At a boxing gym in Chicago, Mary Monahan accidentally knocks out the most handsome man she’s ever met. After she wakes him up with a few slaps and some smelling salts, the very first thing he does is ask her out for ribs and beer. His name is Jimmy. He looks like a Gillette model. And he’s just too hunky to resist. Jimmy “The Falcon” Falconi is mystified that Mary has absolutely no idea who he … idea who he is. Mystified and refreshed. He is, after all, not your everyday NFL quarterback. He shops at Costco, has a soft spot for Pinterest, and is in the midst of an epic losing streak.
Jimmy falls for Mary fast and hard, the way he does everything—balls out and like it’s fourth and long. And he realizes he’s finally met his match. That stamina he’s so proud of? Doesn’t stand a chance against her Kegels.
But what they don’t know is she’s also his new physical therapist, recently hired by the Bears to work on his rotator cuff…and groin injury. If she can’t help him, he’ll be traded faster than they can say “offensive penetration.”
In spite of the thousands of internet memes featuring Jimmy’s face with captions like: “HEY GIRL, WANT TO TOUCH MY BALLS?” Mary finds herself falling for him and his unrelenting desire to make her his.
Until a toddler shows up at Jimmy’s door.
And throws their lives into total chaos.
***
To the reader: Contents includes love, sweetness, naughtiness, honey, champagne, and an HEA. Safe. Featuring a feisty little dog named Frankie Knuckles. Other tasters’ notes: Hints of honey and champagne.
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Overcoming. This is the first word when I think of Hail Mary by Nicola Rendell.
The story of James / Jimmy “The Falcon” Falconi and Mary Monahan is thought-provoking, engaging and enthralling. He, who at first seems to be no more than a playboy, has in fact many nuances. From passion to tenderness, this quarterback will shake your heart.
Mary personifies the real woman: who is afraid to give up her heart, who is insecure with the many ex-girlfriends she does not even know personally, who thinks she is too common to attract the eligible bachelor that is gradually revealed in the delightful pages of this book.
Both have many fears that are discovered throughout the reading and only enrich the narrative even more. The author manages to deliver a well-constructed plot, with all kinds of love and emotion involved. His characters are real, with latent feelings and conflicts that are so familiar to us: self-preservation, fear of failure, and the need to love and be loved.
The secondary characters are as good as the protagonists. Annie, Valdez, Curtis and Bridget make the difference in the plot. They bring humor and tenderness in the right measure to please the reader. Not to mention Frankie, always present and fun.
Michael Falconi, the protagonist’s twin brother, is the embodiment of all his fears. He unbalances the plot by representing the opposite of everything Jimmy is, while revealing what Jimmy could become if he did not practice self-control.
The last few chapters are sweeping. The last pages are electrifying. And the end? Able to melt an icy heart. Hail Mary is undoubtedly the perfect example of a book in which tenderness and desire were perfectly dosed. Not too sweet, not too erotic. Just romantic and real in the right measure.
***** 5 ~~~~~Fun Sexy Super Stars*****
Hail Mary This was a damn fine sexy funny read! This is the first book from Nicola that I have had the privilege of reading and wow I am so now a fan girl.
Kids get ready to have your panties scorched by the super sexy, funny compassionate NFL quarterback Jimmy “The Falcon” Falconi . We are introduced to these characters as Jimmy is blowing off some steam and recovering from a rotator cuff injury that may very well sideline him. He needs to find a new PT soon and get back on his A game. He is at his corner gym and begins sparring with a spit fire named Mary! Her gear maybe hiding the real her but he can tell she is kickass and full of sass ! Don’t let the innocence of her name fool you she is no holds barred going take you down no matter how big you are! Mary brings Jimmy down with quite a punch and knocks the poor guy on his ass…literally. Once Jimmy is down Mary now gets a good look at him ! He looks like he just stepped off the pages of GQ but rugged and oh my so handsome!
When he finally comes too he not only had the wind knocked out of him but now this super sassy woman staring down at him has taken his breath away. The best part is she has no idea who he is . She just knows that he looks familiar. She actually asks him if he is the model for a men’s shaving product! LoL .
When Jimmy finally stands up Mary super proud of herself she is pretty sure that he is the biggest guy she has ever taken down …this gal is funny!!!! She starts asking him his stats and is jumping like a kid going to Disney when she realizes that he is!!!
Jimmy works his charm on Mary and sweet talks her into dinner ….this is when the fun begins!
The Chemistry and banter is sexually charged and fun! They soon realize that cant keep their hands off each other and the night takes a interesting turn !
Fate has a way of interfering and now they are thrown together professionally and Mary does not want to be another notch on Jimmy’s goal post . So many twists turns and hurdles to jump but this was an amazing ride with Mary and Jimmy! Loved it !
