Damaged Player

Westfall U #6

by R.C. Stephens

Cait

Ever since my accident, I feel like damaged goods. I do my best to hide in plain sight until the one guy I want to notice me… doesn’t.

Westfall U hockey star, Evan Hayworth, is way out of my league. If I want him to see me as more than just his tutor, I’ll need help igniting the spark.

Lucky for me, his hockey teammate comes to my rescue and makes me an offer I can’t refuse— I help him with science, and he will educate me in the bedroom.

A fake relationship with the most unavailable guy on campus seems like the perfect solution.

Noah is caring, loyal, and very good at pretending. Even I’m starting to believe the chemistry between us is real.

He may be a damaged player… but his magnetic touch and warm heart are making me feel alive again.

Noah

My life has been falling apart. After desperately trying to hold it together and focusing on hockey, the last thing I need is a serious relationship.

What I need is to keep my head in the game, but Cait is the exception to that rule.

Because hooking up with her is homework… or an experiment, depending on how you look at it.

I need a tutor to get my science grade up and she needs my expertise in the bedroom to give her the confidence to go for the guy she really wants… my teammate.

It’s a win-win, until the variables change, and our combustible attraction takes us from friends to lovers.

Suddenly our fake relationship feels much too real and I’m regretting our little deal.

Full length standalone novel with HEA and no cheating.

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

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 30, 2022

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

[Solara! · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.5/5) i cant even begin to explain how much i disliked this book. there was so much telling and never showing so i deadass felt like cait and noah had NO chemistry whatsoever istg its something abt guys named noah. theyre always so bland and boring and cait. oml i get she was having trouble with her leg but her internal thoughts were lit just her having a pity party 24/7 and it gets annoying when the author has so explain twenty thousand times how much the main character hates herself and needs someone else to love her to help her find herself 🥺🥺BORING. SLOPPY. LAZYYYYY get a new idea thank you xx

[ReadonReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cait and Noah’s story is one that had me continuously smiling while at times emotional. Cait is Wolfe’s younger sister, one he is very protective of, but also gives her room to be her own person since she has endured a lot in her life. With parents that have clocked out, an accident that left her emotionally raw and physically injured her confidence is at a low and she feels as if she doesn’t truly have anyone to lean on. While she does have tons of friends, they are all busy living their lives and she doesn’t want to bother them. Noah is the new guy to the hockey team that is making a lot of sacrifices to help his mother and grandmother while tolerating a father that has abandoned ship and an ex that dumped him at the first sign of trouble. To say Noah is a little jaded and resentful would be an understatement. He wants to click with his teammates, be the best he can, but he knows it comes with hard work and focus. When Cait and Noah meet Noah convinces her to help him make sure he stays focused and tutor him, but in return he can help her get the guy she wants. As these two embark on this journey they form this friendship that means so much to each other, they tell each other everything, lean on each on each other, and so much more. In this amazing bond they form feelings start to form, lines start to blur, and Cait is walking a fine line with Noah, but the chemistry is too hard to walk away from. Cait’s strength and personal growth was amazing to watch and a lot of that had to do with Noah because he showed her how strong she was. I loved how they helped each other, Noah showing Cait her strength and confidence, and Cait showing Noah sometimes its ok to let go of that anger and just be. This was truly a great read and probably my favorite of this series although I’ve loved them all. The characters are ones you fall in love with easily and you never want to see them go.

[Heather Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cait is in college, she's a smarty pants, who is working with the student tutoring center - if you need help in classes she is the girl to see. The ice hockey coach has put Evan under her tutoring services. Cait has been oogling Evan from afar but has concerns that he wouldn't be into her as she has a missing leg - and where's a prosthetic leg. She has never felt comfortable being around others without wearing long pants or long skirts. She's always worried about what others may think of her. 

Evan is on the Westfall hockey team and is a Senior. With all of Even's past student tutors they have always done his work for him - but not Cait. She is actually making him do the work, and earn the grades - which is something new for Evan. He likes Cait but he also likes the rest of the girls around campus, he's just a player. 

Noah is new to the Westfall hockey team. He just transferred over from Duluth College.  Noah is a junior so he has one more year to go for his degree and for the hockey team. He has had a hard time fitting in and is behind on his classes. He has asked Cait if she could work with him and his study skills / habits. At first Cait says no, as her plate is super full. But, the more they talk the more they feel comfortable with each other.   

Noah likes Cait, but she is having a hard time realizing she also likes Noah. Cait needs more self confidence in herself and being comfortable in her own skin. 

I did receive a free ARC copy of this book. I am freely leaving an honest review. 

[Caroline F · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - I thoroughly enjoyed this story.

"It's more like he has needs and I need a teacher."

Cait Ellison has a good core group of friends but otherwise keeps to herself. Her prosthetic leg hampers her confidence and she doesn't enjoy being out of her comfort zone when it comes to socialising. Noah Alexander has just transferred to Westfall U for his junior year so he can live close to his mother, who has health issues. Cait has been crushing on Evan for a couple of years but the player has never looked her way. Noah is in need of a tutor and proposes a fake relationship in return for Cait's time, so she can garner Evan's attention. As Cait and Noah become good friends, their relationship starts to get complicated when their it escalates to one with benefits.

"She's been an expected surprise in my life."

I loved Cait and Noah's friendship. They clicked straightaway as they were of similar dispositions. I enjoyed how Noah pushed Cait gently out of her comfort zone and challenged her, and I loved Cait's bravery under Noah's encouragement. She really blossomed as a young woman with the confidence that Noah instilled in her about her beauty, intellect and personality. He made her feel seen and not defined by her prosthetic. Noah's head was so messed up by his family situation that he was blind to his evolving feelings about Cait. The two of them together were so sexy. I adored his patience and passion for Cait. The two of them together felt right and natural. Loved them!

Blog: https://readingwillingable.blogspot.c...

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/review/R220JDN...

