So we met Matt in the last book of this series. He's a sports agent, fierce when needed and loyal to a fault. We meet Parker in this book, she is Matt's sisters friend who comes with her to stay at Matt's house for a while. While there we watch Matt be a total jerk to Parker then move to friend and then to more. I felt terrible for the characters and what they were going through at times and others I was laughing out loud at their shenanigans. This book had great character development, it was a joy to watch them change and grow. It was fun to watch Parker grow from a scared shell of a woman and become brave enough to fight for what she wanted and what was right. I enjoyed everything about this book.

Wow. Van Dyken takes a "ripped from headlines" topic and gives it an intense treatment surrounded in a touching love story.

Poor Parker has been through too much off-field drama that threatens her brilliant soccer career. Too many women will identify with the situations Parker has been forced into. Her way to deal is to shut others out, be defensive and isolated.

Like everyone else who's seen Parker's story in the news, Matt's too quick to believe the worst of his sister's friend. He sees her amazing talent and after some manipulation by his sister (she's really good at it!), he agrees to take Parker on as a client.

The couple must deal with all the normal getting to know each other stresses but Parker has so much more she's still dealing with. Can she trust Matt? Can she get through the PTSD? Can she land that big pro contract?

I found this book so compelling beyond the romance angle. Van Dyken did an amazing job describing all the ways the abuse effects Payton and it was all very realistic. A good read with a hard to come and heartwarming happily ever after.

Kickin' It comes out swinging and scores big. Van Dyken puts her heart in this fight to the finish tale. Parker is a hotheaded athlete with talent to spare. Matt is an all or nothing agent, who finds himself in heart deep with his new client. Their alliance breaks all the rules and maybe a few hearts along the way. Parker is my favorite type of character. She's not afraid to be herself, even at the worst of times. Her temper is epic, her smart mouth is legendary and her spirit is a force all it's own. Matt is no match for this firecracker.

3.5 stars!

This story was one I was curious about. I liked Matt from Risky Play so I’m happy to have his story.

I enjoyed this story. It was a little more than friends to lovers but it was very sweet at times. There was a bit of a twist that I didn’t see coming and that made this story all the more interesting. Matt and Parker were fun to watch as they try and stay professional with each other. Of course that doesn’t last for long.

The usual banter and snark you’ve come to know, from a RVD book, is weaved throughout this story. And it’s always nice to see some familiar faces as well.

This book is the second book among the Red Card series but can totally be read as a standalone, although you might get to know Matt more if you've read Risky Play where he was first introduced.

Broody Matt + feisty Parker = banter galore that will makes you laugh if not smile. They tried to resist their attraction towards each other until they couldn't anymore that eventually leads to some sexy times. I like that even though Matt is grumpy at times, he has a sweet side and he could see the real Parker.

I love Matt's sister, Willow! A book about her would be great.

An enjoyable read with low angst.

ARC copy provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review

I have read many books written by Rachel Van Dyken and I have loved most of her books.

I have to say I very much liked this book. I was hooked from the very beginning. And I love Matt and Parker.

I am giving this 4 out of 5.

I absolutely loved this book! Parker is such an inspiration and example of empowerment in today’s world for young women! But aside from that... this book was hawt! Matt and Parker are the absolute cutest couple! This book is a must read! It’s even better than Risky Play and that’s saying something because I loved Slade and Mack’s story!

This one was a definite winner for me. A super easy to read sports romance with well developed characters, great dialogue and a storyline that had me churning through the pages to see what was coming next. I love that she had a backbone and some depth to her and he didn't try to tame that - he worked with her for her best interests. Loved it!

I loved Matt from the first Red Card series book and was so excited for him to get his own story! It was everything I hoped for and more in this sports romance!

Matt and Parker's story was incredibly emotional and raw. The pull between these two on a professional and personal level was amazing! I loved their shared joy of the sport, their understanding and appreciation for the sacrifices and dedication it takes to make it on a professional level and the fact that relationships often take a back seat to the job. This made the bumps and stalls in the relationship so much more realistic.

The traumatic element of Parker's story gripped my heart and drew me to her character. I cringed and teared up as she wandered through her emotions and faced her demons. I appreciated how the author gave closure to the character and her experience.

