From Instacrush to Insta-Daddy . . . Theo Kershaw is the luckiest guy alive. Roaring back from a life-threatening injury, he has the world at his skates as defenseman for his new team, the Chicago Rebels. Everyone adores his big personality, his on-ice talent, and his killer smile. Everyone but his prickly neighbor—or so he thinks. One chilly Christmas Eve, Theo will learn that maybe the girl … Eve, Theo will learn that maybe the girl next door isn’t such a hater after all …
Elle Butler is the most embarrassing person on the planet.
How else can the ex-military-now-bartender explain her crush on the hot jock who lives across the hall? True, he has gorgeous green eyes and perfect cheekbones, but the filter between his brain and too-sexy mouth is permanently malfunctioning. Yet she can’t stop checking out his Instagram antics or sneaking looks at him when he’s in her bar. Absolutely mortifying. Running from a past filled with damning secrets, Elle’s determined that this guilty pleasure remains buried in her deepest fantasies.
Because she couldn’t possibly indulge with the Theo Kershaw. Or make a mistake that draws attention to her under-the-radar life. And she especially couldn’t be a mom to a pro-athlete’s baby … could she?
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I have a serious Insta-Crush on this author after reading this book! Sports romance is my jam and this one scored with me. Theo and Elle both have weighty backstories, yet that didn’t stop this book from being a fun, flirty, refreshing read. Now I’m off to read the rest of the Rebels’ stories!!
I could not of loved this book more! Theo and Elle were so good together. Thier banter back and forth was hilarious and hot! He was a fun character because there is so much more to him than what he gives everyone and you discover his vulnerabilities that he shows Elle.
Elle has her own issues with relationships and it really was interesting to see her side and how she deals with the feelings she doesn’t want to have for Theo. I always enjoy Kate’s writing and how her books and story line flow. I find myself laughing one minute and fanning myself the next! This was as all her books are well written and it is very easy to feel connected and engaged in the story! Great ready! Enjoy!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Amazing edition to the Rookie Rebels series. Theo is definite book boyfriend material. What’s not to love about a hot hockey player who is also funny, sweet, charming and caring. Loved how he was there for Elle from the start. I enjoyed watching how they both worked through their family issues to build a family together. Can’t wait for Gunnar’s story.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
Instacrush was an instalove for me!
Theo and his sunshine stole every scene in The Good Guy but now we get to see all his sides and they’re all as perfect as his superglutes! The minute he saw Elle he was a goner, and secretly so was she, now after a very hot holiday hookup they have to figure out each other, their feelings, their families, parenting, and playoff hockey!
Instacrush is a perfect addition to the world of the Chicago Rebels and even gives us a chance to catch up with some old friends and their growing families!
I received a complimentary review copy of this book but all opinions are my own.
If you don’t already love Kate Meader, you will after reading Instacrush. Hiding within the flirty banter, the laugh-out-laugh sweetness, and the heart-pounding love, is an all-the-feels story about family—one with great depth, much heart, and the ability to make me want to shout from the rooftops of Fangirl Central.
I can categorically say that this is one of my absolute favorite reads of 2019. I LOVED this book so much that I suspect my hangover will persist for many days to come—and you know what? That’s okay by me. I’ll just be over here wishing it could read it over and over again.
*Received ARC of Instacrush from Kate Meader for an honest review”. Loved Theo (aka Superglutes), we all need a Theo!! This is Theo Kershaw & Elle Butler’s story & their journey to their HEA with the hatchling. While I loved the main characters & wanted them to be together, I understand Elle was trying to protect Theo, but she frustrated me by not telling Theo the truth about her family sooner. This was an amazing book that had all the feels, it’s funny, entertaining, has great characters (main & supporting) & shows Elle and Theo working through their issues together to get their relationship to work. I can’t wait to read Gunnar’s book next!!
Oh sweet, lovable Theo and his big bu..heart! I absolutely enjoyed Instacrush by the wonderful author, Kate Meader! If you want an incredibly funny, hot, deep, hockey romance…THIS. IS. IT!
