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The Perfect Play #1
For the Win
What happens when you fall for your biggest competition? Sara Rider scores with this charming romance about soccer stars battling their tough opponents and playing the field of love.
Lainey Lukas has sacrificed everything—sleep, family, carbs, a life—to earn her spot as the top player and captain of the Seattle Falcons women’s soccer team. She’s determined to lead her team to a national championship and finally earn the sport the respect it deserves—and nothing will throw her off her game. When Lainey’s hero Gabe Havelak, star of the Seattle Surge, crashes her team’s first press conference—making the Falcons look like a joke to the local media and humiliating Lainey in the process—she’s hell-bent on revenge.
Charming, confident Gabe is practically a god to Seattle soccer fans, but he doesn’t mind a little friendly competition from tough-as-nails Lainey, with her top-notch athletic skills, her mile-long legs, and her girl-next-door freckles. But when he learns the Falcons are booting the Surge from their coveted practice space to the notoriously cursed Cricket Field, those warm feelings give way to crippling superstition. With his contract up for renewal and his thirty-fourth birthday just weeks away, Gabe will risk anything to protect his position with the Surge.
The rivals agree to settle their differences in a Battle of the Sexes competition—a test of skills, fitness, and willpower. At first the situation seems win-win: Gabe gets the chance to earn back the Surge’s practice space, and Lainey’s team will finally get some much-deserved media attention. But as the friction between them becomes hot enough to spark and smolder, Lainey and Gabe are entering new territory—and with both of their careers on the line, love might just be the toughest opponent of all.
Lainey Lukas has sacrificed everything—sleep, family, carbs, a life—to earn her spot as the top player and captain of the Seattle Falcons women’s soccer team. She’s determined to lead her team to a national championship and finally earn the sport the respect it deserves—and nothing will throw her off her game. When Lainey’s hero Gabe Havelak, star of the Seattle Surge, crashes her team’s first press conference—making the Falcons look like a joke to the local media and humiliating Lainey in the process—she’s hell-bent on revenge.
Charming, confident Gabe is practically a god to Seattle soccer fans, but he doesn’t mind a little friendly competition from tough-as-nails Lainey, with her top-notch athletic skills, her mile-long legs, and her girl-next-door freckles. But when he learns the Falcons are booting the Surge from their coveted practice space to the notoriously cursed Cricket Field, those warm feelings give way to crippling superstition. With his contract up for renewal and his thirty-fourth birthday just weeks away, Gabe will risk anything to protect his position with the Surge.
The rivals agree to settle their differences in a Battle of the Sexes competition—a test of skills, fitness, and willpower. At first the situation seems win-win: Gabe gets the chance to earn back the Surge’s practice space, and Lainey’s team will finally get some much-deserved media attention. But as the friction between them becomes hot enough to spark and smolder, Lainey and Gabe are entering new territory—and with both of their careers on the line, love might just be the toughest opponent of all.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 6, 2016
17 people are currently reading
571 people want to read
About the author
Sara Rider
7 books239 followersSara Rider writes contemporary romances full of heart and heat about strong heroines and the men who can’t resist them. Growing up, Sara dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player. When that dream was squashed by her extreme dislike of running, she decided to do the next best thing: write about professional soccer players. By day, Sara spends her time working in the field of research ethics and daydreams about plotlines and character arcs. She spends far too much time at public libraries and never leaves the house without a paperback or an e-reader stuffed into her purse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
May 18, 2016
Ever since reading Kulti by Mariana Zapata, I’ve been hoping to come across a similar themed sports related romantic read. For the Win by Sara Rider seemed a likely book candidate.
While Kulti is a slow burn romance loaded with non-stop hilarious, spontaneous/off-the-cuff, witty/sarcastic/flirtatious banter that seems to say “I hate you so much I want to punch you, but I’m so in love with you I just want to kiss you”, For the Win also began with that flirty, combative, magnetic main couple attraction but seemed to have a more serious undertone. Also, Lainey and Gabe became a couple about half-way through, opposed to nearly the end in Kulti.
Lainey Lukas, who is all about winning a second World Cup after being severely injured in her first one, is much more reserved and less high strung than Kulti’s leading lady, at least in the first half. Gabe is still playing competitive soccer but feeling his age (mostly in his right knee) and starting to think ahead to life, love, and happiness outside the game. He wants to tempt Lainey to turn some of her laser like focus for soccer on to a relationship with him. He’s got his work cut out for him, because as team captain, Lainey feels it is up to her to lead her team to another victory.
With an interesting twist the media refers to as the Battle of the Sexes, Gabe’s team takes on Lainey’s in a mostly friendly, PR related, on and off the field competitions with side bets that leave you wondering who is going to have to practice on the dreaded, supposedly cursed Cricket Field. This pivotal subplot, however, isn’t mentioned again for some time.
Now for the bad news, at 60% it felt like this author was taken out of the game and a second string writer took over. The storyline started to turn sappy. Then it turned downright silly (Gabe’s team mostly naked calendar pictures and Lainey’s not particularly well-written jealous reaction to it), which lead to her later no self-respect/cave man approach to declaring Gabe’s as hers. Then rather sad as it is clear Gabe now wants to tell her he loves her, but Lainey seems determined to keep their relationship exclusive but casual. Well, until 82% when she’s acting tortured because Gabe hasn’t professed his dying love. She obviously doesn’t remember telling him not to. Maybe this girl has had one too many soccer knocks to her noggin, my fellow romance book-loving friends.
Then onward to a family gathering hosted by Gabe’s Mom that ends on a bizarre note dubbing Lainey with a strange/unfavorable label, which becomes a story featured in the next day’s newspaper. Lainey then is mad at Gabe, who had nothing to do with this belief/accusation, yet she blames him and won’t return his calls. Honestly, it just didn’t make any sense from this point on. Especially not after Lainey’s childish, likely could not have pulled them off anyway pranks at Gabe’s next game. Followed soon afterwards by Gabe’s attempt to get her attention prank that felt equally juvenile. For the Win became a “what the heck” read. By 80%, I just wanted to be put out of my literary misery.
Yes, the story proceeded but never fully recovered. Just like a black and white soccer ball being kicked around during a competitive game, so were the characters actions and writing style...all over the place. Unfortunately, it ultimately missed the goal line with this NetGalley reviewer. Here’s to hoping others enjoy it more. I certainly did until 50%, then it lost its literary mojo.
Title: For the Win, Series: The Perfect Play (Book 1), Author: Sara Rider, Pages: 336, stand-alone, HEA, from opposing sides to romantic couple, determined to succeed, sassy/heroine, VERY graphic steamy scenes, no cheating, no love triangle, no OW/OM drama, no cliffhanger.
(This review is based on ARC generously provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. No compensation was paid to the reviewer nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher. It will be posted on Amazon, Goodreads, NetGalley, and Barnes & Noble.)
While Kulti is a slow burn romance loaded with non-stop hilarious, spontaneous/off-the-cuff, witty/sarcastic/flirtatious banter that seems to say “I hate you so much I want to punch you, but I’m so in love with you I just want to kiss you”, For the Win also began with that flirty, combative, magnetic main couple attraction but seemed to have a more serious undertone. Also, Lainey and Gabe became a couple about half-way through, opposed to nearly the end in Kulti.
Lainey Lukas, who is all about winning a second World Cup after being severely injured in her first one, is much more reserved and less high strung than Kulti’s leading lady, at least in the first half. Gabe is still playing competitive soccer but feeling his age (mostly in his right knee) and starting to think ahead to life, love, and happiness outside the game. He wants to tempt Lainey to turn some of her laser like focus for soccer on to a relationship with him. He’s got his work cut out for him, because as team captain, Lainey feels it is up to her to lead her team to another victory.
With an interesting twist the media refers to as the Battle of the Sexes, Gabe’s team takes on Lainey’s in a mostly friendly, PR related, on and off the field competitions with side bets that leave you wondering who is going to have to practice on the dreaded, supposedly cursed Cricket Field. This pivotal subplot, however, isn’t mentioned again for some time.
Now for the bad news, at 60% it felt like this author was taken out of the game and a second string writer took over. The storyline started to turn sappy. Then it turned downright silly (Gabe’s team mostly naked calendar pictures and Lainey’s not particularly well-written jealous reaction to it), which lead to her later no self-respect/cave man approach to declaring Gabe’s as hers. Then rather sad as it is clear Gabe now wants to tell her he loves her, but Lainey seems determined to keep their relationship exclusive but casual. Well, until 82% when she’s acting tortured because Gabe hasn’t professed his dying love. She obviously doesn’t remember telling him not to. Maybe this girl has had one too many soccer knocks to her noggin, my fellow romance book-loving friends.
