Ruthless Player

Westfall U #2

by R.C. Stephens

Holland
Hockey winger and campus hottie, Cole Davis, might be an MVP with the ladies, but I’m not falling for a player... not with medical school on the line.

With our best friends dating, our forced proximity is inevitable.

That doesn’t mean I have to like it—or the way he makes me feel. Like I’m missing out and there’s more to life than sitting on the sidelines.

It only takes one moment of weakness to remind me why I should have stayed away from Cole.

 He might be a ruthless player, but nothing about this is a game.

Cole

Holland Donovan knows exactly what she wants out of life— and it isn’t me.

She’s not looking for any distractions, and I’m a one-night kind of guy, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting her.

From the first electric kiss—I know one night will never be enough.

I just need to convince her that I’m in it for the long haul—this isn’t just about scoring.

On the ice, I’m a pro at blocking shots and stealing passes, but when it comes to Holland the rules change.

I won’t stop fighting for her, for us, until I make her mine.

​​​​​​​Authors Note: A heartfelt college sports romance with an HEA. No Cliffhanger.
For mature readers.

Genres: Sports Romance, College, Romance, Hockey, Sports, Hockey Romance, Enemies To Lovers

276 pages, Paperback

Published December 8, 2021

About the author

R.C. Stephens writes the kind of stories that make you laugh, cry, and believe in love all over again.

A Top 100 Amazon bestselling author, she crafts emotional, heartfelt romances full of humor, heat, and happily ever afters.

When she’s not writing, she’s probably wrangling her three kids, sneaking in a coffee date with her husband, or walking her lovable goldendoodle, who’s always by her side during late-night writing sessions.

A proud Toronto native, she loves cozy winters—but it’s the colors of fall and the first bloom of spring that truly inspire her.

Keep up with R.C. by signing up to her newsletter-http://rcstephens.com/newsletter/

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rc.stephens.8/

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rc_stephens...

Reviews

[Elisa ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

what can i say, this was the fastest and the slowest book I've read.

what do i mean by fast? it read really fast, i read in a day (with a lot of breaks), but it was also slow because this was a SLOW burn.

this is a story about Holland and Cole, they have a one-night stand and that's it! they spend summer together helping their friends and they slowly realize that they are actually pretty similar and form a great friendship.
remember i said this was a slow-burn romance? honey, this is some MZ type of romance (except the part where they have a one-night stand).

overall i really enjoyed this book, but i also have to talk about the things that i didn't like:
- the drama with her dad, i was invested in that and it went NOWHERE
- the mom's background, that was just creepy for me their moms were in the same room in the hospital, and Cole's mom told him that he would really like the younger daughter of the other lady. guess who's the daughter? HOLLAND! they say is kismet for me is creepy
- by the end of the book time flies, one moment the semester is starting next thing is thanksgiving next chapter is Christmas, next chapter is YEAR later, i wanted more!

P.S.: I'm excited for book 3, hoping for a childhood besties to enemies or a second chance romance.

[Ilaria 🌸 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I need more
It’s not you it’s me
Sorry the blurb was hindering a slow burn this was a fling 😜
3 stars

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon

Holland really doesn't do anything but study until one night, one night that has permanent consequences for her, and the guy she's always viewed as an enemy of sorts. But she soon finds that Cole isn't the the guy she had thought - all flash and no substance. They end up becoming friends and their slow (VERY SLOW) burn begins. Will that friendship evolve into more? How will Cole handle the repercussions of their one night?



I really liked Cole and Holland together. Though their slow burn was a bit too slow burn for my tastes, I do like the way they became friends and discovered a connection they had never known existed between them, a haunting, but wonderful connection. I love the way Holland was Cole's rock when he needed her most, and I like the way they slowly found their way to happiness. This world of Westfall U is one I really want to keep exploring now.



ARC provided by Grey's Promotions for an honest review.

Review / Release Blitz: Live Through Books Blog.

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[bookwormriss]

dnf @ 3%
Writing style isn’t for me. Its very choppy with surface-level descriptions.

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruthless Player by R.C. Stephens follows Cole Davis, a charming yet commitment-phobic college hockey star, and Holland Donovan, a fiercely driven pre-med student who refuses to fall for a player, even when their lives collide more than she ever expected.

From the very start, I was drawn to how raw and emotionally honest this story feels. Holland’s determination and laser focus on her medical career make her so relatable, she’s not just a romantic lead, but someone who carries real dreams and fears. Cole, on the other hand, is fun-loving, a little reckless, but guarded by layers of pain from his past; he uses his talent on the ice as a shield. Their friendship grows slowly (it’s a slow-burn romance), and the way Cole proves to Holland that his heart isn’t just another trophy is beautifully written. The forced proximity (because their best friends are dating) gives the story space to breathe and allows their vulnerabilities to show. I also loved Granny Mae, she’s like Cole’s soft spot, wise and steady, and her relationship with him feels grounded and warm.