Ex-Army Lt., Elle Butler has roomied up with her veteran army buddy, Levi Hunt (from book 1, Good Guy) and Theo’s team-mate. She is trying to escape her unpleasant history of her family…
Theo Kershaw is a super-glute, hockey player, instagrammer-extraordinaire… believes in truth and (and due to personal medical history) that life is too short…
“Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Secrets tear people apart and I don’t want that dynamic with anyone in my life.”
This book has everything you could want in a romance! I just placed Instacrush as my #1 FAVORITE Kate Meader book! There is love, heartbreak, family issues, secrets, heat, Elle-Oh-Elle moments, and HOCKEY! I am giving this one a solid 5 pucks!!! I LOVED this one sooooo much!!!
**Good Guy does not need to be read first to understand Instacrush, HOWEVER…it does help you understand the dynamic and relationship better, so you get a more complete understanding!
Instacrush was everything I thought it would be and so much more! Theo comes across as this happy go lucky, fun loving guy and he is much there is so much more to him. He is so protective of the people he cares about and his Ellie is top of that list now! Ellie super independent and puts up some walls but Theo doesn’t give up! Loved the cameos from the old favourites and I can’t wait to read the next book in the series. If I could give this more than 5 stars I would!
This is a much lighter read than the other books in this series but still thoroughly enjoyable. The story pace was perfect; the romance, though not hot and heavy, was nicely done. I loved the characters – everyone from Theo and Elle to Aurora, Theo’s grandmother, to the other hockey players and their spouses. It had some laugh out moments; my favorites being nicknaming the baby, any scene with Aurora, the contemplative quote from Kungfu Panda and the suggested romantic possibilities of a jock strap. (There’s got to be a story there!) A fantastic read!
I received a free copy from Booksprout. This is my unbiased review.
Theo, the hero here, knows how to work it, folks. Whether it be flashing his million dollar smile, nailing the Chicago Rebels hockey puck in the opponent’s net, or just coming across as Mr. Happy Go Lucky on instagram, this guy has it going on. But behind the hockey mask, famous, handsome face, and cocky, carefree facade is a damaged heart secretly yearning to be loved unconditionally.
Elle isn’t even close to wrapping her mind around the situation she soon finds herself after giving into temptation with Theo. Her family baggage weighs heavy enough on her she’s always looking over her shoulder expecting to be sucked back into their drama/lifestyle.
Both of these destined to be together lovebirds long for a real family that can be their soft place to fall. It just takes one of them longer than the other to let go and surrender unconditionally and completely to love.
Theo was my favorite part of this romantic tale. I loved how he didn’t hesitate to go with the flow and stepped right up to the plate immediately. In fact, this mountain of muscle wouldn’t be swayed. He was all in from the get go. Elle, despite a touch here and there of knuckleheaded notions, was a really good person, too.
As usual, this author’s writing flows seamlessly and gets quite steamy at times. Overall, I enjoyed getting to know Theo better, who’s been in previous books, and Elle’s character, as well. She was sassy, strong, and resilient, yet her vulnerability made her reluctant to give herself credit for deserving a HEA.
One thing I know for certain is if you want to score an entertaining romantic read, let Kate Meader make your day. Whether it be in the kitchen, on the hockey rink, fire station, or court room, she also has it going on. You owe it to yourself to check out all her series: Hot in the Kitchen, Chicago Rebels/Rookie Rebels, Hot in Chicago, Laws of Attraction. She seems to nail it perfectly each and every time.
Title: Instacrush, Series: Rookie Rebels (Book 2), Author: Kate Meader, Pages: NL, stand-alone but part of a series, graphic smex scenes, relationship angst, celibate quite awhile hero, romance safe, no OW/OM drama, no love triangle, both been celibate awhile, confident/cocky on the outside/teddy bear heart inside hero.
Book 1 – Good Guy
Book 2 – Instacrush
(I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not given any payment or compensation for this review, nor is there any affiliation or relationship between this reviewer and the author/publisher/PR firm.)
I love Theo. He is adorable and the perfect book boyfriend. Honest, endearing, sweet and open with just enough heat to make so sick steam. I just wanted to hug him. I liked Elle but she also annoyed me with how much she tried to keep him at arms length and how self deprecating she was. I get he family is a mess but she is her own person and all them wanted was a teammate. A partner. Loved the ending. Hatch is so cute!!