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Cait, she's been through the fire in her young life, and it's done a number on her. See, there was an accident, and the aftermath has damaged her confidence quite a bit so I felt for her deeply. Cait has her eye on a hockey player named Evan, but she's convinced that he's way out of her league, which is how Noah comes into the picture. He's new to the hockey team, and he has his own set of demons he battles, so they come up with an arrangement to help each other. She's going to tutor him while he helps her in the bedroom, not to mention, as they fake it along, it keeps the particular cut throat girls who want any hockey player away from him. They became super close friends first, and after that, the sparks started to fly so somewhere along the way, things took a different turn. Damaged Player really took a hit on my emotions as I was fully invested in these two, so I couldn't get enough. So yeah, I'm done talking so you can hit those one click buttons as I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Precious · Rating 2 out of 5]

***WARNING: pls take my review with a grain of salt because I did not read any other book in this series and so I am not attached in anyway to the characters at all. I simply liked the discription of the book and wanted to read this exact trope***

Let me just start by saying that I knew what I was going into when I chose to read this. I knew that I had read this exact same trope only about 50 times before but the thing about me is that I would’ve still given the book 5 stars if it evoked 5 stars in me. I’m fair like that. Someone can take the exact same trope and make it their own and even outdo whoever did it first. I’ve seen it done before so I give these re-dos a chance. But this was so boring you guys. Don’t get me wrong, the characters were so sweet. Noah -bless him- is one of the sweetest book boyfriends ever but dammit, he had no depth and that was the same for Cait. Two bland people who had a rather bland story just blandly existing together. It to the point that I don’t even think they had distinct traits of their own because everything just went along like a shoulder shrug. Yes, the entire story feels like a shoulder shrug.

[Rina's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noah and Cait were fabulous.

From the moment they started their tutoring sessions I could tell these two were going to be perfect for each other.
Starting as friends, they trusted each other implicitly. Told each other things they would never normally divulge.
The chemistry and connection were there, though they both tried to fight it, even after the lines were blurred.
Cait helped Noah stay focused so he could achieve his academic goals and in return, Noah brought out the vixen hiding behind Cait's insecurities - and I loved watching it happen.

The way Noah's family welcomed Cait into their fold was beautiful to watch. Not only did she find a chosen family with them but she also supported them in her own way.

I also really enjoyed seeing the glimpses of the other characters we met along the way, seeing how they were doing, and what was happening in their lives.
It was a nice way to remember and reminisce on the whole series.

I can't say for sure whether this was my favourite book of the series but it's definitely worth a read! And if it's not my favourite? It's a close second.

4.5 stars

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m in love with this Westfall U world. Six books in and I just can’t get enough. I’ve been looking forward to Cait’s story. She’s smart, fierce and determined, but like everyone suffers from insecurities. It was entertaining watching her interact with Noah. Their friends to lovers meets fake relationship tale was the perfect amount of sweet and steamy. I can’t wait to see who’s up next.

[Le cercatrici di libri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buon giorno carissime lettrici siamo quasi arrivati all'epilogo di questa serie che ci ha tenute incollate alle pagine dal primissimo volume. Siete pronte a conoscere Cait la sorella di Wolfe e Noah il nuovissimo acquisto della squadra? Si, benissimo allora immergetevi nella lettura di questa mia recensione senza troppi spoiler per conoscere questi due favolosi protagonisti e la loro "amicizia speciale".

Ambientato a Westfall University, questo contemporary sport romance mixa college romance, fake relationship e friends-to-lovers con un tocco sensibile al tema della disabilità. Il romanzo è perfetto per chi ama storie emotive con protagonisti universitari e squadre di hockey.

C’è un tipo di dolore che non si vede. Un vuoto che non fa rumore, ma consuma.
In Damaged Player, senza anima, R.C. Stephens ci trascina in un vortice di silenzi interiori, cicatrici invisibili e amore che guarisce lentamente, dolorosamente, autenticamente.
Noah è tutto ciò che un’anima spezzata cerca di nascondere: un corpo perfetto che nasconde un cuore devastato. Un atleta brillante, ma chiuso al mondo, segnato da un passato che ha sottratto fiducia, famiglia e identità. È un uomo che ha imparato a giocare sul ghiaccio e con i sentimenti, ma ha disimparato a sentirsi vivo. Non è solo “damaged”, è vuoto. E in questa sua deriva silenziosa, entra lei.
Cait non è una ragazza da cliché. È fragile solo per chi guarda con superficialità. Sopravvissuta a un incidente che ha cambiato per sempre la sua carne, il suo modo di camminare, il suo sguardo allo specchio, Cait è pura forza sotto pelle. Ha paura, sì. Ma è la paura di chi ha molto da perdere: la dignità, la fiducia, la possibilità di sentirsi ancora desiderabile.
Cait accetta di preparare Noah per il suo corso in cambio della sua compagnia “da letto” – un accordo apparentemente superficiale che evolve in qualcosa di molto più profondo. La chimica cresce naturalmente, e la finzione diventa reale, mettendo in crisi confini e sentimenti.
Il loro incontro non è scintilla, è scontro. Non è passione istantanea, è sopravvivenza. Una relazione che nasce per finta, un accordo senza cuore, ma il cuore non segue le regole e Noah, pezzo dopo pezzo, sente riemergere qualcosa la parte viva di sé che credeva morta. Allo stesso tempo Cait, nello specchio degli occhi di lui, si scopre intera, bella, capace di riscrivere la propria storia.
R.C. Stephens non scrive una love story. Scrive una rinascita.
Ogni pagina è una lama sottile: affonda nei sentimenti, nella paura di non bastare, nella lotta per meritare amore. Ma è anche carezza: una delicatezza rara nel descrivere la disabilità non come etichetta, ma come parte del cammino.
Il tono del romanzo è dolce e sensuale, con momenti di passione ben calibrati. La scrittura è accessibile e coinvolgente, perfetta per chi cerca una narrazione leggera ma non banale.
Con una scrittura che accarezza e brucia, Damaged Player, senza anima è il grido sommesso di due persone che smettono di nascondersi e che, nel guardarsi davvero, si salvano a vicenda non con gesti epici, ma con la verità e la passione.
Se ami le storie in cui l’amore non è un colpo di fulmine ma una lenta risalita dalla disperazione, questo libro è per te. È per chi sa che i corpi si possono ferire, ma le anime… quelle si possono anche ricostruire. In due.

✒️ Alessandra.
voto: 4,5

[Char (1RadReader59) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coach Darren contacts, Cait Ellison who is a friend of his girlfriend, Blossom’s, best friend even though there are ten years between them. Darren knows she is a tutor, at Westfall University. One of his players, on the hockey team, has been injured and needs assistance, in keeping up with his schoolwork. But, she will need, to sign a contract with the coach saying, she will not have sex, with the player. As Darren talks about what her duties may entail, she’s thinking please don't let it be, Evan Hayworth. You see, she has a total crush on, Hayworth.

In lies the problem, Cait is a ghost, to Evan Hayworth. She doesn't know if tutoring him will change things between them, but she’s guessing she just signed herself up for more rejection. Being in a car accident with her family, where she had a back injury, and lost her leg left her in a wheelchair for a while. That is until she received, her prosthetic leg. Her boyfriend at the time told her he hadn’t signed up, to be with someone disabled. She remembers wishing she knew that, two weeks earlier, when she gave him her V-card. He shattered her self-esteem.

