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Shoot Your Shot
Roxie Nowak is a former basketball player, with a great job in tech and her own swanky place. She doesn't date, because what's the point? Men always want someone petite, pillowy, and pastel—everything that Roxie isn't—so she sticks to casual hookups, and life is good.
As a hot lawyer and a romantic to boot, Chris Dunn should have no trouble finding love. But a gaping hole at his center, left by childhood hurts, prevents him from having the type of relationship he seeks. He knew Roxie years ago, when her basketball career ended, and she inspired him to take the reins to his career.
When Chris moves back to town and into Roxie's building, their friendship and mutual attraction deepen. They finally give in with blinding intensity, unaware just how combustible the mix of her avoidance and his insecurity can be—until one vindictive ex-lover lights a match.
As a hot lawyer and a romantic to boot, Chris Dunn should have no trouble finding love. But a gaping hole at his center, left by childhood hurts, prevents him from having the type of relationship he seeks. He knew Roxie years ago, when her basketball career ended, and she inspired him to take the reins to his career.
When Chris moves back to town and into Roxie's building, their friendship and mutual attraction deepen. They finally give in with blinding intensity, unaware just how combustible the mix of her avoidance and his insecurity can be—until one vindictive ex-lover lights a match.
- GenresRomance
215 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 14, 2024
23 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Embers
3 books18 followersFiona Embers writes angsty, spicy romance about heroines who are too much and heroes who can't get enough. She lives with her family in the American Midwest and drives in the snow like a champ. Fiona also writes dark speculative fiction (horror, sci-fi, and fantasy) under the pen name Maura Yzmore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
June 22, 2025
What a quick but truly enjoyable read. I finished in one day. Having already read book 2 (which is more of a prequel to this story and is about Joe and Liz so check it out) I loved watching Roxie grow as a character. One thing this author does well is give her characters flaws that require some deep conversations to work through. In some cases there is great therapy representation. Roxie and Chris had some messed up parents to overcome and it made their struggles relatable. I really felt the connection each of these characters felt for each other. I also don’t really see the final conflict that Chris had with Roxie as nearly as difficult as it was portrayed but I get that there needed to be that space apart for Roxie to realize what she was feeling.
I highly recommend both books in this series.
I highly recommend both books in this series.
February 25, 2024
I really enjoyed this book because its different from other romance books! Both main characters had problems accepting love. Chris wasn't used to feeling loved. His parents didn't give him the time of the day and Roxie helped him cope with that. Roxie on the other hand didn't think she was worthy of love. She saw it as a waste of time and preferred friends with benefits. However, this miscommunication was bothering me. There were multiple times where a simple talk could have avoided everything, but it wasn't bad enough to affect my review. Also, I would not consider this a sports romance. Overall, it was a quick easy read and I enjoyed it for the most part and I definitely recommend.
July 27, 2024
I'm glad I decided to check this one out! It's not your ordinary contemporary romance. Both characters were also older than typical heroes/heroines (early thirties). Chris's just moved into Roxie's condo. Chris was Roxie's roommate's boyfriend in college. They quickly become best friends, but their friendship is punctuated by intense sexual attraction.
Chris wants something serious, but Roxie is only used to casual sex. Roxie should have been more upfront with him as she knew he didn't want anything casual. They should have talked about what they were. Of all people, they needed to put a label on it because they acted like best friends with benefits for most of the book.
The sex scenes were also hot and written in a sort of stream of conscious way, which was interesting.
I was under the impression that Roxie wasn't white, but I think she was. I liked how she wasn't stereotypically beautiful with her height and dark brown nipples.
This book did the friends-to-lovers trope so well for anyone looking for that.
This book is even more impressive considering it's the author's debut novel.
Thanks to BookSirens and Fiona Embers for the ARC!
Chris wants something serious, but Roxie is only used to casual sex. Roxie should have been more upfront with him as she knew he didn't want anything casual. They should have talked about what they were. Of all people, they needed to put a label on it because they acted like best friends with benefits for most of the book.
The sex scenes were also hot and written in a sort of stream of conscious way, which was interesting.
I was under the impression that Roxie wasn't white, but I think she was. I liked how she wasn't stereotypically beautiful with her height and dark brown nipples.
This book did the friends-to-lovers trope so well for anyone looking for that.
This book is even more impressive considering it's the author's debut novel.
Thanks to BookSirens and Fiona Embers for the ARC!
February 17, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t your normal boy and girl meet and we as readers go on a journey with them about how they end up getting together. This was more of a story around their past and their insecurities affecting how they define their relationship once they are together. They are both guarding their hearts because neither wants to get hurt.
