Standalone enemies-to-lovers football romanceGoing deep: In football it means running down the field for a long pass. You’re serious. Committed. Unstoppable. As a wide receiver, it’s a term I’m all too familiar with. It’s who I am, at least when it comes to my career. For the past decade, football has been the only thing I’ve allowed myself to commit to. That is until a beautiful, blue-eyed … a beautiful, blue-eyed temptress steps into my limo to escort me to a charity function.
She’s strong, independent, and quick witted. Everything I want in a woman. There’s just one problem. She’s not mine for the taking. But that’s not going to stop me from winning her heart.
I’m in deep with this woman. I’m running down the field with my arms and heart open, ready for the catch. Now all I need is for her to throw the ball.
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We first met these characters in Nick and Olivia story, The Pickup. And while I liked and enjoyed that story, this book makes me want to gush about it effusively and sing its praises for days. Killian and Giselle’s story was so much more and grabbed me from the first page. Maybe it was the enemies to lovers romance. Or the fact that Killian was a bit jaded by past experience and saw all women through myopic eyes but is self-aware enough to evolve and admit when he makes a mistake. Maybe it was Gillian’s character, doing everything possible, including something considered unseemly, to take care of her sister’s college education and her ill mother.
Killian and Giselle are both broken. Her from a lifetime of being the parental role and dealing with a mentally ill mother, and him from a breakup ten years ago that shattered his soul and changed the way he views and interacts with women. Although their best friends are engaged, Killian and Giselle barely tolerate each other’s company, but circumstances intervene, causing each to see the other with fresh eyes. They find depths far greater than they expected, secrets they long to uncover, walls they’re determined to demolish, and a kindred spirit equally as damaged.
Their story is compelling, their journey captivating, and their victories poignant and inspiring. Easily one of Ash’s best works and the best book in this series so far, these characters will own your soul and stay in your heart long after the last page. If you enjoy enemies to lovers and sports romance with a ton of heart and a side of steam, you’ll love Killian and Giselle’s story!
*I reviewed an advance copy of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.
This author has done it again. If you thought her previous books were (for lack of a better description) deep this one will get to you as well. Her books always have something that gives you pause, that’s makes you take a closer look at the story, the reason. He had made a promise to himself after making a life changing mistake. . . she made him want more. She had every reason to stay away from anyone who wanted or needed anything else. She had nothing left to give. . . she was drowning but it was her secret to keep. What extreme would you go to for those you love? She didn’t give herself an option. When life, just living and trying to keep it all together, is more than you can bare. He thought he knew her but his jaded eye-sight made that impossible. This almost felt like insta-love but it was so much more. Once they saw there was so much more to each other than they both assumed they realized they are perfectly imperfect. Broken but not alone.
I wasn’t so sure I liked Giselle in the pick up. In this book I get why she was such a hard surface to crack. The amount of stress she carried on her shoulders was brutal. Killian is a loving , caring person. Killian had some fissures in his heart that needed to be mended before he could love again & find his princess. My favorite part of the book is Giselle’s necklace that Killian gave her.
5 sensational stars!
Review by Nancy
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
I one hundred percent LOVE Nikki Ash! Going Deep was phenomenal! An honest to goodness, heart pumping romance. It is the second book in the Imperfect Love series. If I thought the first book was amazing, this one blew it out of the park.
If you have not read the first book I would go and do that, it is not necessary as this is a standalone, but I do recommend it. We were first introduced to both these characters in the first book in the series. I won’t lie, I was already intrigued by this hero and heroine from the glimpses we got in book one. My goodness, I was blown away by how perfectly developed these characters became.
Killian and Giselle were like oil and water, or so they thought. Their relationship started a little rough, but they fell hard and fast.
Killian is a professional football player, the wide receiver. He is dedicated to his career. He lives and breathes football. He has secrets that he planned to live with forever. Secrets that had him closing off his heart a long time ago. There was no one who could change the hurt and guilt he lived with. Until he found someone who was just as broken and alone as he was.
Giselle lived a very hard life. When she went off to college she thought she had escaped her home life. Except she didn’t really escape anything and things only got harder and harder. She worked a job she wasn’t proud of, but she did what she had to for her family.