This book kept my attention, had me giggling and left me swooning. Such a great read with wonderful characters, even Jagger redeemed himself a bit!

4.5 stars.
This was a very cute and interesting ride, i didn't read book nr 1. But the books are standalone so that is alright. I loved Matt and Parker's relationship from start to finish.

Kickin’ It is the second book in the Red Card series. I actually liked this one better than the first. It’s a sports romance, with the main characters being an agent and a soccer player. It also hit on the roommates and enemies tropes. Their banter was fantastic! The writing and pace of the book were impeccable.

All the characters from the previous book were seen in this one and I loved that. Matt was kind of a jerk in the beginning of this one, but then his true personality came out, and he was nice, protective, sweet and just an all around good guy. Parker was a great character. She had me from the very beginning. She was strong, driven, determined but also super weary about men based on a really bad past experience. This experience was a main focus of the book, and I won’t spoil it, but I will say it was handled exceptionally well. This is another solid read from an always consistent author and I would definitely recommend it.

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

An enjoyable story, but for me I was missing the chemistry here, I just wasn’t feeling it for the main characters. The tale was good and well written, but without chemistry I just couldn’t connect with it well enough.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

I am beginning to have a feeling that Rachel Van Dyken can never write a bad book. Like never. Because I just fall in love with her writing a bit more with each new story. Kickin' It turned up the heat along with her brilliant witty banter. And I have another unforgettable story from her.

This story is a complete opposite of her last book Debase which was a dark mafia romance. And she steps into the realm of a sweet, sexy and funny contemporary sports romance like a queen. Matt and Parker literally knocked it out of the park. Matt is the best sports agent around but he has no personal life. No love, no commitment, nothing. Enter Parker. A talented soccer player who desperately needs his help to go pro. But ( and there will a lot of these buts) she is his sister's best friend. She is also the woman Matt cannot stop thinking about. She also has the burden of her past filled with guilt, shame, insecurity and anxiety. They start on the wrong foot. Soon they start to have difficulty coping with the flood of emotions. Matt wants to protect her, cherish her and give her the world. Can they have it all?


I love Parker. The idea of making thr heroine a player with lots of rage and attitude was a refreshing and unique idea. This woman is the epitome of strength and survival. I respect her, adore her and find her absolutely inspiring. She is not perfect. But all her trauma and scars made her more beautiful. And then we have Matt. The male POV chapters were real gems. He can be arrogant, bitter and judgemental asshole but when he gives his love, he is all in. And I love this man with his faults and achievements. The chemistry is simply stunning. Sometimes I was chuckling, sometimes I laughed out loud, sometimes I swooned and sighed anf sometimes I was heartbroken over their mutual pain. The crazy attraction was burning the pages. I loved meeting some of my favourites from Risky Play.


Rachel Van Dyken's stories never have a single dull moment. She hooked me and lured me in from the first page. And I couldn't let the story go even after finishing it. It was perfect balance of humour, angst and swoonworthy feelings. It was a story of true love and it's true strength. An exceptionally well written, heart rending and awe inspiring love story!

Received ARC for Honest Review

I had so much fun reading this book until 70 something percent. It started to drag. I skipped a couple chapters and read the end. The beginning really hooked me. The heroine is an athlete. That’s not something that is totally common. The hero is a sports agent. I loved seeing his relationship with his sister and clients. I loved many of the secondary characters. They had such great personalities. Up until that point, I was having a good time. Maybe it has more to do with me than the book.


I voluntarily read an early copy.

Kickin' It was a great read. I loved it alot! I loved Matt and Parker. I loved their chemistry, connection and banter. They were just perfect together! I also really loved Willow, Jagger and Slade! Definitely recommend this!

This was one of those novels that Rachel is known for. There were moments when you found yourself laughing out loud, there were moments when a scene just resonates with you, and there were moments when you just scratched your head and went "well that was easy".

