sizzling chemistry, hot sex scenes that involve a shower and an outdoor lounge chair, i couldn't help but love it even with how messy it was. phoenix and holden are now characters i will defend with my life, especially phoenix 🥺 i’m not too sure how I’m feeling about kason’s book next, but i’m still going to give it a chance
what to expect:
🏈 sports romance
⚾️ enemies to lovers
🏈 failed one night stand
⚾️ reformed play boy
🏈 play boy who falls first
⚾️ grumpy/sunshine
🏈 "It’s not stealing if he’s meant to be mine." 😏
⚾️ hilarious cockblocking games (be prepared to laugh a lot)
🏈 possessive, lots of jealousy and "you’re mine" vibes
⚾️ pet names 😩
🏈 forbidden/secret relationship
Leighton U series
book 1 - Iced Out - 4 stars
book 2 - Caught Stealing - 5 stars ♡
book 3 - Fair Catch
book 4 - Playing Dirty
book 5 - Fake Shot
❝I don’t know if he’ll forgive me for falling in love with you.❞
i'm sorry in advance for how long this review will be, i was just so invested in these characters 😭🩷
the situation between holden and phoenix was very very messy. but it's the type of mess i love to read about. this is reformed play boy where said play boy is also a golden retriever sunshine and he falls first. my absolute fav. they don't make the best decisions, you will definitely want to smack phoenix upside the head plenty of times, but i could not find myself getting mad with him. he had a lot to overcome personally and everything that lead to what it did felt necessary for the growth of his character. would i have dealt with it differently personally? yes. but it was also a very unique and complicated situation. i loved all the sneaking around and how that brought forbidden vibes to their relationship. it kept me on my toes the whole time. so while i couldn't put this down for even a second, it was also hilarious. books that make me laugh my ass off are my favorite so this immediately gets extra points due to that. 🤣
I hate how my skin lights on fire when his fingertips brush against my palm. Hate the way my body aches and yearns for this man—the way my soul reaches toward his constantly and without end.
phoenix and holden had a failed one night stand and 6 months later holden is back in phoenix's life bc his best friend, kason, has taken an interest in holden. there is a disclaimer at the beginning that says this doesn't necessarily fall under a love triangle and cheating but there is some gray area surrounding the topics. so of course that made me nervous bc i'm not a fan a love triangles at all. to be clear, kason and phoenix both like holden but holden likes phoenix only. i wouldn't classify this as cheating either bc holden and kason agreed to a non exclusive relationship (they didn't even really do anything besides kiss a couple times and dance anyway). it's just a shitty situation bc phoenix starts to hook up with holden knowing kason has feelings for holden. but i was pleasantly surprised with how it went down bc it's clear who the end game is and i loved how holden was set on phoenix from the start.
❝You want me, you’re just too loyal and proud to admit that not having me is killing you.❞
holden was a beautiful soul who had such a carefree, fun, sexy personality. an absolute gem of a character. i loved his commitment to fighting for phoenix. no matter the circumstance, he was not letting anything keep him from phoenix, he fell first and hard. he was aware of phoenix's situation but never pushed him and always supported and encouraged him to put himself first for once. phoenix was complicated but i loved him, and i feel people will either hate him or love him. he is the most loyal person you will ever meet and his loyalty turns into a double edged sword. over the years he's entered into a co-dependent relationship with kason (it's nothing more than brotherly love between them dw). kason doesn't have an easy past and ever since they first met, phoenix has been his protector.
phoenix not wanting to tell kason about his relationship with holden i understood. he didn’t want to lose a friendship he's been dependent on for half his life, he was just so stuck in this routine of putting himself last and that wasn't an easy habit for him overcome. so he was in a battle between trying not to hurt his life long best friend or finally allowing himself to find happiness. it definitely helped that i didn't like kason that much. he knew the hold he had over phoenix and he used it to his advantage. kason and phoenix were doomed from the start without holden anyway, holden was just the catalyst to them realizing the toxicity of their friendship. it sucked how some things went down, but i feel like it was the only way to make phoenix truly realize and he needed someone to fight for him, which is exactly what holden did.
i was very invested in these characters and their journey. the love these two had was unmatched and there was no way they could survive without each other. i really enjoyed the roller coaster CE Ricci put us through plus with the amazing hate to love, sizzling chemistry, hot sex scenes that involve a shower and an outdoor lounge chair, i couldn't help but love it even with how messy it was. phoenix and holden are now characters i will defend with my life, especially phoenix 🥺 i’m not too sure how I’m feeling about kason’s book next, but i’m still going to give it a chance
❝You fuck me up, Nix,❞ he murmurs, his lips brushing mine with every word.
I smile against his mouth. ❝I know, baby. You fuck me up, too.❞
what to expect:
🏈 sports romance
⚾️ enemies to lovers
🏈 failed one night stand
⚾️ reformed play boy
🏈 play boy who falls first
⚾️ grumpy/sunshine
🏈 "It’s not stealing if he’s meant to be mine." 😏
⚾️ hilarious cockblocking games (be prepared to laugh a lot)
🏈 possessive, lots of jealousy and "you’re mine" vibes
⚾️ pet names 😩
🏈 forbidden/secret relationship
Leighton U series
book 1 - Iced Out - 4 stars
book 2 - Caught Stealing - 5 stars ♡
book 3 - Fair Catch
book 4 - Playing Dirty
book 5 - Fake Shot
August 9, 2024
"You can lie to me all you want, Nixy. But at the end of the day, you'll never be able to lie to yourself."
Holden Sykes is the resident Fuckboy.
Just going through literally everyone with no second thought.
No strings, no replays, no names…
I made that mistake once and I am not planning on making it again.
So when Holden starts taking an interest in my best friend…
Believe me I will do everything in my power to make sure he doesn't make the same mistake I did…
But maybe fate has other plans
"He's the guy no one should ever want their daughter dating - or son, for that matter. And here he is, fixating on the most important person in the world to me."
💫 Small Updates From Reread Too 💫
Ahhhhh even in the reread this book fucking SLAPSSSS!!! This book is so emotional and literally hits so close to home ngl. I love it each and every time and I can already see another time on the horizon 💚💚
"Fuck, I can't stand him. What's more, I can't stand the way my body wants him."
C.E. Ricci will always come out with a fucking bop.
I started this book, was immediately pulled in and devoured it.
Phoenix is doing everything in his power to make sure his best friend doesn't fall down the same hole he did. He always put his friends before himself. Except for this one time when he wants to be selfish.
This legit made me cry so much no joke.
"Fighting for your own happiness should always be your priority."
Whenever I read his scenes with Kason and the stuff that he did for him, I legit cried.
The thing that came up the most in my head is the best song to describe Phoenix would be -
"Bigger Person" by Lauren Spencer Smith (if you haven't heard it you should run, it's a bop that makes you cry)
As someone who has unfortunately been a folding chair and has put other's feelings before my own at the cost of me breaking I have never related to a character (for this point) more.
"You're allowed to be a little selfish sometimes, baby. It doesn't make you a bad person.
Ok, moving on from the sad crying part.
Holden is adorable.
His comebacks and banter were everything!!
Being a closeted emo fan is honestly me sometimes! My Spotify playlist is just a mashup of random genres and I can never explain my musical taste with anything other than "eclectic" honestly 😂😂
He is such a golden retriever it is incredible! And he is so cute!
And he made me laugh so much honestly. Example:
"Why would I go when I'm having such a great time pissing you off with my presence alone?"
Anyway, overall this book healed me in some sort of way that I cannot explain, at least not in a way that would do it justice.
"It's not stealing if he's meant to be mine."
