Love breaks the offside rule in New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken’s irresistibly sexy Red Card romance. Successful, high-profile sports agent Matt Kingston thinks he can handle anything. Then soccer player Parker Speedman shows up at his door. She is young and gorgeous, has natural talent, and is looking for a team. She’s also a hothead with a punchy past who floored her last … who floored her last coach on live TV. Despite his misgivings, Matt agrees to be both her agent and her coach. Professional common sense says she’s off-limits. But what can he say about the raw attraction between them?
Parker plays soccer with her heart and soul. But after the events of the last year, she’s shaken. She’s already seen what a powerful man can do to a female athlete’s career. And her beloved dream is in the hands of a sexy, gorgeous man with the uncanny ability to slip past her defenses…and into her heart.
Now Matt and Parker are about to learn that when it comes to love, the only way to win is by breaking every rule they know. And by playing nice. Real nice.
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Rachel van dyken is very hit or miss for me but this was an absolute hit. Really really adored this book. I wish it was longer just because I didn’t want to stop reading it.
I loved this!!
At the time of this review, you can borrow both the ebook & Audiobook via Kindle Unlimited. Alternatively, the ebook is $4.99 and you can add the Audible to the purchase for $1.99, so that’s less than the cost of a credit.
I’ll admit that I’m a huge RVD fan. However, this audiobook may be one of my absolute favorites. I wasn’t familiar with either narrator, but I still opted to buy this the day it was released as her books are ones that I’ll consistently listen to over & over again. I don’t regret it at all.
While this is the second book of the series, it was definitely a stand alone. Slade & MacKenzie from Risky Play make some appearances, but you don’t need their story to fully enjoy this one. Parker is a recent college grad seeking out a professional soccer career. Her bestie, Willow is moving to Seattle to live with Willow’s older brother, Matt, and brings Parker along. We met Matt in Risky Play as the slightly-paternalistic (despite being 31) agent to several off the rails professional athletes. In Kickin’ It, he agrees to be Parker’s agent despite her hitting her college coach and a variety of other rumors threatening to sink her career before it even gets off the ground.
Van Dyken tackles some tough issues in this book with an authenticity that led me to tears several times. Matt is incredibly endearing and his relationship with Parker becomes a thing of beauty. As with all RVD, there are definitely some light moments (generally starring Jagger) and I found myself laughing almost as much as crying. The ending was *slightly* over the top for me, but this is fiction and I went with it. The epilogue was was uniquely Matt & Parker and a lovely finish.
Oh man, the BANTER in this near-flawless romance kept the pages turning. My main problem with this book is that I couldn’t put it down, and I was literally late for work because I was trying to sneak in just a few more pages before I left for the day. Rachel Van Dyken has always excelled at infusing humor and great dialogue into stories with complicated relationships, and Kickin’ It is no exception. The story follows Parker, a young soccer player with hopes of going pro. She’s an amazing player, but she developed something of a reputation after she punched her former coach. Parker meets Matt, a former soccer player turned agent through her friend, and he agrees to take her on as a client. What starts out as a rocky relationship when Matt believes Parker to be too immature to handle the spotlight turns into scorching chemistry and the promise of more.
I loved how Rachel Van Dyken handled the sensitive topics in this book with care (yes, this book will probably trigger some people, and it’s not all sunshine and roses). She infused banter and playfulness with some heavy topics. But Matt is the perfect book boyfriend, showing exactly what a relationship SHOULD be, which juxtaposes well with another relationship in this book that is a shining example of what SHOULDN’T be. I absolutely LOVED both Matt and Parker, and it’s their connection that makes this book what it is. There was only one scene towards the end of the book that felt a little over the top, but it wrapped up the story nicely. Other than that, it’s a truly engrossing read that feels like more than the everyday romance novel. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I’ve been a fan of Rachel Van Dyken for a while now, and this book was the perfect mix of humor, fun, steam and angst without being too heavy.
Kickin’ It is the sequel to Risky Play, book 1 in RVD’s Red Card duet. You don’t *need* to read the first book in order to read this, but you do get to know Matt in the first, as well as Slade and Jagger.
I fell in love with Parker from the first. While she’s very vulnerable, there’s a quiet strength to her that develops as the story goes on. By the end of the book she becomes more confident and stands in her truth no matter how much it scares her. Her story broke my heart, but I adore how she became a warrior queen.