Chris was a great MMC. He was respectful, considerate and a little dominant in the bedroom. Roxie is a strong, independent FMC who knows what she wants. Together they have great chemistry and there are quite a lot of open door spicy scenes between them (3 out 5 🌶️).
What I didn’t like is that everything seemed to be Chris’ fault when he was trying to be respectful and chivalrous. I would have liked to see Roxie take more ownership and accept that her conversations and lack of verbal signals were also to blame.
Overall a great read that I do recommend. However it’s worth noting basketball is very much in the background of this storyline so I wouldn’t say it’s a sports romance.
Thank you NetGalley, Fiona Embers and Evernight Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Chris was a great MMC. He was respectful, considerate and a little dominant in the bedroom. Roxie is a strong, independent FMC who knows what she wants. Together they have great chemistry and there are quite a lot of open door spicy scenes between them (3 out 5 🌶️).
What I didn’t like is that everything seemed to be Chris’ fault when he was trying to be respectful and chivalrous. I would have liked to see Roxie take more ownership and accept that her conversations and lack of verbal signals were also to blame.
Overall a great read that I do recommend. However it’s worth noting basketball is very much in the background of this storyline so I wouldn’t say it’s a sports romance.
Thank you NetGalley, Fiona Embers and Evernight Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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February 20, 2024
I loved that this book took place in Madison, WI. The references to things that I knew about made me feel connected to the story.
The angst angle of the book was a little too much for me - miscommunications/misunderstanding is definitely not my favorite trope.
The smut scenes were great!
The angst angle of the book was a little too much for me - miscommunications/misunderstanding is definitely not my favorite trope.
The smut scenes were great!
February 15, 2024
Spicy! I enjoyed the forced proximity between the two main characters, who knew each other before and suddenly lived in the same building years later. I think the author did an excellent job with their stories, and I was like invested in the outcome. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
February 4, 2024
A wonderful, spicy read with plenty of of steamy and romantic scenes. But what had me unable to put it down was how connected I was with the leads. Personal struggles and pain from their past (be it parental neglect or regrets about lost opportunities) feel real. Fiona Embers manages to strike a great balance for the two leads with alternating points of view. They make mistakes and have a lot of humanity that is often lacking in the romance genre.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
March 18, 2024
Roxie and Chris first have a “moment” in college, only to find out that he is dating her roommate, so they are kind of friends for a while. A decade later, Chris becomes Roxie’s neighbour and both realise the spark is truly well and alive. But with both having a lot of baggage to unpack, can they ever find a way to actually be together?
I absolutely adored this book. Although there is plenty of action, it is a very character driven, or character growth driven book and both the hero and heroine are very relatable in their imperfection. The two thirtysomethings think they have life all figured out but somehow have all these wretched insecurities that keep them from being truly happy. It is not a gloomy or overly angsty book though, the writing style is very realistic, just like normal adults would think and speak, very smooth and easy to read, which I really liked.
I initially picked the book by a completely new to me author entirely because of Roxie – she is smart and strong and kickass and how many tall girl books are there in romance? Not many, I tell you. And then her lifestyle - no one would bat an eye if it was a male character living like she does, but since she is a girl, the attitude is different. It is also refreshing to have a likeable hero who isn’t a black and white cartoon cutout – he is smart and manly but at the same time sweet and clueless and can lash out and make stupid mistakes and it was like a rollercoaster ride observing the path he had to travel to figure himself out.
It's a very steamy book and I absolutely loved these scenes, they were just beautiful. We are alternately in one or the other character’s head (and that is exactly how it felt!) and their inner voices jump from describing the physical to emotional to analytical in almost the stream of consciousness style, which was fresh and different from the usual.
To sum up, it’s a great steamy romance that made me feel a lot and think about a lot of issues and above all, root for the two loveable dummies to get to their happy ending.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I absolutely adored this book. Although there is plenty of action, it is a very character driven, or character growth driven book and both the hero and heroine are very relatable in their imperfection. The two thirtysomethings think they have life all figured out but somehow have all these wretched insecurities that keep them from being truly happy. It is not a gloomy or overly angsty book though, the writing style is very realistic, just like normal adults would think and speak, very smooth and easy to read, which I really liked.
I initially picked the book by a completely new to me author entirely because of Roxie – she is smart and strong and kickass and how many tall girl books are there in romance? Not many, I tell you. And then her lifestyle - no one would bat an eye if it was a male character living like she does, but since she is a girl, the attitude is different. It is also refreshing to have a likeable hero who isn’t a black and white cartoon cutout – he is smart and manly but at the same time sweet and clueless and can lash out and make stupid mistakes and it was like a rollercoaster ride observing the path he had to travel to figure himself out.
It's a very steamy book and I absolutely loved these scenes, they were just beautiful. We are alternately in one or the other character’s head (and that is exactly how it felt!) and their inner voices jump from describing the physical to emotional to analytical in almost the stream of consciousness style, which was fresh and different from the usual.