What resonated deeply with me were the themes of trust, growth, and letting others in. Both characters wrestle with their family issues: Holland’s high expectations and Cole’s complicated home life are very real and subtly woven in. There are moments of lust and tension, but the emotional stakes, their hopes for the future, their fears of committing carry the weight. A few readers have mentioned that the ending feels a little rushed, and I can see that: after such a slow development, I wished for a bit more time in their resolution. But the payoff is still satisfying and hopeful.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. It’s an emotionally rich college-sports romance with compelling growth arcs for both Cole and Holland, and a warm, supportive cast. Some pacing feels uneven toward the conclusion, but overall, it’s a heartfelt and engaging read

[Yvette89 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cole Davis and Holland Donavan are characters who thrown together because their best friends are dating. Their slow burn start as enemies that develop into friendship. They both have commitment issues from complicated family issues. Cole is fun loving, sweet and loyal. It takes a while before Holland acknowledges that he is more than a hockey player. She is on track to become a doctor. She rarely cuts loose. One night of fun causes life changing results. It started Holland thinking that she needed more than just school and studying. Things became more complicated with families and her relationship with Cole.
The slow development of their relationship made it more teal. The were able to get to know each other and fall in love. They discovered a beautiful link that made things even sweeter. Sweet slow burn with likable characters. We get more Rebel, Wolfe, Declan and Granny Mae.
Now we have to wait to see what is next with Declan. The teaser at the end leave us on edge.

[Tania's Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cole best friend was dating Holland’s best friend and they wanted for these two to get along. Holland had her life together and knew what she wanted out of life; Cole was undecided about hockey but other than that these two had some things in common which they bonded over when they weren’t going at it. Cole has always been attracted to Holland who avoided him like the plague. She avoided him not because she wasn’t attracted to him but because she thought he was a player and she also had trust issues. Then one night things change and these two slowly become great friends and confided in each other their fears and plans for the future. They were both supportive of each other when it came to their dads and having each other’s backs. It was a great story I loved how things evolved and would like more about them.

[Ariadna Basulto · Rating 4 out of 5]

One traumatic evening triggers an unlikely friendship between Holland and Cole. After that Cole feels like he somehow owes Holland and she’s more than a little intrigued with the jock having a surprisingly sweet side to him. Their connection is a full on SLOW BURN so if that’s your jam you will definitely love this romance. I loved Cole trying to prove to Holland that he was more than just a jock and seeing their relationship blossom and unfold as the book progressed. Like I said this was a true slow burn and that isn’t usually my jam, but the characters were likable, the writing was great, and Cole was swoony as they come. All in all I really enjoyed RUTHLESS PLAYER by R.C. Stephens. 4 stars.

[Rhonda Ziglar · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 RUTHLESS PLAYER STARS!! Holland and Cole will take you on a ride through their stories. This one had all the feels and kept me flipping pages all the way through. I can't wait to read more words from this author.

[Il confine dei libri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Per leggere la recensione in blog cliccare qui:
https://ilconfinedeilibri.blogspot.co...

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephens is a fantastic author. Another great book!!!!

[Rylie Maready · Rating 1 out of 5]

pregnancy trope…VOM

[Patricia (Spellbound Stories Trish) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holland and Cole are not friends but one hazy night and a week spent helping friends leads to an unlikely friendship! After weeks of getting to know each other surprising consequences arise and both have to decide what the future holds!

This is my first book by this author and I definitely enjoyed the book! I loved Holland’s independence and how she took charge and didn’t give up! Cole had a lot more growing to do but with his amazing grandma and supportive friends he definitely rose to the challenge and was a surprisingly charming and adult!

I loved the story and these amazing characters!

[meags · Rating 3 out of 5]

"What’s eating you beautiful?”

After reading Heartless Player, I was SOO excited to continue the series with Cole and Holland’s story! And oh my gosh, I was SOO pleasantly surprised with this book!

This book is the perfect level of cuteness and steam for a quick read! It took me around three hours to finish the entire thing!

Cole is the CUTEST man ever, he is so caring and loyal. I absolutely LOVED seeing his character development from the beginning to the end of this book. He comes across as the bad guy who dates around but he TOTALLY has a soft spot for Holland!

Holland is a die-hard medical student who tries to put her studies before everything. I love how Cole helps her to let go and appreciate her life in the present. She is such an independent heroine (you guys know that’s my fav!)

I also LOVEDD how much Rebel and Wolfe were included in this story. The friendship between the four is soo good, I wish I was in that friend group. When they went to Cape Cod together, ughh it sounded AMAZINGG!

And the plot twist?! I can’t say I was not expecting it, but I still was pretty surprised by how it happened! I loved it sooo much.

Sooo, if you wanna know what that plot twist is… PICK UP RUTHLESS PLAYER!! It will be out on November 30th!

[mary Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruthless Player is the second book of the Westfall U series. It’s a sexy, steamy s.l.o.w. burn with an enemies to friends vibe. I really hope you love it as much as I did!

There are so many things about Ruthless Player that I loved. First Holland was just as broken as Cole even though she seemed to have focus and direction though at times. Both Cole and Holland were dealing with messed up family lives… both had also lost their mom’s too early as well as having issues with their dads! And finally, they were kind of forced into being around each other since their BFF’s, Rebel and Wolfe from Heartless Player were dating. So getting along/becoming friends was at the top was a top priority for them.

Cole Davis fist love was hockey. He was a top player at the U with hopes of following Wolfe into the pros. Although hockey was Cole’s number 1 choice of profession, his dad wanted him to take over the family business. Cole’s reputation preceded him as being a player. While there were lots of girls at the ready for him, he kept his distance from then by only spending one night and moving on to the next. You’ll find out more about that later.