Matt? Well, he’s an ass and it took me almost half the book to warm up to him. There’s a line from my favorite Taylor Swift song – All Too Well – that reminds me of Matt: “So casually cruel in the name of being honest…”
That was him. He was cruel in the way he treated her. He was cruel in his assumptions when he found something in her bag. He was cruel on the soccer field when he was coaching her, but that cruelty taught her strength and that she could, though she wasn’t exactly sure, trust him; trust in him to do the right thing and stand by her always.
A few things…
1. I do not read sex scenes out of personal conviction, so I can’t say how steamy they were or if they were graphic. Though, to be honest, I can’t imagine Rachel writing extremely graphic sex. I’d say that there were about 3 or 4, and they weren’t until after the second half of the book.
2. It’s still a little shocking at times to see the “f word” in her books. Not that I’m against that (It’s probably one of my favorite words, if I’m honest), it’s just odd after reading her earlier books. She doesn’t use it just to use it; for a lack of a better thought, it’s not unthinkable that the men in her book, strong Alpha types who are also sportsmen, would cuss.
3. I wish the suspense elements had been fleshed out more. As odd as it sounds, I think the stalking could have been written stronger and that when he finally outs himself (as they almost always do as they’re too narcissistic not to) – when Parker stands in her truth and shows how strong she has become – could have been a little more dramatic and could have been longer than just two or three pages.
4. The cover. While the cover models are gorgeous, the male is all wrong for Matt. Matt is a blond and doesn’t have tattoos, especially not on his hands. I can’t recall any time when Parker talked about his tats.
5. Matt’s sister, Willow, is hilarious. She provided the comic relief that the book needed when things got a little much with Matt’s attitude towards Parker and Parker’s anxiety. I wish that she and Slade would get their own book, but their story was unfortunately wrapped up by the end of the book. (I love you, RVD, but I’m glaring at you for that)
6. I absolutely love how delicately she handled Parker’s stalker, and adding in the #MeToo movement in such a way that you can’t help but be proud that she is addressing a real issue that women in the sports world face. She even handled Parker’s anxiety and near depression with the same delicate way.
I have to confess: I’ve never really been a fan of sports romance (though a good football book is a weakness at times), RVD is making me want to delve more into the genre and I hope tackles baseball next.
Overall, I absolutely recommend this to anyone who enjoys sports romances, strong women, and current issues that are important and should be talked about.
Kickin’ It is the second book in RVD’s Red Card series and keeps the series moving nicely.
This book can easily be read as a standalone and is very sweet and funny sports romance.
This book moves at a nice, easy pace. You can see the attraction between Matt and Parker but they both don’t act on it immediately for their own personal reasons. Things do get dicey and while I don’t like how everything played out, the book wasn’t too overly dramatic and things settled a bit too quickly.
Overall, RVD delivers a story with a nice blend of sexiness and humor that allows this story to play out nicely.
Kickin’ It was such a fantastic read. I was really curious about Matt from the first book. So I’m glad that Rachel gave us this story.
Matt Kingston is one of the best sports agents. Of course, his sister Willow would want to follow in his footsteps. So when Matt is distracted, he agrees to have his sister live with him for a short time with a friend. Her friend just so happens to be Parker. Parker is a character that I did love. There was just something about her. As you learn, she is a true Survivor and not a victim.
Rachel brings one of those difficult topics to light. It was done in a respectful way. You connect with Parker, and you feel for her and I think that’s important with a story like this. The story, even though it dealt with such a heartbreaking and heavy topic. It still had those laughs, which wasn’t helpful, since I’m getting over a cold. But it was fun. You needed the banter mixed in.
Overall, Five Boundless Stars.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Avid Reader –
M/F Romance
Matt is on top of the world. He loves his life. He has a job that allows him to rub elbows with some great athletes and runs his own company. When his sister comes to him and asks to shadow him in his job because she wants to work with him.
Parker is a fantastic soccer play with a dry sense of humor. She’s learned that to get what she wants, sometimes it takes some groveling and sometimes, it takes a very thick skin. When she is invited to stay in the house of a great sports rep, she jumps at the chance. Even though her first impression of him isn’t great, she has learned that sometimes, it is a good thing to give someone a second chance.
Matt and Parker start down a path that will allow them to find comfort in each other and their friends. When an opportunity knocks on Parker’s door, will Matt have the courage to figure out what haunts her and push her towards her dream, even if it moves her further from him?
