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St. Paul U Players #1
I Want to Know What Love Is
Dylan
They say trouble comes in threes. I've taken two shots to the gut today and it's only noon.
But trouble #3 is the killer. Her name is Amanda Lake. Coach Lake. My world ender.
And the one woman on campus who's untouchable.
The trouble is that she’s not my only trouble. The Dean's squeezing me to improve my GPA or I'm kicked off the football team.
As it turns out the untouchable coach is the one who can save me. She's assigned to be my tutor.
And I’m f*cked because now she's like like the sinful strawberry shortcake tempting me from the other side of the bakery window as I walk by every day. If I eat it, it will kill me.
If I touch her, it'll kill my shot at the NFL… but I can’t keep my hands off her.
Can’t keep my heart out of trouble.
Can’t unknow the answer to the question of what love is…
I Want to Know What Love Is answers the question in gorgeous painful angsty detail. Prepare yourself for an emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions and enjoy the ride. This steamy slow burn college sports romance is a stand-alone story in the world of St. Paul University. The St. Paul U Players is a spinoff series of the Big Men on Campus and you'll see some of those same characters pop in. (Warning: Language and sex for a mature audience.)
They say trouble comes in threes. I've taken two shots to the gut today and it's only noon.
But trouble #3 is the killer. Her name is Amanda Lake. Coach Lake. My world ender.
And the one woman on campus who's untouchable.
The trouble is that she’s not my only trouble. The Dean's squeezing me to improve my GPA or I'm kicked off the football team.
As it turns out the untouchable coach is the one who can save me. She's assigned to be my tutor.
And I’m f*cked because now she's like like the sinful strawberry shortcake tempting me from the other side of the bakery window as I walk by every day. If I eat it, it will kill me.
If I touch her, it'll kill my shot at the NFL… but I can’t keep my hands off her.
Can’t keep my heart out of trouble.
Can’t unknow the answer to the question of what love is…
I Want to Know What Love Is answers the question in gorgeous painful angsty detail. Prepare yourself for an emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions and enjoy the ride. This steamy slow burn college sports romance is a stand-alone story in the world of St. Paul University. The St. Paul U Players is a spinoff series of the Big Men on Campus and you'll see some of those same characters pop in. (Warning: Language and sex for a mature audience.)
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 18, 2022
50 people are currently reading
958 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 11, 2022
Needs work
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
The story idea was good, but it just wasn't executed very well. The book definitely needs to be edited, there were so many mistakes. Complete sentences were repeated, letters missing, spelling, etc. These things usually don't bother me, but there were too many issues to ignore.
Looking beyond the editing issues, the story just didn't keep my attention. I can see the drama the author was going for, but it just missed the mark.
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway.
The story idea was good, but it just wasn't executed very well. The book definitely needs to be edited, there were so many mistakes. Complete sentences were repeated, letters missing, spelling, etc. These things usually don't bother me, but there were too many issues to ignore.
Looking beyond the editing issues, the story just didn't keep my attention. I can see the drama the author was going for, but it just missed the mark.
February 15, 2022
I really liked this storyline.
THe only downfall is I feel the ending was rushed- I wanted more! More angst and drama would have been good!
Like the taboo storyline!
THe only downfall is I feel the ending was rushed- I wanted more! More angst and drama would have been good!
Like the taboo storyline!
March 3, 2022
Amanda is starting a new job and a new life at SPU and hopes that next year she'll be moved into the position of head women's basketball coach. She doesn't trust men after being left at the altar and the last thing she expects is to find one of the students irresistible. Dylan's life is in upheaval. His parents have divorced, his football coach seems to hate him, he has the dean of the college breathing down his neck and he can't stop thinking about the new women's basketball coach. The last thing he needs is to start something with a member of the staff. Unfortunately for both of them, sometimes the universe lets you meet the one for you at exactly the wrong time.