Holland Donovan was a girl with her life on track to become a doctor, following in her dad’s footsteps. She was focused on being accepted into medical school and nothing was going to keep her from it. Not even the failed attempts by Cole to pursue her. Even more frustrating for Holland was his relentless effort to get her to go out with him. My feeling was that what was most confusing to Cole was the fact the Holland would turn him down, which only made him more determined. Don’t get me wrong, there was an irrefutable attraction between the two of them. Proven by a stolen kiss between them that left Cole wanting much more!!

With tensions escalating between Holland and her dad an evening out with friends was just what she needed. And with a little push from her BFF Rebel and some margaritas that is exactly what she was up for. With further convincing from Cole it was time to have some fun. Of course with a little too much to drink and having a good time with Cole one thing lead to another. Let’s just say that all the pent-up chemistry was ripe for seduction, and gosh almighty did the sparks fly between them. Only thing is that waking up naked with Cole, Holland couldn’t remember most of the night. Both agreeing to put this behind them and not let it happen again.

It’s when the four of them agree to spend two weeks working at Wolfe’s uncles B & B that things really begin to change. Cole and Holland would be forced into being around each other a lot during this time. It’s also a time of discovery for Holland and Cole too. After a disagreement with her dad about coming here, Holland is worried what will happen when she returns. But it’s Cole who she confides in and in return him to her. There is a true friendship being formed between them.

There is so much more that happens in this story yet as much as I would love to say more it would only ruin it for you. Oh yeah, I almost to mention Granny Mae!! She is Cole’s grandma. The most important person in his life, his confidant, life coach and soooo much more. I loved her and the relationship she and Cole have!! I suppose if there is only one thing, I wished for… it would be we had more of whether/how Holland and Cole resolved things with their dads? For me it was kind of left in limbo.

On the positive, RC teased us about the next book being for Declan!!! Yeah, am I truly excited for that.

[Books, Booze & Bon Voyage (Krista Webster) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruthless Player is book two in the Westfall U series by R.C. Stephens. This can be read as a standalone but Cole Davis and Holland Donovan are in the first book Heartless Player, along with all their friends that you meet in this book. This is an opposite attracts, forced proximity, college sports romance.

Cole is on the college hockey team and his teammates Wolfe and Declan live with him. Wolfe entered the draft and got picked up to play in New York so is leaving after the summer. He is worried about Cole, so he and his girlfriend Rebel, decide that their best friends must become friends and keep throwing the two of them together. Cole has struggled with issues from his childhood and to stop feeling lonely, he made the hockey team his family. He is so full of anger over everything that happened that it makes him never want to settle down. He still has problems at home and it doesn’t help that his father wants him to work for his company. His dream is to be drafted like Wolfe but he has doubts he can make it.

Holland is Rebel’s best friend and has two more years of pre-med as she wants to become a doctor. She is envious of Rebel and her caring boyfriend Wolfe but doesn’t have time for a relationship as her focus is purely on getting to medical school. She admits that Cole is gorgeous and she is attracted to him. She enjoys his banter and flirting with him but that’s all it can ever be between them, nothing is going to sidetrack her future. Holland also has issues at home so to cope she has concentrated on her studies, which has led to her living a rather sheltered life.

A traumatic event one evening kick starts their friendship, Cole feels indebted to her and she saw his vulnerable side. Holland finds it’s weird seeing him be so sweet and understanding, when he usually a typical jock. She teases him over the puck bunnies and all the rumours around college about his sexual prowess and being ruthless with women. He invokes strong feelings inside her so she’s determined to shut them down, especially as he insists on calling her ‘Beautiful’.

Seeing her friends enjoying themselves she realises that she has never really experienced life outside studying and decides to live a bit more for a change. Attending a party at the boys house on night, Holland throughly enjoys herself but her antics leave her with more than a sore head.
Then in the summer Wolfe and Rebel have to go and help out his Uncle for a couple of weeks so persuade Holland and Cole to join them. Forced to live and work together, Cole and Holland find they actually enjoy each others company and it turns out they have far more in common than they thought.

Then another event turns their lives upside down and they have to face the consequences. Their friends are desperate to help both of them but don’t know all the facts. Cole needs to gain her trust and convince her he can step up and be what she needs. There are some hard decisions to be made because both their futures are affected. Luckily a twist of fate helps and finally brings them closer together.

I loved Granny Mae and the support and love she had for Cole. She always picks up on when things are wrong and he is upset. She has so much faith in him and knows he can become the man he should be and deserves a good girl by his side. His character transformation was a delight to see and he worked really hard to prove to Holland he was more than a playboy hockey player. I did feel that after the slow burn of their relationship the ending was rushed and I would have liked a little more detail to enhance how everything turned out for the best.

During both books Declan McAvoy has been a bit of a mystery. The author has teased us with snippets about him, his attitude and behaviour. At the end of this book he stands up in front of all his friends and offers to tell them why he’s been so awful the past year. This sets the scene for his story in the next book Callous Player #3.


Merged review:

Ruthless Player is book two in the Westfall U series by R.C. Stephens. This can be read as a standalone but Cole Davis and Holland Donovan are in the first book Heartless Player, along with all their friends that you meet in this book. This is an opposite attracts, forced proximity, college sports romance.

