In Kara Sheridan’s sexy new series, these hard-hitting pro footballers don’t play by the book. In Kara Sheridan’s sexy series, these hard-hitting pro footballers don’t play by the book. Playbook Rule #1: Never ever give up It’s official. The Alabama Warriors have the worst reputation in pro football. As the team’s captain, Carson Savage has his ass on the line and – thanks to a leaked photo – … his ass on the line and – thanks to a leaked photo – his ass is also online. Now the team is getting an image makeover from Sadie Reynolds, the hottest redhead in the South and Carson’s high school sweetheart. Maybe making a play for his sexy ex is a risky move… but Carson didn’t make it this far by playing it safe.
Alabama is the last place in the world Sadie wants to be. Going home again only reminds her of what – and who – she gave up. Seeing the insanely hot ex she never quite forgot is dangerous. Carson’s too sexy. Too tempting. And Sadie can’t afford to go out of bounds. So she’ll do whatever it takes to finish this job and leave town with her heart still intact. The only problem? Carson’s decided it’s not about winning the game… it’s about winning the girl.
takes to finish this job and leave town with her heart still intact. The only problem? Carson’s decided it’s not about winning the game… it’s about winning the girl. takes to finish this job and leave town with her heart still intact. The only problem? Carson’s decided it’s not about winning the game… it’s about winning the girl. takes to finish this job and leave town with her heart still intact. The only problem? Carson’s decided it’s not about winning the game… it’s about winning the girl.more
“Everything happened for a reason. Touchdowns and interceptions. Wins and losses. And second chances.”
This was my first Kara Sheridan read. I confess, it was the cover and title that caught my attention. While I admit to struggling through the first half of the book, the last half pulled me in and ended with a touchdown.
With a title like Ball Buster I expected Sadie to be badass. And I guess she is to an extent. She has kicked ass and taken names in her chosen career, but not in her personal life. That part of herself is closed off, pining for the man that she left back in high school, not that she would admit to that. Her besties know the scoop though and point out that all the men she’s dated in the last seven years bear a striking resemblance to her high school sweetheart.
Carson Savage is a hometown hero in Alabama. He can do no wrong with his friends, family, and fans. But the Alabama Warriors management don’t feel the same way. Nope, they seem to think that having his fine, tattooed, and easily identifiable ass plastered over the internet and social media is a negative. That’s not how they want their players to shine, they’d rather that happen on the field, not in the lockerroom shower. So, he gets called into the office and is informed that they’ve hired someone to help the team establish a more positive image and he needs to get on board, or he might end up off the team.
Honestly, it was the anticipation of that first meeting between the high school sweethearts that kept me turning the pages. I was expecting fireworks. I thought Sadie would have a fiery temper to match her red hair. And…I was very curious about what caused the couple to split up in the first place, anticipating a big secret and guessing what it might be. I kinda set myself up…
I’m giving Ball Buster 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the support characters, almost more than the main characters. As this is The Playbook series, I’m sure they will get their turn to ‘shine’. Hopefully, it will be in an interesting way, whether NFL approved or not. I kinda have a sneaky suspicion that Ty, the manwhore, is in even more danger of having some of his body parts leaked to the media.
This was a great read! Sadie and Carson have a second chance at love despite the hurt between them. I loved how Sadie came to the realization that Carson was worth the chance. Her vulnerability due to her past experiences made her more real. I loved how Carson tried to keep a sterling reputation and had higher expectations for himself and his team. The steam between these two kept me turning pages. I highly recommend this story.
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.
Ball Buster by Kara Sheridan is book One in The Playbook series. This is the story of Carson Savage and Sadie Reynolds.
Carson and Sadie once were in a relationship with they were younger and both had moved on. Carson became the Team Captain of The Alabama Warriors but an embarrassing photo of him is online. In addition, there are some other things about the team has put them into needing a ‘makeover’ of their public image.
Sadie has come into help with the makeover of the team and to help Carson. But she has plans to head back out and not stay for long…but can the feelings they are starting to feel again be enough to keep her?
Really enjoyed this book!
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Mary Jo –
3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 stars
The last thing Sadie wants to do is go home to Alabama and face her past. She’s done an excellent job the last few years of staying far, far away. When she broke up with the hometown hero, she was basically run out of town on a rail and she hasn’t looked back since. She knew what would happen if she stayed or stayed with Carson. Her dreams would have taken a backseat to his, after all, football is king, and he played as though the ball was custom made for his hand. Now she has no choice. She’s getting paid mega bucks to go back there and solve the Warriors’ image problems. If she could only say no.
