Like I've said before, some of these books can be hit or miss for me. I usually try and go into them not expecting too much since they are very quick reads and the story is not usually as developed as I liked them to be.

Another quick read that just hits with the romance vibes. Its high school rivals to lovers when they are older.

Thank you so much netgalley for the arc of this book.

This was such a great premise! Unfortunately time got away from me, and it slipped past the publication date. Hopefully I can pick it back up sometime in future — whenever I attempt another ascent of Mount TBR.

Good second chance romance. Attorney Alexa took a leave of absence from her Miami job to help her family back in Texas. While there, she encounters her high school nemesis, Jackson. They were competitive all through school, with Alexa frequently coming out on top, earning her the nickname "Alexandra the First." She never knew that he'd had a crush on her all through school, and his competition was a way to get her attention. Jackson is now a successful and confident man who still has a thing for Alexa.

I love their first meeting at the TCC charity barbecue. Alexa was manipulated into attending by her mother and would have preferred to skip it. Instead, she's hiding in a cabana by the pool when Jackson finds her. He'd seen her arrive and was determined to make her notice him this time. I loved their banter about their past as he challenged her to a chess game and later to experience the barbecue cook-off. Alexa notices that her high school rival has become a handsome and charming man but isn't interested in starting a relationship with anyone. Meanwhile, Jackson refuses to give up on getting closer to her.

I liked Alexa, but she frustrated me at times. She is intelligent, independent, and loyal to those she loves. But she is so hung up on being the best at everything that she misses out on life. That need to excel also hides the insecurity she experiences because she feels that she is the odd one out in her family. As the book goes on, we see how she puts up a front, even with them, as she hides the issue she has at her job. When she meets Jackson again, she doesn't expect her instant attraction to him. Though she tries to resist, citing her intention to return to Miami and disinterest in starting a relationship, Alexa can't help rising to his challenges to step outside her comfort zone. I liked watching Alexa blossom under Jackson's attention, learning how to relax and have fun. But part of her can't help but hold back her troubles, refusing to look anything but a winner. I wanted to shake her for not confiding in him whenever he tried to find out what was bothering her. When the truth came out, Alexa had to decide what was more important - her pride or her feelings for Jackson.

I loved Jackson. He is intelligent, successful, and determined. He remembers his competition with Alexa fondly because he had her attention. Though he thought he was over his crush, he realized he still had feelings for her as soon as he met her again. I loved his determination not to miss his chance with her this time. It was fun seeing how he knew what buttons to push to get her to follow his plans. He also paid close attention to what she said, which enabled him to pull off the sweet surprises at the cabin. The "prom night" was especially moving. Jackson could tell that something was bothering her and was frustrated by his inability to get her to trust him. I felt his pain when he discovered it and understood his hurt and anger. His need to do something was evident, and I loved what he did, even though he didn't get the reaction he wanted from Alexa. I liked that he didn't give up on her or their relationship. His big moment at the end was terrific as he faced her, and they finally talked things out.

There is a little progress on the series storyline of the claim on her family's ranch and that of their friends. Alexa's grandfather, Augustus, has memory problems, making getting details from him challenging. Information is uncovered about an oil survey, but Augustus claims to have no memory of it. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series and getting to the bottom of the mystery.

Alexa was always a loner. She is in town for a little while to help with family legal issues when she runs into an old high school rival.

He brings out her competitive side and doesn't mind losing here and there if that means getting her in the end. There is mad chemistry between them, but she didn't come to town for romance and is planning to leave soon. It's not time to get involved with anyone. But can't resist him for long.

It's a steamy, rivalry to lovers romance. I like reading it, but kind of wished there was a bit more tension between them.

thanks to Netgalley & Harlequin Desire for the ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own

When I think of romance, I think of books just like this one, that gives all the feels and satisfies every romance junkies' heart. This is a perfect book to snuggle up with on any day.

This book is part of the Cattleman series. I loved the rivalry to lovers of this one! Alexa and Jackson or AJacks had been competing for the smartest and any other erudite award from kinder through high school.

