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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5 FANTASTIC STARS!! Wow, I finished this book in one sitting. I loved Vance and Lara their story had all the feels and kept me flipping pages. This series has been incredible…..it gets better with every book. Carrie Aarons nailed this one, so go ahead and download this book.
Vance and Lara might be the best pair yet in this series! A second chance romance, a hidden pregnancy, and all the swoon you never knew a guy like Vance could give.
A wonderful ending for these trio of footballers.
Oh the end of a series is always bittersweet to me. I’ve loved every single book in the Rogue Academy series…but I have to say this book took a little piece of my heart…all due to little Mason. I LOVE single parent books…especially second chance books. I absolutely LOVED Vance and Lara’s book…and I loved that I had absolutely no idea how everything would all work out. I loved how we got to take a peek into how Jude and Aria and Kingston and Poppy are all doing as well. I highly recommend this series-every single book! Loved them all!!
Another spectacular Rogue Series book! How could you not fall in love with Vance and Lara childhood sweethearts story? Lara is left heartbroken, alone and pregnant. Vance is broody, stubborn, focused on himself and unaware he’s going to be a father. Once he discovers he’s a dad he comes to life and realizes he can have it all. The journey to find each other is worth it!!
5 STARS
Carrie Aarons nailed this one! I wasn’t sure this could happen, but Vance is my favourite of the three friends, although I still love Jude and Kingston. You can tell that Lara was the one that always held Vance’s heart and vice versa. They have some obstacles to overcome before they can get their HEA, but their journey is worth reading.
The Mighty Anchor is the third book in the Rogue Academy Series, and can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend if you enjoy second chance romances. The Mighty Anchor by Carrie Aarons is an EPIC read and will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ARISTOCRACY!!!
I swear that Carrie Aarons knows the way to my heart and can read my mind for what I like in romance books. I absolutely love her writing and the final book in the Rogue Academy series is everything that you were hoping for (if you read the previous books in the series, if not, do it now!) and everything that you did not realize that you wanted!
I knew that Vance’s story was going to be an emotional one, and it definitely delivered. After finding out that he had a son that has already lived a year of his life not knowing his father, it absolutely devastated Vance and gave him the kick to do something about it. Not only does he want him in his life, but he also wants Lara too. But the last reason why they broke up still stands- he can’t have the love of the game and a family, what is he going to do?!
All in all this was an emotional read that grapples with a lot of serious issues which makes the story what it is. Love is a struggle, just because you find the right person does not mean that everything turns out to be sunshine and roses, but it is what you do to work for it that counts. I highly recommend this for anyone that likes new adult sports romances or even just new adult romances in general– you won’t regret it!!
PS: Thank you to Carrie Aarons for allowing me an advanced copy of the book to read and review honestly, you are AWESOME!!
Well I thought I loved Kingston and Jude more, but make way for Vance. He will steal your heart, make you swoon and oh so much more. This story is a stunning second chance romance that will leave you wanting a footballer just like Vance! The connection between Lara and Vance is evident right from the start but as the book plays out, you really see how deep their connection is as things get thrown at them. I giggled and wanted to cry for all the heartbreak these two went through. I felt a connection with Lara though I was annoyed with her reasonings for hiding from Vance. But to me, I think that is what makes this so much more real. And how much Vance took on the role of being a dad was stunning. I swear, there are some men out there that need to take a lesson from him!
Overall, this was a great story of second chances, redemption and finding your place in a world that you have fought to be a part of for so long. I love how take charge Vance is when he realizes what he really wants in life. This was a beautiful story with amazing flow. I highly recommend it
#LARAANDVANCE4EVER
FIVE SOCCER STARS for Lara and Vance !!!
“The Second Coming” is the first book I’ve read by Carrie Aarons and it is also the reason why I continued reading her books.
This is the third and the last book from the “Rogue Academy” series which reminded me why I love so much reading Carrie’s books.
Carrie’s writing style is simple but unique.
It keeps you occupied from the beginning till the end and after you finish reading the book you want more.
“The Mighty Anchor” is a romance story with a secret baby, second chance and sports tropes.
Lara and Vance’s relationship is a slow burn.
They met each other when they both were kids and after a few years when they became older they started dating.
But then, they started having their first ups and downs which led to their breaking up.
And there is where their actual story started.
Lara is a strong female character who decided to raise her son on her own because the father of her child once broke her heart and she didn’t want her son to experience the same feeling.
But, she also found the other man who accepted her son like is own.
And everything would be great that her baby daddy didn’t discover that he has a son.
Vance’s is a male character that melted my heart.
He’s love always was soccer and after he started dated Lara, soccer still was his first love, his number one.
It came before his girlfriend.
And then Lara realized that she won’t be someone’s second opportunity.
After he discovered Madson, his son, he started changing and he realized that soccer isn’t everything, that family is coming always before anything.
And then he made a plan.
To win Lara’s love again and become the main part of his son’s life.
To get his family.
If you’re looking for a wonderful romance book with a secret baby and second chance tropes, this is the book you NEED TO READ NEXT!!!
Highly recommended!!!
Vance turned out to be a man I had not expected but had hoped to see. We watched Kingston and Jude pull their heads out of…well, where the sun doesn’t shine. But the stoic giant who has only ever been focused on his family, mates, and the game turns out to be not just swoon-worthy, but also a man who has finally figured out exactly what he wants out of life. He’s seemed to have had an order of importance for things in his life, and when he learns of Mason and sees Lara again, that order goes out the window and priorities are steadfastly reorganized.
I’d have to say that while I have loved the previous pairings, Lara and Vance are by far my favorite. There isn’t a lack of chemistry with any of them, but Aarons managed to create such an organic passion between these two that there is no way you can’t root from them from the first chapter.
Jude made me swoon. Kingston made me blush. But Vance…he stole my heart.
Lara and Vance had slot of history and a bad break up. Two years pass and he sees her and her son who looks just like him. Can he win back Lara and his baby Mason ? Great characters and storyline love the ending. Loved Vance, Lara, and Mason. Great book highly recommend
This book was AMAZING, I am so in love with Vance that I cannot even explain it. Vance and Lara are that book couple that you just loved from the very beginning and was cheering for them. The Mighty Anchor was about two people trying to do whats best for their son, this was about second chances, and giving love another chance.
I loved how determined and sweet Vance was, he never once gave up fighting for Lara and that just made my heart so happy. I also loved Lara, she never once tried to keep Vance away from their son. This story was just what I needed, I was swooning like crazy. This is for sure my favorite book of this series, Vance has my heart!!!
4 1/2 stars!
Second chance romance combined with a secret baby? Yes please! The author teased us at the end of the previous book and I couldn’t wait to read this one.
I just loved Lara and Vance. When they were young, their relationship was complicated and now that they are bit older, it is even more complicated. All Lara wants in her life is stability and being in a relationship with Vance is anything but stable. But on the flip side, Vance is frustrated with the lack of movement in his career and is starting to wonder if being a footballer is what he wants.
I loved watching Lara and Vance rekindle their relationship. It was never a matter of them not loving each other, so once they were able to get over the past, the relationship part was quite easy. But this time around Vance had to figure out how to be a father as well. And to be honest, he fell into that role quite easily. I found myself smiling because it was just so adorable.
And I just say that I loved the friendship between Vance, Jude & Kingston. Whenever they get together they manage to cause some kind of trouble, but they are also there for each other and act each other’s conscious. If one has a problem, the other two are more than happy to help. I’m actually a little sad that this is the last book in this series. I’ll miss these guys!
This was a good read. Both Vance and Lara drove me crazy though. I just wanted to shake them both and tell them to wake up but I get where both were coming from. I’m glad they did get their second chance. I also really enjoyed it when all three guys got together.
4.5 stars – loved Vance more than Jude, but not quite as much as Kingston.
So this is a great end to the three horsemen of RFC. Vance and Lara were high school sweethearts although from afar since Vance was away becoming a soccer star (or football star since we are in England). But he was a bit of a cad and kept their relationship a secret and then soundly dumped her.
“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.”
But not without leaving something behind. And when he finds out…that’s when the sparks fly. I didn’t always like Lara’s character and she doesn’t do right by everyone in her life. But she does do the best she can under the circumstances.
And Mason…well he just steals the whole book, really!! The way back to each other is hard and not without some significant strife. “I hope you know that if you choose us, you and me…I will never let you down, again.”
