FAKING THE GOAL

by K LASTELLA

I’m Taylor Lewis—and if you’ve heard of me, it’s probably for all the wrong reasons. I party too hard. I flirt too much.
So what if I sleep around more than anyone out there? Whatever. I don’t owe anyone an explanation.

Especially not Kentaro Azuma—grumpy, too-serious, annoyingly perfect Kentaro.
He’s made it crystal clear he thinks I’m reckless and immature. I think he needs to loosen the hell up.

We don’t like each other. We never have.

But when I start receiving mysterious messages, unwanted gifts—and the sick feeling that someone’s always watching me—Kentaro is the one who comes to my rescue with the most ridiculous proposition I’ve ever fake dating.

Which should’ve sounded insane.

Instead, somehow, it sounded like a really good idea.

Just until the crazy dies down. No real feelings. No strings. Just playing the part.

At least, that was the plan.

Until he started looking at me like I wasn’t just some mistake waiting to happen. Until I started wishing it wasn’t fake. And for the first time in my life, I started believing maybe I could finally be happy.

But the closer Kentaro and I get, the more dangerous things become.

Because someone out there has been obsessed with me for far too long.

And if he can’t have me…
no one will.


Faking The Goal is Book Three in the Ridgewater U series: an interconnected standalone enemies-to-lovers hockey romance with a suspenseful twist.

811 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication October 1, 2026

Reviews

[Amee]

ARC review.

Many thanks to author for the Faking the Goal ARC, book three in the Ridgewater U series. You can find them under klastella- no spaces. My opinions as always are my own, so take them with a grain of salt, but damn I loved this! Being someone who didn’t care for book two in the series, I still tried to go into this next one open minded and fair. I’d wanted Kentaro’s book since he was first introduced. And, Wow! I didn’t want this one to end, though I couldn’t wait to find out who the person stalking Taylor was going to really be, once unmasked. So I’d read slow to make it last, enjoyed the vibes between Kentaro and Taylor, and there were such laugh out loud moments I highlighted, I couldn’t get enough. Then I’d catch myself trying to consume it whole and have to slow down. My issues with book two were non existent here. The seriousness of the plot had the girth needed by author so she could fill it with the page counts she’s known to give us. I felt overall pacing was on point for what I enjoy. Check your TW, author placed them at the front and there is violence on page. It’s brutal, but realistic. If I had one critique it would be I wanted more scenes with the gang together. They all have such a great connection I wanted more of it. But that’s just me being greedy. By far my favorite as yet in the series, and a new couple to add in with the GOATs I love. Written as a true yin and yang couple I couldn’t get enough as they slowly learned to trust each other and open up. We get a bit of a teaser for our next player and I’m excited to continue series.

[A.Onstad]

Thank you, KLastella, for the ARC of the third installment of the Ridgewater U series-Faking The Goal–Release date: October 1st, 2026.
4.5 starts

While Kentaro and Taylor’s story was amazing, Eli and Sam’s book is still my favorite!
But still, who doesn’t love the grumpy goalie and happy party girl story? The way they annoy each other is so much fun…until Taylor’s past comes back and until Kentaro has to deal with pressure from his father. Then the drama of their story begins. While some might think a 600+ page romance novel is too long, I think KLastella uses those pages to really let us sink into their story, which I appreciate.

You’ll love seeing the hockey guys (and Sam and Caroline) again (and trying to guess whose book is next–looking at you Cody). The friend group scenes are always my favorite part about college romances. What is added here is getting to see Taylor learn how to be a part of that family, and being a part of Kentaro’s actual family. The Christmas scene was just the sweetest part of the book.

Will you want to smack Kentaro in the head a few times? Oh, most definitely. But, it’s satisfying watching him try to make things right with Taylor.

Pick up book one first, though–Benched by You–it’ll be worth it.

[Dawn Brandenburg]

Lets go back to one of our favorite college hockey teams. We got to briefly meet Taylor in Benched by You now we hear the whole story. You can not get enough of Kentaro and Taylors banter. The slow burn of thier love draws you in with each chapter. As you unlock what the brooding goalie holds beneath that hard exterior. We also get to see the couples we fell in love with in the first 2 books. Taylor is a strong woman who has lived a lifetime already. This is an absolute must read! You will laugh and cry. But mostly you will have the privilege of watching a true love blossom.