Then onward to a family gathering hosted by Gabe’s Mom that ends on a bizarre note dubbing Lainey with a strange/unfavorable label, which becomes a story featured in the next day’s newspaper. Lainey then is mad at Gabe, who had nothing to do with this belief/accusation, yet she blames him and won’t return his calls. Honestly, it just didn’t make any sense from this point on. Especially not after Lainey’s childish, likely could not have pulled them off anyway pranks at Gabe’s next game. Followed soon afterwards by Gabe’s attempt to get her attention prank that felt equally juvenile. For the Win became a “what the heck” read. By 80%, I just wanted to be put out of my literary misery.
Yes, the story proceeded but never fully recovered. Just like a black and white soccer ball being kicked around during a competitive game, so were the characters actions and writing style...all over the place. Unfortunately, it ultimately missed the goal line with this NetGalley reviewer. Here’s to hoping others enjoy it more. I certainly did until 50%, then it lost its literary mojo.
Title: For the Win, Series: The Perfect Play (Book 1), Author: Sara Rider, Pages: 336, stand-alone, HEA, from opposing sides to romantic couple, determined to succeed, sassy/heroine, VERY graphic steamy scenes, no cheating, no love triangle, no OW/OM drama, no cliffhanger.
(This review is based on ARC generously provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. No compensation was paid to the reviewer nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher. It will be posted on Amazon, Goodreads, NetGalley, and Barnes & Noble.)
June 23, 2016
I loved this soccer gem! I've been in a sports romance kick lately and this one did not disappoint! Full review to come!
March 7, 2017
Part of me is inclined to think that comparing this to Kulti was setting the bar for this too high to begin with. While another part of me can't get over some serious issues, particularly with the first half of the book.
The whole Battle of the Sexes thing was laid on waaaaaay too thick. I don't think a reporter would actually refer to male athletes as the "real athletes" while at a press conference for a women's soccer team. And sexism like that was just interspersed throughout the whole book as this overt thing that permeated all aspects life. And I'm not saying that that it doesn't really exist, and people aren't really like that, but again, it was just so overdone here. Especially in the beginning where Lainey is put forth as the sole soldier in the fight against sexism. Even her teammates are kind of portrayed as fun-loving ditzes, compared against Lainey's serious dedication and passion for soccer. And the name-calling and animosity between the women in this book was just upsetting.
Then there was Gabe who I didn't particularly care much for. And some seriously cheesy dialogue. Again, everything was just laid on way too thick. And then that ending? Just cheesy.
P.S. I've said it again and I'll say it before. Stop having characters get engaged within months of meeting. People in this day and age date for a while before getting married. This is one of my biggest pet peeves in romance.
The whole Battle of the Sexes thing was laid on waaaaaay too thick. I don't think a reporter would actually refer to male athletes as the "real athletes" while at a press conference for a women's soccer team. And sexism like that was just interspersed throughout the whole book as this overt thing that permeated all aspects life. And I'm not saying that that it doesn't really exist, and people aren't really like that, but again, it was just so overdone here. Especially in the beginning where Lainey is put forth as the sole soldier in the fight against sexism. Even her teammates are kind of portrayed as fun-loving ditzes, compared against Lainey's serious dedication and passion for soccer. And the name-calling and animosity between the women in this book was just upsetting.
Then there was Gabe who I didn't particularly care much for. And some seriously cheesy dialogue. Again, everything was just laid on way too thick. And then that ending? Just cheesy.
P.S. I've said it again and I'll say it before. Stop having characters get engaged within months of meeting. People in this day and age date for a while before getting married. This is one of my biggest pet peeves in romance.
October 20, 2018
This was overall a pretty sweet if forgettable story. Lots of soccer - both characters are professional. Some immature antics I wasn't quite sold on as funny, but a pretty nice romance underneath. A strong ending, sagging middle, and intriguing and easy-to-read beginning round out the 3-a lot of the writing was tedious. I will definitely look to this author for uncomplicated romance. I give it about a 2.75, but I'm rounding up.
November 19, 2019
This was a fun book to listen too, the enemies to lovers thing was just enough but not too much. I like the chemistry they have it wasn’t a hate relationship right off the bat.
I really enjoyed Lainey’s determination and how she goes after what she wants even if it scares her. She puts one foot in from of the other and sallies forth. It really is admirable.
The narration was pretty great too, I think I will continue the series.
I really enjoyed Lainey’s determination and how she goes after what she wants even if it scares her. She puts one foot in from of the other and sallies forth. It really is admirable.
The narration was pretty great too, I think I will continue the series.
March 15, 2018
I read this on a recommendation after having very mixed feelings about Kulti. This was the better book in my opinion, as while both main protagonists have their issues, their relationship seemed healthy to me.
Lainey has some similarities at first to Sal in Kulti: They are both shown as the best ever, because of their hard work, dedication and discipline. They both have some problems because of this with their teammates. They both have to work in addition to playing, since female soccer players don’t earn nearly as much as their male counterparts do. And they both have outdoorsy jobs.
I don’t remember if Sal was the captain of her team, but both Lainey and her love interest Gabe are, and this role is important to their characterization and to the story.
In contrast to Sal Lainey overcomes the problems with her teammates early on, and it is very clear that this is necessary for them to be successful.
I was happy how soccer was portrayed in this book: as a very competitive and athletic sport, but also a sport where playing as a team is important. Both captains show leadership skills, and their fellow players depend on them for support.
The only similarity between Gabe and Kulti is that they are older than the female lead. In everything else Gabe is wonderfully different: he is outgoing, fun loving, charming, and very aware of what he owes to his team, his fans, his city and his family.
He is less driven than Lainey, and he knows that he is at the end of his career. He does pro bono work (not like Kulti, who has to be forced into it by Sal), because he understands how lucky he is and wants to give back.
I also enjoyed „the battle of the sexes“ between the two teams. It was all in good fun, and Gabe is always very aware how unjust the system is.
The whole superstition aspect was a bit strange, but played out nicely.
Concerning the relationship, I had an easier time following Gabe than Lainey. The development of his interest in and love for her seemed more straightforward. I could not always follow her reasoning. But it was great seeing him work around that, respecting her boundaries all the way to the end. The sex was not for me, but that isn’t new ;-)
Lainey has some similarities at first to Sal in Kulti: They are both shown as the best ever, because of their hard work, dedication and discipline. They both have some problems because of this with their teammates. They both have to work in addition to playing, since female soccer players don’t earn nearly as much as their male counterparts do. And they both have outdoorsy jobs.
I don’t remember if Sal was the captain of her team, but both Lainey and her love interest Gabe are, and this role is important to their characterization and to the story.
In contrast to Sal Lainey overcomes the problems with her teammates early on, and it is very clear that this is necessary for them to be successful.
I was happy how soccer was portrayed in this book: as a very competitive and athletic sport, but also a sport where playing as a team is important. Both captains show leadership skills, and their fellow players depend on them for support.
The only similarity between Gabe and Kulti is that they are older than the female lead. In everything else Gabe is wonderfully different: he is outgoing, fun loving, charming, and very aware of what he owes to his team, his fans, his city and his family.
He is less driven than Lainey, and he knows that he is at the end of his career. He does pro bono work (not like Kulti, who has to be forced into it by Sal), because he understands how lucky he is and wants to give back.
I also enjoyed „the battle of the sexes“ between the two teams. It was all in good fun, and Gabe is always very aware how unjust the system is.
The whole superstition aspect was a bit strange, but played out nicely.
Concerning the relationship, I had an easier time following Gabe than Lainey. The development of his interest in and love for her seemed more straightforward. I could not always follow her reasoning. But it was great seeing him work around that, respecting her boundaries all the way to the end. The sex was not for me, but that isn’t new ;-)
May 8, 2016
Lainey plays fo the Falcon and Gabe plays for the Surge and well they dislike each other more Lainey parts. The main plot is rivalry btw the two clubs that after a "fight" in the bar and some video leaked for the internet. Women and men of the clubs have to participate to a marathon of compettions to know whom is the best.
This book remind me of Kulti but here we have dual POVs and more interaction with friends and family for the both parts. I like Lainey she is hot head and very young she had to got away from her family that did not support her. She is not a very friendly person but after the competiton starts she become friends with her other players.
Gabe likes attention and the guy is cocky yet a family guy and when Lainey and him start to date we see a side of him that is both caring and romantic. Lainey Lucas don't give up easy to him even having a crazy attraction towards him she is trying to protect her heart.
I like them together but they pursue their relationship just until the end. Yet their interaction and how they true with each other.
