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Texas Titan

The Ghost Groom

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A tough football player, a devoted sister, and the most difficult choice of all …

After a long, painful search that involved legions of duds, Ariana Sanchez, fitness guru and gym owner, finally meets the perfect guy when she least expects it. Not only can Rennen tear up the dance floor, but he has these adorable blonde curls and compelling green eyes, specked with gold. When Ariana’s around him she feels oh, so alive! And the best part is that he’s a perfect gentleman and easy to talk to. Their first encounter leaves Ariana floating on air, thinking there’s hope for her love life after all … until she learns that Rennen is the celebrated rookie who’s taking her brother’s position as starting running back for the Titans. Too bad she’s totally loyal to her brother and has to hate him now!Rennen Bradley, the Ghost, has worked long and hard to get the opportunity to shine as the starting running back. Sure, he feels bad that Ace Sanchez was injured and that he’s taking his place on the team, but that’s how the game rolls. Rennen never expects to fall for Ariana, and it throws him for a loop when he realizes she’s Ace’s sister. But Rennen’s not going to let a simple complication like that come between him and the woman of his dreams. He understands Ariana’s reservations—heck, even admires her loyalty to her brother. But Rennen’s used to waging uphill battles. Abandoned as a child, Rennen learned a long time ago that you have to fight tooth and nail for anything you want in this life. And he wants Ariana, heart, body, and soul!Caught between loyalty and love, will Ariana choose her family or her heart?

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 23, 2018

640 people are currently reading
380 people want to read

About the author

Jennifer Youngblood

175 books783 followers
Jennifer loves reading and writing clean romance. She believes that happily ever after is not just for stories. Jennifer enjoys interior design, rollerblading, clogging, jogging, and chocolate. In Jennifer’s opinion there are few ills that can’t be solved with a warm brownie and scoop of vanilla-bean ice cream.
Jennifer grew up in rural Alabama and loved living in a town where “everybody knows everybody.” Her love for writing began as a young teenager when she wrote stories for her high school English teacher to critique.
Jennifer has a BA in English and Social Sciences from Brigham Young University Hawaii where she served as Miss BYU Hawaii. Before becoming an author, she worked as the owner and editor of a monthly newspaper named The Senior Times.
She now lives in the Rocky Mountains with her family and spends her time writing and doing all of the wonderful things that make up the life of a busy wife and mother.

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5 stars
322 (58%)
4 stars
154 (28%)
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54 (9%)
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14 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
Profile Image for Aimee .
3,073 reviews298 followers
February 2, 2018
Fluffy, romantic fun. A great escape kind of story. Enjoyed the feisty nature of the relationship with sparks from the beginning. Loved seeing characters from previous books.

This story has an alternate ending by a different author. I didn't like it near as well as the ending it came with. :) The original was much more true to character nature.

I picked this one up on kindle unlimited.
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews130 followers
Want to read
February 5, 2019
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (2/5/2019)! 🎁

Blurb:
A tough football player, a devoted sister, and the most difficult choice of all …

After a long, painful search that involved legions of duds, Ariana Sanchez, fitness guru and gym owner, finally meets the perfect guy when she least expects it. Not only can Rennen tear up the dance floor, but he has these adorable blonde curls and compelling green eyes, specked with gold. When Ariana’s around him she feels oh, so alive! And the best part is that he’s a perfect gentleman and easy to talk to. Their first encounter leaves Ariana floating on air, thinking there’s hope for her love life after all … until she learns that Rennen is the celebrated rookie who’s taking her brother’s position as starting running back for the Titans. Too bad she’s totally loyal to her brother and has to hate him now!

Rennen Bradley, the Ghost, has worked long and hard to get the opportunity to shine as the starting running back. Sure, he feels bad that Ace Sanchez was injured and that he’s taking his place on the team, but that’s how the game rolls.

Rennen never expects to fall for Ariana, and it throws him for a loop when he realizes she’s Ace’s sister. But Rennen’s not going to let a simple complication like that come between him and the woman of his dreams. He understands Ariana’s reservations—heck, even admires her loyalty to her brother. But Rennen’s used to waging uphill battles. Abandoned as a child, Rennen learned a long time ago that you have to fight tooth and nail for anything you want in this life. And he wants Ariana, heart, body, and soul!