~~Michele McMullen ~~
~Provided a copy for an honest review~
I’m kicking myself for not reading Hail Mary sooner because it’s sooo good! I’d seen it around on book blog recommendations and reviews, but since Nicola is a new-to-me author I put off buying it until much later. Great cast of character, fun, heart-warming, humorous, and sexy!!! And who couldn’t love Croc hating little Frankie Knuckles? That little dog is hilarious! Nicola Rendell is going on my must-read list 🙂
2017
A sinfully seductive and addicting journey to go on with Mary and Jimmy. I read this book a long time ago, and loved it then. This time around I discovered that I absolutely adore this story. Jimmy and Mary have an instant connection, Mary literally knocked him off his feet. I loved their smoking hot chemistry, their banter, and the way they just get each other. This is a definite must read. I loved this book.
This was my second book by Nicola Rendell. I read it right after Shimmy Bang Sparkle, which I loved and gave 5 stars. Hail Mary was written a couple years before SBS, but both books followed the same basic outline:
Insta-lust. They have sex by chapter 4 or 5, the same day they met. I am glad that Ms. Rendell has her characters go on a date and get to know each other a little before going to bed together. But I do wish it wasn’t quite so fast.
The sexy scenes are intense, extremely detailed and very frequent. There’s at least 5 of them. I actually skimmed over the last two cause I just wanted to get to the rest of the story. There’s some weird sex things they do (using a champagne bottle as a dildo and cuming all over the heroine’s face to name a couple), which I just couldn’t get into. This is probably other reader’s cup of tea but not mine.
I liked that Ms. Rendell dealt with the fear than many women have over bearing children and becoming a mother. You don’t see that a lot in the romance genre and it was a nice change.
There is a ton of swearing in this book. Jimmy uses the f- word like it’s his own name. Did he have to use it the first time he told her he loved her? I don’t know about other women but I don’t want to be told “I f***ing love you.” That takes the romance right out of it.
I give the romance romance itself 5 stars.
I loved how they met and how football was used in the story, but dropped a star for the weird and too frequent sex scenes.
5 Full Contact Stars!
This funny, naughty, dirty *standalone* sports romance was also very sweet. There were times I was laughing out loud, then feeling how sweet Jimmy could be, only to switch it to ‘O’ so hot and sexy! Chicago Quarterback, Jimmy “The Falcon” Falconi meets sexy, Mary Monahan at the gym. He is ‘knocked out’ literally by her beauty and sass that he talks her into going out for dinner. He loves that she doesn’t know who he is, and the sparks fly as they flirt and connect over ribs, beer and books. After a very passionate night together, Jimmy can’t stop thinking about Mary and wants to see her again. He did, when he finds out the next day she is his new physical therapist. Will she be able to help him with not only his injuries but his losing streak as well? Will they be able to keep it professional or will therapy also become a ‘full contact’ sport? Jimmy has family issues that bring out many emotions for both of them that could either bring them closer or tear them apart. I loved how Ms Rendell slowly unraveled each character in a multilayered romance that allowed us to truly care for them both. I love both Jimmy and Mary, they were both strong, thoughtful and kind. They challenged each other and their passion is off the charts. This book has it all, it’s funny, has witty banter, exhilarating events, heartbreak and heartwarming moments and lots of hot & dirty sensual passion. You definitely do not want to miss this.
You don’t have to like, know, or even care about football to love Hail Mary. You don’t have to stalk gourds on Pinterest to be amused. You don’t have to believe in karma to see that some people get what they deserve ( just remember, Rats).
I giggled, laughed, and smirked my way through this book. I sighed, I growled, and I gleefully delighted in another person’s misery (again rats).
I was hopeful, scared, hurt, and flipping angry ( no- not rats, Michael, although he is rather rat like…hmm).
Most of all I was completely impressed with how much fun I had reading this book. I have actually purchased this authors first two books but have yet to read them. If they are as much fun, I think Nicola Rendell had better watch out. I can Facebook stalk, um follow, with the best of them.
It’s fun, sexy, sweet. Hail Mary is the perfect football romance for the not athletically inclined. So in English…if the only sports you like or follow are of the fictional kind, this book is pure gold.
What can I say.. if you are looking for hot steamy.. comedy romance…Nicola’s Hail Mary delivered it.. its sassy and romantic…
OMFG! Can I just say that my girl ( stalker alert → who me???) has once again got it going on with this oh so swoon-worthy hot and heavy standalone sports romance. This has certainly been a week of Nicola Rendell reads and I couldn’t possibly imagine spending my limited free-time this week any other way!
Hail Mary captured my heart right from the beginning and held on for dear life (I still don’t think my heart has recovered from this story) until the very end. First off let me just ask…where in the H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICKS do I get my own Jimmy? This man is without a doubt my ideal definition of the perfect and yes I do mean the PERFECT book boyfriend. Seriously! I mean what kind of man gets knocked out (seeing stars status) by a woman half his weight and totally laughs if off before complimenting her?! JIMMY – that’s who! He’s not only sexy on the field, but off. This man is hands down pure perfection and I couldn’t have thought of a better match for our very own Mary!
