I enjoyed this one, it was a quick read. I felt parts of it were a little too fast paced, but all in all I liked it. I like the second chance aspect. I’d love to read a sequel with Isabel and the trainer!

This book was lighthearted, funny and just what I needed for a quick read. I finished this book in a couple hours, just flew through it. I really liked Morgan’s story line and what she was trying to accomplish with Open Arms in this book, it def tugged on my heart strings as someone who at one also aged out of the foster care system and the struggles a lot of people in the system face.

I’m not normally a lover of second chance romances but this one I feel like was done the right way since 10 years has passed and they’ve both grown into new version of themselves. The competition for the property they both wanted to buy I thought was really clever and gave lots of humour to the storyline.

The chemistry between the MC was palpable, the smut could have gone up a couple degrees but I def still got those little shoots in my stomach 🔥 Also a man who loves to make a plan, sign me up 🥵

My only major complaint is I do feel it was a very quick reconnect not that it can’t happen that way but leaves room for believability. Also I would’ve loved to see more from their relationship with they were in college and the dynamic they had then VS the people they’ve become now.

In it to Win It by Sharon Cooper was the cute romcom everyone needs to read! The main characters are Morgan and Drake who dated through college. Time has passed and they are in a competition to purchase the same piece real estate. Through this competition they reconnect and realize how immature they were together in college but have since grown up. This leads to a rekindling. Not to give away any spoilers, I'll leave it at that. Overall this was a great read. Good for anytime of year and will put a smile on your face. Looking forward to more from this new to me author!

Thank you PRH Audio, PRH, Netgalley, and Sharon for the ARC! *3.5 Stars*

This was a simple, feel good romcom. There wasn't any major drama, the story flowed well. I liked the fact that they both realized they were immature when they were together before. They set their differences aside and made it all work. Overall, it was an okay book!

In It To Win It is a romcom about former college sweethearts, Drake and Morgan, who are reunited when they are competing to purchase the same building. It is all about second chances and forgiveness and love, mixed in with the absurdity of a physical competition to become the approved buyer. The relationship between Drake and his siblings, whom he has been raising, it all kinds of sweet with some entertaining teenage antics mixed in. And quite a bit of 🔥 in this one. I just wish that the timeline didn’t feel so rushed - everything was accelerated. But some of the returning characters from the previous book, Business Not As Usual, which was fun - but you don’t need to read that first.

Morgan Redford and Drake Faulkner are vying for the same property. They are not the only candidates that are trying to win this property, and they must agree to enter into a competition in order to even qualify. While most of the people that are after the property are complete strangers, that is certainly not the case with Morgan and Drake. In fact they were together in college together and we’re desperately in love. At the time, Drake had recently been left custody to his twin siblings who were toddlers at the time. More than that, Drake could see the full picture with Morgan, marriage, family, and more. That proved to be too much for Morgan and she flew the coop, literally.

Not only did Morgan leave Drake, she left college, and she left the country. Now it is years later and they are now competitors. Those years seem like a blink of an eye to Morgan and Drake when it comes to the powerful connection they both still share. Now it is business first, feelings second. Can they do that? What about the fact that Morgan didn’t feel that she was mother material while they were in college and Drake will always put the twins first in his life?

The competition to win the property will not be easy. In fact it will be an Iron Man competition, something that is completely out of Morgan’s wheelhouse. While they decide to train together, neither one of them is prepared for the barrage of emotions that pass between them, forcing them to consider their past all while trying to navigate their present and also their future.

What an enjoyable and sensitive story by Sharon C. Cooper. In fact, when starting this book I remembered reading Business Not As Usual last year. Although these books are not part of a series, there is some continuity when it comes to some of the characters. One strong factor in this book, In It to Win It, is that attention is drawn to the plight of many teens who age out of the foster care system with nowhere to go. I love that our character, Morgan, fought for these kids. This second chance romance is definitely a winner.

Many thanks to Berkley Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy the following YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/i8zh-T1kWf8

In It to Win It follows Karter's sister, Morgan Redford, the spoiled one. But looks can be deceiving once you get to know more about Morgan. There are more layers to her than her status or appearance. She truly cares about her nonprofit which helps foster teens with homes and resources. And she is more than willing to provide more when she enters a listing property competition.

She probably never imagined that she would reunite with her former love, Drake, who she left without no noticed. It’s a bit shocking to discover. Yet, it is also understandable for Morgan because she truly did not fit well with Drake lifestyle since he was raising his toddler sibling as his own. That’s a lot of responsibility to have when you are young. And it’s something Morgan was not ready for. But she now has changed in her life that she wants to take another chance with Drake.

I understand Drake hesitates with Morgan. She truly was the one for him at a young age. And it’s hard to learn and forgive when she ultimately left him without any notice. It takes time and trust to build that foundation again. It’s something that they both need to realize together. Yes, they still have a huge attraction for each other but they still need time to build their trust for one other. And it does not help that they are also competing over the same listing property. Expect some drama along the way.

Short synopsis: Morgan and Drake dated through college, but Morgan ghosts him. Years later, in a race to purchase a real estate property their world collide.

My thoughts: Morgan was such a great determined character, even though she came from a privileged background with a movie star dad she was determined to do some amazing things on her own. I mean, opening a center for kids growing out of the foster system! That’s ambitious and brave and so selfless.

Drake, at 18 being the guardian for his young twin siblings while also creating such a successful life for himself!

I think they both had some great reasons to obtain this building, and the determination to get it. Even compete in an Iron Man like competition.

Loved the second chance romance aspect, how they picked right up so quickly after their college days. The ending tied up soo nicely in a pretty little bow.

I read Business not as Usual by this author earlier this year, and while I enjoyed that one I liked this one more! Such well developed characters with depth and growth.