Caught between loyalty and love, will Ariana choose her family or her heart?
310 reviews2 followers
January 31, 2018
Great series

All of these stories are fun reading plus the fact that they are clean of all the sexual content that other books have. I would let my grandkids read these books.
Profile Image for  The Flipped Page (Susan K).
1,864 reviews39 followers
February 1, 2018
Romance, clean, series, but stand alone read
This, while part of a series, is a stand alone read. That being said, it does feature characters from other novels in this series and they are part of the back story in this novel.
Ariana and Rennen's story was a fun read! Their meeting while dancing, was fun, and they had great chemistry. Ariana realizing that he was her brother's replacement, made it seem impossible for them to have a relationship. The HEA , and reveal of Collin's unknown history, their publicity, and the drama around their relationship, all made for a fun fall at the end. They couldn't see their future, but their hearts opened up to it.
Fun sports setting, loved that Ariana was fit and active. They made for a perfect match, and while more of a 3.5 for me as a reader, rounded up. This is a cute series, and a nice light romantic read.
Profile Image for Pam.
4,629 reviews69 followers
May 7, 2019
The Ghost Groom: Jennifer’s Texas Titan Romances Book 2 is by Jennifer Youngblood. This series describes the romances of the Texas Titan football players. The characters are the three major players on the team. These three men make up the Trio and they are the best of the best. It is well-known that at some time, the trio will be broken up and others will take their places. When Ace is finally hurt for the final time and taken from the team, Rennen , “the Ghost”, takes his place. Of course, Ace doesn’t take this very well as he is jealous of the fact that Rennen can play and he can’t.
Ariana Sanchez has not been able to find a good date since her break-up with Paul. She finally went to the Heart to Heart App recommended by people at her gym. Now, she was waiting for her date to arrive. When he does, she finds he is an obnoxious jerk who lied on the app and on the phone when they talked. He tried to make a move on her and she put him away. Rennen Bradley had watched this and was coming to her rescue when it became obvious that this petite gorgeous woman was able to take care of herself. He was fascinated by her. However, she wasn’t as fascinated by him as he was by her. In their conversation, her decision to not date football players to honor her brother Ace, started to come between them. Before he could tell her that he was a football player and had taken her brother’s place, she was called away. Rennen knows he needs to tell her and decides to when they meet the net day. However, in the meantime, she finds out and is angry at him for lying to her and for being who he is.
Can Rennen get out of this mess? Can he bring her back to believing in him and make her want to date him? How can he do it when she won’t talk to him?
Profile Image for Elena.
143 reviews3 followers
June 23, 2018
The story is really good and I appreciated that the author chose to focus more on the inner feelings and struggles of the protagonists rather than their physical attraction.
This is the perfect reading for destress after a long day and/or during summer holidays, because the plot is full of surprises and the characters are funny and true!

The story is really good and I appreciated that the author chose to focus more on the inner feelings and struggles of the protagonists rather than their physical attraction.
The leading couple's first encounter is movie-like (but not so out of space) and both of them are well detailed and not boring, at all! Ariana is loyal to her brother, Ace, and Renner's the one who replaced him when he injured himself, so she doesn't want to get involved with him, even if she likes hime very much. That' why I was a bit upset that she didn't stick to it, but within a few chapter she changed her mind; I wish it would have take a bit more to Renner to win her!

Another thing I liked has been the plot unpredictability: you think you know what will happen and then, suddenly...BAM! Plot twist!

It's one of those novel that you'll definitely enjoy reanding on summer holidays, because it's a page-turner and will allow the reader to escape for a few hours from reality.
668 reviews
September 9, 2021
Ariana and Rennen

Ariana is waiting for her date from the dating app and he is already late, strike 1. Then she sees him, his date isn't happy when she sees him looking at Ariana, but, for some reason they neither seem to want to break eye contact. Then her date Joshua, shows up. Only he orders not one but two beers - for himself - talk about a frat boy. Strike 2 because he is nothing like he described himself or looks like the picture he sent! He persuades her to dance, but, when he gets handsy it's strike 3 and she lays him out flat to the approval of all the ladies on the floor! When cute guy comes to try to rescue her, it's too late! Cute guy does come to her rescue when she gets up for karaoke and his name is Rennen. What happens when she finds out who he really is? Will the sparks they both feel be enough? Only one way to find out, read this great story by Jennifer Youngblood!
Profile Image for Rocky.
209 reviews9 followers
July 20, 2018
Ariana and Rennen