As always C.E. Ricci creates SUBLIME playlists but you know me I can't help it - these are the songs that I added 😇😇
(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Oz... )
🎶 "Someone's Gotta Love 'Em" - The Scarlet Opera
🎶 "Greek God" - Conan Gray
🎶 "Undrunk" - FLETCHER
🎶 "Sober/Hungover" - Sueco, Arizona Zervas
🎶 "Cake By The Ocean" - DNCE
🎶 "FUCK" - SNOW WIFE
🎶 "Alive" - Spencer Sutherland
🎶 "Please Please Please" - Our Last Night
🎶 "boys beware" - Mad Tsai
🎶 "I Would Hate Me Too" - TX2
🎶 "Don't Need A Hero" - The Score
🎶 "We Don't Have To Dance" - Andy Black
🎶 "Letdown" - Citizen Soldier
🎶 "The Villain" - John Michael Howell
🎶 "good luck, babe!" - senses
🎶 "Heart-Shaped Soul" - Loveless
🎶 "Do Your Worst" - Outline in Color, Loveless
🎶 "Dear Maria, Count Me In - ATL's Version" - All Time Low
🎶 "Don't Say I Didn't Warn You" - VOILA, Craig Owens
🎶 "BABY SAID" - Maneskin
🎶 "Fuqboi" - Hey Violet
🎶 "I'm Not Getting Better" - Marianas Trench
🎶 "Florida!!!" - Taylor Swift, Florence + The Machine
🎶 "Every Time We Touch" - Cole Rolland, Lauren Babic
🎶 "Sleepless" - Dutch Melrose
🎶 "Positions" - Rain Paris
🎶 "Eyes Closed" - Connor Kauffman
🎶 "Hate Me" - Nico Collins
🎶 "Fallout" - Marianas Trench
🎶 "I Feel Good" - Pitbull, Anthony Watts, DJ White Shadow
🎶 "Drive You Insane" - Daniel Di Angelo
🎶 "The Walls" - Chase Atlantic
🎶 "Teeth" - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 "Love Bites (So Do I)" - Halestorm
🎶 "Collide (Sped Up Remix)" - Justine Skye, Tyga
🎶 "I'm Not A Saint" - Billy Raffoul
🎶 "My My My!" - Troye Sivan
🎶 "That's What You Get" - Paramore
🎶 "Lyin' to Myself (Remix)" - Todrick Hall, wiidope, Jeeve
🎶 "I Want It All" - Cameron Grey
🎶 "Fire On Fire" - Sam Smith
🎶 "OWN MY MIND" - Maneskin
🎶 "As They Bloom" - Unlike Pluto
🎶 "Stay Away" - MOD SUN, Machine Gun Kelly, Goody Grace
🎶 "Drinking With Cupid" - VOILA
🎶 "Call Out My Name - Live" - The Weeknd
🎶 "god save me, but don't drown me out" - YUNGBLUD
🎶 "I Wanna Be Yours" - Arctic Monkey
🎶 "Eleanor Rigby" - Cody Fry
🎶 "Never Let Me Go" - Florence + The Machine
🎶 "Gladiator" - Jann
🎶 "Flawless" - The Neighbourhood
🎶 "Slut! (Taylor's Version)(From The Vault)" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Nowhere To Go" - Bad Omens
🎶 "Natural" - THE DRIVER ERA
🎶 "Can't Help Falling In Love" - Ice Nine Kills
🎶 "Wherever I Go" - OneRepublic
🎶 "Gravedigger" - Livingston
🎶 "Consequences" - Camila Cabello
🎶 "Bigger Person" - Lauren Spencer Smith
🎶 "Love Situation (911)" - Blanks
🎶 "Hurricane - Reimagined" - I Prevail
🎶 "Disease" - Beartooth
🎶 "I Was Made For Lovin' You" - YUNGBLUD
🎶 "Once In A Lifetime" - All Time Low
🎶 "Rain" - Sleep Token
🎶 "The Reason" - Hoobastank
🎶 "Like A Virgin" - Motley Crue
🎶 "The Best" - Nicotine Dolls
And because you know I have to 🌶️🌶️
"Do what you want to me, baby. Do your fucking worst."
"That's it. Fuck, baby. Just look at you. You were fucking made for me. Meant to be mine."
"Watch me fuck you, baby. Watch yourself take every inch of my cock."
"Fuck, baby. That's it. Show me how well you ride my cock."
Tropes:
⚾ Failed one night stand
🏈 Enemies to Lovers
⚾ Double Sports Romance (Football/Baseball)
🏈 Grumpy X Sunshine
⚾ Fuck-boy falls first
🏈 Forced Proximity
Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/C-S7usro6...
Holden Sykes is the resident Fuckboy.
Just going through literally everyone with no second thought.
No strings, no replays, no names…
I made that mistake once and I am not planning on making it again.
So when Holden starts taking an interest in my best friend…
Believe me I will do everything in my power to make sure he doesn't make the same mistake I did…
But maybe fate has other plans
"He's the guy no one should ever want their daughter dating - or son, for that matter. And here he is, fixating on the most important person in the world to me."
💫 Small Updates From Reread Too 💫
Ahhhhh even in the reread this book fucking SLAPSSSS!!! This book is so emotional and literally hits so close to home ngl. I love it each and every time and I can already see another time on the horizon 💚💚
"Fuck, I can't stand him. What's more, I can't stand the way my body wants him."
C.E. Ricci will always come out with a fucking bop.
I started this book, was immediately pulled in and devoured it.
Phoenix is doing everything in his power to make sure his best friend doesn't fall down the same hole he did. He always put his friends before himself. Except for this one time when he wants to be selfish.
This legit made me cry so much no joke.
"Fighting for your own happiness should always be your priority."
Whenever I read his scenes with Kason and the stuff that he did for him, I legit cried.
The thing that came up the most in my head is the best song to describe Phoenix would be -
"Bigger Person" by Lauren Spencer Smith (if you haven't heard it you should run, it's a bop that makes you cry)
As someone who has unfortunately been a folding chair and has put other's feelings before my own at the cost of me breaking I have never related to a character (for this point) more.
"You're allowed to be a little selfish sometimes, baby. It doesn't make you a bad person.
Ok, moving on from the sad crying part.
Holden is adorable.
His comebacks and banter were everything!!
Being a closeted emo fan is honestly me sometimes! My Spotify playlist is just a mashup of random genres and I can never explain my musical taste with anything other than "eclectic" honestly 😂😂
He is such a golden retriever it is incredible! And he is so cute!
And he made me laugh so much honestly. Example:
"Why would I go when I'm having such a great time pissing you off with my presence alone?"
Anyway, overall this book healed me in some sort of way that I cannot explain, at least not in a way that would do it justice.
"It's not stealing if he's meant to be mine."
As always C.E. Ricci creates SUBLIME playlists but you know me I can't help it - these are the songs that I added 😇😇
(Link - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0Oz... )
🎶 "Someone's Gotta Love 'Em" - The Scarlet Opera
🎶 "Greek God" - Conan Gray
🎶 "Undrunk" - FLETCHER
🎶 "Sober/Hungover" - Sueco, Arizona Zervas
🎶 "Cake By The Ocean" - DNCE
🎶 "FUCK" - SNOW WIFE
🎶 "Alive" - Spencer Sutherland
🎶 "Please Please Please" - Our Last Night
🎶 "boys beware" - Mad Tsai
🎶 "I Would Hate Me Too" - TX2
🎶 "Don't Need A Hero" - The Score
🎶 "We Don't Have To Dance" - Andy Black
🎶 "Letdown" - Citizen Soldier
🎶 "The Villain" - John Michael Howell
🎶 "good luck, babe!" - senses
🎶 "Heart-Shaped Soul" - Loveless
🎶 "Do Your Worst" - Outline in Color, Loveless
🎶 "Dear Maria, Count Me In - ATL's Version" - All Time Low
🎶 "Don't Say I Didn't Warn You" - VOILA, Craig Owens
🎶 "BABY SAID" - Maneskin
🎶 "Fuqboi" - Hey Violet
🎶 "I'm Not Getting Better" - Marianas Trench
🎶 "Florida!!!" - Taylor Swift, Florence + The Machine
🎶 "Every Time We Touch" - Cole Rolland, Lauren Babic
🎶 "Sleepless" - Dutch Melrose
🎶 "Positions" - Rain Paris
🎶 "Eyes Closed" - Connor Kauffman
🎶 "Hate Me" - Nico Collins
🎶 "Fallout" - Marianas Trench
🎶 "I Feel Good" - Pitbull, Anthony Watts, DJ White Shadow
🎶 "Drive You Insane" - Daniel Di Angelo
🎶 "The Walls" - Chase Atlantic
🎶 "Teeth" - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎶 "Love Bites (So Do I)" - Halestorm
🎶 "Collide (Sped Up Remix)" - Justine Skye, Tyga
🎶 "I'm Not A Saint" - Billy Raffoul
🎶 "My My My!" - Troye Sivan
🎶 "That's What You Get" - Paramore
🎶 "Lyin' to Myself (Remix)" - Todrick Hall, wiidope, Jeeve
🎶 "I Want It All" - Cameron Grey
🎶 "Fire On Fire" - Sam Smith
🎶 "OWN MY MIND" - Maneskin
🎶 "As They Bloom" - Unlike Pluto
🎶 "Stay Away" - MOD SUN, Machine Gun Kelly, Goody Grace
🎶 "Drinking With Cupid" - VOILA
🎶 "Call Out My Name - Live" - The Weeknd
🎶 "god save me, but don't drown me out" - YUNGBLUD
🎶 "I Wanna Be Yours" - Arctic Monkey
🎶 "Eleanor Rigby" - Cody Fry
🎶 "Never Let Me Go" - Florence + The Machine
🎶 "Gladiator" - Jann
🎶 "Flawless" - The Neighbourhood
🎶 "Slut! (Taylor's Version)(From The Vault)" - Taylor Swift
🎶 "Nowhere To Go" - Bad Omens
🎶 "Natural" - THE DRIVER ERA
🎶 "Can't Help Falling In Love" - Ice Nine Kills
🎶 "Wherever I Go" - OneRepublic
🎶 "Gravedigger" - Livingston
🎶 "Consequences" - Camila Cabello
🎶 "Bigger Person" - Lauren Spencer Smith
🎶 "Love Situation (911)" - Blanks
🎶 "Hurricane - Reimagined" - I Prevail
🎶 "Disease" - Beartooth
🎶 "I Was Made For Lovin' You" - YUNGBLUD
🎶 "Once In A Lifetime" - All Time Low
🎶 "Rain" - Sleep Token
🎶 "The Reason" - Hoobastank
🎶 "Like A Virgin" - Motley Crue
🎶 "The Best" - Nicotine Dolls
And because you know I have to 🌶️🌶️
"Do what you want to me, baby. Do your fucking worst."
