I’m no gambler…. except when it comes to her.As a freshman, I let her slip away.Now, I need to make the draft, prove I’m to her I’m no loser, and earn a few mill’ so I can pay my debts.I walk a fine line with the loan sharks. If I misstep, not making the NFL will be the least of my worries.When she offers to save me and be my shrink, I don’t refuse. She’s leaked my secrets. It’s time to turn …
She’s leaked my secrets. It’s time to turn the tables and do a little psychology of my own.
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I am a hardcore sports romance book lover and I love the depth of Stella’s books. Sometimes books all run together because sports romance is a genre that can seem repetitive at times, but Stella tackles issues in her books that most haven’t thought of or are too afraid to write about. This book can be read as a standalone but is the second book in the series. Both books written in the series prove that Stella is on another level when it comes to sports romance authors!
In Misconduct, you hear about Star and Jackson seeing as they are both friends with Ryan and Kira, the couple featured in that book. But Red Flag really dives deep into their story. There is a lot of push and pull between these characters as they decide if being together is what they really want. Outside forces constantly cause hurdles for this couple, but they continue to find their way back to each other. They’ve waited years to finally act on their feelings and it has created an awesome build-up to this moment in their lives in this book.
Stella touched on topics in this book that makes it unique from others. While still being topics and instances that college students typically go through. Debt collectors, money issues, family issues, and not knowing what to do or whom to go to. It’s not very often we see romance books portray struggles outside of issues regarding the relationship of the couple at hand. It was refreshing, but also page-turning to see characters experience real-life issues that not many talk about and learn how they are able to overcome and deal with it.
I have become an absolute fan of Stella and her books! And this one hit the nail for me. If I had to recommend a book to someone to explain why I liked Stella’s writing, I would absolutely recommend Red Flag!
Ms. Alden has a touchdown with this story. Star is studying to be a psychologist like her Dad, is a senior in college and comes from a dysfunctional family. Jackson is from a loving family whose only goal is to play in the NFL. He happens to have a black belt in the martial arts. He becomes involved in gambling to help some people in his family and unknowingly gets involved in organized crime. He has been in lust (he thinks) with Star since freshman year. There are some twists and turns in the story and a short, parallel subplot. This is a terrific read! Must buy.
Red Robin
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This follows the first book misconduct. These are the friends of those characters. He wants to move up to the NFL but has a lot to overcome. First to get over himself and what he thinks he is. Now he is in way over his head gambling to help a cousin with his medicine. She helped him once but has her own problems to work through. Helping each other is what they both need. You have hot and steamy scenes, emotional ones, suspense and so much more. You have a lot going on in this story and it definitely keeps you on your toes and reading. I highly recommend it.
I really liked Star and Jackson and I got why things didn’t work as freshmans but now Jackson is to damn nice and it gets him in trouble and Star can help so it was great seeing the dynamic in their relationship change. There is a great range of emotions you are going to go through this one and there is a lot packed in it that keeps you hooked to see what happens to Star and Jackson in regards to profession, them and the trouble he got him self into.
Normally I steer clear from YA/NA stories. But this collegiate romance was a little slow at first and then picked up as danger and lives were in the balance. I enjoyed the characters. There were not immature but more on the realistic side for senior age college students. I liked that the relationship between Star and Jackson took its time to grow. When one of Jackson’s close family relatives became financially unable to provide his cousin with lifesaving medication, Jackson took on the responsibility to help. This got him in some deep doo doo with some nefarious underground criminal people. This put an incredible strain on Jackson’s NFL aspirations and his relationship with Star. Star comes from an alcoholic dysfunction family. She never realized what it meant to be an adult survivor of her mother’s alcoholism. When her father puts pressure on her to step up and fill in the place he should be, she has many misgivings and guilty feelings. With the help of a counselor and Jackson’s love she tries to work through it. I really enjoyed reading how Jackson and Star solve their personal problems and still succeed to stay in love. A very good read.
Ms. Alden is making me feel like I want to be a cougar, lol. I wanted to jump into the pages and help Jackson out. Okay, because I couldn’t, I rooted for Star. This was just wonderful escapism, entertainment! I’m in love with this Pitbull series! I laugh, I cry, I cringe, I get tingly, I feel! Thank you Ms. Alden for another great book!
I really enjoyed this book. I love a good sports romance and this was it. Jackson and Star were wonderful characters. This book was filled with so much emotion that you won’t want to put it down. There was drama, angst, misunderstandings, miscommunications, you name it was there. With each turn of the page, you are hoping and rooting for Jackson and Star to get their HEA. With everything that they go through in this book, they deserve it.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Stella Marie Alden is one of my favorite authors. I love how her books introduce interesting character you want to know about, then the next book is their story. She did it with The Patten Bodygurards (both Players and Bushwick) and she’s giving us that with the FSCU Bulldogs. We met Jackson and Star in the first book of this series Misconduct and we knew there was drama brewing. But, I never expected this!! The story has twists, turns, ups and downs. Thankfully Jackson and Star get their second chance. Can’t wait for the next book!!
****I received an ARC and this is my honest review.****
Another home run!
Reading Stella Marie Alden’s books is like tasting wine… the more it ages, the better it gets!
That’s right, every time I get the opportunity to read one of this author’s creations, I anxiously wait for more, knowing that I won’t be disappointed at all. Alden, who I have had the pleasure to read for only a few months, is now part of a group of authors that I look forward to, knowing that she is constantly churning out stories with topics relevant to the times and, of course, close to my heart.
Dear reader, give Star and Jackson;s story a chance. You won’t regret it!
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and I definitely loved it!