What can happen when the sister of the Texas Titans ex-running back, Ace Sanchez, falls for the guy who’s taking his place?
When Ariana Sanchez meets a hunky looking guy on the dance floor of a club she has gone to to get her mind off of her recent breakup with her long-time boyfriend, she has no idea that he’s Rennen Bradley, the football player who has taken over for her brother.
Rennen Bradley, the Ghost, has no idea that the beautiful Mexican girl he danced with and kissed on the first night they met was the sister of the man who’s spot he was taking on the Texas Titans.
Through a series of “I want to be with you” and “I want nothing to do with you”, we wonder if they’ll ever get together. Throw in a plot twist regarding Rennen’s abandonment as a toddler and you have a book you just cannot put down.
871 reviews8 followers
May 31, 2025
Ariana & Rennen

This book had some interesting twists on the normal tropes. It is somewhere between enemies-to- lovers and brother's-best-friend, which works out to brother's- biggest-work-rival. Ariana is not connecting with any of her dates, when she encounters Rennen (and her attraction to him) while on a particularly disastrous one. It isn't until later that she learns that Rennen is the man who replaced her brother after a career ending injury.
Their journey to forever-together had so many hills and turns that kept me turning pages to see how they would overcome each obstacle. I cheered aloud when Rennen finally found all the answers he had spent his entire life searching for, and those answers are notones that I had seen coming.

I purchased a copy of this book and voluntarily chose to share my review.
Profile Image for Jennifer Dale.
782 reviews15 followers
February 27, 2018
I guess I am in the minority here. I don't mind "insta love" or even some good ole electricity at first touch but the whole story just "ghosted" along. There was no depth at all.

The synopsis makes you think the story is revolved around love/loyalty but to me the focus was more on Rennen and his past. You get a little of Ariana and her family, Ariana loyalty to Ace, Ariana/Rennens istant attraction, a little of Rennen persuing Ariana, a little relationship growth....
but between all that you get more of Rennen and his past.

Was it a nice, fluffy read? Yes
Would I recommend? Only if you like a story that scratches the surface.
Dual POV.
1,933 reviews5 followers
November 25, 2019
The ghost groom

Another great football hero book. This was a great book to read and enjoy. The fact that a you man who had been found in a bus station on his own with no one to call his parents had worked hard enough to get a football contract worth a few million dollars. This says a lot of the character and what he did with his life. He met and fell in love with a sister of a famous football player only to have problems and then to almost loose her over jealousy. He found his long lost mother and made up with his girlfriend and everything was right with the world. This was a great Free read and his is my review and in my words only. Norma Gorrill
Profile Image for B. D. Mann.
664 reviews22 followers
March 29, 2021
This makes 27 consecutive five-star awards I have given to Jennifer Youngblood for her clean romance stories. I recommend reading the first book in this series first. Some key players in this story were first introduced in The Persistent Groom, so knowing their histories will give greater insight into this story. Ariana, our heroine, was a major player in the opening book of this series. I found the story of Ariana and Rennan to be not only interesting but also captivating. Then, as the story advances, the story takes a completely unexpected twist that blew me away. I will not reveal a spoiler here – you need to read the story and find out for yourself.
704 reviews8 followers
January 17, 2019
Rennen Bradley, the Ghost, has moved up to take the place of Ace Sanchez who has been injured and forced into retirement. Ariana Sanchez, Ace's sister, meets Rennen at a karaoke bar where they hit it off and share a first kiss before they realize their common relationship to Ace. How is the smitten Rennen going to win the heart of the feisty Ariana who refuses to date him because of loyalty to her brother. It's a fun story with some twists and turns due to Rennen's background as a man who was raised in foster care due to being abandoned as a small child. Read it--you'll enjoy it!
Profile Image for Courtney.
4,298 reviews
February 9, 2019
Excellent

I typically enjoy the Texas Titan novels but "The Ghost Groom" was on another level and I loved every minute of it. I normally feel as if a novel has been rushed or is missing something from the overall story line; however, I never felt that way with this book. Each of the characters were well developed, as well as the plot behind each one of them. There was not a person in this story that didn't belong, and it was so refreshing to know each of their stories and how they went together.
Profile Image for Mellissa Hewitt.
45 reviews3 followers
February 14, 2019
I don't date football players....

Rags to way more than riches, Renen grew up not having a family until basically adopted by his best friend family. Ariana grew up in a close nit Mexican family. Starts out as love at first sight but then she find out that's he's the replacement for her brother in the Titans. Love and respect of family comes first until he brother gives her the ok. He's always waiting for the other shoe to drop so when he thinks Arians is sceeming with this woman who says she's his mother....he goes off the deep end. Rematch of all rematches!
1,124 reviews3 followers
May 22, 2018
HILARIOUS ROMANCE

Cute and very entertaining romance story about a football player who meets a young woman while she is on a blind date that ended up to a big disappointment. She also happens to be the sister of a football player who he is replacing as that player was let go after a game injury. Therefore, these two people go through many misunderstanding before she even realizes he is the perfect man for her.
7,776 reviews50 followers
February 9, 2019
Ariana been dating losers since she broke up with her last boyfriend. Meeting this one from a dating site, he was late, and full of hands. Taking him to the floor, when he wouldn’t except the no. Having seen a guy dancing and now meeting is Rennen, one smooth dancer on the dance floor. He was taking her brother’s place on the team. The chemistry is there, and if they can get over their personal problems. Nice enjoyable story and good series


1,775 reviews33 followers
March 3, 2022
Enjoyable Story

I liked the two characters in this story. Ariana was a strong woman and had fallen for Rennen but then found out he was the football player who took her brother’s place on the team so she immediately dumps him out of loyalty! Rennen doesn’t like that and continues to pursue her! Rennen had a tough past and it kind of messed with him but I like how strong he became because of it.
Profile Image for Neena Christianson Martin.
1,185 reviews11 followers
February 8, 2018
Choices

This is what Ariana has to do, choose her family or the man she's falling for. She has sworn off dating football players but that was before she met Rennen, the man who replaced her brother on the football field. Jennifer has proven once again that the road to happiness is sometimes paved with potholes, but always worth the journey.
Profile Image for Teya Teya.
Author 9 books103 followers
February 28, 2018
I am such a sucker for these kind of books. Maybe a bit unrealistic but life stories are even more seemingly unrealistic than books. I thought it was well done. A little fast on forgiving and healing, however, it was a short story go figure. Plus a happy ending with a hunk who finds his real history? Then has a happy ending with the love of his life. What more could you want I enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Sara Summers.
Author 42 books35 followers
September 23, 2018
Loved it!

I loved this book! Jennifer Youngblood has become one of my favorite authors. Not too clean where everything feels watered down, and not scandalous where I have to skip pages. Arianna and Rennans relationship was both sweet and sassy and I completely loved it. Would highly recommend!
182 reviews
February 11, 2019
I enjoyed this love story about Rennen & Ariana. I liked that a family atmosphere was throughout the book. I liked that forgiveness was displayed. I liked that they both grew in their relationship with each other. I liked that both of them were lovable characters. I liked that they both enjoyed life.
494 reviews
February 19, 2019
Mucho Gusto !

Starting with Los Tios and the Sanchez family that runs it gives you a warm and happy feeling. Add in family drama and romance and you have a good book Now have two Texas Titan running backs and you have a winner. Ace Sanchez has always held my heart- The Ghost is also holding it now. Super book
Profile Image for Jan L.
1,003 reviews21 followers
August 27, 2019
Till the count of three

Ariana's story, of course, is full of spiraling emotions that nosedive in a heartbeat. A fun romance with a touching story of an abandoned toddler growing up believing he could trust only himself. It's a fantasy designed for escape but get ready to settle in because it's hard to put down!
Profile Image for Mary.
950 reviews8 followers
March 31, 2020
Ariana's Football Player

After her brother joins the NFL, Ariana dated some football players and decided that was a bad idea. Now that he's left the NFL, his replacement is trying to change her mind. Adriana doesn't own her own gym for nothing. She's a lot stronger than he'd thought.
Profile Image for Evelyn Goughnour .
1,166 reviews
March 31, 2022
A really good book!

A young man has grown up in group homes and foster homes with a big chip on his shoulder. When he becomes famous people from all over are willing to clame him. His real mother finds him because of an interview. Is he going to win big or lose everything? Read it an find out.
Profile Image for Love.
1,747 reviews5 followers
January 27, 2018
Challenging Romance

This is a fun charming romance adventure with a lot of laughter and love plus some understanding from family to love ones and adorable characters too. Must Read Definitely
Profile Image for Jessica.
311 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2018
Love it

Yet another wonderful story from the Titan team. Ariana and the ghost make an amazing couple. I particularly loved the aspect of Rennan being an orphan and finding that his childhood wasn’t what it seemed.
Profile Image for Sue Stinnett.
1,374 reviews3 followers
January 31, 2018
Second Chances

This is a really fun book but will also pull at your heartstrings. Abandoned as a baby and growing up in foster care hardens a man's heart. Falling in love cracks open his heart but love is about to knock him down again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews

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