"That's it. Fuck, baby. Just look at you. You were fucking made for me. Meant to be mine."
"Watch me fuck you, baby. Watch yourself take every inch of my cock."
"Fuck, baby. That's it. Show me how well you ride my cock."
Tropes:
⚾ Failed one night stand
🏈 Enemies to Lovers
⚾ Double Sports Romance (Football/Baseball)
🏈 Grumpy X Sunshine
⚾ Fuck-boy falls first
🏈 Forced Proximity
Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/C-S7usro6...
December 31, 2024
* ☘︎ :･ﾟTOP 5 AUDIO 2024 :･ﾟ☘︎ *
re-listen November 2024
Since neither Christian Fox nor Jacob Morgan have recorded something new in MM since this one released at the end of last year (pity! shame!) I opted for a re-listen because they are both just so delicious to have in one’s ear. *melting into a puddle
4.25**** stars
audio: 5+ stars
This audiobook was A GIFT!! (I actually only went for the book in the first place because of it.) I mean, it’s obvious, right? Jacob freaking Morgan AND Christian freaking Fox?? My ears were in freaking heaven. *swoon And they did a fine job with these characters. Very fitting.
And yeah, the book… well, I liked that too. I actually liked it a lot more than the first one. The premise alone was just my kinda jam.
Holden, totally drunk on a frat party, hooks up with a hot guy he’s never seen before. Wakes up alone the next morning and can’t remember neither the events of the past night nor the guy. But he’s very bewildered when he shows interest in his team mate that the guy’s best friend is cock blocking him at every turn. Phoenix, a guy he doesn’t even know!
Phoenix doesn’t like one bit that he was just simply forgotten by the known playboy and he hates himself a little for even giving into him that night six months ago. But he will prevent his best friend to make the damn same mistake.
It’s all pretty funny, sexy and full of good banter. Although this is one of those stories where you can see the conflict coming from a mile away just like in the first book. The conflict between Phoenix and his best friend Kason about Holden, when things between Phoenix and Holden start to heat up again and Kason also develops feelings for Holden.
There is a lot to unpack in that love triangle and while this all could’ve been avoided by Phoenix being honest with his best friend from the beginning most of the blame I’d put on Holden for kinda stringing Kason along even after his interest had waned in favor of Phoenix.
Anyway… the audio alone is worth the shot. And even if you only read, it still is. It will probably not be for everyone bc of the above mentioned reasons but I really enjoyed this one.
***********
Leighton U Series
Book 1 - Iced Out - 3.5 stars
Book 2 - Caught Stealing - 4.25 stars
Book 3 - Fair Catch - wait for audio
Book 4 - Playing Dirty
Book 5 - Fake Shot
re-listen November 2024
Since neither Christian Fox nor Jacob Morgan have recorded something new in MM since this one released at the end of last year (pity! shame!) I opted for a re-listen because they are both just so delicious to have in one’s ear. *melting into a puddle
4.25**** stars
audio: 5+ stars
This audiobook was A GIFT!! (I actually only went for the book in the first place because of it.) I mean, it’s obvious, right? Jacob freaking Morgan AND Christian freaking Fox?? My ears were in freaking heaven. *swoon And they did a fine job with these characters. Very fitting.
And yeah, the book… well, I liked that too. I actually liked it a lot more than the first one. The premise alone was just my kinda jam.
Holden, totally drunk on a frat party, hooks up with a hot guy he’s never seen before. Wakes up alone the next morning and can’t remember neither the events of the past night nor the guy. But he’s very bewildered when he shows interest in his team mate that the guy’s best friend is cock blocking him at every turn. Phoenix, a guy he doesn’t even know!
Phoenix doesn’t like one bit that he was just simply forgotten by the known playboy and he hates himself a little for even giving into him that night six months ago. But he will prevent his best friend to make the damn same mistake.
It’s all pretty funny, sexy and full of good banter. Although this is one of those stories where you can see the conflict coming from a mile away just like in the first book. The conflict between Phoenix and his best friend Kason about Holden, when things between Phoenix and Holden start to heat up again and Kason also develops feelings for Holden.
“You’re not sorry about what happened with Holden, you’re just sorry you got caught stealing him in the first place.”
It’s not stealing if he’s meant to be mine.
There is a lot to unpack in that love triangle and while this all could’ve been avoided by Phoenix being honest with his best friend from the beginning most of the blame I’d put on Holden for kinda stringing Kason along even after his interest had waned in favor of Phoenix.
Anyway… the audio alone is worth the shot. And even if you only read, it still is. It will probably not be for everyone bc of the above mentioned reasons but I really enjoyed this one.
“I love you, baby. And I’m so fucking sorry for making you think otherwise.”
“[…] we can put this whole mess behind us and start fresh. […] Choosing me means choosing you, too.”
***********
Leighton U Series
Book 1 - Iced Out - 3.5 stars
Book 2 - Caught Stealing - 4.25 stars
Book 3 - Fair Catch - wait for audio
Book 4 - Playing Dirty
Book 5 - Fake Shot
August 19, 2024
Read #2 changed my rating from 4.5 to 5
Re-read this so I could remember Kason better because his book is out very soon!
I LOVED Phoenix and Holden together so much. Their chemistry is so good and I found them believable as a couple.
I also loved the whole love triangle plot with Kason. I live for the drama, betrayal and heartache and there are barely any romance books I've found that actually have a love triangle that aren't written by CE Ricci! Give me more of them 😂
The character growth for Holden and Nix through the story and the way they confided in their friends (except oblivious Kason) just made me love them even more the second time round. I also really loved the sneaking around - am I a bad person? 🧐😂 I honestly started to get annoyed by Kason and his obliviousness, so I'm really hoping I like him in his book - I'm pretty sure I will though and I'm excited to see how he grows as a character too.
I also really liked the sneaky little Ciarain Grady mentions 😉
Excited for the next book now!
Re-read this so I could remember Kason better because his book is out very soon!
I LOVED Phoenix and Holden together so much. Their chemistry is so good and I found them believable as a couple.
I also loved the whole love triangle plot with Kason. I live for the drama, betrayal and heartache and there are barely any romance books I've found that actually have a love triangle that aren't written by CE Ricci! Give me more of them 😂
The character growth for Holden and Nix through the story and the way they confided in their friends (except oblivious Kason) just made me love them even more the second time round. I also really loved the sneaking around - am I a bad person? 🧐😂 I honestly started to get annoyed by Kason and his obliviousness, so I'm really hoping I like him in his book - I'm pretty sure I will though and I'm excited to see how he grows as a character too.
I also really liked the sneaky little Ciarain Grady mentions 😉
Excited for the next book now!
August 9, 2023
Holden and Phoenix really captured my heart!!! These two stubborn guys really fell hard for one another and their forbidden romance has so much emotion and depth, which made for a fantastic story.
Caught Stealing is an entertaining enemies to lovers due to the massive miscommunication that drives the story due to one of the characters totally blacking out and forgetting his insanely intimate encounter with the other. This creates the animosity and push/pull dynamic between Holden and Nix, which is so perfectly captured throughout the story.
I really enjoyed their shared mutual attraction. Both Holden and Nix struggle with their feelings for each other. Although the push/pull is constant within the story, I loved when both Holden and Nix are in sync with one another because they are so sweet and swoon-worthy when they accept their shared attraction.
Overall I really loved this story. I was so curious at its direction due to the unusual start to their story and couldn't be more thrilled, surprised, and elated at how epic their story ended up being. Both Holden and Nix are strong-willed, with huge hearts that make them the perfect balance for the other. I loved this story from beginning to end and cannot wait for the next one!!!
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
Caught Stealing is an entertaining enemies to lovers due to the massive miscommunication that drives the story due to one of the characters totally blacking out and forgetting his insanely intimate encounter with the other. This creates the animosity and push/pull dynamic between Holden and Nix, which is so perfectly captured throughout the story.
I really enjoyed their shared mutual attraction. Both Holden and Nix struggle with their feelings for each other. Although the push/pull is constant within the story, I loved when both Holden and Nix are in sync with one another because they are so sweet and swoon-worthy when they accept their shared attraction.