Evan is handsome for sure, but finding out that since his freshman year, and term papers his tutors have done for him, were for taming their vajayjay. All for bragging rights, status, or as he says, his size. Knowing he has been with that many women, to achieve what he needs, is a turn-off. The hockey house gets a new player in the midterm. Noah Alexander is from Minnesota and he is having problems with his female tutors not wanting to keep their hands to themselves.

So, when he sends the last tutor off mad, about not getting what she came for, which is himself, he turns, to Logan for advice. He gives him, Cait’s name, she’s his friend. She is a tutor and is tutoring, Evan Hayworth, their teammate. That night she and her roommates, Olivia, and, Luna all end up going, to Black Market Bar off campus. The hockey team is there. She meets, Noah who is with, Jordan, and they chat. Evan chats her up calling her, ‘Tutor Girl’ and asking for introductions, to her roommates. Since she doesn't dance Olivia, Luna, Evan, and Jordan go out, to dance. Leaving her and Noah.

Evan is into, Luna and she turns him down, then silently tells, Cait she’s got her back. Noah catches it. He tells her, now that’s a good friend, to not move into your territory. That's when he asks her, to tutor him. The last thing she needs is for him, to tell, Evan, she has the hots for him. So, she goes, to the bar where she feels, the most vulnerable. He follows her. So, she flat out tells him, she was trying, to avoid him, so take the hint. He lets her know he was warned to stay away from her, and so maybe, Evan was, also.

See how this one tutoring interaction, between two different hockey players, turns into a full-blown something more. The only thing that throws me, is the timeline for, the Saturday official date, which is so off as, to the number of things, and days that go by. I enjoyed seeing the moments of awareness, when their individual arrows, hit their hearts. I have, to say I was so surprised by, Evan’s response, to her not doing dinner. Yay, to him.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Stand-alone: Yes*
Author: R.C. Stephens
Rating: 5/ 5 ⭐️
Spiciness Rating:3/5 🌶
POV: First Person Dual Perspective
Main Couple: Cait and Noah
Trope(s): Sports Romance, Fake Relationship, Friends To Lovers, Opposites Attract

…”You’re perfect.” I don’t think he understands what those words mean to me. The way they break me and make me whole all in one breathe. “You’re perfect and beautiful and I want you so bad.”

Damaged Player is Book Six in the Westfall U interconnected standalone series. You do not need to read books in order, but honestly you should. This book is a slow burn, friends to lovers read that has low angst and sweet steam. Noah and Cait both have trust issues which actually helps their friendship grow fast and deep. They see one another and connect next level. Noah is absolute book boyfriend goals. Cait needs the nudge to reestablish the self esteem lost and Noah is right there with the words to sooth all her broken pieces. And, Noah his pieces are just as broken and putting Cait in the friend zone keeps it safe for him. Until she obliterates that zone. Damaged Player is the perfect balm and will definitely have you loving this series even harder or have you running to one click the rest because these hockey hotties are a must read.

Cait has the biggest crush on Evan Hayworth. And, hopes that now that she is tutoring him he will see her as more than his friend's younger sister. Cait lost part of her leg in a car accident years ago and her self esteem suffered when her high school boyfriend dumped her because of it.

Noah is the new hockey player having transferred from Minnesota. His mother nearly died the year before and moved to Canterbury to live with his Grandma while undergoing rehab. Noah followed not wanting to be far away. But, being the new guy Junior year is a hard transition.

When Noah and Cait meet at a party he sees her crush on Evan first hand. Wanting her to tutor him he offers her a way to get Evan’s attention. It’s a win-win for both of them. Noah has a lot on his plate personally and he needs someone to keep him focused. Plus, he would like the puck bunnies to back off. So, why not fake date him to show Evan what he is missing?

Noah and Cait fall into an easy friendship. The connection they share is unlike anything they have experienced with anyone else before.

And, before long the plan begins to work. Evan asks her out.

But, her insecurities go deeper. It’s been over five years since she has been with anyone sexually. And, no one since the accident. Why not take this fake dating one step further…let the bedroom experiments begin.

Only their chemistry is mind blowing.

What do you do when you realize the crush you had was completely superficial and the guy you want doesn’t want commitment?

[La_libreria_di_felicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝑻𝒖 𝒔𝒆𝒊 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂, 𝑪𝒂𝒊𝒕. 𝑺𝒆𝒊 𝒔𝒆𝒙𝒚 𝒅𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒓𝒆. 𝑳𝒂 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒂 𝒆' 𝒖𝒏𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒆 𝒅𝒊 𝒕𝒆, 𝒎𝒂 𝒏𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒊 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒆. 𝑸𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒊𝒂𝒔𝒊 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒛𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒆 𝒏𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒏𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒂 𝒊𝒍 𝒕𝒖𝒐 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒐."

𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 – 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘇𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮 ,è il 6 e ultimo volume standalone della serie Westfall U.

Cait studia biologia per diventare veterinaria, é volontaria in un rifugio di animali e dovrà fare da tutor ad Evan Hayworth, giocatore della squadra di hockey e amico del fratello, nonché il ragazzo per cui ha sempre avuto una cotta.

Ma durante una serata in cui finalmente grazie alle sue coinquiline  Olivia e Luna, esce dalla sua zona di comfort, conosce Noah Alexander, il nuovo attaccante.

Fin da subito con lui si sente se stessa e a suo agio, proprio per tale motivo accetta l'incarico di fare da tutor anche a lui, stipulando un accordo: fingeranno di stare insieme per poter concquistare Evan, ma si aggiungerà successivamente un altro accordo, quello di aiutarla ad esplorare la sua sessualità.

Vi starete chiedendo il perchè .

Cait dopo un incidente con la sua famiglia ha perso parte di una gamba, trovandosi adesso a dover indossare un tutore.

É una ragazza molto chiusa e insicura a causa del suo handicap fisico, non riesce ad indossare determinati capi di abbigliamento per paura di evidenziare il tutore.

E grazie alla presenza di Noah pian piano abbasserà le difese riuscendo a fidarsi ed acquisire consapevolezza in se stessa e verso il suo corpo.


"𝑴𝒊 𝒑𝒊𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒍 𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒑𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏 𝑵𝒐𝒂𝒉. 𝑴𝒊 𝒇𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒏𝒆. 𝑪𝒐𝒏 𝒍𝒖𝒊 𝒏𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒊 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒆."


Noah oltre ad essere il nuovo attaccante nella Westfall U Dragons, studia chinesiologia.

É un ottimo amico, giocatore e un figlio da far invidia, disposto a stare accanto alla sua famiglia senza remore.

Ha tanti problemi che sta affrontando e non vuole alcuna relazione dopo il tradimento da parte della sua ex.

Ma pian piano che il tempo trascorre, oltre a diventare migliori amici, la sintonia, la chimica e l'attrazione é difficile da tenere a bada.


