The Pickup

The Pick up is a TOUCHDOWN!
Nick is a playboy football player. Olivia is looking for her fairytale happily ever after. When the two meet there is instant chemistry. However the story doesn’t start there. Pick up this book to see how it all plays out. You will not be disappointed with this one. It will keep you captivated until the end!

Nikki Ash is a new to me author so I was going in blind for this book. I’m happy to report that this was a great read. Nicholas Shaw, is a sweet and sexy football player, a typical guy who likes to have fun. But, his love-life has not been the best. He’s had some hard times in the past so he’s more than a little protective of his heart and feelings.
Olivia Harper couldn’t be more different, she’s a romantic through and through, but the chemistry she shares with guarded Nick is so hot they can’t deny it, even though they aren’t sure if they should follow their feelings or just let it go. I was hooked on this story from start to finish and will be looking for more of the same from Nikki Ash.

I don’t remember my childhood fairy-tales being THIS hot! 5 ’s!

The Pickup is the first stand-a-lone book in Nikki Ash’s new Imperfect Love series, and features two people who do exactly what the title says. Both were expecting it to be one night, neither expected it to be as explosive and connecting as it was, and one woke up alone. If you’re thinking I was as invested as all hell, then you’d be right!!!

To me this was a true coming of age book for pro-footballer, Nick Shaw. I hesitate to expand further because I am so passionate about him and the relationship he has with his parents, that I’m liable to drop spoilers. Hell, maybe even that hesitation in itself probably says too much! I just completely loved him, even in his d!ckhead moment, which was actually quite funny by the way, because he wanted to be the best person that he could be. It does take an effort to move past what life has taught you, accept your shortcomings, make a decision and move on. And he did it, in spades.

Olivia is a woman who knew her own value, and I absolutely loved that about her. She’s seen what true love is, has defined it in her mind, and even though she’d had heartache in her life, and it didn’t all go to plan, she wasn’t going to accept second best just to make life easy.

While this is not an angsty book, I felt it right to my heart. The chemistry between Nick and Olivia was hot and oh so heavy, but Nick had a lot to sort out, and while Olivia wasn’t going out of her way to make it harder, she wanted her fairytale, and she was sticking to it!

Nikki Ash’s writing style is witty, and the book flowed so smoothly that I didn’t realise how quickly time went while I was reading it. The secondary characters are as important to the story as Nick and Liv, and I was so invested, that it almost feels like a cliff-hanger waiting for the next book. Let me confirm, this is a stand-a-lone, but I am absolutely hanging out for Book 2. April just can’t come fast enough, and I’ve added it to my Goodreads TBR already! Absolutely 5 Stars.

5 Cranky Stars

This is a 5 star novel for me. I don’t usually read romance but have found it a pleasant distraction from the Sci/Fi and Fantasy world. It helps when the author has likable characters. It takes place in NYC but it could be any big city in the world.
It starts with Nick. He is your typical 20 yo college jock who happens to play football. In fact, he is the quarterback. His father is his agent of course. Nick has just been informed that he can’t major in his passion for writing but must study business. As far as Daddy is concerned, football is Nick’s major and he will leave college for the Draft after his junior year. Nick is not happy.

Fast forward 10 years and Nick is injured just before the Superbowl. He needs surgery and physical therapy. His current team is going to release him because of the injury and his age. Along comes the NY team and his hard work pays off, he gets signed. However, he is told he must settle down as over the past year, he has been drinking and bedding different women every night. Now it gets complicated. When his one night stand becomes more.

This isn’t a normal love story. They haven’t seen each other in the 9 months and neither knows the other’s true name. Sparks fly both good and bad and the twists in the plot will make you dizzy if you read too fast. Can’t wait for Book 2.

I loved this book I could not put it down! Oliva and Nick where so great together. It was great baby romance I love them. Nikki Ash is my favorite author it very much worth reading. I cant wait for Killian and Giselle book!

***4 ‘Our Story’ Stars***

I think something is in the water lately, but I’m on a reading streak where the books are giving me some major whiplash. Major. And The Pick Up was no different. It was all kinds of sweet and heartwarming and I ended up really liking many of the characters, I did, but lemme tell you, the urge to not only reach out and Gibbs smack some people, but gut some of them with a spoon was STRONG. Really strong.

Olivia. I really liked Olivia. She is, for all intents and purposes, a straight shooter and simply a good person. She is sweet, sassy and while she had her moments, I understood the why behind it all and liked how she dealt with them.

