“Hard pass.”
That’s what the last girl I slept with said when she got her first sober glimpse of me. She laughed, walked out of my penthouse—and I never saw her again. It doesn’t matter that I’m a rich, professional athlete; what mattered was my face.
Beauty might only be skin deep for some—but I know better.
“Pay up.”
That’s what the last girl I spoke to said over the phone when I made her … over the phone when I made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Desperate to sell a set of rare baseball cards, she’s clever and entertaining. I’m instantly smitten, but nowhere ready to reveal myself. Thank god she has no idea who I am—or what I look like.
I’m a professional athlete–how hard can playing the love game be?
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Sara Ney writes the best sports rom-coms and Hard Pass is a delightful introduction to the Trophy Boyfriends series. This book is a perfect mix of fun, sweetness and sass. It includes Ney’s iconic witty humor, totally heart-warming moments and Kindle-melting steam. Noah and Miranda made me laugh and swoon and I devoured their story in one sitting!
Noah will charm you right from the start, he just has something that immediately makes your heart soften. He’s polite, responsible and self-conscious. Instead of using full-on from what the fame and fat account have to offer, he’d rather stay home. His previous interactions with the opposite sex were at least disappointing and that’s why Noah is wary and somewhat awkward when it comes to women. So when he meets Miranda and it turns out that they could exchange more than just money and rare baseball cards, his insecurities get the best of him and Noah chickens out.
These two have a great chemistry and I loved their interactions. They quickly evolved from awkward and hilarious to full of steam and passion. I love that Sara creates imperfect characters and gives them the perfect happy ending they deserve. This book proves that real love stories are not made based on appearances, nor the size of the wallet.
Hard Pass is just as cute as it is funny. Both Noah and Miranda are relatable and loveable characters and their story was really entertaining. This book is a wonderful start to Sara’s new series and I can’t wait to read upcoming stories!
3.5 stars
“Hard Pass” was my first book from the author. I love sports romance books and that’s why I decided to give this one a try. It was a little different from the sports romance I usually read.
The male lead, Noah, is not your typical professional athlete. He’s sensitive, shy and not very confident with his appearance. The only thing he feels confident about is baseball. After all he was signed for 80 million dollars, that’s how good he is! Miranda is need of money to start her own business. That’s why she decided to sell her grandfather’s baseball cards and Noah is her buyer.
Their chemistry is apparent even when they were only exchanging messages. Miranda is her sassy self and Noah feels comfortable enough to let his true self shine. The only issue I had with the book was how Noah was seeing himself. I don’t mind a character who is self-conscious, but I don’t like it when this fact is constantly brought up. I felt like Noah’s low self-esteem was getting in the way of their relationship too much.
The plot is good! We get to see how publicity can ruin a famous person’s life. After all Noah’s negative feelings are mainly because of the public. When he is with Miranda and forgot about the world, he’s truly himself and lives his best life!!
This is the first book in a new series and is Noah and Miranda’s story. Noah is a professional baseball player who is shy and vulnerable, and he is also a collector of baseball cards. Miranda is selling her grandad’s baseball cards online not because she wants to but because needs must in order to start her new business. When Noah starts chatting to Miranda online the banter is witty. This is a well written story which is a slow burn romance and is humorous and entertaining throughout. I cannot wait to read more in this intriguing series and recommend for all.
Without word of a lie, I so very much loved this book! It was a story where the characters really felt like people I want to be friends with!
What starts out as Noah trying to buy Mirandas baseball card collection, with such witty banter and great heartfelt moments, little did they both know which way their story was heading! He loved that she doesn’t know who he is, this high profile baseball player with a heart of gold!! My heart was in my throat for Noah and his struggles. Truly thought he was so incredibly endearing and how he just needed that special person to really “see” him! It takes a special someone to help him cope, will Miranda be that someone? Or will she run away at the first sign of trouble! Hands down, a well written story that will tug at your heart, just as it did mine!
Sometimes all you need is that certain person to see the real you and make you feel your worth!! Absolutely beautiful!
This was yet another quick and funny read by the fabulous Sara Ney.
She writes her stories for us to love the quirky and sassy heroines who are attracted to the clueless guys with a heart of gold.
Noah was a cutie. His surprising low self-esteem about his looks made him adorable. And don’t even get me started on Miranda. She was feisty and sarcastic in all the right places that you couldn’t help but fall in love with her. Together they made a great couple and I got to say I think I’ll be loving this series HARD (see what I did there…#sorrynotsorry).
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
There’s no ‘passing’ on this fabulous story.
Hard Pass by Sara Ney was a sweet, tender, and often hilarious story. It had a serious side to it with the way the hero, Noah Harding saw himself and how he was portrayed by the paparazzi. He’s a shy guy and after one too many girls refused to hook up with him again, he’s feeling more than a little insecure as far as his looks go. He’s a highly paid baseball player and in the public eye so it’s not easy for him.
