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Waiting on the Sidelines #3
The Hail Mary
Sixteen years is a long time. In a marriage, it’s a milestone. On the gridiron, it’s a miracle. Reed Johnson wants more time for everything, but time is funny that way.
It can be cruel.
With a body that can’t quite take the hits it used to and a heart tired of being torn in two different directions, Reed is faced with a reality he’s not quite ready for—life without the game. He became a man under Friday night game lights and in college stadium tunnels, and without the grit and the glory that’s earned ten yards at a time, he’s afraid of what kind of man he’ll be.
But there’s more than a game at stake now.
Reed’s wife, Nolan, is afraid too. She’s seen what can happen when the love of her life pushes himself too hard, and she can’t escape the nightmares she relives after almost losing her entire world to one single play on the field.
There is no compromise when it comes to football. Same goes for the heart. You’re either all in, or you get crushed. For Reed and Nolan, the clock is ticking down. Time…it does that. One way or another, they’re going to have to make a choice.
This is their hail Mary.
This is win or lose.
(The Hail Mary is book 3 in The Waiting Series, which follows high school sweethearts Reed Johnson and Nolan Lennox through football, life, love and everything messy that goes along with it. The series begins with Waiting on the Sidelines and Going Long. Book 3 is for more mature readers and deals with adult themes.)
It can be cruel.
With a body that can’t quite take the hits it used to and a heart tired of being torn in two different directions, Reed is faced with a reality he’s not quite ready for—life without the game. He became a man under Friday night game lights and in college stadium tunnels, and without the grit and the glory that’s earned ten yards at a time, he’s afraid of what kind of man he’ll be.
But there’s more than a game at stake now.
Reed’s wife, Nolan, is afraid too. She’s seen what can happen when the love of her life pushes himself too hard, and she can’t escape the nightmares she relives after almost losing her entire world to one single play on the field.
There is no compromise when it comes to football. Same goes for the heart. You’re either all in, or you get crushed. For Reed and Nolan, the clock is ticking down. Time…it does that. One way or another, they’re going to have to make a choice.
This is their hail Mary.
This is win or lose.
(The Hail Mary is book 3 in The Waiting Series, which follows high school sweethearts Reed Johnson and Nolan Lennox through football, life, love and everything messy that goes along with it. The series begins with Waiting on the Sidelines and Going Long. Book 3 is for more mature readers and deals with adult themes.)
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 18, 2019
159 people are currently reading
1426 people want to read
About the author
Ginger Scott
77 books3,579 followersGinger Scott is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal and Amazon-bestselling author from Peoria, Arizona. She was also nominated for both the Goodreads Choice and Rita Awards. She is the author of several young and new adult romances, including bestsellers The Moon and Back, The Varsity Series, The Hard Count, This Is Falling and Wild Reckless.
A sucker for a good romance, Ginger's other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. She has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for a hella long time. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://gingerscottbooks.com.
When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).
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A sucker for a good romance, Ginger's other passion is sports, and she often blends the two in her stories. She has been writing and editing for newspapers, magazines and blogs for a hella long time. She has told the stories of Olympians, politicians, actors, scientists, cowboys, criminals and towns. For more on her and her work, visit her website at http://gingerscottbooks.com.
When she's not writing, the odds are high that she's somewhere near a baseball diamond, either watching her son field pop flies like Bryce Harper or cheering on her favorite baseball team, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Ginger lives in Arizona and is married to her college sweetheart whom she met at ASU (fork 'em, Devils).
Sign Up for Ginger's Newsletter!
http://www.littlemisswrite.com/newsle...
Find Ginger online here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GingerScottA...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thegingerscott
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorginge...
Website: https://www.littlemisswrite.com
Amazon: amazon.com/author/gingerscott
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ginge...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 166 reviews
January 20, 2019
READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG
Confession time: I was scared of starting this book. I love Ginger Scott's books. All of them. Without exception. Yet, the angst of WAITING ON THE SIDELINES and GOING LONG was a little hard on me. Nolan and Reed had to go through so much and often times it was outside interference that broke them apart. Again. And again. It hurt because I'd come to love these two. So when THE HAIL MARY landed on my Kindle I was worried that they'd have to deal with issues again, they'd only have limited control over. This time, Ginger took pity on me. The problems Noles and Reed had to solve were, while grave, not out of their control. And they did so with flying colors.
After GOING LONG ended Nolan and Reed married. Reed became a professional football player and that life, with all its ups and downs, injuries and thousands of miles apart, is hard on a marriage. While they are still very much in love they are both hanging by a thread. Reed's neck injury four years ago scared the living daylights out of Nolan and makes her fear for Reed's life whenever he steps on the field. He's closing in on forty but retiring isn't an option for Reed, much to Nolan's grief. So they are stuck in a place where both are right, unease has settled in, and there is little they can do except to ride it out. The alternative isn't an option.
I want something that is in direct conflict with what the love of my life wants.
These two have gained so much maturity and despite all the resentment of their past mistakes, despite their arguments, there is still this undeniable, palpable love. They had a ton of issues but I never doubted them to make it to the other side. They never stopped fighting for their love and handled their issues with a grace they lacked when they were teenagers.
Somehow… still, after all these years, this guy can make me feel special just by the way he looks at me.
I fell in love with them so deeply this time. The way they were working through the obstacles, one at a time although they kept piling up, they had each other's back even though their relationship wasn't always easy.
And can I say how much I loved Reed? He is the kind of hero I adore about this author's stories. They are all decent men, good to the bones and not afraid of their own feelings. He has come so far, has grown and matured so much. His relationship with his daughter was one of my favorite things.
More than anything, I want to live. This life, with this girl— it’s my passion. I’m nothing without her, and everything when I’m wherever she is.
I also fell a little bit in love with Jason although I really hated him in the first two books but he, too, showed a lot of growth and had become a man Noles and Reed could rely on.
Ms. Scott has proven times and again that she can write poignant stories that hit you right in the chest, with characters you can't help but fall in love with. THE HAIL MARY is the perfect happy ending for two wonderful people who had to overcome so many challenges in life. The first two books gave me a knot in my stomach because of all the teenage angst. This story has a different kind of angst, the one you feel in your heart but still know that everything will be alright in the end, because the love Nolan and Reed have for one another is unquestionable and irrevocable. It made the hurt I felt while listening to the first two books so worth it. I'm a little sad to have to say goodbye to them now.
The setbacks.
The milestones.
The ride. The motherfucking ride.
This life, it’s hard on a marriage. It’s hard on the mind and the soul. You have to be something rare just to survive it and I did. We did.
December 31, 2018
Ginger Scott just made my whole year with The Hail Mary. This was the most phenomenal, most magnificent, most unputdownable, heart-stopping, satisfying book that I didn't even know I needed. I was content with where Scott left us at the end of Going Long. I thought Nolan and Reed had their happily ever after in this series. But truth be told, marriage is a never ending journey, a lifetime commitment of compromise and drama, and so it stands to reason that there would always be more to their story. The course of true love never did run smoothly and that's never been more true than in the Waiting on the Sidelines series. Here in The Hail Mary, Nolan and Reed face obstacles, both relatable and extraordinary, and prove that love will always prevail.
The Hail Mary follows this married couple, characters whose story began with a complicated high school crush in Waiting on the Sidelines that saw them evolve into college sweethearts in Going Long, as they navigate the fractured state of their current relationship. Reed's professional football career puts a strain on their marriage while distance and the stress of parenting a teenager further complicates their lives. What evolves on these pages is an emotional, all consuming, blissfully romantic testament to unwavering love and I can't even articulate how much I loved it.
If you haven't started reading this series yet, I've never been more adamant about a recommendation than I am in this moment. This series gives you EVERYTHING. I am DESPERATE right this second to go back to the beginning and feel it all over again. The heartbreaking angst of young love in the first book, the complicated growing pains in the second, and now this... an all-encompassing conclusion to a story of family and football, love and friendship. This third book is truly magical. It hurts to read at times. It stunned me silent with its unexpected curveballs. It's peppered with memories, both heartwarming and heartbreaking, that never let the reader forget how far this couple has come. And it left me with this giddy, warm, satisfied, joyous euphoria that every damn reader needs in their life.