I really like Amanda. She has a goal and she is smart. I felt like her actions made sense even if I didn't always agree with them. I think the author did a pretty good job creating a full and complete character. I like Dylan but not as much as Amanda. I felt like he was driven to pursue her a little bit because he's still young and hormonal. I know, that's part of the point of the story but it made me want to slap him. I really like how he tried to balance all of the pressures of his life with school. His sponsorship opportunity was very odd and I think he did a pretty good job with it (I can't say more because it's an important moment in the story.).
I didn't like the way Dylan solved the issue of dating Amanda. Yeah, it's a big moment in the story but I had issues, that I can't share because it will give it away. I also thought some of the side characters needed a little more development. For example, Emily could either be a reasonable person who felt cheated or a total psyscho. The jury is still out because she appeared in the story to contrast with Amanda but her character had no background so I didn't really care about her. I felt like Dylan never got to know Bane and I think that was a missed opportunity to show another side of Dylan. I am so confused about Dooley still being on campus and hanging with the jocks at BMOC house. Honestly, I think he's getting a little old for that.
I would recommend this book if you've read the St. Paul University books. If you are looking for a college romance, forbidden romance, age-gap romance, or a sports romance then you might enjoy this. If you haven't read any of the St. Paul University books there will be some characters that don't totally make sense because they have a lot of backstory in the prior books. I will definitely read the next book in the series.
I really like Amanda. She has a goal and she is smart. I felt like her actions made sense even if I didn't always agree with them. I think the author did a pretty good job creating a full and complete character. I like Dylan but not as much as Amanda. I felt like he was driven to pursue her a little bit because he's still young and hormonal. I know, that's part of the point of the story but it made me want to slap him. I really like how he tried to balance all of the pressures of his life with school. His sponsorship opportunity was very odd and I think he did a pretty good job with it (I can't say more because it's an important moment in the story.).
I didn't like the way Dylan solved the issue of dating Amanda. Yeah, it's a big moment in the story but I had issues, that I can't share because it will give it away. I also thought some of the side characters needed a little more development. For example, Emily could either be a reasonable person who felt cheated or a total psyscho. The jury is still out because she appeared in the story to contrast with Amanda but her character had no background so I didn't really care about her. I felt like Dylan never got to know Bane and I think that was a missed opportunity to show another side of Dylan. I am so confused about Dooley still being on campus and hanging with the jocks at BMOC house. Honestly, I think he's getting a little old for that.
I would recommend this book if you've read the St. Paul University books. If you are looking for a college romance, forbidden romance, age-gap romance, or a sports romance then you might enjoy this. If you haven't read any of the St. Paul University books there will be some characters that don't totally make sense because they have a lot of backstory in the prior books. I will definitely read the next book in the series.
February 19, 2022
I've enjoyed these stories about the college athletes of SPU. Here we have Dylan and Amanda's (Mandy) story. He's the QB of the football team at risk of losing his scholarship if he doesn't get at least a B+ in his finance class. His personal life is stressed as he learns his parents have divorced, his dad is getting remarried, and left his mom in financial troubles when he secured a second mortgage on his childhood home. Amanda is the new coach for the women's basketball team with hopes of securing the head coach spot. She is nursing her wounds after being left at the alter the year before. The problem? There is serious chemistry between these two and it is completely forbidden as she is a coach and he is a student. Lots of drama as their story unfolds with the new character, Randy Bane... will he prove to be the bane of Dylan's existence? An entertaining story.
February 26, 2022
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. This is the first book in the St Paul U players series. It is a spin-off of the Big Men On Campus series.
Amanda is the new assistant women's basketball coach. She is in line to take over for head womans coach if she plays her cards right. She just has to get through this semester with no slip ups.
Dylan aka Jonesy is QB1 and team captain. He's taking is responsibility series. And after last semester the Dean and his Coach are making it manditory for him to have a tutor for his finance class. He just never expected the Coach from his dreams to be his tutor.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for more. Hopefully Shel and Heather's book is next.
