Book 2 in the series.
This time it’s the Agent Matt’s turn. His sister Willow needs a place to stay and brings along her bestie Parker, who wants to play soccer professionally and needs an agent...

The attraction is there but Parker comes with baggage and it’s hard for her to open up to Matt. Characters from book 1 make several appearances.

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

Kickin' In by Rachel Van Dyken is a sport romance with a hot sport agent/couch Matt 🔥 and a soccer player (yes it's a she) Parker 🥰
It's a story about the world of professional athletes and their daily problems and struggles, but also the risk and vulnerability of a female athletes. The danger of being physically and mentally abused by people who should protect the girls and women.
This book is sweet, dreamy, romantic, emotional and partly sad and tragic (not necessarily in this order of course) and also funny. I love Parker and Matt, they are hilarious together 😂. Their relationship started with misunderstanding, continued with competition,
became a friendship and....
no no no no, you will learn more if you read it yourself 🤭
Oh how I love sport romances 😍 I recommend this book to all rhe HEA fans. Enjoy ❣

The romance was good. Liked the plot and storyline though there were some parts that slowed my pace.

This book was awful. I do not like how the author portrayed sexual assault and how it affected the MC. The book was so cringe-worthy I could not wait for it to be over.

I may have found yet another place in my heart for this book. It was riveting, endearing, and sexy. This story evolves around a high profile sport-agent and a recent 'controversial' soccer player. Fate puts these two together under the same roof for the summer and bounds them professionally. Laced with high sexual tension, witty banters, and sweet tender moments, this book is the perfect to unwind with. Kickin' It is more than just its romantic plot, it has notably sincere messages about sensitive issues, ones that are very relevant to this day.

Kickin' It is the second book of the Red Card series. Matt Kingston offered her sister, Willow, to work under him for the three months under the condition that she lived with him for the said months. Little does he know that the offer also extend to Willow's best friend, Parker Speedman. Still haunted by her recent trauma, she's off to make it by herself. In between her jeopardized career and reputation she turns to Matt Kingston. The high-profiled sport-agent agreed to represent and coach her until she found another team to play in. Despite their raw attraction and connection, they can't cross the professional line.

This story has zero angst and unnecessary drama. I love Parker and Matt's relationship more than anything. They have mutual respect for each other although they don't always see head-to-head at first. They put aside their personal opinion when it comes to their careers. And even after all that, they only want the best for each other. This is really what tests the water when they decide to test their feelings and go through with it. So, the main reason I love their entire relationship is how selfless it is.

Matt Kingston is a gentleman to the tee. I am floored by his protectiveness over his sister and Parker and his clients-slash-best friends. He is irresistibly charming and ambitious. Very level-headed when it comes to Parker in his own ways, he doesn't push her or feel the need to 'babies' her because she is a woman, younger, and has upsetting past.

Parker Speedman is noteworthy heroine. I love her energy and spirit. She's a tough character but also delicate, you know. People sometimes think that these two qualities can't go hand in hand with each other but it works on her. Most of the most admirable people have these qualities.

I also would like to address the messages this story is giving out to women, specifically. It is the naked truth, one that we can't look away from. Forewarn, this book contains triggering issues (I would not spoil much) that will help people who are battling the same circumstances.

All in all, I am very satisfied with this book! It exceeds all of my expectations. I didn't expect to love it this much, but I did. So, if you're looking for a good sport romance. Kickin' It is the book for you.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Loved this couple almost as much as from the first book. Loved Parker's attitude and Matt's insta love was a tad funny. It's great when you know you will read a great book by the same author! Highly recommend this sequel to a quirky romance; both book are separate couples BUT the couples re-appear in the 2nd book.

Great follow-up to Risky Play. I was curious to read Matt's story because I really liked him in Book 1.

We start off with his sister, Willow, basically pulling one over on him by moving into his place temporarily with her friend, Parker. Little did Matt know, Parker sort of had ulterior motives. She was looking to go professional as a soccer player and hoping Matt would be the one to steer her in the right direction. But, she was also running from a traumatic event in her past.

Initially, Matt was a total jerk to her, but then I think he noticed there was something different about Parker. Not just her determination and steadfast goal to become a professional, but an underlying sadness and fear.