I struggled with admitting that this is my new favorite Ginger Scott book because her words are some of the greatest I've had the pleasure of reading. I've loved so many of her books and more than one of them are on my list of ALL-TIME FAVORITES, it's near impossible to choose just one. But there's something truly special about The Hail Mary that sets it apart. It is so beautifully written, the words clawed their way off the page and stole my heart. But the crafting of this novel, the flashbacks and the memories, the alternating points of view and the achingly beautiful storyline, all culminate into a story that feels more like a masterpiece than your garden variety romance novel. This is a story of a love of a lifetime. This book encompasses decades of hope and heartbreak, years of unimaginable losses and life changing victories. It's pieced together so artfully, so superbly, so remarkably, it's absolutely unforgettable. If you treat yourself to anything in this new year, make it this series.
The Hail Mary follows this married couple, characters whose story began with a complicated high school crush in Waiting on the Sidelines that saw them evolve into college sweethearts in Going Long, as they navigate the fractured state of their current relationship. Reed's professional football career puts a strain on their marriage while distance and the stress of parenting a teenager further complicates their lives. What evolves on these pages is an emotional, all consuming, blissfully romantic testament to unwavering love and I can't even articulate how much I loved it.
If you haven't started reading this series yet, I've never been more adamant about a recommendation than I am in this moment. This series gives you EVERYTHING. I am DESPERATE right this second to go back to the beginning and feel it all over again. The heartbreaking angst of young love in the first book, the complicated growing pains in the second, and now this... an all-encompassing conclusion to a story of family and football, love and friendship. This third book is truly magical. It hurts to read at times. It stunned me silent with its unexpected curveballs. It's peppered with memories, both heartwarming and heartbreaking, that never let the reader forget how far this couple has come. And it left me with this giddy, warm, satisfied, joyous euphoria that every damn reader needs in their life.
I struggled with admitting that this is my new favorite Ginger Scott book because her words are some of the greatest I've had the pleasure of reading. I've loved so many of her books and more than one of them are on my list of ALL-TIME FAVORITES, it's near impossible to choose just one. But there's something truly special about The Hail Mary that sets it apart. It is so beautifully written, the words clawed their way off the page and stole my heart. But the crafting of this novel, the flashbacks and the memories, the alternating points of view and the achingly beautiful storyline, all culminate into a story that feels more like a masterpiece than your garden variety romance novel. This is a story of a love of a lifetime. This book encompasses decades of hope and heartbreak, years of unimaginable losses and life changing victories. It's pieced together so artfully, so superbly, so remarkably, it's absolutely unforgettable. If you treat yourself to anything in this new year, make it this series.
November 14, 2019
Aw, you guys! This is the perfect ending for Nolan and Reed. I have been following their story and rooting for their romance. I was so nervous when I picked up Hail Mary. Because I really do not want something break with their HEA. And now I am so happy for this story.
It is so good to see how Nolan and Reed character develop into mature adult. With a teenage daughter between them, they conquer the world with co parenting, career, love and tears. I applause their love for each other. It does not waver in time. Yes they have some crack in their marriage life, but hey marriage is hard work. Lifetime work. Lifetime commitment.
I do hope no more book about them picturing them as grandparents. Because I can not take it if they break during their golden years. Just please let them have their happy ending. Forever and after.
5 stars
It is so good to see how Nolan and Reed character develop into mature adult. With a teenage daughter between them, they conquer the world with co parenting, career, love and tears. I applause their love for each other. It does not waver in time. Yes they have some crack in their marriage life, but hey marriage is hard work. Lifetime work. Lifetime commitment.
I do hope no more book about them picturing them as grandparents. Because I can not take it if they break during their golden years. Just please let them have their happy ending. Forever and after.
5 stars
January 18, 2019
ALL THE STARS!!! This book is EVERYTHING!
The Hail Mary. One of the most difficult plays to pull off in football. As you watch that ball soar through the air, you hold your breath, heart pounding, waiting to see if it winds up in the end zone.
Ginger Scott pulled off The Hail Mary . Every word, every scene—I’m honest to god in tears as I write this review. Her novel is why I read. I laughed, I cried, I held my breath. I watched from the sidelines as if it were a movie... that’s how real this novel was for me.
The journey of Reed and Nolan started with On the Sidelines—young love with all its heartache, magic, and the journey of discovering if that one person is “your person”. Going Long, book two in the series, was just as amazing as OTS. They weathered the storm and I cheered for them just as hard as I did when I first “met” them.
After learning Ginger Scott was writing a third book in the series, I was so happy. More Nolan and Reed?!! Sign me up.
I didn’t expect to fall so hard and so completely. I didn’t realize how much I longed to reunite with this couple I’ve grown to love so deeply. I don’t know why, it’s Ginger Scott after all. She has a way with words—pure perfection that stole my heart and my breath and won’t ever let it go.
Reed and Nolan are older now, facing more challenges and more heartache. You get some flashbacks, which I adored. You live their lives right along side them—you're on the field hearing the cheering crowd, watching the whole story play out right in front of you.
What a ride it was! It was everything!! Trust me on this—if you haven’t read this series, you need to get on that. The Hail Mary is that book. The one you spend hours searching for. The love I have for this series is endless and I hope that someday my own daughters experience a love so deep and so strong. Absolutely beautiful!!
The Hail Mary. One of the most difficult plays to pull off in football. As you watch that ball soar through the air, you hold your breath, heart pounding, waiting to see if it winds up in the end zone.
Ginger Scott pulled off The Hail Mary . Every word, every scene—I’m honest to god in tears as I write this review. Her novel is why I read. I laughed, I cried, I held my breath. I watched from the sidelines as if it were a movie... that’s how real this novel was for me.
The journey of Reed and Nolan started with On the Sidelines—young love with all its heartache, magic, and the journey of discovering if that one person is “your person”. Going Long, book two in the series, was just as amazing as OTS. They weathered the storm and I cheered for them just as hard as I did when I first “met” them.
After learning Ginger Scott was writing a third book in the series, I was so happy. More Nolan and Reed?!! Sign me up.
I didn’t expect to fall so hard and so completely. I didn’t realize how much I longed to reunite with this couple I’ve grown to love so deeply. I don’t know why, it’s Ginger Scott after all. She has a way with words—pure perfection that stole my heart and my breath and won’t ever let it go.
Reed and Nolan are older now, facing more challenges and more heartache. You get some flashbacks, which I adored. You live their lives right along side them—you're on the field hearing the cheering crowd, watching the whole story play out right in front of you.
“The setbacks.
The milestones.
The ride.
The motherfucking ride.”
What a ride it was! It was everything!! Trust me on this—if you haven’t read this series, you need to get on that. The Hail Mary is that book. The one you spend hours searching for. The love I have for this series is endless and I hope that someday my own daughters experience a love so deep and so strong. Absolutely beautiful!!
January 10, 2019
Title: The Hail Mary ( Waiting on The Sidelines #3)
Author: Ginger Scott
Publication Date: January 18, 2019
On the count of three, say it with me..
1,2,3.... THE HAIL MARY IS PERFECTION!
Let's start by saying that I absolutely love this series and I ADORE Reed and Nolan!
It's been a while since I read the first two books so before I started The Hail Mary , I wanted to freshen up on all THINGS Nolan and Reed. I'm really glad I did because I have a new found love, admiration and respect for not only the characters but for the author as well.
I love Reed! I love Nolan! I feel like they are not perfect and they don't try to be one.
The Hail Mary gave us a glimpse into Reed and Nolan's life after sixteen years of marriage. It showed us the struggle of love, life, careers, fear, hopes and dreams.
Without spilling any spoilers, I'm going to be honest here and say that there were times when I was literally praying that these two characters don't end up separating. But then on the flip side, I consoled myself with the knowledge that this is Reed and Nolan. True loves, kindred spirit, soul mates...however you want to label them.. These two characters were it.