Cole is on the college hockey team and his teammates Wolfe and Declan live with him. Wolfe entered the draft and got picked up to play in New York so is leaving after the summer. He is worried about Cole, so he and his girlfriend Rebel, decide that their best friends must become friends and keep throwing the two of them together. Cole has struggled with issues from his childhood and to stop feeling lonely, he made the hockey team his family. He is so full of anger over everything that happened that it makes him never want to settle down. He still has problems at home and it doesn’t help that his father wants him to work for his company. His dream is to be drafted like Wolfe but he has doubts he can make it.

Holland is Rebel’s best friend and has two more years of pre-med as she wants to become a doctor. She is envious of Rebel and her caring boyfriend Wolfe but doesn’t have time for a relationship as her focus is purely on getting to medical school. She admits that Cole is gorgeous and she is attracted to him. She enjoys his banter and flirting with him but that’s all it can ever be between them, nothing is going to sidetrack her future. Holland also has issues at home so to cope she has concentrated on her studies, which has led to her living a rather sheltered life.

A traumatic event one evening kick starts their friendship, Cole feels indebted to her and she saw his vulnerable side. Holland finds it’s weird seeing him be so sweet and understanding, when he usually a typical jock. She teases him over the puck bunnies and all the rumours around college about his sexual prowess and being ruthless with women. He invokes strong feelings inside her so she’s determined to shut them down, especially as he insists on calling her ‘Beautiful’.

Seeing her friends enjoying themselves she realises that she has never really experienced life outside studying and decides to live a bit more for a change. Attending a party at the boys house on night, Holland throughly enjoys herself but her antics leave her with more than a sore head.
Then in the summer Wolfe and Rebel have to go and help out his Uncle for a couple of weeks so persuade Holland and Cole to join them. Forced to live and work together, Cole and Holland find they actually enjoy each others company and it turns out they have far more in common than they thought.

Then another event turns their lives upside down and they have to face the consequences. Their friends are desperate to help both of them but don’t know all the facts. Cole needs to gain her trust and convince her he can step up and be what she needs. There are some hard decisions to be made because both their futures are affected. Luckily a twist of fate helps and finally brings them closer together.

I loved Granny Mae and the support and love she had for Cole. She always picks up on when things are wrong and he is upset. She has so much faith in him and knows he can become the man he should be and deserves a good girl by his side. His character transformation was a delight to see and he worked really hard to prove to Holland he was more than a playboy hockey player. I did feel that after the slow burn of their relationship the ending was rushed and I would have liked a little more detail to enhance how everything turned out for the best.

During both books Declan McAvoy has been a bit of a mystery. The author has teased us with snippets about him, his attitude and behaviour. At the end of this book he stands up in front of all his friends and offers to tell them why he’s been so awful the past year. This sets the scene for his story in the next book Callous Player #3.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

We first meet Holland and Cole as part of Rebel and Wolfe's story (in "Heartless Player, the first Westfall U book), so I was interested to see how their story would pan out. It was nice to see characters from the previous book, especially Rebel and Wolfe, plus some of the side characters. The ending teases the next book, and I'm looking forward to reading more about Declan and his story. Any of the books can be read as standalones, but if you're going to start, I recommend reading it from the beginning!

Holland and Cole's romance is a slow burn. And by slow, I mean slow - it might be one of the slowest slow burns I've ever read. Their friendship develops throughout the book, but we barely see them together at all, which I thought was an interesting choice. I liked how their both stayed true to themselves and their dreams/career paths (for Cole, that meant playing hockey in the NHL, and for Holland, that meant becoming a doctor) despite all of the curveballs life threw at them.

Some of the dialogue felt a little awkward. Sometimes the way that the characters spoke to each other didn't feel all that natural -- at least, that's not how my friends and I speak, as recent college grads. I think it's because they wouldn't always use contractions, which made their speaking sound a lot more formal than it otherwise would. There were also some grammatical issues, but that's to be expected in early copies of books!

I won't give away the surprise plot line, so that makes my review a lot less detailed -- but I will say that I did expect to see more of a resolution between Cole and his dad and stepmom, and between Holland and her dad. Not necessarily a resolution in terms of a happily-ever-after, but I thought they would find out about the plot twist and have something to say about it. I'm not sure if their families even know, with the exception of Cole's grandma. That would've been an interesting mix, to see all of them together. The surprise plot reveal (not the one regarding Cole and Holland's parents, there's another one) is one of my least favorite tropes, as I feel that it oftentimes can rush along character development, but it didn't rush Holland and Cole along as much as I've seen in other books.

Overall, I liked seeing Holland and Rebel's friendship from Holland's point of view, and how they both support each other. The same goes for Cole and Wolfe's friendship, even though Wolfe was away for part of the book after being drafted into the NHL. It was fun to see who Cole was behind the front we've seen him put up, and I hope we get to see more of him and Holland in Declan's book! Huge thanks to R.C. Stephens and Grey's Promotions for entrusting me with an early digital copy of the book!

As with all new adult books, I recommend this for 18+ due to some of the sexual content!

[Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review for Stephanie's Book Reports.

