Reverse Pass by Maggie Rawdon is live!

A best-friend’s-brother, friends-to-lovers, NA sports romance that is fun, playful and sexy, with fantastic characters and a love story that stole my heart! I love this one!

 

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Blurb

Violet 
He’s the star wide receiver and the most wanted player on campus.
He has it all—the body, the voice, the charm and the dimples.
Plus he flirts constantly and cooks dinner shirtless in my kitchen.
There’s just one problem—he’s my best friend’s younger brother.
She sent him to live with me so I can help him get his life back in order.
Which makes him off limits in every way possible.
But now we share a wall and secrets.
Like the confession he makes after he accidentally walks in on me one night.

Ben 
I’m usually so good with women that my teammates come to me for advice.
But they don’t know my secret. They don’t know about her.
The one woman I want—the one I can’t stop thinking about—barely knows I exist.
Until everything goes wrong, and I land on her doorstep.
The worst day of my life might just turn out to be my luckiest.
Because she’s fresh off a broken engagement—single for the first time in forever.
And she can’t keep her eyes off of me.
I just need to convince her I’m worth breaking the rules.

 

 

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Review

4.5 stars!

This is such a great read! A best-friend’s-brother, friends-to-lovers, NA sports romance that is fun, playful and sexy, with fantastic characters and a love story that stole my heart! I love this one!

When I signed up to read an advanced copy of this book, I had no idea it was part of a series. I usually hate to read interconnected standalones out of order, and I’m sure the earlier introduction to Ben’s character would have added to the excitement of reading his story, but it didn’t stop me from loving this book, which can easily be read on its own, and I’m excited to go back and read the earlier books in the series.

When football star and campus playboy, Ben, gets into trouble and loses his team-allocated housing, he finds himself forced to lie low. His older sister comes to the rescue when she asks her best friend, Violet, to rent him the spare room in her town home while he gets his life back together. Of course, Violet agrees, but her memories of Ben as a gawky teenager are quickly squashed when she comes home to a fully-grown, gorgeous football player in her house, and she knows she’s in way over her head. In fact, they both are, because Ben has crushed on Violet for as long as he can remember – she’s the only woman he’s ever had real feelings for, and nobody has even come close to her in his eyes. Now, he’s all grown up and she’s looking at him like she’s interested, this could finally be his chance with the girl he’s always loved.

It’s a fun premise, and things get off to a fabulous start when we get to see the fantastic dynamic between Ben and Violet. They’re known each other forever, but things are different now, and Ben is full of confidence and wickedly flirtatious, and I loved their banter and teasing.

“Do you want to talk about it?” …
“About the way you were looking at me earlier? I thought maybe we should…I mean, I know it could be awkward having a thing for your roommate.” I give her a wide smile.
Dick move. I know, but I am desperate to change the subject and even more desperate to explore the depths of this whole – Violet actually noticing me – situation.
Her jaw drops. Literally drops. She hops up and sits on the edge of the ottoman and points to the door behind me.
“Get out!” There’s a teasing tone to her voice still, like she’s amused, but also not brooking any bullshift from me.
“I mean, I just think we need to talk about your attraction to me if we’re going to be roommates. You know, boundaries and all that.” I hold my hands open like we need to have a frank discussion about it, and I can’t help but laugh as she launches a pillow squarely at my face.

The attraction sizzles, the chemistry is fantastic, and I was laughing, cheering and giddy with anticipation as the line between friends and more is very quickly blurred.

“I’m supposed to be helping you get your shit together, not fantasizing about you, watching you…Oh my god, when I say it out loud, I feel like it’s even worse.” She presses her hand to her mouth, a horrified look on her face.
I can’t help but laugh at it, even though I regret it because it just makes her face contort even more.
“Violet.” I wrap my fingers around her wrist and pull her hand from her mouth.” I told you. I’ve been getting off thinking about you since I was a teenager. If one of us is a creep here, I promise it’s me.”

It’s sexy and playful, but there’s also a really gorgeous emotional element. There’s a natural and close friendship between them, and Ben has had feelings for Violet for so long, and I loved seeing him finally get the opportunity to let all of that out as he becomes the most beautiful romantic hero.

I don’t know if there are even the right words to explain what it means to finally have the person I’ve wanted, loved, wished for, for so damn long.

“You are it for me, Violet. I’m not exaggerating when I say you were and are in all my fantasies. The way you look, the sound of your voice, the little faces you make, fuck…the way you taste…and none of them can even touch the way you make me feel.”

But while Ben is walking around with hearts in his eyes, they’re not quite on the same page when it comes to a relationship. First, there’s the age gap, then there’s the complication of their tightly intertwined families, and then there’s Ben’s potential future in the NFL which may see him moving anywhere in the country while Violet is having to stay put while working on her Masters. There are ups and downs, and some angst and drama, but nothing too painful, and it’s worth it for all of the extra emotion and to see them work through it all and find their happy ending.

I loved this book so much. It made me smile and laugh, and I fell in mad love with Ben. It’s a gorgeous romance, and I’m so excited to go back and read more of this series.

4.5 stars!

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

 

 

Plays & Penalties

 

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About the Author

Maggie loves books, travel and wandering through museums. She lives in the Midwest where you can find her writing on her laptop with her two pups at her side, in between binge watching epic historical and fantasy dramas and cheering for her favorite American (and European) football teams on the weekends. She loves writing dirty athletes and smart women and has a soft spot for writing characters who banter instead of flirt.

 

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