When Alexa comes back to her hometown in Texas from Florida for a break from her high powered legal career (also having HR issues at work) she runs into Jackson at the event she attends. He had always had a thing for her and she just thought he was her main competition.

It was fun when she realized this attractive successful man has been and still is interested in her.

I need to check out the other books in this series. 

Thank you harlequinbooks and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review.
This was a sweet and sexy rivals-to-lovers romance. I liked the sense of history to the rivalry between Alexandra and Jackson, and how it’s reflected in their present romantic tension. The plot didn’t maintain my interest at times, as it felt a bit busy for the length, but it was mostly pretty solid otherwise.

Alexa and Jackson were high school rivals, but now they're all grown up. Alexa is as competitive as ever, but Jackson will do whatever it takes to make her his queen.

I really loved this character-driven story. There's a lot going on in the plot, but the conflict is driven by Alexa's insistence on appearing impregnable. Jackson is incredibly patient and loving with her, gradually breaking down her walls until she feels safe showing her vulnerability.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

⚜️My Summary

📚Thank you Harlequin Romance for sending me this amazing read by NDine Gonzalez. I really enjoyed this book. It was impossible to put down! Anytime I had a free moment my mind went to this book immediately! The love story of Alexa & Jackson. A take of highschool rivals who meet up as adults and can't deny the chemistry and love they have for each other. A page turner! Hot and Steamy!

⚜️Likes/Dislikes
📚I liked the authors writing style. True romance.

📚Dislikes-None

⚜️Favorite/Least Favorite Part

📚My Favorote Part was all of it!

⚜️Can everyone read this book?
Yes!

⚜️Would I recommend?

📚Absolutely! I loved this book! Highly recommend!
Just Read Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for review purposes.

This is the story of high school rivals Alexa and Jackson who cross paths again for the first time in years when Alexa returns to their hometown for family-related business.

I'm quite conflicted about my experience with this novel. From page one I was invested in Alexa and Jackson's romance. I like them both as characters and I like them even more as a potential couple. Sadly, by the end of the book I was no longer really rooting for them. Not because I had changed my mind about either of them individually or as a couple (though Alexa's behaviour was deplorable and Jackson didn't deserve any of it), what happened in my experience of this book has more to do with the writing.

I found that the pacing of the plot was halting. At some parts the story would move at lightning speed and at others it would come to a screeching halt. I also found it confusing to have so many of the key moments between the couple left off page. I don't mean only the steamy scenes, I mean moments where they shared a laugh or hung out and actually got to know each other and grew closer. It was unclear to me why these core romance moments were left off the page while other plot points were brought to the fore only for them to remain largely unresolved at the end of the book.

Reading this felt like the romance was all payoff and no buildup while the rest of the plot was all build up with no payoff. This left me feeling rather frustrated as the reader because despite it all I wanted the best for the main couple. I feel sorely disappointed because I believe I could have loved this book if only the plot and pacing had been more balanced. Perhaps this book needed an extra 100 pages or so to give more room for the story to blossom on page and for some loose ends to get tied? Overall I'm on the fence with this one because I love it for what it could have been not for what it actually was. *shrug*

Nadine Gonzalez's Rivalry at Play is a compulsively readable romance with endearing characters and relationships. Rivalry at Play follows former high school rivals Alexa and Jackson, who are reunited when Alexa returns to her hometown to assist in a family legal issue. The romance between the two develops quickly and is low on angst despite the implications of their former rivalry. There are also two subplots which circle the romance, the first being the threat of losing the family land. This subplot is not resolved in this book and will likely continue to other books of the series. Additionally, the heroine Alexa faces sexual harassment in her workplace, which becomes integral to the story in the novel's second half. Overall, Rivalry at Play is a delightful romance, the perfect read for a hot summer day!
Video review will be available July 10th, 2022 on this YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/channel/UClcAVhjOgAgqxLp7F6Fu49A.