In “Risky Play” (Red Card #1) by Rachel Van Dyken we meet Mackenzie, who was just left at the altar and Slate who is a star soccer player who just switched teams and will be playing in the States. Both are heading to a well needed vacation when their worlds collide. After an impromptu jump off a cliff followed by a night neither can forget things get complicated. Throw in a dog named Alfie (with a gas problem), a kid’s soccer camp, baked French toast and an agent with NDA on his mind and you will fall in love with this story.

Another hit and a definite read. I received this book through Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Risky Play by Rachel Van Dyken is a must read. From the very first page I was sucked in by the emotional roller coaster Mackenzie and Slade have. The story was fresh with quick banter that had me laughing out loud. I never wanted to stop reading this book. I loved the characters and their transformation and the story they had to share.

4.5 Stars

Mackenzie was just left by her fiancé - in front of all the high society wedding guests!

Alton has been her best friend since they were born - they were going to have a happy life together. But when she's honest with herself, she never really love-loved him like a girl should love her future husband.

She still has to work with him at her family's wine company - time to use that honeymoon ticket! Off to Mexico we go.

And on the plane we meet Slade. He's just left his England soccer team to play with Seattle - career suicide - but he couldn't stay in London anymore. His girlfriend is expecting a kid from his former best friend!!!

There's no better way to get over someone than to get under or over or behind someone new! ☺

Mackenzie and Slade meet on that plane, but because they're both more of less in the public eye, they decide to give each other a fake name: Ashely and Hugo. LOL!

After some very sexy moments in that Hotel they will never see each other again anyway! Right?

NOPE! ☺

Let the fun times begin!

What will happen with Mackenzie & Slade?
WILL THERE BE A HAPPILY EVER AFTER???
BUY THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!

══════════════════════════


Well, that was adorable and so funny!

I really loved reading it!

We have this mega-sexy, mega-famous international soccer star and the virgin wine business heiress. And they so belong together, but they have to go through a lot of fighting until we might see a happy end on the horizon.☺

Turns out Slade's nemesis is on his team now too and he was a groomsman in Mack's wedding - and he's now interested in her too. Plus, her ex is not really the nicest guy. He's not done with her yet either.

Add to all that lots of sexy and hilarious and sparky and adorable and footbally and moving moments. Plus a cute dog and family and friends and problems and feelings. What do you get? A really great sports romance. I loved it. Can't wait to read Jagger's and Matt's books!

The only thing that bothered me - and that will take away half a star from my rating.... nothing to do with the story, but the author. Rachel's first line in the acknowledgements? She thanks god. I just can't deal with that in my romances. If I wanted to read christian romances, I'd buy them. Which I never in a million years would do. And before I go on another anti-religion rant, I will stop this here.
Oh - and another tiny little thing. I think Mackenzie was a bit too old. A 30 year old virgin? 26 would've been ok too.☺

GREAT ROMANCE! I LOVED READING IT!
I wouldn't mind if Netflix came along and made something out of it!!

RISKY PLAY was a really adorable & funny sports romance - full of feelings!
Run to your nearest amazon for your own Slade - this one is MINE!!!!

So, I’ve read a lot of RVD books and she had an excerpt from this book in her FB group and it sounded good! She likes to tease us with the good parts and make us want to read these books right away!

I can’t say no to an RVD book, so when I received an ARC of this book, I started reading it right away.
Mack and Slade are the main characters in this book, there are two others that play a big part in this book. I think one of the extras will be in book two ;-)
The chemistry was there from the start between “Ashley” and “Hugo”. Sadly they go their separate ways until a job gets them back together several months later. Mackenzie was a bit childish for her age sometimes, as if a Billionaires daughter doesn’t know how the media works. She is hurt by two men in her life and has trust issues. Slade messes up several times, but with his charm, the “I’m sorry” and promises he cracks Mack’s shell more and more every time they see each other.

The last few chapters with Drama should have been added sooner I think. Can’t wait for book two though!

I received this ebook copy from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.

I always love Rachel's work but this story is great. I was reading terrified there be twisted turn on the love triangle. Mackenzie and Slate keep my heart in a cliff waiting for the breakup. I love the characters, their chemistry including Alfie, Matt and Jagger. I hope we get more stories from this group. I recommended this book.
I received a ARC from Netgalley for a honest review.

This book was cute. I really liked the beginning of the book when Slade and Mack first met. The whole Puerto Vallarta section was really fun and I loved the adventure and whirlwind romance. I also liked when Mack and Slade came back together because I love a good enemies to lovers trope, even if I thought Slade's reasons were stupid. However, I am going to chalk that up to grief making him unreasonable.

