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Red Zone Rivals #4
Hail Mary
Leo F*cking Hernandez.
North Boston University’s star running back, notorious bachelor, and number one on my people I would murder if I could get away with it list.
And now?
He’s my new roommate.
I used to think I loved him.
But that was before I hated him.
He doesn’t remember who I am, or how he made my life miserable for years. And before I unknowingly moved across the street from him, I couldn’t have cared less. I was living my life despite him and what happened that summer, chasing my dream of becoming a tattoo artist.
“The Pit,� as the university so gracefully nicknamed the house he lives in with three other football players, has served as nothing more than a pain in my ass and a constant reminder of the boy who broke my heart. Watching him parade his one-night-stands in and out of it never helped, either.
But with rent this cheap and so close to the tattoo shop, I’ve learned to ignore him � no matter how he’s tried to get under my skin.
At least, until this summer. Because when a water and mold disaster leaves me with no choice but to vacate my house, I have nowhere to go. And Leo Hernandez offers me a deal I can’t refuse.
Live at The Pit with him and the guys, free of charge, until my landlord fixes this mess.
Ignoring him was easy when I lived across the street, but in the same house, with him shirtless half the time and watching me with his cocky grin and searing gaze? It’s impossible.
Still, I have to try. I have to push him away, even when he makes it infuriatingly difficult to do so.
He’s broken my heart once.
I won’t let him do it again.
North Boston University’s star running back, notorious bachelor, and number one on my people I would murder if I could get away with it list.
And now?
He’s my new roommate.
I used to think I loved him.
But that was before I hated him.
He doesn’t remember who I am, or how he made my life miserable for years. And before I unknowingly moved across the street from him, I couldn’t have cared less. I was living my life despite him and what happened that summer, chasing my dream of becoming a tattoo artist.
“The Pit,� as the university so gracefully nicknamed the house he lives in with three other football players, has served as nothing more than a pain in my ass and a constant reminder of the boy who broke my heart. Watching him parade his one-night-stands in and out of it never helped, either.
But with rent this cheap and so close to the tattoo shop, I’ve learned to ignore him � no matter how he’s tried to get under my skin.
At least, until this summer. Because when a water and mold disaster leaves me with no choice but to vacate my house, I have nowhere to go. And Leo Hernandez offers me a deal I can’t refuse.
Live at The Pit with him and the guys, free of charge, until my landlord fixes this mess.
Ignoring him was easy when I lived across the street, but in the same house, with him shirtless half the time and watching me with his cocky grin and searing gaze? It’s impossible.
Still, I have to try. I have to push him away, even when he makes it infuriatingly difficult to do so.
He’s broken my heart once.
I won’t let him do it again.
436 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 15, 2023
3,049 people are currently reading
33.7k people want to read
About the author
Kandi Steiner
80books14kfollowersKandi Steiner is a USA Today and #1 Amazon Bestselling Author living in Tennessee. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster� stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance � in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal.
An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.�
She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a hopeless romantic and found herself bursting at the seams with love stories she was eager to tell.
When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, spending quality time with her family (fur babies included) and soaking up the sweetness of life.
CONNECT WITH KANDI:
� NEWSLETTER:
� FACEBOOK:
� FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland):
� INSTAGRAM:
� TIKTOK:
� PINTEREST:
� WEBSITE:
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events� tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
�
An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. Her love for writing started at the ripe age of 10, and in 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.�
She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a hopeless romantic and found herself bursting at the seams with love stories she was eager to tell.
When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, hiking, yoga, spending quality time with her family (fur babies included) and soaking up the sweetness of life.
CONNECT WITH KANDI:
� NEWSLETTER:
� FACEBOOK:
� FACEBOOK READER GROUP (Kandiland):
� INSTAGRAM:
� TIKTOK:
� PINTEREST:
� WEBSITE:
Kandi Steiner may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events� tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
�
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February 21, 2023THANK YOU for making Hail Mary a #1 Amazon Bestseller! 😭
👉
🏈 sports romance
🏈 college/new adult romance
🏈 enemies-to-lovers
🏈 forced proximity
🏈 neighbors and then ROOMMATES
🏈 banter and tension off the charts
🏈 slow burn with a 🌶� BIG delivery 😏
�
𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩, 𝘉𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘚𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸!
Mary pouted then, her impossibly plump lip poking out as she reached behind her for what I presumed was for the zipper of her skirt.
“Can you help me? I gotta get outta this,� she said, and then she spun around with the skirts flaring and backed up until she hit me.
I caught her and my balance before we both tumbled back onto the bed, my hands finding her now-bare waist.
I swallowed, running my knuckles down the smooth skin of her back on a groan I hoped she didn’t hear.
“Uh, maybe I should go get Giana.� The words burned my throat as I said them.
“Noooo,� she whined, letting her head fall back against my chest. “She’ll make me stay down there and I just wanna go to sleep. You do it,� she insisted, and then she reached around in an effort to show me the zipper of her skirt, but ended up just dragging her hand over my cock, instead.
Jesus fucking hell.
I stifled a moan at the feel of her palming me, and she was so oblivious that she just let her hand fall back to her thigh with a slap, one of those horse-like exhales leaving her again.
I couldn’t help but laugh at that.
“Thought you didn’t drink much,� I said as I unfastened her skirt and tried to think of road kill and politics and anything else but the fact that I was undressing Mary, that sheaskedme to do it.
“Welp, you are a bad influence.�
“M?�
When the skirts loosened around her hips and fell to a puddle at her feet, she sighed with relief, and I dragged my eyes up to the back of her head so I wouldn’t stare at her ass in the little thong she was wearing.
She spun around and nearly fell into me again, her hands pressing against my chest. “Yes,you.�
I sipped a fiery breath with her half-naked and in my arms, and then she slowly slipped away, flopping down onto her bed.
No.
Mybed.
She struggled with the covers for a moment before she was buried underneath them, and I watched her thrash around for a minute until suddenly her bra went flying over my shoulder.
Fuck. Me.
Now, Mary was topless, in nothing but a lacy scrap of underwear, wrapped up in my sheets with her emerald, glazed eyes and lazy smile peeking over the covers.
I forced a slow inhale, an equally slow exhale, and shoved my hands into my pockets to keep from doing anything stupid.
“C’mere,� she said, reaching a hand out long enough to pat the bed.
I swallowed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.�
Mary kept her eyes on me as she maneuvered under the covers again, and then she peeled her thong out from under them, letting them dangle off a finger for one second before they dropped to the floor.
She all but purred as she cozied into the sheets even more. “So much better.�
Each breath was more ragged than the last from my aching chest. I needed to leave. I needed to turn out the light and close the door and take my ass downstairs right fucking now.
But I was rooted in place.
Mary pulled the covers up to her face, inhaling a deep, dramatic breath before she flopped around and sighed just as deeply. “Ugh,� she groaned. “Why do you have to smell so good?�
I arched a brow.
“Your sheets,� she said when I didn’t answer, tugging them up farther and wrapping herself up like a burrito. “God,they smell so good. And your sweaters, too.�
“You’ve been wearing my sweaters?�
She shot a hand out from under the covers with her index finger pointed up. “Technically, you gave me one to wear first, so it’s in the rules that it’s okay to wear them whenever I want to now.�
“Is it now?�
“Uh-huh.� She nodded up and then down sharply, matter-of-factly, her eyes closing like she was going to pass out right then and there.
“I didn’t realize we had a rulebook.�
She peered at me over the covers. “We do, but you keep breaking all the rules.�
“How so?�
“Buying me candles, giving me your jacket.� She thrust her hand toward me. “And why do you have to look at me like that?�
“I’m just listening.�
“No, you’re standing there all stoic, but I see it.�
I swallowed. “What do you see?�
Mary watched me for a long moment before she sat up, weight on the palms of her hands, the covers just barely catching on the swells of her breasts and keeping her nipples hidden from view. Her long hair spilled over those swells, over the sheets, her eyes heavy and dazed.
“I see that you’d devour me,� she whispered. “If I said the word.�
My cock jolted in my sweatpants, every muscle in my body straining with the effort to restrain myself from doing what she’d just assessed. She was naked in my fucking bed. Even God Himself would give in.
“You should get some sleep,� I managed to croak out, turning before I saidfuck itand went against the rational voice in my head reminding me she was drunk and had no idea what she was doing.
I heard her flop back into the mattress, and I flicked out the light, turning back just in time to watch her roll onto her side. I opened the door and Palico bounced in, skipping past me and bounding onto the bed. Mary smiled, eyes closed as she ran her fingernails over the cat’s neck while it kneaded the covers before curling in next to her.
I let myself watch her only a second longer before I turned out the lights.
“I wish you remembered.�
I froze at the words, frowning in confusion as something sharp and hot zapped through my spine.
I turned slowly. “What?�
But Mary was already asleep.
👉
🏈 sports romance
🏈 college/new adult romance
🏈 enemies-to-lovers
🏈 forced proximity
🏈 neighbors and then ROOMMATES
🏈 banter and tension off the charts
🏈 slow burn with a 🌶� BIG delivery 😏
�
𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘭 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘍𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘊𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩, 𝘉𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘪𝘥𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘘𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘚𝘯𝘦𝘢𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸!
Mary pouted then, her impossibly plump lip poking out as she reached behind her for what I presumed was for the zipper of her skirt.
“Can you help me? I gotta get outta this,� she said, and then she spun around with the skirts flaring and backed up until she hit me.
I caught her and my balance before we both tumbled back onto the bed, my hands finding her now-bare waist.
I swallowed, running my knuckles down the smooth skin of her back on a groan I hoped she didn’t hear.
“Uh, maybe I should go get Giana.� The words burned my throat as I said them.
“Noooo,� she whined, letting her head fall back against my chest. “She’ll make me stay down there and I just wanna go to sleep. You do it,� she insisted, and then she reached around in an effort to show me the zipper of her skirt, but ended up just dragging her hand over my cock, instead.
Jesus fucking hell.