Theo Kershaw is back on the ice and better than ever after a life-threatening injury. He may be killing it in the rink but not so much in his personal life. Ex-military Elle Butler has the biggest crush on Theo but she does everything she can think of to keep him away. One Christmas eve night everything changes for both of them.
This book was so good! I couldn’t put it down. I loved Theo as soon as he was introduced in the first book and I was so glad he finally got his chance with Elle. Theo is a bright light but he still has insecurities and fears that he has to deal with. Watching him face his fears and help Elle confront hers was perfect and emotional. I couldn’t get enough of these two.
“I love you because you are Elle Butler, the woman who laughed at my dino-briefs and still wanted to have sex with me. The girl who makes me mad and horny and hungry, often in the same sixty seconds.”
Elle has a lot of baggage she has to work through during her relationship with Theo. She has terrible parents, trust issues, and a lot of insecurities and fears. Theo is the perfect partner for her because he is caring and supportive with these issues but will still push her to work through them. I really loved the character development of Elle throughout this book. She is such a strong and independent woman but she learns to lean on others and finds a true family.
Overall, this was a instalove book that I couldn’t put down. I cannot wait to read the next Rookie Rebel story and see another team member fall in love.
Rookie Rebels #2, It was kind hard not to have a crush on Super Glutes Theo Kershaw. From his outgoing personality to his comeback career, Theo is a loveable guy. He’s the kind of guy who likes making other people smile and he loves to connect with his fans. Elle Butler is pretty much in limbo after getting out of the Army, she’s learned to keep people at a distance. Elle loves her family but she doesn’t like them very much, except maybe her sister but there are things in her past better left forgotten. Staying with her old Army buddy Levi is just temporary until she figures out what she wants to do, it doesn’t help that Levi’s neighbor is the incredibly sexy, irritatingly friendly Theo but she can’t help but watch his live Instagram posts. As sexy as Theo is Elle still gets annoyed with him, or maybe it’s because she finds him so sexy and friendly that pisses her off but over Christmas one thing lead to another and they spend the weekend in bed together.
Theo thinks Elle is special, he has even told his grandmother about her but Elle keeps her distance. Even after they find out she’s pregnant with his kid she tries to keep him at arms distance. Theo thinks she’s ashamed of him but she’s doing it for his own protection, protection from her family. Elle’s not the only one with family drama Theo’s birth father has been trying to reconnect but Theo is not sure he’s worth the effort especially when his father’s family paid his mom off. Theo and Elle have a lot to work out between his family and her and their feeling for each other.
Overall, I loved Theo and Elle. Kate Meader has yet to write a book I didn’t enjoy. Her style is so much fun to read, with the right amount of angst balanced with humor and romance and some pretty steamy scenes between Theo and Elle it was such a great read. It was nice to catch up of some of the older Rebels and all the hints at the next books and their sexy Rebels.
Theo “Superglutes” Kershaw…. WOW, WOW, WOW!! When you’re first introduced to this character in Good Guy he seems fun, charming, and a little superficial, however, Theo has lots and lots of amazing layers to his character!! (By the way… in my opinion you don’t have to read Good Guy to follow this book, however, it does help to understand about all of the secondary characters). He is sweet, kind, compassionate, sexy, loving, and sensitive (the list could go on and on). I loved the way Kate Meader paired the ultimate extrovert, Theo, with private Elle. The interactions between the 2 characters was off the charts exciting. I loved reading the flirting between the 2. The emotions that both characters went through with dealing with Elle’s pregnancy AND both characters pasts was engrossing and very well written. This book was a lot of fun to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it!! I found myself laughing, crying, and wanting to scream sometimes!! Theo is the perfect ‘hero’ and I’m so glad we got to read about is character in depth. I have to admit, Instacrush is one of my favorite reads for 2019!! Kate Meader continues to deliver phenomenal books with this hockey series and I honestly can’t wait to read the next book!!
What happens when an unexpected Christmas Eve fling produces a positive pregnancy test? Theo and Elle have been dancing around their attraction to each other for awhile. Theo’s seemingly all lightness and humor, and Elle is as closed off and reserved as she can be. After discovering they’re going to be co-parents, we’ll see if opposites really do attract, and if they both can process problems from their pasts.