Miranda Persinger has just graduated from college and wants to start her own business but has no capital. Her only asset is her grandpa’s baseball card collection that she inherited when he died.
Noah loves collecting and when he sees Miranda’s ad he jumps on the chance to own a special old stars card.
What should have been a simple and easy start to a new relationship was anything but. There are a few mix-ups. Some mistaken identities and a very slow-burning romance that finally comes to a head.
Noah was a sweet guy, it’s a shame he had to deal with the press the way he did, but he was still a really nice guy. Their first ‘real’ meeting could have gone better but the chemistry was there from the start and once they sorted themselves out it was steam-rolled from there.
Noah certainly knew some moves as Miranda found out. He was just an overall good guy and Miranda was the perfect girl for him.
I loved the secondary characters, especially Claire and douchey Buzz. Hopefully, they’ll get a story as well.
Ney may have just outdone herself. Hard Pass packs a sober reality into an irresistible sense of humor with heartwarming results. Noah is not your average heartthrob. He’s one heartache short of insecure. My heart aches for him as surely as it roots for him. Miranda is his beautiful savior. She sees beyond the camouflage and into the heart of the man. Hard Pass puts the heart on notice with a captivating delivery of an important life lesson. In life and love the greatest beauty comes from within.
Ok, I have to say Hard Pass is a sport romance but I really like the unique plot. Miranda just graduated college. She wants to start her own business but she doesn’t have the money. Noah decided to sell her grandfather’s baseball cards online to fund this new adventure. Noah is a baseball player who obviously loves everything to do with it. When Noah saw the ad for an extremely reasonable price baseball card he jumped at the chance. The two exchanged texts about the sell, but soon the texts became more flirty and heated. There is a tiny problem – the Noah Miranda met the first time was not who she thought. I like Miranda – she is funny, sassy, straight forward and honest. Noah has a successful career but he does have some self-image issue steaming from the way some woman treated him. Noah is a bit insecure about his looks. He is shy, awkward at times, but a good guy at heart. I actually think it is refreshing a hero is a hot jock but not arrogant or a womanizer. I enjoy the banters over texts and the relationship development – slow burn but quite scorching hot at the end. I also enjoy the secondary characters like Miranda’s friend and Buzz. Overall, this was a fun, light-hearted, entertaining read.
You know you have come across a special read when from the first page you feel like you are involved, you feel like you are catching up with friends and you are captivated from the first page to the last line and that’s exactly what Hard Pass will do to you.
Miranda has just graduated college and she is looking to raise some funds to start her own business so she decides to sell her grandfathers baseball cards online to fund her new plans. Noah is not only a avid collector of baseball cards he is also one of the star player for the local Chicago team and he desperately wants Miranda’s cards……
Noah may be a high profile player but that doesn’t mean he finds life easy, he has a few quirks that make him one of the most loveable characters of this year 2020, I fell hook line and sinker for this man, he made me laugh with his witty text messages and he made me sigh and feel every emotion he felt as he dealt with his struggles. Noah needs a really special girl to see beyond the player could that girl be Miranda or will she run in the opposite direction as soon as trouble appears…..
This is a beautifully written story with wonderful characters, it’s a love story but it’s also about friendships and finding yourself as well as your perfect partner. Loved everything about this read.
There’s a reason why I love Sara Ney’s books and the reason is very simple. She writes real characters, men and women everyone can relate to. In this book – the first in a new series – we meet Noah and Miranda.
Noah (or Baseman) is a sensitive, hard working, dedicated baseball player. He’s built for the game but not what you would call your “sexy as sin” or your typically “good looking” man. He’s an average Joe who has been overlooked and ridiculed for it and it’s hit him hard at the self esteem level. As a player he avoids the spotlight and the harsh and often times cruel reality of social media.
Miranda (or Randi) is a highly motivated and determined young woman. Wanting desperately to open her own business she makes that her life’s priority. Miranda is not by definition a “bombshell” or the “girl next door“, she’s more “quirky” and “cute”. This does not phase her, she’s comfortable in her own skin.
Noah and Miranda’s meet cute is through an ad and begins via text message. The chemistry between the two is evident from the get go and although things get complicated, one thing remains true – the spark that is between them and the feelings they have for each other.
I can’t tell you how much I loved both Noah and Miranda and the host of other characters in this book. This story is special and I can’t recommend it enough. I look forward to reading Buzz’s story and hope that Tripp gets one too. TBR and Enjoy!
This is my first foray with Sara Ney- but I can tell it won’t be my last! This was a cute and sweet read with rich characterization, tons of humor, and limited drama that kept my heart happy and the pages turning.