I thought the writing in the beginning of the book was really good. I liked the dialogue and the banter. That being said, where it went wrong was when Slade wisened up. All of the sudden the dialogue got really cheesy, really fast. Sometimes it felt like I was reading a harlequin romance with how cheesy the sayings were. I also didn't like the turn in Mack's personality. She was a pretty strong character leading up to that moment, but as soon as Slade started having a change of heart it was like she was more than willing to forgive everything because of freakin flowers.

There's mention in the acknowledgments that RVD wanted to write a really strong female character and I feel like she did that in the beginning, but then lost it towards the end. I wanted Mack to realize that she can fight for herself and that she doesn't need anyone else to do it for her, but unfortunately she just kept coming off as a damsel in distress.

Then there was the situation at the end of the book. It happened really late and it was two-three chapters long. It felt like it was thrown in there just for the sake of being thrown in there and it didn't really add anything to the story. Then the chapter with the press? That falls into the cheesy as hell category.

All in all, I did like this book for the most part. I read it quickly and it kept me entertained, so I'll throw it into the "read if you want to" category.

I was provided a copy of this book from net galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.5 stars on this one for me...
MacKenzie and Slade showed chemistry from the first meeting, and side characters Matt and Jagger were a bonus to the story.

I did question why a character like Mackenzie would’ve spent so much time being with someone like her ex Alton.

The big conflict in the story came a little too late for me, and made me feel like the author just threw it in there, whether the book needed it or not.

Overall, a cute sports themed love story.

I don’t know what it is about sport romance but boy do I love it! I devoured this book! It was so emotional and raw that I could not set it down until I finished it!
Mack wasn’t such a strong female character that you couldn’t help but fall in love with! You can’t help but feel for her with everything that just was put thru. Slade was completely swoon worthy. Yes, he has his flaws but you can’t but fall in love with him for them.
Hands down one of my favorite reads of 2018!

YES! THIS BOOK WAS SO GOOD! I love Rachel Van Dyken and have read everything she’s written. This new series is just fantastic. Can’t wait for the next book!

What do you do when you were walked away from at the alter and decide to go on your honeymoon alone? You have a one night stand with a mystery man. Mackenzie does not realize that the man she sleeps with in Mexico is Slade Rodriquez, a famous soccer player who has his own baggage to deal with. But can one night turn into forever with two characters who come from extremely different worlds? This book was a great read. It had a storyline I could not put down and characters who I fell in love with. I look forward to more in the series with the other characters interwoven in this one.

I usually love Rachel Van Dyken, but for some reason it took a while for me to get into this one. The dialogue was great and I enjoyed reading it. The chemistry between the characters was well written. Overall, you should read it.

I love Rachel Van Dyken., The Consequence of Loving Colton, is one of my go-to books when I need a no joke laugh out loud, literally crying because I am laughing so hard romance kind of book. Actually all of the Consequence books did that for me. The Matchmaker books, lighthearted and great reads too. So I had expectations for this book and I wasn't disappointed.

Slade and Mackenzie are both good characters with a lot of baggage. I only had one issue with Mackenzie...a 30 year old virgin? Really? Eh.... that was pushing it for me....but I let that go and just continued on with the book. 30...ok...let it go.

So we got ourselves a hot soccer star, and gorgeous heiress with a palette for wine, both coming out of hairy situations, both needing adventure and to get away/hide in Puerta Vallarta. After a rough plane ride, Mack kisses Slade, they jump off a cliff, which had one of my favorite funny quotes:

" Was that a high-pitched scream that sounded like a goat getting sacrificed coming from you or did we actually hit a goat on the way down?" (Mack to Slade) mwahahahaha I was dying.... Our soccer star didn't know what hit him with Mack...and they spend two fabulous days together, but then trouble hit's paradise...

Months down the road, our two adventures run into each other again. Only now, things are not as carefree and happy as they were in Mexico. Now our two former lovebirds are angry and the walls are up and the ice has formed. Enter Jagger, Matt, Alfie, Alton (BOOOOOO), Britany (BOOOOO), and we got ourselves a story! Boy things got interesting when Mack had to run Slade's gear up to practice and we learned it was a small world and that Mack also knew Jagger....who happens to be enemy number 1 to Slade.

"You know what would be great right now?" I spread my arms wide. "If I just went...away, and you guys did your thing, with the cleats and …running. Balls. Do your thing with your balls." (Mack to Jagger/Slade/Coach and the team)

I loved Jagger and Slade's interactions almost as much as Slade and Mack's, and when Matt got involved hilarious. Once Slade pulled his head out of his keister and started to figure things out, things really got interesting. Mack was a good person, maybe a little naïve for 30, but a good person. Alton the ex was just a jerk!!!!! Oooohhh I didn't like him!

So here is what I am going to say. You like funny, light hearted funny.....this is it. You want romance? This has it. Enemies to lovers, sexy soccer stars, groveling, this has it. Did I mention sexy soccer stars?