Besides we have Tessa Gabe's sis, Jaime, Allisson, Lynn, Zazu, Johnny that were a very welcome comic relief. And on't get me start with Graham and Grace show that was so funny specially Jaime treating Grace whom wants some piece of cake of Gabe Gavelak.
The description about football was very little and the next book will be about Jaime's.
This book remind me of Kulti but here we have dual POVs and more interaction with friends and family for the both parts. I like Lainey she is hot head and very young she had to got away from her family that did not support her. She is not a very friendly person but after the competiton starts she become friends with her other players.
Gabe likes attention and the guy is cocky yet a family guy and when Lainey and him start to date we see a side of him that is both caring and romantic. Lainey Lucas don't give up easy to him even having a crazy attraction towards him she is trying to protect her heart.
I like them together but they pursue their relationship just until the end. Yet their interaction and how they true with each other.
Besides we have Tessa Gabe's sis, Jaime, Allisson, Lynn, Zazu, Johnny that were a very welcome comic relief. And on't get me start with Graham and Grace show that was so funny specially Jaime treating Grace whom wants some piece of cake of Gabe Gavelak.
The description about football was very little and the next book will be about Jaime's.
May 31, 2020
Rated 3.5 stars
I found this enjoyable and I loved the banter between them. I even liked the families. Everyone had their funny moments.
I found this enjoyable and I loved the banter between them. I even liked the families. Everyone had their funny moments.
June 18, 2017
Anything worth fighting for always required sacrifices. She wasn't the type to live her life in the shadows of what-ifs and regret.
Galley provided by publisher
More like 3.5
For The Win tells the story of Lainey Lukas as she gets back into football following a horrific injury in the World Cup final. The owner of the franchise she joins, decides that the women's team will train on the main training ground, while the men's team get relegated to the apparently cursed Cricket Ground pitch, a move which doesn't go down well with Gabe Havelak, the men's captain.
Thus begins the media-dubbed "Battle of the Sexes" in which the teams compete in various tasks (including cooking and fund-raising) to prove they are the better team. Whoever wins gets to train on the main pitch.
Overall, the book was enjoyable. I really liked the first half of it, but the second half was a bit less interesting, especially once Lainey and Gabe had actually got together. I feel like that could have been delayed for a while longer.
The second half of the book also included some of the scenes I didn't like so much. There was Lainey's sudden attack of jealousy and possessiveness, following Grace flirting with Gabe after the naked calendar reveal. Which, I guess, was a nice subversion of the man usually doing that, but possessiveness always makes me a little dubious, especially if it's as violently expressed as I read this being and unless it's conveyed reciprocally, which it wasn't here.
Another scene I wasn't a huge fan of was their first sex scene, which involved an overuse of the word "pounding". If it's aiming to be 'hot' or whatever, then pounding is not the way to go about it surely. I feel like it ruins all the sexual tension (not that there seemed to be huge amounts, beyond 'oh he's hot'/'oh she's hot').
And then the Havelak family curse, which felt unnecessary, really. Especially the scene were Mama Havelak . At which point, Lainey gets pissed off at Gabe (why?), and they have a prank war (but really, it's just aimed at getting attention, like pulling pigtails). And then they make up (including a 24-hour sex marathon, which, forgive me, is so unbelievable), and everyone's happy.
There were a few other issues I had with this book. For one, there was the women-hating-on-women thing going on. All of the female footballers hated on Grace because she kept flirting with the guys (especially Gabe) and... not much else. Not here for that, sorry.
Also the overprotective parents/brother trope going on, with Tessa. I mean, Tessa is wholly capable of looking out for herself, even at 14. It was understandable given that the guy Gabe was eyeing up in his overprotective mode was 19, but Tessa was perfectly able to show her lack of interest. Like, chill out, Gabe.
The age difference was also an issue. I don't quite understand why almost every romance has to have a significant (like, 5 or 6 years) age difference. Is it like a rule of NA romance? Why can't they just be the same age? (Also, the masturbation to a poster of him when she was younger is borderline creepy.)
I think part of the reason I didn't enjoy this book more was because I was always internally comparing it to Kulti, which has great characters and such unbearable tension. For The Win seemed for a while like it might live up to that, but in the end, it was a little disappointing, even though I enjoyed it.
October 6, 2016
Two hot professional soccer players. Two teams competing for the fans and the sponsors. Plenty of girl power and sweet, sexy times. For the Win was a fun read! At first I was a little unsure because it seemed a little YA with the boys against girls, the practical jokes, and some of the silliness going on.
But by about 40%, I was in it and liking it! Once this book hit its stride, it was a winner. It was definitely worth the time.
Lainey was a tough, determined and smart heroine.
Gabe "Hometown Hero" Havelak was a swoonworthy hero who adored Lainey and wanted to do whatever he needed to do to win her over.
I loved the ending and the epilogue!
I would definitely read the next book in this series.
June 6, 2017
Okay, let's just get this out of the way because--just glancing through other reviews--this is mentioned in a lot of them: yes, this book has similarities to Kulti, a book I had a lot of issues with. There are relatively few sports romances about soccer, and even fewer in which both protagonists are professional athletes, so the comparisons are natural. But unlike some others, I found this book superior to Kulti on almost every level where you can make a reasonable comparison. And aside from that, I do think it deserves to be reviewed on its own merit.
This story caught my interest from the first page. Lainey Lukas, one of the best female soccer players in the world, scores the winning goal in the Women's World Cup for the USA but suffers a horrific head injury that took her months to recover from. Head injuries in soccer are no joke (just ask Petr Cech!), meaning she not only blacked out and missed that the USA won, but she also missed all the celebrations afterwards, stuck in a hospital in Norway where the tournament was being held. This set up Lainey as sympathetic character for me, and she's definitely a bit of a loner, as we discover very early on. I thought it was really sad that she basically had no family or friends to visit her while she recovered, and the fact that she missed such a massive accomplishment and the peak of her international career is really sad!
But this isn't a sad book, never fear. A few months later, Lainey has just moved to Seattle to captain the inaugural season of the Seattle Falcons, a new club in a new professional women's league--the third of its kind, so the stakes are higher because Lainey does not want this club OR the league to fail. Seattle already has the Seattle Surge, a popular men's club (great choice of setting). This sets up a natural rivalry between Lainey and Gabe Havelak, the captain of the Surge. He's not only the most popular American male soccer player, but also Seattle's "Hometown Hero" after he left La Liga in Spain to return home and play for the Surge. The Falcons have to share a venue with the men and must develop their own fanbase to sell tickets, or they risk being shut down before they even get a chance to get the league off the ground.
This is definitely an opposites attract romance not only because of the enemies-to-lovers theme, but because Lainey and Gabe are very different people. Lainey is socially awkward and terse and uncomfortable with the press; she's really at her most confident when she's actually playing. She's serious and her world is very insular in a lot of ways. She has a part-time job roofing with her uncle because, despite being the highest-paid person on her team, she still makes peanuts. Gabe is extroverted and the darling of the Seattle sports media with several endorsements throughout what appears to be a lucrative career. He comes across as someone who doesn't take life as seriously, but he's really just a happy person who has been blessed with talent, good looks, and a good career. He injects a lot of fun into Lainey's life, helping her loosen up without losing her focus.
But what they have in common is their drive to be the best players they can be, although Gabe doesn't have the World Cup glory (or even a chance in hell of winning it) that Lainey had. Lainey is 100% committed to being a superior athlete. She has unbelievable discipline when it comes to her diet and conditioning, baffling even her teammates. We don't know her age (unless I missed it), but it's implied that she still has many years ahead of her as a player, whereas Gabe is nearing the end of his career at 33 with a dodgy knee that won't last many more seasons. She's young enough to have had posters of Gabe on her wall (in college?) when he was already playing professionally.
One thing I really loved is that Gabe's respect for her as a professional athlete and world-class soccer player is established from the very beginning. In the second chapter, which switches to his point of view (this book is in the third person and switches between the two protagonists), we learn that he's been a fan of Lainey's since watching her in the Women's World Cup because of her talent and her obvious passion for the game that he hasn't had since earlier in his career. Gabe also has a sister 20 years younger than him who idolizes Lainey; throughout the book, Lainey meets young fans, especially young girls, for whom she serves as a role model.
Things definitely start off on the wrong foot when Gabe inadvertently steals the spotlight from a press conference Lainey was giving for the Falcons. He tries to help her but only ends up embarrassing her further. To apologize for this and for "stealing" the press conference, he sends her flowers, not realizing that she's quite allergic and therefore spent a whole preseason match sneezing and feeling miserable. Gabe is at a loss for how to get her to actually talk to him and learn he's a nice guy. Things culminate in a confrontation at a club one night when Lainey feels he's being sexist and that he and his teammates don't respect her or her teammates as athletes. All of this is captured in a YouTube video that goes viral, which comes to the owner's attention. For publicity's sake, the owner decides to play up their rivalry with a Battle of the Sexes, in which the Falcons and the Surge will face off on various tasks over the course of a few weeks, with each of them having something at stake for winning.