Everyone needs to read this book. I will say this, Brace Yourself for an onslaught of overwhelming emotions because this series...this book is going to wreck you.
Ginger Scott, You served Nolan and Reed well.
My heart is content.
To read the excerpt, Click Link Below:
https://sentrancedjem.wordpress.com/2...
October 10, 2021
these two are almost 40...
and I just can't with them...
why is lack of communication still a plot device between them...at this point there are together for more than 20 years and have a 14-year-old daughter...
1. Waiting on the Sidelines 3 ⭐
2. Going Long 2 ⭐
3. The Hail Mary 1,5 ⭐
perfect trilogy for readers looking for multiple books with the same couple going through angsty and drama-filled moments...
and I just can't with them...
why is lack of communication still a plot device between them...at this point there are together for more than 20 years and have a 14-year-old daughter...
1. Waiting on the Sidelines 3 ⭐
2. Going Long 2 ⭐
3. The Hail Mary 1,5 ⭐
perfect trilogy for readers looking for multiple books with the same couple going through angsty and drama-filled moments...
January 15, 2019
**The Hail Mary generously provided in exchange for an honest review.**
5 "One game at at time." Stars
Ginger Scott excels at sports romance no matter the sport in which she finds her focus. This third book in the Waiting on the Sidelines series came as a surprise and what a delightful one at that. Fans of the series will know we saw the tumultuous relationship if these two through high school and college. Now Scott has given us a glimpse into the adult lives of Nolan and Reed through the Reed's time in the pros. It's perceptive view of an adult marriage with two characters we've grown to love.
I just adore Reed and Nolan. They certainly aren't always easy but they always persevere in unexpected ways. The hardships are heavy for these two. The love they need to protect and maintain through a celebrity lifestyle wears on each of them. But it's always there and it's always strong even when it seems like it's gone and I enhoy them all the more for that.
These two are angsty. They've always been full of top notch drama. In The Hail Mary though Scott makes the angst about the two of them and the strains within their marriage and how life gets so tough within that realm of their lives relating so well to all of us that married. It's not contrived drama because of outside forces and that felt so good in this series conclusion, so natural to what this couple really needed. I finished it thinking - yes, we did need this book; this is where Reed and Nolan's journey was truly meant to end. A testament to the the fact that Ginger Scott always gets to the hearts of her characters and knows them profoundly.
This is my favorite of the series for sure. It's full of hope. It depicts a marriage so concisely, the ebb and flow of that commitment and how love can be so resilient, forgiving, and powerful.
5 "One game at at time." Stars
Ginger Scott excels at sports romance no matter the sport in which she finds her focus. This third book in the Waiting on the Sidelines series came as a surprise and what a delightful one at that. Fans of the series will know we saw the tumultuous relationship if these two through high school and college. Now Scott has given us a glimpse into the adult lives of Nolan and Reed through the Reed's time in the pros. It's perceptive view of an adult marriage with two characters we've grown to love.
I just adore Reed and Nolan. They certainly aren't always easy but they always persevere in unexpected ways. The hardships are heavy for these two. The love they need to protect and maintain through a celebrity lifestyle wears on each of them. But it's always there and it's always strong even when it seems like it's gone and I enhoy them all the more for that.
These two are angsty. They've always been full of top notch drama. In The Hail Mary though Scott makes the angst about the two of them and the strains within their marriage and how life gets so tough within that realm of their lives relating so well to all of us that married. It's not contrived drama because of outside forces and that felt so good in this series conclusion, so natural to what this couple really needed. I finished it thinking - yes, we did need this book; this is where Reed and Nolan's journey was truly meant to end. A testament to the the fact that Ginger Scott always gets to the hearts of her characters and knows them profoundly.
This is my favorite of the series for sure. It's full of hope. It depicts a marriage so concisely, the ebb and flow of that commitment and how love can be so resilient, forgiving, and powerful.
January 19, 2019
6 stars.
I absolutely LOVED this book! I loved this series and ADORE Reed and Nolan, they’re one of my favourite book couples.
What I loved about this book is that it shows how these characters, these people, aren’t perfect. Things don’t always go to plan and people may not react the way we want or expect them to.
But Reed and Nolan can work it out because they’re awesome.
I loved seeing a look into the future, catching up with the gang as well as seeing Peyton, and yeah, I’m going to be that girl who begs for her book!
This is an awesome book, with especially powerful lines that I know will stay with me for a while.
I highly recommend you give this book, this series, a go, you won’t be disappointed!
I absolutely LOVED this book! I loved this series and ADORE Reed and Nolan, they’re one of my favourite book couples.
What I loved about this book is that it shows how these characters, these people, aren’t perfect. Things don’t always go to plan and people may not react the way we want or expect them to.
But Reed and Nolan can work it out because they’re awesome.
I loved seeing a look into the future, catching up with the gang as well as seeing Peyton, and yeah, I’m going to be that girl who begs for her book!
This is an awesome book, with especially powerful lines that I know will stay with me for a while.
I highly recommend you give this book, this series, a go, you won’t be disappointed!
January 17, 2019
**REVIEWED BY CASSIE**
My excitement for this book has been through the roof. I read the first two books a long time ago and although I was content with the ending then, this book truly completes Nolan and Reed’s journey. This series spans through the trials of an athlete from high school through the end of professional years, which I think is important as I feel like older athletes are overlooked and are under-represented in romance.
Again, this series starts as YA, goes to NA in the second, and finishes off on a contemporary note which was pulled off so well. Many authors don’t venture out of their comfort zone period let alone write three different styles of books in a single series. The progression is so natural throughout the series. I do not read a lot of contemporary romance, and I was sucked in because of my love for these characters. I could not get enough of their typical almost 40-year-old problems mixed with the drama of Reed chasing the end of his dream. It was an eye-opener for contemporary romance for me being a twenty-something romance reader and blogger.
The flashbacks will make any lover of this series heart swell. The memories told in the opposite characters’ POV conjure nostalgia so deep that you will want to read the other two books in the midst of this book. Reed continues his streak of doing right by Nolan and his family although the tide is rough and Nolan is still every bit the caring, compassionate, strong-willed partner Reed needs.
This book was everything I could have wanted in a final hoorah for the Johnson family.
My excitement for this book has been through the roof. I read the first two books a long time ago and although I was content with the ending then, this book truly completes Nolan and Reed’s journey. This series spans through the trials of an athlete from high school through the end of professional years, which I think is important as I feel like older athletes are overlooked and are under-represented in romance.
Again, this series starts as YA, goes to NA in the second, and finishes off on a contemporary note which was pulled off so well. Many authors don’t venture out of their comfort zone period let alone write three different styles of books in a single series. The progression is so natural throughout the series. I do not read a lot of contemporary romance, and I was sucked in because of my love for these characters. I could not get enough of their typical almost 40-year-old problems mixed with the drama of Reed chasing the end of his dream. It was an eye-opener for contemporary romance for me being a twenty-something romance reader and blogger.
The flashbacks will make any lover of this series heart swell. The memories told in the opposite characters’ POV conjure nostalgia so deep that you will want to read the other two books in the midst of this book. Reed continues his streak of doing right by Nolan and his family although the tide is rough and Nolan is still every bit the caring, compassionate, strong-willed partner Reed needs.
This book was everything I could have wanted in a final hoorah for the Johnson family.
February 1, 2019
Not quite crying......
Wonderful story that many of sports romances fail to do....they make their books sweet but no substance....oh, they'll have a tricky situation, like a nasty ex-wife. This story is substantial. It's the mature football player and his wife that dominate the story but the secondary characters are given full interaction and lives. This story seems real.
I will say that it seems standalone although I did read prior books...I just can't remember the stories so with a bit of back to the past chapter work we get a handle on the past well enough. Love it!!
I really like how the biggest plot scheme worked out. There was a lot of angst about it. I wished Nolan would of sought counseling because she drove me a bit crazy. Overall, it's a pretty love story. It starts out a bit worrisome with two years of ho hum marriage but that's quite real. It's also quite real losing a friend to drug overdose or heart attack starting at their ages. How the family and friends rally around is very good to this story and maybe our own lives. Go Ginger Scott.
