Out of Bounds

Wild Card #2

by Laura Carter

Tropes: 🏈 football romance 💕 friends to lovers 🤠 cowboy homestead 👶 single mother 📚 working for a better life 🌶 spice

She's spent her whole life surrounded by football stars...

…so Annie Quinn is completely unfazed when Tanner Pace shows up at her Texas ranch.

As a single mother who’s finally going back to school, she could use a helping hand, and she has no time for romance. Especially not with one of her brother’s show pony teammates…again.

But sometimes love throws you a win when you least expect it, even if this tight end is completely out of bounds.

A gorgeous and spicy sports romance, guaranteed to make you believe in love again!

While this novel is set in the same town as the other books in the Wild Card series, it can be read as a STANDALONE

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Sports

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 11, 2026

About the author

Amazon top 10 and internationally bestselling author of romcoms and sports romance, translated into multiple languages. Exploring relationships and getting under the skin of her characters is Laura’s passion. She takes inspiration from everything she loves from sports to law, from music and books to on screen romances, and from her own friends and family (shhhhhh, don't tell them!). Laura lives in Jersey, Channel Islands and loves nothing more than being active outdoors.

Rep'd by Tanera Simons of Greenstone Literary Agency.

Connect with Laura through Facebook (@lauracarterauthor), Instagram (@lauracarterauthor) and TikTok (@laura.carter.author).

Learn more about Laura and her books here: www.lauracarterauthor.com.

Reviews

[Ana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm honestly a little conflicted, because while I did enjoy some parts and Tanner and his acts of service made my heart happy, this was far too repetitive and it left me feeling far too frustrated with the story and the romance...

Annie is ready to go back to college, finish her education and be a good mom to her son Nelson, but relaying on your brother to get you from the ranch to college because you failed your driving test three times isn't ideal. Tanner, her brother's friend and teammate, offers to teach her on his days off and slowly feelings start to form. Tanner respects her brother and he's determined to not cross that boundary with her and Annie, after everything that happened with Nelson's dad, isn't sure she wants another footballer in her life... Living with Tanner on weekdays for convenience and being cared by him is blurring all the lines though and Auston trying to finally be in hers and their sons life is complicating everything..

I liked Annie to a certain extent here and I do understand where she's coming from, she was after all young and raising her son alone, but her back and forth with Tanner got old, quick. She couldn't make up her mind and it did get on my nerves.
Tanner was really sweet, I loved how he made everything easier for Annie and how he was always there for her, but his constant lustful thoughts followed by him reminding himself he was a lot older than her and she was Colton's sister got so repetitive, I wanted to pull my hair out.

Look, I seriously don't get why they made everything so damn complicated, the cycle of them wanting each other and then retreating immediately drove me crazy. For two people claiming to be mature, they sure didn't know how to communicate. I did love their friendship and the bond Tanner and Nelson shared, but I didn't enjoy the other aspects of their relationship. Every time they would make a step forward, there would be three steps back. I couldn't stand it.
Also, and this is a personal ick, but him calling her girly and them both referring each other by their first and last name was a huge no. Honestly, a lot of the dialogue was cringy at times.

I'm not a football fan nor do I know a lot about the sport, but I really like the team.
Also, I love Colton and Sas and seeing them again, happy and together, was my favourite part.
And Darcy was the best, I really hope we get her book.

I still love this series, this just wasn't as enjoyable for me as the first book was, but I'll be continuing.
Jax is next and since marriage of convenience is one of my favourite tropes, I'm very excited for it!!

*Thank you to Netgalley and to Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC.*

[mel_neverendingtbr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, I loved the banter between them.

Annie has had the misfortune of being involved with a footballer before who then left and told her to deal with the baby situation so she’s not bothered at all when she meets Tanner who’s one of her brother’s teammates.

As she is a single mother she has no time for romance especially with a team mate of her brothers after what happened last time

As Annie and Tanner get to know each other as friends but Tanner develops feelings for Annie but what happens when her ex is back on the scene? And is her ex going to stay on the scene? Will Annie finally get the relationship she wants ?

Perfect for lovers of the following tropes- football romance, single mother, friends to lovers, cowboy homestead

Part of a series but can be read as a standalone

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for letting me read this is exchange for an honest review

[VickydpBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm, steamy Texas-set romance that nails the “best friend’s brother + friends-to-lovers” vibe. Single mom Annie Quinn wants nothing to do with football players after being burned before—until her brother’s star teammate Tanner Pace offers to help her get back on track.

He’s always been “off-limits,” but old chemistry reignites fast.

Carter balances sweet family heart, relatable ambition, and sharp banter alongside plenty of heat. Annie feels real determined, cautious, and fiercely protective while Tanner is far more than the typical cocky jock.

A fast, satisfying read perfect for fans of Elle Kennedy or Tessa Bailey.

Light, emotional, and great for escapist romance. You can read in the series but you can read as standalone

[Ananya]

DNF @43%.
see i don;t DNF book often. I alway try to complete it no matter what. But this one was just not me. First of all it was damn slow. The there was so much repetition that i got so bored. I don't want to hear about the couple from the last book again and again. Also i'm 43% into it and still it feels like no progress at all, just MMC being (very little) protective of FMC, FMC crying, FMC watching football game from home. And that damn driving lessons, JUST NO MORE.

[Kez Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and steamy sports romance, with friends to lovers, age gap, brother best friend and single mum tropes.
It had good tension and character growth, and I liked their chemistry. I liked that their relationship developed in a realistic way despite the off limits tension, and I enjoyed all the yearning.