Mary is one of the baddest and toughest leading lady I have every come across. She is nobody’s pussycat and she likes to remind Jimmy that every chance she gets. Don’t mess with her because she can take you down with a single snap of her fingers. I mean come on she managed to knock Jimmy out in a matter of minutes and didn’t feel an ounce of remorse (not that she should). Mary isn’t just tough in the ring, but she is a physical therapist that helps people recover from injuries (sports related and other). She’s got a mouth on her and I love how hilarious she is with her dialogue. I loved this chick and couldn’t get enough of her and Jimmy!
If you are looking for a hilariously funny and captivating story with likable characters that you can’t get enough of then I strongly recommend checking out this book and the rest of Nicola Rendell’s collection! You will not regret a single moment you spend with her characters, trust me! I mean ask yourself – have I ever lied to you before?
I really enjoyed this book! I can’t get over Jimmy’s love of Costco. Seriously, it makes me chuckle thinking about him shopping when he’s upset. It’s his happy place. I thought Mary and Jimmy were great together. They have great chemistry, and Jimmy is really a great guy. There’s no over the top cocky bad boy, he’s actually very sweet.
This is my first book by this author and I was so not disappointed. The story really entertained me and I’ll for sure check out her other books!
contemporary, ebook, fun-sweet-laughing-out-loud-momen, kindle-unlimited.
A delightful, hilarious, light hearted, steamy hot and sexy read. Flove this book a lot.
Hail Mary is a sexy sweet sports romance. Cute banter and an even cuter dog help balance the super hot sex and sexual chemistry going on.
Mary and Jimmy meet under very unusual circumstances and with a one-two punch Jimmy is knocked out and under Mary’s spell.
“The owner of the club, Manny, steps over the ropes and drops a few packets of smelling salts onto Gillette’s chest. They look like the little salt packets you can get at Wendy’s.
“Mary,” Manny says. “We’ve talked about this. You gotta stop knocking out the paying customers. I’m trying to run a business here. You feel me?”
The story has some great twists and there was fun and entertainment on every page. This was my first book by Nicola Rendell and I will definitely look forward to reading more by her!
-4 Stars!-
4.5*
“She’s a showstopper, a fork-dropper, and a train-of-thought stealer. Nobody’s pussycat but mine.”
Be prepared to swoon, and swoon hard ladies, because Jimmy “The Falcon” Falconi is going to sweep you off your feet! He’s sweet, silly, and sexy; he’s utterly charming and completely lovable. And that mouth on him?!? Yeah, that will have you squirming in your seat.
Hail Mary is such a delight. It’s as close to perfect as you can get when it comes to a romantic sports comedy. It will make you laugh out loud, sigh with pleasure, and squeal with giddiness. There’ll be tears of sadness and frustration, but don’t despair…the ball’s in Jimmy’s hands and he’s not about to fumble the most important game of his life.
5 Only-Because-I-Can’t-Give-It-More Stars!!!
You know how when you start a new book and it grabs your attention from the first page? How the authors’ words worm their way into your heart and soul almost immediately? Nicola Rendell does that in spades with this sexy and emotionally-charged book!!
Jimmy (The Falcon) Falconi is a very well-known (read: infamous) quarterback for an NFL team and he’s sooooo not looking for love or to settle down! At least, he didn’t KNOW he was waiting for the perfect woman (for him) in the form of an intelligent, feisty, smart-mouthed, beautiful physical therapist Mary Monahan! But when these two meet at a boxing gym where Mary accidentally knocks Jimmy out cold, he comes to and immediately asks her out for ribs and beer! The incredibly HOT chemistry between them is off-the-charts sexy!!! All I’m gonna say is I will NEVER look at honey, champagne, sugar and Post-It notes the same way again!
There were some heart-stoppingly tender moments as well! “Last night wasn’t even close to what we can do, Mary. We can make the world disappear. We can make everything else just a whisper” along with the panty-melting “I’m going to be a gentleman and say I’ll come shovel you out tonight. But I won’t” “Won’t you?” I whisper. “Hell no. The only thing I’m going to be doing tonight is you” SWOON!!!
I have to say that this is my personal favorite book to date from Ms Rendell! I absolutely adored both Jimmy and Mary and MOST of the cast of characters surrounding them (especially Jimmy’s adorable niece Annie and Mary’s bestie/roommate’s dog Frankie Knuckles 🙂 ) I loved this book from beginning to end, with all the roller-coaster emotions, the angst, the heart-breaking twists and the incredibly satisfying conclusion! I can’t wait for the next book from this truly wonderful author!
This was funny from the get-go! Not only funny, but wonderful characters. An absolute read!