Furious Rush by S. C. Stephens
Publication Date: August 23, 2016
Publisher: Forever
Amazon Link: HERE
Received From: Purchased


Summary (from Amazon):
Mackenzie Cox has a lot to prove. Daughter of a racing legend, she is eager to show the world that she has inherited her father's talent in the male-dominated sport of professional motorcycle racing. The last thing Kenzie needs is to be antagonized by her rival team's newest rider, Hayden Hayes. Plucked from the world of illegal street racing, Hayden immediately gets under Kenzie's skin. HIs insinuations that Kenzie is a spoiled princess who has handed her career rules her desire to win, and much to her surprise, Kenzie soon learns she performs better when she's racing against Hayden.

As Kenzie and Hayden push each other on the track, the electric energy between them off the track shifts into an intense—and strictly forbidden—attraction. The only rule between their two ultra-competitive teams is zero contact. Kenzie always does her best to play by the rules, but when her team slips into a financial crisis, she has no choice but to turn to Hayden for help. The tension simmers during their secret, late-night rendezvous, but Kenzie has too much to lose to give in to her desires. Especially when she begins to doubt that Hayden has completely left his street life behind...

Review:
When Kenzie attends an illegal street race she meets Hayden Hayes, who everyone considers to be unbeatable. She's even more surprised to find him training for her family's rival team, but she gives him a chance because he says he's done with street racing. But can Kenzie trust him, especially after things begin to go wrong on the track, including bike accidents that seem planned? Kenzie has enough to worry about because her father's depending on her to win so their family's racing company can succeed. But when they begin to struggle financially, Kenzie turns to Hayden even though she knows nothing good can come from them two of them working together, and not to to mention the sexual connection they have that makes it hard not to jump each other whenever they're together.

As someone who isn't familiar with motorcycle racing, I appreciated the author's detail about the sport so I never felt confused. I also liked that Kenzie was trying to defy the odds because she's a female rider in a predominately male sport. But at times Kenzie's character came across as a little bitchy, because of her constant need to defend herself, which is one aspect I didn't like about her character. Hayden was a very sexy hero with typical bad boy traits. I also liked that he was trying to better his life by getting away from illegal street racing because it showed a caring side of him. I rooted for this couple from the beginning but I have to admit that it was very frustrating that their first kiss kept getting pushed off. There was at least three times in the story that they were about to kiss but got interrupted, which at first added tension but after it happened multiple times it just created frustration.

Overall, I would definitely recommend Furious Rush by S. C. Stephens to anyone looking for a bad-boy hero, a sports romance, or a love-hate relationship.

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The Perfect Play by Jaci Burton
Publication Date: February 1, 2011
Publisher: Berkley
Amazon Link: HERE
Received From: Purchased


Summary (from Amazon):
The last thing event planner Tara Lincoln needs is the jet-set lifestyle of a football pro like Mick Riley; even though their steamy and passionate one-night stand proved that Mick is an all-star both on the field and in the bedroom.

Tara played the game of love once and lost big, and she doesn't intend to put herself out there again, especially with a certified heartbreaker. But when Mick sets his mind to win, nothing will stop him. And he has the perfect play in mind to catch this sultry vixen.

Review:
Event planner Tara meets Mick Riley, pro football player, at one of the parties she planned. Tara knows who Mick is because she's a football fan and not to mention the fact that Mick's on the cover of every tabloid with at least one hot woman on his arm. So when Mick flirts with Tara, she doesn't believe he's genuine. After all, how could he be interested in someone like her? But Mick is interested. There's something about Tara that calls to him in a way no other woman has. But as they grow closer, will Tara be able to balance her relationship, work and her son, and will Mick be able to give up his life of parties and women for a lifetime with Tara?

Jack Burton is my go-to author when I'm in the mood for a sports romance. She's written several about different sports, and all of them feature big, hot, muscular men, which is a plus in my book. I really enjoyed reading about Tara and Mick. Tara is an independent woman who knows what she wants and needs, and I liked that Tara has a fourteen year old son, because it added dimension to her character, and the scenes with her son were fun to read, especially seeing Mick interact with him. At the beginning Mick is portrayed as a bachelor who sleeps with many beautiful woman, but he never even looks at other woman after he meets Tara. Some readers might not like the fact that Mick pushes Tara into a relationship with him and doesn't take no for an answer, but I thought it came across as more more romantic and less pushy.

Overall, I recommend this to anyone looking for a well written sports romance.

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