Overall I really loved this story. I was so curious at its direction due to the unusual start to their story and couldn't be more thrilled, surprised, and elated at how epic their story ended up being. Both Holden and Nix are strong-willed, with huge hearts that make them the perfect balance for the other. I loved this story from beginning to end and cannot wait for the next one!!!
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
August 13, 2023
2.75⭐
No, it wasn't the imaginary "love triangle" that destroyed this story, it was the storytelling .
It seemed like Phoenix was a character that the author apparently had a big problem with , so for Phoenix, a college guy who's a serial monogamist and has been nothing but perfect all his life, it's the redeeming he has to do and he's doing it in the worst way possible .
🟡 Both MMCs gay
🔵 No, it wasn't enemies-to-lovers
🟢 No cheating, no, that's not cheating
🟠 An awful conflict at 80%
🟣 Weak last third + ending + epilogue
🌶️ Spice decent, but didnt evolve past the initial excitement; t/b
The story was about Holden, Oakley's bestie, who's a playboy, so he's going around having fun, doesn't hurt anyone, since everyone knows up front that he doesn't want anything serious with anyone, and Phoenix, who's from a wealthy family, has a younger adopted sister and is a really nice guy. He has a very co-dependent friendship with Kason since they were kids, since Kason's had a terrible childhood and spent the majority of time growing up with Phoenix at his home.
Holden's living with his grandma, because his parents died 6 years ago and on the anniversary of their death Holden gets drunk, sees Phoenix and they have sex, only thing is, Holden blacks out and doesn't remember anything, so weeks pass and Holden and Kason start fooling around, but it's just that, fooling around, they're not even having sex, they're clear it's just messing around, nothing exclusive .
Until about 50-60% the story was really good, I liked it. The dialogues were a little strange here and there, but I wasn't bothered, because the anticipation was strong and the tension was there, Phoenix and Holden started hooking up and were keeping it on the down low, I was excited about where it would lead, was up for a lot of secret hot sex and really wanted for that to continue.
If this book was passionate and hot, the way I thought it was going to be, then this would be Holden and Phoenix.
In time, Holden and Phoenix both verbalised that they were going to be exclusive, just to see where it goes, they felt like there was something more going on between them and it was palpable, the tension was there, they were pretty hot together, although I do admit I expected much more, but I honestly thought more was coming in the second part of the book .
Boy, was I wrong.
I have no idea what happened in the second half when things started coming to a boiling point and more and more people found out about Phoenix and Holden hooking up. The way they navigated their potential relationship coming into the spotlight just didn't feel right, their dialogues were weird, I honestly thought it was more like two women talking than college guys, and it was clear as day that the author wanted badly for Phoenix to redeem himself, so oftentimes he sounded like a man twice his age, his decisions were strange, his thought process didn't make any sense and dialogues between him and Holden became terrible .
"It's more like what happens when I'm forced to hang around all you Neanderthals. Makes my brain revert back to baser instincts."
Can you image two college guys saying this to each other while they're in the middle of kissing?
"You're the definition of a man-child."
"Why would I need porn when I'm sleeping with you?" A thoughtful look crosses his face before he nods. "Fair point."
This is Phoenix talking and it's like he went from the brooding, hot beefcake with fuck-me eyes to a 50 year old man, or rather - a woman.
And with them not even being together for a hot minute, we get this;
"I refuse to believe that shit applies to the one person who's gonna be the rest of your life," Oakley say with a shake of his head. "When it's your forever on the line, all the codes and rules go right out the damn window."
Pray, tell me, when did we get to forever? They're in college and they're trying to be a couple, who said anything about forever? Those are some big words for a story that wasn't really put togehter in a way we'd actually be talking about forever already, it wasn't felt anywhere at all.
When the final conflict comes and Kason realises Phoenix and Holden are hooking up, it gets hilarious. I mean, that was so damn absurd, I was just laughing, it was funny, the story was botched already with losing its momentum in the second half, so of course the conflict was even more ridiculous.
Kason and Holden kissed a couple of times during a few months, only that. Nothing else.
"You're not sorry about what happened with Holden, you're just sorry you got caught stealing him in the first place."
Kason is obviously a teenage girl. Obviously. But Phoenix isn't far behind.
"We might've done some shit, but the only reason we ever got this far was because we were forced together by you."
Right, exactly! Exactly, that's what I said. Totally.
So Holden and Phoenix finally get together after Kason was holding a grudge because his hook-up wasn't interested in anything more with him and and no, I didn't like the story at all.
It had a strong start, but Phoenix and Holden didn't get the story they deserved at all. Why did Phoenix have to go through all the redeeming for something that wasn't really a big deal? The thing of turning a college fuckboy to someone who wanted a relationship got lost somewhere, because everything was about Phoenix's character going down the drain and Kason being an asshole.
Phoenix and Kason had a terrible friendship, that's not being besties, that's just toxic, they should break it up, yesterday.
I still have no idea why Phoenix broke up with Holden and stayed away for 6 weeks, and the ridiculous events just kept piling on, because the big break-up/get-together gesture was for Phoenix to replay all the events for Holden on the night he blacked out, talk about cringe .
It gets even better in the epilogue, though!
"You snooze, you lose," is all he says before gently sinking down on my lenght.
I read somewhere that the author hated writing this book, is that right? That's a damn shame, because this conflict was tame and the book could've ended so much better.
I wanted to read Head Above Water next week, but forget it, I'm not reading another 400 pages of something similar.
No, it wasn't the imaginary "love triangle" that destroyed this story, it was the storytelling .
It seemed like Phoenix was a character that the author apparently had a big problem with , so for Phoenix, a college guy who's a serial monogamist and has been nothing but perfect all his life, it's the redeeming he has to do and he's doing it in the worst way possible .
🟡 Both MMCs gay
🔵 No, it wasn't enemies-to-lovers
🟢 No cheating, no, that's not cheating
🟠 An awful conflict at 80%
🟣 Weak last third + ending + epilogue
🌶️ Spice decent, but didnt evolve past the initial excitement; t/b
The story was about Holden, Oakley's bestie, who's a playboy, so he's going around having fun, doesn't hurt anyone, since everyone knows up front that he doesn't want anything serious with anyone, and Phoenix, who's from a wealthy family, has a younger adopted sister and is a really nice guy. He has a very co-dependent friendship with Kason since they were kids, since Kason's had a terrible childhood and spent the majority of time growing up with Phoenix at his home.
Holden's living with his grandma, because his parents died 6 years ago and on the anniversary of their death Holden gets drunk, sees Phoenix and they have sex, only thing is, Holden blacks out and doesn't remember anything, so weeks pass and Holden and Kason start fooling around, but it's just that, fooling around, they're not even having sex, they're clear it's just messing around, nothing exclusive .
Until about 50-60% the story was really good, I liked it. The dialogues were a little strange here and there, but I wasn't bothered, because the anticipation was strong and the tension was there, Phoenix and Holden started hooking up and were keeping it on the down low, I was excited about where it would lead, was up for a lot of secret hot sex and really wanted for that to continue.
If this book was passionate and hot, the way I thought it was going to be, then this would be Holden and Phoenix.
In time, Holden and Phoenix both verbalised that they were going to be exclusive, just to see where it goes, they felt like there was something more going on between them and it was palpable, the tension was there, they were pretty hot together, although I do admit I expected much more, but I honestly thought more was coming in the second part of the book .
Boy, was I wrong.
I have no idea what happened in the second half when things started coming to a boiling point and more and more people found out about Phoenix and Holden hooking up. The way they navigated their potential relationship coming into the spotlight just didn't feel right, their dialogues were weird, I honestly thought it was more like two women talking than college guys, and it was clear as day that the author wanted badly for Phoenix to redeem himself, so oftentimes he sounded like a man twice his age, his decisions were strange, his thought process didn't make any sense and dialogues between him and Holden became terrible .
"It's more like what happens when I'm forced to hang around all you Neanderthals. Makes my brain revert back to baser instincts."
Can you image two college guys saying this to each other while they're in the middle of kissing?
"You're the definition of a man-child."
"Why would I need porn when I'm sleeping with you?" A thoughtful look crosses his face before he nods. "Fair point."
This is Phoenix talking and it's like he went from the brooding, hot beefcake with fuck-me eyes to a 50 year old man, or rather - a woman.
And with them not even being together for a hot minute, we get this;
"I refuse to believe that shit applies to the one person who's gonna be the rest of your life," Oakley say with a shake of his head. "When it's your forever on the line, all the codes and rules go right out the damn window."
Pray, tell me, when did we get to forever? They're in college and they're trying to be a couple, who said anything about forever? Those are some big words for a story that wasn't really put togehter in a way we'd actually be talking about forever already, it wasn't felt anywhere at all.
When the final conflict comes and Kason realises Phoenix and Holden are hooking up, it gets hilarious. I mean, that was so damn absurd, I was just laughing, it was funny, the story was botched already with losing its momentum in the second half, so of course the conflict was even more ridiculous.