"𝑷𝒊𝒖' 𝒍𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒔𝒄𝒐, 𝒑𝒊𝒖' 𝒎𝒊 𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒐 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒂 𝒎𝒊𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝑬𝒗𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒔𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒆. 𝑵𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒃𝒃𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒐 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒔𝒊 𝒏𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒆, 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒃𝒂𝒃𝒊𝒍𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆 𝒆𝒓𝒂 𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒂 𝒖𝒏𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒂 𝒅𝒐𝒗𝒖𝒕𝒂 𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒆' 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒐."


Ma se si innamorassero l'uno dell'altra? 

Ho trovato una crescita impressionante in entrambi i personaggi, Cait grazie a Noah ha fatto uscire la sua forza, determinazione ed autostima; Noah grazie a lei è riuscito a credere nuovamente nell'amore, sono stati la medicina l'uno dell'altro. 


"𝑻𝒊 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒗𝒐 𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒂, 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒊 𝒎𝒐𝒍𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒊 𝒑𝒊𝒖'. 𝑺𝒆𝒊 𝒊𝒍 𝒎𝒊𝒐 𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒕𝒐, 𝑪𝒂𝒊𝒕."


Una storia che ci fa capire che non é il difetto fisico che ci definisce, bensì la persona che siamo realmente, non bisogna mai soffermarsi solo sull'aspetto ma andare oltre i pregiudizi.


"[...]𝒍𝒂 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔𝒊 𝒏𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒊 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒂, 𝒏𝒆𝒊 𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒊 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒊, 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒄𝒂 𝒐 𝒊𝒏 𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒊𝒂𝒔𝒊 𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒓𝒐 𝒄𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒐."

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

Damaged Player is book six in R.C. Stephens hockey series Westfall U. This time it is a fake relationship, friends to lovers story about Cait Ellison and Noah Alexander. A couple who help each other far more than they realise especially as they are both in need of a friend. Their connection grows and they have fun experimenting together but will her insecurities and his reluctance to commit jeopardise the relationship they have built.

If you have read the previous books then you will know that Cait is Wolfe’s sister who has a Prosthetic after losing part of her leg in a car crash. Her ex boyfriend didn’t want to be with a disabled girlfriend so she feels broken and damaged. She is scared to try and get out there again and isn’t confident because her limp is obvious. What hasn’t helped her is that all her friends are now in relationships so she is feeling lonely.

Noah was introduced to us in the last book Broken Player. He is the newest player for the Westfall U Dragons hockey team. He feels like his life is falling apart and is desperately trying to cope with everything that has happened to him over the last year. He has a lot on his plate being new at the college, the team and the hockey house. He is trying to fit in but is distracted by his mother’s illness and his father abandoning them. He loved playing for Duluth and deep down resents having to move but when his mother moved in with his grandmother, he had no choice but to move too. Now he must focus on hockey and keep his grades up so needs a tutor.

Cait has had a crush on hockey player Evan Hayworth for ages but he doesn’t notice her and she thinks it’s because of her leg. When he breaks his arm and needs a tutor who doesn't want to sleep with him, Coach ask Cait to help him and she thinks this will finally be her chance. After weeks of helping Evan he still doesn’t notice her so when Noah comes up with a way to help her in return for tutoring him she takes the chance.

All the girls are intrigued about Noah as he so handsome but isn’t a player. To Cait he is polite and she realises he’s not a usual jock, so they slowly becomes friends and start confiding in each other. She finds out why he hates the puck bunnies and helps him find his way at Westfall U. Meanwhile he builds up her self esteem and confidence so Evan will notice her but in doing so becomes confused over his feelings for Cait. She also starts to get confused because her crush on Evan is going and instead she wants Noah but he doesn’t want a relationship. When he comes up with another idea to help her, things between them escalate and difficult decisions have to be made. Noah thought his dream was to play in the NHL but with everything happening he starts to question everything.

It was lovely catching up with everyone form the previous books and hearing all their news. It was great seeing Darren doing so well as the Dragons coach and I liked how supportive and encouraging her dorm-mates, Luna and Olivia her dorm mates were. I have a sneaky suspicion the next book might be about Logan.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

Cait
Ever since my accident, I feel like damaged goods. I do my best to hide in plain sight until the one guy I want to notice me...doesn't. Westfall U hockey star, Evan Hayworth, is way out of my league. If I want him to see me as more than just his tutor, I'll need help igniting the spark. Lucky for me, his hockey teammate comes to my rescue and makes me an offer I can't refuse-I help him with science, and he will educate me in the bedroom. A fake relationship with the most unavailable guy on campus seems like the perfect solution. Noah is caring, loyal, and very good at pretending. Even I'm starting to believe the chemistry between us is real. He may be a damaged player....but his magnetic touch and warm heart are making me feel alive again.
Noah
My life has been falling apart. After desperately trying to hold it together and focusing on hockey, the last thing I need is a serious relationship. What I need is to keep my head in the game, but Cait is the exception to that rule. Because hooking up with her is homework...or an experiment, depending on how you look at it. I need a tutor to get my science grade up and she needs my expertise in the bedroom to give her the confidence to go fo the guy she really wants...my teammate. It's a win-win, until the variables change, and our combustible attraction takes us from friends to lovers. Suddenly our fake relationship feels much too real and I'm regretting our little deal.

I love the books in this series and I really loved Cait and Noah's story. Cait is Wolfe's younger sister and he is super protective of her. However, he does give her room to be her own person since Cait has really endured a lot in her young life. There too is an accident that leaves her injured and her emotions are extremely raw. After all her parents have checked out on both of them and she needs someone to get through what she is dealing with. She feels so alone in the world and it really broke my heart and her confidence is so low I just really wanted to tell her that it would all get better. Noah is the new guy on the hockey team doing everything he can to help his mother and grandmother, a father who is not really in the picture and abandoned him plus a ex who dumped him father than he could even process when the first sign of trouble came around. He just wants to connect with is teammates, and be the best that he can be thanks to hard work and dedication. However he needs a tutor and Cali is the girl who can help him. In return for tutoring him he is willing to help her get the man of her dreams. I loved and I do mean love watching these two form their friendship. They tell each other everything and mean the world to one another and I just loved that about them. However when things begin to get a little to real and the lines are blurred and feelings and chemistry are flying all over the place, what are they going to do. Well, you have to read the book to find out. I think this is one of my favorites in the series. Noah really brings the best out in her and watching her grow was absolutely amazing. These two really have the feelings and chemistry flying all over the place and I was hooked.

