My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genres:
Contemporary Romance, NA Contemporary,
Sweet Romance, NA Romance, Sports Romance
Blurb:
Emmeline doesn’t date soccer players.
This rookie’s determined to change her mind.
There’s no other way Emmeline would rather spend her Saturday nights than watching the Storm play. But being a fan is where her love stops. To her, professional athletes are just a bunch of self-absorbed meatheads who don’t know a thing about the real world. She wouldn’t date one for a million bucks.
Between a professional soccer career and a part-time job, Grant is feeling the hustle of being a rookie. Nothing can stop him from reaching his dreams—except an unfortunate injury that puts him on the bench for weeks. It’s not all bad though. There’s a cute girl on the sidelines to keep him company. An amazing, uninterested, off-limits girl that he can’t stop thinking about.
Can Grant convince Emmeline to give him a chance?
Or will he stay out of play and miss his shot?
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“Hi, Grant.”
His pulse went from zero to sixty with those two words. He knew that voice. Suddenly the game he’d never wanted to play in the first place just got a whole lot better.
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| yepppp. this book made me GIDDY, y'all. |
So, if you read my review for Penalty Box (the first book of Kayla's "Love in the Arena" series) you KNOW how much I loved that book. How I fell in love with the main characters. How I fangirled about Silas...a LOT.
Example: "And I just needdddddd to talk about how swoony Silas was!!! When he was nostalgic... I swooned. When he was confused... I swooned. When he was romantic... I swooned. When he was nervous... I swooned. When he was frustrated... I swooned. He was just one HUGE swoonfest , y'all; which was absolutelyyyyyy fine with me!"
Wow, I mean, how could ANYTHING top that?! Well, Kayla wrote Out of Play.
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| ^^this |
Grant was just: AMAZING. He was the perfect combination of sweet, cocky, anddddd he had a great sense of humor. They both did! I loved seeing Grant and Emmeline flirt with each other, their teasing was just so natural and ADORABLE.
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| reading about them just made my heart so full. |
Like I mentioned in my review of Penalty Box, it was just SO FUN to get lost in this fictional soccer arena world because it felt REAL. Kayla did such a great job of making sure that allll the details were there. 👏👏
And the FEELS. Oh my gosh, the feels were definitely there as well. The fact that both Grant and Emmeline liked each other, but felt like they couldn't be together created so much angst...I could hardly stand it!
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| i had manyyy: JUST KISS ALREADY moments, lol. |
Okayyyyy, we NEED to have some highlights right now.
His smile grew. “I was trying to impress a girl.”
An ache filled her chest. “Don’t say that. Not now.”
My HEARTTTTTT!!
📖
“Hey now. Let’s not get too hasty.” Grant said with a hint of humor in his voice. “I don’t want you to go. I’m just confused.”
That makes two of us.
She kept her eyes shut and nodded. “Me too.”
Y'all, I just...I can't. 😍
📖
It didn’t matter. Not now.
All that mattered was him and Em and the next hour they got to spend together.
Ooffff.
📖
Finn narrowed his eyes. “You’re not dating my sister.”
CONFLICTTTTT!!!
📖
“Thanks for coming today.”
“It’s my pleasure.”
My pleasure. There were those pesky words again. They had the same effect on her as the first time he’d spoken them, and now she really wanted to fan her cheeks.
I got SERIOUS "as you wish" vibes from Grant saying "my pleasure." If you read the book and have seen Princess Bride, what are your thoughts??
📖
“If you ever let me have the chance, I’d show you what it’s like to go out on a real date.”
DO YOU SEE WHAT I MEAN?? GRANT WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT KIND OF SWOONWORTHY!!!
📖
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| #feels |
I could share so many other parts that I highlighted (because TRUST ME, there are a lottttt), but I don't want to spoil anything and you need to read this wonderful book for yourself!! 👏👏
As far as content goes: Clean! There wasn't any "actual" language (everyone does have different preferences and viewpoints on what counts as profanity though.) Past (failed) relationships were discussed, and there was also some very mild innuendo/suggestive comments, but nothing too extreme. I personally had no problems with it. 🤷♀️
Also, Finn was VERY protective of his sister (just like Emmeline was with him), and even though he didn't always handle his feelings the best way, he did make things right. Which was good, because I lovedddd Finn and hated to see him in the "bad guy" role.
If you couldn't tell by everything I've said...I absolutely LOVED this book. It was cute, angsty, sweet, and had some definite sizzle to it. I'm not even a huge sports fan, but I know now that I would loveeeee to have a soccer player boyfriend like Grant. 🙌👀
For all of you who love a good slow burn romance, and/or one of those "off limits, friend's/teammate's sister" romances, this book needs to be on your TBR!!
~I received an e-copy of this story from the author, and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. ~
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About the Author:
Kayla has loved to read as long as she can remember. While she started out reading spooky stories that had her hiding under her covers, she now prefers stories with a bit more kissing.
When she gets a chance to watch tv, she enjoys cheesy sci-fi and superhero shows.
Most days, you'll catch her burning dinner in an attempt to cook while reading just *one* more chapter.
Kayla lives in the sunshine state with her husband and three boys.