When an unexpected event leads her to Killian, she is determined to keep him at arms length. After all, he has always treated her poorly. When she is at her breaking point, she realizes that she let in the one person she least expected, Killian. He swooped in like a storm, and before she knew what had happened, she had fallen for him.
This book was everything I love in a romance novel! The plot, the character, the side characters, everything about this book was spectacular. I cannot wait to see what the third book will bring! Nikki Ash is a phenomenal writer and she never fails to deliver a captivating story. A must read!
I’d just like to add that there are a lot of references to Alice in Wonderland, both the book and the movie, and I was all for it! I loved the quotes and references. I thought it was so perfect for this book.
Going deep
This book was incredibly real. The burdens of life can be overwhelming and finding and having that one person who has your back and goes deep for you is a blessing. Killian and Giselle are both amazing people and Nikki wrote this story beautifully. Going deep is a must read!!! Passion, Angst, and beautifully broken
Where do I start? Everyone knows that I’m obsessed with Nikki Ash and I’ve been reading everything by her. And once she said that Giselle and Killian were getting book I knew I was gonna love it. But I didn’t expect it to be his huge emotional read. I laughed, cried and feel in love with Killan and Giselle even more then before. What I would do to have a guy what is will do take care of you no questions asked just bc he cares for you. Seriously can we have a Killian in real life.
I loved how these two came together. Love that Giselle is strong minded and independent. Doesn’t want to take handouts from anyone. Killian is affectionate m, mind and charming. He maybe a football player but he wears his emotions on his sleeve and as a heart of gold.
Definitely can’t wait for what’s next.
Going Deep is on my top must read for 2019
I was anxiously waiting for Giselle’s story ever since I finished The Pick Up and I was not disappointed. Killian and Giselle’s story didnt start out the greatest and it definitely wasn’t love at first sight. You have two very stubborn people but their chemistry was soooooooo HOT! This story kept me on my toes and wanting more from beginning to end! I loved meeting some new characters and even catching up with some old ones I cant wait to see what Nikki Ash comes up with next
Oh Killian!!! He is what book boyfriends are made of. Giselle was the definition of independent. She was gorgeous and strong but sooooooo stubborn, a product of her environment really. She and Killian’s relationship started out rocky, with lots of unfriendly banter and misguided dislike towards the other. But they eventually came to a middle ground and when they did everything fell into place. They were each other’s saving graces. This story was a slow burn of emotions and sexual tension, it pulled at my heartstrings and had me rooting for this couple. Nikki Ash once again delivers a story like only she can with all the feels.
Wow Nikki did it again. Killian is a man with a big heart, Yeah he has messed up. But he always makes good on hi wrongs. Giselle is a very strong independent women. Who thinks she has to go it al alone. But she has great friends who want to help she just has to let them .Two broken hearts make one whole one!!!
I love this book! Giselle and Killian where a great couple I love the love hate books and this is one! Nikki ash is a a great author I love her books cant wait for the next one
***5 ‘I Will Sit With You In The Dark’ Stars***
When it was announced that Killian and Giselle would not only be getting their HEA’s, but that it would be with one another, I knew it would be explosive because after spending time with them in The Pick Up that was the only way it could be with them, and they more than proved me correct. Their dance was just as cutting and harsh as it was sweet and smexy and ended up being filled with a whole lot of heart.
Killian and Giselle were exhausting and intriguing and as much as I wanted to reach out and shake some sense into them, I ended up loving them both. Killian is loyal, stubborn and has a tendency to only see what is on the surface and not look further, at least not without being Gibbs smacked. But it’s his loyalty, and the protectiveness that comes with it, that balances him out and makes him lethal. Giselle is a force. Sweet, sassy and not afraid to speak her mind, she goes big, even if it is detrimental to herself. She has walls, upon walls built around her and has a tendency to believe she can only rely on herself, but it’s because she cares so hard and so deep that she can’t (and at times won’t) see any other way to do things.
