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Red Card
She spent five years planning a future that will never exist. He spent five years trying to erase a past he can’t forget.
London is Leah Watson’s fresh start. When she secures the perfect internship during her study abroad semester, with an infamous celebrity public relations firm, she is determined to forge her own path - one that is nothing like her life back in Oklahoma. That plan is tested when British football’s bad boy, Killian Ramsey, decides that she's the one he wants and he's playing for keeps.
Will she put her future on hold - again - for the type of man she swore she'd stay away from?
Killian is one bloody good football player. After a tragedy shattered his entire world, the cocky and arrogant face he puts on for the media is a complete lie. When he meets Leah, his heart starts to beat for the first time in years. But when the feelings get too real, his perfectly constructed facade starts to slip.
Will he risk it all to be with her - taking whatever penalties are thrown his way - or will he play it safe?
London is Leah Watson’s fresh start. When she secures the perfect internship during her study abroad semester, with an infamous celebrity public relations firm, she is determined to forge her own path - one that is nothing like her life back in Oklahoma. That plan is tested when British football’s bad boy, Killian Ramsey, decides that she's the one he wants and he's playing for keeps.
Will she put her future on hold - again - for the type of man she swore she'd stay away from?
Killian is one bloody good football player. After a tragedy shattered his entire world, the cocky and arrogant face he puts on for the media is a complete lie. When he meets Leah, his heart starts to beat for the first time in years. But when the feelings get too real, his perfectly constructed facade starts to slip.
Will he risk it all to be with her - taking whatever penalties are thrown his way - or will he play it safe?
264 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2016
266 people are currently reading
3067 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Aarons
63 books2,990 followersAuthor of romance novels such as Fleeting and Love at First Fight, Carrie Aarons writes books that are just as swoon-worthy as they are sarcastic. Her stories are fueled by vanilla lattes, meloncholy music, and copious amounts of candles.
When she isn't writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She lives in farm country with her husband, two children and ninety-pound rescue pup.
When she isn't writing, Carrie is busy binging reality TV, having a love/hate relationship with cardio, and trying not to burn dinner. She lives in farm country with her husband, two children and ninety-pound rescue pup.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 303 reviews
March 7, 2016
3.5-4 Stars!!
Carrie Aarons is a new author to me, so I didn’t know exactly what to expect, especially since sports romance novels are a hit or a miss to me. Overall, “Red Card” was an entertaining read. It was a great mix of steam, a little bit of angst and drama with two fun, well portrayed characters, enjoyable dialogue (at times) and great engaging writing.
“Red Card” fallows the story of Leah Watson, an American college student who needs and wants to forge her own path, after her jock boyfriend breaks up with her. To heal her broken heart and to plan and live her own life, Leah decides to start a PR internship in London. The celebrity public relations firm assigns her to be Killian Ramsey’s handler, London’s bad boy footballer.
From the moment Killian meets Leah, he knows he has to have her…in his bed...only in his bed, of course. She’s a complete enigma, capturing his attention more than any female had in the past five years, since he lost his wife so he comes with the brilliant idea his new handler to become his permanent handler.
Leah never stops to amaze him with her feistiness and not only. Now spending every day together Killian knows it’s just a matter of time until Leah will be his.
I liked this one! It was a fun read, written pretty well with a nice dose of steam that I really enjoyed! When we first meet Killian, he’s a total douchebag. He’s is such a cocky a$$. For sure you will be wanting to throttle him a little. I know I did. The man is sexy, gorgeous, but damn, he was so full of himself at times. I loved his bossiness, how dominant he was at times and his dirty talking. And his way with words was entertaining to say the least. I also liked how he was portrayed and the fact that he was so layered made him more enjoyable to me. The fact that his background was developed was pretty great as well. I’m not gonna lie, at times he wasn’t very likeable. He was childish, impulsive and also a little cruel, but overall he was a fun and charminga$$ character.
I liked Leah. She was a great, fun relatable character. The way she struggles with some new aspects in her life felt believable. I liked how feisty she was at times and how well she knew how to handle herself and also Killian. But I also have to say that at times she annoyed me a little bit. Also, some of her decisions didn’t sit well with me.
I love these two together and the chemistry between them. It was off the charts, really well done and I couldn’t get enough. The dynamic between Leah and Killian was fantastically done and the sexual tension so palpable from the start.
What I didn’t like very much was the lack of communication between the MC at some point. Also, I didn’t comprehend why the relationship between them was considered to be taboo. Yes, Leah worked for Killian, but I don’t think is accurate to label their relationship in such a way.
Overall, a nice, enjoyable read, so I’m looking forward to read more books from this author.
Carrie Aarons is a new author to me, so I didn’t know exactly what to expect, especially since sports romance novels are a hit or a miss to me. Overall, “Red Card” was an entertaining read. It was a great mix of steam, a little bit of angst and drama with two fun, well portrayed characters, enjoyable dialogue (at times) and great engaging writing.
“Red Card” fallows the story of Leah Watson, an American college student who needs and wants to forge her own path, after her jock boyfriend breaks up with her. To heal her broken heart and to plan and live her own life, Leah decides to start a PR internship in London. The celebrity public relations firm assigns her to be Killian Ramsey’s handler, London’s bad boy footballer.
“I'm Killian Ramsey, if you somehow forgot, and I have enough pull to get you thrown out of Britain on your arse by the Queen herself."
From the moment Killian meets Leah, he knows he has to have her…in his bed...only in his bed, of course. She’s a complete enigma, capturing his attention more than any female had in the past five years, since he lost his wife so he comes with the brilliant idea his new handler to become his permanent handler.
“Leah Watson is like a Rubik's Cube. Every time I think I've got her figured out, she throws me another side, infinitely complicating my plan to seduce her. She's a challenge, and those don't come along often in my life now.”
Leah never stops to amaze him with her feistiness and not only. Now spending every day together Killian knows it’s just a matter of time until Leah will be his.
"I am bad. But I'm not a boy, I'm a man. Have you ever been with a man, little lamb?"
I liked this one! It was a fun read, written pretty well with a nice dose of steam that I really enjoyed! When we first meet Killian, he’s a total douchebag. He’s is such a cocky a$$. For sure you will be wanting to throttle him a little. I know I did. The man is sexy, gorgeous, but damn, he was so full of himself at times. I loved his bossiness, how dominant he was at times and his dirty talking. And his way with words was entertaining to say the least. I also liked how he was portrayed and the fact that he was so layered made him more enjoyable to me. The fact that his background was developed was pretty great as well. I’m not gonna lie, at times he wasn’t very likeable. He was childish, impulsive and also a little cruel, but overall he was a fun and charming
“Out of all of the women I could have taken interest with, Leah Watson had to be the most peculiar one. American, young enough to be taboo for me, and with a mouth on her.”
I liked Leah. She was a great, fun relatable character. The way she struggles with some new aspects in her life felt believable. I liked how feisty she was at times and how well she knew how to handle herself and also Killian. But I also have to say that at times she annoyed me a little bit. Also, some of her decisions didn’t sit well with me.
I love these two together and the chemistry between them. It was off the charts, really well done and I couldn’t get enough. The dynamic between Leah and Killian was fantastically done and the sexual tension so palpable from the start.
What I didn’t like very much was the lack of communication between the MC at some point. Also, I didn’t comprehend why the relationship between them was considered to be taboo. Yes, Leah worked for Killian, but I don’t think is accurate to label their relationship in such a way.
Overall, a nice, enjoyable read, so I’m looking forward to read more books from this author.
May 15, 2022
what in the wattpad did i just read?
the author definitely read some Harry Styles fanfic back in the day bcos this was like After but just a fraction of the length. the British bad boy alcoholic with a troubled past, yum.
and you can’t convince me that the author didn’t just write Gordon Ramsey as a twenty-something year old play boy bachelor. Killian’s last name was even Ramsey. the shit he said was so reminiscent of:
and the classic:
it felt even more like a fanfic with how bland, generic, flavourless, boring, completely indistinguishable Leah was. there was truly nothing unique, interesting or special about her in any way. she felt like a Y/N heroine.
i didn’t understand what exactly about Leah enthralled Killian. she looks like every other bitch.
but im not here for that😌
i am here to judge the shit out of the “Britishness” of this book. it’s truly one of my fave things reading an American female author write a “British bad boy” with zero research and endless cliches. i think the one direction fanfic era resulted in this bizarre obsession with British boys, with American girls thinking they’re all:
when really they’re all:
i think this about sums up British boys/men: the boys in my year at school used to strangle each other until they passed out to see who would be passed out the longest/shortest.
the rest of my review is full of spoilers, so if you plan on reading this book ~~~don’t~~~
first and foremost, the moment the author had the British H say “ass” instead of “arse” i knew i was about to be in for a wild ride. the classic slightly-distorted Union Jack front cover with said bad boy alcoholic with an eight-pack should have given me a heads up, but alas... i am a glutton for punishment.
then the moment Killian said: “Jimmy's accent was more Scottish than British”, that was the last nail in the proverbial coffin. if he has a Scottish accent, he also has a British accent. Scotland is in Britain. Britain = England, Wales and Scotland.
at least look at a MAP before you decide to write a British hero💀
so here is my compiled list below of some of the truly wild shit this author wrote:
ah yes bcos the Queen personally throws people out of the country. the old bint doesn’t even know what day it is.
green. her eyes are fucking green.
wtf is an “American scent”. so if there’s an American scent, presumably there’s scents for every nation? British people must smell of tea, rain and racism.
the most accurate aspect of the novel was having British people be judgemental pricks, laughing at the misery of a stranger but refusing to offer them any help
i could write a whole separate review on what a fucking dick Killian was. he calls Leah a whore, a slag, a slut, a “kit chaser” and every other name under the sun constantly and never apologises for it😭 the man strips her naked, her thinking they’re about to have sex until last minute, he pulls away and proceeds to call her a whore in visceral detail, throws her clothes at her and tells her to get the fuck out of his house... that about sums him up.
he believes a bunch of media shit about her that wasn’t true which is why he called her a whore and such on many occasions. yet would get pissed when people believed shit about him, i.e. speculating about his dead wife’s suicide. you’d think him of all people would know the media grossly exaggerates a lot of gossip, but no.
and speaking of his dead wife who killed her self after a miscarriage... was that supposed to evoke some type of response from me? bcos it was just so ridiculously executed that i was just like “i– okay??” i didn’t empathise with him. didn’t feel his grief. didn’t know his dead wife beyond her name. she was a plot device and nothing more.
while Leah just rolled over like a good lil dog. the man could have demanded she wear a diamond studded collar while he parades her around Camden markets and telling her to bark and she’d be shitting on the pavement while trying to hump his leg. she didn’t even make him work for any of it. i mean, her roommate summed her up perfectly:
idk why she was offended when it was the perfect tag line for her lmaooo.
