This is the second book in this sports series from Tracey and like the first one it was an easy and fun read. It opens with a showdown between Elara and Tanner in the locker room of the San Diego Lightning Football team as she accuses him of using his celebrity status to get funds for his charity which were badly needed by hers.

Tanner is so intrigued by her that he drops by Elara's rec centre to find out more and there is instant attraction between them. Elara challenges Tanner to a baseball game and he soon finds it is not going to be the walkover he thought it would be, and he is going to have to work to persuade Elarato go on a date with him.

Tanner goes all out with lots of romantic gestures mostly to benefit her charity Rebound and Elara begins to be won over. Once they do get together their chemistry is off the charts. Elara finds that Tanner is not the hot uncaring celebrity that she thought he was. Instead he is a kind an passionate man and despite her vow to stay out of relationships she finds herself falling for him and even revealing a secret about her past.

I loved Tanner and Elara's story it was so swoonfully romantic how Tanner works to break down Elara's barriers and win her love. My only criticism is that for some reason it seemed a bit rushed and short, I wish it had been longer.

I feel like I've been waiting for Tanner's story for forever! And now it's here and I'm like....sigh...I liked it, but I'm so sad to admit that I didn't love it. I think I pumped this up too much for myself. Dang it :(

Tanner is a footballer. Ok, he's the hot dark skinned, sinfully yummy and funny footballer we grew to love in the first two books of this series. In this book, Tanner is blindsided by a woman who literally barges in to the locker room, demanding answers and cussing him out, all while trying to change. After she leaves and after trying to wrap his head around what just happened, he realizes that there's been a mistake. So what better way to fix it than to go find this woman.

Elara is a former WNBA player who now runs a recreational center for kids. Unfortunately, she just found out that money earmarked for her, went to Tanner's charity instead. Rightfully irritated, she makes sure Tanner knows exactly what she thinks of him and just about everything else. Except now that she's calmed down and Tanner shows up at the rec center, she realizes that she may have made a mistake in judging him.

I need to tackle something. In this story and previous stories in this series, Tanner has dreadlocks. Um...Do you see dreadlocks on this cover? Nope. I think that's another reason I couldn't get as in to this as I hoped. I was immediately taken out of my own visual, trying to catch up, only be confused again when reading descriptions within the book. Ok, I'm done ranting...

So, of course there is chemistry between Elara and Tanner. I mean, it wouldn't be a hot and steamy read if there wasn't. And of course their stories are compelling and each have work to do with themselves in order to move forward. But it's the kids that got me in this story. Ok, and the way Tanner worked with them. A-Dorable!!!

reviewed by Chris

Tanner Green plays for the San Diego Lightning. He has really made a name for himself as one of the nice guys....probably has to do with having to raise 4 younger sisters and being the grandson of a preacher. Tanner always tries to give back to those in need because he remembers a time in his life when things were much harder.

Elara Vance is an ex-WNBA star player, having to retire because of an injury. Now she runs Rebound, a rec-center for underprivileged youth in her San Diego. Imagine her surprise when she finds out the donation she was suppose to receive ends up going to Tanner's foundation instead. Elara is pissed and wants to tell Tanner off and she does it in such a great way....in his locker room, in front of his friends. It was great. Only problem is, is that Tanner didn't realize any of this happened and he wants to help make things right. Too bad Elara isn't biting.

When Tanner shows up to Rebound that is when the fun begins. He doesn't realize that Elara is an ex-WNBA player and agrees to a little 2 on 2 pick up game each of them picking a youth. Imagine Tanner's surprise when Elara blows him away! I just FLOVE Elara!

As Tanner keeps trying to play nice, Elara isn't buying it. All ballers are just a bunch of players and because of something from her past, she is not getting played again. Slowly, Tanner is starting to break Elara's walls down. Just when it looks like they are going to get their happy ending, the past comes back to haunt both of them and together they need to work very hard to get that happy ending.

I loved both of these characters. Tanner really is a perfect guy. Sweet, thoughtful, loving....what more do you need???? Elara is such a strong female and loves to speak her mind. You do not want to cross her! I really enjoyed their happy ending too! Overall this was a great end to such a fun series.