[Chloe Byfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my lord. 5/5 ate and left no crumbs!!!! Auston pissed me off so much though. I really enjoyed this book. It gave me butterflies and i loved how their relationship developed over a realistic timeline. It wasnt insta lust, you could see them fall in love. I was a little scared when he bought her a car right away but thank god it was a slow burn. My one complaint is WHO NAMES A BABY NELSON!!? I just kept thinking of nelson mandela. Lol

Thankyou NET GALLEY

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tanner Pace walked into this book like every man in a country song who somehow owns three flannels, a tragic amount of emotional intelligence, and the ability to lean against a truck in a way that should legally count as flirting. I was ready to resist him on principle because football player plus brother’s best friend plus cowboy energy usually means a man who says things like “you just don’t understand me” while punching drywall. Instead this idiot turns out to be thoughtful, patient, secretly obsessed with Annie, and capable of communicating his feelings without acting like it’s a federal crime. Absolutely sick behavior from Laura Carter, honestly.

And Annie really worked for me because she’s exhausted in that very specific way single moms in romance novels rarely get to be. She’s trying to raise her son, go back to school, reclaim some independence, and survive life without depending on anybody after Nelson’s deadbeat father fully convinced her trusting a football player is basically volunteering to get emotionally clotheslined. There’s a version of this character that could’ve become overly saintly real fast, but Annie still gets to be stubborn and frustrated and occasionally kind of a disaster. Which, respectfully, is what makes her feel like a real person instead of a motivational Pinterest quote wearing boots.

The driving lessons? Incredible. Deeply unserious setup for an extremely serious level of yearning. These two are sitting shoulder-to-shoulder in a truck pretending they’re focused on road safety while having the emotional tension of two people trapped in a Friday Night Lights fanfiction written after three margaritas. Every lesson turns into lingering looks and vulnerable conversations and Tanner quietly hyping Annie up like her personal emotional support cowboy. It’s honestly rude. There’s something about a man calmly saying “you’ve got this” that immediately activates the part of my brain that has made historically terrible decisions.

And I appreciated that Tanner never tips over into that weird caveman romance-hero territory where the guy becomes possessive after one meaningful glance and suddenly acts like he personally invented oxygen. He actually respects Annie. He listens to her. He notices things about her in a way that made me want to throw my Kindle across the room a little bit because unfortunately I remain vulnerable to competency. Especially when it’s wrapped in broad shoulders and emotional repression.

Also, Nelson being in the story actually mattered. Sometimes kids in romance novels feel like tiny plot devices wandering in from daycare to remind everyone the heroine has Depth, but the relationship between Annie and her son genuinely grounds the whole book. It keeps the romance from floating off into fantasy-land because Annie’s choices actually have weight behind them. Meanwhile Tanner stepping naturally into her life without trying to “save” her made the emotional stuff hit harder than I expected. This man is out here helping with practical problems and showing up consistently, which is somehow hotter than half the dirty talk in contemporary romance right now.

Now, do these two spend a little too much time going “we can’t do this” while obviously wanting to climb each other like jungle gyms? Yes. Absolutely. At one point I felt like I was trapped in the world’s horniest group project. The middle drags a tiny bit because they keep acting like crossing the line would trigger a small international incident when realistically everyone with functioning eyesight already knows what’s happening. But the chemistry stays strong enough that I didn’t really care. The tension is doing heavy lifting the entire time, and thankfully it’s strong enough to carry it.

What surprised me most is that underneath all the flirting and football and Texas sunsets, this book is really about Annie learning what it feels like to be chosen without strings attached. Tanner isn’t trying to rescue her. He’s just there. Consistently. Quietly. Like some kind of emotionally available cryptid roaming the Texas countryside. And the book doesn’t overplay it either, which I appreciated. It lets those moments land and then moves on before things get too emotionally monologue-y.

By the end I was completely charmed even while I was roasting it lovingly the entire time. It’s warm and messy and occasionally cheesy in the exact way sports romances are supposed to be. This is the kind of book that makes you text your friend at midnight like, “Unfortunately the hot cowboy football player who respects women is ruining my life.” A very solid 3.5 stars from me because I had a genuinely fun time, caught feelings against my will, and now apparently need to read the rest of this series immediately.

Huge thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. Y’all really looked at my already unstable attraction to emotionally competent fictional cowboys and said, let’s make that worse.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5

ARC received from NetGalley and Boldwood Books in exchange for honest review.

⚡BLURB⚡
She knows better than to fall for another football player - especially her brother’s best friend…
As a single mother, Annie Quinn knows she should steer clear of football players, if her son’s absent father is anything to go by. Determined to prove she can raise Nelson on her own, she's decided to go back to school. There’s just one problem: she refuses to rely on her brother Colton for rides into the city.
Tanner Pace has always known Annie Quinn is strictly off limits. Colton is his teammate and best friend, so she’s more like a sister. When he offers to teach her to drive, it’s just to help out a friend. At least, that’s what he tells himself. Because these days, Annie has transformed into a strong and independent woman – one he can't seem to stay away from.
Somewhere between unpredictable drives and slow Texas sunsets, sparks fly and Annie forgets why she decided never to trust a sports star again.
As much as Tanner wants something to happen, he knows it can’t. Annie is his best friend’s sister. Completely, undeniably out of bounds… but are some rules meant to be broken?

⚡REVIEW⚡

I absolutely adore Laura Carter books, be it sports romance or billionaire romance, and I've been looking forward to Annie and Pace's story since the end of A Rookie Mistake. Was I disappointed?

HELL NO!

