There was something about that first score, and not just on the football field. I loved all of life’s firsts, which was why I’d been saving mine for one girl, my older sister’s best friend—Hazel Jones.She was tough and sarcastic with walls around her heart as tall as a football stadium, but I knew she was the one for me.Desperate times called for desperate measures and I’d have done anything to … done anything to make her mine.
Like create a fake online persona.
Lie about my age.
Pretend I wasn’t some naive virgin.
And catfish the hell out of the love of my life.
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This has to be my favorite Amie Knight book to date and I’ve loved all of them! Ollie and Hazel are the best and when you add in her sassy best friend and her funny grandpa, you are given this book that is more than just special! It’s amazing.
Oh, I just love Ollie so much!!! His heart melted me right along w/ Hazel. I also love her nickname for him. *heart eyes*
I’m normally not a fan of the back & forth in time story telling, but the way this (and The Red Zone) is written, it flows really well & doesn’t go on that way through the whole story (just the beginning for this one), so I actually enjoyed how it was done. We get to see the beginnings of this friendship & love, and the solid foundation. Hazel has some things to work through, for sure!
Love the banter, the emotion, the family. It’s slow burn w/o feeling slow. It’s swoony & a really fun read! : )
*twloha*
Not single emotion remained untouched during this read…. I laughed, was sad, the angst, the chemistry. Hazel was a fantastic character that had been through so much and WInnie — just swoonworthy!!!! The premise started as a best friend brother but Amie did a fantastic job of adding a little spin to it. Truly a delightful read
With all the grief and sense of hopelessness prevalent right now I’ve tried to find comfort in books and with this friends to lovers I found just what the doctor ordered. From its sweet and sensual storyline, to a dreamy hero saving himself for the girl he’s always been drawn to, this story put a permanent smile on my face while wrapping me in a blanket of love and comfort.
Oliver is the quintessential book boyfriend for his caring and supportive nature and he endeared himself to me from an early age. From the moment he met his sister’s best friend he knew his mission was to make her happy and put a smile on her face and everything he did was in support of that goal. He was a determined man, utterly charming, and frequently put his heart in her hands which resulted in heartbreak a time or two that he dusted himself off of as he kept his eyes on the prize…a HEA with her. He knew she was the one for him and his saving himself for her made their romance even more romantic and it was a refreshing change of pace to have a virgin hero. His interactions with his sister Scarlet were a lot of fun too, realistic and playful in their banter, and showed a protective side to him. Throughout this story I fell more and more in love with Oliver, valued his honesty no matter how embarrassing the truth was to him, and adored him for all his tender words and deeds.
Hazel had a difficult upbringing with her mother giving her up at an early age. If it weren’t for her grandfather who knows where she woul’ve ended up. Being sent away though damaged her self-esteem and had her inner pain emerge through cutting herself. The scars remain today, those both outside and inside, as she doesn’t feel good enough for someone like Oliver. She’s content with flings with older men, content with one night stands, so she can leave before others do. Oliver won’t let her push him away though, won’t settle for one night when he wants her forever, and it was a constant tug of war while fighting their desires. Hazel was an immensely likable heroine, supportive to her friends and watchful over her grandpa. She too felt an attraction to Oliver from an early age, but didn’t feel worthy and didn’t want to jeopardize their friendship. The connection between them became more and more combustible and I enjoyed the sensual dance they did navigating their feelings, enjoyed the warm fuzzies they gave me, while I saw Hazel become more empowered through Oliver’s truth telling.
From the first page to the last, this was a delightful tale with characters that were very likable and easy to relate to. Oliver and Hazel were fun and flirty together with encounters that crackled. They were a caring and supportive couple as friends while being a scorching duo as lovers. Hazel’s relationship with her grandfather was sweet and humorous as he was larger than life and lived life to the fullest with his own girlfriend who was equally bold. On a whole this was a feel good read, sweet and sensual, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It was everything I needed to put a smile on my face while bringing me a bit of heat too!
Let me start by saying that Ollie is my new book boyfriend! LOL! Just don’t tell my husband! Honestly, my hubby is amazingly patient with and nice to me, but Oliver really takes the cake. He is so sweet to Hazel in every instance that we see them interacting, even when she doesn’t necessarily deserve it. And he is always there for her, always comes to her rescue. I can’t believe it takes her so long to see the light.
Of course, she does have her reasons, and they are valid ones… but still! Hazel endured a very tough childhood, the extent of which we don’t know about until well into the book. It is only thru small glimpses at a time into the past that we learn about them at all. Even Ollie doesn’t know the whole of it. Yet the way that she continually threw up barriers to their relationship and tried to shut him out really irked me. Especially when she was doing the whole hot/cold thing for awhile there. There was a lot of unnecessary angst and drama that could have been entirely avoided had she even half tried to handle things like an adult.
I did really appreciate that there was no cheating in this story! In fact, other than brief hints of other possible people of interest for each of them, there are no other men or other women involved at all. Which I think is great. Too many of this type of story lead to one or the other of the couple turning to someone else in times of turmoil. I really hate cheating, even if it’s just on the idea of a relationship rather than an actual one. LOL!
Of course, there were other characters in the story! Most specifically, Ollie’s sister and Hazel’s best friend Scarlet. It felt like we really got a bum wrap on her story here. She was flirting with a guy that she liked… and the next thing we know she’s engaged to and pregnant by him. That seemed to come about very quickly! After some searching around in the author’s catalog, however, although they are not grouped in a series, I did find a companion book, The Red Zone, that apparently tells the love story of Lukas and Scarlet. Which made me feel a lot better about that situation. (And now I’ll have to read that book as well! LOL!)
Some of the writing devices that the author employed annoyed me. For example, the flashbacks to the past actually flowed well and slowly revealed key parts of the story. But use of the same technique in the present timeframe, such as for the night before, just seemed awkward and out of place. In that same vein, Ollie’s narration of the past seemed intended to be from his point-of-view at those times, but at one point he was speaking as a five-year-old boy with the voice of a twenty-three-year-old man. It was just a little odd and off-putting to me.
Overall though, I did really enjoy this book! I loved most of the different revelations that were made by various characters throughout the book. As well as how shocked the recipients were to learn of them. Those parts were a lot of fun.
Also, I’m a sucker for a happy ending. And this tale definitely has a very good one! Just not before some long, hard-fought battles to get there!
The First Score by Amie Knight was a friends to lovers romance and I loved this sweet romance. Olie and Hazel were friends from childhood and they knew each other very well. They were best friends their whole life and I loved that their relationship was so natural and easy.
I’d sit here and I’d wait for her. It was what you did for the people you loved and I loved the Hazel more than I’d ever loved anyone in my entire life.
Olie (aka Winnie) is a football player but isn’t a typical player because he is a virgin and he wants that his first time to be with the girl he loved his entire life. He always a Hazel and he always was there for her. He was his protector and he always saved her. He proved to her that he loved all her broken pieces and he is the perfect man for her. I loved Olie because he is really a sweet guy with a beautiful soul.
He’d always been understanding and wonderful. He’d always was been supportive and even when he hadn’t understood things. He’d always been there.
Hazel had a rough life until she went to live with her grandpa and he raised her. She meets an Olie and his sister Scarlett. They become her second family and she found a home with them. She always had feelings for Olie but she didn’t want to lose him and their friendship. She always felt that she didn’t deserve an Olie but he showed her that he loved all her broken pieces and they were perfect together.
You think I’ve been saving myself since our first kiss, Hazel. But all, I’ve been doing is saving your heart. Waiting and giving you time and respecting your wishes. You’re mine and fucking me won’t change that.
I loved their connection and I loved how Olie didn’t give up on Hazel. I loved how patient and loving was Olie with Hazel. Olie respected her wishes and he always was there for Hazel. The First Score was a sweet romance with a sweet guy and I recommend everyone to read this book.
This is why Amie Knight is a favorite and one click author! I am just in awe of this story, which is beautifully written and so spot on.
I have been wanting to read Hazel’s story for a long time. You can’t help but adore Hazel as a child and knew what she had gone through. You are cheering for her and Pops!! I hadn’t laughed so hard in a while. Pops was a nlast to read and made me smile!! I can still see hear him yelling at tbe top of is lungs for Hazel!!
Then there is Oliver!!! I fell for him as a kid!! The opening scene was the best ever with Oliver and Hazel. I’m just letting them breathe!!! Bwahaha
OK seriously, Amy has created such a strong character as Hazel. I absolutely love this story he has written powerful story but something is serious subject and it blends perfectly with Romance. With somebody like Oliver was just perfect for Hazel I could not get enough absolutely loved loved the story!!
This book was perfection, the characters were amazing and the slow burn? simply incredible! I had to read it in one sitting!
Ollie and Hazel
What started off as best friends has the possibility to be so much more. Ollie has tried to hide his feeling for years from Hazel. When he sees an opportunity to connect with her without her knowing it is him he takes it. Little does he know it will back fire lol.
This book was a great read. A slow burn that I enjoyed.
Oh, I love this book! A deliciously slow burning friends-to-lovers / best-friend’s-brother romance that is sweet, sexy, and beautifully romantic! A little different from the usual contemporary romance, this book has some delightful little twists that make it so completely adorable and create a really gorgeous read.
Oliver Knox is the younger brother of Scarlett (heroine from The Red Zone). The two of them are extremely close, and together with Scarlett’s best friend, Hazel, they have been the closest of friends since childhood. The only thing is, Ollie is desperately in love with Hazel and has been for years… to the point where he has never been interested in any other women and is now a 21 year old virgin still pining after the only girl for him.
“It’s easy not to have sex when the only girl you want to have sex with his friend zoned the hell out of your ass.”
Hazel is feisty, funny, and a bit of a hot mess when it comes to relationships. Her family life was messed up, and it’s left her with a bucketload of issues, but she could always count on Ollie to be there for her. He’s been her rock through so many hard times, and he knows her better than anybody else – holding even more of her secrets than Scarlett. But she’s never quite felt good enough for either of them.
Ollie has been biding his time, waiting for Hazel to see him as something more than just a friend, but he’s getting tired of waiting. So, he creates a fake online profile – an older, experienced man – where he flirt with her the way he wants to, desperate to get her to see exactly what they could be together.
“You deserve everything, Hazel. And I’m going to prove it to you, consequences be damned.”
It’s such a fun set up, and Amie Knight writes it so well! Ollie absolutely stole my heart as the sweet, caring, funny, understanding, patient, loyal and dedicated man who knows his heart, and who is prepared to fight for his girl. He may be sexually inexperienced, but he’s confident, and a huge flirt, and I pretty much melted through this whole book, and damn, I want an Ollie of my very own! And when he decides it’s time to turn it on…. Swooooooooooooon!
“You could have any girl in the world.”
He laid his forehead to my right temple, his hands still held to the sides of my face delicately, and whispered right into the shell of my hear, “But I don’t want just any girl, Hazel.” He leaned in even closer until his lips were a breath away from mine. “I want you.”
He’s so brave! And when he finally makes his move, it’s all kinds of hot. But Hazel has issues, and feels that there are so many things standing in her and Ollie’s way. It’s an emotional journey for them, and while it could have gotten overly angsty, Ollie is just perfect, letting Hazel have her time, and being there for her whenever and however she needs him.
“Have I ever once let you fall?”
Her tender gaze fell on mine, years of friendship swirling in their brown depths. “Never.”
*dreamy sigh*. I could gush on and on about the perfection of this man so I need to stop before I do just that.
This is such a gorgeous romance! Ollie and Hazel are just perfect together. We get to see moments between them from their past and I could feel the strong connection between them even from when they were teenagers. They have fun, they tease, their chemistry is electric, and the emotion is high, and though it may not have been easy, I loved watching them find their way together.
Every minute I’d spent waiting for Hazel had been worth it. I would’ve waited a thousand times over to experience this.
The timing of this book plays out alongside The Red Zone – before, during and after, but it’s not spoilery and you could read this one as a standalone, just be aware that there is crossover. We are also introduced to Hazel’s absolutely fabulous grandfather, who is freaking hilarious, and a total scene stealer.
I finished this book with a big grin on my face, feeling swoony and satisfied. I loved it!
This book had me going through so many emotions.
Oliver Knox has been in love with his sister’s best friend, Hazel Jones, for years. He has also been one of the few people that know many of Hazel’s secrets. Oliver has been saving himself for the one that he loves but isn’t sure how to make her believe that they can be more than friends.
Hazel Jones had a very hard childhood. This changed when she moved in with her Pops. However, even moving in with him did not take away all of the abuse and scars that she had. Hazel is more than she seems with all that she is hiding.
Oliver and Hazel have a chemistry like no other. However, Hazel is afraid of losing one of the few people that she is close to. She is also embarrassed of liking a guy that is younger than her. Will Hazel be able to move on from her past to have a future that Oliver wants to give her?
From the first time Hazel showed up to hang out with his sister, Oliver fell in love. Although the years have gone by and they are now all adults his feeling have never waived. In order to become closer to him, Oliver devises plan to create a fake online user name to play video games with her, hoping to get closer to her. But when that crashes and burns will the friendship survive? Or will the connection that the two shared over the years be the one thing Hazel can count to get her through her demons? Filled with laughter and tears this was another fantastic read from Amie Knight. The connections she makes between her characters fills the pages and the reader becomes fully invested in them and cannot put it down until they all get a HEA.
The sweetest slow burn in existence! Amie Knight had me completely captivated with Ollie and Hazel’s story. This unputdownable read grabs you from the adorable beginning and continues to hold you glued to the pages all the way to the sweetest of endings. I spent my entire afternoon curled up with this beauty not stopping for even a second once I started reading. It was that good.
The emotion, the sweetness, the heat, the connection these two had. All of it seamlessly coming together to build a story that steals your breath. Ollie has got to be one of the greatest heroes of all time. I can’t even begin to explain his magnificence in a way that does him justice. Unbelievably sweet, utterly devoted, completely selfless, endlessly patient. His unconditional love for Hazel is so freaking beautiful. You have to read this to really see the full picture of how incredible this man is.
4 Stars
Review by Meaghan
Late Night Reviewer
Up All Night w/ Books Blog
The First Score is a beautiful slow burn, a friends-to-lovers story which can be read as a standalone. The timeline of this book is intertwined with The Red Zone, which tells Scarlett and Luk’s story. Amie Knight has done a wonderful job at drifting from the present day and the past, slowly revealing snippets of the past to help you piece together the history between Oliver and Hazel. I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between Oliver and Hazel grow through the years and even related a little to Hazel about not wanting to ruin such a precious friendship.
Oliver has been in love with his sister’s best friend, Hazel since they first met as young children – back before he even understood what love is. In the present day, he is a hot college football player and certainly plays the role of the ultimate ladies man. He is sweet and patient when it comes to his relationship with Hazel, and knows more about her then even his sister does. In order to get closer to Hazel he decides to join Hazel’s favorite online game, he creates a fake profile with a fake persona to catfish the love of his life.
Hazel’s best friend growing up was Scarlett and she became fast friends with Scarlett’s younger brother Oliver, who she affectionately calls Winnie. After a difficult childhood, Hazel has found her support group in her crazy grandfather, Pops, Scarlett, and Winnie. She worries that if she opens herself up to the attraction she feels for Winnie that she might just lose him forever. In order to be truly happy, Hazel has to figure out how to overcome her insecurities and learn how to let a man into her life and accept the love and support of a partner.
This book tackles some difficult themes with some references to childhood abuse and self-harm, as well as showing the aftermath that these events can have on the mental health of the people who survive them. Amie Knight has done a fantastic job of showing this struggle from the point of view of the survivor themselves, but also their loved ones who are helping them to rediscover what it means to be loved. This was one of those stories that draw you into the character’s lives and makes you feel their highs and lows right along with them.
Worth the Wait! I’ve volunteered to review this book for United Indie Book Blog. I love to read books from Amie Knight. This is in A Best Friend’s Brother Sport series. This story is about Hazel and Oliver. Hazel is best friend is Oliver older sister. Oliver been in love with Hazel way before he knew what love was. I love Hazel alot even tho she’s a hot mess most of the time. OH BOY, Winnie aka Oliver will have you swoony over him really fast. If you love a hero who is protective, compassionate, thoughtful, handsome, and insightful, then The First Score is the perfect one for you. I couldn’t stop reading once I got started. This is a MUST HAVE!!!!!! You WILL not be disappointed in this story, I promise. Keep up the amazing work girl.
I have to say, I was drawn by the blurb and of course Amie Knight’s words. But what I got was something so much more. Slow burn, passion, absolute love. It gave me all the feels while reading this book and honestly I devoured every word of it. I love the fact it is a friends to lovers but it was HIM that was in love with her. We really need more of those! And what Knight gave us with The First Score was pure magic. There was amazing banter. Great character build. Swoon worthy moments that make you just fall in love with Ollie. I mean, you need an Ollie of your own! He is just that amazing. Then the connection that him and Hazel have is spell binding. Honestly, this book just needs to be read because you need to feel the moments that you get in this story!
Oliver has loved Hazel his entire life, literally and figuratively. But as the younger brother of her BFF, well it’s not an easy position. As for Hazel, she feels a longing but her past baggage and the fact Oliver is too good for her, well, a no go.
But Oliver isn’t giving up. He prepares for the battle by befriending her online. Not his strongest point but one he was willing to make. Hazel just has to give him a chance, especially when the truth is revealed.
This was a beautiful romance. Oliver gave me all those fairytale feelings. This definitely is a swoonworthy read.
This book took me through the wringer. Hazel and Ollie always had a connection, even in their childhood. It was sweet and a bit painful. I loved how Ollie was always there for Hazel, in both her difficult and happy moments. And there was Pop. He made me laugh hysterically at times, and want to give him a big hug. He and Amor sure were something. Ollie was sweet and patient. He was a heartbreaker too, but his character was refreshing and I loved him. And apparently there was some football in there.
WOW! This book hit all the marks for me. Ollie is a book boyfriend that puts all other book boyfriends to shame. And Hazel and her Pop had my heart swelling. I adored every word of this friends to lovers romance and cannot recommend it highly enough.
Every last star in the sky for this very special read! My heart is positively overflowing with emotion in the best of ways. This story is absolute perfection and totally worth the wait! Amie Knight you slay me with your words, you are one talented lady!! I am a sucker for a friends to lovers and this has some added attributes that make it even more delicious with a very “innocent” hero who has been in love with his older sister’s BF forever!! I absolutely adore Ollie (Winnie) He is sweeter than all the powdered sugar donuts in the world!!! No way not to swoon with that one! And Hazel, poor sweet Hazel, it will take a special man like her Winnie to finally give her everything she deserves and more!! I honestly love this book so much and my heart is overjoyed!