[Canadian Goose · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.1/5 Wouldn't recommend, please don't waste your time with this

I basically never EVER skip pages, but I skipped so many because of this damn book.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- MMC just develops a crush on FMC for no reason, like we don't explore it at all, he just suddenly likes her after a time skip (no explanation)
- Some things that should be important are ignored (the MCs kiss to keep up appearances, but literally that provides nothing, they just state they've been kissed and move on. WHERE'S THE EMOTIONAL ASPECT?)
- Confusing (include characters with no introduction)
- Terrible writing
- Lacklustre and predictable plot
- Annoying FMC; the way she's written is very annoying, and her dialogue is so unnatural and repetitive (there was this one part where she said "is your spy? that's not cool" " being a spy is not cool" like a few sentences later (probably not an exact quote). She's also quirky and meek, and she gives off "i'm smol, protect me :3," you know? I hate that a lot LOL, she also shames the women who reveal more skin, and pities herself a lot!
- Repetitive (the same lines and expressions used over and over again as well)/redundant (the same thing is said multiple times in the same paragraph)
- Lots of time jumps
- Not fluid
- The worst dialogue ever (saying "OMG" out loud so many times is so irritating), AND it sounds like it was written by a 13 year old because there is no fluidity to the writing at all. The replies are stupid and try to be witty, but just end up being cringe.
- The information is just told to you rather than shown or gradually revealed throughout the story (both main characters start trauma dumping at the same time, and all their background info that's supposed to make them interesting is just spilled out...)
- Pacing is awkward
- Stop with this bunnies narrative!! the way the author writes women is so unrealistic for most and makes FMC look like a good person for not sexually harassing any hockey players
- Another "FMC is super beautiful but no one notices because she has her hair up in a bun and wears sweatpants!!" --> "The girl is breathtaking, and the crazy part is it’s like she doesn’t know it, so she is super down to earth[...]" ah yes, because girls who know they're pretty or (god forbid!!) have self confidence can't be down to Earth.

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CRITIQUES THAT COULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED
Please, please, PLEASEEE get an editor! Punctuation is very important, please don't ignore the significance of commas. Some parts were so annoying to read due to the lack of commas.

(and a lot of things should've been cut out, but I digress :) )

[Only.ever.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

🏈 Damaged Player 🏈

by R.C. Stephens

Trope: Hockey Romance, Sports Romance

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Feelings: ❤️ 5/5  💔 3/5 


Beautiful Story


When you didn’t know that you needed someone to heal together. Cait is stuck in her life. After her accident she keeps to herself and doesn’t socialize, her self esteem is barely existent. She only goes to her classes, tutors and works at the animal shelter. But she has a major crush on hockey player Evan whom she shall help with keeping up his grades. But she thinks he is out of her league. So, when his new teammate Noah asks her for help too and seems to discover her problems, he offers his help in exchange. She helps with science and he teaches her in the bedroom.


“Because you don’t really need a tutor. It’s me who needs one and it isn’t the kissing that makes me nervous. It’s what comes later.”


But Noah uses her in his own favors too. To hold other girls off his back. And with time together moving on, Noah notices that she calms him and is a help to keep his head in the game. He struggles with so much in his life, has so many things on his plate that makes his head spinning. 


"I lost my faith in people. Like I couldn’t trust anyone around me. I knew you were different, and it scared the hell out of me."


Slowly both become closer and trust each other with their issues and problems they carry with them. And for Cait the goal to catch Evan’s attention and getting into his line of sight gets in the background more and more.

And after getting more and more intimate and spending the holidays together, it seems their fake relationship could be something more. But for Noah, who doesn’t want her to catch feelings and doesn’t want to get attached himself to her, this is a catastrophe. He sees their friendship in danger. So, when the lines are getting to blur and things are out, some decisions have to be made. Are the events from the past stronger in their heads or are they ready to move on, together?


…but when Noah’s lips touch mine, it feels like home…


I liked both, Cait and Noah, so much. Both caring people, both damaged but determined to help the other one. They didn’t realize how much they helped each other, and needed that too. How beautiful Noah encouraged Cait to leave her shell and helped her in more ways through her struggles and built her slowly up. How Cait calmed the many different thoughts that were constant in Noah's head and life and held him back from moving on from his past and fit into Westfall. And made him see that there is more than he thought was possible in his future. 

[mary Baird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damaged Player finds us back at Westfall U. It’s such a sweet best friends to lovers via fake relationship that will absolutely have your attention from the start. The more I read, the harder it was to put it down! Both of the MC, Noah and Cait were really very likeable.

Cait is a gorgeous girl who is also really sweet, smart, and caring who had been dealt a truly bad hand. In high school she had been involved in a car accident that resulted in her losing part of her leg. Sadly, her HS boyfriend ended up dumping her because of this. This was a huge hit to Cait’s self-esteem but also a bit of an embarrassment for her since she now used a prosthesis. Even though Cait felt this way, there was a guy, Evan from the hockey team who she had a crush on. Yet she worried about him accepting her because of her leg but was trying to gather the courage to get his attention. As luck would have it, he had broken his arm and while he was injured his coach wanted him to work with a tutor to get his grades up. As luck would have it Cait is now Evan’s tutor.

Noah transfers to Westfall U. his junior year so he can be close to his ailing mom, who is now living with his grandma. Noah is a star hockey player from his previous school so it was only natural that he would become the newest member of Westfall’s team. Being new to the team he is determined to become an essential part of the team. It’s when Noah asks Evan about his tutor that he actually reaches out to Cait. Though it takes a bit of convincing, he finally convinces Cait to take him on as his tutor.

Here’s the deal that Noah made with Cait. Noah noticed that Cait had a crush on Evan, so he proposes that they hang out together to make Evan take note of it. The thing is that these two actually become really good friends. Furthermore, while Noah could have any girl he wanted, Cait has a hard time accepting that he wants to spend time with her. Noah explained how he is tired of the whole puck bunny thing, is not looking for a relationship and finds that he really likes hanging out with Cait. I loved that Noah was really able to help boost Cait’s confidence and self-esteem. But it wasn’t all one sided as Cait also helped Noah become more focused on the things he needed to accomplish too. That he could see that everyone wasn’t as cynical as his life had been the last few years.

It’s here that things start to get more complex. Since Cait hasn’t been in a relationship for a while Noah suggests that he gives her “lessons” on relationship things. And do the times ever start getting hot and heavy!! But what happens when this chemistry detonates?

[Ria Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cait & Noah ... Sweet & Spicy

R.C. Stephens' Westfall U series has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions and DAMAGED PLAYER is no different. I've been hoping for Cait's story since she was introduced in her brother's, Wolfe, story, Heartless Player. Add in the newest member of the Dragon's hockey team, Noah Anderson, and you have a story that will captivate you with the raw emotions, fears, and a friendship that blossoms beautifully.