Truth be told, it took me a while to figure out how I felt about a "battle of the sexes" setup and how that speaks to gender normativity and a cisgender perspective, but I understood where the author was going with this and why this made sense for the characters. Lainey has a lot to lose--and a lot to prove--as the captain of the Falcons. Women's soccer is less popular, less financed and endorsed (by a huge margin), and female athletes are held to certain standards that male athletes are not. This comes up time and again in the book during their publicity events, usually in the form of obnoxious questions by a female reporter who has a huge crush on Gabe. The reporter is the kind of woman who puts down other women to feel better about herself, and Lainey is often on the receiving end of this, much to Gabe's dismay.
There is also a bit of a side plot regarding a supposed hex on the astroturf field where the men are expected to practice. Gabe was raised in a superstitious family, and he takes this seriously, which backfires on him at some point in a big way. I wasn't super sold on the whole hex idea and how this created conflict between the two protagonists. There were more interesting sources of conflict between the two that I found more compelling. Lainey is definitely the one who is more resistant to the idea of a relationship between her and Gabe, not only because of this Battle of the Sexes contest (which she does't seem to realize no one is taking as seriously as she is), but also her preconceptions about Gabe as someone not interested in a long-term relationship. She also doesn't feel like she has time for a relationship at this point in her career because all of her focus goes to starting the Falcons off strongly. Gabe understands this and so he suggests something more casual--a relationship that ends when the regular season starts--so that he can spend more time with her and convince her to give him a real chance.
I am a sucker for a book where the hero is smitten with the heroine from the start and she has to sort of catch up, so to speak. That certainly happens here. Gabe pursues Lainey and he does not shy away from letting her know that he wants her. I was pleased that the sexual tension was maintained throughout the book, even though they start a temporary relationship of sorts by the halfway point. There's always a chance for me as a reader that I'll lose interest, but there is enough there between the external pressures on their relationship and Gabe's determination to convince Lainey that they can actually work as a couple (and the sex is hot).
I do wish Lainey's backstory had been a bit more developed. She grew up on a farm in Nebraska and her parents were not very supportive of her pursuing soccer seriously. She thus moved to live with her aunt and uncle in Seattle as a teenager, and they are her biggest fans and fill the role of parents. She has no interaction with her parents or brothers back in Nebraska that I can recall, so I wasn't clear how much they talked or how much they even knew about her career and what was going on in her life. Gabe, by contrast, is extremely close to his family; being near them was his main reason for moving back to Seattle.
There are also some wonderful secondary characters in this book (their families and teammates). Definitely going to read the next one!
This story caught my interest from the first page. Lainey Lukas, one of the best female soccer players in the world, scores the winning goal in the Women's World Cup for the USA but suffers a horrific head injury that took her months to recover from. Head injuries in soccer are no joke (just ask Petr Cech!), meaning she not only blacked out and missed that the USA won, but she also missed all the celebrations afterwards, stuck in a hospital in Norway where the tournament was being held. This set up Lainey as sympathetic character for me, and she's definitely a bit of a loner, as we discover very early on. I thought it was really sad that she basically had no family or friends to visit her while she recovered, and the fact that she missed such a massive accomplishment and the peak of her international career is really sad!
But this isn't a sad book, never fear. A few months later, Lainey has just moved to Seattle to captain the inaugural season of the Seattle Falcons, a new club in a new professional women's league--the third of its kind, so the stakes are higher because Lainey does not want this club OR the league to fail. Seattle already has the Seattle Surge, a popular men's club (great choice of setting). This sets up a natural rivalry between Lainey and Gabe Havelak, the captain of the Surge. He's not only the most popular American male soccer player, but also Seattle's "Hometown Hero" after he left La Liga in Spain to return home and play for the Surge. The Falcons have to share a venue with the men and must develop their own fanbase to sell tickets, or they risk being shut down before they even get a chance to get the league off the ground.
This is definitely an opposites attract romance not only because of the enemies-to-lovers theme, but because Lainey and Gabe are very different people. Lainey is socially awkward and terse and uncomfortable with the press; she's really at her most confident when she's actually playing. She's serious and her world is very insular in a lot of ways. She has a part-time job roofing with her uncle because, despite being the highest-paid person on her team, she still makes peanuts. Gabe is extroverted and the darling of the Seattle sports media with several endorsements throughout what appears to be a lucrative career. He comes across as someone who doesn't take life as seriously, but he's really just a happy person who has been blessed with talent, good looks, and a good career. He injects a lot of fun into Lainey's life, helping her loosen up without losing her focus.
But what they have in common is their drive to be the best players they can be, although Gabe doesn't have the World Cup glory (or even a chance in hell of winning it) that Lainey had. Lainey is 100% committed to being a superior athlete. She has unbelievable discipline when it comes to her diet and conditioning, baffling even her teammates. We don't know her age (unless I missed it), but it's implied that she still has many years ahead of her as a player, whereas Gabe is nearing the end of his career at 33 with a dodgy knee that won't last many more seasons. She's young enough to have had posters of Gabe on her wall (in college?) when he was already playing professionally.
One thing I really loved is that Gabe's respect for her as a professional athlete and world-class soccer player is established from the very beginning. In the second chapter, which switches to his point of view (this book is in the third person and switches between the two protagonists), we learn that he's been a fan of Lainey's since watching her in the Women's World Cup because of her talent and her obvious passion for the game that he hasn't had since earlier in his career. Gabe also has a sister 20 years younger than him who idolizes Lainey; throughout the book, Lainey meets young fans, especially young girls, for whom she serves as a role model.
Things definitely start off on the wrong foot when Gabe inadvertently steals the spotlight from a press conference Lainey was giving for the Falcons. He tries to help her but only ends up embarrassing her further. To apologize for this and for "stealing" the press conference, he sends her flowers, not realizing that she's quite allergic and therefore spent a whole preseason match sneezing and feeling miserable. Gabe is at a loss for how to get her to actually talk to him and learn he's a nice guy. Things culminate in a confrontation at a club one night when Lainey feels he's being sexist and that he and his teammates don't respect her or her teammates as athletes. All of this is captured in a YouTube video that goes viral, which comes to the owner's attention. For publicity's sake, the owner decides to play up their rivalry with a Battle of the Sexes, in which the Falcons and the Surge will face off on various tasks over the course of a few weeks, with each of them having something at stake for winning.
Truth be told, it took me a while to figure out how I felt about a "battle of the sexes" setup and how that speaks to gender normativity and a cisgender perspective, but I understood where the author was going with this and why this made sense for the characters. Lainey has a lot to lose--and a lot to prove--as the captain of the Falcons. Women's soccer is less popular, less financed and endorsed (by a huge margin), and female athletes are held to certain standards that male athletes are not. This comes up time and again in the book during their publicity events, usually in the form of obnoxious questions by a female reporter who has a huge crush on Gabe. The reporter is the kind of woman who puts down other women to feel better about herself, and Lainey is often on the receiving end of this, much to Gabe's dismay.
There is also a bit of a side plot regarding a supposed hex on the astroturf field where the men are expected to practice. Gabe was raised in a superstitious family, and he takes this seriously, which backfires on him at some point in a big way. I wasn't super sold on the whole hex idea and how this created conflict between the two protagonists. There were more interesting sources of conflict between the two that I found more compelling. Lainey is definitely the one who is more resistant to the idea of a relationship between her and Gabe, not only because of this Battle of the Sexes contest (which she does't seem to realize no one is taking as seriously as she is), but also her preconceptions about Gabe as someone not interested in a long-term relationship. She also doesn't feel like she has time for a relationship at this point in her career because all of her focus goes to starting the Falcons off strongly. Gabe understands this and so he suggests something more casual--a relationship that ends when the regular season starts--so that he can spend more time with her and convince her to give him a real chance.
I am a sucker for a book where the hero is smitten with the heroine from the start and she has to sort of catch up, so to speak. That certainly happens here. Gabe pursues Lainey and he does not shy away from letting her know that he wants her. I was pleased that the sexual tension was maintained throughout the book, even though they start a temporary relationship of sorts by the halfway point. There's always a chance for me as a reader that I'll lose interest, but there is enough there between the external pressures on their relationship and Gabe's determination to convince Lainey that they can actually work as a couple (and the sex is hot).