To sum up, it’s a great steamy romance that made me feel a lot and think about a lot of issues and above all, root for the two loveable dummies to get to their happy ending.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 1, 2025
4.5 stars, 3 spice.
I enjoyed this one and reading about Roxie opening up and being open to more. I wish it was a little longer! I could have read a few more chapters about both Roxie and Chris working through their own personal shit in order to be together.
I enjoyed this one and reading about Roxie opening up and being open to more. I wish it was a little longer! I could have read a few more chapters about both Roxie and Chris working through their own personal shit in order to be together.
March 4, 2024
Shoot Your Shot
By Fiona Embers
If you’re looking for something spicy I recommend Shoot Your Shot! 🥵Heat Level 6 🍆
Chris MMC believes in love and relationships but Roxie’s FMC is his polar opposite. Moving back to Madison taking a job with the University. His building is the same as Roxie’s and that’s where they reconnect.
I enjoyed that that they didn’t just meet fall in love and live HEA . Their's took a while to form any kind of friendship and or relationship. Roxie’s having trust issues causing all kind of mix signals hurting people in the process. Don't forget Chris’s story is one for the books. 😉 Between these two off and on doesn’t cover what’s in store for them.
In my opinion Roxie should have been held accountable for more of her actions. This my only qualm
I would recommend anyone to read this she did a fantastic job. I can’t wait for the next story in the series.
Thank you Evernight Publishing NetGalley for this ARC
-sub genres: erotic romance; sports romance
-Content Warning:sex and profanity
-Tropes:friends to lover’s, second chance’s, friends ex’s boyfriend, forced proximity
-categories: general fiction (adult), romance, erotica
Shoot Your Shot:
https://www.netgalley.com/.
catalog/book/321012
Pub Date: 14 Mar 2024
Archive Date: 10 Mar 2024
By Fiona Embers
If you’re looking for something spicy I recommend Shoot Your Shot! 🥵Heat Level 6 🍆
Chris MMC believes in love and relationships but Roxie’s FMC is his polar opposite. Moving back to Madison taking a job with the University. His building is the same as Roxie’s and that’s where they reconnect.
I enjoyed that that they didn’t just meet fall in love and live HEA . Their's took a while to form any kind of friendship and or relationship. Roxie’s having trust issues causing all kind of mix signals hurting people in the process. Don't forget Chris’s story is one for the books. 😉 Between these two off and on doesn’t cover what’s in store for them.
In my opinion Roxie should have been held accountable for more of her actions. This my only qualm
I would recommend anyone to read this she did a fantastic job. I can’t wait for the next story in the series.
Thank you Evernight Publishing NetGalley for this ARC
-sub genres: erotic romance; sports romance
-Content Warning:sex and profanity
-Tropes:friends to lover’s, second chance’s, friends ex’s boyfriend, forced proximity
-categories: general fiction (adult), romance, erotica
Shoot Your Shot:
https://www.netgalley.com/.
catalog/book/321012
Pub Date: 14 Mar 2024
Archive Date: 10 Mar 2024
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2024
Shoot Your Shot is a sports romance novel by Fiona Embers. It is a spicy feel good story.
Roxie Nowak is a former college basketball player, who was forced to quit basketball after a career ending injury.
Chris Dunn is her hot new neighbor, and a blast from her past.
The two quickly reunite and a friendship grows. As their friendship develops, a mutual attraction grows.
Soon, they are left to decide whether they will Shoot their shot, or leave the court empty.
I really enjoyed this book! Sports romances are my favorite, and I loved that this had the female main character as the athlete!
I loved that the characters were well developed and had strong personalities.
Definitely was super spicy, but it only made me love it more!
Cannot wait to read more by this author!
Roxie Nowak is a former college basketball player, who was forced to quit basketball after a career ending injury.
Chris Dunn is her hot new neighbor, and a blast from her past.
The two quickly reunite and a friendship grows. As their friendship develops, a mutual attraction grows.
Soon, they are left to decide whether they will Shoot their shot, or leave the court empty.
I really enjoyed this book! Sports romances are my favorite, and I loved that this had the female main character as the athlete!
I loved that the characters were well developed and had strong personalities.
Definitely was super spicy, but it only made me love it more!
Cannot wait to read more by this author!
March 9, 2024
Roxie and Chris knew each other at college, he was going out with her roommate. He was attracted to her then but didn't act on the attraction, he thought she didn't like him.
