For our summer books roundup, 31 books to read this summer, including Ball Buster, by Kara Sheridan
https://www.retailmenot.com/blog/books-to-read-this-summer.html

Hilarious!! I don't know how else to describe it. I liked it - the heroine and hero complement each other and had great dialogue but I', not sure if I', going over the moon for it

Received in exchange for a honest review.

Carson was great. We see that even though he is a professional athlete he is still down to earth and cares about his team and town. His team that has a negative image due to some social media blunders that has the owner bringing in a image consultant to do a makeover and has some athletes jobs on the line.

Carson, as the captain, is to take part in the classes for team morale. What he doesn’t expect is his ex Sadie to be the one leading the classes. The woman who broke his heart and is still wary of him and all men.

Sadie is smart, sassy and kind. She is also very career oriented and believes that the country and her hometown isn’t where she will ever want to be. Even though her and Carson have enough sparks to light up a fourth of July fireworks show she doesn’t want to act on them. She guards her heart with a chastity belt and holds that key close to her. Carson had his work cut out for him as he shows Sadie who he is and gets her to see he isn’t the boy she left but a man that thinks of others and doesn’t care what others think. He is very private and family oriented and this does help to soften Sadie. He does fight her on some things due to his family and respecting them and their privacy. As they get to know one another again, we see the intimacy of learning each other and the intimacy of reacquainting one another as lovers as well. The romance is spicy, sassy, sexy and fun. I love watching Sadie put Carson in his place and be a challenge for him. I love seeing her slowly let go and give her heart to Carson and how he is willing to sacrifice for her. I hated seeing her let go and be too afraid to take a chance. Good think Carson doesn’t give up.

A sexy, sassy and fun romance that has you love the characters and the second chance at romance Carson and Sadie get and the journey to being together once again.

This was a great read! Sadie and Carson have a second chance at love despite the hurt between them. I loved how Sadie came to the realization that Carson was worth the chance. Her vulnerability due to her past experiences made her more real. I loved how Carson tried to keep a sterling reputation and had higher expectations for himself and his team. The steam between these two kept me turning pages. I highly recommend this story.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

This is the start of a new series, which promises to give us so much!I really enjoy it!Carson Savage is the quarterback and captain of the Alabama Warriors!He is a good and sweet guy. Sadie is a strong and smart heroine.When Carson and Sadie are together again they realize they still have deep feelings for each other. I liked their relationship and the set up was good.The only reason it wasn't a 5 stars read is that sometimes I was feeling like something was missing but overall, it was a great read!

Thanks to the author for providing a copy of this book via Netgalley.
It was a pleasant surprise. My first book from this author and i’ll look forward for more.
Second-chance romance story, the blurb did sound interesting for me: the heroine dumped the h, and not the other way!
They were not celibate those years apart, she did have some bf and dates, and H also did have some (you know the drill: professional athlete and man-whore...). They were celibate after they have met again.
There wasnt OP scenes. No cheating. There sure was some drama o suspense...
I liked it a lot.

Reigniting an old relationship!

Carson Savage, quarterback of the Alabama Warriors is in trouble, somebody posted a picture of his butt with his very distinctive tattoo on social media. The Warriors called in an expert to help them fix the problem before is caused even more problems considering they were in the center of the Bible belt.

Sadie Reynolds was forced by her company to straighten out the social media problems even though she never wanted to return to Alabama after leaving for an Ivy League college. She had dated Carson Savage in high school and when they stopped dating the town treated her like an outcast because Carson started getting into trouble. Sadie is the exact person the team needed to change their ways and showing the players how they behave actually makes a difference in how people thought of them.

Kara Sheridan has written a fun sport romance about reigniting an old relationship because Carson and Sadie had dated a long time ago and broke up badly; they had to work through all the problems and the mean people from their hometown.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Copy provided by Netgalley.

I picked this as I really enjoy sports romances. Also, this takes place close to me in Mobile, Alabama. And, I love southern characters. That said, the book wasn't as enjoyable as I had hoped. It was a quick, easy read. However, the main female character was on the annoying side.

The main characters were high school sweethearts and Carson was on track to play professionally. He had plans for Sadie to follow him to college, then marry him after graduation; not taking into account what she wanted to do. Sadie decided that she didn't want this and broke up with him right after high school graduation and moved north for college. She returns to Alabama reluctantly to help Carson and his teammates remake their images. Of course, Carson decides he wants her back and works on winning her.