I do wish Lainey's backstory had been a bit more developed. She grew up on a farm in Nebraska and her parents were not very supportive of her pursuing soccer seriously. She thus moved to live with her aunt and uncle in Seattle as a teenager, and they are her biggest fans and fill the role of parents. She has no interaction with her parents or brothers back in Nebraska that I can recall, so I wasn't clear how much they talked or how much they even knew about her career and what was going on in her life. Gabe, by contrast, is extremely close to his family; being near them was his main reason for moving back to Seattle.
There are also some wonderful secondary characters in this book (their families and teammates). Definitely going to read the next one!
July 13, 2018
Talk about a new to me author taking me by surprise! If it hadn't been for the fact I was looking for soccer reads, I probably would've missed this series and trying out Sara Rider. And what a pity that would be. As an added bonus, this was part of the Audible Romance package so I got to give it a try without spending extra money. Win/win!FOR THE WIN is about two professional soccer players. Lainey is just coming from a terrible head injury during the World Cup final eight months ago. A game her team won and she never got to bask in that glory, the highlight of her career, because she was being rushed to the hospital. Now she gets to play at the same stadium as her all time crush, Gabe Havelak.
This starts out a tiny bit like an enemies to lovers story that quickly turns into a temporary and fun sexual relationship. There's great chemistry between the H/h and I confess Gabe made me all swoony. But I also really enjoyed the team aspects and the way they both interacted with their team members. And then Gabe's family, also adorable! Overall, this felt so very well rounded.
I think of all the soccer romances I've read, this one had the most game stuff in it and I loved it. It wasn't just the characters job that somehow is in the background. So definitely it was a plus for me. And I also loved the fact that both main characters are pros. There was a nice dynamic to that.
Probably the star of the show here was Ms. Rider's easy writing style. I had no trouble jumping in and enjoying the flow of this story from start to finish. The pacing was excellent as well. This may be the closest you can get to soccer romance perfection, blending the sport and the romance.
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
July 31, 2022
As a football/soccer fan I am always looking forward to read books set in the football business. "For the Win" has two characters playing football successfully.
I had my problems with the characters to be honest and didn't find them very likeable. It got better throughout the book but still I couldn't really connect with Lainey and Gabe.
Although I am usually a bit fan of love/hate romances it didn't properly work out for me with this story. I couldn't feel the connection or any sparks between the two protagonists.
I also missed a proper football setting with games etc. I found the competition between the men's and the women's team a bit ridiculous and some of the challenges were not very entertaining.
Overall the story read some more potential but unfortunately it was only an ok read for me.
I had my problems with the characters to be honest and didn't find them very likeable. It got better throughout the book but still I couldn't really connect with Lainey and Gabe.
Although I am usually a bit fan of love/hate romances it didn't properly work out for me with this story. I couldn't feel the connection or any sparks between the two protagonists.
I also missed a proper football setting with games etc. I found the competition between the men's and the women's team a bit ridiculous and some of the challenges were not very entertaining.
Overall the story read some more potential but unfortunately it was only an ok read for me.
May 16, 2016
For the Win is the first book in The Perfect Play series by debut author Sara Rider and already I'm looking forward to reading book two. I have read a lot of sports romance books but not many about soccer and to top that off none about women's soccer so For the Win was a real treat!
I want to start off by saying I really enjoyed this book. It's hilarious, sexy and the characters are ones I look forward to seeing again and again.
Lainey is the top soccer star in her field and while she plans to win the World Cup again she needs to focus but when Gabe starts pushing her buttons it leads to a battle of sexes that everyone will remember. Lainey and Gabe try to get the best of one another while this event is broadcasting on live tv and omg is some of this hilarious! I really enjoyed how Ms. Rider didn't make this all about soccer (since I know nothing about the sport) but made it fun which only made me enjoy this story more.
I really enjoyed Lainey, she was strong, independent, goal oriented and a little socially awkward but she was a great heroine. Her development through the story of making friends and finding love made her enjoyable to read about. Gabe who is the hometown hero was sexy, charming, and really had it all but with Rider's description of him it was good to know he had some flaws. I really enjoyed how Gabe starts flirting with Lainey and she doesn't take to his advances but with each time they get within a foot of one another the sparks start to fly and tension starts to rise.
The dialogue is funny and I felt the story was fast paced. I couldn't find a moment where I felt the story was dragging in any way. The romance was perfectly written and not rushed and these two characters just didn't jump into bed. Although the story was about soccer and it did focus on that I enjoyed the whole battle of the sexes theme and how it played out.
The secondary characters also brought in some funny moments and made me really want to read about them. It looks like Jainey's story will be next and I can't wait! She has a great sense of humor and turned out to be a really good friend to Lainey even if it didn't start out that way.
One of my favorite lines is this book was "cock or spoon"? If you're interested in finding out more you definitely have to read For the Win. You won't be disappointed! Rider is definitely a new author to look forward to reading and I personally can't wait for more of her work in the future.
I want to start off by saying I really enjoyed this book. It's hilarious, sexy and the characters are ones I look forward to seeing again and again.
Lainey is the top soccer star in her field and while she plans to win the World Cup again she needs to focus but when Gabe starts pushing her buttons it leads to a battle of sexes that everyone will remember. Lainey and Gabe try to get the best of one another while this event is broadcasting on live tv and omg is some of this hilarious! I really enjoyed how Ms. Rider didn't make this all about soccer (since I know nothing about the sport) but made it fun which only made me enjoy this story more.
I really enjoyed Lainey, she was strong, independent, goal oriented and a little socially awkward but she was a great heroine. Her development through the story of making friends and finding love made her enjoyable to read about. Gabe who is the hometown hero was sexy, charming, and really had it all but with Rider's description of him it was good to know he had some flaws. I really enjoyed how Gabe starts flirting with Lainey and she doesn't take to his advances but with each time they get within a foot of one another the sparks start to fly and tension starts to rise.
The dialogue is funny and I felt the story was fast paced. I couldn't find a moment where I felt the story was dragging in any way. The romance was perfectly written and not rushed and these two characters just didn't jump into bed. Although the story was about soccer and it did focus on that I enjoyed the whole battle of the sexes theme and how it played out.
The secondary characters also brought in some funny moments and made me really want to read about them. It looks like Jainey's story will be next and I can't wait! She has a great sense of humor and turned out to be a really good friend to Lainey even if it didn't start out that way.
One of my favorite lines is this book was "cock or spoon"? If you're interested in finding out more you definitely have to read For the Win. You won't be disappointed! Rider is definitely a new author to look forward to reading and I personally can't wait for more of her work in the future.
June 12, 2016
“Then what? You think that just because you have some magical penis that you’re automatically better than us?” . . . “Oh my god. You really believe that, don’t you? That’s what this is all about. You think men are better athletes than women.”
For The Win was a surprisingly good find from a new author for me. I love me a sports romance especially one with a sport that gets less attention, like soccer. So the cover had me eager to jump in. Now this story is told in third person which I usually don’t enjoy but the writing is so clean and well down that I honestly had to go double check because I couldn’t even remember if it really was in third person. Sara Rider is a fantastic writer and her story was a wonderful slow burn romance that has me giddy for more from her.
‘He’d expected sex with Lainey to be explosive and angry, based on the kind of chemistry they’d had leading up to this weekend. He hadn’t expected to feel like his heart had been scrubbed raw afterward. This was more intimate, addictive and mind-blowing than he could have ever imagined.’
Gabe and Lainey have a bit of a rivalry going and in the process of constantly trying to one up the other and prove a point they end up spending more and more time together and what was at first a small spark grows to a full on inferno. Gabe and Lainey constantly bump heads. In the beginning of the book Gabe came across as a playboy with a laid back personality and Lainey comes off overly stick and regimented. She is very very serious and takes soccer more seriously than anyone else. But as the book progresses we find out there is so much more to these two and watching them discover this about one another makes for a great story. Sara Rider is definitely a romance author to watch and I for one am excited for the next book in this series.
~miranda
For The Win was a surprisingly good find from a new author for me. I love me a sports romance especially one with a sport that gets less attention, like soccer. So the cover had me eager to jump in. Now this story is told in third person which I usually don’t enjoy but the writing is so clean and well down that I honestly had to go double check because I couldn’t even remember if it really was in third person. Sara Rider is a fantastic writer and her story was a wonderful slow burn romance that has me giddy for more from her.
‘He’d expected sex with Lainey to be explosive and angry, based on the kind of chemistry they’d had leading up to this weekend. He hadn’t expected to feel like his heart had been scrubbed raw afterward. This was more intimate, addictive and mind-blowing than he could have ever imagined.’
