False Start

Red Zone Rivals #5

by Kandi Steiner

Kyle Robbins: Seattle's rookie tight end and the first boy to break my heart.
Oh, did I mention he's also my new client... and fake boyfriend?

I thought I left Kyle and our complicated past behind me, but when he saunters up as my new client at a house showing, I’m quickly reminded how much he still haunts me.

I try to walk away, but the stubborn jerk isn’t having it. In fact, he doubles down on working with me, as if our tragic history doesn’t exist at all.

The commission from working with him is the key to a new life for me and my son. It’s worth putting up with the cocky athlete long enough to find him a house. But when Kyle sees the bruises left by my darling ex-husband, he thinks he can save me — and suddenly, he’s interested in much more than just being a client.

Before I know it, I’m wrangled into a scheme so crazy it just might work. Kyle pretends to be my fake boyfriend so he can keep my ex in line until I get the commission from this house sale and get the hell out of Seattle for good.

But with a past as thick with chemistry and tension as ours is, it’s not long before those fake touches feel all too real. Every brush of his hand against my back has me spinning back to that night. Every kiss has me dizzy with the love I felt at eighteen. And every day that passes without me finding him a house has me wondering how much longer I can survive this game we’re playing.

Fake-dating each other was supposed to be for my safety.

But I can't help thinking my heart is more at risk now than ever before.

________________________________________________


TROPES:
Sports Romance
Fake Dating
Second Chance
Single Mom
He Falls First
"Who Hurt You"
One Bed

Genres: Sports Romance, Second Chance, Fake Dating, Romance, Sports, Football, Second Chance Romance

ebook

Published June 7, 2024

About the author

Kandi Steiner is a USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author living in Tennessee. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.

An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”

She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a hopeless romantic and found herself bursting at the seams with love stories she was eager to tell.

When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, spending quality time with her family (fur babies included) and soaking up the sweetness of life.

CONNECT WITH KANDI:
➜ NEWSLETTER: kandisteiner.com/newsletter
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kandisteiner
➜ FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland): facebook.com/groups/kandilandks
➜ INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/kandisteiner
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorkandisteiner
➜ PINTEREST: pinterest.com/authorkandisteiner
➜ WEBSITE: www.kandisteiner.com
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ www.kandisteiner.com/events

Reviews

[Noa · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He'd been impossible to resist. And I'd paid the price for falling."

Kyle Robbins.
NBU graduate and Seattle's rookie tight end.
But football isn't the only hit he will be getting this season.
What he did not expect was to see the girl who broke his heart.
The girl he can't stop thinking about.
And with a kid no less.
But Kyle isn't letting her go so easily this time.
He will do anything and everything for her. To protect her.
Even fake dating her…
But will the past ever really be fake?

"If anyone in this world could make me crazy, it was this girl."

Madelyn Hearst.
Not Hearst anymore, luckily.
Real estate agent in Seattle. Single Mom.
Oh and Kyle Robbins new girlfriend. Well, fake girlfriend.
Kyle Robbins.
The boy who broke her heart. The boy from her past.
And the man who vows to protect her from her ex-husband.
Fake dating is the solution.
But will the chemistry and tension ever be fake?

"Because I had a feeling I'd have no trouble at all pretending Madelyn was really mine."

I received an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.
"Red Zone Rivals" has been with me since the beginning of my reading journey and this book healed part of my soul. I did not stop crying throughout this book. All the feelings and I could not put it down. I have been waiting for Kyle's book for so long and Kandi Steiner served us this amazing masterpiece. Kyle and Madelyn are absolutely phenomenal to read and devour!! And the NBU family in this book!! I WAS SOBBING!!!
Side Note - the Clay and Giana scenes that we are getting served with in this book was everything. Seeing everyone and the quips and scenes and banter!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

"Nothing felt fake about her being here with me."

"Mine. Always mine, Mads."

Kyle and Madelyn's backstory in this book is just… WOW. Going through their story, their betrayal, the reconnection is an emotional rollercoaster to say the least.
Kyle Robbins has been a crucial part (in my opinion) in the "Red Zone Rivals" series and to see him finally get his own book is EVERYTHING. And this book was just perfect for him.
And Madelyn. The introduction of her (I mean the first line alone and I was already sold). Her relationship with her son, with Kyle, with everything going on around her. This book touched every part of my heart and I cannot recommend reading it enough. I went through like 2 boxed of tissues from all the emotions people!!
Kyle and Madelyn and just perfect. That's all I can say because not enough words can do them justice 💗💗

"I want to protect you - whether you need it or not."

