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Peachtree Grove #1

Rushing into Love

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Parent. Work. Football. That’s my life summed up in three words.

Sure, I used to be a pro NFL baller, but now I’m perfectly content with a quiet life in my small hometown of Peachtree Grove, Georgia.

That is until Bree, a beautiful blonde dating expert, gets tackled at my Pee Wee football practice, knocking me off my game.

I swore I’d never get involved again after my messy divorce left me reeling, but one date with Bree and I’m dropping all my hesitations—along with my jersey.

Now she has me rethinking my plays.

But will the tabloids, my ex, and Bree’s complicated past keep us in the friendzone?

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2021

803 people are currently reading
2102 people want to read

About the author

Kara Kendrick

36 books1,310 followers

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5 stars
438 (25%)
4 stars
442 (25%)
3 stars
555 (31%)
2 stars
235 (13%)
1 star
79 (4%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
Profile Image for Ashley.
287 reviews12 followers
June 21, 2022
Me reading this book...


Started good. It was interesting enough.
Then it started talking about peewee football.
Not just a little, either.
Pages and pages of both characters detailing the peewee football games.



Yeah. No thanks.

The characters didn't really have chemistry, in my opinion. It was just... meh.

Anyways, it's a cute read for some, I'm sure. Especially those PeeWee Football aficionados. Because this book has LOTS of that.
Romance... eh, not so much.


Profile Image for Pene|ope • Temp Hyperfixation: WC & OMV.
1,469 reviews194 followers
November 17, 2023
Single parent romance where no connection is made with the FMC and the guy's kid, so why make it a single parent romance at all?

Eye rolls forever at the source of tension in this book. The ex wife turned psycho stalker and convenient would-be murderer to get her out of their lives for good.

Not @ how the paparazzi were an issue in the beginning of the book and then never again an issue after that even when they went public. Everyone just stopped caring.

These two are boring. Even their sex scenes are boring and rushed.

They show the FMC rushing away from what she thinks is him cheating on her and then don't show the resolution, they just cuddle on the couch together after the ex is caught, have zero discussions, and everything is suddenly good.

Big HFN ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Courtney.
117 reviews4 followers
June 16, 2024
I was bored the entire time, but at least I finished it.
Profile Image for Michaella Dieter.
Author 13 books236 followers
August 24, 2021
I will fully admit that I went into this book with a little trepidation. I usually read very dark romance; it's rare for me to read lighter books. I'm also not a sports fan. So me reading a sweet sports based romance...well, I was worried that I might DNF.

But look! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐! And if that doesn't tell you anything about the book, I'm not sure any words of mine will. Rarely does reading out of my comfort zone make me give out all the stars.

This was my first book by the author, and the next time I need a lighter book to haul myself out of the pitch black cave I live in, I'll definitely pick up another by her. It was very well written and edited, the characters interesting and real. The author was able to draw out emotions, and I definitely felt the love between the characters.

Recommended for anyone that enjoys sweet sports romances!
Profile Image for Holly.
286 reviews3 followers
January 22, 2024
I think the book started out good then just nothing. There was no build up between the characters. There were pages of peewee football and I got bored. I skimmed through a good section of this book since it was repetitive. I ending was the ex was wild and completely out of left field. Especially since nothing happened dramatically beforehand. I wouldn’t recommend this book and I’m kinda bummed that it turned out to be like this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Britt.
510 reviews88 followers
May 14, 2024
meh.

I didn’t hate this but it wasn’t amazing. It felt a little juvenile- the main couple read like teenagers and not adults.
A quick read and there were some sweet moments.
Profile Image for OutsideOfTheTrack.
420 reviews2 followers
January 30, 2025
I liked parts of this book.

It started out strong but then kind of… fizzled. It wasn’t particularly spicy or memorable, and there was *a lot* of peewee football. The usual miscommunication, crazy exes, and drama were all there, leading to an HFN ending. That said, I did enjoy the audiobook while listening—dual narration is my favorite, and both narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life. Honestly, I’m not sure I would have finished this if I had just reading it, so shoutout to them!
Profile Image for Ashley.
581 reviews39 followers
September 2, 2021
I really loved this story, Kara has an uncanny ability to create an entire world within the small town romance story. Bree is a really likeable character that's self driven and she does an amazing job with her career. Unfortunately, she ties herself up with the wrong A-List guy in LA that she just can't seem to shake.

Now she's hanging out with her sister is Peachtree Grove and enjoying some quiet time. Until she meets Ryder, the ex-pro / retired football player that she hits it off with. But things don't stay smooth for long when the paparazzi gets a hold of them...

All of these characters are well rounded, the story paces perfectly, and you get the wonderful HEA you want in a small town romance. I great read to start off September and get into the feels of Fall!
Profile Image for Cheyenne.
143 reviews7 followers
September 1, 2021
Such a sweet and “Rushing” love story. Truly two opposites, Ryder escaped the limelight after a toxic marriage to save his son while Bree is thriving to be in the light for her job.