Jackson is the star receiver for the FSCU Pitbulls. Star is a pre-med student. Jackson and Star have had feelings for each other for years but never acted on them, until now. There’s so much that happens in this story it kept me glued to the pages. People from the other books make appearances in this book. I read this book through an arc program and this is my own personal opinion.
This story is a very well written story. It has a lot of drama that a lot of relationships have. It has a nice flow with great characters. The story does start off a little slow and goes through some of the same issues that the first ones does but we get to see some of others characters points of view. It is well written and has a great flow to it. The characters have amazing personalities that feel like real life and are beautifully developed. Just all of Stella Marie Alden’s books that I have read in the past this one is just as a amazing. This is a fantastic story that is definitely worth reading.
The second book in the FSCU Pitbulls series a well written story. A great storyline with a story that flowed smoothly from page to page. This is a second chance for Jackson and Star but he has brought danger into her life. I recommend this book, and I know I want to read the next book.
From book 1, Misconduct, this is Jackson & Star’s story. Best friends of Ryan & Kira, Star can’t escape Jackson, and it doesn’t help that he’s on the football team & she’s in the school band.
Jackson finds himself in serious trouble & can’t catch a break. The only light to his dark is his shining Star, and he continuously makes mistakes & hurts her feelings again & again. The push & pull between the two were frustrating, but Star couldn’t give up on Jackson, no matter how bad he treats her. Misunderstandings & miscommunications lead to these two trying to decide if being together is worth all the trouble.
I’m loving this series, and I also love seeing previous characters from other books involved with this team. Looking forward to the next one!
Star and Jackson made an appearance in the previous book, Misconduct. Star, as Kira’s bandmate and friend and Jackson, as Ryan’s starting wide receiver and buddy. Just like Ryan, he is trying to make it to the NFL and, even though he has the talent, his attitude and lapses in concentration are making it a rough go for him. At the end of Misconduct, there was a fight between Jackson and some tough characters but no one was aware of what was happening! Jackson had been closed off to his friends for quite a while and it turns out he was involved in some deep trouble over gambling debts. He was actually looking out for his cousin who almost died by spreading his insulin out so his mother wouldn’t have to go farther into debt. Star and Jackson have a relationship of ups and downs, definitely a result of their dysfunctional home lives and the damage it did to them. This is a wonderful book that creates and holds its mood, pace and form from the first page to the last. A great football romance!
Yay! So happy to read Jackson’s story, I was really looking forward to reading this book. I have to say I enjoyed it even more than Ryan’s story. I knew there was more to Jackson than just gambling. Nice to know his backstory. I really enjoy Stella Marie Alden’s writing. It flows well and is easy and fun to read.
Voluntary review of an ARC
Complicated takes turn after turn after turn
Red Flag (FSCU Pitbulls Book 2) by Stella Marie Alden is a fully stand alone book that takes place simultaneously as Misconduct (Book 1) when we were introduced to Jackson and Star and in Book 2, their stories come fully alive and these characters really shine.
The nurturer and pleaser in me, just totally fell for Jackson. He’s alpha yet flawed and vulnerable. His negative self-talk could be his downfall, but he doesn’t allow himself to fall into that pit. Star is equally vulnerable but all things good, kind, and sweet; just what Jackson needs to help him stay focused. Despite what they tell themselves, these two get done what needs done and still find ways to grow and develop as a couple as well as moments for hot, steamy sexy times. The emotions within these character’s interactions are heartfelt and engaging, both the ups and the downs (of which there are many) and all throughout. These two are certainly put through their paces and tested! The college setting, football specifically, touches on the dangers of high-profile sports in that some athletes can be and do get taken advantage of.
Overall, a well-paced, well written book with well-developed characters that know what they want and often bravely go for it. Oh to be young again! Between all this as well as the variety of suspense, it kept me turning pages and completely captivated to the very end – Jackson and Star’s HEA.
I read an ARC of this book and voluntarily share my review.
The blood, sweat, and tears of real life come through
Star, a pre-med student, and Jackson, one of the college football starting players, have fought against their attraction to each other for years. As the story progresses they give up some fights, encounter others, and end up with a troubled present that may not lead to a happy future. This next installment of Stella Marie Alden’s FSCU Pitbulls series continues showing the blood, sweat, and tears of real life. Her characters get me every time with their flaws and perseverance.
I received a free copy of the book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
A great well written standalone in a series. This engaging storyline has the emotions flowing as I was glued page after page with misunderstandings, drama, angst, miscommunications, love, ups and downs to an amazing HEA. The characters had great chemistry and years of knowing each having maturity finally creating an amazing couple that was easy to connect with in this fun, easy, fast paced, intense, smooth flowing story that you dont was to miss. I voluntarily reviewed this ARC.
I enjoyed this book. Jackson and Star’s romance is filled with angst, drama and emotional turmoil. I enjoyed the story and there are lots of ups, downs, twists and turns to keep you entertained and focused. I really liked this couples chemistry and I thought they made an amazing couple that was easy to connect with.
This is the second chapter in the Pitbulls Series and it’s well worth the read. This chapter follows Star and Jackson. Star is trying to reinvent herself as she’s not getting anywhere as she is, a tough ongoing family scenario and loads of school work on her way to becoming a Psychologist, then on to her P.h.D. Jackson is on his way to the NFL but runs into trouble in his last year of college. He’s a good guy and trying to save the world (well him family anyways). He’s starting to drown and has nowhere to turn. He makes some bad decisions and Star gives him a chance but he blows even that. Things get complicated and feelings are hurt. They are both on a journey to achieve their dreams and they need to figure out how to do it together. There are twists and turns along the way and I was holding my breath in a few spots. It’s a great story and I do recommend it. Ms. Alden is a great author.
I received this advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.