Now he's bought a flat on the same floor as hers, they hang out together but stay friends. Both have difficult family relationships which means they aren't able to work out their relationship without causing each other a lot of pain.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A great read from Fiona
Now he's bought a flat on the same floor as hers, they hang out together but stay friends. Both have difficult family relationships which means they aren't able to work out their relationship without causing each other a lot of pain.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A great read from Fiona
May 8, 2024
Ms. Embers dedicates her book "to tall girls everywhere". As a tall, Midwesterner myself, I could relate to many things in this book. High heels are out for me, not just because I am taller than my dates, but there is no way in hell I can walk in them. Amish furniture is beautiful and a must in my opinion. And knowing how to drive in snow is mandatory.
Roxie Nowak and Chris Dunn both have their own issues regarding accepting love. Roxie would rather keep relationships casual with no strings because nobody wants her, and everybody leaves anyway. Chris has never really felt loved by his distant parents, which left him feeling unlovable. This created a bit of miscommunication between them, which I found frustrating. A simple conversation could have cleared things up and avoided unnecessary misunderstandings.
I enjoyed how this story played out. Though the angst could have been prevented, Chris and Roxie compliment each other. Chris is a really good guy who needs to speak up for himself. He's kind and considerate and pleasantly surprised Roxie with his dominance in the bedroom. Roxie is outspoken and independent and knows what she wants in life. What I like most about them is how protective they are of each other especially when confronting their dysfunctional families. The chemistry between Roxie and Chris is on fire and the sex scenes are HOT!
Joe and Liz are the ideal couple and fantastic friends who give honest advice and loving support to both protagonists bringing depth to the story.
If you're looking for a heartfelt and spicy romance with relatable characters and probably the most in-depth lessons on pleasuring someone I've ever read (yum!), I would definitely recommend giving this book a try. It's an entertaining read that will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling by the end.
Thank you to Ms. Embers for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Roxie Nowak and Chris Dunn both have their own issues regarding accepting love. Roxie would rather keep relationships casual with no strings because nobody wants her, and everybody leaves anyway. Chris has never really felt loved by his distant parents, which left him feeling unlovable. This created a bit of miscommunication between them, which I found frustrating. A simple conversation could have cleared things up and avoided unnecessary misunderstandings.
I enjoyed how this story played out. Though the angst could have been prevented, Chris and Roxie compliment each other. Chris is a really good guy who needs to speak up for himself. He's kind and considerate and pleasantly surprised Roxie with his dominance in the bedroom. Roxie is outspoken and independent and knows what she wants in life. What I like most about them is how protective they are of each other especially when confronting their dysfunctional families. The chemistry between Roxie and Chris is on fire and the sex scenes are HOT!
Joe and Liz are the ideal couple and fantastic friends who give honest advice and loving support to both protagonists bringing depth to the story.
If you're looking for a heartfelt and spicy romance with relatable characters and probably the most in-depth lessons on pleasuring someone I've ever read (yum!), I would definitely recommend giving this book a try. It's an entertaining read that will leave you with a warm and fuzzy feeling by the end.
Thank you to Ms. Embers for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
February 14, 2024
This was an interesting read for me. I had thought it was going to be more sports focused, but basketball was really just a backdrop to the story. This is all about the path that the two MCs need to take to get past their insecurities and hang-ups. It is told as a dual POV and there is a lot of inner monologue throughout.
I really liked both Roxie and Chris, but admittedly, their insecurities made me feel quite sad, Roxie in particular. She is such a strong character and I love that she embraces her sensual self yet sad that she is not willing to give anything more than her physical self to her partners.
Chris and Roxie’s chemistry is undeniable and once they get together the scenes are explicit and intense. But there is also a lot of angst for them to work through to finally reach their HEA. This was not quite a 4 star read for me, but more than a 3 so I’m rounding up to a 4.
I received an free advance review copy from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really liked both Roxie and Chris, but admittedly, their insecurities made me feel quite sad, Roxie in particular. She is such a strong character and I love that she embraces her sensual self yet sad that she is not willing to give anything more than her physical self to her partners.
Chris and Roxie’s chemistry is undeniable and once they get together the scenes are explicit and intense. But there is also a lot of angst for them to work through to finally reach their HEA. This was not quite a 4 star read for me, but more than a 3 so I’m rounding up to a 4.
I received an free advance review copy from the author and am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 3, 2024
#NetGalley #ShootYourShot
I love this slow burn friends to lovers the author wrote with the main characters. The main characters are two people who struggle with coming to terms with finding love. Roxie is former basketball player who uses casual sex to fill the void of not being what men want (shorter, smaller women.) And Chris is a man who grew up mostly neglected by his rich parents. Overall, I enjoyed the small town romance and the characters relationship throughout the book.
I love this slow burn friends to lovers the author wrote with the main characters. The main characters are two people who struggle with coming to terms with finding love. Roxie is former basketball player who uses casual sex to fill the void of not being what men want (shorter, smaller women.) And Chris is a man who grew up mostly neglected by his rich parents. Overall, I enjoyed the small town romance and the characters relationship throughout the book.