Holland
Hockey winger and campus hottie, Cole Davis might be a MVP with the ladies, but I'm not falling for a player...not with medical school on the line. With our best friends dating, our forced proximity is inevitable. That doesn't mean I have to like it-or the way he makes me feel. Like I'm missing out and there's more to life than sitting on the sidelines. It only takes one moment of weakness to remind me why I should have stayed away from Cole. He might be a ruthless player, but nothing about this is a game.
Cole
Holland Donovan knows exactly what she wants out of life- and it isn't me. She's not looking for any distractions, and I'm a one-night kind of guy, but that doesn't stop me from wanting her. From the first electric kiss-I know one night will never be enough. I just need to convince her that I'm in it for the long haul-this isn't just about scoring. On the ice, I'm a pro at blocking shots and stealing passes, but when it comes to Holland the rules change. I won't stop fighting for her, for us, until I make her mine.

This book is a standalone in the Westfall U Series from R.C. Stephens. You don't know have to have read the first book, Heartless Player but I recommend it too because it is also really good.
Cole Davis and Holland Donavan are two people are thrown together because their best friends are dating. But they are not friends at all. In face she can't stand him, but he really is attracted to her. But the also in more of a love them and leave them kind of guy and is a hockey player. Holland is in medical school and nothing is going to keep her away from her dream of being a doctor, especially not a cocky hockey player who is never going to want much of anything from her. However Cole is not just a cocky hockey player, he is sweet and loving and oh so fun to be around and extremely loyal to his friends and family. Holland is so focused on being a doctor that I feel like she has forgotten how to even have fun in life but one night changes all of that and Holland is beginning to think that she needs more than just school and studying in her life and Cole just might be a great person to spend some time with. However families and her relationship with Cole are about to become complicated.
This is a slow burn of a romance and I really appreciated that about this book. As it let you get to know the true personality and life of these characters and not just what they wanted to show the world. They are two people who are absolutely perfect for each other and don't even know it.

[Ria Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow burn romance perfection

If there is one thing that R.C. Stephens does to perfection ... it's the telling of a slow burn romance. RUTHLESS PLAYER is the story of Cole Davis and Holland Donovan, two people who are only friends because their best friends are dating. Could there be more between them, or will their struggles with family issues have them shying away from any form of commitment and happiness?

Cole is a member of Westfall U's hockey team, a team that he considers to be the only family he has, except for Granny Mae. Cole dreams of being drafted, like his best friend Wolfe, however he's unsure if it will ever happen. He enjoys having fun, drinking, parties, and girls ... oh, so many girls! However, it is one girl who has caught his attention and she wants nothing to do with him.

Holland has one dream, to go to medical school. She spends all her time either at school or at home studying, parties and leisure just don't factor into her time. Even though she wants what her best friend Rebel has, boys are not included in her schedule. One boy though, has caught her attention, he's gorgeous and she enjoys their constant flirting, but that's all it will ever be.

I thoroughly enjoyed the development of Cole and Holland's relationship. yes, it was slow and steady, but the heat and the chemistry between them is undeniable, and begins to increase since they are continually thrown together by both Rebel and Wolfe. A traumatic event brings about changes they never expected, as does a one night stand that, for one, is completely forgettable. A working summer vacation brings Cole and Holland even closer, and they begin to learn that they have more in common than they originally thought.

Nothing ever runs smoothly, and they find themselves having to make some really tough decisions regarding both of their futures. Slowly, as they deal with their decisions, the connection between them deepens as they begin to rely on each other more and more. Cole is steadfast in his determination to win Holland over, and slowly she begins to trust in him and in her feelings.

A deeply moving and emotional story of two people searching for the one thing missing from their lives ... love. A story that shouldn't be missed.

I'm looking forward to Book #3 Callous Player, Declan's story.

Read and Reviewed for Reading IS Our Satisfaction

✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE STARS ✨✨✨✨✨

[Kelly DeMarco · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning the wrong lessons from loss and love
Ruthless Player (Westfall U Book 2) by RC Stevens is a sweet and steamy college and sports romance. Holland and Cole have both learned, through similar heartbreaking experiences with loss and the aftermath, that love lets you down and cannot be trusted. These two have so much in common and despite their frenemies start, end up becoming the best of friends. The emotions of these characters are deeply felt and true to the age of Holland and Cole. There is a great deal of inner dialogue debates that demonstrate the growth of Cole especially, and Holland eventually. While both have a great deal of baggage, there are moments of lighthearted fun as the friendship evolves and develops. The other highly present element to this love story is the sexual tension. It builds, ebbs and flows then continues to build as confusion and fear overrules the physical need for Holland.
The plot reverberates resilience and explores the ways in which both Holland and Cole dealt with their individual losses as well as the changes in their individual family's dynamics. Once the connection is made between Holland and Cole, the many events and experiences they have in common are revealed to one another and further deepens their connection and friendship. The persons who should have been their greatest supporters and champions are sadly their antagonists. I love that although the actions or non-actions of the antagonists do not keep them from figuring out what they want and how to achieve their goals.
Overall, this couple coming together is brought about by fate and solidifies the feeling that Holland and Cole are truly meant to be. Cole is steadfast and determined, persistent and patient as Holland slowly trusts her feelings and Cole's devotion. I love the promise of dreams coming true with the love of support for each other and the family and friends surrounding them in this HEA.
I read an ARC of this via Grey's Promotions and voluntarily share my review.

[ReadonReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cole and Holland have been witnesses to watching their best friends fall in love but now they are expected to at the very least tolerate each other for the good of their friendships. Cole is really attracted to Holland but he doesn’t believe in relationships or love yet he can’t help the feelings he has towards her and he knows she if off limits to his playboy ways. Cole’s in this space in his life where his head isn’t in a good place. He wants’ to play hockey but his father expects him to work for him, he has issues still from his mother’s death and his new stepmother is a real piece of work. Cole is just trying to figure his life out and his future but things are so out of whack. Holland has always been a focused individual especially when it comes to her long term goals of being a doctor yet she still doesn’t feel appreciated or loved by her father who refuses to listen to her. They both struggle with what they wants, what the future holds, and where to go from here. They don’t expect to have so much in common and this brings them closer together even if it scares them. This was definitely a slow burn because as they are forming this friendship of theirs and getting closer to each other they are still afraid of their feelings but they don’t explore anything more until around 90% and while I loved them together and their bond I wanted them to be together more. Cole stole the show for me because he is a player of sorts but he does start to realize he needs to change his ways to make something of himself, he was loyal and caring, and while he knew his attraction to Holland was more he always treated her with respect. Holland was a hit and miss for me because I loved her tenacity, hard drive, there were a few times she was just rude to Cole for no reason other than just because. I also feel like we should have got more interaction with the issues of her dad and Cole’s stepmother should have been put in her place as well. Overall I love this group of friends that become family, I love the series, and I can’t wait to see what Dec has been up to.

[Wendy *cr8zysockbookblock* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simply Swoony Y’all! Holland and Cole’s is a story of slow burn deliciousness. Thrown in each other’s vicinity because their two BFF’s are dating finds these enemies growing into lovers. One night of shared mutual needs being fulfilled has long lasting consequences and puts them on a path of opening up and growing to be great friends then more. Cole literally made my heart flutter. Holland had always managed to resist his charms until she started seeing him in a different light. They both were anti-commitment due to some experiences in their backgrounds/younger years. I loved his personality. The arrogant guys with a good heart deep down always get me. Holland was beautiful, tough and still sweet. GAH! I really liked these two, the slow burn was amazing and flowed wonderfully.😍

My Cr8zysockbookblock blog wrap up :
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐. I’m a sucker for a good frenemies to lovers romance. Throw in a secret baby and I’m a goner, y’all!
🔥🔥🔥- This had some steam, but it was definitely slow burn. I was burning on edge just waiting for them to get it together.
🌪Cliffhanger Warning- NO CLIFFHANGER! HEA folks! 😍♥️😍

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[Meg]

recensione a cura del blog “Libri Magnetici" by Meghan
Secondo volume di serie, ambientato alla Westfall University, e ci racconta la storia dei due migliori amici della coppia protagonista del primo volume.
Cole è infatti un altro componente della squadra di hockey della Westfall, e, anche se è un bravo giocatore, sa di non avere le stesse possibilità di finire nella NFL come il suo amico Wolfe; la sua è poi una vita spensierata, tra feste, alcool e ragazze.
In questo quadro generale si inserisce Holland, che ha invece come obiettivo quello di frequentare la facoltà di medicina, e che lo respinge proprio perché lui incarna una serie di clichè.

«Non mi piace quello che sta succedendo. Non mi beccherò una cotta per Cole Davis.»

In realtà Holland è molto combattuta sulle sue decisioni, al punto di scegliere di passare l’estate facendo la cameriera, proprio per fare esperienze diverse; e in quell’occasione proprio Cole si rivela diverso, gentile, disponibile.

«E’ tutto sbagliato, perché più tempo passo con Cole più lui mi piace, ed è l’ultima cosa che voglio sulla faccia della Terra.»

E fin qui la storia segue una serie di punti tipici nella narrazione dell’intreccio innamorati/amici dei migliori amici: poi qualcosa inizia a non essere più coerente.
C’è una notte, di cui Holland per tutto il libro non ha mai memoria e che resta lì, portando però a delle conseguenze, così come altri co-protagonisti, come sua sorella Paris o la matrigna di Cole, che non riescono a dare alla storia quella svolta che sembra sempre sul punto di accadere.
Tra Cole e Holland non c’è neanche uno “slow burn”, perché è un insieme di fattori, elementi, decisioni, che poi portano al momento della dichiarazione d’amore, che sembra messa così, quasi a caso, perché deve esserci.
Insomma un volume ben diverso dal primo, che risente di alcune lacune nello sviluppo della trama e che purtroppo non riesce, a mio personalissimo parere, a rientrare in modo soddisfacente in quella tipologia tipica di queste storie.

Tre petali.

[post_it_di_libri Claudia ✨📚Claudia ✨📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questo libro ansima di felicità.
Tra lacrime e sorrisi mi sono goduta ogni centimetro di questa lettura.

Holland e Cole sono due pezzi di cuore.

Entrambi hanno perso la mamma durante il periodo delle scuole superiori, tingendo una cicatrice invisibile agli occhi di molti, tranne per chi è rimasto a sorreggerli giorno dopo giorno.
Si comprendono e si desiderano, fingendo una diffidenza promiscua solo per l’orgoglio che li delinea.
Una festa, qualche drink di troppo e una notte disinibita cambieranno il loro destino.. o più semplicemente delineeranno un futuro scritto nelle stelle.