If I were just rating Instacrush on its hero, it’d be getting all of the stars. Theo Kershaw is one of the most delightful heroes I’ve read in romance, and, for the most part, I think that Elle is a good foil for him. I do like when the hero pursues a heroine (in a respectful, not over-the-top alpha way), but there were times where I disliked Elle’s treatment of Theo. It was fun to see cameos from the original Chicago Rebels series, and I look forward to reading Gunnar’s story next.
Enjoyable second book in this series. Opposites attract with an unplanned pregnancy thrown in. Elle’s family life had made her independent and wary. Theo is a glass half full optimist even though he has had a not so ‘normal’ childhood himself. I loved his gran, Aurora, she is sassy and love personified.
There are times when you want to smack their heads together and tell them to talk to one another. And times when you swoon as Theo is so damn adorable! You can see their development through the story.
In Instacrush by Kate Meader we revisit the Chicago Rebels hockey team. I love these team members and their families. Theo is big, brash and lives his life out loud, sharing so much with his fans. What the fans do not see or do not think about is what he is living with behind the scenes. Theo has never let anything get him down or make his less. Theo is my absolute favorite. Elle lives her life in the dark, quiet and under the radar. She notices Theo but due to her past she refuses to acknowledge what she considers her weakness. The story of Elle and Theo is full of ups and downs and is so thoughtful and insightful that you simply cannot wait to see what happens next. These characters make your heart smile. The fun, the humor, the chemistry all blend together to make a wonderful story that will stick with you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Theo Kershaw’s story made my day! While in “Good Guy” he came off as a bit of a goofball jock, this book shows what a funny, wiser than he appears, sweetheart of a guy he really is. His nicknames for the baby and his happiness at possibly having the family he missed out on as a kid we’re absolutely adorable. Elle’s slow thawing, tart nature was a perfect match for his endearing, always positive attitude. Even though Elle was very guarded about her past, afraid of Theo being hurt by her family, he was completely patient & supportative of her throughout. Oh, and not to forget Grandma Aurora-she’s a hoot!
I haven’t read the previous Chicago Rebels series , but I’m loving this new series. Kate Meader showcases just the right mixture of old & new characters to enhance the story without confusing new readers. I’m eager for Gunnars story next & ready to catch up on the back stories of all the other Rebels while I wait.
I loved this book about Elle and Theo who we met in a previous book. Theo has such a presence and knowing the reason behind it just makes him more adorable. His relationship with his grandmother is adorable. Elle is damaged but not because of the war she fought. I enjoyed her “stalking” of Theo and when they came together…. heat advisory warning. I just have to say I will never look at dinosaurs the same way. seriously, read this book. It’s fun and serious and just plain good. Kate Meader writes another great tale in this series.
I honestly don’t know what to say about this book because, “amazing” or “really freaking awesome” aren’t enough. It’s witty, hilarious, romantic, steamy and so heartwarming that it literally leaves you breathless. I think I had a smile on my face the entire book. It’s hockey romance at its finest, and the swoon factor is off the charts.
Kate Meader continues to outdo herself every single time she writes a new book. I am in awe of her talent with every word. I love how gorgeous her writing is. How she develops not only the story, but her characters. I love how real they feel, their hidden depths and flaws, and how they evolve as the story progresses. I especially love how witty she is, how skillfully she weaves humor into her writing, even during times of trouble, without making them comedies.
The witty banter, the teasing, the heat and sincere affection between Theo and Elle, their chemistry. Everything. Was just so… Yum! I loved how caring Theo was with Elle, even though her situation was a delicate one. However, Elle makes some mistakes and tries to push him away. But Theo is so understanding and persistent even when their relationship gets complicated, but eventually they come back even stronger.
Instacrush was quite the guilty pleasure, such a pleasure to read. I had been looking forward to reading this story about Theo “Superglutes”. But he totally caught me off guard. He is without a doubt one of the swooniest, most adorable book boyfriends I have ever come across. OMG!! The guy is so smooth and sweet. And he sure knows how to be charming and sexy. He’s definitely a keeper. I loved this from start to finish, and even though I didn’t want it to end, the ending was one of my favorite parts of the story. This is heart-meltingly beautiful. Five Stars fall short with this one.
I was gifted an early copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.