I loved how Matt became the person Parker needed in her time of need. He handled her with such care and tenderness.

Things like what happened to Parker occur in real life everyday, so this was a strong storyline of a woman taking control of her life again and becoming a role model for other women out there too afraid to come forward.

Great book, and I just always love Rachel Van Dyken's writing! This was a fast read!

P.S. I just love this group of guys....Slade, Matt, and yes even Jagger. They are a tight knit group and I enjoyed all of their banter and sarcasm. But in the end, they were a great support for each other!

Trigger Warning for rape/sexual assault

Rachel Van Dyken can pretty much write anything hard hitting (cancer, Lupas) and make it where you feel the pain the characters feel or maybe you yourself are battling the same thing that the character is you can connect because she doesn't sugar coat it she doesn't let "prince charming" come in and everything is magical okay, that's what i like about her books and Parker and Matt story is no different

When this book comes out please do yourself a favor and go pick this up you won't regret it one bit plus you might just stumble upon a new favorite author

This is by far the best Rachel Van DYken book ever!!! I loved it, I couldn't put it down until I was done with it! I loved Matt and Parker.

Matt and Parker's story included a very sensitive topic. I love how it was dealt with and how supportive all the characters were.

Loved the second book in the series. This group of friends are so close - have great banter and support each other all the way.
Matt and Parker together were sigh.... Parker had been through something not nice and the way Matt supported her made him a dream book boyfriend. I liked there was no unnecessary angst or split - they talked and worked things out - a nice refreshing change.

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy.

Loved the second book in this soccer sports romance series, This time we have Matt, sports agent to the wealthy famous players, and his little sister Willow who wants to follow in his footsteps. Willow moves in with Matt bringing along her best friend Parker, college soccer star, who was black-balled by her coach for an unknown reason. Willow first job is to represent Parker and get her a meeting with a pro soccer team. In the mean time, Matt helps her out training Parker himself and making calls on her behalf while discovering all is not as it seems with Parker who has anxiety and is scared of certain things that seem odd to Matt. The more time together, the more they start to fall for each other. Slowly, Parker opens up to Matt and sparks begin to fly. Parker tells him the truth about her old coach and the story comes full circle. A great sports romance. Matt and Parker are a super cute couple who are awesome together! Don't miss this awesome love story! Thanks to NG for the ARC!!!

4.5 STARS!!!
One thing about this author books are that they never disappoint. I have never read a book from this author that I haven't enjoyed. Parker and Matt's story is a best friends older brother romance. It's one that is full of sexual tension, great family and friends, laughs, back and forth banter, drama and so much more. I enjoyed every character in this story but Erik. His used his authority to abuse others and he got what he deserved in the end. I enjoyed Jagger and Willow a lot and I'm hoping for a book with their story. The ending was sweet and left me with a smile on my face. I look forward to reading more books from this author and I'll definitely be recommending this one to my family and friends looking for a great romance.

Three and a half stars.

Matt KIngston is a former soccer player turned agent, a multimillionaire, approaching 40, and big brother to his much younger sister Willow. When Willow phones him at the crack of dawn trying to get him to agree to her apprenticing as an agent to him he is distracted by a lack of caffeine and a bust schedule so he has no idea what he eventually agreed to ... until Willow's friend Parker Speedman turns up at his door saying he has agreed to let her and Willow stay in his LA home.

Parker Speedman is a star soccer player, issues with her last coach culminated in her punching him in the face on live TV and have unfairly given her the reputation of being a hot-head, now Willow wants Matt to represent Parker and get her a place on a new team.

Matt is drawn to Parker immediately. She's beautiful, talented, funny, smart, everything he could ever ask for, she's also significantly younger than him, his client and living in his home - off-limits in so many ways!