This was a sweet story with a snarky lead character. I loved her attitude and how she decided to live her life. It was heartbreaking and loving all wrapped into a great story. I can’t wait for more!
Trigger: Rape, stalking
Ruthie –
This is the second book in the series, but could be read as a standalone for sure.
I love sports romances, and this one is fun as it turns the tables with the soccer star, Parker, being female and having a bad reputation due to punching her coach. We soon discover that the reason why is one that she has not had the strength to admit to anyone, and just how much that is messing with her mind, as well as her future.
Luckily, her best friend, Willow, has a brother who played soccer himself and is now a top level agent. So, Willow manages to score them both digs with Matt, and get him to become her coach and agent! Of course, living and spending so much time together, they both have to fight a massive dose of chemistry. Matt because it is just wrong, and Parker because she fears history repeating itself.
When her ex-coach starts to cause more trouble, everything starts to unravel, and maybe together they will be able to face what needs to happen for Parker to move forward emotionally and with her potentially stellar career.
I loved the banter between the trio staying at Matt’s – and Willow is just a blast, she was the perfect foil to the other pair, and made me laugh a lot! I am hoping that we have her story soon.
Mary –
Matt is the sports agent of some high priced, high profile, great soccer players. Loves his life as a single man and loves his baby sister. While talking to her, she tells him she wants to be just like him, so she is coming home to learn from the best, him. What he doesn’t hear is that her best friend/roommate is coming with her and they both need a place to stay. When Matt sees Parker, he is drawn to her but she is his sister’s friend and that means she is too young for him.
Parker wants two things, have Matt be her agent and get her back on the soccer field. It’s the only thing she wants until she sees Matt. She is drawn to him and would like to be more than just his client. But her past might get in the way.
Can Matt help Parker train to get ready to show the local team she is ready to play? Will Parker trust Matt enough to tell him what happened to her? Can they make a relationship work between them off the soccer field? Will Matt kill Jagger for trying to date his baby sister?
After reading the first book, I knew I wanted to read Matt’s story and wow what a story it was. It has all the feels I love in a great story, I was laughing one minute and crying the next. I would recommend you read the first book, but you don’t have to read it first. But why would you miss Slade and Mack’s story? And I hope there is a story coming for Jagger and Willow.
Mary Jo –
This is a great story that addresses what has been happening recently in women’s sports. Young women are often intimidated by those in control – whether the person in control is a man or a woman. We see those in control – coaches and mentors – as having our best interests at heart. It’s only when something goes horribly wrong, do we see the red flags and other warning signs.
It’s in our nature to trust, to trust those in control, to trust those older than us, to trust those who should protect us. Once that trust is betrayed, we (the victims) often blame ourselves for the actions of the person who should have protected us. The abuser reinforces that belief by saying that the victim shouldn’t have “dressed like that,” “acted like that,” or “had too much to drink.”
It takes courage to stand up after having been abused, and often the victim stays in the shadows because who would believe her when the abuser has standing where she has none.
Only when the victim finds her strength can she release the blame and guilt she’s placed on herself and give to the right person – the abuser. It can take months or years for the victim to find that strength, to give it a voice but at no time is she weak. After all, she has survived and continues to survive and will continue to survive.
This is one of those stories.
Triggers – intimidation and sexual assault
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Kickin’ It (Red Card #2) by Rachel Van Dyken to read and review,
This book goes above and beyond to deal with the topic of rape by someone in power. The author could not have done a better job!
The characters were perfect and there was just the right amount of heat and romance to balance the heaviness of the primary topic & message!
Highly entertaining, sexy, fun, engaging and emotionally thrilling romantic journey filled with lots of witty banter, intriguing charters, tense situations and hard to ignore forbidden passion…. really enjoyed every heart pounding twist and turn. This is a great reading experience from beginning to end and I look forward to the next adventure in this series.
Brought tears to my eyes!!! Oh My Goodness! When ready Risky Play I kind of figure I was going to LOVE Matt…. I didn’t realize how much I would love him… or that I would love Parker too! This story had me feeling the butterflies in my belly and then had me feeling the craziest sadness! There was not a moment of this book that I did not like! I was so entranced by them from the beginning of their story. How they interacted. What they said when the other wasn’t around. How Matt’s friends stuck their noses in where they didn’t belong! All of it was so great! Loved Loved Loved
Love breaks the offside rule in New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken’s irresistibly sexy Red Card romance.