Gabe and Lainey have a bit of a rivalry going and in the process of constantly trying to one up the other and prove a point they end up spending more and more time together and what was at first a small spark grows to a full on inferno. Gabe and Lainey constantly bump heads. In the beginning of the book Gabe came across as a playboy with a laid back personality and Lainey comes off overly stick and regimented. She is very very serious and takes soccer more seriously than anyone else. But as the book progresses we find out there is so much more to these two and watching them discover this about one another makes for a great story. Sara Rider is definitely a romance author to watch and I for one am excited for the next book in this series.
~miranda
August 15, 2016
For the Win is another sports-themed book. This one being about soccer.
Lainey Lukas is the team Captain of the Seattle Falcons, a women's team and Gabe Havelak is the Captain of the Seattle Surge.
This book become a "Battle of the Sexes" book wherein they are pitted against one another in a bunch of challenges to see who is the better team.
Lainey is determined that her team will take the win as is Gabe.
Lainey may be team Captain, but she is not "friendly" with her team. Gabe is the polar opposite and is friends with his teammates.
Gabe tries to help Lainey and unknowingly causes her more grief. They eventually start to date for a specified time period and that is when Lainey loosens up and let's go of her rigid schedule.
This book will follow the two teams and is a fun read watching Lainey change and Gabe try to get the girl.
Looking forward to the next book in this series.
4 stars
Lainey Lukas is the team Captain of the Seattle Falcons, a women's team and Gabe Havelak is the Captain of the Seattle Surge.
This book become a "Battle of the Sexes" book wherein they are pitted against one another in a bunch of challenges to see who is the better team.
Lainey is determined that her team will take the win as is Gabe.
Lainey may be team Captain, but she is not "friendly" with her team. Gabe is the polar opposite and is friends with his teammates.
Gabe tries to help Lainey and unknowingly causes her more grief. They eventually start to date for a specified time period and that is when Lainey loosens up and let's go of her rigid schedule.
This book will follow the two teams and is a fun read watching Lainey change and Gabe try to get the girl.
Looking forward to the next book in this series.
4 stars
July 12, 2019
Sorry. DNFED at 6% because the male character is everything you expect a star athlete to be - confident, comfortable in front of the public, a bit swaggery- while the heroine who is his equal on field, is at a terrible disadvantage. She’s fumbling through a press conference, she’s wearing ill fitting clothes that make her look like a “waitress”, she’s in awkward spike heels, she gets a grass stain on her shirt, she’s miserable.
Oh hell no.
I need a cocky, swaggering heroine. Not an awkward, flailing one.
Also, points deducted for the author’s misogyny toward the woman reporter in the crowd whose fingernails, figure and mannerisms are described bitchily when no male reporter’s physique or mannerisms are critiqued.
Oh hell no.
I need a cocky, swaggering heroine. Not an awkward, flailing one.
Also, points deducted for the author’s misogyny toward the woman reporter in the crowd whose fingernails, figure and mannerisms are described bitchily when no male reporter’s physique or mannerisms are critiqued.
March 26, 2017
Full review to come but this was a cute read. There were moments in the beginning when the attitude of both the hero and the heroine made me want to kick them in the junk but they got better as the book wore on. I enjoyed this one.
August 12, 2018
Lainey Lukas has always found it tough to talk to the press, but as the captain of her professional soccer team it's part of her job. But Gabe will soon find out that although he respects and grows to really care for Lainey, there is a huge disparity when it comes to the clout, the money and prestige between women's and men's professional sports.
When trying to help Lainey during her first big interview after an almost career ending injury and the announcement of her captainship to professional team of the Falcons, Gabe causes her a bit more embarrassment. He even messes up trying to apologize when he sends her flowers, which she's allergic to. One of their public disagreements causes a media storm and their fight goes public with a series of events their teams will compete against each other called "The Battle Of The Sexes." It's great advertising for both teams and galvanizes the age old question, are women just as good as men... if not better.
This throws Lainey and Gabe closer together where Gabe must convince Lainey that they could possibly have a future together.
Going after each other in some very cute outcomes, this was kinda sweet. It felt a little familiar to me, but I don't know why as I haven't read this author before. I liked it enough to give the next book a try as I loved the c0-captain, Jaime. She was funny and I'm definitely willing to see what her story is about.
When trying to help Lainey during her first big interview after an almost career ending injury and the announcement of her captainship to professional team of the Falcons, Gabe causes her a bit more embarrassment. He even messes up trying to apologize when he sends her flowers, which she's allergic to. One of their public disagreements causes a media storm and their fight goes public with a series of events their teams will compete against each other called "The Battle Of The Sexes." It's great advertising for both teams and galvanizes the age old question, are women just as good as men... if not better.
This throws Lainey and Gabe closer together where Gabe must convince Lainey that they could possibly have a future together.
Going after each other in some very cute outcomes, this was kinda sweet. It felt a little familiar to me, but I don't know why as I haven't read this author before. I liked it enough to give the next book a try as I loved the c0-captain, Jaime. She was funny and I'm definitely willing to see what her story is about.
dnf
March 17, 2017DNF @ 12%
Me and this book are just not going to get along.
First off, the sexism is high in this one folks. I know that female athletes are still considered the lesser of the two sexes. I know it's harder to get crowds and an audience for professional women's sports. BUT if this book, written by women FYI, is going to make sexism a major plot point and not in a realistic way like the first 12% of the book has painted it then I'm not interested. It's infuriating. There is no way that a reporter(well multiple reporters) would show up to a press conference for a professional women's soccer team and shout questions about their game being sexy and bloody and then have their jersey be unveiled with a falcon with nail polish painted and dripping off its claws. That is fucking offensive and I don't want to read about it. NO FUCKING THANK YOU.
Secondly, I played soccer at a high level, so already I have high expectations for when soccer is represented in a book. I mean I'm nitpicking the rules and such. So I can understand Lainey and where she's coming from. Her love for the game and wanting to win. I also had/have a winning attitude. What I cannot deal with is a story about a professional women's soccer team that acts the way they do. You ask any of the ladies playing professional soccer right now and they would not be slacking off right after a match or practice. They would be deconstructing what just happened. Not fluffing it off and getting mad at the captain for wanting to analyze their game; especially a pre-season game. Which brings me to the fact that none of Lainey's teammates like her/are her friend. So already, at 12% into the book, we're showing girl on girl hate. No strong female friendships. Which is absolutely head-scratching since this is a book about a team sport and should be heavy on the female love and friendships.
Obviously, this book is not for me. There is no point continuing on with a book that is just going to infuriate me.
Me and this book are just not going to get along.
First off, the sexism is high in this one folks. I know that female athletes are still considered the lesser of the two sexes. I know it's harder to get crowds and an audience for professional women's sports. BUT if this book, written by women FYI, is going to make sexism a major plot point and not in a realistic way like the first 12% of the book has painted it then I'm not interested. It's infuriating. There is no way that a reporter(well multiple reporters) would show up to a press conference for a professional women's soccer team and shout questions about their game being sexy and bloody and then have their jersey be unveiled with a falcon with nail polish painted and dripping off its claws. That is fucking offensive and I don't want to read about it. NO FUCKING THANK YOU.
Secondly, I played soccer at a high level, so already I have high expectations for when soccer is represented in a book. I mean I'm nitpicking the rules and such. So I can understand Lainey and where she's coming from. Her love for the game and wanting to win. I also had/have a winning attitude. What I cannot deal with is a story about a professional women's soccer team that acts the way they do. You ask any of the ladies playing professional soccer right now and they would not be slacking off right after a match or practice. They would be deconstructing what just happened. Not fluffing it off and getting mad at the captain for wanting to analyze their game; especially a pre-season game. Which brings me to the fact that none of Lainey's teammates like her/are her friend. So already, at 12% into the book, we're showing girl on girl hate. No strong female friendships. Which is absolutely head-scratching since this is a book about a team sport and should be heavy on the female love and friendships.
Obviously, this book is not for me. There is no point continuing on with a book that is just going to infuriate me.
June 10, 2018
I was happy to find another book with a female athlete, after realizing that sports romance is mostly WAGS (and Kulti). For me, the two main characters just didn't have much chemistry, the hero was a smarmy douchebag who really didn't do much to redeem himself, and there wasn't a lot of amazing team dynamics or other relationships that kept the story moving. The idea of the battle of the sexes was a fun one, but the approach felt super awkward and fraught. I also felt like Lainey was overshadowed by Gabe in spite of her badassery, and forgave him way too easily. I found him unlikeable overall, kind of a typical jock without even a good sense of humor, so it just didn't click for me.
November 2, 2017
3-3.5 stars.
ok... well... I liked this book, but I have to admit I'm a little disappointed.