Cait is a shell of the girl she once was prior to an accident that left her with a prosthetic on her lower leg. Gone is the vibrant, bubbly, outgoing girl, now in her place is a young woman with low self-esteem, afraid of living a 'normal' life, and scared to put herself out there, thanks to an ex who made her feel less than she actually is. Noah feels as though his life is falling apart. His mother's illness, father's abandonment, and the reshuffle of his hockey and college life has his plate completely full, and he's struggling to cope. His grades have slipped and now he needs a tutor.

Cait has a crush on Evan, yet he is blind to her desires. A broken arm sees Evan needing a tutor, and Cait is given the task, but even that doesn't have Evan noticing her. Noah produces a plan that may help her in exchange for Cait tutoring him. Somewhere along the lines, the lines become blurred and the friendship that has developed between Cait and Noah starts to become something more. I adored the way their friendship evolved, the discussions, their witty banter, the comfort and support they gave one another. Their chemistry and attraction sizzled, yet both were fearful of expressing their true feelings. Once they became intimate, their desires changed, how can they move forward without losing the friendship they had established? They have both been damaged by their past, can they put it behind them and reach for a future together?

DAMAGED PLAYER is my favourite in the series. It deals with realistic problems, emotions, fears, and decisions. There are plenty of laughs and a few tears, but they are worth it. I love that what began as a fake relationship turned into something completely unexpected. Cait and Noah were sweet, spicy, and perfect together.

A highly recommended read.

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction

✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE SWEET & SPICY STARS ✨✨✨✨✨

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's time to go back to Westcall U and this time Cait- Wolfe's little sister- is the one making a hunky hockey player fall head over heels.

There was a little tease at the end of Broken Player that made me think that Evan- who was a notorious player was next up. But R.C. Stephens did a whole bait and switch on me and I got to say I'm not mad about it!

4.5 ⭐

Since meeting Cait in her brother's book, Heartless Player, I wanted more of her. She's kind of reserved and tends to hide in the shadows to not draw attention to herself or the fact that she has a prosthetic leg. She's been slowly trying to break out of the shell she formed around herself since her accident and with that she ended up agreeing to tutor Evan Hayworth- the hockey player she had been crushing hard on. Evan then ended up recommending her to his teammate, Noah, and the kind of love triangle began.

I liked Noah right at the start- he was going through some things and didn't want the complications of a relationship but for the most part his heart was in the right place and he was really very sweet. The quick connection and easy friendship that he and Cait were able to form was fantastic and I loved how he helped her build her confidence while she helped him settle.

There were moments in their grand plans of fake "dating" to make Evan jealous or notice Cait that felt immature or whatnot but then I had to remind myself that these characters are in college, they're new adults and so it actually worked and made sense that they would do some of these dumb things 😆

I loved seeing Cait start to break out of her shell and Noah's confidence in her and general sweetness really was a catalyst in doing that. There was the perfect blend of angst and drama with a dash of emotions. The chemistry and tensions that built between these two was fantastic and there were plenty of heated moments and spice. And while I would have enjoyed Evan changing his ways for Cait, I got to say that I loved how things played out with Noah.

[Sabrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quando il passato lascia cicatrici profonde e la fiducia sembra un lusso irraggiungibile, l’amore può diventare una sfida contro sé stessi. Senza anima - Damaged Player è il sesto volume della serie Westfall U, un romance ambientato nel mondo universitario, dove sport, sentimenti e segreti si intrecciano in una storia intensa e coinvolgente.

Un accordo che cambia tutto

Cait ha imparato a convivere con le conseguenze di un incidente che ha segnato la sua vita, ma la sua autostima è fragile e il desiderio di sentirsi desiderata la spinge a cercare un modo per attirare l’attenzione di Evan, la star dell’hockey della Westfall U.
Quando Noah, compagno di squadra di Evan, le propone un accordo insolito—una relazione finta per aiutarla a conquistare il ragazzo che le interessa—Cait accetta, convinta che sia la soluzione perfetta. Ma ciò che inizia come un semplice piano si trasforma presto in qualcosa di più complesso, e i confini tra finzione e realtà diventano sempre più sfumati.

Atmosfera intensa e una narrazione coinvolgente

R.C. Stephens costruisce un romanzo ricco di emozioni e tensione, dove i protagonisti devono affrontare le proprie insicurezze e imparare a fidarsi l’uno dell’altro. L’ambientazione universitaria aggiunge dinamismo alla storia, con il mondo dell’hockey che fa da sfondo alle vicende dei personaggi.
Lo stile è fluido e immersivo, con una narrazione che alterna momenti di introspezione a scene più leggere e romantiche. Il romanzo esplora il tema della crescita personale e della capacità di accettarsi, mostrando come l’amore possa essere un percorso di guarigione.

Conclusione: un romance che conquista

Senza anima - Damaged Player è una storia che affascina e coinvolge, con una protagonista forte e una trama che intreccia emozioni, sport e sentimenti. R.C. Stephens riesce a creare un racconto che lascia il lettore con il fiato sospeso, portandolo a chiedersi se il vero amore sia quello che si cerca o quello che si trova lungo il cammino.

[Rachel (Rrbookreviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🏒 ARC REVIEW 📚
Review: 4/5 ⭐️
Steam: 3/5 🔥

#damagedplayer is book 6 in the #westfalluseries by @rc_stephens_author

Noah and hockey are a packaged deal. It’s been his life since he was a kid. His fathers a retired NHL player, so it’s in his blood. After a stellar college career so far, he’s giving it up to transferred schools and play with a new group to be closer to his mother who’s ill. He gets to see her daily and keep an eye on her. But it’s starting to take a toll on his academics. He needs a tutor to help bring grades up while keeping him focused. Enter Cait, a beautifully shy girl who he feels way to comfortable around. He tells her things no one knows. Can he be more than just an athlete looking to skate by or can he finally be with someone who makes him feel put together and not damaged?

Cait has always been around hockey players. Her brother and his best friends played for their college, and now play in the NHL. But now she’s tutoring some of these hockey players. First she placed with her crush who doesn’t notice her, but they become somewhat friends. She’s self conscious with herself, mostly her prosthetic leg from an accident as a teenager. Her carefree, fun loving, sassy spirit has been dulled since. When she gets a second student athlete; Noah to tutor, he ignites that fame again. He makes her feel; they quickly become best friends and each others confidants. But when she needs lessons in love, Noah is her tutor. But faking it with your best friend only lasts so long. Can she trap her emotions down and see this for the faking that it is, or is her new outlook on life making it seem all too real?

This book was fun. I loved the banter and relationship that Noah and Cait had. They didn’t realize how much they needed each other in so many different ways. I loved Noah, he was such a sweetheart, even when in denial about his feelings. Cait I went back and forth with. She let her insecurities drag her down, which I get, but then wanted a pity party. I loved when Noah pushed her outside her comfort zone. Would absolutely recommend.