March 6, 2024
I really liked this book! The characters had great chemistry, and the progression of their relationship also was paced well. Can't wait to read the next one!
March 15, 2024
Pub Day Review!
If you’re looking for a book with friends-to-lovers, open-door sex and embracing of female pleasure, snatch this one up 🔥 If open-door sex scenes and expletives put you off, this one won’t be for you.
On the plot: once acquaintances in college, reconnected years later as neighbors, this dual POV follows Roxie & Chris through a series of fits and starts after Chris moves back to Madison, WI for work into a condo a few doors down from Roxie, to a HEA while blazing a trail of steamy encounters along the way.
On the FMC: Roxie is a smart, fierce character who is the FMC we all want to root for. Independent and a former D1 athlete, Roxie is both protective of her heart and knows exactly what she wants in a partner… when it comes to pleasure. She has a whole host of issues stemming from a career-ending injury in college and family dynamics that play out over a holiday. Roxie has a hard time with trust and relationships, which is understandable.
Towards the end of the book with the third-act break up, Roxie spirals into calling herself a tramp. It doesn’t work for me to on one hand embrace her female sexuality and on the other have her dive into self-deprecating, misogynistic words. That was disappointing.
This is not a character issue, rather an author-choice that I disagreed with: Roxie is not encouraged to work out her personal shit with a therapist, while Chris is.
On the MMC: Chris did not feel as well developed as Roxie. We get a lot more depth with Roxie with her job, her cats, her wants and needs. Chris doesn’t get as much interiority, except for what he is thinking and feeling about Roxie and their relationship, until much later in the book when he is out to a work lunch (and even then, his interiority is focused around Roxie).
He’s got his own share of baggage from family dynamics. His relationship with his parents on page wasn’t what I expected from his early discussions with Roxie about them. (He mostly talked about his dad, where the big issue was actually with his mom.) While it seemed like he should be the more capable at communicating based on their early interactions, he fumbles repeatedly with Roxie.
On the relationship: It builds well and reads naturally, leaning into the friends-to-lovers trope. Roxie and Chris both bring trust and relationship struggles to the table. While Chris (correctly, IMHO) gets professional support for his, Roxie gets a talking to by BF Liz. Not sure that’s fair, as she has her own host of things [details left out for you to read on your own] for which she could probably also use therapy. I expected the third act breakup to be Roxie, not an altered version of Chris’s initial fuck up.
On the supporting characters: there is a whole host of characters who round out the story and support the plot & character arcs well.
All in all I enjoyed the book!
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
All opinions are my own. Many thanks to Fiona Embers and Evernight Publishing for the ARC.
If you’re looking for a book with friends-to-lovers, open-door sex and embracing of female pleasure, snatch this one up 🔥 If open-door sex scenes and expletives put you off, this one won’t be for you.
On the plot: once acquaintances in college, reconnected years later as neighbors, this dual POV follows Roxie & Chris through a series of fits and starts after Chris moves back to Madison, WI for work into a condo a few doors down from Roxie, to a HEA while blazing a trail of steamy encounters along the way.
On the FMC: Roxie is a smart, fierce character who is the FMC we all want to root for. Independent and a former D1 athlete, Roxie is both protective of her heart and knows exactly what she wants in a partner… when it comes to pleasure. She has a whole host of issues stemming from a career-ending injury in college and family dynamics that play out over a holiday. Roxie has a hard time with trust and relationships, which is understandable.
Towards the end of the book with the third-act break up, Roxie spirals into calling herself a tramp. It doesn’t work for me to on one hand embrace her female sexuality and on the other have her dive into self-deprecating, misogynistic words. That was disappointing.
This is not a character issue, rather an author-choice that I disagreed with: Roxie is not encouraged to work out her personal shit with a therapist, while Chris is.
On the MMC: Chris did not feel as well developed as Roxie. We get a lot more depth with Roxie with her job, her cats, her wants and needs. Chris doesn’t get as much interiority, except for what he is thinking and feeling about Roxie and their relationship, until much later in the book when he is out to a work lunch (and even then, his interiority is focused around Roxie).
He’s got his own share of baggage from family dynamics. His relationship with his parents on page wasn’t what I expected from his early discussions with Roxie about them. (He mostly talked about his dad, where the big issue was actually with his mom.) While it seemed like he should be the more capable at communicating based on their early interactions, he fumbles repeatedly with Roxie.