Book 3 in the Lightning series doesn't disappoint and is my favorite yet! This title focuses on offensive lineman Tanner Green and Elara Vance, former WNBA player and all around wonder woman. After injury, Elara opened Rebound, a community center committed to bettering the lives of children with seemingly limited options for the future. She is trying to open up doors and possibilities for the kids. Tanner has his own foundation and unbeknownst to him, "steals" some of the funding Elara was counting on. So the story begins...

These two are firecrackers... It's almost like the running of the bulls! They are passion and loyalty and the very best sort of people you can imagine. But they are also like gasoline on a fire. They may have a flame that will burn eternal or they may combust and ultimately self destruct... Honestly, this is a must read. You won't be disappointed!

I received an ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I would not recommend this book. Please read my thoughts on why below. Please be warned this book does contain mature content.

The style of this story is a narrative with mostly outer dialogue that is either in person or on the phone. There is a mixture of internal and external conflict, same with types of characterization of indirect and direct. The main theme was not about letting your past hold you back and allowing yourself to feel passionate about life.

Tanner is an overprotective pro-football player. He is incredibly hard on himself as he puts all of the pressure of keeping his family afloat on him. He is responsible for his sisters after their mother passes away and runs his own charity. Ellar is a dedicated former women's basketball player. She is very self-reliant and not afraid to go after someone if she feels it is wrong or unfair to a situation. She is dedicated and hard-working to her rec center for at-risk children. Tanner and his teammates are close, they act like a mixture of family and friends beside teammates and co-workers. They all rely on one another and have each other's back. Elara and her rec kids are a balance of fun and seriousness. They bring out the playfulness in her and she protects and guides them, they are both dedicated to each other. Elara and Tanner are a combative couple because their personalities are so similar. They keep secrets, stubborn, hard-headed and not willing to compromise on certain situations.

I enjoy the way the author did not Elara play the normal victim. She also does discuss some hard topic of partner rape. I did not enjoy the ending as it had no real conclusion to a major issue and storyline. The exposition started off with high tensions and little to no introduction of the characters or background. The rising action gave off most of the background information but also leading up to the major conflict. The climax was greatly built up but had no real substance to it. There is no complete resolution to all of the conflict.

This book was chosen because of the interesting synopsis. This book would not be enjoyed by those who dislike mature subject matter, sports romances, or changing point of views. This would be a hit with those who enjoy hardcore females, females with a tough backstory that overcome them, males who always want to take charge, and females who do need males to rescue them.

4 1/2 Stars!

Due to an injury Elara had to retire from the WNBA, so now she has Rebound - a place where kids can go to learn, play and be safe. When she looses her major funding, she takes it out on Tanner Green, a NFL superstar who's charity received the funds that she was promised. Tanner doesn't know what hit him ... except that he wants to get to know the blond bombshell a lot better.

I fell in love with Tanner ... he is the ultimate boyfriend. I think he's a unicorn because there really are no guys that are that perfect ... lol! I also loved the fact that Elara made him work for everything because he sure wasn't used to that, as women normally just flocked to him. If you are looking for a laugh-out-loud, swoon-worthy and sexy romance then this is the book for you. In my opinion this is the best book in the series and I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC courtesy of Random House - Loveswept through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

This is book 3 in the Lightning series and it can absolutely be read as a stand alone, although the first 2 were good too so I recommend those as well. This one is about Tanner Green and Elara Vance. Tanner is on the football team the Lightning (I'm horrible with sports so I couldn't tell you what his position actually does) and always tries to do the right thing. He tries to just generally be a nice guy, even when he doesn't want to. Part of that is due to his upbringing and part of it just due to him being a generally nice guy. When Elara needs help for her rec center, he steps up and tries to do the right thing for her kids. Elara is a former WNBA player who was sidelined due to an injury. Now she spends her days trying to help kids with her rec center and avoiding "ballers". When she meets Tanner she thinks he is just another athlete trying to pass out money to make himself feel better. She never expects to be proven wrong.