Sadie is wishy-washy through the rest of the story and is somewhat annoying. I see where she was coming from however, she didn't try to see Carson's side of the situation and how he has changed.

Definitely not as enjoyable as I had hoped, but not a complete wash.

Good story. The story of cars on and Sadie was so romantic with dozens of twists. The childhood sweethearts whose immaturity and ambitions drive them away. Whilst life brings them back together with a blend of old feelings, resentments and new responsibilities force hands.
An emotionally sweet read loaded with testorene and heat and a touch of humour and light heartedness to make an easy enjoyable read.

Carson and Sadie dated in high school but Sadie ended it when she was expected to give up her dreams to follow Carson and his dreams. Years later, Carson is a quarterback for his hometown NFL team. While Sadie is a media relations expert and is hired to help Carson's team clean up their public images. But when Carson and Sadie meet again, the sparks still fly and it doesn't take long for a romance to begin.

This is a cute romance story, but I found it very predictable and I just couldn't connect with the characters. Just my personal taste.

I received an ARC courtesy of Forever - Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

3 stars

Ball Buster by Kara Sheridan was a sweet and enjoyable read.
The storyline held my interest all throughout the book and liked watching Carson and Sadie's relationship unfold.

Overall a lovely weekend read.

*Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy*

Said and Carson have a past - can they move beyond that to save both of their careers? This book has plenty of heat, but is also filled with a great deal more. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and look forward to more from Sheridan.

This is the first book (I'm assuming) in The Playbook series by this author and also my first experience reading this author's work. I must say the cover and the blurb really got my attention and the storyline and characters are good, but the book just didn't grab me and keep me engaged throughout. It's not that I didn't like it but I like a little more substance and dare I say, more angst. The author's writing flowed easily and if you're looking for a nice, quick and easy read with very little drama or conflict, this is the book for you! I would definitely recommend it in that case! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC for NetGalley.

Really cute sports romance. I enjoyed it but the end felt really rushed. Other than that, super lighthearted and sweet.

Ball Buster is book one in Kara Sheridan’s The Playbook series. I was excited to dive into this second-chance romance, although it fell a bit flat for me.

Sadie Reynolds is called to help the Alabama Warriors improve their image within the league. But this new job will bring her face-to-face with the reason she left Alabama in the first place, her ex and pro football player, Carson Savage.

This started off pretty well for me. Unlike some other reviewers, I quite enjoyed Sadie. She didn’t want to give up her dreams and stay in her small town and it meant giving up the man she loved. The fallout for her was horrendous, and my heart went out to her.

Carson, however, wasn’t my favorite for most of the book. He didn’t understand the meaning of the word, “no.” It doesn’t mean keep calling her a pet name she explicitly told you not to. It doesn’t mean holding on to her harder when she asks you not to touch her. I despise these kinds of heroes. Consent, consent, consent!

He gets better towards the end, but still…

And I have to say that there wasn’t much going on to keep my interest. There was no anticipation of a big secret or an unexpected twist. There was, however, some good relationship development and some spicy scenes so…it was a good trade off I think readers will enjoy. There simply wasn’t enough connection and chemistry to keep me invested.

3 stars!

Carson is a football player with an image problem. Sadie is a PR consultant and hired to turn things around. The trouble is these two were high school sweethearts and the fire still burns. Will they be able to build a relationship? Will the team survive another fall out if things don''t improve? Read on to get a great story with wonderful characters.

Ball Buster by Kara Sheridan is book One in The Playbook series. This is the story of Carson Savage and Sadie Reynolds.
Carson and Sadie once were in a relationship with they were younger and both had moved on. Carson became the Team Captain of The Alabama Warriors but an embarrassing photo of him is online. In addition, there are some other things about the team has put them into needing a 'makeover' of their public image.
Sadie has come into help with the makeover of the team and to help Carson. But she has plans to head back out and not stay for long...but can the feelings they are starting to feel again be enough to keep her?
Really enjoyed this book!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4 stars

The last thing Sadie wants to do is go home to Alabama and face her past. She's done an excellent job the last few years of staying far, far away. When she broke up with the hometown hero, she was basically run out of town on a rail and she hasn't looked back since. She knew what would happen if she stayed or stayed with Carson. Her dreams would have taken a backseat to his, after all, football is king, and he played as though the ball was custom made for his hand. Now she has no choice. She's getting paid mega bucks to go back there and solve the Warriors’ image problems. If she could only say no.