Bree was burned bad while living in LA by her ex which led her to flee from there and end up in this new city to let everything blow over. Who would’ve known she would be hit by a pee wee football player and the GORGEOUS coach would also be a physical therapist. The aspect we get to read of her going to support her niece while falling for the football coach was beautiful because it soon transforms into her supporting her man.

Bryce wants nothing more than to live a quiet life with his son in the town he grew up in but he is dealing with a crazy ex wife. He had sworn off love till meeting the aunt of one of his players and throws caution to the wind for her.

While battling paparazzi and both of their past of ex’s they find a sweet sort of love. First hiding around because they were already caught once and it could’ve ruined Brees career.

The end of this story is everything you needed throughout this story. Such a beautiful read.
Profile Image for Kay Burrows.
305 reviews11 followers
January 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🎤🎤🎤
🌶️

Rushing into Love is a simple, easy to listen to, small town sports romance.

Ryder is a former pro football player who following retirement moved back to his small hometown and works as a physiotherapist and pee-wee football coach. He is a single dad who had a less than amicable divorce from his ex wife/ child’s mother.

Bree is a relationship therapist who is escaping her cheating ex boyfriend in LA and goes to Peach Tree Grove to visit and spend some time with her sister.

Ryder and Bree meet at the first football practice of the season when Bree takes her niece Alexa to practice and at the end of the game Bree ends up being tackled by a child.

Overall I enjoyed the audiobook when I listed to it. I always enjoy a dual narration. I felt both narrators did a good job bringing the characters to life.

For the story, personally I found it was not memorable. I didn’t feel a connection to either character they were both just okay for me. The suspense was disappointing. Generally when suspense is listed as a trope during a romance, there is an overarching feeling of suspense and small occurrences throughout the book to slowly build to the point where the big suspense reveal occurs. I love a good romantic suspense, but honestly going into this not realizing there was a suspense aspect, I didn’t feel any suspense to it till it came out of the blue and was then was over as quickly as it came.

Thank you to Valentine PR and Kara Kendrick for the opportunity to receive an alc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
127 reviews1 follower
August 27, 2021
Clean Small town Romance and Football

Ryder the small-town former NFL player returned home for the quiet life after everything went sideways. All the ladies in town wanted to help him settle down but he wanted to get his family and life settled and was interested.

Bree the relationship expert from LA went through a crappy relationship and wanted some peace and quiet with her family. She needed to focus on her career and goals not the next dreadful relationship.

Despite some chaos, crazy exs, trust issues,meddling friends, family and kids, the chemistry couldn't be denied. Bree and Ryder were able to work through their own issues together in this clean romance!


28 reviews1 follower
August 24, 2021
I really enjoyed this book! Definitely has me hooked for the next one, even if I have a hard time believing a certain character can be redeemed! lol
Profile Image for Renee (BookLoveWithRenee).
273 reviews16 followers
August 25, 2021
Rushing into Love
*ARC Review*
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
@authorkarakendrick

Love, love, loved this book!! It was light, fun, flirty, & sweet…with a little steaminess and a tad bit of suspenseful drama. It was the perfect combination of all the things that make an amazing romance novel!

Ryder is totally swoon worthy & Bree will have you rooting for her from the first page. Not only did I fall in love with the main characters, but the secondary characters as well. I am dying for more from the rest of Ryder & Bree’s families! Can’t wait to read more about Peachtree Grove & its residents ☺️
Profile Image for Stephanie.
1,639 reviews
August 31, 2021
I really enjoyed going on Ryder & Bree’s journey! I love a great single dad romance and Kara Kendrick delivered that in spades!

Ryder was a former football pro who now is coaching his son’s football team. Bree was visiting her sister’s family after a breakup. So adorable with Bree’s niece being on Ryder’s football team. I loved the banter & chemistry between Ryder & Bree.

Rushing Into Love was the first and it definitely won’t be the last book that I will read by Kara Kendrick.

I am not ready to leave these characters or their world behind. I can’t wait for Quinn’s book!

I voluntarily reviewed this book.
Profile Image for Kirstie Barr.
98 reviews7 followers
October 14, 2021
Book 1 of Peachtree Grove and I’m completely sucked in!

Great story, loved Ryder & Bree along with all the other characters. The kids were super cute.