This is a typical NA sports romance, heavy on the romance and angst and light on the sports aspect. I enjoyed the banter, the smexy times and the romance but didn't hit the heights of say Kulti and Matt wasn't Gabriel Scott from the delicious Managed. It was a light, enjoyable read but I thought this would be Kulti meets Managed and it wasn't.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Matt is just full of so much charm, “dresses have fabric. They cover things that need to stay covered. That’s a long tank top that should have been thrown out when you grew boobs in the eighth grade.” He shook his head and paled then mumbled awkwardly, “Not that I’m looking at your boobs.” Matt tries to be real threatening, but the man isn't all that, “leaving.” And then he turned one last time. “Walk in on me again, and I’m brushing my teeth while you pee, got it?” Matt is overly sensitive about some things, “the hell?” I craned my neck at her. “Did you just call me old? Again? In my own house?” Willow is just such a good friend and sister, “here.” She thrust a Louis Vuitton clutch at me. “And don’t worry, I added condoms.” She just happened to say that when Matt walked in and nearly ran into a wall..." Best book in the series so far, I loved Matt and Parker.

Kickin' It is so much more the a sports romance. There's laughter and passion, real life issues, heartbreak and healing; not to mention humor, wonderful characters and soccer. This story draws the reader in, opens their heart, heals something deep inside and gives the most beautiful redemption; all with laugher and love.

I went into this book thinking it would be a fun, romantic sports read. What I got so much more. Yes, there's humor. Yes, there's passion, but there is also real issues that are addressed; that characters deal with beautifully and with such strength.

Matt Kingston is a highly successful, high profile, slightly arrogant and very busy sports agent. He knows sports, he knows his clients, he knows how to succeed. That is until Parker Speedman is trust upon him and life changes. Parker challenges him in ways he's never had to deal with before. She shows him trust and love, and he gives back ten fold.

Soccer, that’s all Parker wants in life. To be successful at what she loves, to me whole and to loose herself in her passion. For that she needs Matt, her best friend’s older brother. Only problem is, she has anger issues, as she punched her last coach (with good reason). As Matt and Parker work together lust abounds, feelings become more, and life issues take on a real and urgent tone.

I will leave the bulk of the story for the reader to discover, but I will say this: this book invokes emotions and real life issues along with laugh out load humor and some really great crazy characters. If you are just discovering this author, there really isn't a better book to try out. If you are a long time reader, well you know what lies ahead for you. I had the extreme pleasure of reading an ARC and this is my honest review. Thank you NetGallery and Skyscape for the opportunity.

This is about a female soccer player who, while running from past unpleasant experiences are trying to restart her life and start her career.

I like sport romances, especially with the female athletes.

This book, however, just didn't feel real and I never actually got to like or understand any of the characters in it.

I have read several of Rachel's other books, and have generally really liked them, but sadly this one was a disappointment. Sorry.

This book sounded really good in theory, and I was in the mood for a sports romance. Sadly, “Kickin’ It” was a huge disappointment to me.

While the story itself wasn’t too bad, most of the characters in this book were - quite frankly - pretty obnoxious.
I disliked the dialogues between the characters. It felt like the author was trying too hard to make the characters look funny and likable, but they were just over the top and annoying.
The mc’s friends and sister were too pushy, imo.
The mc also had some inner monologue about his sister’s appearance that made me feel really uncomfortable. Something along the lines “is she hot, pretty, sexy?”... Yeah. Ew.
The characters were the main reason for me not liking the book, the story just couldn’t make up for them.

So, I personally wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone, but there probably are people out there who enjoy this author’s humor more than I do.

- I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. -

Thank you NetGalley and Skyscape for approving me to review Rachel Van Dyken's newest Red Card romance. This is going to be a hard review to write, but because I didn't love it, which I did. It's an easy 5 star read for me. How do I talk about a book that touched me so incredibly deep. I wasn't as talented as Parker, but soccer was the reason I made sure I went to high school and how I chose where I went to college. It was the only thing I could control in my crazy life. It was why I could keep breathing after I was raped by my boss between my freshman and sophomore year of high school and my suicide attempt during my junior year of college. This book is a book every survivor should read ro know that they are nit the only ones that blamed themselves and made excuses for the perpetrator over and over again. Thank you Rachel for writing such an important book that was not simply a sweet romance book, but a way that I can continue ti forgive myself.

This is the second book in the series, this is Matt and Parker‘s book Matt is a famous sports agent Parker is a hotshot soccer player in the women’s soccer league. I just happened to read the first book in the series just last week and while that book was good this book was so much better! There was a lot of action and definitely some drama and it was definitely hot hot hot! There was a lot of ups and downs and it was definitely worth reading I highly recommend this book don’t miss out! Thank you netgalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!