[Shyla S]

Damaged Player is Book Six in the Westfall U interconnected standalone series, with each focusing on a different couple.

You do not need to read books prior.

𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤/𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙚 = Noah Alexander and Cait Ellison
𝘾𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 = No.
𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 = Yes.
𝙏𝙧𝙤p𝙚(𝙨) = Sports/Hockey ▪️ College setting ▪️ Fake Relationship ▪️ Friends To Lovers ▪️ Opposites Attract ▪️ Slow Burn ▪️ Dual POVs ▪️ HEA ▪️ Contemporary Romance
𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧(𝙨): Language ▪️ Sexual Content
𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙇𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙡 = 🔥🔥🔥
𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 = ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Cait = the younger sister of Wolfe (from book 1). Quiet/reserved. Low self esteem/confidence. Has a prosthetic leg due to an accident 5yrs prior. Works as a tutor... one of those is her crush, the star hockey player, Evan Hayworth. But, he only sees her as his tutor and friend's younger sister.

Noah = New guy on the Westfall U hockey.Made a move/transfer to new college to be closer to family. Struggling to fit in & get grades up. Gets a tutor to help with not all his grades but to keep focused & away from distractions, he then proposes a fake relationship in return for Cait's help/time and in return, Evan would notice her.

Everything goes as planned... though the more Noah is around her, the more he likes being around her. When Evan finally notices Cait and asks her out, she convinces Noah to teach her how to be sexual (since she doesnt have much experience & its been a long time). We go from a Fake relationship to best friends to Friends with Benefits!

As they continue us to spend time together, it’s hard to ignore that insane chemistry and beautiful friendship they have built with each other. 2 "broken" souls who bond and help each other through past trauma to become better versions of themselves.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

recensione a cura del blog “Libri Magnetici" by Meghan
Cait è la sorella minore di Wolfe, il protagonista tormentato di un precedente volume: l’abbiamo conosciuta come una ragazza danneggiata nel corpo e nell’anima, a seguito di un grave incidente.
Nonostante conosca e frequenti indirettamente i compagni di squadra di hockey di suo fratello, è diventata una ragazza schiva, a tratti anche chiusa, proprio per evitare di perdere quei pochi pezzi di se stessa ancora capaci di soffrire.
E’ anche una ragazza molto impegnata, al punto di essere una delle tutor più richieste per gli atleti con problemi di voti.
Questo fattore la porterà dunque da una parte, di fronte alla sua cotta di sempre, e dall’altra a conoscere Noah, il nuovo arrivato nella squadra di hockey.
Quando Cait e Noah si incontrano, Noah la convince ad aiutarlo, ad assicurarsi che rimanga concentrato e a fargli da tutor, ma in cambio le offre uno strano accordo: lui può aiutarla a conquistare il ragazzo che vuole, a sentirsi sicura e bella al punto da attirare la sua attenzione.
Lo studia, la vicinanza forzata in quella sorta di recita, li potano a scoprire che il tempo passato insieme è semplicemente bello, che la loro amicizia li aiuta a vivere ogni giorno.

«Lei annuisce. “Grazie.” “Non ringraziarmi. Sono qui perché voglio,” dico all’improvviso, ed è la verità.»

Entrambi si aiuteranno: Noah, mostrando a Cait la sua forza e la sua sicurezza, facendola uscire definitivamente dal suo guscio e Cait, mostrando a lui che a volte la famiglia che abbiamo dobbiamo accettare che non sia quella che vorremmo.
I personaggi deli volumi precedenti sono sempre molto presenti, senza appensatire al storia, che risulta uno sport romance leggero e godibile.

Quattro petali.

[Isel4books · Rating 4 out of 5]

VOTO 4 stelle e mezzo

Siamo arrivati al sesto volume di questa serie,eppure non sembra di aver letto tanto,perché la Stephens con la sua scrittura delicata,toccante,dolce,che commuove ed emoziona,ha dato vita a una serie unica.Ogni romanzo ha una sua peculiarità e personaggi che sanno stupire:donne forti e resilienti;uomini,giocatori di hockey,molto playboy prima e molto addomesticati dopo, stesi a dovere da degne guerriere.I romanzi della Stephens si contraddistinguono per le prove della vita che affrontano i suoi personaggi,che forti di amore e amicizia,riescono alla fine a risollevarsi portando speranza là dove sembrava ci fosse solo dolore.Tanti i problemi toccati,depressione,alcolismo,lutti,perdite…,ma un unico filo rosso:amicizia e amore che consentono di andare oltre la sofferenza più grande,quella che fa sembrare tutto finito.Ho sospirato per ogni personaggio maschile, ho fatto il tifo per ogni personaggio femminile,ho pianto su ogni storia,trovando difficile dire quale mi fosse piaciuta di più:forse Rebel e Wolfe,quali primi,un pochino,ma proprio pochino di più.Fino a Cait e Noah.Perché Cait l'aspettavo dal primo romanzo,quella ragazzina dolce e timida,schiva del mondo.Da quel momento,per ogni successivo romanzo,è stata sempre presente ed è stato impossibile non fare il tifo per lei…anche se Evan non sembrava proprio alla sua altezza.Perchè Noah,quello nuovo, è davvero tanta tanta roba:in una parola…un uomo scritto da una donna e credo di aver detto tutto.Impossibile non capitolare.Si rimane coinvolti dalla loro storia,forse un clichè,ma la penna dell’autrice è talmente dolce e romantica che ci si ritrova innamorati di loro,e si tengono incrociate le dita, perché si spera in un percorso non troppo sofferto, cosa non proprio scontata.
Un romanzo che scorre,scivola con acqua fresca in una giornata calda,commuove e fa sognare,ridere e divertire,certi giocatori di hockey tutti insieme,ma soprattutto fa sentire il lettore parte di questa splendida famiglia.Una sola curiosità… cosa riuscirà ancora a inventarsi l’autrice?Scopriamoli insieme.Alla prossima storia.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cait is a junior at Westfall U and she tutors on the side. She tries to blend in because she does not want to be noticed since she has a prosthetic leg. Her last boyfriend left her after the accident that she lost her leg in and this has devastate her and lost her confidence in herself.

The coach asks her to tutor Evan Hayworth, her crush, so she agrees hoping he sees her as someone to go out with. Noah is a transfer, in his 1st year with the Dragons and needs some focus on his studies. He hears from the coach that Cait is a serious tutor and not like some of the other girls tutoring that only want to sleep with the athletes. He convinces her to take him on as one of her clients and he will make sure Evan notices her. Cait is not convinced Noah can come through with his promise, but he gives her a little attention, is seen on campus with her, having coffee and Evan and the rest of the student body are starting to notice her.