This is such a wholesome and beautiful story. Annie Quinn (Colton, MMC from A Rookie Mistake's sister), a new mum who was used by her brother's best friend and then ditched when she got pregnant, she's just lost her own mum, and believes she is failing at everything. She keeps failing the driving test that will give her some freedom, and she's having to leave Nelson with a nanny whilst she tries to get her degree. As well as all of that, she is the talk of the town because her involvement with Auston, the father of Nelson (who doesn't want to know him), became very public knowledge after her brother beat him up on the field. When Tanner Pace literally knocks her off her feet at a practice whilst she's waiting for a ride home from her brother, and he realises she can't drive, he takes her home - and offers to teach her how to drive. With instructions from Colton that she is strictly out of bounds, they develop a firm friendship, complete with banter, meaningful conversation and some flirting. With Annie believing nothing can come of it because it'll make her look dreadful to the public (having gone from one footballer to another), she has no intention of catching feelings, but the pure kindness of Pace blindsides her.

Tanner Pace is almost a total green flag, other than his history with women letting him down. That man is 'A' grade adorable. From the second he crashes into Annie at training, he knows that he's got a thing for her, but Colton's warnings are constantly on his mind. Despite knowing nothing can come between them, he goes out of his way to show her kindness. Alongside teaching her, he buys her a car (but claims it's his sister's on loan so she doesn't get embarrassed). He opens his house to her, Nelson and Betty (the Nanny) when he realises that the journey to and from college is too much stress on them all. In doing so, he decorates a room for Nelson - who he calls Nellie-Bellie, and even goes into him when he hears him stir, allowing Annie some much needed sleep. He takes her on a break to Dallas to meet her idol - his rodeo champion sister. All to put a smile on her face. His ultimate aim is to show her that she's not a failure and never has been, no matter what she thinks. It is a true battle for him to keep his feelings hidden, not wanting to betray Colton, and he also has his own hangups over the age gap and his career coming to its end interfering with declaring his feelings.

Auston, baby daddy and a**hole extraordinaire, is a thorn in the side of both MCs and is the big villain of the story. There is a scene with him and Tanner which will have you cheering for Tanner all the way - until you realise the emotional toll it takes on Annie, and the conflict it creates in the leadup to the HEA. I know it needed conflict to ensure the HEA landed hard, but I'm still Team Tanner haha!

Whilst I loved the final chapter, and loved the strength of character it showed in Annie, what I would have loved to have seen was a celebration of her at the end as opposed to the football (although I am FERAL with the need to know whether the Bears made it all the way. Hopefully book three will enlighten us on that front!) An epilogue showing Annie getting her degree and Tanner being the supportive partner would have been the absolute cherry on the cake of what was a super enjoyable sports romance that has now set me another impossible high standard for a man to fulfil!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this book!

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and fun, especially the second half.

On the whole, the book is funny and the laid-back banter between the main characters is cute. They have a good dynamic going, and I like friends slowly developing more feelings. It's natural and easy to read.

Tanner is just the sweetest guy. The acts of service love language he has going on is adorable, and the way he's pining after Annie is what you typically want in a romance novel. No notes. Well, okay, notes, but not positive and I'm not done with being nice.

As a sports romance, it has just enough football to make you feel it, but not be overwhelmed. I don't know the rules of the game, nor have I watched a single match, but I wasn't put out by the descriptions and it managed to get me excited and a little teary when that last game came around.

The miscommunication. It's not a case of 'I misunderstood something you said', but more like 'We don't talk about anything and just make assumptions instead'. I’m on the fence here, because they could just talk like adults, but on the other hand it does feel painfully realistic and - in the end - I’m choosing to appreciate that. I've had my share of struggles when it comes to forming relationships because of anxiety or low self-esteem telling me the other person can't possibly like me, so I understand how it can be a little irrational. Both sides have valid reasons to spiral, in my opinion.

Also, Colton’s and Sonny’s reactions in the end are great, which could potentially be a spoiler if you know what I like in brother's best friend trope, so I'm not going to say more.

And now, what didn't click for me?

Back to Tanner for a second - he reached extremely annoying levels of repetitiveness when it comes to thinking of ‘this can’t happen’. I was forcing myself to get through it at some points, because it was all he talked about for a big chunk of the book. I get it, everyone gets it, enough. Eventually it lessened as things started progressing, but still.

I don't like spice in which the woman needs barely a touch to come undone or comes repeatedly without much of a challenge. I get that smut is not exactly meant to be realistic, but it's not meant to be this disconnected from reality either, at least in my opinion. It's setting the standards too high and doing more harm than good. It wasn't that bad here, but I'm just a little fed up with this concept in general.

Some of the phrasing was weird. I don't know if it was the attempt at a southern accent that threw me off or what exactly, but something wasn't clicking in the language used, not completely.

Lastly, the age gap. She’s a little too young for my taste - her frontal lobe is not fully developed yet, plus she's under a lot of pressure - and Tanner is really sweet and feeling guilty about a lot of things, but I'm not seeing enough of the guilt specifically put on her being this young and him being attracted to her. If I see an age gap this big with a woman this young, I want the man to be really, really conflicted over the age gap itself to not come off as creepy. I can believe in that relationship surviving over time but make me want to.

Overall, it's a nice read which I'd recommend to both sports romance and friends to lovers fans.

Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books, and the author for letting me read the ARC!

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Out of Bounds is a football meets country romance set in Texas. This is the 2nd book in Laura Carter's Wild Card series and it features Annie Quinn and Tanner Pace, both characters were introduced in the first book. I was so excited to spend some time with Annie, Tanner, and Annie's adorable son Nelson and this book was full of really cute moments.