Wonderful story that many of sports romances fail to do....they make their books sweet but no substance....oh, they'll have a tricky situation, like a nasty ex-wife. This story is substantial. It's the mature football player and his wife that dominate the story but the secondary characters are given full interaction and lives. This story seems real.
I will say that it seems standalone although I did read prior books...I just can't remember the stories so with a bit of back to the past chapter work we get a handle on the past well enough. Love it!!
I really like how the biggest plot scheme worked out. There was a lot of angst about it. I wished Nolan would of sought counseling because she drove me a bit crazy. Overall, it's a pretty love story. It starts out a bit worrisome with two years of ho hum marriage but that's quite real. It's also quite real losing a friend to drug overdose or heart attack starting at their ages. How the family and friends rally around is very good to this story and maybe our own lives. Go Ginger Scott.
January 19, 2019
Perfection!! Perfect ending to this series.
November 4, 2023
Don’t let my 3 star choice fool you. I love this series so much. I will be honest, I had different hopes for the third book, but I loved this conclusion. The miscommunication trope being used in all three books is so on brand for Reed and Nolan, and probably the only series I’ll allow it
January 13, 2019
The Hail Mary is the fantastic third book in Ginger Scott’s The Waiting series. This book is the quintessential arc from a YA novel to a NA novel to a realistic adult romance. It is perfection! The series started with the over-the-top angsty Waiting on the Sidelines and Going Long. Those two books are quintessential Young Adult and New Adult romance novels.
While the first two novels in the series were filled with dramatic highs and lows, the latest novel’s drama and vibe is much more mature. Nolan and Reed are married. They have parents who need help. They have a teenaged child and careers, and one of those careers is taking a lot out of their relationship. Ms. Scott has beautifully transitioned Nolan and Reed’s love story in The Hail Mary. The naïve hopefulness is gone, and in its place is the weight of everyday life.
Football is a tough career. It is tough on the body and it is tough on relationships. While Reed will remain QB1 in Nolan’s heart, how long will he remain physically with her if he continues to make himself a tackling dummy on the field? As Nolan and Reed have seen both on and off the field, life can change in an instant. They have been in a long push-pull battle of their wants and needs. This creates a highly emotional read. I deeply felt all the stressors weighing down on their relationship.
I loved this mature, realistic series conclusion; it is a fabulously crafted story. The flashbacks are a perfect reminder of why these two got together and stayed together. I absolutely adored Reed’s memories of their budding relationship in high school. The alternating POV narrative perfectly reflects all the unsaid hopes and resentments between a long-married couple. The Hail Mary is Ms. Scott’s most genuine novel to date. It lovingly shows how much effort goes into a marriage and a family, and it beautifully depicts the difficult challenge of conflicting needs and life choices.
Whether you’re a long time fan of Nolan and Reed or you’re new to their love story, you can’t help but be affected by the beauty of this tale. The saying about nothing worthwhile coming easily comes to mind when I think of Nolan and Reed in The Hail Mary. Their respective and collective victories and losses changed them but not their love and devotion for one another. This beautiful love story needs to be on the big screen!
I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
While the first two novels in the series were filled with dramatic highs and lows, the latest novel’s drama and vibe is much more mature. Nolan and Reed are married. They have parents who need help. They have a teenaged child and careers, and one of those careers is taking a lot out of their relationship. Ms. Scott has beautifully transitioned Nolan and Reed’s love story in The Hail Mary. The naïve hopefulness is gone, and in its place is the weight of everyday life.
Football is a tough career. It is tough on the body and it is tough on relationships. While Reed will remain QB1 in Nolan’s heart, how long will he remain physically with her if he continues to make himself a tackling dummy on the field? As Nolan and Reed have seen both on and off the field, life can change in an instant. They have been in a long push-pull battle of their wants and needs. This creates a highly emotional read. I deeply felt all the stressors weighing down on their relationship.
I loved this mature, realistic series conclusion; it is a fabulously crafted story. The flashbacks are a perfect reminder of why these two got together and stayed together. I absolutely adored Reed’s memories of their budding relationship in high school. The alternating POV narrative perfectly reflects all the unsaid hopes and resentments between a long-married couple. The Hail Mary is Ms. Scott’s most genuine novel to date. It lovingly shows how much effort goes into a marriage and a family, and it beautifully depicts the difficult challenge of conflicting needs and life choices.
Whether you’re a long time fan of Nolan and Reed or you’re new to their love story, you can’t help but be affected by the beauty of this tale. The saying about nothing worthwhile coming easily comes to mind when I think of Nolan and Reed in The Hail Mary. Their respective and collective victories and losses changed them but not their love and devotion for one another. This beautiful love story needs to be on the big screen!
I received an advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
December 30, 2018
I am definitely finishing 2018 on a high reading note ❤️❤️
Hail Mary was just perfection!! Definitely a 5 star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You know those stories that have you sighing, nodding your head and smiling to yourself. This is that book. My heart was in my throat for a lot of the story and I was tears eyed a lot. It’s a beautifully honest read and I adored it.
As someone who married her high school sweetheart 23 years ago, this story really resonated with me. The way every day life and the decisions you make individually can impact you as a couple. How it’s easy to forget what you mean to each other. To lose your way. It’s a seemingly simple storyline that is in fact very complex. It’s just told in such a beautiful way that it flows effortlessly.
I have to make mention of the flashbacks - my heart almost burst with how much I loved them. Reed and Nolan are what romance stories should be❤️
It’s Book 3 in the series & you must read the first two - but that’s no hardship as they are both amazing. A 2018 Favourite for me.
I received an arc of this book.
Hail Mary was just perfection!! Definitely a 5 star read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You know those stories that have you sighing, nodding your head and smiling to yourself. This is that book. My heart was in my throat for a lot of the story and I was tears eyed a lot. It’s a beautifully honest read and I adored it.
As someone who married her high school sweetheart 23 years ago, this story really resonated with me. The way every day life and the decisions you make individually can impact you as a couple. How it’s easy to forget what you mean to each other. To lose your way. It’s a seemingly simple storyline that is in fact very complex. It’s just told in such a beautiful way that it flows effortlessly.
I have to make mention of the flashbacks - my heart almost burst with how much I loved them. Reed and Nolan are what romance stories should be❤️
It’s Book 3 in the series & you must read the first two - but that’s no hardship as they are both amazing. A 2018 Favourite for me.
I received an arc of this book.
br-angsty-trainwrecks
June 4, 2025“I need to let go of my anger so I can get back to that place. Home will never feel like home again if I don’t. My head won’t let go of some things, though. And neither can my heart. Nolan and me, we were always forever. Until she betrayed me. With one tiny email, she took away my only other reason to live. Even now, two years later, I get her reasons. She was afraid. She was terrified the next hit I took would be the last, would be the end and turn me into a monster—or worse—a stranger. So she sent one rogue doctor’s medical opinion to the man offering me the contract of a lifetime with the guarantee of getting back to the playoffs, and as it turned out the Super Bowl. She did it all while I was asleep in our bed, and as a result, she turned me into something that’s proving impossible to overcome—a ghost of a man.
The irony of it all is I haven’t taken a hit in a game since. I haven’t stepped on the field for a game. I stayed in Detroit, riding backup to the QB”.
The irony of it all is I haven’t taken a hit in a game since. I haven’t stepped on the field for a game. I stayed in Detroit, riding backup to the QB”.
January 16, 2019
The Hail Mary is book 3 in The Waiting Series. It continues the journey of high school sweethearts Reed Johnson and Nolan Lennox. Now married 16 years, they have experienced it all; love, loss, happiness, disappointment and difficult decisions. Reed is a professional football player, husband and father. Nolan wears many hats. Mother, business owner and caregiver to Reed’s dad, Buck.
…this game is like family. It’s life. It’s air. It’s what I know.
Reed fears what will happen when he no longer plays professional football. Will he have a purpose? Will he be lost? His whole life, his identity has been football. This fear is carried through the story. When tragedy strikes, Reed’s fear is amplified. All of the “what if’s” come rolling in. His focus is off and as a quarterback he needs to be 100%. But Nolan has fears and insecurities as well. She too has the “what if’s.”