I loved this book!! Tanner is a genuinely sweet man who just happens to play pro football. He takes care of his sisters, steps up for his friends, and just tries to be the best person he can be. I love him! He is what all people should aspire to be, even when he makes mistakes and has to learn and realize from them! Elara is one of those women that you wish you were more like. She is hard working, honest, giving to a community who definitely needs it, and not afraid to stand up for herself when necessary. And after what happened to her, that's an awesome thing. I love how these two come to be together and how they learn to work things out so they can be happy together. This book just showed me once again why I have fallen in love with this series and I think it might be my favorite out of all of them so far!

Pro football player Tanner Green has always made it a point to give back. So when ex-WNBA player Elara Vance burst into his locker room and gives it to him with both barrels in front of his team he is totally caught off guard. He may be shocked by the attack but he is also turned on. But trying to get Elara to give him a chance will be an uphill battle. Learning about an incident from Elara's past will put Tanner in his protective mode and will cause some problems between the two. Tanner has to come a realization about what is behind his over the top protective mode and has to share that information with Elara for any hope of a future for them.

Finally we get Tanner's story and he's just as amazing as I thought he'd be! Rough & Ready is the third book in the Lightning series and while fans of the series will enjoy catching up with the prior couples it is easily read stand alone. I loved Elara and thought she fit with Tanner perfectly. Elara is a former WNBA star so she's not impressed with his NFL status. Her carrier may have been cut short due to an injury but she definitely made her mark on the league. Now she runs a community center for at risk kids and she has no time for a smooth talking baller like Tanner Green. He may seem like a good guy but she's seen his type before. Or has she? Could he be the real deal? You definitely want to grab a copy and find out. I highly recommend it.

Another good story from Tracy Wolff. I’ve enjoyed reading this series & Tracy Wolff is becoming a go to author for me. This story has a deep, tense back story & it puts all actions & interactions in perspective. I love how intense Tanner is when when it comes to Elara after she hands him a dressing down while he’s only wearing a towel. Elara’s dedication to her rec centre is wonderful & the help she gives in need kids. The intensity & the quickness of the relationship between them is surprising but very hot. I definitely recommend this book.

Love this series! Elara and Tanner light it up. Their unexpected meeting sparks the girls fireworks and Elara isn't afraid to unleash both on and off the court. Tanner has earned finding the one he can pour his heart into.
Only thing is, the cover, so annoying when the models don't match the description at all, I want to see the dreads!

I'm pretty impressed with this book. Really this whole series has been a bit of surprise with how much I like these characters and their stories.

Due to a knee injury, Elara is former WNBA player. That right there already shows she's not your typical heroine and throws this book into the unique category.

What makes her an even better heroine is that she turned something bad that happened to her into something good. She opened a rec center for underprivileged kids. This center has it all and honestly, if I was a kid, I would be living at this rec center.

The way Elara cares about these kids is pretty amazing, especially when she had so much personally she's had to battle. Her story is heartbreaking in a way that you don't always hear about.

Tanner is currently in the NFL and one of the greatest in the game. His own story has a sad background but like Elara, he's turned that sad into something great.

Tanner has four baby sisters he takes care of. That combined with what happened to his high school girlfriend is what made him into the man he is today. That man is one who truly knows how to treat a woman and made me fall in love with him.

I got such a kick out of getting to know both of these characters. When the author added so much heart to their story, I couldn't do anything but fall in love with this book. I'm not sure if the author can top this one, but I sure hope she tries. ARC Provided by NetGalley.

I don’t remember the last time that I fell this hard for a book boyfriend this fast. Tanner Green is swoony from the first minute he’s in the book. I knew that it was coming. I knew that I would love his story. I fell in love with him when I read Hot & Heavy. But he is so much more than I thought he would be.

Elara is tough, strong, and a fierce baller. She is the kind of heroine that I want to see in every book that I read because she is ferocious, both on the court and with the disadvantaged kids she helps.

This book just makes me want to read more of her books. I love her characters, but I’m a HUGE fan of her writing skills. Her books are easy to read. I say that as a massive compliment to her writing skills. It takes a lot of effort to make writing beautiful AND easy to read. Not many can accomplish this feat.