This playlist turned out full of T. Swift songs and honestly Kyle Robbins is Taylor Swift coded in my mind and I love that for us 🥰🥰

(Link - https://spotify.link/6NKOEpRX2Jb )

🎵 "Act My Age" - One Direction
🎵 "favorite crime" - Olivia Rodrigo
🎵 "What Was I Made For?" - Billie Eilish
🎵 "So High School" - Taylor Swift
🎵 "Fallout" - Marianas Trench
🎵 "Treat You Better" - Shawn Mendes
🎵 "Silence" - Marshmello, Khalid
🎵 "Architect" - Livingston
🎵 "Miss Americana & The Heartbreak Prince" - Taylor Swift
🎵 "Wish You Were Sober" - Conan Gray
🎵 "parents" - YUNGBLUD
🎵 "ocean eyes" - Billie Eilish
🎵 "Make A Move" - Icon For Hire
🎵 "Home" - Good Neighbours
🎵 "nameless" - Stevie Howie
🎵 "The Exit" - Conan Gray
🎵 "They Don't Know About Us" - One Direction
🎵 "Growing Sideways" - Noah Kahan
🎵 "Mother's Daughter" - Miley Cyrus
🎵 "Espresso" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎵 "imgonnagetyouback" - Taylor Swift
🎵 "WOW - Remix" - Zara Larsson, Sabrina Carpenter
🎵 "Always Been You" - Shawn Mendes
🎵 "Too Sweet" - Hozier
🎵 "you broke me first" - Tate McRae
🎵 "Dazed & Confused" - Ruel
🎵 "Family Line" - Conan Gray
🎵 "NICE THINGS" - JORDY
🎵 "prison for life" - Olivia Rodrigo
🎵 "BUTTERFLIES" - MAX, Ali Gatie
🎵 "Love Story (Taylor's Version)" - Taylor Swift
🎵 "Slow Hands" - Niall Horan
🎵 "Electricity" - Ashley Jana
🎵 "How You Get The Girl (Taylor's Version)" - Taylor Swift
🎵 "Hands To Myself" - Selena Gomez
🎵 "So Fresh, So Clean" - Outkast
🎵 "Never Say Never" - The Fray
🎵 "Biblical" - Calum Scott
🎵 "Call Out My Name" - The Weeknd
🎵 "To My Knees" - Two Feet
🎵 "I Wanna Be Yours" - Arctic Monkeys
🎵 "Teenage Dream" - Katy Perry
🎵 "Carry You Home" - Alex Warren
🎵 "I Like Me Better" - Lauv
🎵 "Love Situation (911) - Sped Up" - Blanks
🎵 "Should've Been Us" - Tori Kelly
🎵 "broken" - Jonah Kagen
🎵 "fOoL fOr YoU" - ZAYN
🎵 "Better Man" - 5 Seconds of Summer
🎵 "I Want It All (Slowed Down)" - Cameron Grey
🎵 "Harder To Breathe" - Maroon 5
🎵 "That's My Girl" - Russ
🎵 "Like I Can " - Sam Smith
🎵 "Lay All Your Love On Me" - Zara Larsson
🎵 "Drop Dead Gorgeous" - VOILA
🎵 "Nonsense" - Sabrina Carpenter
🎵 "Save Your Tears - Remix" - The Weeknd, Ariana Grande
🎵 "doomsday" - Lizzy McAlpine
🎵 "I Want It All" - Bonnie McKee
🎵 "New Year's Day" - Minnz Piano
🎵 "Beautiful Things" - Benson Boone
🎵 "Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis
🎵 "Belong Together" - Mark Ambor
🎵 "More" - Halsey
🎵 "Glad You Exist - Acoustic" - Dan + Shay
🎵 "Strings" - Shawn Mendes
🎵 "Beggin'" - Maneskin
🎵 "Ruin My Life" - Zara Larsson
🎵 "I Was Made For Lovin' You" - YUNGBLUD
🎵 "Perfect" - One Direction
🎵 "Those Eyes" - New West
🎵 "But Daddy I Love Him" - Taylor Swift
🎵 "Let Me Love You" - Mario
🎵 "Style (Taylor's Version)" - Taylor Swift
🎵 "Stay With Me" - Sam Smith
🎵 "Thinking Out Loud" - Ed Sheeran
🎵 "Forever and a Day" - Benson Boone
🎵 "Spectrum" - Florence + The Machine
🎵 "Movement" - Hozier
🎵 "dancing in the kitchen" - LANY
🎵 "Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)" - USHER
🎵 "Infinity" - Jaymes Young

And also, Kyle Robbins… well let's just say that guy knows what he's doing 😏🌶️✨

"I love how you take it, how you take all of me."