I’ve told her that I’m nothing without her but the thing is, I’m nothing without this game either.
The Hail Mary is an emotional, slow burn. Reed and Nolan’s marriage is strained as decisions are made and fears come to the surface. I loved the flashbacks of Reed and Nolan’s youth. It was also great to see the old high school crew! Friendships and friends who are there to support you in your toughest times.
I loved Reed recklessly. I loved him blindly. I loved him despite every little and big thing that got in our way.
Things change direction at about 70 percent and a few surprises are thrown in (no spoilers!). That final part had me on the edge of my seat! I love how Ginger takes us to completion. And the road is not always easy or perfect! Emotional, angsty and raw.
The story is well written. The words flow. You can feel all of the love and tenderness that is shown. My heart was full! There is also a much more grown up feeling. The intimacy between Reed and Nolan was beautiful. And the sexy times were HOT! Ginger Scott has written a beautiful, contemporary romance. I loved the epilogue too!
This girl, she’s my reason…period.
4.5 stars
#AuthorGingerScott #TheHailMary #WaitingOnTheSidelines #GoingLong #Love #Angst #FootballRomance #Contemporary #ReedAndNolan #Blogger #BlushingBabesAreUpAllNight #Emotional #ComingOfAge
…this game is like family. It’s life. It’s air. It’s what I know.
Reed fears what will happen when he no longer plays professional football. Will he have a purpose? Will he be lost? His whole life, his identity has been football. This fear is carried through the story. When tragedy strikes, Reed’s fear is amplified. All of the “what if’s” come rolling in. His focus is off and as a quarterback he needs to be 100%. But Nolan has fears and insecurities as well. She too has the “what if’s.”
I’ve told her that I’m nothing without her but the thing is, I’m nothing without this game either.
The Hail Mary is an emotional, slow burn. Reed and Nolan’s marriage is strained as decisions are made and fears come to the surface. I loved the flashbacks of Reed and Nolan’s youth. It was also great to see the old high school crew! Friendships and friends who are there to support you in your toughest times.
I loved Reed recklessly. I loved him blindly. I loved him despite every little and big thing that got in our way.
Things change direction at about 70 percent and a few surprises are thrown in (no spoilers!). That final part had me on the edge of my seat! I love how Ginger takes us to completion. And the road is not always easy or perfect! Emotional, angsty and raw.
The story is well written. The words flow. You can feel all of the love and tenderness that is shown. My heart was full! There is also a much more grown up feeling. The intimacy between Reed and Nolan was beautiful. And the sexy times were HOT! Ginger Scott has written a beautiful, contemporary romance. I loved the epilogue too!
This girl, she’s my reason…period.
4.5 stars
#AuthorGingerScott #TheHailMary #WaitingOnTheSidelines #GoingLong #Love #Angst #FootballRomance #Contemporary #ReedAndNolan #Blogger #BlushingBabesAreUpAllNight #Emotional #ComingOfAge
Read
December 31, 2018Nolan and Reed of Waiting on the Sidelines were the beginning of a beautiful book relationship for us and Ginger Scott--Ginger writes them and we read them and we hope this symbiotic relationship continues for as long as she has fingers to type and we have eyes to read (or ears to listen). I feel like Court and I have been fans of Ginger since forever, and you can try to imagine my excitement when I saw that Nolan and Reed were getting a third book but I really don't think you can imagine it...pretty sure it was the squeal heard around the world. And when Ginger sent me the finished product, I inhaled it and am still feeling that hollow ache you feel when a good book is finished and the characters are still living in your heart and head.
There's so much to love about The Hail Mary. I love that Ginger wrote Nolan and Reed as adults (not new adults...like my age adults!) and that she gave them some real and serious conflicts that many of us could identify with. I loved seeing them with family and friends, reliving memories and making more. I think I just loved getting this special look at them and seeing how perfectly imperfect they are.
The Hail Mary made me smile and tear up and had me reaching for my worn copies of Waiting on the Sidelines and Going Long--wanting to relive all of their moments for the umpteenth time. I love these guys and could read about them all day long.
There's so much to love about The Hail Mary. I love that Ginger wrote Nolan and Reed as adults (not new adults...like my age adults!) and that she gave them some real and serious conflicts that many of us could identify with. I loved seeing them with family and friends, reliving memories and making more. I think I just loved getting this special look at them and seeing how perfectly imperfect they are.
The Hail Mary made me smile and tear up and had me reaching for my worn copies of Waiting on the Sidelines and Going Long--wanting to relive all of their moments for the umpteenth time. I love these guys and could read about them all day long.
January 15, 2019
I started my reading year with the most perfect of all stories, a 5++ #MustRead with The Hail Mary. I only just read books 1 and 2 in this series Waiting on the Sidelines and Going Long, last spring which inspired and affirmed my love of the #YA genre. Reed and Nolan have had a lot to get through to find themselves together. I couldn't have rooted harder for them to make it to this time in their lives, happily married. Well mostly happily. I love that Ginger keeps it real, this couple have real world problems which makes their love feel all the more authentic. I cringed, I cried and I swooned.
Catching up with Reed and Nolan is bittersweet. Scott shows us a family at odds. Reed is a pro player but sidelined due to injuries, and working his way back to the starter position. While Nolan is focused on their family in Arizona. I spent at least the first half of the book in a perpetual state of anxiety, fretting over their chances of making it
"Long flights followed by even longer fights turned into bad habits and eventually silence. We quit talking about real things and just started existing. I wasn’t even mad at her. How could I be?"
I just wanted them settled and happy and it seemed like maybe, just maybe they might not make it. But then I'm reminded of all they've overcome and the fight they've put into it.
"If I see Noles anywhere near the practice field, I brace myself for big, and I hold on for a ride that’s either going to cut me down or make me fly. Maybe that’s the reason we made it longer than most. We didn’t have some false expectations or fairytale dizzy dreams going into this life. We knew it was hard because us was always hard. In high school, life ate us up."
Throughout the story we are reminded of events through well placed flashbacks which fill in on some moments since we left them from Going Long . It gives the reader a view of this remarkable union and all that they have. I keep coming back to one thing about this couple, the passion for their life together. Both good and bad. From the moment I met Nolan she became a favorite heroine. So much about her is real and relatable and her view on making mistakes and forgiveness is a admirable. They move through some hard times and through intense love for each other they make it to the other side.
There's so much to love about this story and I can't recommend it enough. Reed and Nolan went from a favorite YA romance couple to a favorite Contemporary Romance couple. With that this is an all time favorite series ending with the most perfectly imperfect new stage of life for Reed and Nolan. Thank you Ginger Scott for the gift of Reed and Nolan :-) 5+++ Stars #MustRead
*I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Catching up with Reed and Nolan is bittersweet. Scott shows us a family at odds. Reed is a pro player but sidelined due to injuries, and working his way back to the starter position. While Nolan is focused on their family in Arizona. I spent at least the first half of the book in a perpetual state of anxiety, fretting over their chances of making it
"Long flights followed by even longer fights turned into bad habits and eventually silence. We quit talking about real things and just started existing. I wasn’t even mad at her. How could I be?"
I just wanted them settled and happy and it seemed like maybe, just maybe they might not make it. But then I'm reminded of all they've overcome and the fight they've put into it.
"If I see Noles anywhere near the practice field, I brace myself for big, and I hold on for a ride that’s either going to cut me down or make me fly. Maybe that’s the reason we made it longer than most. We didn’t have some false expectations or fairytale dizzy dreams going into this life. We knew it was hard because us was always hard. In high school, life ate us up."
Throughout the story we are reminded of events through well placed flashbacks which fill in on some moments since we left them from Going Long . It gives the reader a view of this remarkable union and all that they have. I keep coming back to one thing about this couple, the passion for their life together. Both good and bad. From the moment I met Nolan she became a favorite heroine. So much about her is real and relatable and her view on making mistakes and forgiveness is a admirable. They move through some hard times and through intense love for each other they make it to the other side.