I stifled a moan at the feel of her palming me, and she was so oblivious that she just let her hand fall back to her thigh with a slap, one of those horse-like exhales leaving her again.
I couldn’t help but laugh at that.
“Thought you didn’t drink much,� I said as I unfastened her skirt and tried to think of road kill and politics and anything else but the fact that I was undressing Mary, that sheaskedme to do it.
“Welp, you are a bad influence.�
“M?�
When the skirts loosened around her hips and fell to a puddle at her feet, she sighed with relief, and I dragged my eyes up to the back of her head so I wouldn’t stare at her ass in the little thong she was wearing.
She spun around and nearly fell into me again, her hands pressing against my chest. “Yes,you.�
I sipped a fiery breath with her half-naked and in my arms, and then she slowly slipped away, flopping down onto her bed.
No.
Mybed.
She struggled with the covers for a moment before she was buried underneath them, and I watched her thrash around for a minute until suddenly her bra went flying over my shoulder.
Fuck. Me.
Now, Mary was topless, in nothing but a lacy scrap of underwear, wrapped up in my sheets with her emerald, glazed eyes and lazy smile peeking over the covers.
I forced a slow inhale, an equally slow exhale, and shoved my hands into my pockets to keep from doing anything stupid.
“C’mere,� she said, reaching a hand out long enough to pat the bed.
I swallowed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.�
Mary kept her eyes on me as she maneuvered under the covers again, and then she peeled her thong out from under them, letting them dangle off a finger for one second before they dropped to the floor.
She all but purred as she cozied into the sheets even more. “So much better.�
Each breath was more ragged than the last from my aching chest. I needed to leave. I needed to turn out the light and close the door and take my ass downstairs right fucking now.
But I was rooted in place.
Mary pulled the covers up to her face, inhaling a deep, dramatic breath before she flopped around and sighed just as deeply. “Ugh,� she groaned. “Why do you have to smell so good?�
I arched a brow.
“Your sheets,� she said when I didn’t answer, tugging them up farther and wrapping herself up like a burrito. “God,they smell so good. And your sweaters, too.�
“You’ve been wearing my sweaters?�
She shot a hand out from under the covers with her index finger pointed up. “Technically, you gave me one to wear first, so it’s in the rules that it’s okay to wear them whenever I want to now.�
“Is it now?�
“Uh-huh.� She nodded up and then down sharply, matter-of-factly, her eyes closing like she was going to pass out right then and there.
“I didn’t realize we had a rulebook.�
She peered at me over the covers. “We do, but you keep breaking all the rules.�
“How so?�
“Buying me candles, giving me your jacket.� She thrust her hand toward me. “And why do you have to look at me like that?�
“I’m just listening.�
“No, you’re standing there all stoic, but I see it.�
I swallowed. “What do you see?�
Mary watched me for a long moment before she sat up, weight on the palms of her hands, the covers just barely catching on the swells of her breasts and keeping her nipples hidden from view. Her long hair spilled over those swells, over the sheets, her eyes heavy and dazed.
“I see that you’d devour me,� she whispered. “If I said the word.�
My cock jolted in my sweatpants, every muscle in my body straining with the effort to restrain myself from doing what she’d just assessed. She was naked in my fucking bed. Even God Himself would give in.
“You should get some sleep,� I managed to croak out, turning before I saidfuck itand went against the rational voice in my head reminding me she was drunk and had no idea what she was doing.
I heard her flop back into the mattress, and I flicked out the light, turning back just in time to watch her roll onto her side. I opened the door and Palico bounced in, skipping past me and bounding onto the bed. Mary smiled, eyes closed as she ran her fingernails over the cat’s neck while it kneaded the covers before curling in next to her.
I let myself watch her only a second longer before I turned out the lights.
“I wish you remembered.�
I froze at the words, frowning in confusion as something sharp and hot zapped through my spine.
I turned slowly. “What?�
But Mary was already asleep.
February 21, 2025
5 stars
Kandi Steiner has killed it with this college sports romance series. I've loved every book! Mary and Leo's story was one of those stories that hooked me from the start. As soon as I started reading, I was obsessed and couldn't put it down! I had to know what had happened and what was going to come.
Mary and Leo are stuck being roommates. At least temporarily while Mary's apartment across the street is getting repairs. And Mary is not happy about it. Mary doesn't like Leo Hernandez. She holds a mean grudge. The thing is, Leo has no idea why Mary doesn't like him. This is such a huge part of the story so I'll let you read it for yourself, but I was dying to know the reason.
Mary was a fun heroine. I loved how she was unapologetically herself. She loves tattoos, videogames, and is just herself. Leo is a college football star and it honestly seems like these two wouldn't work together but they have insane chemistry! For real, you can just tell these two are meant to be.
I love sports romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and new adult romance and this book has all that so it's no surprise I loved it so much. Kandi's writing is always fantastic and I highly recommend this one!
I used to think I loved him. But that was before I hated him.
Kandi Steiner has killed it with this college sports romance series. I've loved every book! Mary and Leo's story was one of those stories that hooked me from the start. As soon as I started reading, I was obsessed and couldn't put it down! I had to know what had happened and what was going to come.
Mary and Leo are stuck being roommates. At least temporarily while Mary's apartment across the street is getting repairs. And Mary is not happy about it. Mary doesn't like Leo Hernandez. She holds a mean grudge. The thing is, Leo has no idea why Mary doesn't like him. This is such a huge part of the story so I'll let you read it for yourself, but I was dying to know the reason.
Mary was a fun heroine. I loved how she was unapologetically herself. She loves tattoos, videogames, and is just herself. Leo is a college football star and it honestly seems like these two wouldn't work together but they have insane chemistry! For real, you can just tell these two are meant to be.
I love sports romance, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and new adult romance and this book has all that so it's no surprise I loved it so much. Kandi's writing is always fantastic and I highly recommend this one!
February 28, 2023
sad that this series is over! what a fantastic sports romance series. they're all steamy, realistic, and emotional and this book is no exception.
the only thing keeping this from being a 5 star for me was that i wanted a few more 1:1 moments between hero and heroine. they were roommates and there could have been some really great roomie moments beyond the couple we got to see. but i still maintain that this is what you should be reading after marathoning all of the Off Campus series. so so good.
the only thing keeping this from being a 5 star for me was that i wanted a few more 1:1 moments between hero and heroine. they were roommates and there could have been some really great roomie moments beyond the couple we got to see. but i still maintain that this is what you should be reading after marathoning all of the Off Campus series. so so good.
February 16, 2023
2.5 ⭐️
I went into this book blind and had no idea what I was getting myself into� and for the first little bit of it, I was completely hooked. I connected to the characters and their story, I thought it was written well, being built up well, I felt the chemistry, the tension, the angst, the longing� it was all there.
But as I kept going, I realized that there were a few things about the actual basis of it that wasn’t really working for me and my personal taste. While I love reading about a relationship that starts from an online connection, I didn’t love the miscommunication/lack of communication/withholding of truths that followed it.
I will say that I’m glad he found out halfway through instead of having it drag out until the third act conflict (even though I still think it dragged on much longer than it should have and she had multiple chances to easily straighten things up earlier on)�. but the second it was out there and then they instantly jumped into bed together, I completely lost interest for some reason (especially knowing there’s still half a book left and all it could possibly be filled with is sex scenes and drama - which is exactly what it ended up being�)
Then we got the classic overdramatic third act breakup which I often find in Kandis books� so I was expecting it, but also hoping that we’d get something different this time� which didn’t end up happening� but wtvr �- and then finally after a bit of eye roll-ish back and forth, it was over.
And although this book didn’t end up working out for me, I can see a lot of people loving it if the points I mentioned above aren’t things that would personally bother you.
Also on a side note, I wasn’t convinced on Leo’s lack of memory and I personally wouldn’t have given the guy a second chance� but I’m generally a second chance hater so that’s probably on me �- andddd I really wasn’t a fan of the boss’s side story� I thought Mary was being really stupid about all that especially when her gut kept telling her the truth. Cmon girl 🤦🏼♀�
I went into this book blind and had no idea what I was getting myself into� and for the first little bit of it, I was completely hooked. I connected to the characters and their story, I thought it was written well, being built up well, I felt the chemistry, the tension, the angst, the longing� it was all there.
But as I kept going, I realized that there were a few things about the actual basis of it that wasn’t really working for me and my personal taste. While I love reading about a relationship that starts from an online connection, I didn’t love the miscommunication/lack of communication/withholding of truths that followed it.
I will say that I’m glad he found out halfway through instead of having it drag out until the third act conflict (even though I still think it dragged on much longer than it should have and she had multiple chances to easily straighten things up earlier on)�. but the second it was out there and then they instantly jumped into bed together, I completely lost interest for some reason (especially knowing there’s still half a book left and all it could possibly be filled with is sex scenes and drama - which is exactly what it ended up being�)
Then we got the classic overdramatic third act breakup which I often find in Kandis books� so I was expecting it, but also hoping that we’d get something different this time� which didn’t end up happening� but wtvr �- and then finally after a bit of eye roll-ish back and forth, it was over.
And although this book didn’t end up working out for me, I can see a lot of people loving it if the points I mentioned above aren’t things that would personally bother you.
Also on a side note, I wasn’t convinced on Leo’s lack of memory and I personally wouldn’t have given the guy a second chance� but I’m generally a second chance hater so that’s probably on me �- andddd I really wasn’t a fan of the boss’s side story� I thought Mary was being really stupid about all that especially when her gut kept telling her the truth. Cmon girl 🤦🏼♀�
December 21, 2024
� 4 stars
� january 7 - 9, 2024, 📖
� january 7 - 9, 2024, 📖
February 10, 2023
This book f*cked me up. I love second chance romances so much, and combine the with a bad ass fmc and a cocky playboy mmc sports romance and I was SOLD.
Mary and Leo met playing video games the summer they turned 15. As the dorky quiet girl, she kept her identity from him a secret until she finally gathered up the courage to tell him in person. And he threw all their late night phone calls and incessant talking right back in her face. 7 years later, he still doesn’t know who she is. But he wants her while she’s busy hating him.