Kason and Holden kissed a couple of times during a few months, only that. Nothing else.
"You're not sorry about what happened with Holden, you're just sorry you got caught stealing him in the first place."
Kason is obviously a teenage girl. Obviously. But Phoenix isn't far behind.
"We might've done some shit, but the only reason we ever got this far was because we were forced together by you."
Right, exactly! Exactly, that's what I said. Totally.
So Holden and Phoenix finally get together after Kason was holding a grudge because his hook-up wasn't interested in anything more with him and and no, I didn't like the story at all.
It had a strong start, but Phoenix and Holden didn't get the story they deserved at all. Why did Phoenix have to go through all the redeeming for something that wasn't really a big deal? The thing of turning a college fuckboy to someone who wanted a relationship got lost somewhere, because everything was about Phoenix's character going down the drain and Kason being an asshole.
Phoenix and Kason had a terrible friendship, that's not being besties, that's just toxic, they should break it up, yesterday.
I still have no idea why Phoenix broke up with Holden and stayed away for 6 weeks, and the ridiculous events just kept piling on, because the big break-up/get-together gesture was for Phoenix to replay all the events for Holden on the night he blacked out, talk about cringe .
It gets even better in the epilogue, though!
"You snooze, you lose," is all he says before gently sinking down on my lenght.
I read somewhere that the author hated writing this book, is that right? That's a damn shame, because this conflict was tame and the book could've ended so much better.
I wanted to read Head Above Water next week, but forget it, I'm not reading another 400 pages of something similar.
May 2, 2025
I guess I don’t click with this author 🤷♀️ it’s an almost-dnf at 88% because of this third act bullshit she pulled.
I swear to God, if the audiobook wouldn’t have been so well narrated, and I didn’t have to somehow keep me entertained during a longer train journey, I would have quit earlier.
Let me try and explain, especially as I know that plenty of you loved it.
The male characters are so very… melodramatic, for the lack of a better term. And getting their pov, their inner thoughts, doesn’t help. Here a few quotes to illustrate what I mean:
His imploring eyes analyze my face before they narrow on me. “Why are you asking?” I offer him a sardonic smirk before lacing my tone with the perfect amount of malice.
(…)
My fingers dig into his forearm as the war between desire and loyalty rages within me, each trying to gain the upper hand. I’m not even sure which side will prevail, only that the battle is tearing me apart from the inside out. Ripping my soul to shreds until there’s nothing left.
(…)
My name is a plea on his lips. For concession. For reprieve. And it’s then I realize I’ll never be strong enough to withstand him. So I stop trying… and I crush my mouth to his.
You see what I mean? There’s an abundance of dramatic adjectives- looks and smiles are sardonic, dangerous, malicious, smouldering, hateful, pleading, melting, nostrils are flaring and venom is dripping.
Apparently, it’s not just enemies, but MORTAL enemies to lovers. The plot, you ask? Is about 2 college students who hooked up while drunk, only one of them (Holden) was so drunk that he completely blacked out and didn’t remember a thing. Reason enough for the other one (Phoenix) to take it personally and hate Holden’s guts, especially when his (codependent) best friend Kason starts a “situationship” with Holden.
We have prank wars, secret hate-makeout (which admittedly IS hot), all not exactly cheating because - lo and behold - Holden and Kason aren’t exclusive and are taking things slowly.
For most part of the book, I had trouble liking Phoenix and Holden (and Kason, who’s a bit too used to getting Phoenix to do everything he wants). But I thought Phoenix was a coward for not telling Kason what’s what, and his excuses for not telling him were flimsy at best. And don’t get me started on his behaviour during the 80% drama 🙄
Holden on the other hand redeemed himself a bit towards the end, but - seriously- the timing for his ‘grand gesture’ was probably the worst in history. During a game???? And afterwards in front of the entire team waiting in the bus? 🙄🙄🙄
Annnyway. Phoenix grovelling was too little, too late. Holden could have done better, maybe even with Kason who at least seemed genuine with his feelings.
3.5 stars, mainly for the steamy scenes and the audio, but rounded down because of the third act drama.
I swear to God, if the audiobook wouldn’t have been so well narrated, and I didn’t have to somehow keep me entertained during a longer train journey, I would have quit earlier.
Let me try and explain, especially as I know that plenty of you loved it.
The male characters are so very… melodramatic, for the lack of a better term. And getting their pov, their inner thoughts, doesn’t help. Here a few quotes to illustrate what I mean:
His imploring eyes analyze my face before they narrow on me. “Why are you asking?” I offer him a sardonic smirk before lacing my tone with the perfect amount of malice.
(…)
My fingers dig into his forearm as the war between desire and loyalty rages within me, each trying to gain the upper hand. I’m not even sure which side will prevail, only that the battle is tearing me apart from the inside out. Ripping my soul to shreds until there’s nothing left.
(…)
My name is a plea on his lips. For concession. For reprieve. And it’s then I realize I’ll never be strong enough to withstand him. So I stop trying… and I crush my mouth to his.
You see what I mean? There’s an abundance of dramatic adjectives- looks and smiles are sardonic, dangerous, malicious, smouldering, hateful, pleading, melting, nostrils are flaring and venom is dripping.
Apparently, it’s not just enemies, but MORTAL enemies to lovers. The plot, you ask? Is about 2 college students who hooked up while drunk, only one of them (Holden) was so drunk that he completely blacked out and didn’t remember a thing. Reason enough for the other one (Phoenix) to take it personally and hate Holden’s guts, especially when his (codependent) best friend Kason starts a “situationship” with Holden.
We have prank wars, secret hate-makeout (which admittedly IS hot), all not exactly cheating because - lo and behold - Holden and Kason aren’t exclusive and are taking things slowly.
For most part of the book, I had trouble liking Phoenix and Holden (and Kason, who’s a bit too used to getting Phoenix to do everything he wants). But I thought Phoenix was a coward for not telling Kason what’s what, and his excuses for not telling him were flimsy at best. And don’t get me started on his behaviour during the 80% drama 🙄
Holden on the other hand redeemed himself a bit towards the end, but - seriously- the timing for his ‘grand gesture’ was probably the worst in history. During a game???? And afterwards in front of the entire team waiting in the bus? 🙄🙄🙄
Annnyway. Phoenix grovelling was too little, too late. Holden could have done better, maybe even with Kason who at least seemed genuine with his feelings.
3.5 stars, mainly for the steamy scenes and the audio, but rounded down because of the third act drama.
August 11, 2023
it was okay🤷♀️
Read
August 11, 2023DNF @ 75% - loved Holden SO MUCH! Not into the events of the story. It’s your best friend, just communicate! I just don’t have the patience right now.
August 15, 2023
3.5 stars, maybe 3? idk.
i wanted to love this so bad because i LOVED iced out and the angsty part of the story was fine with me but there were so many other things i just couldn’t get down with.
holden and phoenix have a drunken one night stand that holden never remembers which leaves phoenix embarrassed and furious when holden sets his sights on nix’s best friend. this sparks a back and forth, prank war that straddles the line between fighting and flirting.
pros:
-the spice was hot
-i liked their banter and back and forth
-they did have a lot of chemistry and at the end, i did really like their relationship
cons:
-there was no explanation why this started with a BLACKOUT hookup, like no explanation of consent or any further thoughts
-the nix/kason friendship and fight didn’t make sense to me at all. it was too much drama trying to be packed into a >400 page book so their deep friendship was implied but never demonstrated, all of their fighting and arguments could have been done away with if nix had told kason ANYTHING, and it didn’t even make sense that kason was that invested in holden when they went on one date and maybe kissed once or twice?? i just wish he wasn’t an element of this story.
-the sl*t shaming of holden… i was WAITING for the moment when his friends and phoenix apologized for all the comments because i thought there had to be some resolution to the merciless comments and then there just wasn’t
-it just didn’t make a lot of sense. holden’s supposed to kinda be the villain for not remembering nix and going after his best friend but he was like the sweetest, golden retriever hero and nix was so mean at certain times.
i wanted to love this so bad because i LOVED iced out and the angsty part of the story was fine with me but there were so many other things i just couldn’t get down with.
holden and phoenix have a drunken one night stand that holden never remembers which leaves phoenix embarrassed and furious when holden sets his sights on nix’s best friend. this sparks a back and forth, prank war that straddles the line between fighting and flirting.
pros:
-the spice was hot
-i liked their banter and back and forth
-they did have a lot of chemistry and at the end, i did really like their relationship
cons:
-there was no explanation why this started with a BLACKOUT hookup, like no explanation of consent or any further thoughts
-the nix/kason friendship and fight didn’t make sense to me at all. it was too much drama trying to be packed into a >400 page book so their deep friendship was implied but never demonstrated, all of their fighting and arguments could have been done away with if nix had told kason ANYTHING, and it didn’t even make sense that kason was that invested in holden when they went on one date and maybe kissed once or twice?? i just wish he wasn’t an element of this story.