On the relationship: It builds well and reads naturally, leaning into the friends-to-lovers trope. Roxie and Chris both bring trust and relationship struggles to the table. While Chris (correctly, IMHO) gets professional support for his, Roxie gets a talking to by BF Liz. Not sure that’s fair, as she has her own host of things [details left out for you to read on your own] for which she could probably also use therapy. I expected the third act breakup to be Roxie, not an altered version of Chris’s initial fuck up.
On the supporting characters: there is a whole host of characters who round out the story and support the plot & character arcs well.
All in all I enjoyed the book!
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
All opinions are my own. Many thanks to Fiona Embers and Evernight Publishing for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2025
Honestly … 😈😈😈😈
I am so happy Roxie got her happy ending even if Chris has a lot of SHIT to work out and JIZZIE BABIES 🥺 oh I’m so happy for each and every one of these characters 🥹🥹🥹
Since reading soft rebound on net galley I’ve genuinely been invested in the whole series 💔 plz miss Fiona Hurry with the 3rd I NEED MORE
Spicy, sexy, angsty 😮💨😮💨😮💨EVERYTHING a good slow burn romance needs 😮💨🥹
I can’t wait for book 3
I am so happy Roxie got her happy ending even if Chris has a lot of SHIT to work out and JIZZIE BABIES 🥺 oh I’m so happy for each and every one of these characters 🥹🥹🥹
Since reading soft rebound on net galley I’ve genuinely been invested in the whole series 💔 plz miss Fiona Hurry with the 3rd I NEED MORE
Spicy, sexy, angsty 😮💨😮💨😮💨EVERYTHING a good slow burn romance needs 😮💨🥹
I can’t wait for book 3
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2024
Enjoyable, well written story. I liked that the characters work on themselves and aren't pushovers in the relationship. They're supportive and truly care which is great to see. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 13, 2024
Not my usual book genre but this was a good read. I felt like I needed more back story on both the leads. Enjoyed the funny moments and the back and forth. Strong female lead was a nice touch. Still worth the time to read. I received an ARC and review with no compensation.
March 17, 2024
Spicy and authentic
This is not the typical kind of book I review so fair warning to my more gentle friends and relatives who follow--there's a number of vivid sexy times scenes in this book. 😉
Any character who names their feline overlords after Greek mythos is someone I can get behind.
I particularly liked that the characters in this both had baggage. It is expected in romance that there will be issues to overcome but I appreciated that it came from both sides. It made the characters feel complex and authentic.
I liked that Roxie wasn't hampered by a Puritanical view of sex and pushed back when that kind of one-sided morality was foisted upon her.
Both characters had well-drawn intimacy issues, but their arcs were resolved both naturally and in a way I felt satisfied with the HEA. Definitely a fun read and despite the cover and title, you don't need to know that much about sportsball to enjoy.
This is not the typical kind of book I review so fair warning to my more gentle friends and relatives who follow--there's a number of vivid sexy times scenes in this book. 😉
Any character who names their feline overlords after Greek mythos is someone I can get behind.
I particularly liked that the characters in this both had baggage. It is expected in romance that there will be issues to overcome but I appreciated that it came from both sides. It made the characters feel complex and authentic.
I liked that Roxie wasn't hampered by a Puritanical view of sex and pushed back when that kind of one-sided morality was foisted upon her.
Both characters had well-drawn intimacy issues, but their arcs were resolved both naturally and in a way I felt satisfied with the HEA. Definitely a fun read and despite the cover and title, you don't need to know that much about sportsball to enjoy.
March 14, 2024
He was her college roommate's ex-boyfriend. They connected again when he moved back after 10 years away. They developed a great friendship, however they started grappling with their feelings for each other, not wanting to ruin their newly established friendship, but also feeling more. This development is also impacted by their individual hang-ups as a result of their respective childhood challenges.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a good length, it was humerous, and hot. I loved their text exchanges, the various nicknames and the cats are awesome.
I also liked how Roxie and Chris were "normal" ie Chris wasn't a Billionaire, there was no massive age gap between them and Roxie had hang ups about her height, feeling that she wasn't what men wanted (former Basketball player) - the story seemed more based on real life than many of the books I typically read - (though I am not knocking all the Billionaire, age gap, mafia etc tropes, I love those too) - this book just made a nice change.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Fiona Embers.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed this book, it was a good length, it was humerous, and hot. I loved their text exchanges, the various nicknames and the cats are awesome.