I loved them so. much. Mary is a bad ass tattooed curvy queen and Leo is the cocky senior football star. After Mary’s apartment is flooded, Leo offers to have her move in. Leo may be a cocky playboy but he has the BEST heart. I’m a sucker for reformed playboys and Leo is it. The two of them were perfect for each other.
The strong female friendships in this one, particularly because of Mary’s past, was absolutely perfect. I love how she found her family in not only her roommates, but the girls and Leo too.
This is the last book in the red zone rivals series, and I don’t know how Kandi does it but each book in this series gets better and better.
Read if you like
� sports romance
� second chance enemies to lovers
� so much banter!
� roommates/forced proximity
� reformed playboys
� groveling
� found family and strong female friendships
Thank you so much again to Kandi and Valentine PR for a copy of this arc!! It comes out on 2/15 💙
Mary and Leo met playing video games the summer they turned 15. As the dorky quiet girl, she kept her identity from him a secret until she finally gathered up the courage to tell him in person. And he threw all their late night phone calls and incessant talking right back in her face. 7 years later, he still doesn’t know who she is. But he wants her while she’s busy hating him.
I loved them so. much. Mary is a bad ass tattooed curvy queen and Leo is the cocky senior football star. After Mary’s apartment is flooded, Leo offers to have her move in. Leo may be a cocky playboy but he has the BEST heart. I’m a sucker for reformed playboys and Leo is it. The two of them were perfect for each other.
The strong female friendships in this one, particularly because of Mary’s past, was absolutely perfect. I love how she found her family in not only her roommates, but the girls and Leo too.
This is the last book in the red zone rivals series, and I don’t know how Kandi does it but each book in this series gets better and better.
Read if you like
� sports romance
� second chance enemies to lovers
� so much banter!
� roommates/forced proximity
� reformed playboys
� groveling
� found family and strong female friendships
Thank you so much again to Kandi and Valentine PR for a copy of this arc!! It comes out on 2/15 💙
February 21, 2023
you know what's not fair? that this man doesn't exist.
you know what else is not fair? that Kandi has made me fall in love with yet ANOTHER one of her fictional men who will never love me back. I'm not ok.
he cooks!!! he's sweet!!! he's funny!!! (he's hispanic!!! aka my dream man) and yet he is just words on paper. a crime. when will it be MY turn yanno???
I keep saying that I never expect to fall in love with the next book man Kandi writes as much as the last and I'm wrong every time. literally every time. this man was hot, had the BDE energy (with one to match LOL iykyk), and the perfect way to end this series. he played my little heartstrings and I ain't even a little bit mad about it.
Kandi outdoes herself with every new book she puts out. and I'm not just saying that. I go into every release expecting to love the book, but she blows me away every time and that's an author I will never be sick of. literally, Kandi- take all of my money now. never stop I'm begging you. all the forehead kisses for you, ma'am xxxxx
she packs the angst, the pining, the steam, the spice, the banter, and romance all in one fun little bundle. she gives you characters to root for and fall in love with, ones that are relatable as well as multi-faceted. you always can see a part of yourself in these characters even if they're completely different from you- and I think that's what I love most about her books.
I was not ready to say goodbye to this series, but I couldn't have asked for a better ending. Leo and Mary were absolute goals, everything I could've wanted for the final couple in this series. and you get to see and say goodbye to the other couples who added so much to this series as well. I was very unwell in the epilogue- she always gets me in my feels (it's a love/hate relationship with that lmao)
if you never read a book by Kandi Steiner, just let it be this one. 6 out of 5 stars.
you know what else is not fair? that Kandi has made me fall in love with yet ANOTHER one of her fictional men who will never love me back. I'm not ok.
he cooks!!! he's sweet!!! he's funny!!! (he's hispanic!!! aka my dream man) and yet he is just words on paper. a crime. when will it be MY turn yanno???
I keep saying that I never expect to fall in love with the next book man Kandi writes as much as the last and I'm wrong every time. literally every time. this man was hot, had the BDE energy (with one to match LOL iykyk), and the perfect way to end this series. he played my little heartstrings and I ain't even a little bit mad about it.
Kandi outdoes herself with every new book she puts out. and I'm not just saying that. I go into every release expecting to love the book, but she blows me away every time and that's an author I will never be sick of. literally, Kandi- take all of my money now. never stop I'm begging you. all the forehead kisses for you, ma'am xxxxx
she packs the angst, the pining, the steam, the spice, the banter, and romance all in one fun little bundle. she gives you characters to root for and fall in love with, ones that are relatable as well as multi-faceted. you always can see a part of yourself in these characters even if they're completely different from you- and I think that's what I love most about her books.
I was not ready to say goodbye to this series, but I couldn't have asked for a better ending. Leo and Mary were absolute goals, everything I could've wanted for the final couple in this series. and you get to see and say goodbye to the other couples who added so much to this series as well. I was very unwell in the epilogue- she always gets me in my feels (it's a love/hate relationship with that lmao)
if you never read a book by Kandi Steiner, just let it be this one. 6 out of 5 stars.
February 22, 2023
leo hernandez, the man that you are 🫡
February 17, 2023
This book was EVERYTHING and definitely my favorite of the series!!! I loved the relationship between Mary and Leo and how they had so much history that really hurt Mary and affected how she felt about Leo today. Mary was such an intriguing character and I loved how she was chasing her dreams to become a tattoo artist. Leo falls soooo hard for her and I was just obsessed. There’s angst, which we know and love from Kandi, and an obsessive hero I couldn’t help but swoon over. And I loved the sports aspect and how Leo wanted to pursue a career in the NFL. You have to pick this book up now!!!!
February 13, 2023
this was so incredibly cute that it actually managed to give me chest pain…LIKE ACTUAL PHYSICAL CHEST PAINS (i wish i was joking reading should never be that deep😭)
i think it’s safe to say this book is my absolute fav in the series. i mean tattoo artist x football player?? reverse grumpy x sunshine?? golden retriever bf x black cat gf?? he was sunshine she was midnight rain?? AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE BOTH GAMERS (i could go on for hours-)
mary was so relatable i absolutely adored her and don’t even get me started on leo fucking hernandez (aka the cause of aforementioned chest pains) this man was whipped to the point where he was screaming crying and throwing up. he was literally begging on his knees at one point i wish i was joking-
anywho this book absolutely destroyed sports romances for me i fear nothing else will ever compare 🥲
thank you valentine pr for the arc <3
i think it’s safe to say this book is my absolute fav in the series. i mean tattoo artist x football player?? reverse grumpy x sunshine?? golden retriever bf x black cat gf?? he was sunshine she was midnight rain?? AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE BOTH GAMERS (i could go on for hours-)
mary was so relatable i absolutely adored her and don’t even get me started on leo fucking hernandez (aka the cause of aforementioned chest pains) this man was whipped to the point where he was screaming crying and throwing up. he was literally begging on his knees at one point i wish i was joking-
anywho this book absolutely destroyed sports romances for me i fear nothing else will ever compare 🥲
thank you valentine pr for the arc <3
May 28, 2023
|| 2.5 stars ||
This is a second-chance, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, hidden identity, sports romance set in college. It obviously has a whole bucketload of tropes, and they’re pretty damn good ones too!
The premise is that of a boy and a girl who meet online when they are only 15 years old, and they form a deep connection together unlike any they have felt before. They go to the same school, but whereas Mary knows who Leo, the popular handsome football player, is, Leo has no idea that the girl he’s falling for is the weird girl in school nobody even knows the name of.
It all goes wrong when Mary finally decides to approach Leo to tell him who she is, only for him to shut her down immediately. Mary thinks he rejected her because of her looks despite the emotional bond they formed together, but in reality, it was just one big misunderstanding since Leo didn’t realise what she was trying to tell him in the first place! He just wanted her to go away because he knew his friends would tease her relentlessly if she didn’t (which, unfortunately, did happen, since his friends bullied her a lot afterwards).
After the whole situation Mary blocks Leo on everything, and she goes on hating him for the next seven years, and Leo goes on thinking he has been ghosted by the only girl he ever cared about for no reason at all.
Skip forward seven years, and Leo and Mary are next-door neighbours. Mary has a lot of resentment towards Leo, but she still won’t tell him who she is. Leo, on the other hand, is hardcore crushing on the beautiful bad-ass girl across the street, and he desperately tries for her to give him a chance.
Honestly, I have to say that when Leo was persuading Mary to finally open up to him, I am embarrassed to admit that I would have folded like a house of cards after only a day or so. Seriously, he was way too charming and way too sweet. Like, I couldn’t possibly keep on thinking he did what I thought he did. There was just no way. And Mary was honestly a little silly for not realising that sooner. Then again, I did love how she really made him work for it. She didn’t just fall at his feet immediately, and it definitely made for a very entertaining chase!
Leo was definitely my favourite. He was such a simp for her in the best way possible. Literally, if she said “jump�, he’d only ask “how high?�
Nonetheless, despite the good parts of this book, I have to admit I got very bored after about the halfway point. The build-up between them was great, but once they finally got together they lost their spark. It actually felt a little awkward and forced to me. Like, it suddenly occurred to me that they really didn’t have as much depth to their relationship as I would have liked. The fact that they jumped straight into bed after all that definitely did not sit right with me either.
Not to mention, their sexual chemistry was uncomfortable to me as well; the dirty-talking legit had me gagging.
Also, last but not least, the “I’m not like other girls� thing is pretty present in this book as well, which is just not my favourite at all.
This is a second-chance, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, hidden identity, sports romance set in college. It obviously has a whole bucketload of tropes, and they’re pretty damn good ones too!
I used to think I loved him.
But that was before I hated him.
The premise is that of a boy and a girl who meet online when they are only 15 years old, and they form a deep connection together unlike any they have felt before. They go to the same school, but whereas Mary knows who Leo, the popular handsome football player, is, Leo has no idea that the girl he’s falling for is the weird girl in school nobody even knows the name of.
