After a divorce from her cheating football player ex, PR whiz Kim Matlock would rather drive a pine tree through her walled-off heart than work at the Seattle Wedding Expo. And the last thing she expects is to be grabbed and kissed breathless by a hot giant of a man looking to fend off a stalker. She doesn’t want emotional entanglements, but she can’t say no to one scorching night with the sexy … sexy stranger.
To her shock, she finds out afterward that a) he’s a pro football player, aka her kryptonite, and b) she’s pregnant.
But nothing could have prepared her for his response…
Each book in the WAGS series is STANDALONE:
* Scoring with the Wrong Twin
* Scoring Off the Field
* Scoring the Player’s Baby
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I loved this book! It made me laugh out loud, it made me tear up, and it steamed up my e-reader One of my favorite “oops baby” stories to date! Truly the best of all worlds!
Absolutely unputdownable! Per usual, Simone slays us with a smoldering, swoonworthy read that also tugs at our heartstrings. She has such a gift for combining sexy, smart, and heart-achingly sweet. Ronin and Kim are the perfect match. They just didn’t know it till a baby entered the picture. I loved the way they both had to break down each other’s walls and open their hearts after painful pasts. They were truly made for each other.
Do yourself a favor and 1-click this one. You won’t be disappointed. Simone will leave you breathless and with a big, cheesy smile on your face at that ending. Perfection.
I love reading Naima Simone’s books! Ronin has a reputation for enjoying his one night stands with no entanglements. Kim was badly burned by her ex-husband’s cheating and an indifferent father. Working for her father’s company doesn’t make things any easier. Their initial meeting is hilarious – Ronin, trying to excape a desperate past hook-up, convinces Kim to pretend she’s his fiance to try to get rid of the clinger – all in the matter of a few minutes – and she does so extremely well! Needless to say the sexual tension runs high and Kim gives in for one night. Only to discover that Ronin is a professional football player – same as her ex – and the breed of which she has sworn to stay away from. Unfortunately for her (or should we say – fortunately) Ronin decides that he can’t get enough with just one night. As the relationship progresses both realize how similar their backgrounds are and that maybe they just need to give each other a chance to know each other better – especially since there’s a baby linking them together.
There were some laughs and some tears shed while reading – making this a five star read in my book!!
3.75 stars–SCORING THE PLAYER’S BABY is the third instalment in Naima Simone’s contemporary, adult WAGS (Wives and Girlfriends) football, romance series focusing on the men and women of the profession football league’s the Washington Warriors. This is PR specialist, thirty-year old Kim Matlock, and wide receiver for the Washington Warriors, twenty-eight year old Ronin Palamo’s story line. SCORING THE PLAYER’S BABY can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. There is a slight cross-over with the author’s Bachelor Auction series where we were first introduced to our heroine Kim Matlock, her half-brother Alexander, and father Malcolm Bishop.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Ronin and Kim) SCORING THE PLAYER’S BABY follows the building but struggling relationship between PR specialist Kim Matlock, and wide receiver for the Washington Warriors Ronin Palamo. Kim Matlock is a well-educated, accomplished and intelligent PR specialist; a woman who doesn’t do relationships, and refuses to date anything resembling a professional football player-been there, done that and has the divorce papers to prove it. A one-night stand with a mysterious but sexy as sin stranger results in an unplanned pregnancy that forces Kim back into the stranger’s radar, three months later. Unable to forget about her ex-husband’s betrayal, Kim struggles with building a relationship with the father of her child. Enter Ronin Palamo, who also struggles with relationship issues from the past, but a man who is willing to take responsibility for his unborn child, offering Kim a chance at family and a happily ever after. What ensues is the building romance and love between Kim and Ronin, and the potential fall-out as our couple continue to battle memories and ghost from the past.
Kim Matlock knows rejection first hand including her ex-husband’s infidelity, and the ongoing rejection from the father she never knew. Fifteen years earlier, her then sixteen year old half-brother Alex, heir apparent to Bishop Enterprises, went in search of the sister he would grow to love, forcing Kim’s father, billionaire Malcolm Bishop to reluctantly acknowledge his bast*rd child. Guarded and cautious Kim continues to mistrust Ronin’s intentions for a life-long commitment. Ronin Palamo’s father abandoned the family for his love of the bottle, ensuring a life-long rejection by the children he fathered but Ronin would suffer an even greater loss when his best friend and the love of his life succumbed to a life-threatening disease. A man-wh*re by reputation, Ronin buried his grief in one-night stands but something about Kim drew Ronin like a moth to a flame.
The colorful secondary and supporting characters include Kim’s unwelcoming father Malcolm Bishop, her brother Alexander, and her ex-husband, defensive back Matt Cooper. We catch up with Ronin’s teammates and friend, and their partners -Zeph Black and Sophia Cruz; Tennyson Clark and Dominic Anderson, as well as Sophia’s twin sister Giovanna Cruz- the camaraderie and support is endearing and fun.
SCORING THE PLAYER’S BABY is a spirited and character driven story line. The premise is realistic and enjoyable; the romance is passionate and energetic; the characters are sexy and edgy.
Although this is a stand alone, I feel you may get more enjoyment if you were to read the first two books in the series prior to reading this one as it will give you an insight into Ronin Palamo and his friends.
I was intrigued by Ronin Palamo when he was introduced in the first book and was looking forward to his story and oh what a story. I
Kim Matlock has been badly hurt and is divorcing her cheating soon to be ex husband, a professional football player and the last thing she wants or needs is another man in her life.
That is until Ronin storms his way into her life. Ronin is an alpha male, confident and sure of himself and a professional footballer.When he sees Kim at an event he is attending with his sister she intrigues him, but Ronin is not looking for a relationship either.In fact he is doing his best to avoid a woman who wants more than he is prepared to give and that is when he decides to enlist Kim’s help.
What can it hurt to embark on a crazy journey of passion? What’s the worst that could happen? The chemistry between Ronin and Kim simply sizzles but complications, in the form of an unplanned pregnancy soon puts the cat among the pigeons.
I really loved Kim, what a strong and determined woman she is. It is at times an emotional roller coaster filled with angst that had my heart pounding at times. I felt for both Ronin and Kim as they struggled; can Ronin and Kim, both hurt by their pasts, push through their fears and come together to embrace a future?
It was also great catching up with the couples form the previous books, the banter and camaraderie makes you want to join this group of friends and I found myself laughing out loud numerous times whilst reading this book.
I look forward to more in the series.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publisher through Netgalley.
Straight forward, intelligent, funny, and oh so sexy, Ronin was a great book boyfriend! I don’t normally picture my characters as celebrities, but with Jason Mamoa as a muse, it was super easy channeling him as Ronin! Now Ronin had a phobia about relationships, hence his very blunt one night stand stance, but after his heartbreaking reveal, his huge heart didn’t want to be put through the wringer again and I couldn’t blame the guy. And then he meets Kim. It was insta-lusty lust from the get-go that morphed into something tangible. Something bigger than either one expected.
For all her quirks, I really liked Kim. She was dealt some hard knocks from life early on, but prevailed in a screw-you-world fashion. She was feisty, stubborn, and determined to do things her way to avoid heartache, and who could blame her after her the way she was treated by her “father” and ex-manwhore hubby?!
Ronin and Kim’s romance was a five alarm fire with lots of heat and sizzle! Their sexy chemistry burned the pages, but the emotional battle was the big test. The banter, movie references (of course, Love Actually is the best romcom movie ever!) humor, gah! I gobbled that stuff up! Back to the serious…. Getting Kim to crack open her shields took everything Ronin had. His subtle persistence, surprises and reliability took her by storm, making me hold my breathe wondering if she’d relent and really let him in.
As the title implies, yes pregnancy and baby are involved. Imagining their baby coming out looking like a superstar with Kim and Ronin’s diverse backgrounds had me grinning at the weirdest moments! Overall, this was a great read. I couldn’t stop at just one chapter and read the book in one evening, enjoying every minute of this battle of hearts!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
So I thought I would clear my ARC schedule for a bit and try and catch up on some of the books on my kindle and as soon as I didn’t have a book I had to read I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what I wanted to read.
So this one popped up as one that a few GR friends were enjoying so I one clicked it and jumped in. To be honest it wasn’t really what I was expecting but that seems to be the theme of the moment. However it was a quick and easy read with minimal drama and it’s one less on my TBR (for now)
Enjoyed how the lead got stronger as the book read. Loved the Pacific Islander angle as well
Sexy, scorching read filled with snarky humor and welling emotions. Loved it!
Okay, Naima Simone. I see you. I see how you’re quickly becoming one of my favourite authors who I have to read sparingly because your books are so hot I worry I might combust while reading them.
If that doesn’t sell you on this book, friends, then let me tell you about the hero. He is attractive. And a dirty talker. And he wants to take care of the heroine and make her feel things both emotionally and physically. The heroine, on the other hand, does not have time for his wooing and is career driven and strong and I adore her.
So. If you like heat and chemistry in your “oops we made a baby” romances, this one is for you!
CW: cheating ex, a minor pregnancy complication.
Boy am I glad to have given Naima’s work a shot with the last book in this series. I have a new addiction to the WAGS series and seeing how all the player’s stories play out.
Ronin has his work cut out with Kim. She is a ball buster. She has been burned in the past and has a wall built up around her, for a football player that wall is even higher. She wants nothing to do with that world again, imagine her surprise when she finally lets go and has a fun night that person is a pro-football player. But things just getting more and more complicated when Ronin can’t get her out of his mind and suddenly she shows up at the bar. Kim is finally out making friends and imagine her surprise when her new friend introduces her to her group of friend, consisting of football players, including Ronin.
This book is one that will have you flipping them pages and loving the hell out of this story and the characters. You will be rooting for them to find their happy ending and enjoying their journey along the way. I can’t wait for the next in the series!
#ScoringThePlayer’sBaby #NetGalley
So I have read Scoring off the Field and loved it, and I could wait for this book. But for whatever reason, I kept getting distracted and missing this one. But I finally found the time and was able to get to it. Man, I wish I had found time earlier. I loved this story. It made me laugh, cry, and laugh some more.
Kim is a woman that is a year out of her divorce from a dick of a football player. He cheated on her and made her feel less of everything. She has a history of men walking away from her and she is just so tired of it. But she doesn’t have the spirit or fight in her to make a change.
When Ronan sees Kim at a wedding expo he knows he wants her. So when a stalker shows up he uses Kim as a block and gets to kiss her. They trade numbers and he lets Kim set the pace. When she decides to get a hold of him that night. They both use each other to forget their past. Little does he know what that one night might bring.
Ronan is a wonderful character. He has a lot going on in his life, but he makes time and effort with Kim even when she tries to push him away. He might not want love any more than she does but sometimes you don’t always get what you want.
I loved this story and am happy to have read it. I can’t wait to see where Naima brings us next.
All of the books in Naima Simone’s WAGS series are quickly becoming some of my favorite sports romances, and I adore Scoring the Player’s Baby. The hero, Ronin, is absolutely sigh-worthy. He’s a sexy football player with a side of adorable and sweet that make him absolutely endearing, and he is wonderful with Kim, who is still recovering from a rocky marriage and heartbreak. They are magnetic from their initial meet-cute and steamy one-night stand, and their flirty, fun banter dials their chemistry up several degrees. Naima Simone is one of the most reliable authors, and you know you are getting top-notch romance when you pick up one of her books. Scoring the Player’s Baby is a wonderful example of her ability to write a thoroughly entertaining love story with heartwarming emotion and sizzling heat.
Recommendation appeared @ USA Today’s Happy Ever After on July 18, 2018
ARC provided, but this review was voluntarily and honestly written.
This book was the perfect choice for a read that leaves you smiling and feeling like all is right with the world. Something I was desperately in need of when I picked it up! I refuse to give away any details in this review, so you’ll have to excuse me if it seems more generalized than usual. It’s just that this book was so good & I want everyone that reads it (because everyone should!) to read each scene with fresh eyes.
Here we go: This book checked all my boxes! A wicked smart & independent heroine, a dirty-talking hero that happens to be a gorgeous football star, an unplanned pregnancy, and a stellar supporting cast of characters. The romance is super sexy, and its done in a way that supports character development, which is the best type of super sexy times! I loved this couple because they were both a little damaged and alot relationship-weary. While there may have been insta-lust, there was no insta-love. Instead, the couple slowly built a relationship based on trust and mutual respect. This hero, y’all. His respect for this woman was stellar! Also, he was caring and considerate, always willing to give the heroine her space. There was snark, too. Laugh out loud humor that had me looking for tissues to dry my eyes! Good thing I had those tissues because Naima Simone knows how to pack an emotional punch. This book delivers on the emotional “I screwed up, please forgive me” scene in a BIG way! Waterworks central at the end. Have the tissues ready! Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Then there’s the epilogue. It was sublime. The type of scene that leaves you with what I call “Julia Roberts Face” . You know, the grin that’s ear to ear, while crying, and it totally hurts your face. Yep, that’s what this book did to me!
That’s about all I can say without giving anything away. Trust me, if you love romance you’ll want to read this book asap. Yes, it’s part of a series. No, you don’t have to read the others before you read this one, although why wouldn’t you want to?!