she goes back to him time and time again while he puts in zero effort. she gets heckled at his football matches, abuse hurled at her calling her a slag and he just stands there like 🧍♂️ and when he plays badly, he blames her? bcos their relationship is now public they have a lot of media attention and it is clearly all Leah’s fault. he uses her for sex and refuses to talk to her... a fully grown man.
way to kick a girl when she’s down😭😭
he did it all bcos of the media and the public opinions about the two of them... why would the British public or the tabloids give a flying fuck about a mediocre football player of a no name team shagging a random lass from Oklahoma??
and have him declare his love for her on BBC breakfast while the you’ve got fucking Susanna Reid trying to give the latest new updates👁👄👁
id also like to know if he fucked that “lanky brunette” he was publicly seen with, who he admitted he went out with knowing Leah would see it and hurt🤡 soooo, did he just dance with her? especially bcos they had unprotected sex after they reunited so i hope she didn’t get an STI-infested coochie from whatever the fuck he was up to in her absence.
this woman was whipped for a BTEC Hardin Scott and really said shit like “And as time went by, your love made me believe.” believe in what? believe that straight white men don’t deserve rights??
the book did make me laugh tho. the pure audacity of this man ahaha. i went into this with the lowest of expectations bcos i wanted a ridiculous book to read, honestly. i didn’t even read the sex scenes bcos Killian genuinely thought he was a sex god with some of the shite her spouted.
it delivered on the ridiculousness, i just didn’t expect it to be quite so bad.
the author definitely read some Harry Styles fanfic back in the day bcos this was like After but just a fraction of the length. the British bad boy alcoholic with a troubled past, yum.
and you can’t convince me that the author didn’t just write Gordon Ramsey as a twenty-something year old play boy bachelor. Killian’s last name was even Ramsey. the shit he said was so reminiscent of:
and the classic:
it felt even more like a fanfic with how bland, generic, flavourless, boring, completely indistinguishable Leah was. there was truly nothing unique, interesting or special about her in any way. she felt like a Y/N heroine.
i didn’t understand what exactly about Leah enthralled Killian. she looks like every other bitch.
but im not here for that😌
i am here to judge the shit out of the “Britishness” of this book. it’s truly one of my fave things reading an American female author write a “British bad boy” with zero research and endless cliches. i think the one direction fanfic era resulted in this bizarre obsession with British boys, with American girls thinking they’re all:
when really they’re all:
i think this about sums up British boys/men: the boys in my year at school used to strangle each other until they passed out to see who would be passed out the longest/shortest.
the rest of my review is full of spoilers, so if you plan on reading this book ~~~don’t~~~
first and foremost, the moment the author had the British H say “ass” instead of “arse” i knew i was about to be in for a wild ride. the classic slightly-distorted Union Jack front cover with said bad boy alcoholic with an eight-pack should have given me a heads up, but alas... i am a glutton for punishment.
then the moment Killian said: “Jimmy's accent was more Scottish than British”, that was the last nail in the proverbial coffin. if he has a Scottish accent, he also has a British accent. Scotland is in Britain. Britain = England, Wales and Scotland.
at least look at a MAP before you decide to write a British hero💀
so here is my compiled list below of some of the truly wild shit this author wrote:
☕️ putting ”bloody” before every other word makes you sound like Ron Weasley or Danny Dyer— no one uses the word that much.
☕️ “I half expected "God Save The Queen" to be blaring out of the speakers and those funny looking guards to be strutting around as I made my way into the terminal.”
id honestly say that more often than not, people in Britain don’t know the national anthem word for word... me. i am people. i know the first few lines if that helps?
☕️ the first British person Leah meets she dubs as “Bond” in her head. she even says he has a cockney accent and still calls him Bond? and of course, he uses the pet-name “poppet” bcos all British people do🙄 (i can safely say, i have never met anyone who uses this nickname - maybe in Dickensian England?)
☕️ just Killian’s character. the nerve of this man for just breathing.
“I'm Killian Ramsey, if you somehow forgot, and I have enough pull to get you thrown out of Britain on your arse by the Queen herself.”
ah yes bcos the Queen personally throws people out of the country. the old bint doesn’t even know what day it is.
She had eyes the color of the pitch at Wembley.
green. her eyes are fucking green.
I inhaled her American scent, sweet and natural.
wtf is an “American scent”. so if there’s an American scent, presumably there’s scents for every nation? British people must smell of tea, rain and racism.
☕️ the man kissed her with his eyes open👁👄👁
☕️ no English footballer is famous enough that he needs to wear a fake moustache when he leaves the house🥸 “A baseball hat, pulled low, sunglasses hiding my eyes, and a mustache for extra coverage.”
☕️ ”I got her a cup of sweet corn with cheese as we walked the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Walk to Buckingham Palace.” unfortunately this is accurate🤡 idk why people eat sweet corn in a tub with toppings... the smell that fills the whole area where the stand is located is abhorrent.
☕️ the eighth wonder of the world ✨Primark✨
“Did you know that there is a heaven? In fact, it resides right in London, England if you weren’t aware.
In between Paddington and Piccadilly Circus, there is a shop called Primark. And in there I found Jesus.”
☕️ the constant incorrect use of slang/jargon/colloquialisms. half the characters were cringey caricatures.
“And Leah, she's blimey brilliant, Kill.” that doesn’t even make any sense? it’s like the author threw a dart at a board full of words that are “British” and it landed on that one. blimey isn’t an emphasiser. blimey is an exclamation, usually one of disbelief or shock. you’d say “oh blimey! didn’t you there” if someone snuck up on you and scared the shit out of you.
the most accurate aspect of the novel was having British people be judgemental pricks, laughing at the misery of a stranger but refusing to offer them any help
i could write a whole separate review on what a fucking dick Killian was. he calls Leah a whore, a slag, a slut, a “kit chaser” and every other name under the sun constantly and never apologises for it😭 the man strips her naked, her thinking they’re about to have sex until last minute, he pulls away and proceeds to call her a whore in visceral detail, throws her clothes at her and tells her to get the fuck out of his house... that about sums him up.
he believes a bunch of media shit about her that wasn’t true which is why he called her a whore and such on many occasions. yet would get pissed when people believed shit about him, i.e. speculating about his dead wife’s suicide. you’d think him of all people would know the media grossly exaggerates a lot of gossip, but no.
and speaking of his dead wife who killed her self after a miscarriage... was that supposed to evoke some type of response from me? bcos it was just so ridiculously executed that i was just like “i– okay??” i didn’t empathise with him. didn’t feel his grief. didn’t know his dead wife beyond her name. she was a plot device and nothing more.
while Leah just rolled over like a good lil dog. the man could have demanded she wear a diamond studded collar while he parades her around Camden markets and telling her to bark and she’d be shitting on the pavement while trying to hump his leg. she didn’t even make him work for any of it. i mean, her roommate summed her up perfectly:
”Says the lass who is so hooked on the orgasms he's giving her that he roped her back in with just a crook of his very skilled fingers." Bridget laughed.
I frowned, not liking the weak way she summed me up.
idk why she was offended when it was the perfect tag line for her lmaooo.
she goes back to him time and time again while he puts in zero effort. she gets heckled at his football matches, abuse hurled at her calling her a slag and he just stands there like 🧍♂️ and when he plays badly, he blames her? bcos their relationship is now public they have a lot of media attention and it is clearly all Leah’s fault. he uses her for sex and refuses to talk to her... a fully grown man.
”I love you, Killian. Why do you think I’ve put up with all of this for so long?”
“I don’t know why. There is nothing special here. We had a fling. It was convenient. You were around, you’re hot, you’re young. Come on Leah, you didn’t think this was going to be a forever thing right?”
way to kick a girl when she’s down😭😭
he did it all bcos of the media and the public opinions about the two of them... why would the British public or the tabloids give a flying fuck about a mediocre football player of a no name team shagging a random lass from Oklahoma??
and have him declare his love for her on BBC breakfast while the you’ve got fucking Susanna Reid trying to give the latest new updates👁👄👁
id also like to know if he fucked that “lanky brunette” he was publicly seen with, who he admitted he went out with knowing Leah would see it and hurt🤡 soooo, did he just dance with her? especially bcos they had unprotected sex after they reunited so i hope she didn’t get an STI-infested coochie from whatever the fuck he was up to in her absence.
this woman was whipped for a BTEC Hardin Scott and really said shit like “And as time went by, your love made me believe.” believe in what? believe that straight white men don’t deserve rights??
the book did make me laugh tho. the pure audacity of this man ahaha. i went into this with the lowest of expectations bcos i wanted a ridiculous book to read, honestly. i didn’t even read the sex scenes bcos Killian genuinely thought he was a sex god with some of the shite her spouted.
it delivered on the ridiculousness, i just didn’t expect it to be quite so bad.
February 14, 2016
4-4.5 STARS
Such a fun read! I loved it from the beginning till the end. It's realistic and refreshing with authentic dialogues and lovable characters. The story is funny, fast paced, sexy and at times emotional. Seriously where has this author been and why haven’t I heard of her before now?? I loved the writing and I couldn't stop reading. I read it so fast and was sad to reach the end, I wish I had more.
Leah has a perfect life with her boyfriend. She was ready for everything until he dumps her. Now she is in London trying to find herself and starting a new job. Killian is a famous hot, arrogant British football player. When these two will meet everything will change for both of them.
Leah is such a lovable character. I enjoyed watching her grow up through the progression of the story. She is strong and funny. And Killian is one of those characters you want to hug and never leave one minute, and then at others you just want to smack him, because he is cocky and arrogant! But once you learn about his back story, you can understand him better.
I loved when these two were together. There was always tension and passion between them and there are some really hot moments.
I still can’t believe I’ve been missing out on this author, but I’m glad I have finally read some of her work. I’m eager to read more. This was an amazing read, if you are looking for a refreshing and fast paced read with a sexy football player, then this is perfect for you!!
*An advance reading copy was generously provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Such a fun read! I loved it from the beginning till the end. It's realistic and refreshing with authentic dialogues and lovable characters. The story is funny, fast paced, sexy and at times emotional. Seriously where has this author been and why haven’t I heard of her before now?? I loved the writing and I couldn't stop reading. I read it so fast and was sad to reach the end, I wish I had more.
Leah has a perfect life with her boyfriend. She was ready for everything until he dumps her. Now she is in London trying to find herself and starting a new job. Killian is a famous hot, arrogant British football player. When these two will meet everything will change for both of them.
Leah is such a lovable character. I enjoyed watching her grow up through the progression of the story. She is strong and funny. And Killian is one of those characters you want to hug and never leave one minute, and then at others you just want to smack him, because he is cocky and arrogant! But once you learn about his back story, you can understand him better.
I loved when these two were together. There was always tension and passion between them and there are some really hot moments.