This has been a great series and while you don’t have to read all three – you’ll get a lot more out of these stories if you do.
I voluntarily requested and read an advance reader copy.
We have the final installment in this sexy, tantalizing Rogue Academy series. We met Vance Morley in the previous two books and were left waiting to find out more. His story was worth the wait. Not only did he chose his career over the love of his life, but when he sees a spitting image of himself in a one and half year old, he’s ready to fight for the family he left behind. Lara has done everything right when it comes to the sunlight of her life. But when she’s confronted by the father she never told had a son, she has to keep her heart intact.
I enjoyed the courage, the strength and the vulnerability these characters possess. But mostly, I enjoyed the love that never faded between them even though hurt feelings and regrets were evident. This couple will fight for their love because of their son and for their happiness.
The Mighty Anchor is the perfect ending to this wonderful series. I enjoyed catching up with Jude, Aria, Kingston and Poppy. The epilogue melted my heart. Grab this series now, I promise you won’t get enough.
Second chance romance. Secret baby. Sports romance. There is so much going for this book. Truthfully, I enjoyed every minute that I spent with Vance and Lara. Their journey wasn’t easy, by any means, but in the end, it was worth it!
Lara hasn’t had an easy road. Left by her first love, before they even knew about the child they had conceived together, she worked hard to be the best mother she could. And just when she thought she was over it, that she had moved on with her life and could be happy, her past comes back, and she has to face the consequences of her secrets.
Vance is focused. He is determined to be the best in the game he loves, the game he has devoted his whole life to, the game he has given up everything for. But when he finds that he left behind more than he realized, he has to reevaluate his priorities, what is important in his life.
What did I take away from this book? It’s important to know that priorities change, life never stays the same, and what’s important today, may not be the most important tomorrow. Vance had to decide if all of his sacrifices were still worth it, or if there were things more important. In the end, regardless of who sacrifices what, who’s dreams change, love and family are what matters most.
From the first time that Vance met Lara when they were only children they thought they had an unbreakable bond but when their friendship turned to love it was tested and unable to survive. He wanted to keep their relationship quiet which caused Lana to believe that she would always come second to his career and that was a sacrifice she wasn’t willing to make.
Two years later when he is back in their hometown when he sees the only woman he has ever loved however her life hasn’t stood still. She is now a mother to the son he didn’t know that he had, and they are about to start a life with another man. Will he be able to convince her to give him a second chance and will he need to choose between his love for Lara and his son and the game?
The is an emotional and heartwarming story about love and family and realizing what future you want to live.
This is the third and final book in this Rogue Academy series and as much as I loved the other two books Carrie definitely saved the best for last!
Once I started this one I was hooked and devoured it in one sitting (benefit of a hubby who works nights). I was literally on the edge of my seat desperate to know what was going to happen between Vance and Lara.
I had so many emotions about Vance and Lara, I wanted to simultaneously hit and hug these two! if only they communicated better then they wouldn’t have missed out on so much. Vance made a mistake walking away from Lara two years ago but now he has seen her again and realises they have a son together his priorities change and he will fight for his family.
Carrie has done a phenomenal job bring social anxiety to this story. The struggle is real and I loved the way she shed the light on it.
Quiet but Streadfast
One of the things I enjoy about Carrie Aarons series are how she lets each couple shine and have their moment.
This quality was especially important in The Mighty Anchor. It would have been easy to include Jude and Kingston and let them lead the story, but Vance took control and didn’t let go.
Lara and Vance are a beautiful couple who embraced the lives they were given and flourished.
**ARC provided for an honest review.**
The Anchor by Carrie Aarons takes us back to her Rogue Academy series. Though each book can be read and enjoyed as standalones, they do have interconnecting couples. It was a story about second chances, love, family and finding what is important. It was sweet and emotional and I could not put it down.
Vance and Lara met when they were young and cared for each other. But Lara knew the game would always come first. She finally decides to put herself first, but also keeps a secret and they move forward separately. But when he sees her again and a little boy, he begins to see what is truly important. But is it too late? Vance is truly a good guy but has personal issues no one knows about. Lara was caring but wanted to matter. The Anchor by Carrie Aarons was an emotional second chance romance I devoured.
4.5-stars. Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!