I enjoyed the other books in this series, but unfortunately this one was a miss for me. First of all, and yes, I realize this is a somewhat silly complaint, but the cover, while hot, definitely doesn't depict Tanner as his dreads are mentioned numerous times. Next, this book was extremely short, almost novella length, and I really wanted more from Tanner's story. And for being so short it was a little repetitive. Most importantly however, was he fact that I really disliked Elara. The opening just rubbed me the wrong way. I don't care who you are, what you've been through, or what wrongs you feel have been committed, having a public temper tantrum isn't helping anything and is an extremely childish and selfish response. My opinion of her didn't change, so I couldn't really root for them as a couple or the HEA. Just didn't work for me.

3.5 Stars

First impressions are always the best. Every book wants a cover that blows the readers socks off when looking at it. And this cover did knock my socks off, for the most part. Look at the model. He is exactly what I thought Tanner would look like. And he is major eye candy too. But, when I look at the cover, my eyes are drawn to his armpit instead of his eyes. Which is a shame because those eyes are gorgeous. But I can’t keep my eyes off the pit…sigh. I keep thinking “Is he going to turn his head and do a BO check?”

Rough & Ready are Tanner and Elara’s story. Elara is a former WNBA player whose career was ended when she suffered a knee injury. The rec center that she runs is her life. When a major backer doesn’t come through with a 15 million dollar donation and gives it to another foundation, Elara sees red. Tanner is a major league football player with a huge heart. Raising his 4 sisters after his parents’ deaths, he has become known as footballs nice guy. His foundation had received a 15 million dollar donation, which he was thrilled about. But when a tall, angry blonde walks into the locker room after a game and tells him off in front of the offensive line, Tanner wants to get to know her better. But Elara has severe trust issues after an abusive past relationship. Can she open her heart to Tanner and let him in? Or will her past not allow her to?

While I love reading about strong, independent women, I though Elara was a witch with a b. I know that 15 million dollars would have gone a long way with her rec center. To use her friend who works with the team to go to a game and then use that pass to bust into the locker room to freak out on him wasn’t cool. Not letting him defend himself wasn’t cool. Everything that she said in that tirade wasn’t cool. She let her temper run her mouth. But, as I got more into the book, the more I began to understand her. Elara was a fiercely independent woman. She was a woman who never fit into any molds that people tried to force her into. Because of that, she has become used to dealing with things herself. So her reaction to Tanner’s supposed “stealing” was normal. Her relationships with her kids at the rec center were sweet and showed a softer side. She also showed a more vulnerable side when she told Tanner about the abuse she experienced. By the end of the book, I was still on the fence about her, though.

Tanner was awesome. Yes, I am “Team Tanner“. He was a stand-up guy. What guy would take on raising 4 girls, all in various stages of being a teenager? His foundation brought sports to those who couldn’t afford it and it was in all 50 states. I thought that he handled Elara’s tirade perfectly. All he wanted was to put pants on and discuss things with her. He did end up discussing things with her but it led to so much more. When he lost his temper, he did it in the spectacular way possible. Also in the most public way possible too…lol.

I didn’t get a romantic vibe from Tanner and Elara’s relationship. There was zero romance. There was no build-up of the relationship. It went from her being mad at him to them being in a relationship. Normally, I would be fine with the lack of build up. But in this case, I was a little disappointed. I wanted to see Tanner woo Elara. I guess he did by donating to her rec center.

Even though the romantic vibe was missing, the chemistry and sexual tension were not. Tanner and Elara had crazy bunny sex everywhere. They were nonstop. What I liked is that the sexual tension didn’t die after their first hook up. Loved it!!

While the main storylines were ended, I did have an issue with the storyline about Elara’s ex being left up in the air. I wish the author had given some sort of ending to it. I did like that Tanner beat some sense into the guy but there was talk about exposing him. Then it was never brought back up. I wanted to know if justice happened.

I did like the end of the book. I liked that Elara and Tanner were able to talk about what happened and continue with their relationship. I was left feeling a bit unsatisfied. Like I mentioned in the previous paragraph, the whole storyline with Elara’s ex was left up in the air. I also wanted to see how Tanner’s sisters took to his relationship. I kinda wanted to see more of Tina too. She was sassy.