I can’t wait to read more from Kara and The Peachtree crew. So glad I don’t have to wait long for book 2. Quinn seems like a lot of fun 🤩
Profile Image for Karrie Lynn.
626 reviews12 followers
October 3, 2021
I loved this small-town romance so much! Bree is such a fun character with her charm and her wit. Ryder is the hero we want to read about. The single day who is working to make the best life possible for his son after his nasty divorce. These two meet through football which is interwoven beautifully in this story. It was charming and sweet with some spice too. I can't wait to read Quinns story and find out what his problem is with commitment. Thank you for this sweet southern charm of a story Kara.
Profile Image for Annabel De Wilt.
39 reviews
March 21, 2024
Dit boek was zo slecht geschreven. Het verhaal is zo simpel en toch is de verhaallijn niet te volgen. De twee hoofdpersonages worden verliefd en Bree kiest ervoor om uit LA te verhuizen. Uiteindelijk eindigt het boek dat het pee wee team wint van zijn zoontje en haar nichtje. Wat een anti climax. Voelde hier helemaal niks bij
Profile Image for Johanne Hellum.
16 reviews
March 29, 2024
Like was there no other way to make the plot interesting?? Why did the ex-wife just suddenly become a problem again? Like you have the restraining order? How can she just pop up and try to kidnap/kill Bree?

It was honestly fine up until that point, but like why was like attempted murder suddenly a part of this small town book?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Erin Lewis.
6,212 reviews220 followers
September 6, 2021
5 star Review of Rushing Into Love (Peachtree Grove #1) by Kara Kendrick
I love stories set in small towns, a single dad and I could easily imagine myself in Peachtree Grove, Georgia. Kara Kendrick is a relatively new author to me. This was an entertaining read that had me hooked from the first to the last chapter.
I really liked Ryder and Bree, both separately and especially as a couple. They were engaging characters whose story you cannot help but be drawn into. The story was well written , well paced with lots of humour, love and romance. Ryder and Bree are total opposites and yet they are well suited.
Having been badly burned, Bree is staying with her sister in Peachtree Grove and trying to let the chaos she left behind blow over. Meeting Ryder changes her life as friendship blossoms into love which after a disastrous marriage shocks Ryder.
I loved how their relationship developed, it was heart warming. However what will happen when the paparazzi gets a wind of their relationship?
Will they be torn apart or will they ride out the storm and in doing so, find a lasting love?
Profile Image for Rose Romance  Reviews.
183 reviews
September 7, 2021
Rushing into Love is a single father small town romance. Bree meets Ryder in the small town of Peachtree Grove and both have to work through their past issues as they get to know each other to decide if they have a future together. Kara Kendrick did a good job with the secondary characters in assisting the main characters throughout the story.

This is a sweet small town romance with a little bit of spice. The beginning is a bit slow, but the end has a nice unexpected twist of suspense. I recommend if looking for a sweet and light book. I’m looking forward to Quinn’s book.

I received an Arc and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Skye Yanovsky.
1,178 reviews20 followers
September 6, 2021
Enjoyed

This is a small town sports romance so I was all over that. And it was fabulous....just a beautiful love story with a bit IG angst and Friday night pee wee football
Profile Image for Jamie Stahl.
374 reviews14 followers
September 1, 2021
Bree is a relationship expert failing at her own relationship. Ryder is a former NFL player and single dad just looking to live a quiet life back in his hometown. So what happens when Bree's niece and Ryder's son end up on the same Pee Wee football team?

🏡 small town romance
🏈 sports romance
👦 single dad

Lower on the spice scale than I usually read, but you aren't reading this for the spice, you are reading for the sweet.
1,498 reviews15 followers
September 13, 2021
Love me a good small-town, single dad story. Ryder didn't disappoint. He was a little sweet and a little naughty. It was interesting that both he and Bree had a little notoriety and managed to find each other. I loved that there was a little suspense in here too. It amped up the story a bit. It was a good story from a new-to-me author.
Profile Image for M Reads Romance .
271 reviews3 followers
June 29, 2022
This sticky sweet book is an easy read with low heat. Very much a Hallmark movie. A big relationship guru has to lay low when she's cheated on by her movie star boyfriend, but he's not really in the story and her job is only mentioned sporadically and of no real significance. She falls in love with the local golden boy, a retired NFL player and single dad. Although the kid doesn't really factor into the story at all, no cute moments whatsoever. However the pee wee football games are told I'm great detail. He also has a psycho-ex that threatens their happiness, can they survive it? The third act plot device was so ridiculous. I literally LOL'd. There was very little emotional depth in the book and I didn't really care what happened in the end. Good thing because it fizzles.
Profile Image for Kerry.
56 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2022
A sweet and quick read!! This is about a small town romance with an ex - NFL player, who’s a single dad and a romance counsellor!
A few little twists and turns through the book and a lovely wholesome vibe throughout!
Definitely a good book to get you out of a reading slump!
Profile Image for Mikaela.
4 reviews1 follower
November 1, 2023
It was cute, lots of cliche/ cheesy moments but cute. I wish there was more plot. There’s was a decent amount of character and relationship development but we really didn’t get to see the main characters interact once that relationship was really established.
Profile Image for Andrea Chavira.
38 reviews
March 25, 2024
This book was really boring and there was no plot. The MMC has a kid and the girl and him intetacted ONCE.
Booktok did me wrong.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews

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