To say that Killian and Giselle’s journey to their HEA is a rocky one is an understatement. A huge one. But, I can’t deny that as frustrating as these to two could be, it was a lot of fun to watch as they went from enemies to so much more. To see their sniping turn to bantering and and distrust to understanding was definitely something to experience, and that doesn’t even take into account the smexy that blazed between them. And while they had more than their fair share of issues, both individually and together, to wade through and I loved how they not only became each others soft place to land, but the ones who pushed them to see beyond their own noses.
As much as I enjoyed The Pick Up, I absolutely LOVED Going Deep. There were a lot of twists and turns in this baby that kept me on my toes and turning the pages. This one tackles some pretty heavy subjects, I don’t know if they are triggers per se, but things do get deep, but they were all handled well. Catching up with Nick, Olivia and Reed was fun, and oh so cute, and got to meet a few new people that promise to make things quite interesting in the future, but it’s Celeste that still intrigues me the most and I cannot wait to get my hands on her book!
~ Copy provided by Enticing Journey & voluntarily reviewed ~
I can honestly say, this has been my most anticipated book by Nikki Ash. Even though I have followed and loved her from the beginning, this book is just THE ONE I COULD NOT wait for.
I fell head over heels in love with Killian in The Pickup and I NEEDED his story. I knew it would be awesome because he was just, amazing. And then to find out his story involved Giselle, oh yea, even better. They are like fire and gasoline, and I couldn’t wait to watch them explode. And boy did they!
This book is not what I expected it to be. Killian’s story is not what I expected it to be. Giselle wasnt either. But let me tell you, thank God it wasnt. Because what Nikki gave us, is so much more. I dont know why, but this book hit me more than her others did. I fell in love with it, like I have with no other. I cried. I laughed. I cursed. I got pissed. But through it all, I fell more and more in love. Them being so broken, so lonely, was so fricking BEAUTIFUL.
This book is now on my list of top favorites. But is also now my absolute favorite Nikki Ash book. BY FAR!
Giselle is burning the candle at both ends, doing everything she can to have the career she wants that pays peanuts while still trying to pay for her mother’s living expenses and her sister’s college tuition. All while living in one of the most expensive states, New York. To manage all of this she gets a second job as an escort but obviously keeps it a secret from everyone she knows. Killian has made it no secret that he doesn’t like Giselle – due to his own issues with women – he thinks that she is a mooch and a gold digger. To be fair he thinks all women are gold diggers. But once Killian finds out that Giselle has her second job that is killing her and the reasons why – he sees her in a different light making him want to get to know her and help out. But she is stubborn mule that refuses help from anyone.
This book started out with a bang and it had me nervous but I ended up loving it. Killian ended up being one of the sweetest and caring men who didn’t have any shame in admitting he was wrong once he realized so. And boy was he wrong . . . a lot. Giselle was one of the strongest and hardest working FMCs I have seen but man was she stubborn. I wanted to slap her a few times with how stubborn she was being. Another good story in my Nikki Ash binge month.
I wasn’t a fan of Giselle’s from when she appeared in book one as Olivia’s BFF. I did like Killian though. And I couldn’t figure out how they would make sense together. But they really did. Giselle’s storyline turned out to be really different and unexpected. Jillian’s too for that matter. But, together, their story was beautiful. I rooted for them even when it didn’t look like they should be together anymore. I was a tiny bit disappointed with the ending. I thought it was a little too abrupt. Or maybe I just wasn’t ready for their story to be over.
4.5 “Be Broken and Lonely With Me” Stars
Going Deep was such a beautiful and emotional story. I’m a huge fan of enemies to lovers romance and it’s definitely the way Killian and Giselle’s relationship starts, but it becomes so much more between them. Nikki Ash brought to life a gorgeous couple connecting through their brokenness!
After reading the first novel in this series, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from this story. Let me tell you that it’s not your typical enemies to lovers romance packed with angst. Through their hardships, Killian and Giselle slowly grow closer and develop the most stunning relationship. Killian seems like the carefree star football player at first glance, but he’s such a caring man and he soon discovers that Giselle is more than what she shows to the world. She’s the most selfless person and hides a big secret from her family and friends. This secret breaks her, but there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for her loved ones.