Annie Quinn is over football players, and men in general. She is a single mom and was severely let down by her football player ex who is literally the worst person. She is feeling so overwhelmed and just sad. She wants to be the best mom she can be but she hates that her situation has gone public and she feels the judgement of the public and it does not help her confidence. She wants to show her son, nelson, that he has a strong mom that works hard and can provide for him,

Tanner Pace is an all around good guy. His relationship with Annie starts out by truly wanting to help Annie and Nelson. He see how hard Annie is working to make a good life for Nelson and he resonates with that because his own mom was a single mom and worked so hard to provide for him and his sister. He respects Annie so much and just wants to make her life easier. He provides her driving lessons, which is really cute, he wants to help her spend more time with her son and easier access to her college. He wants to take some of the load off her shoulders and allow her time to relax.

Where things get tricky for them is their 12 year age gap and Annie's bother and dad being so protective of her. Annie is off limits and no one will let Tanner forget it. But as their friendship grows and they get to know each other more, they fall hard. There is a safety an security they feel in each other. There is such a heartwarming bond between Nelson and Tanner, and other people start to notice that Tanner and Annie are bringing out the best in each other. Tanner is so patient and caring, and it was great to see Annie come into herself and gain her confidence back.

I enjoyed this book much more that A Rookie mistake. I do feel like there were still several phrasing discrepancies between American and British language that took me out of the story. While I understood everything that was being said, it seemed out of place and was very noticeable at times. There was also a few strange descriptions of football, but not as many as there wee in the first book. I was also happy that there was less cheesy language.

While the indecisiveness of Tanner and Annie and their lack of actually talking about their feelings instead of listing all the reasons they shouldn't be together was frustrating, I am so glad that they worked it out in the end. I also thought that the severe overprotectiveness of Colton and Annie's Dad was a bit over the top. While she is young and they are looking out for her, I do feel like they were treating her like a kid and it was negatively impacting Annie. She felt like she was always letting them down and they could have been more emotionally supportive.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it to anyone that likes sports romances with come country flair!

[steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I was send an ARC by the publisher, and thought the story sounded cute and entertaining so I decided to read it. Well, I am so glad I did because it had a lot more heart and character development than the cartoon cover and cheesy synopsis lets on.

Annie, is a 22 year old single mom who is going back to school after having to put her senior year on hold due to having a baby and the unexpected passing of her mom. She is smart, funny and a great mom, but she suffers from imposter syndrome and low self esteem when it comes to guys. The absent father of her son was a former teammate of her older brother Colton, a man who ghosted her as soon as she told him she was pregnant so as a result, she has sworn off men and dating for the time being, just wanting to focus on her son and studies.

Tanner is a 34 year old veteran football player who plays on the same team with Annie's brother Colton and knows Annie and her family well. As the son of a single mother, he is impressed by Annie's drive and devotion to her son and wants to help her meet her goals. When an opportunity comes up for Tanner to help Annie with her driving lessons, he offers, never expecting their surface friendship to turn into more. And boy, does it ever....!

I will say, what I liked so much about this book, is that neither Annie or Tanner expected the initial attraction/friendship to turn into more. In fact, they both individually go out of their way to ignore it/taper it down all while their bond together deepens in the background. Tanner worries that he is too old for Annie, that he reminds her too much of her ex because they are both football players, that he wouldn't be good enough for her, that her brother will be upset if they get together etc. Annie on the other hand, worries that Tanner will never look at her twice, that she is too young, too broke, too inexperienced when it comes to life, etc. It's very real conversations and emotions they have with themselves and with each other over the course of this book, and I enjoyed that. It made their relationship feel natural.

This is book #2 but reads as a standalone. I figured that Colton and Sas were the main characters from book 1 and while they definitely make appearances in here, ultimately the story remains about Annie and Tanner and their growth. I'm also a sucker for romances with kids and Annie's relationship with her baby and Tanner's bond with him was really well done. Highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[Carlina Kinch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the publisher, the author, and Netgalley for allowing me the absolute privilege of being able to arc read this upcoming book. I truly appreciate it!

Laura Carter scores another absolute touch down with this book and I loved every minute of it!! I've had the previous privilege of also being able to arc read and fall in love with the first book in her 'Wild Cards' series, 'A Rookie Mistake' which features Sas and Annie's brother Colton and their own totally football love story, and I will say both books can be read independently of the other, but they have a much bigger emotional impact if you read them in order.

Pace and Annie's story is finally here, and I've been waiting for it from the very ending of the previous novel. Annie is such a fantastic, and so very realistic character and getting to be able to watch her journey of self-discovery and her growth in her story was everything! Trust me you're going to be feeling all of your feels for our girl, I promise you that so much! But it's Pace you're going to absolutely fall for, well sobbing your heart out and cheering him on the whole time! I first completely fell in love with that man in the first book, and he definitely deserves his happily ever after! I'm not going to spoil anything more than that even though I want to, just trust me this is such a fantastic romance, sports aside and you will absolutely love every single minute of it!

On the sports note though, Laura Carter once again does a fantastic job of definitely making it feel like you're reading about football, without making it become too much or all encompassing. It is such a perfect blend of football and romance, the absolute perfect jelling of both of their worlds. You'll be on the ranch, sitting in a rocking chair devouring pecan pie one minute, and the next inspiring your team mates to another victory on the field. That's only just a tidbit of how well it all meshs so fantastically well together, and how transported you will feel in this book!

So if you're looking for your next great sports romance, want to try one out, or just want an all around flawless romance, trust me you're going to love this entire book, and this entire series!

Thank you so very much again from the bottom of my heart to Boldwood Publishing, the author, and Netgalley for allowing me the absolute privilege of being able to arc read this upcoming book again! I truly appreciate it, I absolutely loved it and I can't wait until I can bring it home too!

[Jinn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Out of Bounds by Laura Carter is an emotional and entertaining sports romance filled with chemistry, family tension, humor, and heartfelt moments. This is the second book in Wild Card series but this can also be read as a standalone.

The story follows Annie, a single mother returning to college after taking time away for maternity, and Tanner, her brother Colton’s best friend. Their attraction is obvious from the beginning, but both are hesitant to act on it because of Annie’s past relationship and the protectiveness surrounding her from both her family and Tanner himself.

Tropes:
🏈Sports Romance
🧑‍🧒Single Mom
🔥Forced Proximity
💕Acts of service
🤝 Friends to lovers
🚫Forbidden romance
🐎Ranch setting
☀️Cinnamon roll MMC
🏈American Football
🌶️Spicy

One of the highlights of the book was Tanner as a romantic lead. He falls first and falls hard for Annie, but what made him stand out was the way he expressed love through quiet support, patience, and subtle grand gestures rather than dramatic declarations. His care for Annie and her son Nelson was so sweet. The romance develops through small moments, funny banter, acts of service, emotional trust, and sizzling chemistry. This book makes us feel butterflies in stomach again.

I also enjoyed the family dynamics, especially the tension created by Colton being both Tanner’s best friend and Annie’s protective brother, along with Annie’s strict yet loving father. The ranch setting and football backdrop added excitement to the story without overshadowing the romance itself.

At times, Tanner’s and Annie’s internal monologues felt somewhat repetitive, especially during moments where they continued circling the same fears and hesitation about their situation without proper communication. Those sections slowed the pacing for me a little, and I found myself speed reading through some of the repeated thoughts. However, the emotional payoff, chemistry, and tenderness between the characters kept me invested throughout.

The book also includes several spicy scenes and is definitely more suited for an adult and young adult audience, while still balancing the steam with emotional connection and character development.

Overall this was a sweet, spicy, and emotionally engaging romance with lovable characters and strong relationship development.

[The Lit · Rating 4 out of 5]

🚨 SPOILER ALERT: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
​I am giving Out of Bounds by Laura Carter a 4-star review. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
​I'm so glad I received this eARC! Being the total book nerd that I am, I couldn't just sit down and read book 2 without previously reading book 1, and I am so incredibly glad I did. Though this CAN absolutely be read as a standalone, it is just so much better if you read book 1 (A Rookie Mistake) first to fully appreciate the world and the characters!
​ARC Disclosure: Thank you so much to NetGalley and the author, Laura Carter, for providing an advanced copy of this book. I am thrilled to share my honest, unfiltered review!
​The Review
​Out of Bounds brings us right back into the high-stakes, dramatic world of professional sports romance. This second installment tackles the ultimate forbidden boundary when Tanner, a professional athlete, finds himself falling hard for his teammate's younger sister, Annie. As they navigate the complicated landscape of loyalty, career pressures, and a shifting family dynamic, an unexpected twist forces them to re-evaluate their entire future together under the bright stadium lights.
​The Good
​I absolutely love the teammate's sibling trope, and it's even better when there is a bit of an age gap mixed in like we have here! The book serves up a little bit of baby drama and lots of delicious slow burn that kept me eagerly flipping pages on my Kindle. I completely loved Tanner as our sweet MMC! He is such a great hero, especially watching the way he feels kinda guilty—but not really—about falling completely head-over-heels for his teammate's younger sister. Their chemistry is fantastic, and the slow-burning tension is top-tier.
​The Not So Good
​While the romance definitely kept me hooked, the dual perspective had a bit of an uneven pull for me. I did like Annie as our FMC, though at times I just wanted her POV chapters to completely disappear and just read it all through Tanner’s POV instead! His internal monologue was just so much more compelling to me, and missing out on his voice during her chapters occasionally broke up my reading rhythm

[Minnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review

5⭐|2🌶️|6%🌶️frequency

I felt it very quickly that book 2 would be Tanner and Annie. Or at least I hoped it. And by the end of book 1, it was clear 😁 So I was looking forward to reading this book 🤩
I fell for Annie and Tanner in the first book already. I try not to say anything that would spoil book 1 because yeah, there is a lot that has to do with this one coming 😎

This book is perfect 🤩 I definitely couldn't put it down (OK, I had to because of dinner, but that's the only time).
I always quiver with the characters when it's a brother's best friend/teammate. The fear about how he will react. And it wasn't just about Annie now, but also about her son Nelson. So Colton got twice as protective now 😎
And Lauren didn't make it easy for me (or any other reader)...
Tanner is such a perfect man. He's a perfect teammate. A perfect best friend. A perfect friend. And he is perfect with Nelson. So super cute 🥰

I don't know when I laughed so much the last time, even with a rom-com. This book is better!
As I said, he's a perfect friend; he gives Annie driving lessons. And yeah, let's just say I've never heard of someone getting dirty from giving driving lessons. Not dirt bike or anything like that, no, just simple car driving 🤣
And no, that's not the only time someone got dirty in this book. No, not what you might think!!! Unbelievable! I'm talking about real dirt, not 🌶️ dirt. I mean, Annie's still a farm girl 😁 But yes, they get a bit 🌶️ dirty, too 😉

I'm very curious about the next book. I mean, yes, I know who the MCs are, but that doesn't make it any less curious 😎


Thanks to the author, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for trusting me with an ARC 🩷


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[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story about single mom Annie and pro baller Tanner. Annie was knocked up by her brother's best friend, and Annie has always apologized for others, even it's not her fault. She's so used to hiding her feelings and making herself feel small that any ounce of nice people do for her, she thinks she imposed. Then come Tanner who saw Annie like how his own single mom struggled and wanted to help. Of course, she's cute and hot helped too. Except: 1, bro code, you don't mess with teammates family, esp that's your best friend; 2, there's 12yr age gap.

But of course, our Tanner just falls for Annie, and kept showing up, takes care of her, because he saw that she took care of everyone but who takes care of her. And feelings that shouldn't be flying everywhere. Of course, major thing is the baby's daddy is trying to repair his image. Where does that leave Tanner?

First of, I appreciate the pacing, it's good. Second, I love me some Tanner, he shows up, he cares, he's sentimental, and he knows how to do nice things without being asked. Third, I do have a complaint to the author, totally understand there's liberty taken here and there, but when you talk about Texas, would appreciate a little research. Dallas is not humid unless there's a storm because they are land-locked. Houston is humid, and San Antonio can be because it's near river. But that bugged me, along with some dialogue that seemed to be cartoonified when they're trying to squeeze as many country sounding words in there. It was a tad insulting on that side.

Overall, story is good, the book boyfriend is great. He falls first and hard, and so much love to give. Also, thank you for not having a 3rd act.

Thank you NetGalley & Brookwood Books for the ARC.

[Laura Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of Bounds by Laura Carter

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Out of Bounds completely swept me off my feet. Laura Carter has such a talent for writing romances that feel both comforting and emotional, and this one had me smiling, swooning, and rooting for Annie and Tanner from beginning to end.

Annie was such an easy heroine to love. She’s a fiercely independent single mum determined to build a better future for herself and her son, even when life keeps throwing obstacles in her way. I loved how resilient she was, and seeing her slowly learn that it’s okay to lean on people who genuinely care about her made her journey feel so rewarding.

Tanner was just everything you could want … patient, dependable, thoughtful, and completely gone for Annie without ever trying to overshadow her strength. The way he showed up for her in the little moments meant so much more than grand gestures, and their chemistry built so naturally that every step of their relationship felt earned.

The brother’s best friend trope was so well done and added just the right amount of tension without ever overshadowing everything else going on. I loved watching Annie and Tanner’s relationship grow naturally while Annie found her confidence and built the life she wanted. The Texas ranch setting was the perfect backdrop, and the mix of football, family, friendship, humour, and heartfelt moments made this such an addictive read. The banter had me smiling, the emotional moments genuinely pulled at my heartstrings, and I was completely invested in these characters from start to finish.

Out of Bounds is a romance full of heart, healing, and hope. If you love supportive heroes, strong heroines, slow-building chemistry, and stories that leave you with a huge smile on your face, this is one you won’t want to miss.

[Stephanie Burow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC of Out of Bounds in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I must say that I am really really sad I didn’t get to read book 1 of the Wild Card series before reading this second book. While it’s not at all required, I loved this book so much that I feel that if I were have been able to read book 1 first, Out of Bounds would have been even more of a home run (or should I say touchdown?) than I already feel it is. I’ve already added it to my TBR to go back and read because I loved Colton and Sas in this book, even though book 2 focuses on Colton’s sister, Annie Quinn and Colton’s best friend, Tanner Pace.

This one was truly a slow burn for the ages that kept me hooked all night! Some of my favorite tropes wrapped up into one pretty package: brother’s best friend, age gap, he falls first, single mother and of course, football romance. This books was honestly just chefs kiss. I loved every aspect of Annie and Tanner’s relationship and just how much of a standup guy Tanner is. He made a promise to Colton to not cross that line with Annie and he really was living by that, even though it was impossible. He was so great with Annie’s son that your heart just melted. I felt like Tanner was a perfect fit for the Quinn family and I can’t wait to go back and read more into Colton’s story with Sas. This will certainly not be my last Laura Carter book as she just moved under the umbrella of some of my favorite romance books of 2026! I have a sneaky suspicion book 3 will center around Sas’s brother, Jax, who makes an appearance at the end of book 2. You better believe I can’t wait to get my hands on that one!

[Ashling B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Out of Bounds by Laura Carter

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I am an absolute sucker for a brother’s best friend romance, and this gave me exactly the kind of tension I love. 💕

Annie and Pace had that perfect “we both want this, but neither of us is going to cross that line” energy. The longing, the restraint, the stolen moments, and the way I could feel how much they were both holding back made their story so addictive. 🔥 I also loved the driving lessons and how they gave Annie and Pace those forced-proximity moments where the tension had nowhere to hide. 🚗

And Pace? I loved how protective he was. 🫶 You could tell Annie and Nelson meant so much to him. I especially loved the way he was with Nelson (dodgy diaper change and all 😂) and how his care wasn’t just for Annie, but for her son too.

But Annie was the real star of this book for me. I was so proud of her for how she handled Nelson’s father, Auston. She had so much thrown at her, and even when things were messy and emotional, she kept showing up. Annie is such a trooper; she was juggling motherhood, school, the loss of her mother, and everything with Auston, all while trying to keep herself together for Nelson. 👩‍👦

I also loved Colton in this. Just like in A Rookie Mistake, he was always so supportive of his sister, and I loved seeing that sibling bond continue to shine through. He really showed up for Annie, and I adored that. 🤍

🏈 Football Romance
💕 Friends to Lovers
🤠 Cowboy Homestead
👶 Single Mother
📚 Working for a Better Life
🌶 Spice

[Ecem Esen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Out of Bounds was such a sweet and enjoyable sports romance. I’m always a fan of the brother’s best friend trope, and Laura Carter handled it really well here by making the connection between Annie and Tanner feel believable and natural instead of overly dramatic.

