My name is Scarlett Mavis. I have a sweet tooth, no filters, and video games are my life. Let me clarify that last part: They’re not a hobby; they’re not a way to kill the time; They. Are. My. LIFE. Where family, men, and humans, in general, have failed me, video games are always there waiting for me to return to their warm and accepting embrace. In real life I may be a heartbroken geek, but put … put a controller in my hands and I become an indestructible warrior. What else does a girl really need?Enter player two, Kane Decker.Handsome, nerdy, incredible kisser, and just my type. Our first date was perfect in every way. Then, like always, reality came crashing down with one simple truth. He wasn’t my teammate; he was the enemy. And there’s nothing I’m better at than taking out a rival player. But this isn’t a game, and the stakes are all too real. For the first time in my life, I may have met my match. Game on.18+
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Tactical Heart was a one-night wonder for me as it quickly drew me in with it’s unique storyline. It features two die-hard gamers who are set up on a blind date by one gamer’s sister and her boyfriend (the other gamer’s roommate), add in a heaping helping of tropes that we can’t help but love – insta-love,”I hate him, but I love him, but I…”, and the like, and a smidgen of cosplay dorkdom (who doesn’t want to dress up like an elf?), and you have Tactical Heart.
Scar was an enjoyable character to read, I’ve been gaming for decades now (I am a crone) and to see a female gamer as the protag in a romance was a major “hells yeah” moment. Not only does SK Rose give us a relatable hardcore gamer who lives and dies by the stats, but she also puts the misogyny female gamers face into the book in a believable manner. In today’s gaming community as women make it more and more known that we, too, enjoy a game, we get a lot of blowback from misogynists and hardcore gamers who think women ruin the gaming industry. I’ve been there, faced that, so, when Scar goes off on Kane as she well should, I’m right there because dude deserves that mess. (nope, no spoilers)
I’m a newfound fan of SK Rose and I hope y’all join me in her fandom (also, her author fan group is hilarious and if you become a fan, I highly suggest you come join). I’m recommending you check out Tactical Heart if you’re a gamer or just a non-gamer nerd (I don’t discriminate) and enjoy reading a romance packed with gaming and goofball goodness and hearty competition. There is parental strife, fiscal issues, and a bit of recreational marijuana consumption, so if those are sensitive issues you’d like to avoid, this might not be a book for you.
Overall, I’m giving Tactical Heart all my 5 stars and a mellow 3 flames and fangirling over the nerdiness of this book. I hope y’all take a moment to check this book out because, I loved it and I hope you do too!
This has been a review from Once Upon a Time, I Read a Book. I hope y’all enjoyed it and come visit my site for more weirdness.
Cute & Sexy Gaming Nerds Falling Hard!
(Read using Kindle Unlimited)
Tactical Heart
This is an adorable Rom-Com that’s neither too obvious nor saccharine sweet! Both Scarlett & Kane are cool as hell, in their own ways, and both strive to be who they are without apology!
I loved the whole world build of this book, it felt truly authentic to the world of Gaming & to the characters set in it, so much so, I couldn’t help wonder if it was semi autobiographical!! Every character seemed so realistic, they’re the types of people you’d want in your life. Julie, Leo, Nessa & Wren were ‘ride or die’ as were all of Kane’s family & at least her Mum was able to grow.
The relationship that grew between the main characters, Scarlett & Kane, was hot & heavy and clearly ‘meant to be’!! Their humour had me in stitches. I loved the whole first date!
A completely enjoyable read. You definitely don’t need to be into gaming to enjoy these characters! A definite recommend from me.
Debbie, 1970, UK
Read This book!!!! It is hilarious and so sweet. Scarlett and Kane are wonderful, and even though they were nerds, there was so much steam between them that I see in other books. Scar has dealt with a lot of emotional crap on a cracker in her life, i was glad when she had Kane. And Kane’s family? OMG!!! Hilarious. I wish I could insert myself in there.
Just go read it.
Trust me.
So, SK Rose decides to write a romcom, and considering how much I loved her debut duet, I figured I had to give it a shot… Thank god I did! Scarlett and Kane are gamers everyone can love! The banter is fabulous, there’s drama between them – don’t worry it’s not all hearts and flowers, SK hasn’t decided to make it easy on us just yet!