-the sl*t shaming of holden… i was WAITING for the moment when his friends and phoenix apologized for all the comments because i thought there had to be some resolution to the merciless comments and then there just wasn’t
-it just didn’t make a lot of sense. holden’s supposed to kinda be the villain for not remembering nix and going after his best friend but he was like the sweetest, golden retriever hero and nix was so mean at certain times.
December 22, 2023
I can’t believe i finally finished this 🥹
At the beginning of the book there’s a warning that this book might not be for everyone, and usually I’m game with whatever but the characters are so bad that at one point I wasn’t even rooting for them to be together.
The book revolves around phoenix and Holden who had a one night stand one night, but then Holden wakes up remembering nothing about the night before or with whom he spent it. Six months later (not acknowledging phoenix at all despite them having the same class) Holden starts flirting with phoenix’s best friend and showing interest in hooking up with him.
Phoenix was a horrible character, he judged his best friend for wanting to hook up with Holden when he was in the same position just a couple of months ago.
“You sat there judging me for even thinking about sleeping with Holden, yet here you are, doing exactly that. For months without saying a damn thing about it”
He was so adamant about breaking the two up when it wasn’t his place to decide who Kason should sleep with. As a best friend his role was telling Kason his opinion about Holden and why he thinks sleeping with him is a bad idea, and if Kason was still insistent on doing it, then you’d stay by his side and be there when he needs you.
Phoenix kept saying that all he did was coming from a place of concern and friendship more than anything else, but I didn’t feel that at all. All I felt was that Phoenix was hurt that Holden has been ignoring him and moved on to his best friend and he didn’t like that. Because if it was another asshole guy that didn’t have history with Phoenix, he would’ve talked Kason from hooking up with him yes, but wouldn’t have made all that effort of pranking and lying just to assure nothing happens between them.
And don’t let me start on the dubious consent scene, Phoenix thinks it’s a great idea to trick Holden in thinking that he’s Kason and starts kissing him and touching him intimately while Holden’s naked to cuff him to the bed and leaves him laying there. I don’t care that they didn’t acknowledge this as assault, or that Holden supposedly knew that it was Phoenix (because that’s complete bullshit) it’s still assault without consent, and then Phoenix has the audacity to tell Holden that he could go and tell kason what happened because Kason would never believe someone like Holden over his best friend. He didn’t just lie to his best friend and violated another person AND HE’S NOT EVEN ASHAMED. The scene made me so uncomfortable, and after that I couldn’t find it in myself to root for someone like Phoenix.
Not to mention the amount of lying Phoenix did in this book. He lied all the time, to everyone, including himself. Every time Kason confronted him about the situation they’re all in, Phoenix either lied or deflected. He was such a lying, deflecting, gaslighting, and manipulative character.
When Kason came and told him he’s starting to have feelings for Holden, what does Phoenix do?? He encourages him to act on it!! 🙂🤦🏻♀️
He encourages him to pursue a guy that HE KNOWS isn’t interested in his best friend WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FUCKING THE SAID GUY💀🤦🏻♀️
“It should be easy for him to talk to the guy he likes, especially about something like this. The one he’s supposed to be with will make him more comfortable, not less. But if either of those things come out of my mouth—no matter how true they might be—it will all feel tainted for my own personal gain. I have to be the supportive best friend here. It’s what he needs. So despite my better judgment, I paint a picture for him with half-truths.”
🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
He couldn’t admit his mistakes at all, and kept blaming everyone for whatever’s been happening. Even his own attraction towards Holden, he blamed Holden for making him wanting him, while at the same time he was so judgmental towards Holden’s sex life throughout the whole book. He kept calling him names and spewing judgmental comments every chance he got.
“You’d probably go find someone else to get off with in the meantime, right? Revert back to your slutty ways of one-night stands and meaningless sex?”
“we’ve already had sex. Twice, now. So I don’t see the need for another repeat, considering you’ve already stopped at this stone on your path to sleeping through half the student body before graduation”
❀ One of my live reactions at Kason and Phoenix’s confrontation ❀
He’s the most toxic gaslighting shitty person I’ve ever seen. You’ve been lying to him this whole time. When he asked you time after time if there was anything and now that he found out, ON HIS OWN MIGHT I ADD, you turn this and make it as if you didn’t tell him so HE WOULDN’T DESTROY YOUR HAPPINESS, AS IF IT WAS HIS FAULT THAT HE FELL FOR THE SAME GUY YOU ALSO FELL FOR?? AND EVEN WITHOUT KNOWING THAT YOU LOVE HIM!!
I’m also not saying that Kason is an angel of a friend, because their friendship dynamic wasn’t a healthy one with Phoenix doing everything Kason wants and not being able to say No, still not making Kason deserving to be lied to for months.
You could say I didn’t like any of the main characters.
Which is a shame since I’ve been excited to read this enemies to lovers, with a character that doesn’t commit to one person, I would’ve really enjoyed how Holden fell head over heels for Phoenix despite him not committing usually.
"Leighton U" series:
1- Iced Out - 3.5 ⭐
2- Caught Stealing - 1 ⭐
At the beginning of the book there’s a warning that this book might not be for everyone, and usually I’m game with whatever but the characters are so bad that at one point I wasn’t even rooting for them to be together.
The book revolves around phoenix and Holden who had a one night stand one night, but then Holden wakes up remembering nothing about the night before or with whom he spent it. Six months later (not acknowledging phoenix at all despite them having the same class) Holden starts flirting with phoenix’s best friend and showing interest in hooking up with him.
Phoenix was a horrible character, he judged his best friend for wanting to hook up with Holden when he was in the same position just a couple of months ago.
“You sat there judging me for even thinking about sleeping with Holden, yet here you are, doing exactly that. For months without saying a damn thing about it”
He was so adamant about breaking the two up when it wasn’t his place to decide who Kason should sleep with. As a best friend his role was telling Kason his opinion about Holden and why he thinks sleeping with him is a bad idea, and if Kason was still insistent on doing it, then you’d stay by his side and be there when he needs you.
Phoenix kept saying that all he did was coming from a place of concern and friendship more than anything else, but I didn’t feel that at all. All I felt was that Phoenix was hurt that Holden has been ignoring him and moved on to his best friend and he didn’t like that. Because if it was another asshole guy that didn’t have history with Phoenix, he would’ve talked Kason from hooking up with him yes, but wouldn’t have made all that effort of pranking and lying just to assure nothing happens between them.
And don’t let me start on the dubious consent scene, Phoenix thinks it’s a great idea to trick Holden in thinking that he’s Kason and starts kissing him and touching him intimately while Holden’s naked to cuff him to the bed and leaves him laying there. I don’t care that they didn’t acknowledge this as assault, or that Holden supposedly knew that it was Phoenix (because that’s complete bullshit) it’s still assault without consent, and then Phoenix has the audacity to tell Holden that he could go and tell kason what happened because Kason would never believe someone like Holden over his best friend. He didn’t just lie to his best friend and violated another person AND HE’S NOT EVEN ASHAMED. The scene made me so uncomfortable, and after that I couldn’t find it in myself to root for someone like Phoenix.
Not to mention the amount of lying Phoenix did in this book. He lied all the time, to everyone, including himself. Every time Kason confronted him about the situation they’re all in, Phoenix either lied or deflected. He was such a lying, deflecting, gaslighting, and manipulative character.
When Kason came and told him he’s starting to have feelings for Holden, what does Phoenix do?? He encourages him to act on it!! 🙂🤦🏻♀️
He encourages him to pursue a guy that HE KNOWS isn’t interested in his best friend WHILE AT THE SAME TIME FUCKING THE SAID GUY💀🤦🏻♀️
“It should be easy for him to talk to the guy he likes, especially about something like this. The one he’s supposed to be with will make him more comfortable, not less. But if either of those things come out of my mouth—no matter how true they might be—it will all feel tainted for my own personal gain. I have to be the supportive best friend here. It’s what he needs. So despite my better judgment, I paint a picture for him with half-truths.”
🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️
He couldn’t admit his mistakes at all, and kept blaming everyone for whatever’s been happening. Even his own attraction towards Holden, he blamed Holden for making him wanting him, while at the same time he was so judgmental towards Holden’s sex life throughout the whole book. He kept calling him names and spewing judgmental comments every chance he got.
“You’d probably go find someone else to get off with in the meantime, right? Revert back to your slutty ways of one-night stands and meaningless sex?”
“we’ve already had sex. Twice, now. So I don’t see the need for another repeat, considering you’ve already stopped at this stone on your path to sleeping through half the student body before graduation”
❀ One of my live reactions at Kason and Phoenix’s confrontation ❀
He’s the most toxic gaslighting shitty person I’ve ever seen. You’ve been lying to him this whole time. When he asked you time after time if there was anything and now that he found out, ON HIS OWN MIGHT I ADD, you turn this and make it as if you didn’t tell him so HE WOULDN’T DESTROY YOUR HAPPINESS, AS IF IT WAS HIS FAULT THAT HE FELL FOR THE SAME GUY YOU ALSO FELL FOR?? AND EVEN WITHOUT KNOWING THAT YOU LOVE HIM!!