I still can’t believe I’ve been missing out on this author, but I’m glad I have finally read some of her work. I’m eager to read more. This was an amazing read, if you are looking for a refreshing and fast paced read with a sexy football player, then this is perfect for you!!
*An advance reading copy was generously provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
February 8, 2016
4 yadda yadda STARS
This is one hot sexy read. It was a fun, fast and light read with loads of hot smexy times. Leah Watson is an all American girl who’s smart, a beauty and as good as apple pie. She fled the US to heal a broken heart after her jock boyfriend of 5 years ditches her. She realizes that she’s been living her life for a man and now, she needs to chart her own path.
The story starts with her landing in London, England, where she has a PR internship. No sooner has she landed and Leah’s assigned as handler for Killian Ramsey.
Leah has no clue who he is but she soon discovers that while he’s super sexy and handsome, he’s also arrogant, short tempered and an all-around arse!
Killian Ramsey is a very high profile football player with a bad boy persona, which is all backed up with the attitude to match. While not identical, I equated Killian to David Beckham. The way he’s described, Kill has the presence, the craze and “sweet mother of all that is holy” hotness of Beckham.
Leah was funny and relatable although she had work to do on her confidence and independence. While she’s supposed to be finding herself and learning to stand on her own two feet, she quickly gets entangled with another athlete, Kill. These two had chemistry and the sex was hot!
I liked that Leah did grow and struggle with her self-discovery and found her ups and downs realistic given Killian was a force: strong and dominant.
Killian is a complex character who could be immature at times and has many demons that he has no clue how to exorcise. He was also lethal with his tongue (in more ways than one), he could be sexy, charming and amiable when he wanted to be and then with the flick of switch, out came the volatile fiend that would lash out with fiery, hurtful words. I had my moments where I wanted to punch him in the throat or the balls or both!
Both Killian and Leah have had their share of heartbreak and have work to do in overcoming insecurities but who doesn’t? I enjoyed that both characters grew and developed and neither of them got it right the first time. Self-improvement’s a work in progress and I think Carrie did a great job of conveying that.
“I’ll give you everything I have. All of me. I’m yours.”
This was an enjoyable read although I felt the ending wrapped up real quick where I would have liked a little bit more. This was my first read from Carrie Aarons and I’m looking forward to more from her.
**ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
This is one hot sexy read. It was a fun, fast and light read with loads of hot smexy times. Leah Watson is an all American girl who’s smart, a beauty and as good as apple pie. She fled the US to heal a broken heart after her jock boyfriend of 5 years ditches her. She realizes that she’s been living her life for a man and now, she needs to chart her own path.
The story starts with her landing in London, England, where she has a PR internship. No sooner has she landed and Leah’s assigned as handler for Killian Ramsey.
Leah has no clue who he is but she soon discovers that while he’s super sexy and handsome, he’s also arrogant, short tempered and an all-around arse!
Killian Ramsey is a very high profile football player with a bad boy persona, which is all backed up with the attitude to match. While not identical, I equated Killian to David Beckham. The way he’s described, Kill has the presence, the craze and “sweet mother of all that is holy” hotness of Beckham.
Leah was funny and relatable although she had work to do on her confidence and independence. While she’s supposed to be finding herself and learning to stand on her own two feet, she quickly gets entangled with another athlete, Kill. These two had chemistry and the sex was hot!
I liked that Leah did grow and struggle with her self-discovery and found her ups and downs realistic given Killian was a force: strong and dominant.
Killian is a complex character who could be immature at times and has many demons that he has no clue how to exorcise. He was also lethal with his tongue (in more ways than one), he could be sexy, charming and amiable when he wanted to be and then with the flick of switch, out came the volatile fiend that would lash out with fiery, hurtful words. I had my moments where I wanted to punch him in the throat or the balls or both!
Both Killian and Leah have had their share of heartbreak and have work to do in overcoming insecurities but who doesn’t? I enjoyed that both characters grew and developed and neither of them got it right the first time. Self-improvement’s a work in progress and I think Carrie did a great job of conveying that.
“I’ll give you everything I have. All of me. I’m yours.”
This was an enjoyable read although I felt the ending wrapped up real quick where I would have liked a little bit more. This was my first read from Carrie Aarons and I’m looking forward to more from her.
**ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.**
February 13, 2016
Title: Red Card
Series: Standalone
Author: Carrie Aarons
Release date: February 14, 2016
Cliffhanger: No
HEA
This author is completely new to me, and I'm so glad I decided to give her book a try. Anyone who reads my reviews regularly knows that I'm obsessed with Sports Romance. So obviously it goes without saying that this book was calling to me. I'll read just about anything in the genre, but throw in the fact that the hero is a hot athlete with a British accent, and I was jumping to get my hands on a copy.
After a long string of passable but not overly exciting arcs, this book was a nice refreshing set of pace. To be honest, I was a little concerned in the beginning whether or not I would be able to handle the hero. Fair warning, he's a complete and utter ass. Some readers really go for that type of hero, but I'm extremely picky when it comes to that, and it doesn't always work for me. He fits douchebag to a capital D and thoroughly full of himself and I'm not playing around about that.
I didn't get paid to kiss babies and spoon fed people shite in speeches. I was paid to play football and win championships for my club and our country. And I did the job well.
I found myself mentally wanting to commit character murder in the first few chapters. But...thankfully in the end he was more than redeemable which is what I always look for in these types of heroes.
This book is about Leah Watson, a college student starting a PR internship in London and Killian Ramsey, the tortured football bad boy whom she's assigned to handle with the press. Leah is somewhat of a naive one thrown in with the sharks of the entertainment and sports industries. She thinks this is her fresh start after a hurtful betrayal by her ex, but she's about to get much more than she bargained for.
Killian falls in lust at first sight with her, and he only grows more intrigued by her harsh rejection. She isn't the slightest bit tempted to be one of his temporary, nameless women (okay, so maybe a little tempted). He's so intrigued by her at their first event together, that he makes sure that she's assigned solely to him for all future press events. He figures it's only a matter of time before he wears her down. Figuring out what makes her tick will be an added bonus, because he can't seem to stop thinking about her despite his aversion to letting emotions in with the opposite sex.
Leah Watson is like a Rubik's Cube. Every time I think I've got her figured out, she throws me another side, infinitely complicating my plan to seduce her. She's a challenge, and those don't come along often in my life now.
These two had some combustible chemistry together with plenty of dirty talking by Killian. The tension was just delicious between them, I was cheering for them to get it on, and let me tell you-they didn't disappoint.
Heat. Sweetness. Perfection. Want. Desire. I think of all of these things as I move my lips over hers. Not even in a kiss, but more of a taste. A swipe of her lips, as if I was licking sweet cream off the corners of her mouth, savoring each delicious moment.
I had a couple of issues with the story, but nothing too major that took away from my overall enjoyment.
1) The emphasis on their age difference.
Now, it just so happens that the age difference between the h/H is eight years-the same between me and my husband. Some people may feel that this is significant and/or an odd pairing. Personally, I just don't see any issue whatsoever. So when he's thought of and referred to as much older on numerous occasions...I didn't get it. The man is 30 years old, not old enough to merit that title. Their relationship was even referred to as "taboo" which I really didn't get.
2) His thoughts for not wanting to go public with their relationship
To me, his reasoning didn't add up.
My small complaints aside, I was happily ensconced in Killian and Leah's world and was rooting for their HEA until the end. What I loved about this book: the writing was fast paced and effortless to sink into. During a time when I was finding it hard to escape into my books easily, I picked up Red Card and read it almost entirely in one night. It was light, hot, and satisfied my athlete romance addiction with ease. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future, this was a pleasant surprise that was worth the gamble.
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July 27, 2017
3.5 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was better than I thought it'd be, but I still had some complaints. I had big issues with the H pushing the h away at one point and causing a separation. I also had some issues with both of them needing to communicate better. Overall it was enjoyable, but I wouldn't quite give it 4 "liked it" stars...so I'm going with 3.5.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Leah and Killian's story. Leah in moving to London to attend college and work an internship at a big PR firm. She just had a very public break-up from her OU football star boyfriend of 5 years, and she needed to get away. Killian is London's bad-boy soccer star, and she gets assigned to do his "handling" for a movie premier right off the plain. They have instant attraction, and she shocks him when she turns down his advances. He cannot stop thinking about her, so he requests that she personally handle all of his PR needs. They start a physical and eventually emotional relationship. There is some drama caused by bad communication, some sexy times, a few sweet times, and some bigger drama caused by the media and their past demons...but they get their HEA in the end.
POV: This alternated between Leah and Killian's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Ok. There were a few time jumps, and I wanted to experience those times with the h and H to further my own feelings of their connection. Otherwise, I didn't skim and I felt like it flowed well.
Instalove: No. Instalust for sure, but I think the deeper feelings took longer.
H rating: 3 stars. Killian. He was hot, cocky, and sweet at times. I did have issues with his lack of communication at times, as well as his pushing the h away.
h rating: 3.5 stars. Leah. She was kind of lost in the beginning, but she was trying hard to not make the same mistakes she did with her ex. I wanted her to be a little stronger, and she too needed to work on communication at times.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I did shed a few tears, but it never turned into ugly crying or needing tissues.
Heat level: Moderate. They have some good chemistry and sexy times.
Descriptive sex: Yes.
Safe sex: Yes and no. No condoms used, but there is a birth control talk (I don't remember a std status talk).
OW/OM drama: Mild
Sex scene with OW or OM: No.
Cheating: I'd say no, but some might have issues.
Possible Triggers: Mild
Closure: This had some good closure with a HEA ending in a jump ahead epilogue.
How I got it: It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.
Safety: Safe with exception
Overall Opinion: This was better than I thought it'd be, but I still had some complaints. I had big issues with the H pushing the h away at one point and causing a separation. I also had some issues with both of them needing to communicate better. Overall it was enjoyable, but I wouldn't quite give it 4 "liked it" stars...so I'm going with 3.5.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Leah and Killian's story. Leah in moving to London to attend college and work an internship at a big PR firm. She just had a very public break-up from her OU football star boyfriend of 5 years, and she needed to get away. Killian is London's bad-boy soccer star, and she gets assigned to do his "handling" for a movie premier right off the plain. They have instant attraction, and she shocks him when she turns down his advances. He cannot stop thinking about her, so he requests that she personally handle all of his PR needs. They start a physical and eventually emotional relationship. There is some drama caused by bad communication, some sexy times, a few sweet times, and some bigger drama caused by the media and their past demons...but they get their HEA in the end.
POV: This alternated between Leah and Killian's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Ok. There were a few time jumps, and I wanted to experience those times with the h and H to further my own feelings of their connection. Otherwise, I didn't skim and I felt like it flowed well.
Instalove: No. Instalust for sure, but I think the deeper feelings took longer.