I love it when authors flip tropes on their heads, and here Sara delivers a different kind of romance hero. Sure, Noah is a professional athlete, but he’s insecure about his looks, awkward, shy, and jaded. Noah finds himself in a text-meet-cute situation with a woman over some baseball cards- delightful witty banter ensues and eventually this relationship extends outside of text, raising Noah’s insecurities to a heightened level. And, this adorable, not-too-heavy and humorous love story ensues. Less-cute/awkward guy gets hot girl? That’s a change! I’m here for it.
I really loved the narrative structure Ney uses to evolve this relationship- what a masterful use of dialogue. I loved the flipping of the trope- and I did enjoy Noah, mostly. I related to his insecurities, he’s a wonderful guy at heart, and he’s respectful, considerate, and kind- dreamboaty stuffy. He’s insecurities certainly get grating though, frustrating at times- but that is the point, right? How debilitating they are. I just wanted to see a bit more evolution from him- but he’s just charming despite that. And, I loved Miranda- sassy and sweet. I love how focused she is- determined and opinionated. I love how she was really the driver of this relationship, the “alpha” if you will- and their banter was cute. I wanted to sit in their happy a bit more at the end after the road bumps, but overall, we got a great story.
As a Ney newcomer, I found her story telling to be quite skilled- the book flowed fluidly, the dialogue was clever and fresh laden with humor and charm, and the characters are richly developed, interesting, and uniquely drawn. I’m not normally a huge “sports romance” avid reader, but I enjoyed this book and I think Ney has a talented and unique voice- looking forward to reading more from her!
Ney writes a sports romance with an unconventional leading male with Hard Pass.
Noah is anything but what you’d expect in a shortstop for one of the best baseball teams. Shy, backward and even somewhat of a recluse he isn’t the ladies man most book boyfriends are made of. In fact, most ladies would consider him a Hard Pass. Until you dig a little deeper and uncover the wit filled banter this character is riddled with throughout this book.
Ney has a knack for writing a male character unlike any other female author currently publishing. They are realistic, sometimes douchey, but always paired with an exceptionally written character arc that leaves you intrigued from cover to cover.
My only complaint was that once you hit the good stuff, it felt a little rushed to end the story. But hey, maybe that’s the fan in me who never wants to say goodbye to an amazing set of characters.
***4 Stars***
This book hit the spot.
It was a quick, fun read filled with heart, sass and quite a few characters I may have wanted to Gibbs smack and hug all at the same time, but also have me looking forward to getting to know them a whole lot better.
I loved Miranda.This woman is all kinds of sweet and sassy. She has no problem speaking her mind ~ even when she doesn’t necessarily mean to. She also knows what she wants her future to look like and isn’t afraid to go after it. Noah. Noah. Noah Noah. Here’s the thing with Noah. I loved him. I did. He is a good man, who loves what he gets to do as his profession, but man did I feel the need to Gibbs smack while hugging him a LOT. I totally empathized with why he felt the way he did and how he reacted to things, but…damn…did he go BIG. Thankfully, he works his way out of his head and starts to live.
As for their journey to their HEA. It was rocky and awkward, but it was also sweet and smexy. Their bantering was fun and I gotta admit that I loved how Miranda took the bull by the horns in the relationship and never truly gave up on Noah because she saw him and what they could be together. The bump in their road was harsh and real and while there wasn’t a lot of grovelling involved, I did love how genuine it all was and was happy that they worked everything out.
This was a great start to a new series that promises to be filled with humor, lots of awkward and eye rolling moments as well as a bunch of characters that will keep me on my toes. I loved Claire and I am definitely looking forward to seeing Tripp and Trace brought to their knees.
~ Copy provided by the author/WFMS & voluntarily reviewed ~
You’d be crazy to pass this up!
This is my first Sara Ney book and I picked a winner. Noah is shy, reclusive, charming (when he tries) and a multi-millionaire baseball player. Miranda is sassy, more of a homebody than reclusive, and a newly independent business owner (or at least a wannabe one). They meet via text then there’s a case of mistaken identity (totally a certain person’s fault) and then a random meet at a bar.
Noah will drive you absolutely crazy as he struggles to reveal his true self. Then at the bar – ARRRGGGHHH!! Thank goodness Miranda is persistent and Buzz is there to save the day. I grew to love his character which did not look likely at the beginning of this story.
This story was funny, quirky, cringe-worthy (f***in’ tabloids!!) and just a lot of fun. I’ll be looking forward to reading the rest of this series.
I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.
The moment I started reading this book I knew I would love it. I loved this book hard. It’s unconventional and that’s what makes it stand out so much. I DEVOURED it in a matter of hours.
Miranda wants to start her own business, but needs the money. Why not sell some of her grandfathers prized baseball cards? She is sassy, hardworking, and pretty much amazing. Noah is a professional baseball player; he loves collecting baseball memorabilia. He’s shy, awkward and because of his past self-conscious. He hates the fame side of his life, however, his love for baseball is strong.