These two characters have a past, and of course there are always going to be twists, turns and misunderstandings.
This isn’t just for gamers, either. There is a glossary of terms if you need it, but the book flows fabulously. And the gaming and cosplay scenes are at turns fast paced and quick witted, and the humor is right on the money.
The secondary characters are also amazing! By the end you want to be best friends with Scarlett’s roommate, and be adopted by Kane’s parents.
Rose writes romcom as superbly as she does angst!! I may have had several bouts of uncontrollable laughter mixed in with several unlady like snorts. Tactical Heart has all the key elements that make it a stand out amongst all other romcoms and not just one in a sea of romcoms. To start you have Scarlett, a sassy, witty, nerd who is the queen of sarcastic one liners and comebacks. Not to mention her cheeky roommate Nessa who provides a second layer of comedic gold.
So most everyone is going to focus on how amazing Scarlett and Kane are, which they totally are and I love them. But I just want to talk about Kane’s parents for a bit. S.K. Rose has this uncanny talent of writing parents that make me want to be a better person & mom. Same with her debut duet Remember the Reaper, Andrew’s parents are total parenting goals. I want to be them when I grow up.
Once I started reading it as if the world around me disappeared and I was left in a trance. I devoured it in one sitting and have also re-read it several times. Tactical Heart is my top romcom read of 2019!!
The sweetest nerd romance story I’ve ever read! After a tough childhood where she felt that she didn’t fit in because of her love of gaming, Scarlett has made it her mission in life to be successful at what she loves to do. Going to school for video game design while preparing to compete for a coveted internship with her favorite video game company, she is full speed ahead to hitting her goals. Pushed by her best friend and sister to go out and date after another burn from a guy, she is set up on a blind date with Kane. Kane is a gamer and fellow nerd who is working hard to get the internship in order to help provide better for his family. When he is bribed by his roommate to go on a blind date, he’s anticipating the worst, and surprisingly (but not really), he and Scarlett get along instantly and the attraction grows. Scarlett is unapologetically herself and it shows with her upfront personality and attitude. But as much as she’s attracted to him, once she finds out he’s non other than her arch nemesis in the gaming world, she vows to never speak to him again and crush him in the competition. The bulk of this book is the pair finding each other after Scarlett’s self-imposed silence towards Kane, even though the attraction is through the roof. As the competition gets closer though, it’s a toss up as to who will win and if this couple will end up together. These characters and storyline are a risk, but it definitely paid off for this author, especially with a lot of people feeling they fall under the nerd category. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see if we get Max’s story or Wren’s!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Woah! I was a total n00b to the author but not anymore! I’m so in love with Tactical Heart. Being a gamer girl myself I could identify so much with this story. The author has to be a gamer or did some intense research because she got all the terminology right. It was truly awesome that she made a glossary of gamer terms for all you n00bs out there. 😉
Overall, Tactical Hearts was an adorable, laugh-out-loud, hot-as-heck story! The characters were awesome and I loved their nerdy banter. I found myself giggling and smiling many times during this story and that’s so rare. It’s so refreshing to read a real book about real gamers and not the wannabes who try to write about gamers. I was legit at the edge of my seat during the competition.
The author paints a picture so real I could imagine it happening in my head. I can’t wait till this book goes into paperback! I want a signed copy! #realgamer #Kaneismine
Lots of things are happening right now, and I’m not thinking straight. Magical kisses, sexy bikes, and dragon rings- I can’t let his wizardly ways cloud my senses.”
How someone can write something so emotionally brutal as the Reaper duet and then come back and create this perfect romcom is nothing short of sorcery.
I am bias, because I love S.K. Rose on a stalker level, but I also won’t bullshit anyone into thinking something is fantastic if it isn’t (in my not so humble opinion obviously), and Tactical Heart is fucking fantastic (shout-out to Goodreads/Bookbub for allowing me to curse, btw, Fuck You, Amazon).