Annie was easy to root for as a single mother trying to rebuild her life and become more independent. I liked that her storyline focused not only on romance, but also on her personal growth and wanting a better future for herself and her son. Tanner was exactly the kind of MMC I enjoy in this type of romance — supportive, patient, protective, and clearly gone for her long before he admits it to himself.

The chemistry between them developed at a nice pace, and I thought the driving lessons and small-town Texas setting added a lot of charm to the story. Their relationship had plenty of tension and emotional moments while still keeping the overall tone light and comforting.

I also appreciated how the single parent aspect was handled. Annie’s son felt like an important part of the story rather than just a plot device, which made the romance feel even more genuine.

Overall, this was a warm, heartfelt sports romance with lovable characters, good chemistry, and plenty of emotional tension. If you enjoy friends-to-lovers, brother’s best friend romances, and supportive MMCs, this is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Shirley Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚Book Review 📚 Out of Bounds by @Lauracarter

If you love Elsie Silver and Liz Tomforde then you need to read Laura Carter’s Wild Card series! It’s got all the spice and emotional connection and the added bonus of being a sports romance mixed with a little bit of cowgirl!

This is the second book in the Wild Card series but it can be read as a standalone. I read and loved ‘A Rookie Mistake’ so I was really looking forward to reading this one and can honestly say I enjoyed this one even more!

I absolutely adored Annie and Tanner together. Their banter and sexual chemistry was 🔥🔥. Annie was still reeling from the heartache of Auston (Dad of her baby boy, Nelson) leaving her to be a single Mum. It was heart warming for her to begin trusting men again and start to do something for herself in the form of her studying which Tanner absolutely supported her with, the driving lessons he gave her really had me giggling!

Tanner made the most adorable American football MMC. Initially he was the man that would enjoy one night with a lady and then walk away however he absolutely fell head over heels for Annie and would do anything to help her realise her self worth. The only thing stopping him making a move…she is the little Sister of his team mate and best friend, Colton Quinn.

The dual writing narrative style gave me such an insight into how each character felt. I’d highly recommend this book/ series.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

🩷 Blurb-
Tropes: 🏈 football romance 💕 friends to lovers 🤠 cowboy homestead 👶 single mother 📚 working for a better life 🌶 spice
She's spent her whole life surrounded by football stars...
…so Annie Quinn is completely unfazed when Tanner Pace shows up at her Texas ranch.
As a single mother who’s finally going back to school, she could use a helping hand, and she has no time for romance. Especially not with one of her brother’s show pony teammates…again.
But sometimes love throws you a win when you least expect it, even if this tight end is completely out of bounds.
A gorgeous and spicy sports romance, guaranteed to make you believe in love again!
While this novel is set in the same town as the other books in the Wild Card series, it can be read as a STANDALONE
💛 Review -
I loved the first book in the series and Out Of Bounds was no different. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I loved Annie and Tanner's chemistry and I wanted them to have their own happy ending that they deserved. The small town place setting sounded cute plus I loved the other mix of characters. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Boldwood Books, the author Laura Carter and Netgalley for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sadie Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐️ no notes.

I genuinely didn’t think anything could top the Colton and Sas story… and then Out of Bounds came along and proved me very, very wrong. I’d been hoping we’d get Pace and Annie’s book next, so I already knew I was going to love it but this exceeded every expectation.

Tanner Pace… the man that you are. The way he was all in for Annie before he even fully realized it himself??? Every single thing he did for her had me kicking my feet and giggling like an idiot. The care, the patience, the devotion absolutely unmatched.

And Annie 😭 I just wanted to wrap her up in a hug the entire book. My heart broke for her over and over again, and every time Auston was mentioned I was instantly ready to throw hands.

But Tanner and Nelson??? STOP. They were everything. Every interaction between them had me emotional because the sweetness overload was actually unreal. Those moments were some of my favorites in the whole book.

And we need to talk about Colton for a second because when he found out his best friend was after his baby sister, I was fully expecting him to start absolute chaos 😭 But honestly? I loved his reaction. Deep down he already knew Tanner was the best possible person for Annie, even if he didn’t want to admit it at first.

This book had the perfect mix of angst, softness, tension, healing, and romance. I was obsessed from start to finish.

[K.J. Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love a sweet hero and I'm not sure that they come much sweeter than Tanner Pace. I wouldn't usually use a hero's full name, but it's a bit of a thing for him and heroine Annie Quinn. Tanner is a man who has spent his whole life avoiding commitment, thinking that he will worry about that when he's retired. He also thinks that Annie can't possibly be for him due to their age difference. They are perfect for one another, though.
Annie has had a lot to deal with, the death her mother, the birth of her baby son and being abandoned by his father, who is also a pro footballer. She worries that people will see her as nothing but a gold digger if she ends up with Tanner. I'm not sure how true that would be, after all her brother is also a pro footballer.
I loved this read, Tanner is so considerate and caring and the only reason they don't get together much earlier in the book is that they both battle their feelings and are concerned about the others situation or what they want. It really is very sweet.
This was a great read and I really enjoyed it, much as I enjoyed the previous book in the series. I wonder if there's more to come.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

out of bounds gave me exactly that warm, steamy sports romance fix i didn’t know i needed 🏈🔥
friends to lovers, off-limits tension, and that slow “we probably shouldn’t but we definitely will” build?? yeah… i ate this up.
annie and tanner had me hooked from the start.
annie is such a real fmc—protective, cautious, and focused on keeping her life together after being burned before. i loved how grounded she felt and how much she prioritised her son and her peace.
and tanner 🥵
he’s the football player who looks like trouble but ends up being so much more than the stereotype. sweet when it counts, patient with her boundaries, and absolutely gone for her in the best way.
the tension between them?? insane.
they’ve always had that “almost” energy, and watching it finally tip over into something real was so satisfying. the yearning carried this whole book for me.
also the texas small-town vibes + found family + sports setting just worked perfectly together.
🏈 what to expect:
🏈 friends to lovers
🏈 single mum romance
🏈 age gap
🏈 brother’s best friend
🏈 football romance
🏈 slow burn tension
🏈 forbidden vibes
🏈 found family
quick, addictive, and super satisfying—this is exactly the kind of romance i fly through in one sitting 🏈✨