Successful, high-profile sports agent Matt Kingston thinks he can handle anything. Then soccer player Parker Speedman shows up at his door. She is young and gorgeous, has natural talent, and is looking for a team. She’s also a hothead with a punchy past who floored her last coach on live TV. Despite his misgivings, Matt agrees to be both her agent and her coach. Professional common sense says she’s off-limits. But what can he say about the raw attraction between them?
When it comes to love, the only way to win is by breaking every rule you know.
SPOILERS INCLUDED!
I normally really love this author and I loved the first book in the series, but this book was just ok. We met Matt in the first book as the agent for two soccer stars Slade and Jagger. In this book Matt’s sister brings her best friend from college, Parker to stay with her at her brother’s house. Parker was a top soccer recruit out of college, until she punched her coach on national TV. Matt agrees to be her agent, but notices she has issues. Bottom line, she had been raped by her college coach. I think part of my problem with this book is Parker, one minute she is a neurotic mess that cringes at a touch from a man, then she having sex in a closet while a party is happening. She seems to get better without the benefit of therapy really quickly. I just didn’t buy the chemistry between Matt and Parker. Also, I am a bit ticked that Jagger didn’t get his own book and his HEA with Matt’s sister Willow was just an aside to the main story.
This is the second book in the series and before I read I had read some of the reviews just to get a basic idea. I didn’t agree with some of them. why? well I totally agree that Matt was a jerk at the beginning of the story and he totally pushed Parker really hard for a couple of reasons one mainly that he was attracted to her and acted like a child but I didn’t agree that it was abuse but we all have opinions and that is mine and those readers had theirs and that is why we have a voice. I enjoyed it and loved reading about Jagger and Willow, and enjoyed reading about Slade and Mack it was nice to read about how there relationship was going, so all in all I encourage you to read the book, because I enjoyed!
Rcvd and ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions
Great take on a prominent news story. Empowerment is a gift and Matt gave that to Parker. Parker found her voice and as her confidence grew, she used it.
It’s got parts difficult to hear for some who may have been victimized by someone of power. But to see how the story and characters evolved was absolutely worth the moments of difficulty.
I love the supporting cast of characters: Willow and Jagger, Slade, Darius. Support given freely and this group is truly a family.
I thoroughly enjoyed the audio version giving Parker and Matt life.
RVD is one of my favourite go-to authors as she has a way of drawing you in and enjoying her books. She has a way of bringing humour to her writing even when they cover dark subjects but its done in a brilliant way, mixed with her strong addictive characters its the perfect mix.
After reading Risky Play I loved this group of athletes and their sports manager. Their connection, witty banter and over-protective natures was endearing and completely facinating to watch play out. I was intrigued by Matt, their agent in this book but he wasn’t my favourite character but he is now.
Kickin’ It is Matt and Parkers story and i simply loved these two. The push/pull love/hate realtionship between them was hilarious to watch at the beginning. Matt really did need someone who wasn’t going to back down to his bossy ways and he met his match in Parker. Once he gets passed his tough agent persona he finally sees past the protective walls Parker has placed aroung herself and gives her the courage and self-belief she needs.
Another brilliant book from RVD and addition to this series and I am looking forward to seeing what comes next in this series
I am such a sucker for a good sports romance and lucky for me Kickin’ It was a phenomenal read! It had a little bit of everything in it — enemies to lovers, a strong female athlete, her sexy sports agent, forbidden love, laughter, tears and love! Rachel tackles some sensitive issues in this one (the me too movement) and does it seamlessly and with grace. I absolutely love when authors tackle current social issues and effortlessly weave them into the story.
Kickin’ It is a sweet and sexy sports romance that you don’t want to miss!
This story is about finding your own voice, bravery, trust and love. It gave me all the feels.
I recommend this if you wanted to read something funny, witty, angsty and deep.
I am (as a rape victim of seven years) beyond thankful that this book exists.
Thank you Rachel.
Ahhh this steamy rom-com standalone from Rachel Van Dyken! The Red Card series continues with Matt & Parker’s story, an enemies-to-lovers romance about a sports agent & female soccer star…
Loved this second book.
Loved Matt and Parker. Loved the way they melded together. So glad Parker got her HEA and Erik got his just deserves. I love Willow, Slade , Jagger and Mack.
Brilliant storylines and brilliant characters.