I finished Tactical Heart in one sitting (or overnight, as I tend to read when this side of the world sleeps), it was light, fun (seriously fun) and sexy in all the right ways. I can say there was no draaaaaama (extra a’s for emphasis on the fact that I read a lot of over the top drama normally), but there was a hurdle of hurt that our nerd babies, Scarlett and Kane, needed to climb over before getting their adorably perfect HEA. The inner dialogue was just as quick witted as the back and forth between the characters.
Tactical Heart spoke one of my deeply rooted love languages: nerd love. The gaming culture is something I’ve always skirted the edges of, not a ‘serious’ gamer but I’ve always had a console (or three) in the house since I’ve been a baby nerd and I SIM like a motherfucker so…. it’s a part of me. My own spouse is a serious gamer and my spawn have it coded into their DNA, so basically, yes. Just yes yes yes to all the cultural references, and relating to Scarlett in a truly realistic way (escaping into gaming).
I laughed, I swooned, and S.K. Rose has leveled up. Legit Boss. Auto Buy Author, One Click Bitch, Magical Octoqueen, I could go on.
TLDR; if you love light, sexy fun with a sharp witted gamer girl, and a sweet, smart ass gamer boy then you MUST read this.
4.5 Stars
I love books with nerdy characters in them. I just gobble those books up. I can understand because I’m a Harry Potter and LOTR fanatic myself so I can relate so what. I’m not a gamer, but my brother is. I have my knowledge from my brother when he talks about the games he plays. I knew some of the lingo. My favorite part of this book is family game night with Kane’s family. It was awesome. I want to be part of his family because they’re just so much fun. This book will suck you right in and you’ll hardly be able to put it down. All the characters are great in this including the friends and family of Kane and Scarlett. One of my other favorite things about this book is the humor. It’s one you don’t want to pass up.
Allllllll the yeses for this story! So good! The geek factor is off the charts, but so is the sexy tension level. I cannot say enough good things about this book!
Scarlett and Kane are a perfect match, but getting together with your soul mate can often be complicated! This is an incredibly funny, sexy story with lots of heart and a ton of gaming; my nerd heart was warmed, broken and racing as I read! These two gamers are hot!
RECOMMEND!!
5 stars
This book was too adorable! Despite not being a heavy gamer,I can see how escaping into another world can be attractive (hello book and movie addiction!)
Scarlet and Kane were both fantastic characters; both misfits (for different reasons) looking for a place to belong. Like many, they found their place online. Immersing themselves in the fantasy game, Tactical Heart, grants them “their people”, allows them to be the victor, etc. Both are now in college, pursuing game design and somewhat isolated in their online world. Each are talked into a blind date, both convinced it’ll end in disaster…but they didn’t expect each other. After the best date of their lives, their online personas intrude and they realize there’s more at stake than a date.
Awesome book of quirky, colorful characters (the side characters are a riot!) and snarky one liners!
AnnMarie – Alphas Do It Better Book Blog
Scarlett and Kane are a perfect match with their love of all things gaming. This is a beautifully written story which is filled with laugh-out-loud moments, as well an being an emotion, humorous, romantic, and steamy read, with a tad angst thrown into the mix. I was enthralled throughout and look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
I couldn’t put it down! I laughed so hard!
Oh wow I so loved Tactical heart it would be the first book and so not the last I’ll be reading by S.K Rose so excited to read what she comes up with next . Everything about this story just totally stole my attention I din’t want put my kindle down . This book had an element that I love in stories I read which is being funny as hell there was die laughing involved . Really connected to the characters even though they sometimes irritated me with how they would react to certain things that happened but over all they stole my heart . I want a first date like the the couple share can anyone say HOT the banter and the inner monologue just had me silly grinning through out the whole arcade scene then fanning myself with the after . Really liked Scarlett that chick is sooooo cool while also being the bomb on video games she would do anything for her sister . Kane this guy was a cool dude he had me laughing in his point of view chapters he is a bit judgmental not alot though , what he does for the heroine was truly swoon worthy . These gamers really know how to sex it up people like scorching hot sex scenes . Not only did I fall for the couple the secondary characters brought alot to the story I really hope we see more of these characters in the future . Tactical Heart had everything so if you looking for one of those stories that will have you binge then this is the one you need to read as soon as possible .