Carson has no idea of how Sadie was treated after they broke up. He drowned his sorrows in a bottle until it was time to leave for college and he did his best to make football his priority. He's always loved Sadie and doesn't understand why Sadie hates Alabama. When he realizes how his hometown treated her after the breakup, even he thinks love won't conquer all.

I enjoyed this book and how both Carson and Sadie had to face some harsh truths and face reality about how life really is and what is truly important.


Lee’Anne – ☆☆☆☆
This is a sweet and gritty second chance romance that I really enjoyed.

Carson Savage plays for the Alabama Warriors, a football team that currently has a terrible reputation, and when exposing photos of him are leaked to the public, he’s put on warning that his career could be on the line. Sadie works for the company that has been hired to “rebrand” the Warriors and her boss forces her into the assignment with their team even though Alabama is the last place on earth Sadie wants to return to. Especially knowing that she’ll be working with Carson, her first love and the boy whose heart she broke. When the two see each other again, the sparks are still there but Carson holds anger for Sadie leaving the way she did, but on the same note, he’s ready to pick right back up where things left off with them.

I loved Sadie’s take-no-crap attitude, she’s fierce, determined, and passionate and it made her character very loveable. The heat between Carson and Sadie is off the charts – this book has a fast pace, awesome characters, and a great storyline. I loved it!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars rounded up because Carson really didn't deserve to be in the naughty class!

This is the start of a new series, which promises to give us plenty of sexy sports romances in the future. A team full of football players who use social media to prove their foolhardy behaviour is indeed rife. The NFL is fed up and the Alabama Warriors’ owner employs a PR company to sort out his team before they get in any more trouble.

Sadie has a past in Alabama but promised she would never go back – after all, there is no love lost for her in her nearby hometown, after she broke her high school boyfriend's heart. Now her boss has sent her to sort out the PR for the Warriors... where that one-time boyfriend plays...

Whilst her behaviour all those years ago hurt both her and Carson, it turns out that she was vilified then, and as they get a second chance, the problems start again. But this time Carson knows and is convinced that they will get the future he always wanted. His determination and the care that he displays to Sadie remind her of all the good things they once had. She has never stopped loving him, the problem is that she does not want to lose her independence. It is very sweet and romantic as they rediscover each other emotionally and physically.

Sadie's plans for the team work wonders, yet the guys are still a handful. I am guessing that some of them will get their chance at romance in future books.

Second Chances Rock!

I fell in love with Carson Savage he’s the ultimate bad boy jock only he’s not or maybe he was when in the beginning of his career he took a downwards spiral after the girl he loves left him. Now he’s a professional and obviously more mature. Except someone posted his nude buttocks on social media. And unfortunately for him he’s on the warning list. The team is judged as a whole and as a professional player he has to do everything possible to fix it.
Until he sees a face from his past Sadie Reynolds the woman responsible for everything that had gone wrong! All he wants is to have her back and he’ll grab this second chance with both hands and score a touchdown.

Sadie Reynolds had to fight for everything she wanted to achieve and being Carson’s girlfriend added strain to their relationship which unfortunately resulted in their breakup.
She became successful and life continued until she’s sent to repair the teams overall look and comes face to face with her past!

I loved this couple they were perfectly right for each other, the older and more mature version. It was emotional and poignant I loved how Carson really fought for Sadie and was willing to go to extreme lengths for her. He actually listened to her and respected her dreams and gave her a choice, which in my opinion was the ultimate as far as decisions went he aced it. This was the BOMB and I can’t wait to read about the rest of the cocky team!
I received a complimentary copy from the author through NetGalley, this is my honest unbiased opinion

A sexy new series, by Kari Sheridan, about hard-hitting pro footballers who don't play by the book, "The Playbook" series.
Meet Carson Savage and Sadie Reynolds, once high school sweethearts, now both have moved on, or have they?
The Alabama Warriors have the worst reputation in pro football, but Sadie is going to give them a makeover. Carson, as their captain has his butt on the line, in more ways than one.
I do not usually read Sports Romance but wanted to give BALL BUSTER a try, I'm definitely glad I did. From the first chapter forward, I was held captive by the characters and the storyline. Tough hitting, tough playing romance, with sexy characters and the supporting characters are great. I did have a hard time with the pull and tug between Carson and Sadie, she was a bit dramatic, to me.
Overall, the concept was an interesting one, the characters a bit too realistic, in my opinion. But all together an interesting read, I look forward to reading more of THE PLAYBOOK. If you enjoy Sports Romance, you will most likely enjoy BALL BUSTER
I received a complimentary copy, however all opinions are my own.