It all goes wrong when Mary finally decides to approach Leo to tell him who she is, only for him to shut her down immediately. Mary thinks he rejected her because of her looks despite the emotional bond they formed together, but in reality, it was just one big misunderstanding since Leo didn’t realise what she was trying to tell him in the first place! He just wanted her to go away because he knew his friends would tease her relentlessly if she didn’t (which, unfortunately, did happen, since his friends bullied her a lot afterwards).
After the whole situation Mary blocks Leo on everything, and she goes on hating him for the next seven years, and Leo goes on thinking he has been ghosted by the only girl he ever cared about for no reason at all.
Skip forward seven years, and Leo and Mary are next-door neighbours. Mary has a lot of resentment towards Leo, but she still won’t tell him who she is. Leo, on the other hand, is hardcore crushing on the beautiful bad-ass girl across the street, and he desperately tries for her to give him a chance.
“Damn it, woman,� he said, shaking his head. “I’m mad about you! Can’t you see that?�
“You were once before and you don’t even remember!�
Honestly, I have to say that when Leo was persuading Mary to finally open up to him, I am embarrassed to admit that I would have folded like a house of cards after only a day or so. Seriously, he was way too charming and way too sweet. Like, I couldn’t possibly keep on thinking he did what I thought he did. There was just no way. And Mary was honestly a little silly for not realising that sooner. Then again, I did love how she really made him work for it. She didn’t just fall at his feet immediately, and it definitely made for a very entertaining chase!
“How do I prove to you that I’ve changed?� Leo lifted his eyes back to mine. “That I’m more than what you think I am, what I used to be.�
Leo was definitely my favourite. He was such a simp for her in the best way possible. Literally, if she said “jump�, he’d only ask “how high?�
Nonetheless, despite the good parts of this book, I have to admit I got very bored after about the halfway point. The build-up between them was great, but once they finally got together they lost their spark. It actually felt a little awkward and forced to me. Like, it suddenly occurred to me that they really didn’t have as much depth to their relationship as I would have liked. The fact that they jumped straight into bed after all that definitely did not sit right with me either.
Not to mention, their sexual chemistry was uncomfortable to me as well; the dirty-talking legit had me gagging.
Also, last but not least, the “I’m not like other girls� thing is pretty present in this book as well, which is just not my favourite at all.
January 27, 2024
3.5 stars
This series has been so enjoyable to read. I had such an entertaining fun time with those characters. Leo and Mary were amazing!! Leo was such a sweet charming flirtatious man and Mary was such a real badass. The one reason this is not a favorite despite me loving the characters so much is that the miscommunication and what happened in the past was kinda unbelievable. I was like, eh really? Overall this was such a great ending to a really entertaining series. I had a fun time reading those books. And I loved that epilogue.
This series has been so enjoyable to read. I had such an entertaining fun time with those characters. Leo and Mary were amazing!! Leo was such a sweet charming flirtatious man and Mary was such a real badass. The one reason this is not a favorite despite me loving the characters so much is that the miscommunication and what happened in the past was kinda unbelievable. I was like, eh really? Overall this was such a great ending to a really entertaining series. I had a fun time reading those books. And I loved that epilogue.
March 1, 2023
the way i was anticipating leo + mary’s book so much and it did not disappoint.
although i felt like the story had some unbelievable plot lines(example without spoiling anything: their past and what happened) i still had an amazing time.
it was a very bingable read which is nice. leo and mary were everything. third act conflict was very annoying tho which is my exact complaint on fair catch and blind side so i’m not surprised. and i feel like everything dragged on a bit too much for nothing to have happened?
overall it was really fucking good tho.
although i felt like the story had some unbelievable plot lines(example without spoiling anything: their past and what happened) i still had an amazing time.
it was a very bingable read which is nice. leo and mary were everything. third act conflict was very annoying tho which is my exact complaint on fair catch and blind side so i’m not surprised. and i feel like everything dragged on a bit too much for nothing to have happened?
overall it was really fucking good tho.
March 6, 2023
1⭐️/2.5🌶�
SPOILERS AHEAD
I simply don’t know where to begin lmfao.
This was sooo dumb. You’re really going to tell me she held a grudge for SEVEN years? FROM HIGH SCHOOL? All for him not to even REMEMBER the event she was referring to?? Something that could’ve been cleared up IN THE BEGINNING. good ol miscommunication 😑.
It was so annoying how we weren’t allowed to forget that she was a girl that played video games. Like we get it. And it wasn’t really a “oh I play video games im one of the bros� pick me energy it was more of a “oh she’s a girl and plays video games that’s so dope� kinda way from all the guys in this fucking book. A girl can play video games without it being a big deal. And i guess as I think about it she was more like “im not like other girls�
I also didn’t love that a lot this book focused on her body and her weight. She is a curvy woman and it was just always the focus. And not in a good way. The fmc was very insecure about it which left the mmc to be like “no baby🥺� HURL.
Both of these character were wildly unlikeable. The fmc was being harassed by her boss who was older and married and she was chalking it up to her overthinking it? Like no girl this mans a creep. Ans then when he finally does do something she rightfully kicks him in the balls and then APOLOGIZES??? BOMBASTIC SIDE EYE. The mmc was only marginally better. There was one scene where I should’ve ended it. The first sex scene between the MCs and he’s talking about his massive dick and how the boys joke about having a massive dick but don’t truly know the burden of actually having a monster cock. I wish I was kidding. That is truly a scene written in this book.
I thought it was so funny how the mmc was hispanic and it felt forced in a way? Like the author snuck in Spanish words outta the blue and it didn’t fit ahahah.
The third act break up was the stupidest fucking thing. She gets assaulted by her boss and the mmc defends her by beating the shit outta him (even though the fmc tells him not to) and she’s like you hurt me I can’t be with you blah blah blah. LIKE SERIOUSLY?? And turns out she did that cos she was scared of falling for him and it was to push him away. DUMB. The mmc also risked his football career by assaulting the boss and i would’ve been pissed if he really threw everything away and for what?? And the third act reunion was so quick it was ridiculous. And that scene was VERY MUCH a rip off of the end of the football game running up the bleachers to get the girl scene from another Cinderella story with CMM and Hillary duff lfmao
The writing was also incredibly juvenile�
So dumb. 0/10. I will not be doing this again lmfao
SPOILERS AHEAD
I simply don’t know where to begin lmfao.
This was sooo dumb. You’re really going to tell me she held a grudge for SEVEN years? FROM HIGH SCHOOL? All for him not to even REMEMBER the event she was referring to?? Something that could’ve been cleared up IN THE BEGINNING. good ol miscommunication 😑.
It was so annoying how we weren’t allowed to forget that she was a girl that played video games. Like we get it. And it wasn’t really a “oh I play video games im one of the bros� pick me energy it was more of a “oh she’s a girl and plays video games that’s so dope� kinda way from all the guys in this fucking book. A girl can play video games without it being a big deal. And i guess as I think about it she was more like “im not like other girls�
I also didn’t love that a lot this book focused on her body and her weight. She is a curvy woman and it was just always the focus. And not in a good way. The fmc was very insecure about it which left the mmc to be like “no baby🥺� HURL.
Both of these character were wildly unlikeable. The fmc was being harassed by her boss who was older and married and she was chalking it up to her overthinking it? Like no girl this mans a creep. Ans then when he finally does do something she rightfully kicks him in the balls and then APOLOGIZES??? BOMBASTIC SIDE EYE. The mmc was only marginally better. There was one scene where I should’ve ended it. The first sex scene between the MCs and he’s talking about his massive dick and how the boys joke about having a massive dick but don’t truly know the burden of actually having a monster cock. I wish I was kidding. That is truly a scene written in this book.
I thought it was so funny how the mmc was hispanic and it felt forced in a way? Like the author snuck in Spanish words outta the blue and it didn’t fit ahahah.
The third act break up was the stupidest fucking thing. She gets assaulted by her boss and the mmc defends her by beating the shit outta him (even though the fmc tells him not to) and she’s like you hurt me I can’t be with you blah blah blah. LIKE SERIOUSLY?? And turns out she did that cos she was scared of falling for him and it was to push him away. DUMB. The mmc also risked his football career by assaulting the boss and i would’ve been pissed if he really threw everything away and for what?? And the third act reunion was so quick it was ridiculous. And that scene was VERY MUCH a rip off of the end of the football game running up the bleachers to get the girl scene from another Cinderella story with CMM and Hillary duff lfmao
The writing was also incredibly juvenile�
So dumb. 0/10. I will not be doing this again lmfao
October 8, 2023
3.5 STARS
Adding Leo Hernandez to my list of new book boyfriends because this man is incredibly attractive and I'm head over heels for him! 🥺🌸
This book was actually binge-worthy. It started off well, and I enjoyed it, but I couldn't believe how long it took me to finish. It felt like I had been reading for 5 hours, and when I checked the pages, I had only finished 20 pages! 🤡 What you can find in this book is:
* Friends-to-Enemies-to-Lovers
* Second Chance Romance
* Sunshine x Sunshine
* Tattoo artist x football player
* Online Relationship
* And, of course, a third-act breakup
╰┈� LEO HERNANDEZ & MARY SILVER:
Mary� I loved how strong she was. Her raw emotions and her insecurities made her character much more realistic. Add in the fact that she's an amazing tattoo artist and a gamer. She was also plus-size, but she proudly embraced her curves.
Leo � this man is incredibly attractive! I love him so much! I loved his character, even though he made so many mistakes, knowingly and unknowingly. He was always genuine in everything he did. He was gentle and caring, and despite his dual facade in the media and with his friends, he was raised well by his mama and was NOT a play boy.