Being in love with a professional soccer player, I truly wanted to love this one. The premise is super sweet and fun but I couldn't connect with the characters. They were nice but, for me... the character building lacked depth.
ok... well... I liked this book, but I have to admit I'm a little disappointed.
Being in love with a professional soccer player, I truly wanted to love this one. The premise is super sweet and fun but I couldn't connect with the characters. They were nice but, for me... the character building lacked depth.
July 17, 2018
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job. I enjoyed this low angst audiobook and plan to listen to the others in this series.
June 9, 2016
Lainey Lukas was a woman with one goal in life and no one and nothing would get in her way of achieving it. You see she is a soccer player with the AWSL and although as a woman who gets paid way less than man playing at her level in the same sport. Yet she does it because she loves the sport that much. Even though she had already technically gone to the World Cup she was still training and playing to go again with this new team The Falcons, in Seattle. You see the last time she had been so badly injured in the last play of the game that she missed out on the ceremonies and never even got to hold the actual World Cup.
So her mission now is to get her team to the World Cup. With her being the captain she would set the bar. The only problem is the higher ups wanted to do press conferences and such. And she is not what you would call a people person. She never really had friends or a family for that matter. No she had one she just never really lived with them in order to play soccer she came out to live with her aunt and uncle. What blows her mind the most is that not only are the press being brutal and condescending but her soccer idol showed up and is making comments she can hear and is taking over her press conference. Plus, the female newscaster keeps going to Gabe Havelak like this is his press conference and not hers.
This only makes her more nervous and tongue tied. To where she sees red. When that happens she tends to retreat into her head more and when she does speak you never know what will come out or how. Not good when being interviewed. The next thing you know there is a tug of war going on and a war of the sexes to be the team not to have to practice on the Cricket Field because of the bad juju there is there. One thing leads to another and it goes to the network and it is official they are going national with this war.
Lainey used to have posters up in her room of Gabe he has been her idol for years in the soccer world up the with Pele. Not today though all she feels is that he has mocked her. She does not like that feeling at all. If the rags are correct about him he thinks that his sexy smile will endear him to her and is does in all the wrong places for this event but not what needs to be happening right now or anytime for that matter she will put it on her bucket list. (For things she wants to do after she wins the World Cup for the second time.) It’s when he says that she should go with his lead that gets her as if she needs his help. That really gets her goat and that is what gets them in even bigger trouble because she just talks off the top of her head.
You see Gabe is a secret admirer of Lainey’s also. But he can’t let on because inside him he has a real fear of what it would mean to practice at the Cricket Field. It is just the way he has grown up. What or who will it take to get him to get out of that way of thinking? As far as Lainey she has been so dedicated to her sport she has no time to live and one of the things on her bucket list is get a library card. Something most of us takes for granted but she can’t find the time to do because she spends her every waking moment working at her craft. She’s good but who or what can make her see what she is missing and who?
Very cute story about a young woman who was always made to feel made to feel different and not equal to a man. And her fight to make it in a man’s game and to help women make the cross over. Yet, she comes to realize she has no friends, no life, and no man until she meets her idol Gabe. I give this 5 stars. Provided by netgalley.com. Follow us at:
www.1rad-readerreviews.com.
So her mission now is to get her team to the World Cup. With her being the captain she would set the bar. The only problem is the higher ups wanted to do press conferences and such. And she is not what you would call a people person. She never really had friends or a family for that matter. No she had one she just never really lived with them in order to play soccer she came out to live with her aunt and uncle. What blows her mind the most is that not only are the press being brutal and condescending but her soccer idol showed up and is making comments she can hear and is taking over her press conference. Plus, the female newscaster keeps going to Gabe Havelak like this is his press conference and not hers.
This only makes her more nervous and tongue tied. To where she sees red. When that happens she tends to retreat into her head more and when she does speak you never know what will come out or how. Not good when being interviewed. The next thing you know there is a tug of war going on and a war of the sexes to be the team not to have to practice on the Cricket Field because of the bad juju there is there. One thing leads to another and it goes to the network and it is official they are going national with this war.
Lainey used to have posters up in her room of Gabe he has been her idol for years in the soccer world up the with Pele. Not today though all she feels is that he has mocked her. She does not like that feeling at all. If the rags are correct about him he thinks that his sexy smile will endear him to her and is does in all the wrong places for this event but not what needs to be happening right now or anytime for that matter she will put it on her bucket list. (For things she wants to do after she wins the World Cup for the second time.) It’s when he says that she should go with his lead that gets her as if she needs his help. That really gets her goat and that is what gets them in even bigger trouble because she just talks off the top of her head.
You see Gabe is a secret admirer of Lainey’s also. But he can’t let on because inside him he has a real fear of what it would mean to practice at the Cricket Field. It is just the way he has grown up. What or who will it take to get him to get out of that way of thinking? As far as Lainey she has been so dedicated to her sport she has no time to live and one of the things on her bucket list is get a library card. Something most of us takes for granted but she can’t find the time to do because she spends her every waking moment working at her craft. She’s good but who or what can make her see what she is missing and who?
Very cute story about a young woman who was always made to feel made to feel different and not equal to a man. And her fight to make it in a man’s game and to help women make the cross over. Yet, she comes to realize she has no friends, no life, and no man until she meets her idol Gabe. I give this 5 stars. Provided by netgalley.com. Follow us at:
www.1rad-readerreviews.com.
June 12, 2017
I loved this book! It's hilarious, sweet, vulnerable and real.
Goal oriented, no nonsense, over thinking and socially awkward tomboy Lainey doesn't get it when ladies’ man and media favorite Gabe is trying to flirt with her. It doesn’t help when his earlier attempt also backfire dramatically and hilariously. They end up trying to best each other, including both their soccer teams, into an ever increasing battle of the sexes which ticks all the male-female prejudices and gets broadcasted on television. To up the stakes they add side bets between themselves which only add to the increasing romance between them, add depth to the male-female prejudices the story deals with and causes, especially Jainey, to step out of her comfort zones with all the consequences that brings. And while the tone is optimistic, funny and light, the writer also perfectly manages to show how today’s society has different values for men and women. At its heart this is a story about equal opportunities and the setting around soccer is perfect for that.
The story itself is fast paced, it dragged a little around 75%, but picked it up again real quick. Although the setting revolves around soccer, it’s foremost a story about people. And instead of owning a bookstore or being a CEO of a company, these people just to play soccer; the soccer itself doesn’t play center stage. And as for not knowing the rules of the game, well, I don’t know anything about football but I loved SEP’s football series.
I loved the characters. Jainey was, although she had a tough time getting to where she was in her life, optimistic, goal oriented and a fighter. At the same time she was sweet in how she just didn’t get female interaction, male flirting and was awkward in social situations (butt sweat anybody?). Added to that she was also very vulnerable and I almost cried when she told Gabe about the having missed the champagne ceremony after the World Cup. She really grew up in this book. Gabe was both a real man, confident and strong, and as sweet as they come, especially when he kept on teasing Jainey just to get her attention and when he started managing her list and how he dealt with his family. The side characters were also great, especially the two mothers. And the best part about all characters: they just felt so real! They acted real, they talked real and although the scenes sometimes were way over the top, it still felt real.
I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and so that's just what I did. The 4 star rating is mostly a reflection of my personal preference and wanting this rating to match my ratings of other books I’ve read. This is a lighter read, which is great and a 4 star for me means I will probably reread it at some time. It’s just that the books that really blow me away deal with the heavier stuff and they get a 5 star rating from me. Besides that personal preference, there were in this eARC also some plot points that just didn’t make enough sense for me. Since I don’t know whether or not the author/publisher will be able or want to make changes regarding those, I did take them into account. I won’t go on about them though, but did relay them to the publisher.
Will I read more by this author? Definitely.
Will I recommend this book to friends? Definitely.
So only one more thing left to say:
Enjoy!
Goal oriented, no nonsense, over thinking and socially awkward tomboy Lainey doesn't get it when ladies’ man and media favorite Gabe is trying to flirt with her. It doesn’t help when his earlier attempt also backfire dramatically and hilariously. They end up trying to best each other, including both their soccer teams, into an ever increasing battle of the sexes which ticks all the male-female prejudices and gets broadcasted on television. To up the stakes they add side bets between themselves which only add to the increasing romance between them, add depth to the male-female prejudices the story deals with and causes, especially Jainey, to step out of her comfort zones with all the consequences that brings. And while the tone is optimistic, funny and light, the writer also perfectly manages to show how today’s society has different values for men and women. At its heart this is a story about equal opportunities and the setting around soccer is perfect for that.
The story itself is fast paced, it dragged a little around 75%, but picked it up again real quick. Although the setting revolves around soccer, it’s foremost a story about people. And instead of owning a bookstore or being a CEO of a company, these people just to play soccer; the soccer itself doesn’t play center stage. And as for not knowing the rules of the game, well, I don’t know anything about football but I loved SEP’s football series.