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
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hero=9 heroine=10 secondary characters=10
Chemistry=10 steam=7 romance=7
humor=7 darkness level=1 action=1 mystery=2
enjoyment=10 angst=3 story line=10 Story ending=10
character development=10 pacing= 10
cover=10 Blurb =10 Stars = 5
would I recommend this book=yes
would I re read this book=yes
would I read future books by this author= yes
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I absolutely loved Scarlet and Kane (I really want to adopt Kane’s parents and take them home with me ) this book was funny, sweet and dorky
And everything I love about a good romcom
Amazing job S.K Rose
I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone
YES! YES! YES! I loved every bit of this book. The cover is simply stunning and depicts this story perfectly! It’s beautiful, spunky, fun, quirky and stunning all wrapped up in a colourful package! The author’s Gamer Glossary starts this book off with some snorts and giggles within the first two seconds! I couldn’t put this book down, every page was filled to the brim with fun, laughter, giggles, sexual tension, some chase, a little catch and release, some HOT and Quirky characters, family drama, love, friendship and everything in between. All that matters is that this book made me feel happy with some sprinkles on top!
I just finished reading Tactical Heart and I want to forget everything that I read…
Just so I can read it all over again.
S.K. Rose hit it out the fucking park with her first ROMCOM. Then again after the mind blowing debut duet she released, I should have known that this was going to be a 10 star read. Yes I said 10 stars, deal with it. There was the perfect balance of comedy and romance that I couldn’t believe that this was Rose’s first ROMCOM. She may have found her calling.
Scarlett and Kane were the perfect nerdy couple. Well when they weren’t fighting that is. You could just tell that Rose sculpted her characters from the nerd life style that she knows and understands. This was what made the characters so real to life and relatable. Scarlett was that strong female character that was comfortable in herself and excepted her competitive side. Then add in the fact that she had the balls go toe to toe with the boys. She is totally a female character that can be anyone’s next book girlfriend. Kane, well he is totally swoon worthy. If only polygamy was legal, I so would keep Scarlett and Kane for myself.
Even the supporting characters were ones that will grab your attention, but they don’t take the focus away from the main two. Your given just enough of them to picture them in your head, and get a sense of who they are. This then leading to wanting more of them and hoping for more books.I can hope that the world will be graced with books for the other couples. I will take a book about Kane’s older brother Max (I mean firefighters need love too). Either way if we get lucky and get another book, we get more Scarlett and Kane, so win win.
I do have a couple warnings when it comes to reading this book though.
1. DO NOT, i repeat, DO NOT read while in public. You will burst out laughing, and who wants to draw attention to themselves when reading with people all around.
2. DON”T even think about reading while your eating. You are risking your life if you are eating while reading this one. There really needs to be a warning label saying CHOKING HAZARD IF EATING WHILE READING, FROM LAUGHING TO MUCH. And lets face it no one looks cute when their choking.
Congrats S.K. Rose on this funny as hell ROMCOM, and I can’t wait to get my hands on more of your work. And I don’t care if its gut wrenching angst filled or laugh till you cry funny.
Rose writes romcom as superbly as she does angst!! I may have had several bouts of uncontrollable laughter mixed in with several unlady like snorts. Tactical Heart has all the key elements that make it a stand out amongst all other romcoms and not just one in a sea of romcoms. To start you have Scarlett, a sassy, witty, nerd who is the queen of sarcastic one liners and comebacks. Not to mention her cheeky roommate Nessa who provides a second layer of comedic gold.
So most everyone is going to focus on how amazing Scarlett and Kane are, which they totally are and I love them. But I just want to talk about Kane’s parents for a bit. S.K. Rose has this uncanny talent of writing parents that make me want to be a better person & mom. Same with her debut duet Remember the Reaper, Andrew’s parents are total parenting goals. I want to be them when I grow up.
Once I started reading it as if the world around me disappeared and I was left in a trance. I devoured it in one sitting and have also re-read it several times. Tactical Heart is my top romcom read of 2019!!