Carson has no idea of how Sadie was treated after they broke up. He drowned his sorrows in a bottle until it was time to leave for college and he did his best to make football his priority. He’s always loved Sadie and doesn’t understand why Sadie hates Alabama. When he realizes how his hometown treated her after the breakup, even he thinks love won’t conquer all.
I enjoyed this book and how both Carson and Sadie had to face some harsh truths and face reality about how life really is and what is truly important.
Lee’Anne –
This is a sweet and gritty second chance romance that I really enjoyed.
Carson Savage plays for the Alabama Warriors, a football team that currently has a terrible reputation, and when exposing photos of him are leaked to the public, he’s put on warning that his career could be on the line. Sadie works for the company that has been hired to “rebrand” the Warriors and her boss forces her into the assignment with their team even though Alabama is the last place on earth Sadie wants to return to. Especially knowing that she’ll be working with Carson, her first love and the boy whose heart she broke. When the two see each other again, the sparks are still there but Carson holds anger for Sadie leaving the way she did, but on the same note, he’s ready to pick right back up where things left off with them.
I loved Sadie’s take-no-crap attitude, she’s fierce, determined, and passionate and it made her character very loveable. The heat between Carson and Sadie is off the charts – this book has a fast pace, awesome characters, and a great storyline. I loved it!
Ruthie –
3.5 stars rounded up because Carson really didn’t deserve to be in the naughty class!
This is the start of a new series, which promises to give us plenty of sexy sports romances in the future. A team full of football players who use social media to prove their foolhardy behaviour is indeed rife. The NFL is fed up and the Alabama Warriors’ owner employs a PR company to sort out his team before they get in any more trouble.
Sadie has a past in Alabama but promised she would never go back – after all, there is no love lost for her in her nearby hometown, after she broke her high school boyfriend’s heart. Now her boss has sent her to sort out the PR for the Warriors… where that one-time boyfriend plays…
Whilst her behaviour all those years ago hurt both her and Carson, it turns out that she was vilified then, and as they get a second chance, the problems start again. But this time Carson knows and is convinced that they will get the future he always wanted. His determination and the care that he displays to Sadie remind her of all the good things they once had. She has never stopped loving him, the problem is that she does not want to lose her independence. It is very sweet and romantic as they rediscover each other emotionally and physically.
Sadie’s plans for the team work wonders, yet the guys are still a handful. I am guessing that some of them will get their chance at romance in future books.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Ball Buster (The Playbook #1) by Kara Sheridan to read and review.
After some suggestive photos hit the internet Carson Savage and his teammates find themselves in hot water with their coach and the teams owner, they have just helped their team earned themselves the worst reputation in the league. This of course doesn’t sit well with the owner so he devises a plan to help them clean up their acts, hires a social media guru, and issues a warning, they either accept the changes or they will find themselves without a job. And the moment this new social media guru wanders into the room Carson’s world comes to a screeching halt… standing before him is the woman who broke his heart into a million pieces and left town and never looked back. While the sting is still there, Carson also has to admit there are a lot of sparks still there too… and he plans to explore every single one of them!
The moment her phone rings and Sadie sees that her boss is calling she knows it must be serious, so she cuts her vacation activities short and answers her phone, he has a new job for her, but the moment she hears what it is she is ready to quit. Because this new job will force her to face a past that she has no interest in taking a second look at, the Alabama Warriors have just earned themselves the worst reputation in the NFL, and their owner wants her to come in and clean house. She knows the moments she arrives in Alabama she is going to run into the man who still holds a huge piece of her heart, but they didn’t leave things on the best of terms, and she is certain they won’t ever be able to get back what they once had, so it’s best to avoid him. But doing so will mean that she won’t have a job anymore, so she bites her tongue, and heads to the one place she never intended to see again!
Ball Buster is a sweet and sexy love story, with a southern twist, that is sure to win the hearts of romance readers!! This first installment in the Playbook series has me really excited to see what is to come in the future installments, I love sports romance stories, and this one scored serious points with me! It had the swoon-worthy football star, a steamy and heartfelt reunion, and a feisty heroine that I couldn’t help but admire! I highly recommend you pick this one up, Carson is sure to melt your heart and your tablet screen!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed.