The Kicker

by Leonor Soliz

Genres: Friends To Lovers, Novella

189 pages, Paperback

Published August 28, 2025

About the author

Leonor wrote her first Meet Cute at eight years old and never really stopped. Her stories are cozy and fun: low conflict, slow burn books that will make you swoon... and will reward you with great spice. With a healthy dose of humor, these stories guarantee a happily ever after to her plus size and multicultural characters.

Leonor is a Latina living in Canada, working as a therapist during the day and fitting as much writing to her life as she can. She’s also a multicrafter, trying her hand at watercolor, jewelry, sewing, and anything else that strikes her fancy. She makes her own covers!

Learn more about Leonor at leonorsoliz.com/links.

Reviews

[Kimberlyyyreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet just how I like it! 🙂‍↕️💓

[Alicia Fernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good introduction to the series that I might just start with the first novel right now!!!

[ingrid :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damián and Nat oh my what a great couple to start the Settle Strike Series! I love a good friends to lovers and this was no exception. The friendship was sweet but their relationship is spicy and wonderful! For only a short story Leonor really captured their essence and I loved it! My heart melted at this small snippet "I smile. "This is going to work out, isn't it?" His fingers run up and down my leg. "I already love you. It's easy to fall in love with you, too. It's strange, to hold these two types of love in me for you. Seeing myself at the edge of being in love with you, when I love you so deeply already."

I was overly excited an already read The Game but I'm now all catch up and can't wait to dive in to The Catch

[Lisa Ann D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Nat,” is all I can say, before kiss her with all have.
With all I am.
It’s a different kiss than our first. Our tongues immediately search each other, and she’s pulling me to her with both hands at my nape. I can hear my heartbeat, and my poor cock feels deprived of her like we’ve been waiting years- and maybe we have.

➽───── ˚˖𓍢ִ໋💋🏈♥️──────❥

I’m such a #seattlestrikeseries fan & this was a pleasure to read. I’ve read all the other novels in this series and finally got my hands on this one. It was simply perfect.
@leonor.soliz has made me a fan for life.
🏈
Tropes:
Spice & Nice
Bookstore Owner
Football Kicker
Best friends to more
Good pupper
Perfect Novella/Short story
Curvy/Plus size FMC
(The female characters are more than the trope- they are always strong & well developed)

➽───── ˚˖𓍢ִ໋💋🏈♥️──────❥

[Kiana Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lord have mercy, I love me a good plus-size romance series!!

Sheeeeeshh was I swooning with this book.
Leonor Soliz is one of my favorite authors that I have stumbled upon and will definitely be finishing this whole series!

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short novella filled with friendship, love, decisions and more. Absolutly loved this 2, they did everything needed to make sure not only one was happy but both and Barkley. Such a wonderful read I can't wait to read the books from this series♡

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ 2🌶
The Kicker is a cute fluffy novella to get you ready for the Seattle Strike series. I read it after I read the other three. It was so cute going back to see how Nat and Damian got together. It was pretty good even with it being so short.

[Curvy Girls Read Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damián loves Natalia SO much. 🥹
These two and their consideration for their friendship and for one another is just so expertly written. I love the emotional maturity of Leonor Solíz's MCs. This was such a perfect intro to the Seattle Strike series and I can't wait for the rest.

[3v4nny]

after not reading a book by soliz in over a year i’ve decided to finally pick up another book by her and damn, you just know an author is good at their work when they can make a 50 page masterpiece. i can’t wait to read this whole series!

[Ale 🦋 · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC 🤍

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

[Julissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet intro to the series.

[Sonya Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swoon & spice. Read this totally out of order. My only complaint isn’t long enough :p

[Tiffany Stouder · Rating 5 out of 5]

So so so good! The heat between these two can be felt through the pages!

[RomanceReader1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠!!!

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑫𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒂𝒏 & 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒂 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑤𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑓𝑢𝑙 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠, 𝐼'𝑚 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑛𝑒𝑤 𝑄𝐵!

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talk about a slow hot burn of epic proportions. This is it. Especially when we find out that six years ago this angsty goodness started with a one-night stand.

Yes! Logan and Evie, the PR Guru and the kicker for Seattle Strike. It's a night they have both used to measure every partner since. And that says everything. And now they have to work closely with one another. The two of them fight the attraction with all they have, however, their chemistry is stronger than they can fight. Eventually, they decide they can just get together and get out of their systems and then return to just being friends because neither of them wants a relationship.

The adorable delusional fools. This grumpy quarterback falls HARD for the sunshine PR woman and everyone recognizes it but him. The found family aspect of this romance was beautifully written. The glimpses we got into the different players and their characters were perfect. I'm now extremely excited and delighted for Saint's book!