I also liked how Roxie and Chris were "normal" ie Chris wasn't a Billionaire, there was no massive age gap between them and Roxie had hang ups about her height, feeling that she wasn't what men wanted (former Basketball player) - the story seemed more based on real life than many of the books I typically read - (though I am not knocking all the Billionaire, age gap, mafia etc tropes, I love those too) - this book just made a nice change.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Fiona Embers.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 11, 2024
I wanna thank netgalley for this ARC in exhange of an honest review. And I also wanna thank the author for this copy of the book:
It was a good book but I had a problem with it. Their whole relationship seemed one sided to me, at least until the very end and still it was in a limbo. Chris loved her so much, wanted to be with her so much and she didn't seem like it. You could see she liked him and wanted to be with him but I just didn't feel the love she had for him, it all seemed lust and friendship. And when they broke up (both times, the first one wasn't really a break up but it's easier to say it like this) it was always his fault, and it was but it wasn't completely, she had at least 20% of the fault too. It irritated me that he was the only one blamed for everything when she messed up too. He did a very bad thing the second time, trust me I am not in any way excusing him, he deserved her cold shoulder, but I feel like the whole situation and all the build up it wasn't just his fault. And I hated when they kissed for the first time and he freak out because of their friendship (he didn't want to lose her, I felt like his reasoning was pretty solid and reasonable) and what does she do? Half an hour later, she was sleeping with another guy. That's a horrible thing to do and it was just brushed off. He deserved to be angry and hurt by that. If he had been the one to do it, everyone would be calling him names and saying he was the one in the wrong, but because it was the woman, he was the one in the wrong. Like the h*ll?! I know they weren't dating and were just friends, but come on. Who does that, seriously? I am not slut shamming her, far from it, she can sleep with however she wanted, but the second they kissed, I am sorry, but all bets are off. Maybe it's me but I don't think that something you do to a person you like. I don't know, I feel like he loved her much more than she loved him, for me the feelings she had were like and lust and he deserved better than that. But yeah, overall it was a good book, I just wanted to see some more effort from her and her owning to her part of the break up too
It was a good book but I had a problem with it. Their whole relationship seemed one sided to me, at least until the very end and still it was in a limbo. Chris loved her so much, wanted to be with her so much and she didn't seem like it. You could see she liked him and wanted to be with him but I just didn't feel the love she had for him, it all seemed lust and friendship. And when they broke up (both times, the first one wasn't really a break up but it's easier to say it like this) it was always his fault, and it was but it wasn't completely, she had at least 20% of the fault too. It irritated me that he was the only one blamed for everything when she messed up too. He did a very bad thing the second time, trust me I am not in any way excusing him, he deserved her cold shoulder, but I feel like the whole situation and all the build up it wasn't just his fault. And I hated when they kissed for the first time and he freak out because of their friendship (he didn't want to lose her, I felt like his reasoning was pretty solid and reasonable) and what does she do? Half an hour later, she was sleeping with another guy. That's a horrible thing to do and it was just brushed off. He deserved to be angry and hurt by that. If he had been the one to do it, everyone would be calling him names and saying he was the one in the wrong, but because it was the woman, he was the one in the wrong. Like the h*ll?! I know they weren't dating and were just friends, but come on. Who does that, seriously? I am not slut shamming her, far from it, she can sleep with however she wanted, but the second they kissed, I am sorry, but all bets are off. Maybe it's me but I don't think that something you do to a person you like. I don't know, I feel like he loved her much more than she loved him, for me the feelings she had were like and lust and he deserved better than that. But yeah, overall it was a good book, I just wanted to see some more effort from her and her owning to her part of the break up too
April 17, 2024
This is a fast read with a lot of bumps in the road and turns as Roxie lets down her guard and Chris puts himself out there.
Roxie and Chris have a hot chemistry that slowly burns down the walls they have built around their hearts.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Roxie and Chris have a hot chemistry that slowly burns down the walls they have built around their hearts.
I received a free copy of this book via Evernight and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 21, 2024
My Thoughts: wellll I knew this was going to be steamy but oh my word.. this was something else.
We’re following Roxie, she was a college basketball player until she got injured and all her dreams were shattered..
I loved that both main characters in this book were flawed, they both had trouble accepting love for their own reasons… Roxie has friends with benefits and just doesn’t get attached & Chris just keeps himself to himself, so you’d think the 2 of them getting together would be a complete disaster but let me tell you now it really wasn’t!
There were several times in the book that made me swoon, I thought that they would finally communicate their feelings towards each other that we could clearly see building, then something would happen and it would all come crashing down again. At times I wanted to bang my head against the wall, but in a way it left me more invested in the story!
A lot of sensitive issues were dealt with in this book but were done so well that it had me feeling all sorts of emotions.
This is the first time I’ve read a book by Fiona Embers but it definitely won’t be the last.
We’re following Roxie, she was a college basketball player until she got injured and all her dreams were shattered..
I loved that both main characters in this book were flawed, they both had trouble accepting love for their own reasons… Roxie has friends with benefits and just doesn’t get attached & Chris just keeps himself to himself, so you’d think the 2 of them getting together would be a complete disaster but let me tell you now it really wasn’t!