I’m also not saying that Kason is an angel of a friend, because their friendship dynamic wasn’t a healthy one with Phoenix doing everything Kason wants and not being able to say No, still not making Kason deserving to be lied to for months.
You could say I didn’t like any of the main characters.
Which is a shame since I’ve been excited to read this enemies to lovers, with a character that doesn’t commit to one person, I would’ve really enjoyed how Holden fell head over heels for Phoenix despite him not committing usually.
"Leighton U" series:
1- Iced Out - 3.5 ⭐
2- Caught Stealing - 1 ⭐
August 15, 2023
I don’t even know why I attempted to finish this. Reading this was like being stranded in the middle of a lake with no life jacket. Energy/survival instincts strong at first, then the fatigue hits, then the boredom, then the maybe I should just stop treading water, then straight up drowning and inhaling water PAINFULLY!!
I FUCKING HATED THE WHOLE DONT TELL KASON PLOT SO MUCH!!!!! And that was the whole book!!! Whyyyyyyyyy? Phoenix and Kasen didn’t even feel like friends - the author completely neglected their relationship. The blowout at the end was absurd. All these characters are nuts and so unlikeable.
I felt guilty/second hand embarrassment for basically the entire second half of this book.
I FUCKING HATED THE WHOLE DONT TELL KASON PLOT SO MUCH!!!!! And that was the whole book!!! Whyyyyyyyyy? Phoenix and Kasen didn’t even feel like friends - the author completely neglected their relationship. The blowout at the end was absurd. All these characters are nuts and so unlikeable.
I felt guilty/second hand embarrassment for basically the entire second half of this book.
December 15, 2025
Тільки Холден витягнув цю книгу, через нього така оцінка.
Фелікс щось мене дуже сильно розчарував, вибирати між хлопцем і найкращим другом і вибрати друга🤦🏿♀️ ну супер.
Шкода Холдена в цій ситуації та і я так згадую це все, тільки він тягнувся до Фелікса а йому був важливий тільки Кейсон.
Фелікс щось мене дуже сильно розчарував, вибирати між хлопцем і найкращим другом і вибрати друга🤦🏿♀️ ну супер.
Шкода Холдена в цій ситуації та і я так згадую це все, тільки він тягнувся до Фелікса а йому був важливий тільки Кейсон.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2024
maybe spoils in this bc idk how bad im gonna start ranting? this is your wanting to proceed with caution lol
alright after a nap and sitting on it im going to go between 2.5-3 stars. which absolutely fucking kills me to say given that ce ricci is my favorite author 🥲
when she said this book wasnt going to be for everyone damn did i not think that was going to include myself lol.
the first 15% i had to keep telling myself “just keep going it’ll get better”, and it did get better after that. however there were little things sprinkled in the next 65% where i was also questioning the necessity of it being there, not much but some. and then back to the last 20 ish percent i was wanting to bash my head into a wall phoenix became SO unlikeable to me.
all three boys really got on my nerves during that first 15% i didnt see how any of them could be friends because in truth all of them were shit friends. kason and phoenix more so, holden just felt like an asshole for the sake of protecting himself kind of shit friend. eventually kason fell out of the story a bit interaction wise and then i really started to fall for phoenix and especially holden. seeing holden with charlotte was actually the turning point for me and made me really adore him.
even though it was driving me nuts that the boys (coughphoenixcough) were keeping things a secret for so long, the sneaking around and what not just like in iced out was super fun. the boys had such great chemistry and banter (one thing i know i can always count on in a ce ricci couple)
holden being the biggest golden retriever is honestly not what i had expected and i loved every god damn moment of his soft side coming out, this boy truly deserved the world and i think he got dealt a really shit hand. i dont think phoenix deserved him whatsoever. if you’ve read dont you dare think of how mad you were at Pen during the third act and magnify it by infinity and thats how youre going to feel about phoenix lol
this is of course not going to deter me from reading future CE books. i am really excited for kason and hayes book, unfortunately this just wasnt my book and thats okay!
alright after a nap and sitting on it im going to go between 2.5-3 stars. which absolutely fucking kills me to say given that ce ricci is my favorite author 🥲
when she said this book wasnt going to be for everyone damn did i not think that was going to include myself lol.
the first 15% i had to keep telling myself “just keep going it’ll get better”, and it did get better after that. however there were little things sprinkled in the next 65% where i was also questioning the necessity of it being there, not much but some. and then back to the last 20 ish percent i was wanting to bash my head into a wall phoenix became SO unlikeable to me.
all three boys really got on my nerves during that first 15% i didnt see how any of them could be friends because in truth all of them were shit friends. kason and phoenix more so, holden just felt like an asshole for the sake of protecting himself kind of shit friend. eventually kason fell out of the story a bit interaction wise and then i really started to fall for phoenix and especially holden. seeing holden with charlotte was actually the turning point for me and made me really adore him.
even though it was driving me nuts that the boys (coughphoenixcough) were keeping things a secret for so long, the sneaking around and what not just like in iced out was super fun. the boys had such great chemistry and banter (one thing i know i can always count on in a ce ricci couple)
holden being the biggest golden retriever is honestly not what i had expected and i loved every god damn moment of his soft side coming out, this boy truly deserved the world and i think he got dealt a really shit hand. i dont think phoenix deserved him whatsoever. if you’ve read dont you dare think of how mad you were at Pen during the third act and magnify it by infinity and thats how youre going to feel about phoenix lol
this is of course not going to deter me from reading future CE books. i am really excited for kason and hayes book, unfortunately this just wasnt my book and thats okay!
December 31, 2023
2.5⭐️ - yeah, this series is not for me. I’m not connecting with any of the characters. While the sex in this book is hot, I just never felt the emotional connection between Phoenix and Holden. Additionally, I was constantly waiting for Kason to find out…because this really was a love triangle. And it’s kind of the worst because Phoenix and Kason weren’t just best friends, they viewed each other as brothers.
Additionally, Phoenix has the emotional depth of a puddle. There was very little substance there. He was so damn emo. Which I suppose was his default setting because he came from a wealthy, stable and loving home. And yet he’s the one keeping secrets from Kason (I don’t care how embarrassed he was) and hiding stuff. Then he has the audacity to blame Kason for choices he (as in Phoenix) made when he had the opportunity to say no. There was no point where we were ever given the impression that Kason would bail on him. But there was also the fact that Phoenix was keeping Holden as a secret too. Holden may have been a fuckboy and strung Kason along for a minute but he didn’t deserve that.
The weird prank war between Phoenix and Holden with Kason as the unknowing victim in all of it felt gross. He had no clue that his best friend and his teammate/crush/guy he started to see romantically were trying to cock block each other at his expense (unintentionally but not any better) and then hooking up behind his back.
Ugh and the grand gesture on the anniversary of Holden’s parents death was so odd. Why not just have a private heart to heart where Phoenix offers to finally tell him???
At the end of this and really thinking about it, this book just didn’t make me feel good. I just feel sad for all of them. I don’t plan to continue this series.
This series lacks the emotional depth of her previous books. This all feels so surface level. And more about the characters hooking up than developing any real sense of connection.
Additionally, Phoenix has the emotional depth of a puddle. There was very little substance there. He was so damn emo. Which I suppose was his default setting because he came from a wealthy, stable and loving home. And yet he’s the one keeping secrets from Kason (I don’t care how embarrassed he was) and hiding stuff. Then he has the audacity to blame Kason for choices he (as in Phoenix) made when he had the opportunity to say no. There was no point where we were ever given the impression that Kason would bail on him. But there was also the fact that Phoenix was keeping Holden as a secret too. Holden may have been a fuckboy and strung Kason along for a minute but he didn’t deserve that.
The weird prank war between Phoenix and Holden with Kason as the unknowing victim in all of it felt gross. He had no clue that his best friend and his teammate/crush/guy he started to see romantically were trying to cock block each other at his expense (unintentionally but not any better) and then hooking up behind his back.
Ugh and the grand gesture on the anniversary of Holden’s parents death was so odd. Why not just have a private heart to heart where Phoenix offers to finally tell him???
At the end of this and really thinking about it, this book just didn’t make me feel good. I just feel sad for all of them. I don’t plan to continue this series.
This series lacks the emotional depth of her previous books. This all feels so surface level. And more about the characters hooking up than developing any real sense of connection.
August 9, 2023
"The darkness and the intoxication I’m feeling take over as every nerve ending in my body becomes overwhelmed by his touch. His taste and scent. My brain seems to be drowning in equal parts alcohol and him until it’s fully submerged in pure black."
C.E. Ricci's back with another absolute cracker in Caught Stealing, which is book two in her college sports romance Leighton U series, based around the school's ice-hockey/baseball/football teams and the players who share rooms on campus. This is Phoenix and Holden's story and it is another SMOKING HOT read!