╰┈� THEIR RELATIONSHIP:
Leo and Mary met in an online game when they were 15, and they started playing together every day. They formed a deep friendship with mutual understanding, care, and the anonymity that made talking to each other a part of their daily routine. Mary knew him, but Leo didn't. One day, she worked up the courage to reveal her identity and show him her drawings. However, he didn't recognize her and tried to be closed off, thinking she was a random girl. His friends took pictures and started bullying her. Mary was heartbroken and left crying, thinking he 'DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE SAW' because she wasn't beautiful.
Mary completely blocked him out of her life and was bullied the entire year because of her drawings. She started HATING LEO WITH A PASSION. He didn't do anything to stop everyone because he didn't know it was Mary and didn't care about anything due to his depression and the loss of his online friend, Mary.
He sobbed a lot and was vulnerable for the first time because she ghosted him � or so he thought. 🥲
Now, they've met again after years, with her being his neighbor and eventually his roommate. I LOVED EVERYTHING about how she gave him sassy remarks, and he turned out to be an absolute clingy person 😂 and was all sweet and everything! The tension was palpable, and I loved every second of it!
When she finally told him who she was, and he hugged her tightly. It was like taking his first calm breath in years because he finally found a piece of himself he lost when Mary blocked him. He apologized A LOT, I swear he apologized again and again, and said he wanted to make up for everything she endured. He felt guilty for hurting the only person he loved unknowingly. AND HE DID MAKE UP FOR IT! 🥺 He made her believe that she doesn't have to feel insecure or doubt anything, and he would never leave her again.
╰┈� THIRD-ACT BREAKUP:
I hated it. Mary's creepy boss turned out to be an assaulter. It was obvious to Mary that he made her uncomfortable, but she dismissed it, thinking she was overthinking it. That guy was so creepy that when he promoted her, he tried to grope her. When she kneed him and told him to stay professional, he tried to hurt her with his words and fired her, saying she was mediocre and only had a nice body. This made her lose all her confidence.
So, out of impulse, Leo beat the crap out of him, jeopardizing not only his own career but also Mary's. She was so furious that she lost her career that she lashed out at him and left him. I SWEAR LEO SOBBED AND BROKE DOWN AGAIN. But she needed more time???!!! 😗
I'm glad that stupid boss got what he deserved in the end! ✋�
╰┈� FINAL THOUGHTS:
� When they reunited, there were still so many pages left, and I actually skimmed a lot 😭 after that breakup! LIKE PLS, I WANTED IT TO END! THIS BOOK WAS JUST SO LONG FOR NO REASON! These books should be a lil shorter 😭
� I loved how gentle Leo was and all the small things he did. YES, HE'S MY NEW BOOK BF! Mary was good, but I'm not completely head over heels for her, lmao ✋�. I loved the fact that both of them never stopped thinking about the summer they spent together and how they chipped away a piece of each other.
� MARY CALLING HIM DADDY AS A JOKE WAS REALLY CRINGY! 💀
� It was actually a bit weird for me when she was just wandering around the house full of boys in an oversized shirt and boy shorts without a bra! I GET IT, YOU'RE LIVING WITH THEM, AND THEY'RE SHIRTLESS TOO, BUT PLEASE, HOW CAN SHE BE COMFORTABLE LIKE THAT? 💀💀 That was super weird, and Leo and the boys actually checked her out a few times, which was JUST SO UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ME 😭
� Lmao, I loved how he called her "Woman" every time she mentioned her weight or stretching his clothes out.
❝You’re not worried about me stretching them out?�
❝Woman, if you don’t stop with that shit, Besides, even if you did, it only seems fair, since stretching you out is my favorite pastime.�
� Clay and Gianna's scenes were actually so cute,✨� her love for books and talking abouy the tropes everytime ehhe, and when she said that they still have to re-enact the trope of ACCIDENTAL PREGNANCY and him realizing that she was actually pregnant 🥺
� I do recommend it, if you love a good second-chance Romance book!
Adding Leo Hernandez to my list of new book boyfriends because this man is incredibly attractive and I'm head over heels for him! 🥺🌸
This book was actually binge-worthy. It started off well, and I enjoyed it, but I couldn't believe how long it took me to finish. It felt like I had been reading for 5 hours, and when I checked the pages, I had only finished 20 pages! 🤡 What you can find in this book is:
* Friends-to-Enemies-to-Lovers
* Second Chance Romance
* Sunshine x Sunshine
* Tattoo artist x football player
* Online Relationship
* And, of course, a third-act breakup
╰┈� LEO HERNANDEZ & MARY SILVER:
Mary� I loved how strong she was. Her raw emotions and her insecurities made her character much more realistic. Add in the fact that she's an amazing tattoo artist and a gamer. She was also plus-size, but she proudly embraced her curves.
Leo � this man is incredibly attractive! I love him so much! I loved his character, even though he made so many mistakes, knowingly and unknowingly. He was always genuine in everything he did. He was gentle and caring, and despite his dual facade in the media and with his friends, he was raised well by his mama and was NOT a play boy.
╰┈� THEIR RELATIONSHIP:
❝I was thrown into a game with the last person I ever expected.�
Leo and Mary met in an online game when they were 15, and they started playing together every day. They formed a deep friendship with mutual understanding, care, and the anonymity that made talking to each other a part of their daily routine. Mary knew him, but Leo didn't. One day, she worked up the courage to reveal her identity and show him her drawings. However, he didn't recognize her and tried to be closed off, thinking she was a random girl. His friends took pictures and started bullying her. Mary was heartbroken and left crying, thinking he 'DIDN'T LIKE WHAT HE SAW' because she wasn't beautiful.
❝I couldn’t even remember who I was back then, but I knew that the realest I’d ever been with anyone was that summer.�
Mary completely blocked him out of her life and was bullied the entire year because of her drawings. She started HATING LEO WITH A PASSION. He didn't do anything to stop everyone because he didn't know it was Mary and didn't care about anything due to his depression and the loss of his online friend, Mary.
❝But not knowing her name? That meant I didn’t have a prayer of ever finding her.�
He sobbed a lot and was vulnerable for the first time because she ghosted him � or so he thought. 🥲
❝Sometimes when she looked at me, I saw actual disdain. And it killed me that I didn’t understand why.�
Now, they've met again after years, with her being his neighbor and eventually his roommate. I LOVED EVERYTHING about how she gave him sassy remarks, and he turned out to be an absolute clingy person 😂 and was all sweet and everything! The tension was palpable, and I loved every second of it!
❝Can I have a second chance to right whatever it is I did wrong?�
When she finally told him who she was, and he hugged her tightly. It was like taking his first calm breath in years because he finally found a piece of himself he lost when Mary blocked him. He apologized A LOT, I swear he apologized again and again, and said he wanted to make up for everything she endured. He felt guilty for hurting the only person he loved unknowingly. AND HE DID MAKE UP FOR IT! 🥺 He made her believe that she doesn't have to feel insecure or doubt anything, and he would never leave her again.
╰┈� THIRD-ACT BREAKUP:
I hated it. Mary's creepy boss turned out to be an assaulter. It was obvious to Mary that he made her uncomfortable, but she dismissed it, thinking she was overthinking it. That guy was so creepy that when he promoted her, he tried to grope her. When she kneed him and told him to stay professional, he tried to hurt her with his words and fired her, saying she was mediocre and only had a nice body. This made her lose all her confidence.
So, out of impulse, Leo beat the crap out of him, jeopardizing not only his own career but also Mary's. She was so furious that she lost her career that she lashed out at him and left him. I SWEAR LEO SOBBED AND BROKE DOWN AGAIN. But she needed more time???!!! 😗
I'm glad that stupid boss got what he deserved in the end! ✋�
╰┈� FINAL THOUGHTS:
� When they reunited, there were still so many pages left, and I actually skimmed a lot 😭 after that breakup! LIKE PLS, I WANTED IT TO END! THIS BOOK WAS JUST SO LONG FOR NO REASON! These books should be a lil shorter 😭
� I loved how gentle Leo was and all the small things he did. YES, HE'S MY NEW BOOK BF! Mary was good, but I'm not completely head over heels for her, lmao ✋�. I loved the fact that both of them never stopped thinking about the summer they spent together and how they chipped away a piece of each other.
� MARY CALLING HIM DADDY AS A JOKE WAS REALLY CRINGY! 💀
� It was actually a bit weird for me when she was just wandering around the house full of boys in an oversized shirt and boy shorts without a bra! I GET IT, YOU'RE LIVING WITH THEM, AND THEY'RE SHIRTLESS TOO, BUT PLEASE, HOW CAN SHE BE COMFORTABLE LIKE THAT? 💀💀 That was super weird, and Leo and the boys actually checked her out a few times, which was JUST SO UNCOMFORTABLE FOR ME 😭
� Lmao, I loved how he called her "Woman" every time she mentioned her weight or stretching his clothes out.
❝You’re not worried about me stretching them out?�
❝Woman, if you don’t stop with that shit, Besides, even if you did, it only seems fair, since stretching you out is my favorite pastime.�
� Clay and Gianna's scenes were actually so cute,✨� her love for books and talking abouy the tropes everytime ehhe, and when she said that they still have to re-enact the trope of ACCIDENTAL PREGNANCY and him realizing that she was actually pregnant 🥺
� I do recommend it, if you love a good second-chance Romance book!
March 14, 2023
Leo F*cking Hernandez.
What an absolutely delicious human being.
“You have consumed me for months. Por años. I couldn’t sleep one more night without making you mine.� ~ my ovaries are weeping. WEEPING.
And Mary was such a bad bitch ~ “You wanna be chivalrous? Go to a women’s march. Vote for a female to take office. Read a book on feminism. Stop using pussy as an insult.� ~ I love her with every fibre of my being.
—ĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔ�
Okay, as this is the final book in the Red Zone Rivals series it feels like an appropriate time to rate them in order of my most to least favourite� not that anyone asked but I am going to force it upon you anyways! ;)
Coming in at number one we have Blind Side because Gianna is literally me as a fictional character and my heart has such a soft spot for her and Clay.
Number two goes to Hail Mary because we love curvy girl representation without the fact that it is curvy girl representation being shoved down your throat every other page� and for many other reasons **cough cough Leo F*cking Hernandez cough**.