There were several times in the book that made me swoon, I thought that they would finally communicate their feelings towards each other that we could clearly see building, then something would happen and it would all come crashing down again. At times I wanted to bang my head against the wall, but in a way it left me more invested in the story!
A lot of sensitive issues were dealt with in this book but were done so well that it had me feeling all sorts of emotions.
This is the first time I’ve read a book by Fiona Embers but it definitely won’t be the last.
February 9, 2024
This was a fun little read. I could almost give it 4 stars, but some of the story lines seem jumpy and disjointed, so I can’t round up to 4. But it’s a solid 3.5.
I really liked the relatable MMC and FMC, their damage felt genuine and realistic. The relationship is cute and the friends ex, second chance-ish, forced proximity tropes that the story flirts with keeps it endearing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I really liked the relatable MMC and FMC, their damage felt genuine and realistic. The relationship is cute and the friends ex, second chance-ish, forced proximity tropes that the story flirts with keeps it endearing.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 3, 2024
3.5 Review to come at All About Romance
March 14, 2024
OMG 😱 this book was a fantastic. It was a steamy page turner and the suspense was incredible intense. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t even imagine of put it down. It was addicted. As the chemistry and physical attraction between was sizzling and spicy of hotness. This romance was like a rollercoaster ride of sexual tension. I definitely recommend this book and you won’t be disappointed. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Trina Jones
March 10, 2024
I did not enjoy this book. The writing is good. Well edited so that's a plus and why I'm giving a 3. Story itself was pretty boring with quite a lot of sex. I would have preferred if the sex between the FMC and the other guys were not described in such detail. Takes the romance out of the book for me. I understand why her having sex with others on page was needed for us to know who she was but there was no need for it to be so detailed.
OK unto our FMC and MMC. Their inner monologues were so tiresome to me. Grown adults who cannot decide what they want. Maybe I just prefer a slightly more 'alpha' guy because Chris just didn't do it for me as a romantic lead. He read more like a teenage girl to me, unfortunately. And Roxie, jeesh. Woman has issues but for some reason, she was always blaming Chris for everything wrong with their relationship. At the beginning of their relationship, she had an inner monologue where she was basically telling herself that no one liked her etc but this was never explored again by the author. Finally we had the guy start therapy but not the woman even though, in my opinion, she had more to do with their 3rd act breakup than him. Of course he was insecure about her referring to him as friend/neighbour to every single person meanwhile her ex fuck buddy is filling his head with nonsense. She doesn't, however, take any responsibility for this. Instead she blames the guy for hurting her and being an asshole. He even mentioned how her referring to him in such casual terms to others made him feel but she never acknowledges this. Instead he had to grovel while she kept shunning him. I don't know if I will ever read any of the other books in the series or any other books by the author. I don't like the way she tells a story. If she worked on that, she'd be good because she already has the grammar part down.
I got an arc of the book but my review is unbiased.
OK unto our FMC and MMC. Their inner monologues were so tiresome to me. Grown adults who cannot decide what they want. Maybe I just prefer a slightly more 'alpha' guy because Chris just didn't do it for me as a romantic lead. He read more like a teenage girl to me, unfortunately. And Roxie, jeesh. Woman has issues but for some reason, she was always blaming Chris for everything wrong with their relationship. At the beginning of their relationship, she had an inner monologue where she was basically telling herself that no one liked her etc but this was never explored again by the author. Finally we had the guy start therapy but not the woman even though, in my opinion, she had more to do with their 3rd act breakup than him. Of course he was insecure about her referring to him as friend/neighbour to every single person meanwhile her ex fuck buddy is filling his head with nonsense. She doesn't, however, take any responsibility for this. Instead she blames the guy for hurting her and being an asshole. He even mentioned how her referring to him in such casual terms to others made him feel but she never acknowledges this. Instead he had to grovel while she kept shunning him. I don't know if I will ever read any of the other books in the series or any other books by the author. I don't like the way she tells a story. If she worked on that, she'd be good because she already has the grammar part down.
I got an arc of the book but my review is unbiased.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 22, 2024
This is a fun read, with great dialogue and characters who grow on you and you root for success together. I sided with Roxie on many things, and although Chris makes some good points that many readers will identify with, he really blew it on a couple of occasions. I caught myself saying out loud, “Come on man, don’t do that!” Many of the scenes are steamy and will get your blood flowing, that is if you’re human, but I never felt they were over the top or gratuitous. Finally, I liked the Midwest setting where most of the book takes place, in particular Wisconsin (MW books seem to focus on Ohio), and Embers nailed the snotty, elitist mother with no pulse that you’ll find in 90% of the homes in wealthy parts of San Diego. Well done all the way around. Highly recommended five-star read for romance readers and anyone who wants to add a little spice to their reading diet.
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