There's so much to love about this story and I can't recommend it enough. Reed and Nolan went from a favorite YA romance couple to a favorite Contemporary Romance couple. With that this is an all time favorite series ending with the most perfectly imperfect new stage of life for Reed and Nolan. Thank you Ginger Scott for the gift of Reed and Nolan :-) 5+++ Stars #MustRead
*I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
January 21, 2019
The Hail Mary is a pretty good conclusion to the Waiting on the Sidelines series. I was anxious to see how Reed and Nolan were faring after their whirlwind courtship and eventual marriage. Theirs was a union that went through many ups and downs and I was hopeful they were mostly still on a high.
Now that they are on the cusp of turning 40, Reed is currently the back-up quarterback and not the star of the team any longer. With Nolan running their farm, taking care of his ill father and managing their rebellious 14 year old daughter, let's just say they are like ships passing in the night. I felt their frustration at being apart for way too long, way too many times. When together, the spark just wasn't there and it made me sad for them. Yes they are older now but you can sense the tension whenever Reed was home and he and Nolan had to be parents or solve an issue with the horses or help a friend or family member. They are most definitely still the nucleus in their tight-knit group of friends, despite everyone living their own lives in different parts of the country.
My huge frustration was the time it took in getting the opportunity to truly talk things through. Both Reed and Nolan had made decisions for the other without prior knowledge and that certainly led to the widening rift between them. But c'mon, Reed is not playing football 12 months a year. Clearly he had a ton of downtime. Fix things with your wife for goodness sakes! They still acted like they were back in high school and you'd think after all the time they had been together, that they could find a way to communicate.
Scenes with the old crew were my favorite because then it made sense to act like they were still in school, with silly antics that parents in their late 30's should no longer be doing. They all added the right amount of distraction from Reed and Nolan tackling their issues and yet provided the chance for them to capture that spark once again. These two adore each other, they just needed to be on the same page and in the same city to find their way back once again. And maybe I just felt it took a way too circuitous route to get there.
Overall, I did enjoy their journey and am glad they finally found their way back to some semblance of normalcy. Their new adventures with parenthood had a sense of deja vu and it felt fitting that daughter Peyton was a chip off the old block. And I'm glad we got to get caught up with the old gang, although some of their stories could have been explored further imo.
A worthy conclusion, I give The Hail Mary 3.5 stars.
Now that they are on the cusp of turning 40, Reed is currently the back-up quarterback and not the star of the team any longer. With Nolan running their farm, taking care of his ill father and managing their rebellious 14 year old daughter, let's just say they are like ships passing in the night. I felt their frustration at being apart for way too long, way too many times. When together, the spark just wasn't there and it made me sad for them. Yes they are older now but you can sense the tension whenever Reed was home and he and Nolan had to be parents or solve an issue with the horses or help a friend or family member. They are most definitely still the nucleus in their tight-knit group of friends, despite everyone living their own lives in different parts of the country.
My huge frustration was the time it took in getting the opportunity to truly talk things through. Both Reed and Nolan had made decisions for the other without prior knowledge and that certainly led to the widening rift between them. But c'mon, Reed is not playing football 12 months a year. Clearly he had a ton of downtime. Fix things with your wife for goodness sakes! They still acted like they were back in high school and you'd think after all the time they had been together, that they could find a way to communicate.
Scenes with the old crew were my favorite because then it made sense to act like they were still in school, with silly antics that parents in their late 30's should no longer be doing. They all added the right amount of distraction from Reed and Nolan tackling their issues and yet provided the chance for them to capture that spark once again. These two adore each other, they just needed to be on the same page and in the same city to find their way back once again. And maybe I just felt it took a way too circuitous route to get there.
Overall, I did enjoy their journey and am glad they finally found their way back to some semblance of normalcy. Their new adventures with parenthood had a sense of deja vu and it felt fitting that daughter Peyton was a chip off the old block. And I'm glad we got to get caught up with the old gang, although some of their stories could have been explored further imo.
A worthy conclusion, I give The Hail Mary 3.5 stars.
March 20, 2019
Waiting on the Sidelines is one of my most favorite series ever, so it’s no surprise that I couldn’t wait to read The Hail Mary. I don’t even have to say that it exceeded all my expectations and Ginger Scott made sure that I fell even deeper in love with these characters.
Nolan and Reed’s relationship was never an easy ride. In the first two parts of the series we learned about all the ups and downs of their journey together from the very beginning when they were only 14 years old. Now after 16 years of marriage Nolan and Reed find themselves in a deadlock where their marriage is struggling. Even though he is 39 years old and he already suffered some main injuries, Reed just can’t give up playing football while Nolan can’t stand the thought Reed playing, risking his life every single time he steps onto the field. This disagreement is continuously poisoning their relationship even though they still love each other and they have a beautiful teenaged daughter.
I love these characters so much, but to tell the truth Nolan always felt closer to my heart and this didn’t change with this part of the series either. I can’t really imagine the life of a professional athlete, and although the book painted a quite good picture about it, I still couldn’t understand Reed’s reasoning. I love my carrier and I have some hobbies, but to tell the truth I never felt so passionately about anything that I would’ve given up my life and my family for it so I couldn’t really understand Reed and I felt sorry for Nolan and Peyton.
I love how this series is built. From a coming of age story to a New Adult book and now an Adult novel we really could following through Nolan and Reed’s life. Ginger Scott made excellent job with this series and I loved every single minute of it. It’s about love, family, fears and dreams. If you are looking for an amazing series with a little 'One Tree Hill vibe' don’t hesitate to pick this up. I highly recommend it!
*ARC Kindly provided by the Author*
Nolan and Reed’s relationship was never an easy ride. In the first two parts of the series we learned about all the ups and downs of their journey together from the very beginning when they were only 14 years old. Now after 16 years of marriage Nolan and Reed find themselves in a deadlock where their marriage is struggling. Even though he is 39 years old and he already suffered some main injuries, Reed just can’t give up playing football while Nolan can’t stand the thought Reed playing, risking his life every single time he steps onto the field. This disagreement is continuously poisoning their relationship even though they still love each other and they have a beautiful teenaged daughter.
I love these characters so much, but to tell the truth Nolan always felt closer to my heart and this didn’t change with this part of the series either. I can’t really imagine the life of a professional athlete, and although the book painted a quite good picture about it, I still couldn’t understand Reed’s reasoning. I love my carrier and I have some hobbies, but to tell the truth I never felt so passionately about anything that I would’ve given up my life and my family for it so I couldn’t really understand Reed and I felt sorry for Nolan and Peyton.
I love how this series is built. From a coming of age story to a New Adult book and now an Adult novel we really could following through Nolan and Reed’s life. Ginger Scott made excellent job with this series and I loved every single minute of it. It’s about love, family, fears and dreams. If you are looking for an amazing series with a little 'One Tree Hill vibe' don’t hesitate to pick this up. I highly recommend it!
*ARC Kindly provided by the Author*
January 24, 2019
Sooooo I love you Ginger Scott and I hate you Ginger Scott. Love because this was a fantastic, fabulous and utterly beautiful and emotional story. Hate because you did something in the first third of the book (you know what you did!) that slayed me and I literally pounded my kindle on a table and chanted no over and over. Back to love because no matter how much I HATED that turn in the story, I know how vital it was to Reed's journey.
Reed Johnson has been in the NFL for seventeen years and married to Nolan for sixteen. Reed's NFL life is hard. The guilt he feels for not being home for his child's milestones, his wife's emotional support and to help his dad, Buck, who suffered a major medical event that changed his life is chipping away at Reed. When he is home, all Reed and Nolan do is fight, pushing them farther from each other and closer to divorce. Reed needs to make a life altering decision, be the man for his family or be the man who wins a Super Bowl ring.
Nolan's fears are real. Reed suffered a neck injury that almost ended not only his career, but could have ended his life (this is not a spoiler, it's discussed immediately). Nolan is solid, always taking on the world one task at a time. Nolan has excelled at her career, but raising their fourteen year old daughter, helping care for Buck and working all while worrying if the next injury could permanently maim or kill her husband is weighing on her. Can they repair and move forward or is a permanent separation the solution?