Killian tries to prove his worth to Giselle by just being there for her. He’s so understanding and supportive, but he also has a secret of his own that’s been torturing him for years. This couple is broken and have trust issues, but they share an undeniable bond that is so palpable though every action. I loved them so much!
I enjoyed that the supporting characters had an important place in this book. It was great to see more of Olivia and Nick (The Pickup) as a couple and parents to little Reed, but also witness Celeste’s armor slowly cracking. Her book, On the Surface, has me totally intrigued now!
Going Deep had me full of emotions all read long! This read had me smiling one minute and crying the next one. Giselle and Killian’s path to their happily ever after was mesmerizing and so touching! I just couldn’t put this book down!
Loving this series, I will be reading more by Nikki Ash.
Loved this story, loved the characters.
I will read again.
This was one of the those books that I just couldn’t put down. The story, the characters, the everything, totally did it for me!
Gods, Nikki Ash just keeps getting better with this series.
Giselle and Killian were just perfect for each other.
Going Deep is the second book in the Imperfect Love series and it’s got me itching for more. After The Pickup I didn’t think this series could have me any more invested but boyza, was I proved wrong!!
The lengths that Killian went to to show Giselle that he saw ‘her’ and not all her issues was wonderful and you could slowly see her begin to start seeing herself, and him, differently.
A without doubt 5* read. I cannot wait for the next instalment to see what’s going on with Celeste!!!
THIS BOOK I got an amazing surprise when this beauty landed on my kindle today. I was so excited for Going Deep to get here, but nervous at the same time. The Pickup (which is book 1 in this series) is one of my all time favorites. I will not say how many times I’ve read it in the short time it’s been out. But with that being said I was really nervous that Going Deep would not be what I was anticipated. But I was worried for nothing. Nikki Ash absolutely killed it (pun intended ). Killian and Giselle’s story is everything I have learned to love and expect from Nikki. They have “real people” issues that are relatable, and make you love them more.
Killian and Giselle make my heart so happy. I love how much he loved her no matter how hard she tried to push him away. I love that when she decided to love him, she loved him. She went all in. She never second guessed her feelings for him or his for her.
You could feel the inner turmoil Giselle felt with her mother’s health and her fear of it playing apart in her future. The moment I could see her willing to leave Killian to give him what he wanted my heart hurt for both of them.
I love Nikki Ash so much!! I feel like a broken record because I just love anything and everything she writes. This series is absolutely amazing!!!
How to start a book written by this lady? Fast or super fast?? Decisions… Decisions… Lol.
I’ve read a few books from her and let me tell you that I can’t get enough of them. The more I read… The more I want…
Nikki Ash has given me some stellar books and when I received this one I was on cloud nine.
Her writing is sweet and sassy, intense and addictive…
Going Deep is her latest release and it’s the second book from the Imperfect Love series.
And let me just say that you must read The Pickup first because you’ll have glimpses from these characters… And you’ll love the story.
This new book explores the lifes of Killian and Giselle.
Killian is fully comited to his career in football. He lives, breathes and sleeps football. He doesn’t want to get caught up in anything until a beautiful girl crosses his path.
Giselle will go to the end of the world if it means she’ll protect the ones she loves. She’s a force to be reckoned and she will sacrifice her life in order to do what she thinks is the best. No-one can imagine that behind her smile hides the way she truly feels. Broken and tired.
How can I say what’s on my mind without spoiling? I’ll try… I’ll try…
I’m over the moon. I’m beyond happy. I’m amazed and so much more.
Superb plot, very well written, super engaging and intense. Each chapter was a joy to read and sometimes I was so mad.
There were parts of the book that I wanted to slap someone… Jeez let’s talk about stubbornness… But there were others that I wanted to hold them tight and never let go.
This book talks about a serious problem that many people have not realized but we have to. You can try to ignore it but it will not go away.
Love, loyalty, friendship, desire are very present in this book as well as some hot scenes that will melt your heart…I’m in love with these characters and it was a joy to have news from the other characters from the beginning of this series…
So… I’m calling dibs on Kill…
And don’t get me talking about the book that’s about to come…
Nikki you’ve nailed it again. I had loved The Pickup but this new book just stole my heart. I’m so glad for the chance to read this series and I can’t wait for the next one…
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.