"You love feeling every inch of me, don't you? Naughty fucking girl."

"Ride me, Madelyn. Let me see you wild and undone and taking what you want."

🏈 Tropes 🏈

🖊️ Second Chance Romance
🖊️ Sports Romance (Football)
🖊️ Fake Dating
🖊️ Single Mom
🖊️ He Falls First

Book Edit - https://www.instagram.com/p/C7ooDWroo...

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

Oh I how I love a good redemption arc! Kyle Robbins was that character I loved to hate from the first time I met him. With each book in the ‘Red Zone Rivals’ series I liked him more and more. And finally, we got his book… I couldn't have loved this one more. False Start is my new favorite of the series.

“I had a feeling I'd have no trouble at all pretending Madelyn was really mine."

Kyle and Madelyn dated in high school and haven’t seen each other since. Things ended in a complicated way with them, and now Kyle is a rookie for Seattle’s NFL team and Madelyn is the real estate agent showing him a house.

Kyle needs a date to a wedding and Madelyn is having issues with her ex-husband so what’s better than fake dating?! I had so much fun watching these two fall in love again. And Mad’s son, Sebastian. Oh my goodness. He and Kyle together- it had me smiling so big. I adored them.

I’m obsessed with this series as a whole and this book in particular. Sigh. I loved it so much. It has so many of my favorite troupes- sports romance, second chance, single parent, fake dating, he falls first… It’s seriously so good! If you’re looking for a romance with emotion and fun this is a must-read!

Audio book source: Book Funnel
Story Rating: 5 stars
Narrators: Wesley Mercer & Heather Schroeder
Narration Rating: 5 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 10h 51m

[EmBibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

It’s been a while, so here’s a sports romance to hopefully get me back into reading.

The beginning was so enjoyable and fun, I enjoyed their romance, however, it kinda dragged for a while and was too fast paced. Overall I really like the series and this was an enjoyable read.

[siff ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

✰ 2 stars
⤿ december 18 - 21, 2024, 📱

reading this book felt like running a marathon. you’re exited at first, and 10 minutes in you’re regretting your life choices, and halfway through you’re wondering what on earth led you here, and then you just want it to be over.

[Larissa Cambusano · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh this was GOOOOOODDDD!!!!

[megan ◡̈ · Rating 5 out of 5]

kandi steiner aka the queen of taking the vast majorities least fav tropes (theres a major miscommunication) and making a gut wrenching fucking masterpiece out of it 😩

step aside the rest of the red zone rivals men bc kyle robbins is THAT mf man. i was absolutely obsessed with him from the start lol. i loved his cocky little shit attitude bc i could see right through it from the start. i loved that mads and her sassy self for not taking his shit either.

this book was un put downable. i binge listened and read along to it completely entranced by kyle, mads and sebastian 🥹

i really enjoyed how you got to see recurring appearances of all of our previous RZR couples, i loved seeing where all of them were at in their lives and the way they took mads in and made her feel like family immediately, along with the heart to heart kyle so clearly needed 😭

books like this are the reason second chance romances is one of my absolute favorite tropes!! i say it with each new book of hers but this is seriously my favorite of Kandi’s. i dont know how she manages to surpass just how phenomenal her previous book was but she does every damn time and i absolutely cannot wait for everyone else to fall in love with these two the way i did!!

[kelsie · Rating 2 out of 5]

lacked depth, dragged, and also miss girl wouldn’t know what birth control was even if it hit her in the face

[Dul · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞.”


💌; Tropes

•Fake dating
•Second chance
•Single mom

They were dating a long time ago, but now he is an up-and-coming football star and she is an estate agent who suddenly has him as a client. Now they find themselves pretending to have a relationship so that he can protect her from her ex.

This book was what I needed to become addicted to reading books with the single father/single mother theme. This book has one of the tropes that I love the most and it's a good book with second chances.

The story of Kyle and Madelyn seemed very sweet to me because they were characters I liked from the first pages, but the development that the author gave them individually and as a couple was one of the things I loved most about this book. I think the writing of this book was quite entertaining to the point that I couldn't put down my kindle until I finished it.

Kyle is the standard and such a lovely bloke with a great personality, but Madelyn is simply charming and has a pure charisma that makes me want to hug them both. It was definitely a very emotional book to read about the part where they manage to understand their emotions and develop them in the best possible way.