This was a wonderful conclusion to this series and let me say I was hoping for one little surprise and when Nolan picked up Reese from the airport I gave the air in front of me a high five.
While this is a three book series, there are no cliffhangers (the bane of my reading joy) in any of the books, so readers can pause between installments. The first book can be read as a stand alone but I guarantee you'll love Reed, Nolan and every other great character in this series, even Reed's asshole brother Jason, and want to read the whole series back to back.
Reed Johnson has been in the NFL for seventeen years and married to Nolan for sixteen. Reed's NFL life is hard. The guilt he feels for not being home for his child's milestones, his wife's emotional support and to help his dad, Buck, who suffered a major medical event that changed his life is chipping away at Reed. When he is home, all Reed and Nolan do is fight, pushing them farther from each other and closer to divorce. Reed needs to make a life altering decision, be the man for his family or be the man who wins a Super Bowl ring.
Nolan's fears are real. Reed suffered a neck injury that almost ended not only his career, but could have ended his life (this is not a spoiler, it's discussed immediately). Nolan is solid, always taking on the world one task at a time. Nolan has excelled at her career, but raising their fourteen year old daughter, helping care for Buck and working all while worrying if the next injury could permanently maim or kill her husband is weighing on her. Can they repair and move forward or is a permanent separation the solution?
This was a wonderful conclusion to this series and let me say I was hoping for one little surprise and when Nolan picked up Reese from the airport I gave the air in front of me a high five.
While this is a three book series, there are no cliffhangers (the bane of my reading joy) in any of the books, so readers can pause between installments. The first book can be read as a stand alone but I guarantee you'll love Reed, Nolan and every other great character in this series, even Reed's asshole brother Jason, and want to read the whole series back to back.
January 24, 2019
It's really not often that I like to read about a married couple. With the exception of husband redemption reads, I'm ALL about those. But that isn't what The Hail Mary is. Or, not in the way I usually look for them to be.
It is a little bit of a redemption book.
See, Reed and Nolan have been together for years. Marriage, however, isn't working out quite how either planned.
Reed is struggling with his place not only as an aging and ailing NFL QB but also as a father and husband.
Nolan struggles as well. With her fear for Reed and the way to balance that with wanting to support him.
I'll tell you the reason I don't normally like reading married couples is because I find them boring. That didn't happen with The Hail Mary. Scott kept me completely interested and invested. I love this couple more now then I did when I read their first books.
I will throw it out there that I really want Peyton's story though...that better be on a future list, Ginger!
It is a little bit of a redemption book.
See, Reed and Nolan have been together for years. Marriage, however, isn't working out quite how either planned.
Reed is struggling with his place not only as an aging and ailing NFL QB but also as a father and husband.
Nolan struggles as well. With her fear for Reed and the way to balance that with wanting to support him.
I'll tell you the reason I don't normally like reading married couples is because I find them boring. That didn't happen with The Hail Mary. Scott kept me completely interested and invested. I love this couple more now then I did when I read their first books.
I will throw it out there that I really want Peyton's story though...that better be on a future list, Ginger!
January 15, 2019
Let me start by saying that this is my first read by Ginger Scott, and I absolutely loved it! I can't wait to start at the beginning and read more of Nolan & Reed's incredibly moving journey!
The Hail Mary is a beautifully written story that delves into the struggles and dynamics of relationships between partners, friends and families. It reminds us that there is no perfection in humanity and that we are all wonderfully flawed.
I felt the pacing was perfect and the characters very real, relatable and endearing. A very warm and thought-provoking novel that reminds us just how important trust, communication, honesty and love are to the success of a relationship and thus ultimately our own happiness.
The Hail Mary is a beautifully written story that delves into the struggles and dynamics of relationships between partners, friends and families. It reminds us that there is no perfection in humanity and that we are all wonderfully flawed.
I felt the pacing was perfect and the characters very real, relatable and endearing. A very warm and thought-provoking novel that reminds us just how important trust, communication, honesty and love are to the success of a relationship and thus ultimately our own happiness.
February 26, 2021
Terrific ending to the series!
I started reading this series because I wanted a sweet easy read. No over the top alphas and potty mouth sex scenes. A palate cleanser, if you will.
I got so much more than that. This series was heartbreakingly enjoyable. Tears for awkward teen angst, smiles for their young adult wins and big ass cheers and tears for their happily ever after.
I became totally vested in the lives of Nolan & Reed. Each book built upon the next, with the last using all their building and memories to make the ending perfect.
This last book is my favourite. Kinda sad it has to end, but I can leave them knowing these two kids are going to be alright. ❤️❤️
I started reading this series because I wanted a sweet easy read. No over the top alphas and potty mouth sex scenes. A palate cleanser, if you will.
I got so much more than that. This series was heartbreakingly enjoyable. Tears for awkward teen angst, smiles for their young adult wins and big ass cheers and tears for their happily ever after.
I became totally vested in the lives of Nolan & Reed. Each book built upon the next, with the last using all their building and memories to make the ending perfect.
This last book is my favourite. Kinda sad it has to end, but I can leave them knowing these two kids are going to be alright. ❤️❤️
paused
November 28, 2018
January 15, 2019
5 Hail Mary Stars
Review by Lisa
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Hail Mary is the third and final installment in the Waiting on the Sidelines series by Ginger Scott and it is absolutely brilliant! I found this book a little different than your typical romance stories. It is more about life and relationships weathering the storm; about the struggles and the ups and downs of relationships. Things are not always easy and tough decisions must be made regarding life changes, emotions, and growing pains.
This book will make you experience all the feels you want as a reader. It will make you nod your head and say: “I feel that too.” or “I get it!!!” Ms. Scott has done a remarkable job in bringing this story full circle and giving you little surprises that you just don't expect!!!
I just love the synopsis that we get for this book:
”Sixteen years is a long time. In a marriage, it’s a milestone. On the gridiron, it’s a miracle. Reed Johnson wants more time for everything, but time is funny that way.
It can be cruel.”
At times I felt the story was moving a little slow but then I came to realize that I wanted it to move faster because I was that hooked and needed more.
Hail Mary is very well written. The story flows and has so much information but you don't feel lost and are happy with all the "cleaned" up details from all three stories.
I enjoyed every minute reading this one!!!
***ARC received in exchange for an honest review***
Review by Lisa
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
Hail Mary is the third and final installment in the Waiting on the Sidelines series by Ginger Scott and it is absolutely brilliant! I found this book a little different than your typical romance stories. It is more about life and relationships weathering the storm; about the struggles and the ups and downs of relationships. Things are not always easy and tough decisions must be made regarding life changes, emotions, and growing pains.
This book will make you experience all the feels you want as a reader. It will make you nod your head and say: “I feel that too.” or “I get it!!!” Ms. Scott has done a remarkable job in bringing this story full circle and giving you little surprises that you just don't expect!!!
I just love the synopsis that we get for this book:
”Sixteen years is a long time. In a marriage, it’s a milestone. On the gridiron, it’s a miracle. Reed Johnson wants more time for everything, but time is funny that way.
It can be cruel.”
At times I felt the story was moving a little slow but then I came to realize that I wanted it to move faster because I was that hooked and needed more.
Hail Mary is very well written. The story flows and has so much information but you don't feel lost and are happy with all the "cleaned" up details from all three stories.
I enjoyed every minute reading this one!!!
***ARC received in exchange for an honest review***
January 15, 2019
*ARC provided in exchange of an honest review*
Book 3 of Waiting on the Sidelines was so much of everything I had no idea I wanted!! It was fantastic. UGH! I didn't even know we were gonna get this glimpse into Nolan and Reed into adulthood!
Nolan and Reed.............. 16 years later. WOW!! Man does this book ever portray the awkwardness, avoidance, skirting around, hardships that come with marriage. It doesn't gloss over it, and I LOVE IT. It was real. It was just so beautifully written.
16 years of marriage, a teenage daughter, an NFL seasoned quarterback hanging on, a wife dealing with the scares that must come from being scared from knowing your husband has a dangerous job, life's ups, life's downs........and I just don't know that my going on and on can do Ginger's newest baby any justice.
It is not new news that I love the author. However, the thing about each of her books, is that there is so much growth. The Hail Mary is NO different. I loved seeing the progression in Nolan and Reed, in the same way I love seeing Ginger's progression.
What I will say, please read the previous 2. If it's been an a century like it had been for me, do your self a favor and re-read them. It honestly made the journey that much sweeter.
Book 3 of Waiting on the Sidelines was so much of everything I had no idea I wanted!! It was fantastic. UGH! I didn't even know we were gonna get this glimpse into Nolan and Reed into adulthood!
Nolan and Reed.............. 16 years later. WOW!! Man does this book ever portray the awkwardness, avoidance, skirting around, hardships that come with marriage. It doesn't gloss over it, and I LOVE IT. It was real. It was just so beautifully written.
16 years of marriage, a teenage daughter, an NFL seasoned quarterback hanging on, a wife dealing with the scares that must come from being scared from knowing your husband has a dangerous job, life's ups, life's downs........and I just don't know that my going on and on can do Ginger's newest baby any justice.
It is not new news that I love the author. However, the thing about each of her books, is that there is so much growth. The Hail Mary is NO different. I loved seeing the progression in Nolan and Reed, in the same way I love seeing Ginger's progression.
What I will say, please read the previous 2. If it's been an a century like it had been for me, do your self a favor and re-read them. It honestly made the journey that much sweeter.
January 19, 2019
Damn my heart!!!
Review to come.
I had to admit, I started on a wrong foot with Nolan and Reed. When I met them on ‘Waiting on The Sidelines’, it was like a love-hate relationship. One moment I loved it and the second, I didn’t. It wasn’t the writing, trust me, because the author is such an amazing storyteller but their story hit so many levels of angst that well I couldn’t really stand it.
I had a little spot for them, but their young versions, seemed destructive to me and watching going from all that drama and things you had to experience as a teenager to slowly strong and struggling with life, never giving up on each other.
Now, in ‘The Hail Mary’, Reed with a successful career as a football player, living his dreams for years, with Nolan and his 15yo daughter was at that part of his life, a crossroad of leaving behind this dream or hurting his family by the choices he had to make, his marriage suffering from his absence, his wife who couldn’t stand to see him hurt and the consequences of what would happen after being on top and to stop being a high level athlete and the thrill of the game.
You know what? I adored every moment of this book. A coming of age story told with such uprightness, the reality of their couple, from the good and the bad times, both having the best interest at heart for the other, showing the real struggles that implied this lifestyle, watching your husband playing but with the fear of being ripped from the one you love in a blink of an eye, and for the other knowing how much you hated that game for all the risks.
Surprisingly, I felt more connected with them at that time of their lives. More in sync with their emotions, watching two people who loved fiercely, but a bit lost and had to find their way back to communicating, even if they didn’t have to say things out loud and could figure the other like no one else.
It was a tough road, a hard journey when they lost and found so much. I couldn’t put it down, I was so captivated by the way they shared their story, baring their souls. Fighting for their marriage and never give up even if it was hard.
It’s been one of the toughest story I’ve read but it was so worth the journey. I’ve been overwhelmed by so many emotions, just right in the feels!
Review to come.
*** ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review ***
I had to admit, I started on a wrong foot with Nolan and Reed. When I met them on ‘Waiting on The Sidelines’, it was like a love-hate relationship. One moment I loved it and the second, I didn’t. It wasn’t the writing, trust me, because the author is such an amazing storyteller but their story hit so many levels of angst that well I couldn’t really stand it.
I had a little spot for them, but their young versions, seemed destructive to me and watching going from all that drama and things you had to experience as a teenager to slowly strong and struggling with life, never giving up on each other.
Now, in ‘The Hail Mary’, Reed with a successful career as a football player, living his dreams for years, with Nolan and his 15yo daughter was at that part of his life, a crossroad of leaving behind this dream or hurting his family by the choices he had to make, his marriage suffering from his absence, his wife who couldn’t stand to see him hurt and the consequences of what would happen after being on top and to stop being a high level athlete and the thrill of the game.
You know what? I adored every moment of this book. A coming of age story told with such uprightness, the reality of their couple, from the good and the bad times, both having the best interest at heart for the other, showing the real struggles that implied this lifestyle, watching your husband playing but with the fear of being ripped from the one you love in a blink of an eye, and for the other knowing how much you hated that game for all the risks.
Surprisingly, I felt more connected with them at that time of their lives. More in sync with their emotions, watching two people who loved fiercely, but a bit lost and had to find their way back to communicating, even if they didn’t have to say things out loud and could figure the other like no one else.
It was a tough road, a hard journey when they lost and found so much. I couldn’t put it down, I was so captivated by the way they shared their story, baring their souls. Fighting for their marriage and never give up even if it was hard.
It’s been one of the toughest story I’ve read but it was so worth the journey. I’ve been overwhelmed by so many emotions, just right in the feels!
January 9, 2019
I love, love, love this book. What a great look into the lives of Nolan and Reed. This has been a while in the making, and it was well worth the wait. The characters, the world, the chemistry is all so real, and relatable. I had no problem getting lost in this book. I devoured this book in hours, I couldn't see straight after words, but it was so worth it. The pace was perfect, and I didn't ever worry about it slowing down. I really appreciated how relatable this story was.
January 18, 2019
¨) ¸.•⭐'¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•`
❤~🌟~❤5 EXTRAORDINARY STARS ❤~🌟~❤
Ginger Scott pulled off the ultimate Hail Mary with this book!
The Hail Mary is the third book in the Waiting on the Sidelines series by Ginger Scott. When I heard that there would be a 3rd book to this series, Ms. Scott made my entire year! This book is everything! The feels, the love, the characters. This book will make you fall in love with the series all over again.
If you have read the first two books in this series, which is absolutely necessary before you start this book, you have already fallen head over heels in love with Reed and Nolan. As a fan of this series, I was so happy to see this book compliment the first two.
This book picks up with Reed and Nolan 17 years after they have been married. The simplicity of the storyline is so genuine. These characters are crystal clear. This is not your average love story, this book gives you a realistic look at the struggles that many relationships go through. How life and circumstances can change a marriage.
The transition from the first two books to this one was flawless. You are swept up in the lives of Reed and Nolan so easily as if no time has passed. It almost felt like visiting an old friend. It was familiar yet new and exciting.
This story will make you sigh, laugh, cry. Every human emotion is woven into the pages of The Hail Mary.
This is a must-read for every Ginger Scott fan!
Start with the first book in the series and fall in love with two high school sweethearts that will take you on a journey of a lifetime.
Absolutely phenomenal!
#ERRNA
(¸.•´ (¸.•`
❤~🌟~❤5 EXTRAORDINARY STARS ❤~🌟~❤
Ginger Scott pulled off the ultimate Hail Mary with this book!
The Hail Mary is the third book in the Waiting on the Sidelines series by Ginger Scott. When I heard that there would be a 3rd book to this series, Ms. Scott made my entire year! This book is everything! The feels, the love, the characters. This book will make you fall in love with the series all over again.
If you have read the first two books in this series, which is absolutely necessary before you start this book, you have already fallen head over heels in love with Reed and Nolan. As a fan of this series, I was so happy to see this book compliment the first two.
This book picks up with Reed and Nolan 17 years after they have been married. The simplicity of the storyline is so genuine. These characters are crystal clear. This is not your average love story, this book gives you a realistic look at the struggles that many relationships go through. How life and circumstances can change a marriage.
The transition from the first two books to this one was flawless. You are swept up in the lives of Reed and Nolan so easily as if no time has passed. It almost felt like visiting an old friend. It was familiar yet new and exciting.
This story will make you sigh, laugh, cry. Every human emotion is woven into the pages of The Hail Mary.
This is a must-read for every Ginger Scott fan!
Start with the first book in the series and fall in love with two high school sweethearts that will take you on a journey of a lifetime.
Absolutely phenomenal!
#ERRNA
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