What I liked about Rough & Ready:

Tanner. He was such a nice guy.
The sex. It was hot
The end of the book
What I disliked about Rough & Ready:

Elara. I thought she was a witch with a b for most of the book.
No romantic vibe
Storylines being left up in the air
I gave Rough & Ready a 3.5-star rating. The book was well written with compelling characters. The sex scenes were hot and I loved the end of the book. But, Elara killed the book for me in the beginning. Even though her character improved, I couldn’t get past the first scene. I also got no romantic vibe. Storylines were left up in the air.

I would give Rough & Ready an Adult rating. There is explicit sex. There is violence. There is language. There are a couple of scenes that discuss being raped and assaulted while drugged. Those could cause triggers. I would recommend that no one under the age of 21 read this book.

I would reread Rough & Ready. I would also recommend this book to family and friends. I would include a note about possible triggers.

I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group, Loveswept, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review Rough & Ready.

All opinions stated in this review of Rough & Ready are mine.

**I chose to leave this review after reading an advance reader copy**

Tanner is an absolute swoon worthy hero, a very successful football player with a heart of gold. Having to raise his sisters has given him a different perspective on life. Running a successful rec center is how he gives back to his community. When Elara storms into the locker room accusing him of being a bad person, he takes it upon himself to prove her wrong.

Tanner will probably never forget the first time he met Elara. She radiated beauty and strength as she verbally eviscerated him on an apparent misdeed he had no idea about. Tanner is not willing to let a little misunderstanding stand in the way and provides her with everything to make her non-profit organization thrive. She will become everything he needed and he would provide her with so much more than she anticipated. Great end to a series!

Another fantastic story in the Lightning Series. Tanner was just insanely hot and oh so sweet. The genuine nice guy we all want to call our own. Tanner meets Elara after a practice when she storms the mens locker room and calls him out in a serious way. Elara is a retired WNB after an injury took her out of the game and she runs a local community center for at risk youth. Her funding is scarce and when a wealthy donor drops a cool 15 mil into Tanners charity she's ballistic. The donor had promised her a pittance compared to that, but she feels betrayed for her kids and has absolutely no time for yet another baller. Tanner pays a visit to the center to check things out, the kids that are there are so excited and dressed up for a "date" arranged by her obnoxious mother, they wind up playing a quick game of hoops which Elara kicks his can. The kids are cheering them on and then game over. Tanner doesn't know who Elara is. Only that's she a beauty at 6'2" and a challenge for him. He gets shown around the center, he's brought his check book and makes a large donation.
He's duly impressed with what she's done on the meager amount of money she has to work with.
The two finally grow closer and while Tanner is the parent to his 4 younger sisters he's every bit the nice guy that he seems. Elara has some issues, burned badly by a baller boyfriend, she doesn't trust men, much less players. The two spend time together and grow closer. Tanner is so smooth and sexy. The two end up in a relationship that is still evolving when things start falling into place.
Until they don't. On that note, I'm going to leave you hanging and read the book. This series just gets better and better and I'm loving these men and the women they fall for.
Tracy writes a fantastic story.

arc from NetGalley and Loveswept for an honest review

This was a sexy fun read. It dragged a bit at the start, but I'm glad I stuck around. The chemistry between the main characters was really palpable and the banter was fun.

Tanner: I may be a baller, but I’ve always tried to do the right thing. Maybe it’s because I’ve been in charge of my four younger sisters for half my life, or because I understand how important it is to be a role model—something I learned from my grandfather, a Southern Baptist preacher who marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. Either way, my pro football career makes it easier to give back, so when a local rec center needs help,

Elara: Before I got sidelined by an injury, my time on the court taught me that pro athletes are all flash and no substance. Sure, Tanner Green talks a good game and wields a big checkbook, but I’m not buying the whole good guy routine. Still, it’s hard to miss all the good he’s doing for my rec center and even harder to ignore the way one look from him makes me tremble in all the best ways. I just wish I knew if he’s for real.

I enjoy Tanner and Elara story very much. Both characters were very development and the plot was great. If you love Romance this is the book for you.

NetGalley feedback