H rating: 3 stars. Killian. He was hot, cocky, and sweet at times. I did have issues with his lack of communication at times, as well as his pushing the h away.
h rating: 3.5 stars. Leah. She was kind of lost in the beginning, but she was trying hard to not make the same mistakes she did with her ex. I wanted her to be a little stronger, and she too needed to work on communication at times.
Sadness level: Low/moderate. I did shed a few tears, but it never turned into ugly crying or needing tissues.
Heat level: Moderate. They have some good chemistry and sexy times.
Descriptive sex: Yes.
Safe sex: Yes and no. No condoms used, but there is a birth control talk (I don't remember a std status talk).
OW/OM drama: Mild
Sex scene with OW or OM: No.
Cheating: I'd say no, but some might have issues.
Possible Triggers: Mild
Closure: This had some good closure with a HEA ending in a jump ahead epilogue.
How I got it: It was part of my kindle unlimited subscription.
Safety: Safe with exception
June 3, 2016
Carrie Aarons has done it again! SCORE! Red Card is funny, spicy & intriguing all rolled into one amazing package. Leah Watson life has been turned upside down when her high school sweetheart and top prospect for NHL draft dumps her after years of planning their future together. Now Leah must grab hold of the reins of her own future and an opportunity to study and intern with a top PA company is just what she needs to get her life back on track for herself. Killian Ramsey, British football’s star and bad boy, is a broken man but puts on a cocky face to the media. When Leah walks into his life he knows he has to have her at all costs, even if that means forcing her to work for him. When things become to real for Killian will he go back to his old hateful guarded ways? Will Leah break her promise to herself to not put someone's future before her own or will she fall back to what she's only known?
This book floored me! I read it in one day, I couldn't put it down. The chemistry between this two characters is undeniable and the heat was off the charts! I loved the fish out of water aspect with Leah traveling to London and experiencing living in a different country. Killian back story was heart breaking and I understood why he took out his pain the way he did. Leah's personal struggle to break the mold she's put herself in before and not repeat her mistakes is realistic and completely relate-able. I truly wish I could give this book more than 5 Stars because it deserves it. Carrie Aarons doesn't disappoint again! Truly a go to author in my books!
*** Reviewed for Sweet & Spicy Reads - ARC provided for a honest review ***
This book floored me! I read it in one day, I couldn't put it down. The chemistry between this two characters is undeniable and the heat was off the charts! I loved the fish out of water aspect with Leah traveling to London and experiencing living in a different country. Killian back story was heart breaking and I understood why he took out his pain the way he did. Leah's personal struggle to break the mold she's put herself in before and not repeat her mistakes is realistic and completely relate-able. I truly wish I could give this book more than 5 Stars because it deserves it. Carrie Aarons doesn't disappoint again! Truly a go to author in my books!
*** Reviewed for Sweet & Spicy Reads - ARC provided for a honest review ***
February 8, 2016
☆ I received an ARC via the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! ☆
"If there was one thing I didn't let go of, it was a challenge."
Leah Watson has had her fill of being the perfect arm candy of superstar jocks. After devastatingly being dumped by her boyfriend of five years and the next uprising star to be picked in the NFL draft, Leah brokenly decided to pick up and start a new life in another country where no one will know her.
That is, until, her new PR job lands her the account of 'handling' football allstar Killian, who is just as hot headed and hot tempered as he is on and off the field, and drags Leah back to square one.
From the moment Killian lays eyes on Leah, he knows there's something about her.
Pursuing her relentlessly, and yet, tortured by the pangs of his own guilt and past-- Killian is forced to confront his growing feelings for Leah, his future, and his career prospects.
"Usually everything is dumped in my lap, and she is not one of them. It makes me want to fight tooth and nail to get it. To get her."
I think sports-romance fans will be in a treat with this, as it entails a dominant, badboy alpha Brit with a turbulent past and an all American girl next girl looking to find her own identity and place.
"Every time I think I've got her figured out, she shows me another side, indefinitely complicating my plan to seduce her. She's a challenge, and those don't come along often in my life now."
I'm not going to lie and say that this is a smooth sailing read. Killian is a very troubled and conflicted character and is a bomb ticking. He reacts on impulse and a lot of the time spews and throws fights before his brain can even process. A lot of the times, hurting those he loves most, particularly, Leah.
As for Leah, coming to Britain was about self growth and discovery. While I do believe she does essentially cover this in spades, in entirety, I also felt that in some aspects she did not get the full experience by meeting and embarking into a relationship with Killian so early on and investing almost everything (her time and energy) majority on him. I mean, wasn't this move to find yourself and not just be some jocks gal?
In some ways, I honestly felt as if Killian did not deserve Leah. While I did understand him and where his angst is from, I did find him immature at times and very cruel to Leah when it was unwarranted.
My last comment about this read is in regards to the ending. It did feel a little rushed, and I did also want an update on things besides just if Leah and Killian end up together or not. I wanted to know about his soccer career since he was already 30 years old in the book. ... I wanted to know more about Leah and her own career as well.
I just... really wanted to see more progress all in all, more so from Leah, since between her and Killian, I felt as if this was actually more of her story than his. Although, in respect to that, you could say that for Killian, it was about healing and self redemption. But that's just me.
All in all though, a great first read for me from author Carrie Aarons!! I look forward to her future works!!
"If there was one thing I didn't let go of, it was a challenge."
Leah Watson has had her fill of being the perfect arm candy of superstar jocks. After devastatingly being dumped by her boyfriend of five years and the next uprising star to be picked in the NFL draft, Leah brokenly decided to pick up and start a new life in another country where no one will know her.
That is, until, her new PR job lands her the account of 'handling' football allstar Killian, who is just as hot headed and hot tempered as he is on and off the field, and drags Leah back to square one.
From the moment Killian lays eyes on Leah, he knows there's something about her.
Pursuing her relentlessly, and yet, tortured by the pangs of his own guilt and past-- Killian is forced to confront his growing feelings for Leah, his future, and his career prospects.
"Usually everything is dumped in my lap, and she is not one of them. It makes me want to fight tooth and nail to get it. To get her."
I think sports-romance fans will be in a treat with this, as it entails a dominant, badboy alpha Brit with a turbulent past and an all American girl next girl looking to find her own identity and place.
"Every time I think I've got her figured out, she shows me another side, indefinitely complicating my plan to seduce her. She's a challenge, and those don't come along often in my life now."
I'm not going to lie and say that this is a smooth sailing read. Killian is a very troubled and conflicted character and is a bomb ticking. He reacts on impulse and a lot of the time spews and throws fights before his brain can even process. A lot of the times, hurting those he loves most, particularly, Leah.
As for Leah, coming to Britain was about self growth and discovery. While I do believe she does essentially cover this in spades, in entirety, I also felt that in some aspects she did not get the full experience by meeting and embarking into a relationship with Killian so early on and investing almost everything (her time and energy) majority on him. I mean, wasn't this move to find yourself and not just be some jocks gal?
In some ways, I honestly felt as if Killian did not deserve Leah. While I did understand him and where his angst is from, I did find him immature at times and very cruel to Leah when it was unwarranted.
My last comment about this read is in regards to the ending. It did feel a little rushed, and I did also want an update on things besides just if Leah and Killian end up together or not. I wanted to know about his soccer career since he was already 30 years old in the book. ... I wanted to know more about Leah and her own career as well.
I just... really wanted to see more progress all in all, more so from Leah, since between her and Killian, I felt as if this was actually more of her story than his. Although, in respect to that, you could say that for Killian, it was about healing and self redemption. But that's just me.
All in all though, a great first read for me from author Carrie Aarons!! I look forward to her future works!!
December 11, 2016
I was enjoying the book. This isn't a review on the book, but on the blatant racist comments which took place at 26%.
As an Arab myself who LIVES in London (South Kensington specifically) I was shocked that this author used the false stereotype of Arab men to depict the supposed 'dangerous' area of Edgware Road (where my current gay Arab homosexual male friend lives and feels extremely safe).
This is the paragraph:
"I drive up Edgeware road, flinching as I see what she's living so close to. Men, with their dangerous and wandering eyes, openly cat calling any women on the street that aren't dressed in traditional Middle Eastern garb. Children begging in and out of restaurants, the men who fathered them sitting closely by ogling any modern female. It wasn't a ghetto necessarily, but it wasn't the safest area in the city."
This is false. Completely. As I said, my best friend lives on Edgeware road. His neighbours on the floor are Russians, and Germans. Families who dress western style who NEVER ONCE felt threatened in the area from the supposed "dangerous" men. Secondly, I am a female who has walked up and down Edgware Road thousands of times wearing skirts, shorts, tank tops. Never once have I felt threatened. If anything, I appreciated being around the traditional middle eastern food and the music in the area. Now this is why that statement is false.
1. 'Dangerous wandering eyes'. How dare you group all Arab men as having dangerous and wandering eyes? Men of every religion and race have catcalled me and NOT just Arab men!
2. They do NOT openly cat call at all!!!! Are there stares? Yes men stare, but again, I've had men of all ethnicities, races and religions stare. As I said, I've walked up and down this road, never have I witnessed anything this author has described. Could it happen here? Sure. Just like it could happen in Chelsea where I live, in soho, in shoreditch, etc.
3. Now speaking about the supposed dangerous area, umm east london's crime rates are A LOT higher than on Edgware Road. What do you think? The Lebanese are going to hurt you with their shawermas and kebabs?
Then the H continues saying that he is an asshole but he wouldn't hurt women physically, and "I couldn't say the same about these men."
I am furious! I am an Arab, and let me tell you that my father, my Arab father holds a woman's respect ABOVE any man's! He would NEVER hurt a woman physically or make one uncomfortable at all! But don't you dare imply that all Arab men are abusive, creepy, catcall, and are dangerous. If that's not racism, I don't know what is.
Oh and have you actually ever been to the Middle East? In my profile picture on Goodreads, I was in SAUDI ARABIA, on a beach where there are women and men! If I can feel safe on a beach in Saudi Arabia where all the men and women are educated, open, and are all free spirited, no one should feel unsafe in Edgware Road.
And what exactly are you referring to as 'Middle eastern' traditional clothing?
In Saudi Arabia, women wear Abayas. In Beirut, you wear booty shorts, you wear tight tiny dresses and drink on the streets of some of the best clubs in the world! In Dubai, everyone's in their beach attire tanning in their tiny bikinis. In jordan, women wear stylish dresses within the bars clubs and lounges. In Qatar, women wear dresses, shorts, etc.
So what do you mean traditional middle eastern clothing? The men in these countries are already subjected to western clothing. If anything, Lebanon and Dubai are one of the worlds most fashion listed hubs! Why would they be shocked in London? Whereas in Beirut a woman can walk out with a bikini tops and shorts and no one would care? Huh? Explain to me why this racism is in your book.