Noah's plan backfires because the more he is around her, the more he likes her. Evan finally notices her and asks her out, she convinces Noah to teach her how to be sexual and in return, he gets a friend with benefits. Now he can get her out of his system and focus on hockey.

Their story is sweet. Noah and Cait start off as friends, sharing things they don't share with anyone else, starts a friends with benefits relationship with an expiration date. Cait ends up wanting more and Noah still doesn't want a relationship. I loved their story and you see all the Westfall U friends cameo in this book. It was great hearing what happens after everyones HEA.

I received an advanced copy for my honest opinion.

[Nathathida Atirekasâra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noah is a transfer student and a new player of Hockey team of Westfall U. and with his family issue, he needs a tutor to help him to concentrate on his study. Enter Cait who (if you are a fan of this series) is a sister of a former Hockey player of the team. Cait had an accident in the past and it causes her trust issue but she has her brother and best friends by her side. Cait has had a crush on Evan, another Hockey player, for a while and she has a chance to be his tutor this year. After Noah had a problem with his tutor, he was told about Cait so when he has his chance to convince her to be his tutor, he suggests he would help Cait getting Evan's attention in exchange.

Well, if you read fake relationship romance, you have to know that Cait and Noah are set to fall in love with each other eventually. With Noah's family issue and Cait's self issue, the story should feel angsty and intense but I don't feel much about them. I think the story is sweet, endearing, and steamy. Noah is a good guy and so much swoon-worthy if you ask me. I like that their relationship begins with friendship. They slowly get to know about each other until their feelings are developed. Cait is the one who realises her feeling first but she isn't confident enough to tell Noah. Noah is a smart guy but when it comes to love he has a lot to learn. I want to strangle Noah so badly when he breaks Cait's heart. Noah has to lose Cait first so he finally knows where his heart is and he comes out more mature than before. I think they are both perfect for each other. I really enjoy reading Cait and Noah's love story and can't wait for the next book of this series!

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cait is Wolfe (book 1)’s younger sister and she’s struggled with her self confidence since her accident and feels like she’ll never be noticed as desirable again. Noah is the new guy on the team with a lot on his plate and is struggling to balance it all without any more complications. Noah needs a tutor and Cait needs to build up her confidence so they struck up a deal and enter into a fake relationship but what happens is anything but fake. They go from acquaintances to best friends to friends with benefits and then something so much more than they even realized.

Cait and Noah are just the sweetest together. Noah’s conviction and care gave Cait the safe place to find her confidence again and really come out of her shell. Cait is the one person who grounds Noah and gives him that settled and whole feeling he was struggling to obtain. Their friendship is so strong and laid that solid foundation for their relationship.

Damaged Player is the sixth book in @rc_stephens_author ‘s Westfall U series. Each book in the series follows a member of this friend group that is basically family. Each book is a stand-alone but this series is too good not to start at the beginning and read in order. Each couple is such an ideal pairing and they truly are the best matches for each other- sometimes it’s totally obvious and sometimes it’s a little harder to realize. Can’t wait for the next book in the series!

Thank you @rc_stephens_author and @greyspromo for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

[Kristina Maysonet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Job well done! RC Stephens made me fall in love with a faking dating romance. My least favorite trope but this was done so spectacularly that I couldn’t help but love it. This Westfall series certainly needs a chart to show who is related/friends with who. Cait is Wolfe’s sister and she has been crushing on Evan. To her surprise, she is asked to help tutor Evan. When Evan’s teammate Noah mentions he needs a tutor, he recommends Cait. Cait and Noah eventually make a deal involving tutoring and fake dating to make Evan jealous.

Cait and Noah develop the most sincere friendship. They have family problems they bond over and they help each other deal with them. Everything about their friendship is sweet and special. When making Evan jealous turns into sex lessons for Cait, we get to see the passion and chemistry between them. Cait’s confidence grows vastly thanks to Noah. Noah is the absolute sweetest. The way he cares for Cait and takes care of her made me fall for him hard. Top book boyfriend material! I found myself wanting to frequently yell at Cait and tell her to just open up to Noah and tell him how she feels. But I guess that would have eliminated too much angst that I enjoyed so much. My heart would hurt for Noah every time he mentioned that she was just gonna go back to Evan. I enjoyed that this had some love triangle vibes without any cheating or anything. RC also does a great job at writing characters with a disability.

[Becca Cherpak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m so glad we got Cait’s story! We met her in Wolfe’s story, but I was so hoping she’d get her own book too.

Cait was in an accident and had part of her leg amputated. It shook her confidence and her self esteem. Her roommates try to help her out herself out there, but it’s just not her scene. She really liked Evan, one of the Dragons players that she now tutors, but she knows he doesn’t see her that way. She’s not sure how to get his attention or what to do after she does. *Enter Noah*

Noah just transferred to Westfall so that he could be closer to his mom as she is having health issues. He wants nothing to do with girls or relationships. He’s smart, but too many outside factors in his personal life have him struggling to stay focused on school. Noah makes a deal with Cait that if she tutors him, they can fake date to get Evan’s attention.

I love the friendship the two of them build. From the get go you can see that what they have is special. They lean on one another and share things they don’t with others. When they make their second deal (some bedroom “tutoring”) lines quickly start to blur. I loved watching Noah not only TELL Cait about her confidence, beauty, and strength, but he made sure she FELT it- through both his words and his actions.

I do wish that we got to see her telling Noah more about her accident and her mom. Both of which we knew the details of from Wolfe in Heartless Player, but we never got to read her share those stories.

[Molly Scicluna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so happy that Cait got her own book. Getting to know her with Wolfe and Rebel was so special and she deserves all the goodness.

It Starts with Cait tutoring students and it just so happens she is asked to tutor a hockey player....just the guy she has had a huge crush on Evan Hayworth. But he doesn't see her in any way besides "tutor girl." She is dealing with building her self confidence back up since her accident and also considering ex-boyfriend destroyed it with his comments.

Noah is new to Westfalls. He needed to transfer because his family is going through some difficult times. He is grateful to be on a hockey team but he doesn't seem to be jiving with the guys and he also can't concentrate on his school work...he needs a tutor. He hears good things about Evans tutor and needs to find a way for her to help him. A chance meeting has him propositioning Cait, she helps him with his school work and he will fake date her to peak Evans interest.

These two become best friends, and their relationship is so beautiful...but can they separate real from fake...

The journey of self-discovery that Cait and Noah end up embarking on is so powerful. R.C. shares such a beautiful message of our past not defining us and ultimately it doesn't matter what other people think as long as you are kind to yourself.

Releasing November 30th.