All the men in Kim’s life have let her down, shown her to be less and not worth acknowledging. A move across the country with her job is her attempt to get her life together and prove that she is more than her brother’s sister. What she didn’t plan on was a one night stand with the sexy Ronin after he pulls her into a make belive scenario at a wedding expo. And she certainly never expected to find herself pregnant. But more than anything, she never expected to find herself involved with another professional football player.
Ronin is attracted to Kim the minute he lays eyes on her. In an attempt to politely repel a casual hookup that has turned clinger, he gets the benefit of putting his arms around her. He should be happy she hasn’t called him after their one night together. There’s a reason he doesn’t do relationships and Kim has the potential to blow those reasons to smithereens. But his guilt can’t allow that to happen.
I loved both of these characters. Kim was strong and independent but when she let her guard down she was approachable, sweet and fun. I enjoyed watching her morph from a woman who had preconceived opinions to one that was willing to lay everything she was on the line for love. Ronin had such a great sense of humor and he used it often to ease the distance Kim put between them. His response and future actions concerning the baby was heartwarming and totally swoon worthy. It also didn’t hurt his case any that he was a total dirty talker.
This is a fast paced read that doesn’t carry a lot of angst. There was a good bit of push and pull from Kim and just a tad from Ronin as they worked through their past issues. Kim’s ex has a bit of a sideline but I’m not really sure what the purpose of that was. I was more concerned over Ronin’s past and his ability to get beyond it. Overall, this was a very nice read with awesome secondary characters that liven up the pages and plenty of steamy goodness between Kim and Ronin.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Entangled Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I LOVED this book so hard! I mean Ronin had me wrapped around his finger in the first chapter making a Harry Potter and Outlander reference. Then he had to add a Lord of the Rings reference for good measure. Yup he made it on my top book boyfriends list pretty quickly. What really makes him swoon worthy book boyfriend material is the way he is with Kim then with the baby. I think I may need to fight Kim for him. It’s not going to be easy for Ronin because he has a huge strike against him when it comes to Kim, he’s a football player. The humor and banter between the two is one of my favorite things about this book. I would highly recommend this one along with the other books in the series.
Scoring the Player’s Baby was such a fantastic read and I finished this book within a few hours. I absolutely enjoyed this book and the characters within the story. The chemistry between Kim and Ronin was off the charts from the very beginning. I loved the back and forth banter between them and if I wasn’t laughing out loud at their banter, I was smiling. I wished Kim’s dad would have changed his ways but she was better off without him. She had her brother Alex who adored her and I am glad they developed such a strong bond. I also enjoyed Ronin’s teammates. Overall, this was a fantastic sports romance read that readers will enjoy. Would I recommend it? Absolutely! I can’t wait to read the next book from this author.
To say that Kim Matlock has a general distrust for football players, is a complete understatement, she married one and he broke her heart, and she decided then and there not again!! She is a determined woman who wants to put her crappy marriage, with her two-timing football playing ex behind her, and close that chapter on her life. So she pours herself into her work, shifts her focus on living her best life and helping save her families company. Men are not on her radar at all, then she attends a wedding expo, and winds up finding herself in the arms of a handsome man, who is apparently trying to shake off a clingy ex, and she can’t help but want to take him up on his offer for a night of strings free fun… maybe he’ll be just what he needs to help her get over her disastrous divorce. Or he could be the start of something that leads to a whole lot of fun!!
Ronin Palamo doesn’t do relationships, he knows what happens when love doesn’t work, and he wants no part of it, so when he encounters a beautiful woman who wants to spend time with him, he makes a point to tell her that it’s a one night kind of deal. But his last one night stand seems to have a hard time accepting that after their night between the sheets, and she makes an appearance at a wedding expo trying to get near him again, so he grabs the nearest woman and makes her believe he’s moved on… in hopes she will take the hint and walk away. Not realizing that one little move is about to change the entire course of his life…
Scoring The Player’s Baby is sure to score some serious points with sports romance fans, the moment they meet the star player Ronin their heart will be lost to him, he’s a beast on the field, and a charmer off of it! I loved everything about this one, the sports related theme, the sexy heart stealing wide-receiver, and the ballsy heroine who gave him a run for his money, and the heartfelt story line that gave me a serious case of the feels!! I highly recommend readers get their hands on this one, it’s guaranteed to leave them highly satisfied!