I loved the characters. Jainey was, although she had a tough time getting to where she was in her life, optimistic, goal oriented and a fighter. At the same time she was sweet in how she just didn’t get female interaction, male flirting and was awkward in social situations (butt sweat anybody?). Added to that she was also very vulnerable and I almost cried when she told Gabe about the having missed the champagne ceremony after the World Cup. She really grew up in this book. Gabe was both a real man, confident and strong, and as sweet as they come, especially when he kept on teasing Jainey just to get her attention and when he started managing her list and how he dealt with his family. The side characters were also great, especially the two mothers. And the best part about all characters: they just felt so real! They acted real, they talked real and although the scenes sometimes were way over the top, it still felt real.
I received an eARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and so that's just what I did. The 4 star rating is mostly a reflection of my personal preference and wanting this rating to match my ratings of other books I’ve read. This is a lighter read, which is great and a 4 star for me means I will probably reread it at some time. It’s just that the books that really blow me away deal with the heavier stuff and they get a 5 star rating from me. Besides that personal preference, there were in this eARC also some plot points that just didn’t make enough sense for me. Since I don’t know whether or not the author/publisher will be able or want to make changes regarding those, I did take them into account. I won’t go on about them though, but did relay them to the publisher.
Will I read more by this author? Definitely.
Will I recommend this book to friends? Definitely.
So only one more thing left to say:
Enjoy!
February 1, 2017
I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Just loved this book!
Lainey Lukas is possibly the best female soccer player in the world. Her team won the world cup but she was injured during the match and ended up in hospital, she missed the ceremony, she never touched the world cup. She is 100% dedicated to winning the AWSL (American Women's Soccer League, I assume) and the next world cup with her team the Seattle Falcons. She doesn't drink, she doesn't smoke, she adheres to a strict diet, juicing, exercise and sleep schedule.
Gabriel "Gabe" Havelak is a wealthy, successful male soccer star at the tail end of his professional career. Finally traded back to his hometown of Seattle to play for the Seattle Surge he has pretty much everything he ever wanted, but it has all become a bit boring until he sees Lainey giving a press conference (very badly) and feels a spark of something.
Unfortunately, everything Gabe says and does, or the way in which the press chooses to interpret things reflects badly on Lainey and the two of them, and their teams, end up in a battle of the sexes - The Surge v The Falcons after a face-off at a local club ends up on YouTube.
I really liked this novel. Lainey was intense and focused. Gabe was the epitome of a wealthy, experienced athlete approaching the end of his career. The Battle of the Sexes overseen by a predatory female daytime TV host was engaging. I liked the way that Gabe and Lainey were both nice people, both hard-working, both honest with themselves. There was no slut-shaming, no angst, no engineered misunderstandings, just the gradual evolution of a romance between people with shared interests and different attitudes.
I had never read anything by Sara Rider before, this was really good, recommended for anyone who liked Kulti or angst-less YA/NA novels. Oh and it's pretty hot too.
Just loved this book!
Lainey Lukas is possibly the best female soccer player in the world. Her team won the world cup but she was injured during the match and ended up in hospital, she missed the ceremony, she never touched the world cup. She is 100% dedicated to winning the AWSL (American Women's Soccer League, I assume) and the next world cup with her team the Seattle Falcons. She doesn't drink, she doesn't smoke, she adheres to a strict diet, juicing, exercise and sleep schedule.
Gabriel "Gabe" Havelak is a wealthy, successful male soccer star at the tail end of his professional career. Finally traded back to his hometown of Seattle to play for the Seattle Surge he has pretty much everything he ever wanted, but it has all become a bit boring until he sees Lainey giving a press conference (very badly) and feels a spark of something.
Unfortunately, everything Gabe says and does, or the way in which the press chooses to interpret things reflects badly on Lainey and the two of them, and their teams, end up in a battle of the sexes - The Surge v The Falcons after a face-off at a local club ends up on YouTube.
I really liked this novel. Lainey was intense and focused. Gabe was the epitome of a wealthy, experienced athlete approaching the end of his career. The Battle of the Sexes overseen by a predatory female daytime TV host was engaging. I liked the way that Gabe and Lainey were both nice people, both hard-working, both honest with themselves. There was no slut-shaming, no angst, no engineered misunderstandings, just the gradual evolution of a romance between people with shared interests and different attitudes.
I had never read anything by Sara Rider before, this was really good, recommended for anyone who liked Kulti or angst-less YA/NA novels. Oh and it's pretty hot too.
June 8, 2016
Oh, who doesn't love sport romance at all? Well, I definitely love to read sport romance because it has so much intensity between characters that it makes the read so much interesting. Sara Rider has written a sport romance series, The Perfect Play series, that will introduce new character in the sport industry specifically soccer athletic. In the first book in the Perfect Play series, reader will get to read about Gabe and Lainey in the soccer world in For the Win.
Lainey is the team captain for the women soccer team that she is determined to put her team on the top in the sport industry. But she is having trouble promoting her team in the spotlight because she does not know how to act with the public eye and especially Gabe influences. Lainey definitely do not like Gabe at all because he is a terrible influence and he is too cocky for his own self that it only infuriates her more. But Lainey is attractive to him but she is trying to ignore it since she is vulnerable but hides it well from others.
Gabe is sexy yet cocky soccer player but he gets more and more intrigued with Lainey. He has always gets want he wants and when he wants but Lainey will not give him the time or day that she becomes more attractive to him. Gabe is struggling to get through to Lainey because she is making him work for it that I definitely applaud her for that. But Gabe is determined to find more and more about Lainey so he can get through to him which I enjoy too.
Gabe and Lainey are total opposite from each other that it makes no sense for them to be together but they are fire and out together. Their relationship is definitely explosive that I root for them to make it together! For the Win is another fantastic sport romance that it makes the read so much heartwarming! Five Stars.
Lainey is the team captain for the women soccer team that she is determined to put her team on the top in the sport industry. But she is having trouble promoting her team in the spotlight because she does not know how to act with the public eye and especially Gabe influences. Lainey definitely do not like Gabe at all because he is a terrible influence and he is too cocky for his own self that it only infuriates her more. But Lainey is attractive to him but she is trying to ignore it since she is vulnerable but hides it well from others.
Gabe is sexy yet cocky soccer player but he gets more and more intrigued with Lainey. He has always gets want he wants and when he wants but Lainey will not give him the time or day that she becomes more attractive to him. Gabe is struggling to get through to Lainey because she is making him work for it that I definitely applaud her for that. But Gabe is determined to find more and more about Lainey so he can get through to him which I enjoy too.
Gabe and Lainey are total opposite from each other that it makes no sense for them to be together but they are fire and out together. Their relationship is definitely explosive that I root for them to make it together! For the Win is another fantastic sport romance that it makes the read so much heartwarming! Five Stars.
May 31, 2016
A fantastic read and what a treat to read a sports romance with a national women's team being featured. Lainey and Gabe are two great characters and the sparks that fly between them made for one very entertaining story. Lainey has worked hard her entire life to get to the top of her game. She's determined to lead her women's soccer team to a national championship and no media hogging men's team player is going to stop her. When Gabe Havelak, Seattle's top male player, hijacks her press conference she vows revenge. When they challenge each other to a battle of the sexes the hilarity begins and the attraction between the two comes to life!
This is one I highly recommend.
This is one I highly recommend.
May 13, 2016
I got a copy of this book from netgallery.com.
This book is awesome, amazing and so well written I read it all in one day! What a great story line and characters that are so easy to fall in love with, to watch how they grow and develop in this book is truly wonderful! This writer has a gift and I am so glad she is sharing this gift with us, the readers! From the very beginning I wad instantly hooked on this book, it captured my attention and didn't let it go until the last words on the last page! Such a great book, can't wait to read more by this author!! I'm hooked.
This book is awesome, amazing and so well written I read it all in one day! What a great story line and characters that are so easy to fall in love with, to watch how they grow and develop in this book is truly wonderful! This writer has a gift and I am so glad she is sharing this gift with us, the readers! From the very beginning I wad instantly hooked on this book, it captured my attention and didn't let it go until the last words on the last page! Such a great book, can't wait to read more by this author!! I'm hooked.
June 21, 2016
I picked this up on sale. It's a little preachy with several feminist rants about the unfairness of the treatment and compensation of women's professional soccer players versus men's, but since I'm in the choir being preached to, that didn't bother me too much. I found this a quick and entertaining read, funny and well written, well worth the $1.99 I paid for it. I plan to read on in the series.
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