Just get this book and read it. Do I recommend. Yep, will I keep reading....Oh HECK YEAH!

Loved this novel. This novel grabbed me from the very first page to the very last. I loved this novel, the heroine Mack gets left at the altar. But I loved her she is no pushover. I loved the dialogue and banter. Laugh out loud funny. I loved Slade. The chemistry between the two were off the charts. I loved a novel that can make me laugh out loud and leaves me with a smile on my face. This novel did that for me! I loved it and I can't wait to see what this author writes next.

I loved this book! Mackenzie is on the same flight as Slade when an engine goes out. Mack takes matters in her own hands and kisses this stranger. She has been jilted by her fiance and is taking the honeymoon for herself. Slade is taking a break after his ex cheated on him with a fellow soccer player. He is transferring to a team in Seattle. They both give fake names and have a one night stand, when Slade hears that his father has died. Mack decides to take a job before going back to her father's winery. It is Slade's house that she is taking care of. Can they find their way back to each other? This is a must read! 5 stars

An okayish book - it was good till 50% but then became pretty similar to other books :). Liked Mack's character. But TBH, expected more from Rachel Van Dyken!

I love Rachel Van Dyken! Each of her books ard series are so unique. Risky Play is one of her lighter books. Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of angst, steam and wonderful characters. But this book is not the kind of thing that happens in real life. It’s the fantasy of what we wish would happen to us in real life.
The heroine, Mackenzie aka Mack, is a wealthy socialite who works for her father’s giagantic wine business. But after being stood up at the alter by the man who she has not only known her whole life but who she also works with she has to get away. Especially because her dad refused to fire the douchbag that mortified her in public.
Meanwhile Slade, a man Mack meets on a plane is having his own troubles. Being a famous, world class athlete, who also needs to get away. They both want to remain anonymous. Not easy for two famous faces.
When Mack and Slade first meet it’s under duress. After the danger has passed they both give the other a fake name. So after one night of bliss one of them disappears. There’s no going back either because neither knows who the other one really is.
But as fate would have it they do meet again. This time under strange circumstances. This is where the story gets really twisted up.
Mack all of a sudden has the attention of 3 men. One is her ex who she never wanted to see again even though he wants her back. Another is her ex’s best friend, who really likes her and doesn’t care what the ex thinks about him going after her. And then there’s Slade. Slade is the only one who acts like he never wants to see Mack again. But with her new job Slade will just have to deal with seeing her everyday.
So who will heal her already shattered heart? Who will give Mack her HEA? I guess you’ll just have to read the book to find out.
This is a stand-alone book with a HEA.
I was given a copy of this book, which I voluntarily read and reviewed.

Slate and Mack.
This is a good story.
Two jaded characters who connect but have trust issues.
No cheating.
Ex drama.
No intimate scenes with anyone other than the Hero and heroine.
After the initial meeting, a short separation after that slow burn reconnecting.
Excellent secondary characters.
Some very funny parts but also some really emotional scenes as well.
HEA.
Epilogue.

I devoured this book in one sitting and loved every minute and moment I spent reading it. Risky Play was such a fantastic read with great characters. MacKenzie, Slade, Matt and Jagger are characters you can't help but love and I enjoyed the back and forth banter between all of them. Throw in sports and I'm all in. This read was full of funny, sweet, steamy and all around great moments that will have you laughing out loud more than once. There were touching moments here and there and those were special when they happened. I wished the drama didn't happen with the ex but I knew it was coming, it was all a matter of when and I knew exactly who would be a part of it before it even began. The ending was sweet and wrapped this story up nicely. It definitely left me happy and with a smile on my face. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. Rachel Van Dyken does not disappoint when it comes to her stories and she's one author I recommend to my book loving friends.

This book had everything I loved in a sports romance novel. Sexy soccer player, strong, independent female lead, super scorned exes (to mess it up a little), and an adorably cute pooch (just because). Ditched at the alter by her long time partner and best friend, Mackenzie Dupont gets away from the spotlight by going on her honeymoon alone. Enroute the plane loses an engine and she finds herself outwardly panicking and ends up acquainting herself with International soccer star Slade Rodriguez. Whilst spending much needed time away from reality together at the romantic getaway they both lie to each other about their identities. Of course everything goes boobs up when they get back to the real world where it would appear everyone is conspiring against them, even themselves. Funny, sexy, emotional, did I say sexy? A perfect read, completely addictive, I loved the characters and I loved the story. I wouldn’t change a thing. I cannot wait for more in this series. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

This book was great from the first page. Mack gets left at the alter, which is a really good thing when you get further in the book as her ex - what a...there are no words! She meets Slade, who is also going through a lot in his personal life - and they have one night. But that isn't the end of it - thank goodness. This book had a sassy h, alpha H and lots of wit! Loved Jagger and Matt - hope they get their own books. Really fun read and I look forward to the next one.