Their first meeting is awkward. Their text conversations are hilarious and sweet and sometimes awkward. Their chemistry is fantastic. Their relationship goes to share that looks aren’t everything, it’s a person’s personality that is the true star.
Can we talk about Buzz for a moment? I LOVED him. He’s the friend who just shows up and you never want them around. He makes the inappropriate comments, but he’ll have your back. He’s the exact opposite of Noah. They have a weird friendship and I loved it.
Hard Pass is sweet and such a fun read. If you love an unconventional hero and heroine this one is a MUST READ. You’ll fall in love with Noah and Miranda from the start.
4.5 Stars
Miranda and Noah’s story was such a sweet, one-of-a kind read! A very unique spin on sports romance… where our leading man isn’t the traditional “over the top” hottie && I’m 150% here for it! Ya’ll from beginning to end I was hooked… These two were GAH! Seriously Adorable! … Full of laugh out loud moments, friendships, insecurities, a new relationship in the spotlight, a bit of angsty slow burn && one serious case of heart eyes… SO GOOD!
Honestly, Sara Ney never disappoints when it comes to sports romance and Hard Pass was no exception! I am so excited for what’s to come next from this new series!
*** ARC Provided in Exchange for an Honest Review/Megan Scandalous Book Blog***
4.5 stars!
Another great read from Sara Ney!
I love how her books always have a little humour in them, keeps it lighthearted.
I fell in love with Noah almost instantly, he was such a sweet character.
I liked Miranda’s character too and the banter she had going with Noah.
I felt bad for Noah, he’s a really lovely guy but people don’t always see him for who he really is.
I kinda wish we got to see more of them together and touching on a subject that seems to plague Noah at the beginning but other than that i really liked it!
A very easy read, i couldn’t stop!
Adorable. I’m in love with Noah. I loved this book from the beginning. The premise of this book intrigued me and I love a grumpy guy. Noah was pretty much my perfect man.
Noah is a professional baseball player, but ever since he came into the spotlight he was told her wasn’t good enough looking. He has a terrible view of himself and thinks no one will want him. He finds a rare baseball card that Randi is selling and they start up a conversation. The banter between the two of them left me smiling to myself constantly. It was such a light read but I felt the chemistry jump off the pages!
I am a sucker for a good guy and Noah was it for me. When Randi met him the first time, you could feel the spark! I binge read this book in one sitting because I didn’t want to put it down. It was the perfect light, quick read for this heavy time.
Hard Pass was my first book by Sara Ney and it won’t be my last.
Randi/Miranda is a girl with mint condition rare baseball cards and dreams of selling them to start her own business. Noah is a professional baseball player who collects rare cards but is extremely shy because of past experiences with women making fun of his looks.
This was a new twist because it is usually the female character who is portrayed as the “ugly duckling”. However, there was nothing in his physical description that made him seem as grotesque and ugly as these women had said he was. His features are described as “patrician Roman nose”, tousled blonde hair, mesmerizing amber/brown eyes. The way he was being discussed, I was expecting to see the Elephant Man playing shortstop!
I liked how they felt a connection through their text messages while setting up the same of the first card. There were many bumps in the road through their story, mainly caused by Noah’s fear of rejection due to his appearance. I like how his best friend on the team stood up for him and reached out to Miranda to help her understand what was going on with Noah. Both Miranda and Noah have a terrific group of close friends who are a wonderful support system for them.
There were several interesting secondary characters in this book and I look forward to reading about them in future books.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I absolutely loved Noah and Miranda’s story. I don’t know what it is about Ms Neys men that makes me go wild for them but she’s done it again with Noah. He wasn’t at all what I was expecting and I loved it. He’s just a really down to earth, decent, all round good guy who happens to be a successful, professional athlete. There’s something real about him that I couldn’t get enough of. Maybe it was his shyness, his maturity, his insecurities that are so easy to relate to. It could be all of it, I’m not sure but he had me swooning all over the place.
Miranda is another great character. She’s selling her grandads baseball cards, she doesn’t want to but needs must, so she ends up sticking them online in the hopes of getting the money to start up her new business. Noah is a collector and just about loses his mind when he sees his chance to get his hands on one of his longed for cards and can’t get in touch with Miranda fast enough. The banter between these two is great, I loved the back and forth messages and the slow burning chemistry between them. There’s some really funny parts that had me cracking up and I didn’t think I’d be saying this but I’m quite the fan of Buzz (really hoping I get his story).
I picked this up late on a Saturday night with every intention of reading just one chapter. I ended up staying up until the early hours without even realising how late it was. This story really sucked me in, I was fully invested in the characters and their relationship and I definitely recommend picking up a copy of Hard Pass