Then Fair Catch and Quarterback Sneak tied for third because my heart cannot bear to put one of these books at the bottom. I loved them all.
God bless you Kandi Steiner.
What an absolutely delicious human being.
“You have consumed me for months. Por años. I couldn’t sleep one more night without making you mine.� ~ my ovaries are weeping. WEEPING.
And Mary was such a bad bitch ~ “You wanna be chivalrous? Go to a women’s march. Vote for a female to take office. Read a book on feminism. Stop using pussy as an insult.� ~ I love her with every fibre of my being.
—ĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔĔ�
Okay, as this is the final book in the Red Zone Rivals series it feels like an appropriate time to rate them in order of my most to least favourite� not that anyone asked but I am going to force it upon you anyways! ;)
Coming in at number one we have Blind Side because Gianna is literally me as a fictional character and my heart has such a soft spot for her and Clay.
Number two goes to Hail Mary because we love curvy girl representation without the fact that it is curvy girl representation being shoved down your throat every other page� and for many other reasons **cough cough Leo F*cking Hernandez cough**.
Then Fair Catch and Quarterback Sneak tied for third because my heart cannot bear to put one of these books at the bottom. I loved them all.
God bless you Kandi Steiner.
February 10, 2025
I LOVE THEM!!!!
this is what i’ve been wanting from herrrrr 😫 i really liked the development of our two mc’s as individuals, because once i got attached to them as a couple their romance was >>
now. some bits were cringey and that’s just me being extra harsh because i don’t rate romances highly *but* i adored leo. he was exactly what she needed and maria was so tough i just wanted to knock some sense into her 😭 here is this man bowing at the altar that is you and she was gonna let him slip away?? embarrassing.
i can’t believe i’m already at the last book, the next step is to clearly keep reading her other series!!
this is what i’ve been wanting from herrrrr 😫 i really liked the development of our two mc’s as individuals, because once i got attached to them as a couple their romance was >>
now. some bits were cringey and that’s just me being extra harsh because i don’t rate romances highly *but* i adored leo. he was exactly what she needed and maria was so tough i just wanted to knock some sense into her 😭 here is this man bowing at the altar that is you and she was gonna let him slip away?? embarrassing.
i can’t believe i’m already at the last book, the next step is to clearly keep reading her other series!!
March 24, 2023
THIS WAS SO GOOD OH MY GOD
February 23, 2024
“You don’t own me,�
“Oh, but I do, cariño,�
“And you own me, too.�
3 stars
LEO HERNANDEZ THE MAN THAT YOU ARE🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻č♀️🧎🏻č♀�
this is the first book that I’ve read in the series and im not even mad about it. I was excited about this book for the longest so I tried to read the first book but I was so bored that I skipped all the other ones and jumped right into this one. I don’t think I missed much with skipping all the other ones.
⤹⤷ characters:
╰➤→&; LEO HERNÁNDEZ: 🧎🏻♀�
And when I took her hand in mine, the piece of me I’d been missing for years quietly snapped into place.
Another man to add to my never ending list of book boyfriends.
Leo is kind, gentle and would do anything for anyone who needs help. I love him so much 🥹
Leo is a college football star who has a reputation for being a “playboy� off the field. But little do his teammates and the media know it’s all a facade. Leo is this way because of a girl who basically ghosted him when he was in high school and never heard from her again so he’s afraid to get close to anyone again.
He likes the spotlight and believes the only way to get people’s attention and to stay on him is if he does reckless things on and off the field but believes no one really “knows� the real him except a girl he met online while playing video games years ago.
╰➤→&; MARY SILVER 💉🩸
I used to think I loved him. But that was before I hated him.
I liked her as much as Leo. I love how she isn’t afraid to be who she is. She loves video games, drawing, and tattooing. I love how realistic her character was with showing her insecurities and how she admired her curves for being a plus sized woman.
Growing up Mary truly never fit in and felt she didn’t fit into her family’s expectations. Her mother wanted a girl who she could dress up and her father wanted her to follow into his footsteps in business. Mary had other plans she didn’t go to college instead she wants to follow her dream and become a tattoo artist.
⤹⤷ THEIR RELATIONSHIP
╰➤→&; the past:
Most of the time we laughed. Sometimes, we got so deep that I confessed things to him I never had to anyone else, and he did the same..
When they were teenagers Mary was playing video games and was paired online with Leo. She knew who he was but he didn’t know her. They get close and share a special bond together sharing pieces of their lives with one another. One day Mary got the courage to speak to Leo in person at school and show him the drawing she was working on for him but she believed he didn’t like what he saw and his friends bullied her for having a crush on him and he did nothing about it.
That same day Leo goes online to play video games with Mary only to find out she deleted him and blocked his number and basically “ghosted� him.
╰➤→&; the present:
“I wish you remembered.�
Mary lives in front of Leo and one day her place gets flooded so Leo offers her to stay with him and his other roommates for free. Mary is a struggling tattoo apprentice and doesn’t want to ask her parents for help so she eventually agrees.
Mary absolutely hates him for what happened in the past (7 years ago) but Leo has no recollection of what he could’ve possibly done for Mary to hate him. He doesn’t recognize her at all since her appearance has changed from her teenage years.
While living together Mary’s walls come down and they get close with each other. She eventually tells him the truth of who she really is and their relationship goes on from there.
This man is the sweetest man ever! When Mary finally told him who she really was he hugged her like his life depended on it. He finally found the girl who he shared a real connection with when he was younger.
But he was also falling for the present Mary so them being the same person he was happy.
He begged her for a second chance to make it right, he constantly reassured her when she was feeling insecure, and he was always there to make things right and tell her he would never leave and make up for everything. 🥹
If ‘words of affirmation� were a person it’d be Leo Hernandez 🧎🏻♀�
╰➤→&; things I hated
*spoilers ahead*
1: when she told him who she was I was happy but it happened less than 200 pages in I knew there was a 3rd act breakup coming and I was dreading it.
2: don’t get me wrong I loved Mary but I started hating her at some point. this man begged and begged and she still left. actually she does that a lot; she runs away, I get it’s her insecurities but how many times does this man have to prove himself over and over again until she figures out he’s sorry and isn’t going to leave.
3: the tattoo shop Mary is working at her boss is a creep and she second guessed herself when she felt he was a creep and over and over again she blows it off like it was nothing and she was “reading to much into it.�
4: third act breakup was so fucking stupid.
*rant incoming* �
Her boss like I said above was definitely a creep. He promised her a chair in his shop and told her she could repay him “in some way�. He sexually assaulted her and she eventually knees him where ’the sun doesn’t shine� but of course he decides to fire her because she didn’t want to sleep with him and tells her she isn’t cut out to be a tattoo artist.
Mary goes home crying and tells Leo what happened and you know what he does? He goes and punches her ex boss and tells him if he ever looks at her again he’ll killl him. Mary gets mad because it’ll ruin her career
She should’ve gone to the police right away tbh. But still gets mad a Leo for punching him.
The following day she decides to pack her bags and says she’s going to stay with her parents. When Leo notices she’s leaving he FUCKING FALLS TO HIS KNEES AND BEGS HER TO STAY AND NOT TO LEAVE AND SHE STILL FUCKING LEFT 🙄
this is what he told her before she left. �
“Can I hold you? Please?�
“I’m sorry,� I told her. “I shouldn’t have gone last night. I was an idiot. I should have stayed with you, should have been here with you.� I shook my head, still holding onto her. “I didn’t think. I fucked up. But I swear I will do everything to make it up to you. Please,� I begged. “Stay.�
After the breakup he facetimes her and she had the audacity to think ‘He looked so good it hurt.� LIKE SHE DIDNT HURT HIM BY LEAVING. I was so mad at her, im still mad writing this.
5: honestly after the 3rd act breakup I was so mad that I started skimming just to be done.
6: some of the writing style and dialogue was kinda cringe.
╰➤→&; overalll 3 stars for Leo only 🤭
—ĔĔĔ�
have i read any of the other books in this series? no 🤭
i tried with book one and hated it and this is the only one that catches my attention 🤷🏻♀�
February 16, 2023
I...I'm so disappointed. I'm going to preface this by saying that I love the way Kandi Steiner has with words. She writes beautifully. On the Way to You is an all time favorite book of mine. I LOVED Blind Side so much. Quarterback Sneak was disappointing but I still enjoyed it well enough. This one was painful, I'm so sorry to say it. It really didn't work for me.
The big miscommunication that sets everything in motion just really pissed me off. I was in this in the beginning, I loved how their relationship formed at age 15. Why, when she was so apprehensive about meeting him, and wouldn't even give him her name, would she approach him to reveal herself in public? In their daily conversations, why not say she is ready to meet and arrange it privately?? Furthermore, why would she not say who she was? She goes up to him, simply says "I made you these drawings" just expecting him to know from the drawings that it was her. Was his reaction the best? No. I wouldn't react well either though if a random approached me and just said "I drew this for you". It would creep me out a little and I would walk away as gently as I could. I was still with it though. My high school experience was not too different from hers, and I get it. I felt her emotions.
I started to completely lose patience with her when she repeatedly refused to tell him who she was, and why she hated him, even when he kept pleading with her to understand why. It's been 7 years. Let the fucking grudge go. He is clearly not the man she thought he was, and he is begging for her to tell him so he can make whatever he did to her right. She whines that he doesn't remember her, that she was insignificant to him if he doesn't know who she is, and shuts herself down again. OF COURSE he doesn't remember her!!! He never knew her name, she cut off all contact the second she thought he rejected her, and she looks a hell of a lot different now. How in sweet hell is he supposed to know who she is??? It just boggled my mind. This is not an enemies to lovers story the way it is marketed. He has never, ever given even the hint of an impression that he hates her in the present day. Her hate for him is from a stupid misunderstanding. Even when they FINALLY get to the truth and start to sort things out the angst was out of control. I was exhausted. I am tired of curvy women being portrayed as insecure messes in books.