I DNF'd this story. I read a story of her before and liked it, and now I regretted adding to her financial success as I would never want to support someone who's blatantly racist.
I am furious. I am furious for my father, for my brother, for my best male friends who have such dignity and respect for woman, that I am furious to have this author depict Arab men so crudely.
That being said, it is obvious I won't ever be reading this author again.
As an Arab myself who LIVES in London (South Kensington specifically) I was shocked that this author used the false stereotype of Arab men to depict the supposed 'dangerous' area of Edgware Road (where my current gay Arab homosexual male friend lives and feels extremely safe).
This is the paragraph:
"I drive up Edgeware road, flinching as I see what she's living so close to. Men, with their dangerous and wandering eyes, openly cat calling any women on the street that aren't dressed in traditional Middle Eastern garb. Children begging in and out of restaurants, the men who fathered them sitting closely by ogling any modern female. It wasn't a ghetto necessarily, but it wasn't the safest area in the city."
This is false. Completely. As I said, my best friend lives on Edgeware road. His neighbours on the floor are Russians, and Germans. Families who dress western style who NEVER ONCE felt threatened in the area from the supposed "dangerous" men. Secondly, I am a female who has walked up and down Edgware Road thousands of times wearing skirts, shorts, tank tops. Never once have I felt threatened. If anything, I appreciated being around the traditional middle eastern food and the music in the area. Now this is why that statement is false.
1. 'Dangerous wandering eyes'. How dare you group all Arab men as having dangerous and wandering eyes? Men of every religion and race have catcalled me and NOT just Arab men!
2. They do NOT openly cat call at all!!!! Are there stares? Yes men stare, but again, I've had men of all ethnicities, races and religions stare. As I said, I've walked up and down this road, never have I witnessed anything this author has described. Could it happen here? Sure. Just like it could happen in Chelsea where I live, in soho, in shoreditch, etc.
3. Now speaking about the supposed dangerous area, umm east london's crime rates are A LOT higher than on Edgware Road. What do you think? The Lebanese are going to hurt you with their shawermas and kebabs?
Then the H continues saying that he is an asshole but he wouldn't hurt women physically, and "I couldn't say the same about these men."
I am furious! I am an Arab, and let me tell you that my father, my Arab father holds a woman's respect ABOVE any man's! He would NEVER hurt a woman physically or make one uncomfortable at all! But don't you dare imply that all Arab men are abusive, creepy, catcall, and are dangerous. If that's not racism, I don't know what is.
Oh and have you actually ever been to the Middle East? In my profile picture on Goodreads, I was in SAUDI ARABIA, on a beach where there are women and men! If I can feel safe on a beach in Saudi Arabia where all the men and women are educated, open, and are all free spirited, no one should feel unsafe in Edgware Road.
And what exactly are you referring to as 'Middle eastern' traditional clothing?
In Saudi Arabia, women wear Abayas. In Beirut, you wear booty shorts, you wear tight tiny dresses and drink on the streets of some of the best clubs in the world! In Dubai, everyone's in their beach attire tanning in their tiny bikinis. In jordan, women wear stylish dresses within the bars clubs and lounges. In Qatar, women wear dresses, shorts, etc.
So what do you mean traditional middle eastern clothing? The men in these countries are already subjected to western clothing. If anything, Lebanon and Dubai are one of the worlds most fashion listed hubs! Why would they be shocked in London? Whereas in Beirut a woman can walk out with a bikini tops and shorts and no one would care? Huh? Explain to me why this racism is in your book.
I DNF'd this story. I read a story of her before and liked it, and now I regretted adding to her financial success as I would never want to support someone who's blatantly racist.
I am furious. I am furious for my father, for my brother, for my best male friends who have such dignity and respect for woman, that I am furious to have this author depict Arab men so crudely.
That being said, it is obvious I won't ever be reading this author again.
February 10, 2016
This book knocked my socks of in a perfect contemporary kind of way. I am a sucker for a sports romance but not all in this genre are equal, however this is now one of my favourites. It drew me in from page one with characters I could invest in even if the main character, Killan had a serious sprinkling of a**hole. Killan was a walking complication with a simple approach - treat all women the same, expendable and usable. There wasn't much to like about him.....until there was. The more I got under Killan's skin, the more I understood his behaviour, but I still called him names under my breath.
"Leah Watson is like a Rubik's Cube. Every time I think I've got her figured out, she shows me another side, infinitely complicating my plan to seduce her."
Leah was a naive young woman. Her past relationship had moulded her into someone even she didn't recognise. I loved her growth and sass in this book. She had strength when it really counted and I really warmed to her as time went on.
The backdrop to this story was American girl meets Brit footballer. The context of Brit footballer was written so well. The dialogue was authentic, amusing and real. I enjoyed the London setting and the meeting of these two's different cultures and their contrasting lives.
This is my first book by Carrie Aarons and I am suitably impressed by her story telling and writing. I look forward to reading more from her. If you enjoy a sports romance, I highly recommend this one.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in return for an honest review.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
"Leah Watson is like a Rubik's Cube. Every time I think I've got her figured out, she shows me another side, infinitely complicating my plan to seduce her."
Leah was a naive young woman. Her past relationship had moulded her into someone even she didn't recognise. I loved her growth and sass in this book. She had strength when it really counted and I really warmed to her as time went on.
The backdrop to this story was American girl meets Brit footballer. The context of Brit footballer was written so well. The dialogue was authentic, amusing and real. I enjoyed the London setting and the meeting of these two's different cultures and their contrasting lives.
This is my first book by Carrie Aarons and I am suitably impressed by her story telling and writing. I look forward to reading more from her. If you enjoy a sports romance, I highly recommend this one.
A copy of this book was provided by the author in return for an honest review.
Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.
February 16, 2016
This was my first Carrie Aarons book and I can honestly say what got me to one-click was the fact that the hero had an accent. Yep. Sometimes it is just that simple. I needed an accent. It had been a while. So I went in mostly blind with zero expectations and found that I really enjoyed myself.
There were things that kept this from being a five star read were mostly about things that really had nothing to do with the story or the characters. But that all really falls back to something that is solely on me.
Our heroine, Leah is fresh off a breakup with her boyfriend of five years and is finally taking the reins of her life back. Her first step, hop on a plane and take her career choice seriously. She is tossed into the fire as soon as her plane lands in London as she is paired with bad-boy star athlete, Killian.
Killian didn’t have much growing up, but that all changed when his talent for football was discovered and his life was forever changed. Five years prior his life again takes a sudden change, and leaves us with a broken man who has no problem showing the world his fuck-off attitude. But a sassy American that is equal parts brass and shyness is about to turn his world upside down. After one meeting, Killian is certain of one thing: He wants her.
I felt like I had whiplash a bit when it came to both these characters, we didn’t get to delve too deeply into either of their issues early on, as they are slowly revealed, so the back and forth that took place was a bit much at times. Neither of these two really took a second to think through and just reacted. It was trying at times, but yet I still could not put it down.
This falls just below a four star for me. I think I needed more solid characters. I was okay with Killian being as broken as he was, given his past – but I just needed to feel more about his past in order to justify his present day actions. Same sort of thing with Leah – although we do get more from her as she reasons out all her feelings throughout the book.
Overall, still really enjoyed this book. I am sucker for the damaged-broken-bad-boy types and Killian certainly had all the right cracks in all the right places.
There were things that kept this from being a five star read were mostly about things that really had nothing to do with the story or the characters. But that all really falls back to something that is solely on me.
Our heroine, Leah is fresh off a breakup with her boyfriend of five years and is finally taking the reins of her life back. Her first step, hop on a plane and take her career choice seriously. She is tossed into the fire as soon as her plane lands in London as she is paired with bad-boy star athlete, Killian.
Killian didn’t have much growing up, but that all changed when his talent for football was discovered and his life was forever changed. Five years prior his life again takes a sudden change, and leaves us with a broken man who has no problem showing the world his fuck-off attitude. But a sassy American that is equal parts brass and shyness is about to turn his world upside down. After one meeting, Killian is certain of one thing: He wants her.
I felt like I had whiplash a bit when it came to both these characters, we didn’t get to delve too deeply into either of their issues early on, as they are slowly revealed, so the back and forth that took place was a bit much at times. Neither of these two really took a second to think through and just reacted. It was trying at times, but yet I still could not put it down.
This falls just below a four star for me. I think I needed more solid characters. I was okay with Killian being as broken as he was, given his past – but I just needed to feel more about his past in order to justify his present day actions. Same sort of thing with Leah – although we do get more from her as she reasons out all her feelings throughout the book.
Overall, still really enjoyed this book. I am sucker for the damaged-broken-bad-boy types and Killian certainly had all the right cracks in all the right places.
February 28, 2016
2.75 stars
First of all...I gotta say I'm impressed the h wore a thong on a flight from OKC to London. I can't imagine anything more uncomfortable than 6-8 hours sitting in a plane with dental floss up my ass. Personally, I'm a sexy, tiny boy short kinda girl. Butt cheeks hanging out the back is much more comfortable than a string separating said butt cheeks.
True story.
Secondly, why set this in Oklahoma if you're just gonna bash it for only having football, rodeos, and hicks? Apparently the author hasn't spent much time there or she's embarrassed about living there or she'd realize the complete idiocy of that statement. They also have some of the best small to medium rock venues in the US in Tulsa...Cains Ballroom, Old Lady on Brady, and the BOK center...all within walking distance of each other. Not to mention the state's three world famous museums which each have works on loan to museums around the world. One of the largest art communities in the Midwest is also thriving in that state. I hate when an author disses the location a book is set with either TOTAL ignorance or location-hate, and I'm not even an Okie.
----
“How have you never had Thai food before? Let me guess, your favorite restaurant is McDonald’s?”
At that remark she finally cracked a smile. "I'm from the land of Oklahoma, where fried chicken, steak and pecan pie are king.”
Ummm....I'm guessing the author is only familiar with the "hick" element of this state. Cuz she surely never cracked open the local yellow pages or she'd see the bullshit stereotype for what it is.
----
NOW...the book.
Does the paparazzi really stalk the GF's of college football stars? I LAUGHED over that. Unless...am I so out of touch that really happens? With the way the author dissed OK, I'd have trouble believing the paps would be interested in a fried chicken eating, cowboy boot wearing, twangy chick from Mustang, OK. Just sayin'
All that aside, this was an okay read. The H/h were an interesting fit and I liked their struggle to their HEA. It was, for the most part, totally believable. That will keep me reading when I might otherwise give up.
The last 10% I skimmed. I got bored. I was ready for it to end. Mainly because until that point it was a solid 3 stars...maybe even 3.5 stars.