Nick. Now, I ended up really liking him. I did. But it took a minute to get there. He is a good man with a good heart and really does give his all to what he is doing, but after awhile I really wanted to reach out, Gibbs smack him and tell him to man up. I understood why he did certain thing and allowed others to happen, but the frustration with him was real, until he finally did man up…and well, the rest is history.

As for Nick and Olivia’s journey to their HEA. It definitely had its ups and downs, but once they found a rhythm with each other and found a way to communicate, I was totally rooting for them to be together. I loved their bantering, the smexy was hot and I really enjoyed how they worked through the crazy and got to know each other and see how good they were together.

While this isn’t my first read by the author, it is the first one I’ve read where she is the sole author and I really enjoyed it. The writing was engaging and I enjoyed the dual 1st person POV’s. The pacing was good, but there were a few issues I wouldn’t have minded getting a little more of, but I can’t say that I wasn’t good with how everything worked out. And then there are the secondary cast of characters. There were a couple I wanted to gut with a spoon from the start, but thankfully the rest of crew I really liked. They were all unique and well written and I’m looking forward to getting to them all a lot better. Giselle and Killian are my favs, but it’s Celeste that truly intrigues me and I cannot wait to get my hands on her HEA, because that one will be all kinds of crazy goodness.

~ Copy provided by Enticing Journey Promotions & voluntarily reviewed ~

5 Stars!
I am so in love with this author. Nikki Ash writes another home run with this amazing book!

Once again I am blow away with how much I enjoyed another one of Nikki Ash’s books. I have read many of her books and have never been disappointed. Her writing has every aspect that makes a perfect book for me. From the very beginning I am hooked and her characters have been some of my all time favorites. For me this author has given me the most amount of book boyfriends than any other. Her heroes are sexy and alphas with a softer side that makes me swoon even more. Another aspect I love about her characters is that they have flaws, are relatable and her premises are believable. You will not be disappointed if you read her books, I promise. If you are already a fan, than you know what I mean.

The hero in The Pick Up is flawed for sure, but not by his own making. Nick has had everything given to him growing up, but his life has been full of stipulations forced on him by his parents. Nick let himself be manipulated by them because he hoped it would make them love him. My heart broke for Nick. All he wanted in his life was to be loved for himself and not for status. Nick all but gives up until Olivia blows into his life. Their road to happily ever after is not an easy one. Trust will have to be earned. To be honest I’m glad that Nick and Olivia didn’t move too fast.

Without giving anything away, I’ll tell you there is a bit of angst and Nick’s parents are antagonists that you want to stomp on. But in the end all is well and everyone gets what they deserve.

We get a brief teaser of what’s to come in the next book. Thankfully that will be out in April. Nikki, you just keep these amazing books coming!

This is my honest and unbiased review. Thank you for taking the time to read it. 🙂

3.5 ‘s

Most would say Nick Shaw lives a charmed life – professional football player with all the fame, fortune and women a guy could ask for. When a one-night stand comes back into his life after ghosting him the morning after, all that changes. Then there are the issues with his parents, who seem to be in his corner and have given him everything money can buy. Sadly, we all know money can’t buy love.

I really liked Nick and Olivia, but they both had their issues and needed to learn a few things, which made them all the more authentic and likeable. Nick learns some great lessons about the things in life that really matter, and Olivia has her eyes opened and sees beyond the fairy-tale-colored glasses she’s worn her whole life. I loved all the secondary characters and thought they added life and color to the story.

This one didn’t have the flow and polish, or hit me deep in the heart, as other books from this author have. But after Unbroken Promises, followed by Heath, it’s entirely possible my expectations have exponentially increased with both of those phenomenal books. Still, this was a fun read that had me connecting with the characters, and I’m really looking forward to reading Killian and Giselle’s book when it comes out.

*I reviewed an advance copy of this book freely and voluntarily, having made no commitment to provide a review and receiving no compensation of any kind from any source for this review.

Absolutely amazing. Not that I expected anything less from Nikki.
This book was so good. A couple of characters I hated ( I’ll let you decide on who) but they kept the twists in the story. It was a fantastic storyline and had brilliant characters that were so enjoyable to read. I was gutted when it ended. I’m desperate for more.
Looking forward to read the next one.

Oh my word! Nikki Ash has blown me away again with The Pickup! The book will catch, grab, and captivate you from the very beginning! Nikki has a away with writing that pulls at your heart and you can’t put the book down until finished!! Nick and Liv’s love story is one you want to read! Fairy stories do come true!