Be prepared for some angsty times before we get the HEA these boys deserve.
Tropes:
🌶️hookups-enemies-lovers
🌶️best friend's (sort of) ex
🌶️opposites attract
🌶️football/baseball
🌶️all the chemistry
🌶️steamy AF
🌶️HEA
"He’s crawled under my skin, burrowed beneath the surface and made a home there. And while it was irritating at first, it’s gotten to the point where… I like him there. Want him there."
Loved every word!
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
C.E. Ricci's back with another absolute cracker in Caught Stealing, which is book two in her college sports romance Leighton U series, based around the school's ice-hockey/baseball/football teams and the players who share rooms on campus. This is Phoenix and Holden's story and it is another SMOKING HOT read!
Be prepared for some angsty times before we get the HEA these boys deserve.
Tropes:
🌶️hookups-enemies-lovers
🌶️best friend's (sort of) ex
🌶️opposites attract
🌶️football/baseball
🌶️all the chemistry
🌶️steamy AF
🌶️HEA
"He’s crawled under my skin, burrowed beneath the surface and made a home there. And while it was irritating at first, it’s gotten to the point where… I like him there. Want him there."
Loved every word!
5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Want to read
February 13, 2023Not sure why there's no blurb for this yet but per the end of Book 1 this is Holden's story ❤️
August 13, 2023
He had every chance to tell his Best Friend but didn't.
Fuck him
Fuck him
August 16, 2023
⭐️ 4 stars ⭐️
After reading mixed reviews, i was a little scared going into this but I actually ended up enjoying it.
College setting, sort of enemies-to-lovers and hot, totally unrealistic but extremely enjoyable all the same, smut.
The characters are kind of shitty to each other, but I found myself rooting for their relationship to work anyway. Guess that must just be C.E. Ricci magic — she just has a way of turning unlikable characters into people you want to empathize with and see them get their HEA.
Didn’t like it as much as Iced Out but still a solid fun read.
CW and tropes(spoilers):
- one night stand to enemies to lovers
- Best friend’s crush
- College setting
- Football player vs baseball player
- Strict top/bottom
- Frotting
POV: 1st person, dual
“I want you to drive me to the brink of insanity only to stop and let me return the favor.”
After reading mixed reviews, i was a little scared going into this but I actually ended up enjoying it.
College setting, sort of enemies-to-lovers and hot, totally unrealistic but extremely enjoyable all the same, smut.
I’m going to Hell for this. But fuck, the road to Hell has never tasted so sweet.
The characters are kind of shitty to each other, but I found myself rooting for their relationship to work anyway. Guess that must just be C.E. Ricci magic — she just has a way of turning unlikable characters into people you want to empathize with and see them get their HEA.
Didn’t like it as much as Iced Out but still a solid fun read.
CW and tropes(spoilers):
- one night stand to enemies to lovers
- Best friend’s crush
- College setting
- Football player vs baseball player
- Strict top/bottom
- Frotting
POV: 1st person, dual
September 10, 2023
Caught Stealing by CE Ricci is book 2 in the Leighton U series.
Once again, CE Ricci has done it! The Leighton U series is definitely one of my favorites. I can see that this book has the potential to be the black sheep of the series, given the dynamics between the characters, some of the choices they've made. It certainly won't appeal to all readers. Personally, it's exactly this aspect of the story that I loved.
What happened between Phoenix, Holden and Kason was messy and really painful to read at times. Phoenix definitely mishandled the situation even though he had good intentions, and in the end had to pay the price. I loved the fact that CE Ricci portrayed a very human reaction. Anyone can make mistakes and bad decisions, even fictional characters. The fact that she presented her characters as beings who aren't perfect, who have flaws, is something that makes me appreciate them even more.
Holden and Phoenix were exactly what I'd hoped for. There was fire between them from the start, since they were enemies of a sort. Their pranks to try and antagonize each other were hilarious, mixed with an intense sexual tension. When the relationship between the two began to develop, I was transported by the intensity of their desire, but also by the underlying emotions.
Holden was the biggest surprise for me. Beneath his fuckboy persona lay a young man with a golden heart, capable of showing vulnerability and loyalty. I love him to pieces.
I absolutely loved the end of Holden and Phoenix’s story. It was beautiful to see Phoenix's grand gesture and the way he finally let Holden know how he felt. I even loved the epilogue, which was perfectly Phoenix and Holden.
I can't wait for Kason's book, he’s so deserving of finally finding his HEA.
Once again, CE Ricci has done it! The Leighton U series is definitely one of my favorites. I can see that this book has the potential to be the black sheep of the series, given the dynamics between the characters, some of the choices they've made. It certainly won't appeal to all readers. Personally, it's exactly this aspect of the story that I loved.
What happened between Phoenix, Holden and Kason was messy and really painful to read at times. Phoenix definitely mishandled the situation even though he had good intentions, and in the end had to pay the price. I loved the fact that CE Ricci portrayed a very human reaction. Anyone can make mistakes and bad decisions, even fictional characters. The fact that she presented her characters as beings who aren't perfect, who have flaws, is something that makes me appreciate them even more.
Holden and Phoenix were exactly what I'd hoped for. There was fire between them from the start, since they were enemies of a sort. Their pranks to try and antagonize each other were hilarious, mixed with an intense sexual tension. When the relationship between the two began to develop, I was transported by the intensity of their desire, but also by the underlying emotions.
Holden was the biggest surprise for me. Beneath his fuckboy persona lay a young man with a golden heart, capable of showing vulnerability and loyalty. I love him to pieces.
I absolutely loved the end of Holden and Phoenix’s story. It was beautiful to see Phoenix's grand gesture and the way he finally let Holden know how he felt. I even loved the epilogue, which was perfectly Phoenix and Holden.
I can't wait for Kason's book, he’s so deserving of finally finding his HEA.
October 5, 2023
This is a long book and it took a long while for me to enjoy reading about one of the MCs, Phoenix, who was super bratty and whiny for about half the book. He eventually redeemed himself with me, but I couldn't understand what Holden saw in him other than his good looks. lol.
Overall, I liked this one as much as the first book in the series. It just took a long while (a whole year in the book!) to get to our HEA.
And after knocking the author for making the two guys in the first book versatile against the particular vibes of each character, here we get a dedicated top and a dedicated bottom. Definitely reflects the real world better!
Overall, I liked this one as much as the first book in the series. It just took a long while (a whole year in the book!) to get to our HEA.
And after knocking the author for making the two guys in the first book versatile against the particular vibes of each character, here we get a dedicated top and a dedicated bottom. Definitely reflects the real world better!
November 27, 2023
Dnf’d at 60%. I just can’t. I’m not a CE Ricci babe.
August 11, 2023
I loved Holden and Phoenix so so much! At this point I'd be sold on anything that C.E. Ricci brings out. I loved how this was a double sports romance, I really can't get enough of the trope, especially with the enemies-to-lovers tag! I loved the chemistry between the two, the banter and the escapades and the inevitable sweetness.
August 18, 2023
Holden and Phoenix have a one night stand, but Holden is so drunk he doesn’t remember the next morning. Six months later Holden is trying to get together with Phoenix’s best friend Kason. Phoenix tries to protect his best friend from Holden through a series of ‘pranks’.
The major problem for me came when Phoenix sexually assaults Holden.
Also, the way Holden and, particularly, Phoenix treat Kason is awful - there’s gaslighting, lying, manipulation, betrayal, and cheating (it is cheating despite all the excuses they make).
I’m so disappointed, it’s a horrible, toxic story with nasty main characters.
The major problem for me came when Phoenix sexually assaults Holden.
Also, the way Holden and, particularly, Phoenix treat Kason is awful - there’s gaslighting, lying, manipulation, betrayal, and cheating (it is cheating despite all the excuses they make).
I’m so disappointed, it’s a horrible, toxic story with nasty main characters.
August 14, 2023
On the Fence
I’m really on the fence about how I feel about this book. I really did like Phoenix and Holden, especially Holden. But I found the overall storyline to be pretty underwhelming.
I was not a fan of how Kason, Nix’s best friend seemed to be the main subject in this story, no matter if he was present of not. He was the main source of conflict and topic of discussion throughout this story. It became exhausting and redundant.
I really loved Nix and Holden once they got it together they were super cute, with amazing chemistry. But Kason was always a damn thorn in their relationship.
I’m really on the fence about how I feel about this book. I really did like Phoenix and Holden, especially Holden. But I found the overall storyline to be pretty underwhelming.
I was not a fan of how Kason, Nix’s best friend seemed to be the main subject in this story, no matter if he was present of not. He was the main source of conflict and topic of discussion throughout this story. It became exhausting and redundant.
I really loved Nix and Holden once they got it together they were super cute, with amazing chemistry. But Kason was always a damn thorn in their relationship.
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