But when the H/h separate cuz he's a coward and she's gotta graduate, he cheats. I'm thinking with multiple OW. But here's the deal, it's never really made clear what happened. The h sees a photo in the press, the H implies he "lost himself" in women, and when the h mentions it at their reunion it's glossed over with one sentence. So no graphic sex and no admission of actual cheating. SMH. Commit the sin as an author or don't, but never leave it so wishy-washy.
Quote:
----
“I don't know what had possessed me to invite her up on Valentine's Day. Blimey, I hated that stupid Hallmark holiday.”
That's the British H talking there...Hallmark Holiday? Really? That's a Brit thing, too?
First of all...I gotta say I'm impressed the h wore a thong on a flight from OKC to London. I can't imagine anything more uncomfortable than 6-8 hours sitting in a plane with dental floss up my ass. Personally, I'm a sexy, tiny boy short kinda girl. Butt cheeks hanging out the back is much more comfortable than a string separating said butt cheeks.
True story.
Secondly, why set this in Oklahoma if you're just gonna bash it for only having football, rodeos, and hicks? Apparently the author hasn't spent much time there or she's embarrassed about living there or she'd realize the complete idiocy of that statement. They also have some of the best small to medium rock venues in the US in Tulsa...Cains Ballroom, Old Lady on Brady, and the BOK center...all within walking distance of each other. Not to mention the state's three world famous museums which each have works on loan to museums around the world. One of the largest art communities in the Midwest is also thriving in that state. I hate when an author disses the location a book is set with either TOTAL ignorance or location-hate, and I'm not even an Okie.
----
“How have you never had Thai food before? Let me guess, your favorite restaurant is McDonald’s?”
At that remark she finally cracked a smile. "I'm from the land of Oklahoma, where fried chicken, steak and pecan pie are king.”
Ummm....I'm guessing the author is only familiar with the "hick" element of this state. Cuz she surely never cracked open the local yellow pages or she'd see the bullshit stereotype for what it is.
----
NOW...the book.
Does the paparazzi really stalk the GF's of college football stars? I LAUGHED over that. Unless...am I so out of touch that really happens? With the way the author dissed OK, I'd have trouble believing the paps would be interested in a fried chicken eating, cowboy boot wearing, twangy chick from Mustang, OK. Just sayin'
All that aside, this was an okay read. The H/h were an interesting fit and I liked their struggle to their HEA. It was, for the most part, totally believable. That will keep me reading when I might otherwise give up.
The last 10% I skimmed. I got bored. I was ready for it to end. Mainly because until that point it was a solid 3 stars...maybe even 3.5 stars.
But when the H/h separate cuz he's a coward and she's gotta graduate, he cheats. I'm thinking with multiple OW. But here's the deal, it's never really made clear what happened. The h sees a photo in the press, the H implies he "lost himself" in women, and when the h mentions it at their reunion it's glossed over with one sentence. So no graphic sex and no admission of actual cheating. SMH. Commit the sin as an author or don't, but never leave it so wishy-washy.
Quote:
----
“I don't know what had possessed me to invite her up on Valentine's Day. Blimey, I hated that stupid Hallmark holiday.”
That's the British H talking there...Hallmark Holiday? Really? That's a Brit thing, too?
March 7, 2016
I think this book just broke a DNF record for me. I have literally 30 notes at 33% in, all negative - poor editing, poor sentence structure, slut-shaming, and poor characterization (just to name a few). I have never hated two characters so instantly and vehemently - Killian and Leah were awful.
I was hoping for a fun sports romance, but I am beyond done with this one.
I was hoping for a fun sports romance, but I am beyond done with this one.
April 26, 2016
3 "London" stars
Leah is a girl who is trying to find her path in life again after a painful heartbreak. Her new internship in London is the best opporunity she has in order to find her herself and what she truly wants. But she soon find out that being a PR of the greatest football star in England is not an easy job to do.
Killian is an angry and broody man. After a tragic lost, he become a hollow kind of man. Interested only in football and dulling the pain while sleeping with different women. He never expect to met the American sassy girl, who will turn his world upside down. Many ups and downs in their relationship show them that it is possible to love again.
Well, at first I thought that I will like this books! It started very promising but by 60% I was bored . And I realllly hate say it but I couldn't connect with anything besides Leah's turmoil about her new life, desicions and etc. I only liked her throughout the whole book but even she made a little mad at times.
As for our beloved hero.. I did not like him at all! I am so sorry buddy but throughout most of the book he was complete asshole.
YES he was hurt, YES he was scared but for God's sake he was so CHILDISH! He was 30 year old grown ass man! I tried to like him, to understand him why the hell he was making the worst desicions and saying those cruel words but I just couldn't.
So, the couple had more than enough steamy moments, I could say that at least. They were like magnets for each other but like I said I couldn't connect quite well with anything.
Heat. Sweetness. Perfection. Want. Desire. I think of all of these things as I move my lips over hers.
This author is new for me so I hope that if I ever read again a book by her it will work out better for me. The writing was great, the problem was the story development and the characters - at least for me!
“I’ll give you everything I have. All of me. I’m yours.”
Leah is a girl who is trying to find her path in life again after a painful heartbreak. Her new internship in London is the best opporunity she has in order to find her herself and what she truly wants. But she soon find out that being a PR of the greatest football star in England is not an easy job to do.
Killian is an angry and broody man. After a tragic lost, he become a hollow kind of man. Interested only in football and dulling the pain while sleeping with different women. He never expect to met the American sassy girl, who will turn his world upside down. Many ups and downs in their relationship show them that it is possible to love again.
I didn't get paid to kiss babies and spoon fed people shite in speeches. I was paid to play football and win championships for my club and our country. And I did the job well.
Well, at first I thought that I will like this books! It started very promising but by 60% I was bored . And I realllly hate say it but I couldn't connect with anything besides Leah's turmoil about her new life, desicions and etc. I only liked her throughout the whole book but even she made a little mad at times.
As for our beloved hero.. I did not like him at all! I am so sorry buddy but throughout most of the book he was complete asshole.
YES he was hurt, YES he was scared but for God's sake he was so CHILDISH! He was 30 year old grown ass man! I tried to like him, to understand him why the hell he was making the worst desicions and saying those cruel words but I just couldn't.
So, the couple had more than enough steamy moments, I could say that at least. They were like magnets for each other but like I said I couldn't connect quite well with anything.
Heat. Sweetness. Perfection. Want. Desire. I think of all of these things as I move my lips over hers.
This author is new for me so I hope that if I ever read again a book by her it will work out better for me. The writing was great, the problem was the story development and the characters - at least for me!
February 18, 2016
3.5 Stars
February 7, 2021
3.5 stars
February 24, 2016
So there I was, reading along, enjoying it in a way that I enjoy a novel which entertains without really digging past the surface and then BAM. Feels! Everywhere! In a way that I kinda/sorta saw coming, but still felt like a sucker-punch to the heart once it unfolded.
Oof. This book.
Leah Watson is putting the pieces of her life back together. Now that the future she’s been planning for five years is no longer an option, she heads to London to put physical distance between herself and her past, and to give herself a fresh start with an internship as a publicist for celebrities. She’s just picking up the pieces of herself that she had sacrificed to further her ex-boyfriend’s career, when she’s thrown into the path of London’s most famous bad boy, Killian Ramsey.
Killian is British football’s hottest player and loosest cannon. Cool, calculating, and willing to give zero emotions to anything in his life, Killian finds himself unexpectedly and inexplicably drawn to his young American publicist. The physical chemistry is intense, but Killian is a hot mess and Leah isn’t faring much better. Is it possible for two broken people to find their redemption in each other?
I struggled, sometimes, with both of these characters. I appreciated that Leah was just finding her feet, but sometimes I wanted to shake her because that girl put up with a lot of shit. I mean, a lot of shit. It was hard watching her fumble through it sometimes—but she also showed a lot of growth throughout the course of this book, which is one of my favorite things to read. She got stronger. She figured herself out. And when all the pieces came back together, she stopped taking shit from anyone, even if it meant losing giant pieces of her heart in the process.
And oh, Killian. Most of the time I wanted to slap him. Really hard. Repeatedly. But I also ached for him. His life has been…tragic. And he really just wants to be left alone. But he’s a celebrity, and a bad boy, and that combination means he’s under the microscope more often than not. He says terrible, hateful things. But he’s also tender, sweet, and sometimes heartbreakingly vulnerable. Talk about a multi-layered character. He wasn’t necessarily easy to love, but I loved him nonetheless.
The physical chemistry between Killian and Leah is scorching. I didn’t always connect with it, but when I did connect with it, it was like…whoa. So hot. Intense. And a little filthy (which basically means awesome). The deeper feelings developed much more slowly—it took a while for me to invest in them as a couple, but once I did, I was all in.
This book took me much deeper than I thought it was going to—coaxing out gasps, tears, anger and cheers. It’s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride, but the ending is perfect. It’s sexy and fun, but also layered with some deep emotions that left my heart feeling a little bruised from the journey, but happy in the end. ~ Shelly, 4 stars
Oof. This book.
Leah Watson is putting the pieces of her life back together. Now that the future she’s been planning for five years is no longer an option, she heads to London to put physical distance between herself and her past, and to give herself a fresh start with an internship as a publicist for celebrities. She’s just picking up the pieces of herself that she had sacrificed to further her ex-boyfriend’s career, when she’s thrown into the path of London’s most famous bad boy, Killian Ramsey.
Killian is British football’s hottest player and loosest cannon. Cool, calculating, and willing to give zero emotions to anything in his life, Killian finds himself unexpectedly and inexplicably drawn to his young American publicist. The physical chemistry is intense, but Killian is a hot mess and Leah isn’t faring much better. Is it possible for two broken people to find their redemption in each other?
I struggled, sometimes, with both of these characters. I appreciated that Leah was just finding her feet, but sometimes I wanted to shake her because that girl put up with a lot of shit. I mean, a lot of shit. It was hard watching her fumble through it sometimes—but she also showed a lot of growth throughout the course of this book, which is one of my favorite things to read. She got stronger. She figured herself out. And when all the pieces came back together, she stopped taking shit from anyone, even if it meant losing giant pieces of her heart in the process.
And oh, Killian. Most of the time I wanted to slap him. Really hard. Repeatedly. But I also ached for him. His life has been…tragic. And he really just wants to be left alone. But he’s a celebrity, and a bad boy, and that combination means he’s under the microscope more often than not. He says terrible, hateful things. But he’s also tender, sweet, and sometimes heartbreakingly vulnerable. Talk about a multi-layered character. He wasn’t necessarily easy to love, but I loved him nonetheless.
The physical chemistry between Killian and Leah is scorching. I didn’t always connect with it, but when I did connect with it, it was like…whoa. So hot. Intense. And a little filthy (which basically means awesome). The deeper feelings developed much more slowly—it took a while for me to invest in them as a couple, but once I did, I was all in.