I enjoyed seeing Matt again as he was one of my favorites from the first novel. Even Jagger seemed to come across as less of a jerk than he did before (although that could have something to do with the fact that he wasn't acting like a dog fighting for a bone in this one). I enjoyed "meeting" Willow and Parker. Willow was a spunky, see what she wants and takes it kind of person. She knew how to stand up to her brother, but she also had the smarts to back it up. Parker was .... an interesting contradiction. On one hand she has this reputation that proceeds her. She was caught in a scandal of her own making - but it wasn't without justification. However instead of meeting her demons head on and dealing with them, she uses that 'hot tempered' persona to hide.

Once the truth comes out (and honestly it was pretty easy to spot head on what that truth was), there was a huge potential for her to stand up and make a difference. And yet, before it came to that, there was a plot twist that eliminated the problem for her. To me, that was a bit of a let down as I would have liked to have seen her face off with her demons and have it resolved that way instead of the way it was. I also would have liked to have seen more of a conflict of interest story-line come into play once Matt and Parker began exploring what was between them.

Overall, those who enjoy this author will no doubt enjoy this story. I also believe it will appeal to those who enjoy sports related stories. I would read more from this author!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

I love Kickin' It. The chemistry is sizzing between Parker and Matt. Matt is this amazing agent/ex soccer star. Parker is a soccer star on the rise looking for help to go pro. The dynamic between them is amazing. Matt doesn't let Parker slack in training. You can feel the fight of attraction between them. Parker is amazing with everything she has gone through. You understand her hesitation to come forward about what happened to her. Can i say how much I love Matt's sister Willow and his client Jagger in this. You'll laugh, you'll swoon and you maybe struck in the heart with this one. Kickin' It is such a fantastic read that I couldn't put down. For all you sport romance lovers out there pick this one up.

I absolutely loved Parker and Matt. Some of the interactions between these two and the other characters had me laughing. Then there is Parker's past. It's emotional and something she needs to work through to move on to the future she wants. With all that plus the forbidden romance between Parker and Matt, I didn't want to put it down.

I will start by saying I am a big fan of Rachels work. I have been following her career for some time now. So anytime I get an opportunity to read her books for an honest review I jump on it.
In this story we have Matt and Parker. Matt is a world renowned sports agent and Parker is a girl trying to make her dreams of becoming a Soccer Star a reality. When faced with the opportunity to meet Matt and wow him into becoming her agent, Parker will do just about anything. Having a best friend who also happens to be Matts baby sister also has its perks. With a dark past holding her back Matt and his crew try to push through her walls to get her ready for the team tryouts of her dreams. Only Parker can get Matt to come out of retirement to train her for success. With ups and downs and twists and turns Matt and Parker struggle to make it to the top. Hopefully they can do it and succeed together.
What a story!!!!!!!! I will honestly say this story was slow moving for me. I struggled with it for the first half. I like books that suck you in from the beginning but for some reason I didn't get that with this book. The light hearted banter made me giggle but the juicy meat of it didn't happen until a while into the book. Call me picky but I don't like when a book rushes and I can't stand it when a book moves too slow. However, this does not mean I didn't like this book. Since I was already introduced to the majority of the characters in a previous book I wanted to see what was going to happen. I will say this was not my favorite from Rachel though. To me all her books are obviously worth reading. This one just didn't make the top of my list. Do I want to read the next book in the series? ABSO-FREAKING- LUTELY!!!! I just feel I didn't connect with these characters as I did in her other books. However this is all just personal preference and I would still recommend this series to my friends.

RVD writes characters that I totally fall in love with every single time and each time they became my new faves.

Parker wants to make it on a pro soccer team, but she’s become controversial and is known for her temper. We soon discover that her anger is her shield as she’s keeping secrets and hiding her low self esteem and anxiety due to a event that happened in her final year at college.

Matt is one of the biggest sports agents out there and is also Parker’s best friend’s older brother. Matt ends up agreeing to be not only her agent, but her coach, and that’s when we get to see the sparks fly...anger, frustration and attraction sparks. There’s just enough slow burn to make the inevitable fire that much hotter!

I cheered for Parker when she bravely faced her demons, found her inner strength and became an amazing inspiration. The banter and interactions between all the characters is wildly entertaining! This story is angsty, heartbreaking, funny, sweet, steamy...it had it all!