I loved Majik in the BMOC series. We did hear about her cooking and leaving desserts but no interaction with her. I missed that part.
Amanda is the new assistant women's basketball coach. She is in line to take over for head womans coach if she plays her cards right. She just has to get through this semester with no slip ups.
Dylan aka Jonesy is QB1 and team captain. He's taking is responsibility series. And after last semester the Dean and his Coach are making it manditory for him to have a tutor for his finance class. He just never expected the Coach from his dreams to be his tutor.
I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for more. Hopefully Shel and Heather's book is next.
I loved Majik in the BMOC series. We did hear about her cooking and leaving desserts but no interaction with her. I missed that part.
February 17, 2022
Dylan Jones is from Louisiana but lives in New Hampshire where he is the QB1 at St Paul University. He has that laid back southern attitude except when it comes to something he wants. Before the beginning of his junior year he accidentally meets a beautiful young woman and is immediately smitten. Only problem, is she is Amanda Lake, new assistant women’s basketball coach, and six years his senior. And that makes her off limits! So much heat and tension between them! The want and need is mutual but both have so much to lose!
Can they overcome their feelings and move on? Or, is it possible for them to be together somehow?
A steamy love story about two people who want each other, but can’t figure how to overcome the obstacles in their way!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for Stephanie Queen!
Can they overcome their feelings and move on? Or, is it possible for them to be together somehow?
A steamy love story about two people who want each other, but can’t figure how to overcome the obstacles in their way!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for Stephanie Queen!
February 19, 2022
I liked the story. While Dylan was mature for his age, he didn't seem more mature than Amanda (I hate when authors do that-- write an older woman/younger man story where the woman comes across as being immature for her age). I assume Dylan has Cajun heritage on his mother's side-- Jones doesn't strike me as a particularly Cajun (read: French) name.
I also was satisfied with the ending and that Amanda didn't have to make a huge sacrifice for love.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I also was satisfied with the ending and that Amanda didn't have to make a huge sacrifice for love.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 23, 2022
I didn't know that this book is a spinoff of the series Big Men on Campus. This book was a great read and I loved the chemistry between Dylan and Amanda. This story was well written. I would recommend this book to my friends. I can't wait to read the next two books in this series and find the Big Men on Campus to start reading also. I won this book in a goodreads giveaway and am leaving my honest review.
February 18, 2022
I am voluntarily leaving a review after receiving an ARC from Hidden Gems.
It was okay. Dylan and Amanda are on two different paths when fate pushing them together. Dylan is the quarterback of St. Paul University football team and is in need of a tutor for his Finance Management class. Amanda is the new girls basketball assistant coach at St. Paul University and is a professor of Finance. The football coach asks her to tutor Dylan. She is an older woman and any romantic relationship is forbidden between them. They both fight their attraction to each other but they can't stop flirting. The more time they spent together the harder it became for them to resist each other but in order to be together someone had to lead SPU.
It was a cute story. The characters are likeable. I like how the characters from other SPU are tied to this story.
It was okay. Dylan and Amanda are on two different paths when fate pushing them together. Dylan is the quarterback of St. Paul University football team and is in need of a tutor for his Finance Management class. Amanda is the new girls basketball assistant coach at St. Paul University and is a professor of Finance. The football coach asks her to tutor Dylan. She is an older woman and any romantic relationship is forbidden between them. They both fight their attraction to each other but they can't stop flirting. The more time they spent together the harder it became for them to resist each other but in order to be together someone had to lead SPU.
It was a cute story. The characters are likeable. I like how the characters from other SPU are tied to this story.
February 23, 2022
I love football/sports, so I definitely like to read romance where sports is involved. This was such a great read, it had everything you would want in a book, down to Paul the rescue dog. I was a little shocked with the end, I wanted so much more than the way it ended. The story wasn’t slow but the end was definitely fast/rushed.