This book took me much deeper than I thought it was going to—coaxing out gasps, tears, anger and cheers. It’s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride, but the ending is perfect. It’s sexy and fun, but also layered with some deep emotions that left my heart feeling a little bruised from the journey, but happy in the end. ~ Shelly, 4 stars
February 10, 2016
4.5 stars!
Aarons scores with RED CARD. I loved the feel of this book. It screamed sex and yet dealt with some serious topics that I wasn't quite expecting. Killian may be a british football star (read: soccer player) but he's also been through the shittiest of shitty experiences that has molded him into an awful asshole.
Kate's not exactly had a world of puppies and sunshine either and she's desperately trying to come into her own. I wanted her to get her backbone just a littttttle bit sooner, but otherwise she was smartly written and easily likeable.
There was a bit more drama than I expected, but in a good way. Aarons kept the plotline moving and increased your desire to know the characters in a deeper way with each bit of information she doled out. There's some seriously steamy scenes that had me a little flushed. There was one scene in particular that made me want to throw my kindle across the room and watch it combust into little pieces - but that's what makes me know that I really love the book. When the characters actions get me SO ANGRY that I need to expel that anger in real life.
Aarons brought it out in me. She brought out my anger and my frustration and then tamped it down with an explanation and forgiveness. This sports romance is going to make you cheer, notwithstanding that incredible fucking cover that makes me quiver. Killian will do you in with his cheeky quips and cocky...demeanor. Get ready to ignore your family and find a new book boyfriend!
[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review]
This review looks prettier on my blog: http://obsessedwithmyshelf.com/2016/0...
Aarons scores with RED CARD. I loved the feel of this book. It screamed sex and yet dealt with some serious topics that I wasn't quite expecting. Killian may be a british football star (read: soccer player) but he's also been through the shittiest of shitty experiences that has molded him into an awful asshole.
Kate's not exactly had a world of puppies and sunshine either and she's desperately trying to come into her own. I wanted her to get her backbone just a littttttle bit sooner, but otherwise she was smartly written and easily likeable.
There was a bit more drama than I expected, but in a good way. Aarons kept the plotline moving and increased your desire to know the characters in a deeper way with each bit of information she doled out. There's some seriously steamy scenes that had me a little flushed. There was one scene in particular that made me want to throw my kindle across the room and watch it combust into little pieces - but that's what makes me know that I really love the book. When the characters actions get me SO ANGRY that I need to expel that anger in real life.
Aarons brought it out in me. She brought out my anger and my frustration and then tamped it down with an explanation and forgiveness. This sports romance is going to make you cheer, notwithstanding that incredible fucking cover that makes me quiver. Killian will do you in with his cheeky quips and cocky...demeanor. Get ready to ignore your family and find a new book boyfriend!
[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review]
This review looks prettier on my blog: http://obsessedwithmyshelf.com/2016/0...
April 2, 2016
Im so glad I went in blind with this book cause the author's writing blew me away! She had a way with her words that made the story feel so damn real. Im definitely picking up her other books.
March 23, 2016
Such a good read! It hooked me since the beginning. This was my first experience with Carrie Aarons and I loved it.
Maybe the story was not entirely new but the writing was so good that I did not care.
A British moody-arrogant football player who fall in love with the cute American in town, the sexual tension and the moments between them were so passionate that I found myself clenching my legs from time to time. Their story also gave the reader emotional and funny times that I enjoyed so much.
If you are looking for a sexy and fast paced reading this one is for you.
I'm definitely reading more by this author.
Maybe the story was not entirely new but the writing was so good that I did not care.
A British moody-arrogant football player who fall in love with the cute American in town, the sexual tension and the moments between them were so passionate that I found myself clenching my legs from time to time. Their story also gave the reader emotional and funny times that I enjoyed so much.
If you are looking for a sexy and fast paced reading this one is for you.
I'm definitely reading more by this author.
February 20, 2016
2.75 stars
August 29, 2018
2.5 stars
A lot of things bugged me about this book yet I didn't hate it. The story had good bones, but the execution wasn't all there. As far as the characters go let's just say I loved that ass**le Killian and I imagine his character isn't too far off the mark for a few real footballers. Leah, well Leah I'm not so sure how I feel about her. The few times she found her backbone I was surprised, but when she really needed it, when Killian would spew venomous accusations at her, her backbone was out for coffee. Leah comes to London a beaten down girl who just went through a bad break-up with the man (she's 22 and so is he, so I'm using the term man lightly) with whom she believed she would spend the rest of her life. She is determined to work on "her" and her dreams. Does Leah follow through? Nope, she falls right into another relationship. So I conclude Leah is the typical girl who needs a man in her life to feel self worth, she can't be on her own and forget about having good girl friends. Leah's purpose in London is to finish her degree and intern at the top PR firm in London yet she never seems to do much PR work for her internship, Leah just caters to Killian and his di**. So I guess she isn't on my list of favorite heroines.
My biggest problem with this book is the editing and the authors penchant for shoving poorly times colloquialisms and slang into her sentences to remind us that Killian is indeed a Brit. When the author isn't entertaining the above, the writing is pretty damn good. That is what kept me reading. I found myself re-reading sentences to figure out what word C.A. actually meant to use. It was distracting and deterred me from enjoying the story 100%
And please, for all that is holy, do not try to write accents, just no! Zee End!
This book is a fun idea with a hot headed footballer hero, but needs a good editing.
A lot of things bugged me about this book yet I didn't hate it. The story had good bones, but the execution wasn't all there. As far as the characters go let's just say I loved that ass**le Killian and I imagine his character isn't too far off the mark for a few real footballers. Leah, well Leah I'm not so sure how I feel about her. The few times she found her backbone I was surprised, but when she really needed it, when Killian would spew venomous accusations at her, her backbone was out for coffee. Leah comes to London a beaten down girl who just went through a bad break-up with the man (she's 22 and so is he, so I'm using the term man lightly) with whom she believed she would spend the rest of her life. She is determined to work on "her" and her dreams. Does Leah follow through? Nope, she falls right into another relationship. So I conclude Leah is the typical girl who needs a man in her life to feel self worth, she can't be on her own and forget about having good girl friends. Leah's purpose in London is to finish her degree and intern at the top PR firm in London yet she never seems to do much PR work for her internship, Leah just caters to Killian and his di**. So I guess she isn't on my list of favorite heroines.
My biggest problem with this book is the editing and the authors penchant for shoving poorly times colloquialisms and slang into her sentences to remind us that Killian is indeed a Brit. When the author isn't entertaining the above, the writing is pretty damn good. That is what kept me reading. I found myself re-reading sentences to figure out what word C.A. actually meant to use. It was distracting and deterred me from enjoying the story 100%
And please, for all that is holy, do not try to write accents, just no! Zee End!
This book is a fun idea with a hot headed footballer hero, but needs a good editing.
March 2, 2016
Disclosure: I received a copy from the author/publisher, in exchange for an honest review. This does not influence my review in any shape or form.
Red Card is definitely a lot sexier from Carrie’s other books. The writing was more developed and I can honestly say that since I began reviewing Carrie’s books I can see her growth as an author and I really love that. Unfortunately, Red Card was lacking something for me. I’m not sure if it was my mood (I’ve been in a blah kind of mood) or if it was a book. But something was missing for me.
I loved the concept of the book. Leah has been in a relationship for many years, she planned her whole life around this dude then suddenly her relationship is over and she’s left with well nothing but a broken heart. Now she’s learning to be on her own and become her own person. It was a message of girl power but for me it needed to be executed better.
Leah was a character I couldn’t really connect with. I felt like she was telling me she wanted to be her own woman but not really doing it. I wanted her to really stand up for herself, sometimes she did but I felt like she could’ve been better.
Killian was not a character I loved. I just didn’t like him and I love like all of Carrie’s men! But Killian was a big miss for me. I think he just came too closed off for me. I just found him to be such an asshole that I just couldn’t fall in love him.
This was a bit of a let down for me which I am totally sad to say. If this turns into a series will I continue? For sure! I’m not a huge soccer fan so I like reading about other sports even if I don’t completely understand them.
Red Card is definitely a lot sexier from Carrie’s other books. The writing was more developed and I can honestly say that since I began reviewing Carrie’s books I can see her growth as an author and I really love that. Unfortunately, Red Card was lacking something for me. I’m not sure if it was my mood (I’ve been in a blah kind of mood) or if it was a book. But something was missing for me.
I loved the concept of the book. Leah has been in a relationship for many years, she planned her whole life around this dude then suddenly her relationship is over and she’s left with well nothing but a broken heart. Now she’s learning to be on her own and become her own person. It was a message of girl power but for me it needed to be executed better.
Leah was a character I couldn’t really connect with. I felt like she was telling me she wanted to be her own woman but not really doing it. I wanted her to really stand up for herself, sometimes she did but I felt like she could’ve been better.
Killian was not a character I loved. I just didn’t like him and I love like all of Carrie’s men! But Killian was a big miss for me. I think he just came too closed off for me. I just found him to be such an asshole that I just couldn’t fall in love him.
This was a bit of a let down for me which I am totally sad to say. If this turns into a series will I continue? For sure! I’m not a huge soccer fan so I like reading about other sports even if I don’t completely understand them.
March 25, 2018
I absolutely adored this book. I fell in love with the cover on Amazon and decided I would give this KU book a try. Best decision ever.
Killian is an ass, but he's an ass that is emotionally broken and has decided to give everyone the big FU to protect himself. He's a famous English footballer and he can do what he wants. That is, until American PR intern Leah shows up and turns his world upside down.
I loved Leah most of the book. Determined to turn her life around after being dumped by her longtime boyfriend, she stands up for herself and refuses to let Killian push her around. That is until she has sex with him and he believes what he reads in the tabloids about her. He says some pretty harsh things about her (which I expected) and she took it. The brave girl who stood up to him was gone and she let him say and do nasty, nasty things about her without once defending herself. After that, I wondered if she was going to be the old Leah again. Luckily, she turned things back around.
The road to HEA for these two isn't easy. Killian has to go a lot of groveling at various times, but I think that was exactly what Killian needed to realize his relationship with Leah was different than what he had before and prove to Leah that she is worth fighting for.
This is a TOP READ book for me. I highly recommend it to everyone (it's in KU and $2.99 for those that don't have it).
Killian is an ass, but he's an ass that is emotionally broken and has decided to give everyone the big FU to protect himself. He's a famous English footballer and he can do what he wants. That is, until American PR intern Leah shows up and turns his world upside down.
I loved Leah most of the book. Determined to turn her life around after being dumped by her longtime boyfriend, she stands up for herself and refuses to let Killian push her around. That is until she has sex with him and he believes what he reads in the tabloids about her. He says some pretty harsh things about her (which I expected) and she took it. The brave girl who stood up to him was gone and she let him say and do nasty, nasty things about her without once defending herself. After that, I wondered if she was going to be the old Leah again. Luckily, she turned things back around.