Holland si allontana dalla gabbia dorata che la circonda, ritrovando il sorriso tra gli affetti di sua sorella Paris e la migliore amica Rebel.
Il suo presente verrà rivoluzionato, ma lei dimostrerà così tanto coraggio da volerla abbracciare attraverso la carta.
È forte, tenace, gentile.
È un inguaribile romantica impaurita dai legami. Una piccola guerriera pronta a difendersi dalle ingiustizie.

Cole è un ragazzo straordinario.
Sensibile, affettuoso e tanto altruista.
Si perde negli occhi di Holland ogni volta che la osserva e vorrebbe poterle regalare quelle certezze che tanto le mancano.
È un ragazzo che veste i panni di un adulto nel modo migliore possibile.
Aspetta, tenace e ottimista, i tempi di Holland. Senza fretta, senza inganno.

Solo per questo, mi ha conquistato.

È difficile, quasi raro, trovare ragazzi così, nei libri e nella vita.
Un ragazzo che comprende e non si allontana, che promette senza dimenticare e soprattutto che lascia spazio e tempo a chi, di spazio e tempo, non ne ha avuto mai.

Un libro che trasmette speranza.

Rimarca, in modo costante, quanto i nostri sogni possano essere realizzati nonostante gli imprevisti della vita, nonostante le paure di affrontarli.
Sottolinea i perimetri del cuore, i tagli che porta e il rigonfiamento dell’amore che dona.
Evidenzia emozioni sotto pelle con una scrittura attenta e scorrevole.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruthless Player is the second book in R.C. Stephens Westfall U series. While it is written as a stand alone I think it would be enjoyed best when read in order of the series since the stories and characters overlap and connect.

Cole Davis does not do relationships or even repeats- he is cocky, self assured, lives for the party and for the ice, and gives off all the stereotypical jock vibes. Holland Donovan is Cole's opposite- she is focused, driven, and doesn't make waves. One night she decides to finally let loose and both of their lives change in ways they couldn't possibly imagine.

I loved Cole and Holland- these two had no desire to even be friendly towards each other at first and end up becoming that missing part in their lives. Little by little though, they found out that they were so much more alike than they thought and it was interesting to see how their lives had intersected and crossed paths in ways they never realized. While these two had a lot of attraction toward each other- after that first night this book turned into one of the slowest burns I can think of- but it was perfect.

While this is a sports romance, the story really does not center around the sport as much as other books in this genre. Instead it focuses more on the characters and the various hardships and emotional trauma they have endured, such as the loss of their mothers, and how those events made both Cole and Holland approach situations such as relationships in a different way. Holland may have been wary of Cole and his genuinity but the difference in that boy could not be denied. I absolutely am in love with his character transformation.

Now I'm on pin and needles waiting for Declan's story after getting little snippets of him in Heartless Player as well as this book- especially with the teaser that was dropped at the end!!

[Kristina (firebreathing_bookqueen) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holland and Cole are the best friends of Wolfe and Rebel who we saw in Heartless Player. Cole was a hockey teammate of Wolfe's and is in his last year on the Westfall hockey team and Holland is premed at Westfall. Their friends desperately want Holland and Cole to become friends so they can all hang out without issue. After an incident at a dinner party where Holland ends up saving Cole's life and then a subsequent drunken night at a party between Holland and Cole, they endeavor to become friends. The four friends get away for a few weeks in the summer to help run a vacation property and where Holland and Cole get a lot of time together. But the effects of that one drunken night still linger between them. The more they get to know each other, the more Cole and Holland realize that they have more in common than they realize. They start to lean on each other for help with family issues and build each other up when others try to tear them down. But when life, and their previous choices catch up with them, will they be able to weather the storm together?

I really enjoyed the banter between Cole and Holland. As with book 1 in this series, the steam was spot on and the story was engaging. But (without spoiling anything) this story included a trope that I am not a huge fan of which made this one less enjoyable for me personally. Not to take anything away from Stephens' writing or her characters as they were as fantastic in this one as they were in the first. I loved Cole and seeing the progression in him as a character and Holland and her family dynamics also added such a great layer to this one. But parts of this story just weren't my cup of tea.

With that said, I AM SO READY FOR DECLAN'S STORY! I have been DYING to know what his story is since the first book! Book 3 cannot get here soon enough! Thank you to Grey's Promo for allowing me to read this one in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Jela Heneghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruthless Player is the second book in the Westfall U Series. It’s a sweet enemies to lovers slow-burn romance that will have you excited to see how their relationship pans out.

Cole is the fun-loving (hockey) player that doesn’t do relationships, and Holland is the studious pre-med student with a no-nonsense attitude. They’re sort of forced to be friends given that their best friends are head over heels for each other, and they tolerate one another at best in the beginning. Then one night at a party things become more, but they’ve both dedicated themselves to the notion that relationships aren’t for them, and nothing comes of it. Over the next months they grow closer and even become actual friends. This story follows their relationship as it goes from two characters that didn’t necessarily seem made for each other to much more.

Cole’s transformation in this book is by far my favorite aspect of it. He starts out as the knuckleheaded jock that is never ever serious about any girl and seems sort of wishy washy with what he wants out of life to a genuinely stand-up character. I loved seeing how he grew from college boy to grown man. I think in general the theme of this book could be summed up as change and personal growth. It was endearing to see how both Cole and Holland grew so much and really owned who they were becoming.