February 23, 2022
Wow. An unexpected turn you don't expect. Lots of resistance, willpower, list and love. Sacrifices done all in the name of love for a potential future with the one you love. Another great read by Stephanie.
August 22, 2022
I Want to Know What Love Is answers the question in gorgeous painful angsty detail. Dylan & Amanda are intriguing characters. It’s a suspenseful book that will put you through a roller coaster. And am voluntarily leaving my review.
March 2, 2022
DNF, boring
March 25, 2022
While I thought the blurb sounded interesting, the book left a lot to be desired. It was a fun read, but really needed a bit more to really help me connect with the story. I love taboo romances and this one had a fresh take with a lot of potential. I enjoyed the chemistry between Amanda and Dylan, but wanted more from their relationship overall! I'll definitely give the next one a read, but I do hope it gives us a bit more!
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC from Hidden Gems and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
April 17, 2023
Dylan is the megastar "IT" kid of St. Paul University. He has it all with looks, talent, and the title of Captain on his football team. However, when his grades start to slip, and he's on the verge of losing everything, the Dean sets up tutoring lessons with recently hired woman's basketball coach Amanda Lake. She's intelligent, beautiful, and still healing from a failed almost marriage. One thing leads to another during their tutoring sessions, and sparks fly. Posing a big problem should their secret affair become public - Dylan has to decide - between following the beat of his Cajun heart, or following his dreams.
I've read a couple of other books by Stephanie Queen. I like her writing style. It's upbeat with a maturity that isn't too complicated, allowing the reader to get lost in the story without having to take notes to keep track of complex character connections. The other two novels that I read by her were sports-related like this one, which seems to be a common theme amongst Queen's books.
Admittedly, I am not against reading a book surrounding a taboo subject. I don't have an issue with triggers or specific content and don't steer clear of romance novels if they are labeled a certain way. "I Want to Know What Love Is" wasn't dark or super explicit. It was pretty typical in the graphic language department when it came (pun intended!) to sexual content and the various adjectives used to describe human anatomy and its reaction to sexual stimuli. However, for some reason, I felt uneasy about Dylan and Amanda's relationship. It was almost uncomfortable to the extent of needing to take a shower. I can't say "Amanda should have known better" because that's a pretty typical thing to say, but it left a stain on my memory of the book.
Also, Sha, or Cher, was very overused for those not familiar with this saying. I wasn't and had to look it up. It's a term of endearment those of the Cajun culture use. It detracted A LOT.
To purchase other books by Stephanie Queen, or to read her bio, visit https://www.amazon.com/Stephanie-Quee...
DISCLOSURE: I received an Advanced Reader Copy for free from Hidden Gems. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I've read a couple of other books by Stephanie Queen. I like her writing style. It's upbeat with a maturity that isn't too complicated, allowing the reader to get lost in the story without having to take notes to keep track of complex character connections. The other two novels that I read by her were sports-related like this one, which seems to be a common theme amongst Queen's books.
Admittedly, I am not against reading a book surrounding a taboo subject. I don't have an issue with triggers or specific content and don't steer clear of romance novels if they are labeled a certain way. "I Want to Know What Love Is" wasn't dark or super explicit. It was pretty typical in the graphic language department when it came (pun intended!) to sexual content and the various adjectives used to describe human anatomy and its reaction to sexual stimuli. However, for some reason, I felt uneasy about Dylan and Amanda's relationship. It was almost uncomfortable to the extent of needing to take a shower. I can't say "Amanda should have known better" because that's a pretty typical thing to say, but it left a stain on my memory of the book.
Also, Sha, or Cher, was very overused for those not familiar with this saying. I wasn't and had to look it up. It's a term of endearment those of the Cajun culture use. It detracted A LOT.
To purchase other books by Stephanie Queen, or to read her bio, visit https://www.amazon.com/Stephanie-Quee...
DISCLOSURE: I received an Advanced Reader Copy for free from Hidden Gems. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews