A stoic force to be reckoned with.The steady rock on which England is destined to lean.Everyone’s reliable mate, at the ready to defend when called upon.To the world, Vance Morley is the next great keeper for the Rogue Football Club, biding his time at the academy. The definition of tall, dark and handsome, his quiet confidence and mysterious persona only draw the public in. He’s their mighty … He’s their mighty anchor, both on and off the pitch.
But when it comes to the one woman he claims to love, he conveniently vanishes at the exact moment I need him. The first time I saw Vance, he was a ten-year-old standing on his lawn across the street. The first time he kissed me, we were sixteen and sitting on the very shores we grew up on. We crashed into each other like waves in a storm, fated to destroy everything in our paths. Including each other.
The first time Vance saw our son, by serendipitous accident, my little boy had already lived the first year of his life. And instantly, the man who chose football over me wants to have it all. There is no way I can trust his declarations of love and fatherhood, especially when I’m set to marry another man.
We’re a new game, one to occupy him until the world stage beckons. But the more I try to tell myself he’s not the one, the more Vance’s efforts to win us back increase.
How can I guard my heart against seeing my son with his father?
Can Vance really sacrifice his dreams in the name of love and family?
Is there a way that everyone else’s safe harbor can finally become mine too?
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Vance is this big brooding, string, and loyal man that is still waiting on the big time leagues to take notice of his hard work as keeper for his academy’s team and finds out in the previous book he has a son. The relationship he had with Lara, his son’s mother, was one of passion and love yet he always chose soccer over her so it became the thing that tore them apart. Lara has tried her best to move on and be the mother her son needs, deep down she still and always will love Vance even if things fell apart. These two together are perfect and it took so much fro Vance to realize his obsession with soccer was not always the best choice and he would do anything to make Lara and their son happy and his. Of all the books in this series each man has been amazing and my favorite but with all my heart Vance is my man.
This Rogue Football Club series by Carrie Aarons just swept into my heart with these three players. We have the last one, Vance Morley. Here is a guy who is loyal to the game, smart and well is tired of waiting for his turn. Then we have Lara, the one woman who has never left his mind entering in a big way he never expected to happen. Carrie Aarons shows us that their love was never finished and in fact just beginning in a way they cannot escape. Not only do we see these two and Vance becoming the man he is destined to be but we see the whole gang come together. Beautifully done, cannot wait to see what else Carrie Aarons will do next.
“I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own.”
The Mighty Anchor
I couldn’t wait for Vance’s story, but I was a bit disappointed by the beginning. It was slow, and drawn out to me for some reason. I love Carrie’s books, and I was looking forward to this one as well.
Vance and Lara know each other from their pasts, and had started something but Vance had gotten called up for football. Little does he know, what all he really left behind back home.
While off playing football, Lara is back home trying to keep her chaotic life in order, and keeping tabs on everything.
Until he walks back into her life. Well, when he walks out of the liquor store and sees what she’s been hiding for almost 2 years.
Vance is torn between his old/new life, and his life playing football.
His two best mates have been partnered up, but he never went there cause of Lara. He wanted her, and never wanted to lose her.
Now he’s back, can she let him back in after he LEFT her once before?
Oh wait….she’s engaged……
Oh wait….he has football….two hours away
Can they reunite and make things work? Will the media keep Lara away and in hiding?
My fave quote from the book:
1. I’m back in town, and I’m not leaving without the two people I came here for. – UGH Vance!!!
If you haven’t read the first two Rogue Academy books, I highly recommend you read them. Not because you need to in order to follow along in this book, but because they are all fantastic reads, and this one, the final of the three, may just be the best.
Vance and Lara have a complicated relationship. Young and in love, Vance chooses to walk away from Lara and pursue his football career instead of working on their relationship. He had a dream he’s pursued most of his life, and making that dream come true became more important to him than the girl he was in love with. He prides himself on being strong and going all out for what he wants, but Lara sees him differently: “You quit, bloody gave up on us because it was hard! To me, you’re not the anchor you pride yourself on being. You’re my hurricane, the storm that blows through and decimates my entire landscape.” (Lara to Vance).
When Vance finds out walking away from Lara didn’t just mean losing out on the love of his life; he also missed the first year and a half of Mason’s life; a son he never knew he had. “The compulsive part of me, the perfectionist that lives in my gut, is wrought with grief and failure. My son doesn’t know me…I’ve missed so many major moments in his life. I’ll never get those back.” (Vance) He decides he wants Lara and Mason in his life. And he will stop at nothing for that to happen.
This book isn’t about forgoing your dreams, it is about finding new dreams that fit in with your priorities. It is about discovering what is truly important in your life and finding happiness in the last place you thought you would. Carrie Aarons writes with love and passion, and a clear understanding of what it means and how it feels to be a parent. It is a great completion to the Rogue Academy series. All three tales of English football players and how they live life and find love are powerful stories. They all have interesting characters that make you feel as if you are a part of the football scene in England. I highly recommend reading this book and this series!
Oh Vance. I knew his story was going to be a doozy. Although I wish that his love wasn’t named Lara. That’s my cousin’s name and she isn’t my favorite person in the world. So that sorta made me not a huge fan of Lara.
Vance’s story was just so good. He’s so stoic and dependable and just the rock. Lara is from Vance’s past and now is being brought to his present, with the son that Lara hid from Vance. Vance was focused on his career once but now he has his son and hopefully Lara.
Lara doesn’t know if now that Vance is back, can she be in a relationship with him?
A great third installment of the Rogue Academy series and definitely one I’ve thoroughly enjoyed!
This romance has everything and so much more we have loved by Carrie Aarons. She writes romance so flawlessly and smoothly, and captivates as the words continue. Carrie Aarons never ceases to amaze me with her uncanny ability to blend all the genres we love together for one outstanding book.
Vance and Lara. Total swoon! Fate totally plays a huge part in this coupes journey. The past definitely comes back to bite you. But sometimes, it can be the best kind of bite!!
I absolutely loved this book by Carrie Aarons!!
Vance and Lara’s story was a perfect way to end this series.
I give this book 5 soccer balls!
Carrie is one of my few #OneClick authors…she knows how to write wonder characters into amazing stories that keep you turning the pages.
Vance and Lara did not disappoint. Not going to lie the struggle was real in this book and it will tug at your heart strings, but it’s so worth it in the end.
If you have not read this series you should!
Nothing but love for this book (and the series)! There are a few tropes within the pages (sports, secret baby, second chance romance), but the way Ms. Aarons writes her stories, you’re immediately drawn in and it’s hard to put down until you’ve reached the end. There’s a long history between Vance and Lara, and with that history comes a gamut of feelings and emotions, some good, some not. Over the course of the story we see a change in Vance’s outlook when it comes to his career and personal life. With a changed perspective, Vance reprioritizes his life and implements a plan to win the heart of Lara for a second time. I loved seeing how their relationship evolved and came together.
Another great book by Carrie Aarons. Loved every second. It’s so good. Love Carrie’s books.
Carrie Aarons saved the best book for last in this little set. Vance is the silent, people pleasing broody alpha who suddenly finds out he has a son. Lara did what she felt was best at the time, given the circumstances and watch out when these two come together. The angst between these two pulled on all my feels and had my heart swooning through out the entire read.
One of your all time best books!!!
Unexpectedly my favorite of the series! With an incredible opening scene, set to the song This Year’s Love by David Gray, The Mighty Anchor follows keeper Vance Morley as he discovers he has a son. All his life he’s been predicted to be the next Keeper for Rogue Football Club, he’s just waiting for his turn, but a son, with the woman he’s always loved, will change everything for him. Vance and Lara had a relationship that was under wraps, when he leaves her behind she does everything she can to pick up her life. She provides her son a good life, other than hiding his father from him. When Vance comes back into their lives she expects him to run the moment the club comes calling, but Vance is set on proving otherwise.
“We foaught hard; we loved harder.”
Lara and Vance are both headstrong individuals, they view their previous relationship differently and certainly have different expectations for their future, but they share immense love for their children. I so loved how Carrie Aarons tackled the hidden child story line, this felt more realistic than any I have read before. Vance is a stand up father, he wants to be there for Lara and their son, but he also recognizes why she did what she did. I love how the relationship is formed anew, with just the right amount of drama, angst, and passion. The complications of youth weigh heavy on them, but they tackle them maturely, sometimes with a lot of humor, and in a way that is believable.
“Love is swift and lethal, it has no regard for the emotions of its victims.”
The Mighty Anchor is such a fantastic closure to a great sports-romance series. Vance would not have previously been my favorite, but he certainly is now. I loved him, I loved revisiting the friendships he has with Jude and Kingston, and I loved how this book follows a different path than the previous two. I was so caught up in this book, devouring it in just a few hours, and I highly recommend it and the previous novels to all sports-romance fans.
ARC provided.
Ever since the end of book 2 I have been waiting on the edge of my seat for this book. It was worth the wait!!
Complicated second chance romance with a secret baby and a sport romance all in one??? YES PLEASE!
The journey that Lara and Vance took to get where they ended up wasn’t easy by any means but it was worth it!
Carrie’s writing get better with each book she writes and this one was superb! As always I look forward to more of her work!
This might be my favorite of the series. Vance and Lara were sweethearts way back when. Things happen and they moved on. Well. Mostly. Vance has been waiting for his big break on the varsity squad but the longer he waits the more discouraged he becomes. When he runs into Lara again, he can’t believe his eyes. His younger self is in her arms. He needs to make decisions for his future and hers as well. Lara has had to deal with Vance leaving and what he left behind. She is stronger than she thinks to protect her child. Their relationship is super complicated and they still have a lot of growing to do but this story is so worth every bit of angst.
This was my favourite with the series….. Carrie really did save the best to last.
Vance was everything I wanted him to be and Lara was breathtaking and strong. I absolutely loved their story, the twist and turns had me on the edge of my seat.
Sad this series is over but wow did the ending not disappoint. Carrie massive well done on another well written story.
I always get a little sad when a series comes to an end and this one is no exception! Vance and Lara shared a hidden relationship when they were younger that left one surprise Vance did not know about until one day he sees Lara with a little boy who looks a lot like him!!
I loved this book because it showed Vance growing up and changing instead of spending all his time going out with his buddies and hooking up. It doesn’t help that his buddies are all loved up (you should read the other 2 books in the series!!). It had just the right amount of angst for the trope.
This has 3 of my favorite tropes in it, second chance romance, secret baby and sport romance. I love the Rogue Academy Series and I think Vance and Lara may be my favorite couple.
Vance seemed like the silent friend in much of the other books so his story was one I was really looking forward to because I knew it was going to be great. Of course, I was right! Vance’s story is of someone trying to find their real place in this world. Someone thinks they that they belong one place when in reality the future may be somewhere else.
Lara was someone I had some trouble with just because of some of the decisions
she made but I also understood them and her.
I am sad to see this series end because I have fallen in love with all the characters. Such a great series with a wonderful end to it.
Carrie Aarons ties up her Rogue Academy with The Mighty Anchor. I found this to be very fitting. Vance and Lara are my new favorite and the perfect couple to finish out the series.
There’s a bit of something for everyone with The Mighty Anchor. Second chance sports romance with a secret baby. With every page turn, I was right there with Vance and Lara as they battled through challenges to get to their HEA. I couldn’t help but root for them to get to that HEA for their family.
Carrie Aarons’ third and final installment of the Rogue Academy series, The Might Anchor is an addictive read featuring a complicated second chance on love.
Although this is the third book in a series, I can easily say you can read this one as a standalone. Each of these novels feature English football players finding love in the most unexpected places. Vance and Laura’s story was no different.
Vance and Laura are the true definition of complicated. Their love is a twist of emotion, consequence, guilt and hope all wrapped up in a second chance at getting it right. While Vance pursues his dream of being a football star, Laura is left behind to deal with an unexpected outcome that changes everything in their relationship, a baby.
Vance’s internal turmoil between the dreams he thought he had verses the life he could have is what kept me completely engaged in The Might Anchor. Aarons told a much deeper story than a romance, she told a story about priorities and emotional growth of character.
The Rogue Academy series is one I highly recommend you check out. Aarons continues to deliver well written, complex storylines that keep you engaged from cover to cover. While English football isn’t necessarily my sport romance preference, I can still tell you she managed to write something unique, interesting and fulfilling. Well worth your time and money spent.
I am really enjoying these Rogue Academy stories and The Mighty Anchor was a lovely story. Sweet, sexy, romantic with just a perfect dose of angst and drama to keep those pages turning!
I loved Vance & Lara’s story! As a couple they were perfect… even though they had a fair few obstacles to overcome and decisions had to be made.
This was a brilliant second-chance romance, plus a secret baby thrown into to mix too!! Brilliant!
“Little did I know, that split-second decision would take my solid existence and change the course of it forever. Like the sea in the midst of a storm, everything I knew about myself, or held dear, was about to be thrown into the depths of the ocean.”
Vance’s life revolves around football. Since childhood, he works hard to one day achieve his much-deserved prominent position as keeper for the Rogue Football Club. And to achieve such a feat, he had to give up countless things in his life. But nothing hurt so much as walking away from Lara. After all, the girl from the front house he had admired for years, even after a brief secret relationship full of ups and downs and a troubled ending, still has his heart.
But maybe choosing football over relationship was not the best option. After years, Vance still awaits his chance. Years at Rogue Academy, training, giving his best, and yet he didn’t get a chance. The Academy doesn’t value him. And he is tired of this situation.
And if his professional life is imploding, a new revelation in his personal life will be the last straw for a complete disaster. Seeing Lara after so long, he will discover that secrets of the past have the power to hurt. In the face of the surprise, anger at lies, the weight of the news and its significance, he will have to make the most difficult decision of his life. Fight for his career or for his family?
Third and final book in the Rogue Academy series, the characters in the other books appear in the story, strengthening the bond of friendship between the guys and showing a glimpse of their lives and a little of the future of this crew.
Vance has always been the quietest of the three, but his story is full of drama, reflection, and hard choices. His dreams are what motivate all his behavior, but what once brought joy now carries a weight and a sense of discontent. Accepting these changes is not easy, the character does not have a smooth journey, but all his questioning, mistakes and successes make him believable and human.
Lara didn’t win me. From the first lines my hate for her only increased. I couldn’t forgive her lie. I found her effort and struggle to raise Mason commendable, but all her other actions were abhorrent. Louis was her worst decision.
The book is well written, with an interesting story and plot, complex characters and a second chance romance. Worth the read.