This also had big "she's not like other girls" energy to me, which is ironic since Giana denounces that trope in Blindside. Oh look, a girl with curves instead of the waifs the football players usually chase! She has lots of tattoos and piercings! She wears thick eye makeup and bold lipstick almost like a goth! She games! She's the only one Leo can be his authentic self with when he's literally never given another woman a chance!!
The nail in the coffin was the third act conflict and that plot with her boss. None of it sat well with me. I hate that I didn't like this book more since I was so excited for it, but there you go.
The big miscommunication that sets everything in motion just really pissed me off. I was in this in the beginning, I loved how their relationship formed at age 15. Why, when she was so apprehensive about meeting him, and wouldn't even give him her name, would she approach him to reveal herself in public? In their daily conversations, why not say she is ready to meet and arrange it privately?? Furthermore, why would she not say who she was? She goes up to him, simply says "I made you these drawings" just expecting him to know from the drawings that it was her. Was his reaction the best? No. I wouldn't react well either though if a random approached me and just said "I drew this for you". It would creep me out a little and I would walk away as gently as I could. I was still with it though. My high school experience was not too different from hers, and I get it. I felt her emotions.
I started to completely lose patience with her when she repeatedly refused to tell him who she was, and why she hated him, even when he kept pleading with her to understand why. It's been 7 years. Let the fucking grudge go. He is clearly not the man she thought he was, and he is begging for her to tell him so he can make whatever he did to her right. She whines that he doesn't remember her, that she was insignificant to him if he doesn't know who she is, and shuts herself down again. OF COURSE he doesn't remember her!!! He never knew her name, she cut off all contact the second she thought he rejected her, and she looks a hell of a lot different now. How in sweet hell is he supposed to know who she is??? It just boggled my mind. This is not an enemies to lovers story the way it is marketed. He has never, ever given even the hint of an impression that he hates her in the present day. Her hate for him is from a stupid misunderstanding. Even when they FINALLY get to the truth and start to sort things out the angst was out of control. I was exhausted. I am tired of curvy women being portrayed as insecure messes in books.
This also had big "she's not like other girls" energy to me, which is ironic since Giana denounces that trope in Blindside. Oh look, a girl with curves instead of the waifs the football players usually chase! She has lots of tattoos and piercings! She wears thick eye makeup and bold lipstick almost like a goth! She games! She's the only one Leo can be his authentic self with when he's literally never given another woman a chance!!
The nail in the coffin was the third act conflict and that plot with her boss. None of it sat well with me. I hate that I didn't like this book more since I was so excited for it, but there you go.
February 19, 2023
live love laugh leo hernandez 🫡🧎♀�
February 15, 2023
Fuck my life this was so good.
5 stars, 3.5 spice.
As soon as it became clear how deep Leo and Mary's roots went, I knew I would be obsessed with them. Kandi does angst SO WELL and Hail Mary is no exception.
Leo and Mary's youthful online gaming relationship and fallout was a real testament to how traumatizing past hurts can be, especially if they continue to fester through adulthood and/or cause a person to build indestructible walls around their heart. I really loved Leo/Mary's dynamic, and how she was the only person to see past his jokester/party boy facade.
And the spice WHEW. The chemistry was off the charts, and Leo Hernandez has a dirty fucking mouth. He worships the ground she walks on, and if a book boyfriend doesn't have that energy I don't want it.
5 stars, 3.5 spice.
As soon as it became clear how deep Leo and Mary's roots went, I knew I would be obsessed with them. Kandi does angst SO WELL and Hail Mary is no exception.
Leo and Mary's youthful online gaming relationship and fallout was a real testament to how traumatizing past hurts can be, especially if they continue to fester through adulthood and/or cause a person to build indestructible walls around their heart. I really loved Leo/Mary's dynamic, and how she was the only person to see past his jokester/party boy facade.
And the spice WHEW. The chemistry was off the charts, and Leo Hernandez has a dirty fucking mouth. He worships the ground she walks on, and if a book boyfriend doesn't have that energy I don't want it.
March 13, 2023
3 Stars
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise. The development of feelings. The steam.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. It could've been so much better! I am also not the biggest fan of hs that have body issues. This h would have a take no crap attitude but then make self-degrading comments that were a little annoying. I'm all about hs with different than the stereotypical features! I just don't need it to be a main focus in my books.
The Bad: The explanation of how the H behaved/and thought when they were younger. How could he not put 2 and 2 together?! This kind of drove me bananas and made me think he was not the sharpest tool in the shed. The h's reaction to her drama with her boss also really bugged me. I hated how she directed her issues at the H and made it about him not being trustworthy. Felt a little OTT and I rolled my eyes a few times.
Overall: **Please take this review with a grain of salt! I was reminded from a lovely GR friend that I never went back and wrote this review. I have read another book and have been listening to another audiobook since finishing this one, so my details might be a little off 🙈😬** I liked some elements of this but I struggled with other parts, so I'm going with a middle of the road 3 star rating here.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Mary and Leo's story. Mary and Leo meet online gaming when they are sophomores in high school. They connect instantly but when they meet in person it is a disaster. Years later, Mary finds herself homeless and Leo (not knowing she is from his past) gives her the option to stay at his house with some other football players. While Mary hates Leo and doesn't trust him, she has no choice to move in. When they spend more time together, she can't help but see the boy she fell in love with years ago. There are some secrets revealed, some drama, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Mary and Leo's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they become friends first and more like hate-to-friends-to-love
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Leo. I liked him, but I just couldn't believe the whole back in high school drama enough to truly forgive him.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Mary. I liked her strength, but I also wanted her to talk to the H more and be more upfront.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in an alright place with what I would call a HFN ending , but it wasn't enough for me to call it a HEA.
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
Opinion Breakdown
The Good: The premise. The development of feelings. The steam.
The Not-So-Good: The ending. It could've been so much better! I am also not the biggest fan of hs that have body issues. This h would have a take no crap attitude but then make self-degrading comments that were a little annoying. I'm all about hs with different than the stereotypical features! I just don't need it to be a main focus in my books.
The Bad: The explanation of how the H behaved/and thought when they were younger. How could he not put 2 and 2 together?! This kind of drove me bananas and made me think he was not the sharpest tool in the shed. The h's reaction to her drama with her boss also really bugged me. I hated how she directed her issues at the H and made it about him not being trustworthy. Felt a little OTT and I rolled my eyes a few times.
Overall: **Please take this review with a grain of salt! I was reminded from a lovely GR friend that I never went back and wrote this review. I have read another book and have been listening to another audiobook since finishing this one, so my details might be a little off 🙈😬** I liked some elements of this but I struggled with other parts, so I'm going with a middle of the road 3 star rating here.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Mary and Leo's story. Mary and Leo meet online gaming when they are sophomores in high school. They connect instantly but when they meet in person it is a disaster. Years later, Mary finds herself homeless and Leo (not knowing she is from his past) gives her the option to stay at his house with some other football players. While Mary hates Leo and doesn't trust him, she has no choice to move in. When they spend more time together, she can't help but see the boy she fell in love with years ago. There are some secrets revealed, some drama, and some sexy times...and they get a HFN ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between Mary and Leo's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove: No, they become friends first and more like hate-to-friends-to-love
H (Hero) rating: 3.5 stars. Leo. I liked him, but I just couldn't believe the whole back in high school drama enough to truly forgive him.
h (heroine) rating: 3 stars. Mary. I liked her strength, but I also wanted her to talk to the H more and be more upfront.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This ends in an alright place with what I would call a HFN ending , but it wasn't enough for me to call it a HEA.
Safety: This one should be either Safe or Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences
February 17, 2023
kandi reallyyyyyy put her back into this one, ok? leo might have just secured his spot as my favorite hero of this series.
mary had her heart broken by leo back in high school but he doesn't even know it. years later, he's intrigued by the beautiful girl next door but has no idea why she won't give him the time of day. when pipes burst in mary's rental home, leo offers her a free room in the football house and money's tight so she really can't say no. she can't seem to stay away from present leo and all his charm but she also can't forget her past with him.
this was so effing good guys, i can't deal. leo is so hot and for what??? they were giving reverse grumpy sunshine and he was just so obsessed with her. she would be mean to him and he's like i love you more now <3 (relatable). the cute gestures were out of freaking control, i mean the man lets her give him a tattoo just so she can trust him. and the SPICE, my goodness. someone bring this man to life and amazon prime him to my door, thank you.
i'm so sad this series is over but damn, it's a good one and this was the perfect ending.
mary had her heart broken by leo back in high school but he doesn't even know it. years later, he's intrigued by the beautiful girl next door but has no idea why she won't give him the time of day. when pipes burst in mary's rental home, leo offers her a free room in the football house and money's tight so she really can't say no. she can't seem to stay away from present leo and all his charm but she also can't forget her past with him.
this was so effing good guys, i can't deal. leo is so hot and for what??? they were giving reverse grumpy sunshine and he was just so obsessed with her. she would be mean to him and he's like i love you more now <3 (relatable). the cute gestures were out of freaking control, i mean the man lets her give him a tattoo just so she can trust him. and the SPICE, my goodness. someone bring this man to life and amazon prime him to my door, thank you.
i'm so sad this series is over but damn, it's a good one and this was the perfect ending.
March 14, 2024
this is a 6 star read for me. Plain and simple. From my college romance favorites, this is def my favorite one. I am honestly so mad at myself for rating this one 3 stars the first time that I read it because it's honestly the best one in the series!!! The writing improvement changed the game completely. Even though I loved the other books in this series, I did found some cringey dialogue in those but this one? Not at all.
The pining and the angst between Mary and Leo was so well done ( THE GROVELING) The spice arrived in the perfect moment and oh boy, I WAS SWEATING. The chemistry is off the charts and I loved how beautifully some important topics (bullying, SA) were dealt with in this one. this is how you write a second chance, black cat x golden retriever. The found family was truly my favorite thing.