The road to HEA for these two isn't easy. Killian has to go a lot of groveling at various times, but I think that was exactly what Killian needed to realize his relationship with Leah was different than what he had before and prove to Leah that she is worth fighting for.
This is a TOP READ book for me. I highly recommend it to everyone (it's in KU and $2.99 for those that don't have it).
February 19, 2016
This book was incredible. INCREDIBLE. 5 STARS. I could not put it down from start to finish. This book is more than a typical sports romance or taboo book. SO MUCH MORE. I loveeeee Killian. He was such a broken, broken A-hole who met his match and the person he needed to heal him. Absolutely amazing. But the best part of this book was Leah. Her transformation from a broken spirited, meek girl to a badass independent women was astounding and so incredible to see. Lets be honest, I might love her more than Killian. Read this book. it is a silent hit that comes out of nowhere and now I'm gasping at needing more Killian and Leah.
5 amazing stars!!
5 amazing stars!!
February 10, 2016
THIS is what you need to be doing on Valentine's Day! Get yourself a copy and put the rest of the world on hold!
First of all, I'm absolutely fascinated with books that take place across the pond. London is one of the many places I'm dying to visit in my lifetime. I love the dialect, the accents, everything! And being that the author is a Jersey girl like myself, I was impressed by how authentic she made it feel. So this book was an instant win with me for that fact alone. Add in some other fun components like a small town girl trying to set a name for herself in the PR world, and a bad boy football player (or soccers as it's called here in the states) with a tragic past and a huge chip on his shoulder, and you've got one seriously intense read.
Carrie does a fantastic job of drawing you into the story, thanks in part to the electric chemistry between Leah and Killian. I really appreciate the insta-lust, as opposed to the usual insta-love. Killian is very up front about his desires; he just wants to get in Leah's pants one way or another. So he's going to wear her down until she gives into temptation. Meanwhile, Leah's just trying to get through her internship and be as professional as possible, while dealing with this overbearing jock. Giving both characters a chance to explore their feelings as they go from lust to like, and eventually something a little more serious is a tactic that is highly underrated, and definitely not used often enough. But Carrie delivers this, and much more.
The narration is moderately paced, so you really get to fully immerse yourself in the story from beginning to end, without being rushed or given the bare minimum of information to get you through. You can tell Carrie took her time developing the story to give her readers a more meaningful read. Be prepared for some crazy drama, tons of passion, and some tugging on your heart strings. Without a doubt, I would highly recommend Red Card!
First of all, I'm absolutely fascinated with books that take place across the pond. London is one of the many places I'm dying to visit in my lifetime. I love the dialect, the accents, everything! And being that the author is a Jersey girl like myself, I was impressed by how authentic she made it feel. So this book was an instant win with me for that fact alone. Add in some other fun components like a small town girl trying to set a name for herself in the PR world, and a bad boy football player (or soccers as it's called here in the states) with a tragic past and a huge chip on his shoulder, and you've got one seriously intense read.
Carrie does a fantastic job of drawing you into the story, thanks in part to the electric chemistry between Leah and Killian. I really appreciate the insta-lust, as opposed to the usual insta-love. Killian is very up front about his desires; he just wants to get in Leah's pants one way or another. So he's going to wear her down until she gives into temptation. Meanwhile, Leah's just trying to get through her internship and be as professional as possible, while dealing with this overbearing jock. Giving both characters a chance to explore their feelings as they go from lust to like, and eventually something a little more serious is a tactic that is highly underrated, and definitely not used often enough. But Carrie delivers this, and much more.
The narration is moderately paced, so you really get to fully immerse yourself in the story from beginning to end, without being rushed or given the bare minimum of information to get you through. You can tell Carrie took her time developing the story to give her readers a more meaningful read. Be prepared for some crazy drama, tons of passion, and some tugging on your heart strings. Without a doubt, I would highly recommend Red Card!
August 13, 2016
2.5 stars rounded to 3.
This could have been a much better book than it actually was. There wasn't anything new in this book, but parts of it were very poignant and I found myself rooting for the MCs. Then, the proverbial crap hit the fan, the H chickened out, and the h ran away. Cue the emotional roller coaster of regret, self pity and sadness, the ensuing sap fest, and I've lost interest. I'm actually not sure at which point I ceased caring, but it was probably when the h reverted to her old, doormat self.
What I liked:
1) The dual povs. Even though written in the first person, the writing was engaging and very readable.
2) How the H gave the h time to figure things out. He didn't pressure her.
What I didn't like:
1) The h. Yes, I know. This story, in part, is about her journey back to her real self, the part of her that she'd stifled during the five year relationship she had with her high school sweetheart. Old habits are hard to break and all that, but how quickly she reverted to that version of herself annoyed me. When the H accuses her of some pretty terrible things (in both instances), she just takes it and doesn't defend herself. I couldn't stand it anymore.
2) The H. I felt really bad for him. Truly, I did. What happened in his life was really sad and I understand why he became the way he did. However, he was, in his words, a wanker. Honestly, the things that came out of his mouth were not OK. How he verbally attacked the h was not alright.
3) Taylor should have tried harder to get the h back. Or at least apologized more profusely.
4) The sap fest that was the end of this book. I'm glad for the , but it was just too sappy at the end.
5) Thailand and Taiwan are not the same place. When the MCs and Jimmy are at the Thai restaurant, the author points out the nationality/ethnicity of the waitress as Taiwanese. Someone from Thailand is Thai, not Taiwanese.
This could have been a much better book than it actually was. There wasn't anything new in this book, but parts of it were very poignant and I found myself rooting for the MCs. Then, the proverbial crap hit the fan, the H chickened out, and the h ran away. Cue the emotional roller coaster of regret, self pity and sadness, the ensuing sap fest, and I've lost interest. I'm actually not sure at which point I ceased caring, but it was probably when the h reverted to her old, doormat self.
What I liked:
1) The dual povs. Even though written in the first person, the writing was engaging and very readable.
2) How the H gave the h time to figure things out. He didn't pressure her.
What I didn't like:
1) The h. Yes, I know. This story, in part, is about her journey back to her real self, the part of her that she'd stifled during the five year relationship she had with her high school sweetheart. Old habits are hard to break and all that, but how quickly she reverted to that version of herself annoyed me. When the H accuses her of some pretty terrible things (in both instances), she just takes it and doesn't defend herself. I couldn't stand it anymore.
2) The H. I felt really bad for him. Truly, I did. What happened in his life was really sad and I understand why he became the way he did. However, he was, in his words, a wanker. Honestly, the things that came out of his mouth were not OK. How he verbally attacked the h was not alright.
3) Taylor should have tried harder to get the h back. Or at least apologized more profusely.
4) The sap fest that was the end of this book. I'm glad for the , but it was just too sappy at the end.
5) Thailand and Taiwan are not the same place. When the MCs and Jimmy are at the Thai restaurant, the author points out the nationality/ethnicity of the waitress as Taiwanese. Someone from Thailand is Thai, not Taiwanese.
January 25, 2016
I just spent my whole day hiding with my kindle. No joke. This book is addicting! If you are looking for a book to read, stop reading these reviews and just buy it!
Emotional, angsty, funny and sexy; Red Card holds everything you need in a great read. (Ehem, Bad Boy with redeemable qualities. Hot accent. Foreign Affair. What else do you need?)
After her world comes crashing down, a heartbroken Leah Watson heads off to England to find herself and make a splash in the PR world. There she meets her first assignment, the angst filled, cocky footballer Killian Ramsey.
Oh my word, this man is…YUM! He can melt panties with one cocky grin, those sparkling blues or even just one word. (Hello, accent!) Being told “no” is not something he is used to, but when the gorgeous American girl crashes into his life and starting turning him away, he takes on the challenge.
I have read Carrie’s other novels, which are great, but I feel like her writing has really matured with Red Card. The characters are stronger, the intimacy is hotter, and all while keeping that strong-willed spunk in her heroines. I cannot wait to see what else Carrie has in store for us.
** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed on behalf of The Read Report. **
Emotional, angsty, funny and sexy; Red Card holds everything you need in a great read. (Ehem, Bad Boy with redeemable qualities. Hot accent. Foreign Affair. What else do you need?)
After her world comes crashing down, a heartbroken Leah Watson heads off to England to find herself and make a splash in the PR world. There she meets her first assignment, the angst filled, cocky footballer Killian Ramsey.
Oh my word, this man is…YUM! He can melt panties with one cocky grin, those sparkling blues or even just one word. (Hello, accent!) Being told “no” is not something he is used to, but when the gorgeous American girl crashes into his life and starting turning him away, he takes on the challenge.
I have read Carrie’s other novels, which are great, but I feel like her writing has really matured with Red Card. The characters are stronger, the intimacy is hotter, and all while keeping that strong-willed spunk in her heroines. I cannot wait to see what else Carrie has in store for us.
** I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Reviewed on behalf of The Read Report. **
February 22, 2016
3.75 - 4 stars
Finally a Premiere League football setting and football player hero, well first I've read anyway. Pretty spot on and well done on that. I personally love football so I'm happy with that. Inventive FC name too. Killian was your typical hot shot, cocky bad boy athelete that everyone loves
My only thing was the heroine being girl power to I'll take hold over my life now, no guys to letting Killian do whatever he wants. Granted that's his repertoire, her I wish she would actually have backbone and not roll over so easy. I'm glad at some point she she tried at least but then she goes back to coming with a crook of a finger.
From a not so good book previous read to a entertaining and likeable read easygoing read. Carrie Aarons does a good job in the sexy sports romance department, this is my first book of hers and will probably check out the others.
Finally a Premiere League football setting and football player hero, well first I've read anyway. Pretty spot on and well done on that. I personally love football so I'm happy with that. Inventive FC name too. Killian was your typical hot shot, cocky bad boy athelete that everyone loves
My only thing was the heroine being girl power to I'll take hold over my life now, no guys to letting Killian do whatever he wants. Granted that's his repertoire, her I wish she would actually have backbone and not roll over so easy. I'm glad at some point she she tried at least but then she goes back to coming with a crook of a finger.
From a not so good book previous read to a entertaining and likeable read easygoing read. Carrie Aarons does a good job in the sexy sports romance department, this is my first book of hers and will probably check out the others.
October 12, 2016
Red Card was the first time I read a football/soccer story that takes place in Europe and I liked it because it seems so real and you can see that the author has done a lot of research before publishing it.
Good job Carrie Aarons,I really appreciated your hard work!!! This was the first time I've read something written by this author but it won't be the last.
Killian and Leah's chemistry sparks as soon as they met but you can feel the love for each other growing page after page,battle after battle against the paparazzi,argument after argument.
I liked how the characters show their true selves a little bit at time throughout the book,that helped me to connect with them..
Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.
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