[Jess Hilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Texas? No. American football culture? Also no. Slow-burn, age-gap, brother’s-teammate romance with baby-daddy drama? Heck yes. 💛

This book had so much going for it. The chemistry was excellent, the slow burn was painfully delicious, and the whole “we absolutely should not be doing this” tension carried the story in the best way. Add in single mom dynamics and all the classic forbidden romance energy, and I totally devoured this book.

That said, the setting didn’t feel authentic to me. This is set in Texas, and some of the details, from the way people speak to the logistics of daily life (driving is survival) and the American football culture, pulled me out of the story more than once. It didn’t ruin the book, but it did feel like some basic setting and sports-culture details could have used another pass. (In the UK it’s a kit, in the US it’s a jersey/uniform.)

Overall, I really did enjoy this. The romance and pacing were strong enough to carry it, even if the setting itself didn’t quite land for me. 3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Yesenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok this book was seriously so freaking cute!!! Single mom and older football star! Like come on who wouldn’t love this 🖤🖤🖤🖤. Annie and Tanner will have you swooning over their southern banter and charm. You honestly can’t help but fall in love with them. Annie is our lively single and you momma with the cutest little boy in the world. And Tanner is our delicious NFL older star that just wants to help out a friend’s sisters. But in true romance fashion, the man that is a bachelor down to his core can’t help but fall for the girl. And boy does he fall hard and unexpectedly for her 😊. It’s such a cute book, and both characters are so genuine and scared that you literally want to shake them and tell them to Beth their crap together 😆. The yearning is sooooo good, it is a little bit of a slow burn so be prepared for that. But when that dam breaks you better be ready for it 🔥🔥🔥.

Tanner, you are such a people pleaser! Page 57 literally describes me and I couldn’t connect more with a character more if I tried 😂 . He’s such a caring man and that is something we all need in our lives. And boy does he fall hard for our girl Annie and her little man. And I loved every minute of it.

Annie, you go momma! You protect that little man of yours and be the best momma you can be! She is so strong willed and hard head for her own good. But all she wants is to do what’s right for her future and her sons. But at the same time she needs to remember that she has needs to and that not all men are her ex. I lii ok be that she gets to rediscover that with such an amazing man 😭!!!

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annie Quinn ya carga demasiado sobre los hombros para alguien de su edad. Es madre soltera, intenta volver a la universidad después de una pausa que cambió por completo su vida y todavía está aprendiendo a respirar tras una pérdida que dejó un vacío imposible de llenar. Lo último que necesita es más complicaciones, más rumores o a otro jugador de fútbol cerca de ella.

Tanner Pace vive bajo reglas muy claras. Es una estrella del deporte, el mejor amigo de su hermano y un hombre acostumbrado a mantener la distancia cuando algo podría salirse de control. Ayudar a Annie con unas inocentes clases de manejo parece una idea sencilla, casi una buena acción sin consecuencias.

Pero algunas líneas existen por una razón.

Entre carreteras polvorientas, bromas inesperadas y momentos que llegan cuando menos los necesitas, Annie y Tanner empiezan a descubrir que ciertas personas aparecen justo cuando tu mundo parece fuera de rumbo. La pregunta es qué pasa cuando alguien que jamás debía cruzar esa línea comienza a sentirse exactamente como el lugar correcto donde quedarse.

[Kelly Kenyon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and author for an advanced copy of Out of Bounds by Laura Carter.
Out of Bounds is the second book in the Wild Card series. I really enjoyed the first in this series so was excited to receive this ARC.
The FMC, Annie is a young single mom. After being abandoned by her son’s father she is not interested or looking for love at all. The MMC Tanner is a single guy that doesn’t do relationships. When he meets Annie’s immediately interested. But she’s his teammates younger sister, 12 years his junior and has a lot of responsibilities. I loved their friendship, they were so supportive of each other. This is a very slow burn. Most of their reasons for not dating were really non issues and there was some miscommunication, but not frustratingly so.
I hated Auston as much as I did in the previous book, and adored Colton and Sas as much too.
Unfortunately, I don’t think this one was as well written as the first. Much of the dialogue was cringy for me.
3.25⭐️

[Katie_thebookslayer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love a sports romance and this one was a really easy, thoroughly gripping read. Despite it being book two of the series, it worked well as a standalone. The background of characters from the first book was enough that I didn’t feel lost or like I should go back and read it before reading this one.

Annie is a single mom and was left all alone when the boy she thought loved her took off and wanted nothing to do with her or their baby. At 22 and with a 10 month old baby, she’s heading back to college to make sure they have a future.

The friendship that builds between Annie and Tanner is one I really enjoyed. Even though he’s her brother’s best friend and teammate, he’s also older and seemingly a playboy.

I found the “will they, won’t they” aspect a little tedious towards the end but it all came together nicely. Feelings were shared and realisations were had for both of them. It was a little spicy, but for the most part it was about their connection and chemistry.