I requested an advanced copy of this title, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
Scoring the Player’s Baby is book three in the WAGS series by Naima Simone. Don’t you love it when you find an author that you know going in that you are going to love the book?! That’s how I’ve come to feel about Naima’s books. She just has a way with words that pulls me right in. And wow can she write steam. This book was smokin’! I loved the second book in the series, Scoring Off the Field and couldn’t wait for this book. Not to mention that cover!
Ronin Palamo is a star wide receiver for the Washington Warriors NFL football team. He’s a huge man with a huge heart. He and his four sisters were raised by their single mother. Ronin has nothing against love and is happy to see his two best friends on the team find love for themselves. But he had his one shot at love and now it’s part of his past. He will never allow himself to feel that way for a woman again, to endure that kind of pain because that’s what love does, it leaves you torn apart and bleeding in the end. Ronin does enjoy women though but only for one night. And he is always upfront with the women he spends time with what their time together will be.
Kim Matlock is Vice President of Public Relations with Bishop Enterprises, her half brother’s financial and holding company. Kim is in Seattle helping to rebrand a hotel. But her time in Seattle might have other advantages as well. It’s been a year since Kim’s divorce from her cheating football player of an ex husband. A year since her heart was shredded. She hasn’t been able to bring herself to date since the divorce. She has no interest in it at the moment. But one thing you can bet on is that if she ever does start dating again, she will stay as far away from football players as possible.
Kim is trying to gain business for her hotel from brides looking for places to hold their weddings. So, she is working at the Seattle Wedding Expo. It wouldn’t be her favorite place to hang out for a day but it’s good for the hotel. Little did she expect to be grabbed in the lobby and get the breath kissed right out of her by the best looking man and biggest man she has ever seen.
Ronin has been having trouble with one particular woman that just can’t seem to accept that their one night together is all they are going to have. He is at the wedding expo with one of his sisters when the would be stalker shows up in the lobby. He had noticed the beautiful woman working the hotel booth inside earlier and now spots her in the lobby. He doesn’t think, just acts, and grabs her and ends up with the best kiss of his life.
That kiss eventually leads to a night beyond Ronin and Kim’s wildest dreams. A night that both of them consider perhaps repeating. But the morning after Kim realizes that this man that rocked her world right off it’s axis was in deed a football player. About three months later, Kim found out something else. That she was pregnant with Ronin’s baby.
And so begins Ronin and Kim’s journey. Ronin is all in. Kim doesn’t trust him and he understands why. He will prove to her that she can trust him to be the best kind of man and do whatever is needed. Even though each of these two are determined not to let feelings in, their hearts have other plans. And don’t even get me started on their chemistry. It was off the charts. Ronin is every woman’s dream. He is all alpha and just seems to know exactly what Kim needs. These two have a lot of hurdles to overcome, though, before they can admit their feelings for one another.
I couldn’t put this down. Ronin was perfect. That man had me swooning from the first page to the last page. I loved watching him get inside Kim’s heart little by little, melting her icy layers. I am a huge fan of epilogues and this book had the sweetest one. I’m not sure if there will be any additional books to this series but rest assured that I will be watching to see what this author does next!
What a fabulous book! I loved Zephirin and Dominic but holy cow Ronin is the man! Ronin was sexy, gorgeous, a good friend, sexy, honest, hot, trustworthy, a man of his word and did I mention sexy? Kim was an independent woman with a important job and also a little lonely since her divorce but she shoved her emotions down because she wasn’t quite willing to trust them after her divorce. Kim decides to take back her romantic life by having a one night stand with Ronin and he was all up for that because he was drawn to her the minute he saw her but because of his past relationship issue he was only in it for one night also. Well a few months after that night Kim and Ronin are now connected by a pregnancy. Even though that is more of a connection than Ronin can handle he realizes right away that he has to and actually wants to. Ronin is all in on helping Kim with the pregnancy and also proving to her that unlike her ex-husband he can be trusted and that she can believe in him when he says he will do something. Their roles are flipped when Ronin shows up at Kim’s apartment needing her with helping him deal with emotions he hasn’t talked to anyone else about- his past relationship and how that has affected how he deals with them now. I loved Ronin and Kim as a couple because they were together first because of the pregnancy and then because they actually wanted to be together because they actually liked being with each other. It wasn’t for what the other could give them but just that they actually liked each other which turned to love. I enjoyed Zeph and Dom turning the tables on Ronin and helping him realize what he had and also being there for him no questions asked. The ending was perfect. I have a feeling I will be re reading this book, it was just so good and HOT!