I love when a man isn't afraid of talking about his feelings and is willing to sit down and work through them. He's a man obsessed, he worships the ground she walks on. I seriously loved this one so much!!!! Such a unique story. The epilogue was seriously one of the best ones I have ever read, specially since this is the last book in the series. Kandi did such a marvelous job. It's been so long since I've enjoyed a sports romance and this series will always have a place in my heart. 10/10 recommend 🫶🏻
Even though this is a college series it honestly doesn't feel like that because college topics are never discussed?? I's say more of like a sports romance / heading to pro and it feels more mature in my opinion.
The pining and the angst between Mary and Leo was so well done ( THE GROVELING) The spice arrived in the perfect moment and oh boy, I WAS SWEATING. The chemistry is off the charts and I loved how beautifully some important topics (bullying, SA) were dealt with in this one. this is how you write a second chance, black cat x golden retriever. The found family was truly my favorite thing.
I love when a man isn't afraid of talking about his feelings and is willing to sit down and work through them. He's a man obsessed, he worships the ground she walks on. I seriously loved this one so much!!!! Such a unique story. The epilogue was seriously one of the best ones I have ever read, specially since this is the last book in the series. Kandi did such a marvelous job. It's been so long since I've enjoyed a sports romance and this series will always have a place in my heart. 10/10 recommend 🫶🏻
Even though this is a college series it honestly doesn't feel like that because college topics are never discussed?? I's say more of like a sports romance / heading to pro and it feels more mature in my opinion.
February 17, 2023
3.5 stars.
No one can top Clay and Gianna in my opinion
📚 Tropes:
❣️Football romance
❣️Forced proximity
❣️Second chance romance
❣️Friends to hate to friends to more
❣️Opposites attract
❣️Secret identity (she knows who he is but he doesn’t know who she is)
No one can top Clay and Gianna in my opinion
📚 Tropes:
❣️Football romance
❣️Forced proximity
❣️Second chance romance
❣️Friends to hate to friends to more
❣️Opposites attract
❣️Secret identity (she knows who he is but he doesn’t know who she is)
November 8, 2023
I love Hail Mary. I thought Leo and Mary's story will be flat boring. But it turnes out to be sweet, fun and swoony at the same time. I think I finished it all this series. Miss Steiner definetly putting her heart on this story.
The overall of the story is NA sport romance. There are some football aspect on the story to make the plot more interesting. Mary is certainly an interesting character and good thing Miss Steiner did not paint her a weak crying heroine.
A good ending for the series.
4 stars
The overall of the story is NA sport romance. There are some football aspect on the story to make the plot more interesting. Mary is certainly an interesting character and good thing Miss Steiner did not paint her a weak crying heroine.
A good ending for the series.
4 stars
February 22, 2023
4,75/5⭐️
I’m going to miss this universe and these characters so much� This was such a perfect way to round up this series and I’m genuinely so happy that I was part of each of these characters� journey.
Now to the book itself. It was so freaking good omg� Kandi Steiner just keeps on improving and improving. I love to see it! This one is definitely my second favourite in the whole series. Tbh at some points I thought that it might become my favourite but let’s be honest� nothing can top Blind Side (at least imo).
Anyway.. I LOVE LEO AND MARY SO FREAKING MUCH. Mary is such a badass and such a queen ugh� I wanna be her when I get older. She’s so freaking cool and I just love that she’s a tattoo artist! Idk why but that makes her 10x hotter than she already is. I totally understand why Leo is so obsessed with her.
However, Leo is also pretty fucking amazing if I may say so.. He’s just everything you want a guy to be! Considerate, caring, understanding and obsessed with his girl! I love him. He’s def my second fav out of the other guys in the series.
Now let’s talk about the tropes. Fucking immaculate! Haters to lovers, forced proximity, neighbours turned to roommates, banter and so much freaking tension. Everything I love and want in a romance book!
I just love this book!
The only flaw imo is that both Mary and Leo could’ve handled things a lot more maturely than they originally did but other than that I loved this book and its story!
Overall, I’m going to miss these characters so freaking much but I’m so excited for what Kandi Steiner is planning on writing next. I heard her next book is supposed to be a hockey romance??? If yes then sign me tf up!!
I’m going to miss this universe and these characters so much� This was such a perfect way to round up this series and I’m genuinely so happy that I was part of each of these characters� journey.
Now to the book itself. It was so freaking good omg� Kandi Steiner just keeps on improving and improving. I love to see it! This one is definitely my second favourite in the whole series. Tbh at some points I thought that it might become my favourite but let’s be honest� nothing can top Blind Side (at least imo).
Anyway.. I LOVE LEO AND MARY SO FREAKING MUCH. Mary is such a badass and such a queen ugh� I wanna be her when I get older. She’s so freaking cool and I just love that she’s a tattoo artist! Idk why but that makes her 10x hotter than she already is. I totally understand why Leo is so obsessed with her.
However, Leo is also pretty fucking amazing if I may say so.. He’s just everything you want a guy to be! Considerate, caring, understanding and obsessed with his girl! I love him. He’s def my second fav out of the other guys in the series.
Now let’s talk about the tropes. Fucking immaculate! Haters to lovers, forced proximity, neighbours turned to roommates, banter and so much freaking tension. Everything I love and want in a romance book!
I just love this book!
The only flaw imo is that both Mary and Leo could’ve handled things a lot more maturely than they originally did but other than that I loved this book and its story!
Overall, I’m going to miss these characters so freaking much but I’m so excited for what Kandi Steiner is planning on writing next. I heard her next book is supposed to be a hockey romance??? If yes then sign me tf up!!
June 23, 2023
Sport Romance
Second Chance
New Adult/College
Me gustó más que el anterior pero nada como el libro de Clay ese libro es
Mary se queda sin hogar gracias a que su departamento se ha inundado por la tuberías rotas y necesita reparación y no sabe hasta cuando estará disponible, no tiene el suficiente dinero para pagar una renta más cara y volver a la casa de sus padres no es opción, Leo su vecino y la persona que más detesta, pero él quiere ayudarla y le ofrece el cuarto disponible de su casa hasta que la de ella esté habitable al no tener más opción acepta.
Ellos don tiene un pasado donde ella fue lastimada por él al ser rechazada y al ser un adolescente no tan agraciada y tímida le pegó más fuerte.
Leo en el presente no la reconoce y eso le enoja más a ella.
Y si quieren spoiler fue un malentendio por el que sufrieron ambos.
El final fue muy bonito y me gustó que salieran las parejas anteriores y sobre todo Clay y Gianna y su gran noticia, en serio los amo.
Second Chance
New Adult/College
Me gustó más que el anterior pero nada como el libro de Clay ese libro es
Mary se queda sin hogar gracias a que su departamento se ha inundado por la tuberías rotas y necesita reparación y no sabe hasta cuando estará disponible, no tiene el suficiente dinero para pagar una renta más cara y volver a la casa de sus padres no es opción, Leo su vecino y la persona que más detesta, pero él quiere ayudarla y le ofrece el cuarto disponible de su casa hasta que la de ella esté habitable al no tener más opción acepta.
Ellos don tiene un pasado donde ella fue lastimada por él al ser rechazada y al ser un adolescente no tan agraciada y tímida le pegó más fuerte.
Leo en el presente no la reconoce y eso le enoja más a ella.
Y si quieren spoiler fue un malentendio por el que sufrieron ambos.
El final fue muy bonito y me gustó que salieran las parejas anteriores y sobre todo Clay y Gianna y su gran noticia, en serio los amo.
June 11, 2023
4.5!!!
First off, thank you so much to Kandi & Valentine PR for the ARC!!! 💙 The Red Zone Rivals series quickly became one of my favorite series last year and it’s a bittersweet feeling to reach the final book. 🥹
I was hooked from the first page of this book! Because we are introduced to Mary and Leo in the earlier books and got a glimpse into their dynamic, I LOVED getting their full background very early on in the book.
THE ANGST. THE TENSION. WE LIVE FOR IT. Mary and Leo had crazy chemistry and the tension was INSANE. And trust me, when they finally give in to it 🥵🥵🥵 The spice was OUT OF THIS WORLD! Leo Hernandez now reserves the rights to be the only book bf to be associated with the 🍆 emoji.
My heart skipped beats seeing how much Leo was willing to do to be with Mary. This man was was protective of Mary, and not just physically, but protective of her dreams and was her number one supporter. WE LOVE TO SEE IT. 💓
I’m so so SO incredibly sad that this is the end of the series. I will miss all these characters SO MUCH. I’m not ready to let go 🥹
�
Series Overview (my opinion)
- Books: QS (one of my fav books of all time) > BS > HM > FC
- MMC: Holden > Clay > Leo > Zeke
- FMC: Giana > Julep > Mary > Riley
First off, thank you so much to Kandi & Valentine PR for the ARC!!! 💙 The Red Zone Rivals series quickly became one of my favorite series last year and it’s a bittersweet feeling to reach the final book. 🥹
I was hooked from the first page of this book! Because we are introduced to Mary and Leo in the earlier books and got a glimpse into their dynamic, I LOVED getting their full background very early on in the book.
THE ANGST. THE TENSION. WE LIVE FOR IT. Mary and Leo had crazy chemistry and the tension was INSANE. And trust me, when they finally give in to it 🥵🥵🥵 The spice was OUT OF THIS WORLD! Leo Hernandez now reserves the rights to be the only book bf to be associated with the 🍆 emoji.
My heart skipped beats seeing how much Leo was willing to do to be with Mary. This man was was protective of Mary, and not just physically, but protective of her dreams and was her number one supporter. WE LOVE TO SEE IT. 💓
I’m so so SO incredibly sad that this is the end of the series. I will miss all these characters SO MUCH. I’m not ready to let go 🥹
�
Series Overview (my opinion)
- Books: QS (one of my fav books of all time) > BS > HM > FC
- MMC: Holden > Clay > Leo > Zeke
- FMC: Giana > Julep > Mary > Riley
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