I literally cried with every line from this couple.

"I don't give a flying fuck if this was planned or not. You just... you just made me the happiest fucking man in the world."

KNOWING THE CONTEXT OF THIS SITUATION MADE ME SQUEAL.

"I will protect you. I will love you. I will never leave you again. You are mine."

THIS BLOKE IS THE SWEETEST.

The relationship between Sebastian and Kyle was one of the most precious things I read. If there's something I like about single father/single mother books, it's the moments they have with the kids.

I'm so chuffed to have been able to read this book before it was published and if you love sports romance, this could be your next read.

Thanks to Valentine PR and Kandi Steiner for the ARC.

[Kealyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

False Start by Kandi Steiner

5/5 stars

False Start is my second book by Kandi Steiner and I am absolutely sold on her writing style. My lord that woman knows how to write likeable characters with tons of sizzling chemistry.

False Start is the story of Kyle and Madelyn. Madelyn recently got divorced and is a realtor. She is trying to sell a mansion and with the high commission she will get from it she will be able to move away with her son. Her ex is mentally and physically abusive. And she wants a new and fresh start with her son Sebastian. 
But when her client arrives she sees that it is Kyle. A man whom she loved fiercely as a teen. A man who hurt her and left her heart in pieces. 

Kyle is just as shocked. And the anger flares up when he sees her. Because this is the woman who didn't choose him and left him alone. But he is still drawn to her. And he easily falls back into a pattern to tease her and is trying to get a rise out of her. 

And when he spots bruises and her arm he instantly and instinctively does the one thing he can do to protect her. Which forces them to spend a lot more time together. And neither of them can contain the raw and powerful emotions that rise up between them. 

Man, I love this book so much! There is a certain scene in a hotel room where he spots her in the bathroom. My oh my, you definitely WANT to read that! 
And I love how easily Kyle accepts Sebastian. Their bond in this book was one of my favorites. My heart beats for the two of them. 

His friends are amazing. And I love how open and loving the girls are towards Madelyn. 

Pain and trauma are woven throughout this story. But it's also so uplifting, beautiful and healing. Kandi truly has a gift for writing. And I cannot wait to read more of her work. 

5 enormous stars from me for this amazing romantic contemporary book!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️/5✨️ 3/5🌶

Happy Release Day to Kyle and Mads💕🏈

Kandi wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to our old friends, as she gave us a peek into the group's lives after college with Kyle and Mads story. They reaffirmed my admiration for second-chance romances. Their story felt like a movie that was full of love, so many tears, joy, forgiveness, fortitude, family, friendships, and the story of two people who are the epitome of soulmates.

Mads and Kyle's: These two we meet as teenagers as the lines are crossed between them. They experience all those greats of first love together, but what they share becomes complex, which leaves them with some big gaping wounds and questions between them. Now, years later, they are reconnected, as Mads is now a real estate agent. When she discovers her new client is none other than Kyle Robbins, now known as the Ahole football rookie. Mads needs this commission; this is her and her son's fresh start off the heels of a horrible divorce. As Kyle and Mads find they each need a shoulder, Kyle comes to the rescue as he comes up for Mads and him to fake date. When one weekend with one bed alters everything as what was fake turns very real. Fate shows their hand and how one summer can be forever as these three build a family together.

Kyle and Mads became one of my favorite couples, I felt so strongly for these two; they reminded me of Lily and Atlas in ways, but they are all their own. Kyle Robbins—this man just left me in awe. He's had his set of hardships. He's the man who picked up the pieces for Mads; he never once backed down & never faltered in the love, compassion, and fight he had. Madelyn is saucy, strong, and so brave, There are so many women like Mads who have been alone for so long that she truly shows the power of a mother's love as she regains her life back. 

Kandi is truly the queen of sports romance, as she gave a story showing full circle the power of healing, new beginnings, and what was always meant to be. As well as how each couple was incorporated. I won’t spoil anything, but the moments of friendship were perfection. This is going down as one of my top reads of the year. I truly can't wait to see what Kandi does next. 

Thank you to Kandi for the ARC 💕

[Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant] · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️ This felt like if internalized misogyny tried to have a baby with a romcom, and it came out half-ass and feet first.

Full RTC, but Kyle Robbins read like those men that can't wait to say they're feminist only as an excuse for women to shut up and do whatever he wants.

[koko kingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST. REDEMPTION. ARC. EVER!!!

Kandi!!!! WHAT!?!??

I’ll be so real rn. I thought Kyle was an absolute DICK in the first three books. Yeah, he was less dick-ish in Hail Mary, but this??? Kandi. YOU MADE ME LOVE HIM. I have never wanted to apologize to a character more for judging them without knowing their whole story. OMG!

I’m literally crying from that epilogue as I’m writing this. Kyle Robbins really stole my heart. I have never seen character development like that. I remember when it was announced that Hail Mary would be the final book in the RZR series and I was sad because I was hoping that Kyle would get a book and we’d get a different side of the seemingly asshole jock, AND THIS DID NOT DISAPPOINT. This is literally one of my favorite books of the year, and I won’t be shutting up about it any time soon.

MADELYN. MY STRONG QUEEN. YOU ARE EVERYTHING I WANT TO BE. Such an amazing mother, so strong and resilient, and she’s literally just a girl boss slay queen in every sense of the phrase lol. She is so inspirational and I think her story was such an important one to share with the world.

This book really blew me away!!! I’ve always loved this series, and I’m so glad we got to see all the other RZR babies. This book just felt so IMPORTANT. I really can’t think of a better word to overall encompass how I feel about it. It felt so different than the other books, but also still pulled in everything I loved from them.

KANDI, YOU ARE AMAZING, OUTSTANDING, AND IDK HOW YOU DO WHAT YOU DO, BUT I HOPE YOU DO IT FOREVER.

[abby :) · Rating 1 out of 5]

i don’t even know what to rate this book because it’s so insanely ridiculous. all this book did was piss me off. no part of the pacing made any sense and i felt absolutely zero chemistry between kyle and madelyn. all i felt between them was a weird ass original age gap. like why were we trying to make their romance cute in the beginning when it was weird. the whole past situation was just annoying and not thought out enough. i’m so over romance books having no point and being boring. i liked the characters but not together and not in the romance. they were lovely people when you ignored their stupidly fast relationship. if i was sebastian i would need some severe therapy for the amount of change i dealt with in all of 6 months, not even.

there’s a low chance that i read the other book that will be released in this series even though it was supposed to be over already… can we let it end maybe ????

[Paige (on and off) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be able to read this and interact with Kandi as it was written on Kindle Vella/Patreon 🥺

This book is apart of the Red Zone Rivals series and we get to see all of our faves again: Gianni, Clay, Holden, Julep, Mary, Leo, Zeke, Riley and Kyle!!

You guys are not ready for Kyle Robbins' book 🥵

Tropes:

✔️ Fake dating
✔️ Second chance
✔️ Single mum
✔️ Pro football romance
✔️ He Falls First
✔️ "Who Hurt You"

I can't wait to see the final version and I will do a full review on release 😝

[meg ☾ ⋆｡˚ ☁︎ ˚｡⋆｡☆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

i don’t know why i said i was enjoying this because i didn’t

[bookss_addict · Rating 5 out of 5]

this series has my heart 🩷

[Giota (the reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you know that feeling when you read a book in a series you love so much, with characters that are close to your heart and it feels like coming home?
This book was exactly this!
We finally get Kyle’s book, college is over and Kyle is not how he used to be…
It was always obvious that there was something in his past that made him the way he was and in this book we found out why! It’s an abusive childhood and a girl who broke his heart and broke him in the process…
Now 9 years later, their paths meet again when he’s a rookie in the NFL with so much money he doesn’t know what to do with it and her, Madelyn, his realtor, single mom, with bruises on her body and a total of 4 outfits for her job…
It quickly becomes clear that both had been lied to 9 years ago which lead to a devastating loss for both, but so much more for Madelyn who carried the burden of the world on her shoulders 💔😭.
Men like Kyle should be the norm in this world, a man who cares and loves so deeply, it made my chest hurt 🥹.
There’s a scene when they have the “talk” about what happened 9 years ago that had me sobbing into my pillow at 2:30 AM 🤣.
And as if I couldn’t have loved Mads and Kyle’s story enough, we got PLENTY of Red Zone Rivals couples appearances 🤩.
This book was romantic and filled with all the angst of a second chance story as well as the beauty of true friendships and found family, it was a JOY 👌🏻🥹.