Overall, I really liked this story, but the pacing seemed a bit off. Like we go from 0-60 pretty quickly at the start and then sort of fizzle out for a while before the chemistry between the two main characters and the plotline start picking up again. It’s a slow burn for sure, but rest assured you’ll be happy with the outcome.

Sweet and emotional, Ruthless Player is a great college sports romance read that will leave you believing in fate or even just the power of change and growth. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

[MrsW26 · Rating 2 out of 5]

POV: Dual / First Person
Genre: Enemies-to-Lovers / College Romance / Sports Romance/ Accidental Pregnancy

To start with, I did like Cole and Holland’s dynamics, they had an interesting relationship, both were attracted to each other, but neither wanted a relationship for very different reasons. I enjoyed the opposites attract / enemies-to-lovers vibe but felt uncomfortable with fragments of the book.

I also liked the accidental pregnancy aspect, I loved the way Cole was so accepting and stepped up, he definitely turned into a stand up guy and it was clear how much Holland and the baby meant to him.

But I’ll be honest, I really struggled with this one. I couldn’t connect with, or like, Holland’s character. I didn’t understand her and definitely felt that Cole’s character carried the book, I think it says a lot when you prefer the Grandma to the female lead.

Ruthless Player is most definitely a slow burn which in itself didn’t bother me, but I felt the book lacked a pinnacle point. I felt that the first 60-ish% was a filler, and then the remainder was rushed. This book had so much potential but it just left me feeling deflated.

Both Cole and Holland has issues with their fathers, neither resolved their issues, nothing came to a head and left questions I had unanswered. With Holland's dad, there was so much potential for not only drama, but context and background, but after the build up there is nothing.

One thing that really bothered me was the fact that Holland couldn’t remember her night with Cole, despite as the reader knowing that consent was there, the fact she was clearly too drunk to remember felt like she was also too drunk to consent, if this was real life and woke up like that the next morning she could have filed rape charges. It just didn’t sit well with me, especially because I liked Cole’s character.

All in all, it’s a 2.5 for me.

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holland Donovan is burned out. She has had this burning desire, to be a doctor, ever since her mom passed away when she, was a teen. She has gone nonstop toward her goal, through high school getting top grades in advanced classes, and even volunteering at the hospital. Never having time, to do what normal teens her age did. Not ever doing things, that college students do, to have fun.

No, for her it's school, work, study, and repeat. It was at Holland’s first, end-of-school-year party, before everyone left for summer break, that she allowed herself, to cut loose, and, for the first time ever had fun. So, when Wolfe’s uncle needs someone, to run his B&B and auto shop, on the beach at, Cape Cod. She decides she wants, to go with Wolfe, Rebel, and Cole, to help. The downtime for her would be, so relaxing.

Her father is not happy. She had a hospital internship set up, and she asked if she could defer, for two weeks. She was told no, therefore she withdrew, to go, to Cape Cod. She didn't tell her father until ten minutes, before she is being picked up, knowing her father wouldn’t be happy. But, she is twenty and burned out, so she needed this more than anyone knew. She would worry about her, father when she returns.

Cole had a life-altering experience, and it was Holland who saved his life. Wolfe opened his eyes even more about wanting, an NHL career, and him needing, to stop partying. In Cape Cod so much happened, all eye-opening, and becoming a real friend with, Holland is at the top, and actually working out. You get, to see big changes for both, Holland and, Cole. After book one, where I did not care for Cole, it is nice, to see him redeem himself, for sure. I have, to say, I enjoyed the journey of this couple and the outcome of the positive changes. What happened to Holland’s father, anything?

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Voto - 3,5
.
Romance Reader - per RFS
.
La recensione di oggi è per il secondo volume della serie sport romance dell’autrice R.C. Stephens, edita Triskell Edizioni.

Cole Davis, giocatore di hockey e playboy, segnato dalla prematura perdita della figura materna, non cerca relazioni, è troppo impegnato a costruirsi un futuro. Proprio come Holland Donovan che studia per diventare medico e sa cosa vuole dalla vita: non

Però il destino non segue mai i nostri i piani e i due ragazzi, complice un’attrazione sempre più forte e qualche bicchiere in più, vivranno una notte indimenticabile … o quasi. Già, perché la giovane Holland ha bevuto troppo per ricordare ciò che è successo con Cole, ma le conseguenze potrebbero non essere altrettanto facili da dimenticare.

Il personaggio di Cole l’ho trovato meglio caratterizzato rispetto alla protagonista femminile, infatti lui ha un’evoluzione durante la storia, mentre Holland sembra seguire il corso degli eventi e prenderne semplicemente atto.

Alcuni dettagli della trama mi sono piaciuti molto, sebbene abbia individuato delle incoerenze: in effetti non si capisce che succede a Paris, la sorella maggiore di Holland, né cosa con la matrigna di Cole.

Inoltre anche il rapporto a due arriva al lieto fine ma senza mostrarci come ci si è arrivati. Sembra che verso la conclusione del romanzo, l’autrice avesse sempre fretta di terminare. Stavolta, però, ho avuto la sensazione che ci abbia infilato una dichiarazione d’amore quasi del tutto priva di fondamento.

Nonostante non mi abbia convinta del tutto, però, non mi sento di bocciare questa storia, perché è ben scritta e ha un messaggio di speranza che sprona a rincorrere sempre i propri sogni.