Thank you to Kandi Steiner and her team for the eARC 🫶🏻💜

[m · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 could have ate if the plot wasn’t moving at the speed of light, and the miscommunication could’ve been dragged more tbh

[seher · Rating 3 out of 5]

↬ review: 3 stars ☾ ❦
this one started like a banger, but it took me nearly a week to finish it, which is extremely unusual for me. i don't know if i was just in a reading slump, but it didn't quite deliver what i was hoping for.

the red zone rivals series is so special to me because it was the first sports romance series i've ever read, and i love my beautiful found family. the start of this book was immaculate. i devoured the first 40% and enjoyed every page.

i don't know what happened afterwards. there was no plot, and the story dragged on for too long. i expected a bit of enemies to lovers and tension, but the characters fell back in love and reconciled quickly, and the rest of the story felt like a huge epilogue.

there were still a lot of aspects i absolutely loved. my found family was as present as ever, and i loved to read more about my core characters. i also loved the dramatic and heartbreaking past of the main characters, but that's it.

after that, there was nothing special about the story. and i was bored out of my mind. this book was a little disappointing, but i chose to focus on the good parts. at least, i was able to see more of the other couples and their lives.

[goesbyaf ୨୧⋆ ˚｡⋆]

— DNF @23% ✰

- Second Chance
- Single Mom
- Fake Dating
- He Falls First
- Sports Romance
-"Who Hurt You"

Madelyn James is a real estate agent whose newest client happens to be Kyle Robbin. NFL player, boy who broke her heart. They start fake dating when Kyle does not want to show up in a wedding alone, and might help Madelyn let her abusive ex back off. This book has a lot of subplots I like, but the execution fell flat, first of all, they first date when they are teens, so this is a second chance romance, which isn't my fav, especially that they dated when he was 15 and she was like 17, it was VERY obvious the reason they broke up was from the beginning, since I didn't finish the book I can't say how the rest went, but the characters were meh, the writing was meh, the plots were meh, and second chance with no angst ??? NO THANK YOU, NEXT.

[ᥫ᭡. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Cute read.
Had my fave tropes but it just felt rushed. I wanted more build up to the relationship and everything else.

[manda ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

I'm gonna give this book a four stars on the dot because I loved every single trope in this book lol, like every single one. And the way the book was written was pretty different from what I normally see in a romance because it was written in what I would describe as "phases" of their relationship and I actually really enjoyed it because the book didn't end where books normally end and instead the book carries on to create another "phase" of their life that we get to see. I don't know if that's gonna make sense but it will once you read it LMAO.

the storyline
In a condensed version of the storyline, the main characters Kyle (H) and Madelyn (h), have essentially been each other's "the one that got away" for years and years. Their relationship first began in their teenage years up until something tears them apart and years later, they both harbor some hurt from how things ended between them. But when Kyle and Madelyn run into each other a long time later (where their story begins again) its pretty obvious that Kyle—even when he "resents" her—he can't help his teenage and buried feelings resurfacing towards her. AND IT WAS SO SWEET. And Madelyn is stuck in a hard place with her son, and having to navigate co-parenting with her abusive ex husband living across the street. And soon enough, when her husbands blows up threatening to sue for full custody over her son, Kyle proposes a marriage to help Madelyn appear more financially stable, and overall secure enough to prove she is fit to keep her son.

Honestly, that's as much as I can/want to say because I don't want to spoil the book. But one thing I want to mention is how I love how the book doesn't prolong the mystery as to why Kyle and Madelyn have misguided beliefs on why their relationship ended and the characters actually resolve this—not at the end of the book, and instead leaving room for readers to focus on the other aspects and storyline of the book with how Kyle and Madelyn navigate their life together with Madelyn's situation and with a son in the picture that Kyle so easily claims as his. Because nothing annoys me more than overly dragged out storylines.

I wish though we got to see more of Kyle and Sebastian's (the son), relationship development and more intimate moments between the two of them together because the book has time jumps and in those time jumps its just briefly mentioned and up to the readers to deduce that Kyle and Sebastian have had lots of bonding together off page that I think would've been valuable to see on page! But the ones we did have I still really thought was sweet, especially in Kyle's inner monologues about his feelings with Sebastian.

tropes
➣ single parent
➣ second chance/the one that got away
➣ one bed
➣ fake dating
➣ sports romance

[The Love Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This just might be one of my favorites from Kandi! Definitely my favorite in the series.

If you’ve read the other books in the series, you know Kyle Robbins is that teammate everyone loves and hates at the same time. He was only concerned about himself, social media and keeping himself relevant on his way to making an NFL team. Well now that he’s entering his rookie season, Kyle has a blast from the past in the form of Madelyn, his friend and lover from high school.

This book was so perfect in explaining why Kyle was the way he was, and why he’d never fallen for another woman after how things ended with him and Madelyn. Now a single mom and dealing with an abusive ex/father of her child, Madelyn has also grown in the years since she last saw Kyle. They may have hated each other, but once they realize what truly happened all those years ago, these two aren’t letting go of their second chance at love and a beautiful life together.

I appreciated the research and care the author took when it came to domestic abuse and its effects on all involved. Both Kyle and Madelyn had been hurt in the worst ways possible, and showed their strength in healing and taking their power back. Watching them become a family was so fulfilling and they deserved their happiness.

Of course, Kyle and Madelyn’s chemistry was HOT. They may have used the fake dating aspect to help each other out, but it’s clear that the physical side of their relationship wasn’t fake at all.

I gushed every time we had scenes with the NBU crew. Seeing their relationships and families grow is the best part about the found family trope. Now I’m ready for Braden’s book!!

[Ruth♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madelyn es divorciada y tiene un hijo, lo que más quiere es poder tener suficiente dinero para llevarse a su hijo y no estar cerca del padre por eso cuando aparece la oportunidad de vender una casa que le dará una gran comisión no duda en aceptar, pero cuando se encuentra con su cliente es nada menos que su primer amor Kyle, alguien que le rompió el corazón hace años, pero tiene que soportar los recuerdos que le traen estar con él por el bien de ella y su hijo, pero Kyle le hará una propuesta demasiado buena que no podrá rechazar pero eso solo les traerá recuerdos y dolores del pasado.

Yo pensaba que está serie se había terminado y la autora nunca nos daría este libro pero aquí estamos, Kyle es un personaje que durante los otros libros tiene un desarrollo ya que primero se presenta como el "malo" de la historia e imbecil pero vemos cómo se va integrando en el grupo y se vuelven su familia, aquí en esta historia vemos cómo todos a pesar de ya no estar juntos como en la universidad siguen siendo familia y como se apoyan, la historia romántica es muy bonita, la verdad fue muy bonito ver cómo después de tantos años estos dos seguían queriéndose, algo que si quiero recalcar es que todo ocurre rápido, no es corto el libros pero pasan por muchas cosas muy rápido, incluso es algo que ellos mismos dicen mucho, no pueden creer lo rápido que va su relación peroo la verdad no me molestó, sentía que se conocían muy bien, aunque si me hubiera gustado mas momentos de ellos cuando recién se conocieron, ver cómo se vuelven una familia con el hijo de Madelyn 😻 me encantó, el niño sale bastante y me encantó.

El drama de la separación cuando eran jóvenes se me hizo muy de novela pero conociendo a la autora venía venir algo así 🫣 lo que si me sorprendió es que en los libros anteriores venía usando una fórmula de separar un rato a los protagonistas al final y aquí no pasa eso, me gustó muchoo que cambió eso y en lugar de tener un problema que los separa es un problema que enfrentan juntos 🫶🏻

[Mayssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually, I despise second chance romances when the guy has been a big hoe. However, this one I actually didn’t mind, and that's significant coming from me, someone who will happily give a book 1 star or happily dnf if it involves this trope. Before you think, "He wasn’t celibate, so I’m not going to read this," let me explain why his past didn’t bother me in this case

1. Despite his past, there was zero other women drama No one tried to flirt with him, and he never purposely made Madelyn jealous. As soon as she came back into his life, he was 100% committed to her.
2. When they broke up, Kyle was only 16. He was young and dealing with an abusive father who bashed him at any chance he got, while trying to get over his heartbreak, thinking Madelyn didn’t want to see him anymore. I don't blame him for living his college life.
3. Madelyn moved on too. We don’t know how many men she slept with before or after her ex-husband because the book doesn’t detail that period. By the timeline, I assume she’s roughly 26/27 meaning she got pregnant at 19 or 20. So, during the year or two she was single, she could have been intimate with others besides her ex-husband also the years after she divorced her ex-husband which we don’t know how many years but I assume they’ve been divorced for a while as she got a job 5 years previous to leave him. It was said how she went clubbing and dancing before meeting her ex-husband where she had sex with him there so ima assume she was also intimate with other people during her being single those years
4.the mmc never loved anyone or gotton into a relo besides the fmc however the fmc loved someone else had his baby then married him, he did end up being a abusive prick that I wanted to stab him in the eye but she still moved on
5. They haven’t seen each other in 9 years
6.no cheating

In second chance romances, there's usually a scene where the fmc and the mmc get in bed together, and the FMC often says something like, "I haven't been with someone in a while." Or often the fmc inner thoughts worrying about how she'll be in bed because she hasn't had sex in a while which there was none of and zero scenes of her being jealous when she knew he was with other women which makes me think she's been with other people besides her ex-husband and Kyle . Also he never out right told her he was with other people they both just knew they were with other people and from his inner dialogue we know he slept with everyone and also from previous books. but her inner dialogue was more subtle.

What I loved most was that when Kyle and Madelyn finally slept together, it didn’t happen until they had discussed what happened when they were teens. This discussion was so heartbreaking but absolutely necessary. I hate books where the female main character just sleeps with the male main character after he wronged her in a second-chance romance (even though Kyle didn't, but she thought he did). In this case, they both got everything off their chests, and it was incredibly satisfying.

You all need to read this book! It was heartbreaking but also incredibly cute. The plot was engaging, and I was never bored. Kyle ugh, I absolutely FKN loved him! He was perfect. And Madelyn she was strong and remarkable.Her son sebastian he was absolutely adorable, I love kids in books.

The last 50% of the book was my fav part we got to see them be a couple and be a family the same family they could of had when they were teens but lost and now they got there second chance.

[MaHaha (McMurder) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok so I’m gonna be honest. I didn’t hate it cuz it can very well be like a comfort book and I’m a little biased with this series cuz I like it even tho most of my ratings were 3⭐️

This book….i liked fmcs character like she wasn’t OH MY GOD GREAT but she was fine. She went thru stuff and all……Kyle was nice and sweet and he’s hot too but there’s nothing OH MY GOD WOWZA. Like yeah he’s good but whatever.

There are so many tropes shoved it and crammed in to one story and I don’t mean sub tropes I mean major tropes. There’s so much going on and nothing going on at the same time. I expected more drama and chaos but there wasn’t.
I was 70% thru the story and I didn’t even realize.

Their backstory was blegh like it was second Chance but I was like whatever cuz it’s Kandi’s book so I was like ok I’ll read……but like the backstory was so un touching even tho I related to their backstory to an extent. I was just 😐😐 thru out.

Also they got together way too fast and quick like yall just met after YEARSS YEARS and all of a sudden yall r together and coming up w deals? No.

There was no chemistry nothing. I won’t say I’m disappointed but I’m not satisfied either. It was just bleh. Like ok yeah great cool umm anyway…..I love the Kyle redemption tho I mean like I like that compared to the first book he got way better in the fourth and now we have his book but it’s just ok.

I love Clay Giana wedding😭♥️my babies sho sho cute. Giana and her romance tropes GAAH!! And Clay Giana had a baby (I’m not happy w the gender) but THE CAMEOS AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! Everyone was there!

And then Riley preggo at the very end oh my god I’m crying Ry my girl my love🎀

I still have a soft spot for this series

[jo 🏹 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute! My fav parts were seeing everyone back together and what they are up to post college life, but I do wish Kyle’s story took place then! Nonetheless I love this universe!!!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up stars

I haaaaaate second chance books, hate them…. But I actually enjoyed this one! I can’t give it full five stars because of the multiple mentions of the H being a manwhore during their time apart. Like I really liked him, but they would be having sweet moments and then out of the blue the author would throw in a random sentence about how he was always fucking a new girl. It would completely take me out of the sweet moment they would be having, it was so annoying.

The authors was I guess putting it in there to show that he’d changed (? I guessss) but it wasn’t needed. Like I didn’t expect him to be celibate and whatever I know that non manwhore Hs are practically non existent in romance book world so I knew he was going to be a manwhore during their time apart, which I forgave and only read this bc she had a child with someone else , but gahhh we get it he was a whore, he changed, so stop bringing it up

lol I know it might seem like I didn’t enjoy this book bc of my complaining, but I really did like it😭 they were really sweet together and I liked reading about them being so domestic

[babygyalreadit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyle, Kyle, Kyle KYLEEEE

GOD LEE I CANT STOP THINKING ABOUT HIM!!!!

Kandi snapped okay, this was the most perfect formula for a second chance, fake dating book with NO MISCOMMUNICATION. I could have weeped with how effective and perfectly these two were together and their communication!

Their chemistry, banter, and tensionnnnnnnnnnn whew. I absolutely adored her son he was so cute and Kyle slipped right into daddy role so effortlessly. I love their little family. I can be a doormat if they need one just saying.

[alyssa napolitano · Rating 5 out of 5]

i literally could not put this book down for a second it was so beautiful 🥹🫶🏼 this is my 8th kandi steiner book & i am now on a mission to read as many as possible because she has become one of my favorite authors