Read if you love:
* Second chance romance
* Making the most of your circumstances
* Rivalry challenges
* Family relationships
* Character growth

Thank you Berkley and PRH Audio for the complimentary copy of this book. Publication date is December 13, 2022

I just finished In it to win it by Sharon C Cooper

Morgan wants that property. She needs that property for her not for profit….

Drake wants the same property. It’s a family legacy….

Imagine Morgan's surprise when Drakes walks in…. The man she loved and left over a decade earlier. She’s even more surprised when she finds out what she needs to do to win the bid.

Everyone must compete for the property and Morgan doesn’t play to lose. Problem is, neither does Drake and yet, the chemistry is undeniably still there but will they allow their past to get in the way of their very different futures?

UGH UGH UGH UGHHHHHH This book was so damn cute I smiled through nearly the whole thing. My heart spent the whole time sighing. I was too invested in Morgan and Drake and who was going to end up winning the property!

I loved Morgan! Rich and beautiful but her heart lies with her not for profit helping teens who age out of foster care. As a woman married to a man who himself aged out of foster care, this one really hit home for me. There are so many teens that end up homeless because there literally is nothing for them after they turn 18. This book not only brought me all the romance and the joy but it literally highlights a very real problem in our society. It’s even worse now than it was when my husband was a teen, opportunities now are few and far between and cost of living is out of control.

Drake! Loses his parents when he is in college and takes on his 2 year old twin siblings? This man! When Morgan walks away from him without a word he still trucks on. Builds a successful company and raises his siblings like they are his own.

What did I not like about this book… Well, it ended… That’s it. That’s all I’ve got. I could have read this book until the end of time. The writing was beautiful and descriptive and the characters jumped right off the page at you. You can’t help being invested in what happens next.

Do you love a second chance romance with some sizzle? This is it! This one.. Don’t walk, RUN it’s out TODAY!

Can I give it 11 stars? Please?? All the stars!

Thank you @berkleypublishing @netgalley and the author @sharonCcooper for my review copy!

This book got me out of my reading slump! Cooper wove the tale of a second-chance romance that left me seriously wanting more.

Drake and Morgan are likeable characters at best, but we could have seen them more in their respective lives. It feels like we get a lot more context about things (feelings, conversations, etc.) than we should, and are given vague personality traits that make the characters feel flat.

While I love the writing, we got more scenes of them blundering and embarrassing themselves and recapping Morgan’s abrupt exit (which didn’t feel as realistic as I thought) than we did of actual characterization and important details. For the challenge that was bestowed upon them in their fight for the Hollywood building to be so grand, the story breezed through it—the build up, the training, emotion behind it. There were a bunch of time skips that felt like the author was just trying to get the plot out in an effort to bring the story back to its original struggle.

Because the book felt rushed, it was a bit hard to connect with the characters and form true opinions on or emotions for them. There was no depth or exploration of Morgan’s famous background or Drew’s phenomenal architectural skills, and we didn’t really see them beyond their responsibilities and the inadequately addressed subject of Morgan taking off on him in college. Again, it feels like we’re missing a lot of context in their relationship prior to and during this story.

Despite the book’s shortcomings, I am glad I was able to read this. Morgan and Drew gave me something to think about when it comes to relationships, and I took an interest in the author and her work. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book — will purchase once it’s out on shelves!

3.5

I should specify that due to mental health issues, my views on this book may be a little off, but whatever! I finished it!

Honestly, it was a fine romance novel. It wasn’t anything to write home about. Maybe this makes me an annoying woman, but when a man admits that he’s a chauvinist, I don’t automatically think that he should be a romance hero. I felt like I read more about the author TELLING me that these two had a spark than feeling a connection between the two. I feel like they both immediately jumped back into a relationship together, which was a little…surprising? And they dismissed a lot of their friends openly speaking about their concerns about the two of them getting back together. I think that this was a fine romance novel, mainly a little meh, but that it was worth the read.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

This is a second-chance romance that finds college sweethearts Morgan and Drake reuniting in adulthood as they compete for a commercial property bid.

I wanted to like this one more, but the storyline sometimes felt a bit all over the place. The leads are literally jumping through hoops to try and win this property, which feels like a side element to their instant love re-connection. I wanted more romance build up and more 'showing' than 'telling' about their careers and interest in one another. Aiden and Addison, Drake's twin siblings, were the scene stealers when they were around.

Thank you Berkley and NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

As with Business Not As Usual, In It to Win It is a sweet and funny romance with characters who are ambitious, if a bit silly at times. If you read the previous book, you’ll remember Morgan Redford as Karter’s younger sister. She’s dabbled in several careers since dropping out of college, and is now running a charitable organization to help foster kids transition into adulthood. It’s been 10 years since she’s seen her college boyfriend Drake Faulkner. At the time, he’d lost his parents and suddenly became a sort of father figure to his toddler siblings, twins Aiden and Addison. In the past decade, he’s earned his degree and become a successful real estate developer and self-made millionaire.

Morgan and Drake are surprised to reunite at a real estate bidding meeting, of all places. Both want to buy the same property for their businesses, but they’ll have to jump through some hoops before the seller makes a decision. Morgan wants to apologize to Drake for disappearing all those years ago, but he’s still hurt and angry over it. However, the two tentatively rekindle a friendship, and they quickly escalate into wanting a second chance on their relationship.

The book is labeled as a romantic comedy, and the humor style here largely draws from the characters being clumsy or unlucky. In the first chapter, Morgan is doing a TikTok dance (which is never mentioned again) and her pants split open. A few times she falls down somewhere public, or gets her high heels stuck in the mud. Morgan and Drake get caught kissing in a few awkward moments. These rather physical blunders aren’t my preferred style of humor, and they happen enough in this novel to feel overdone. Morgan in particular also comes across as immature early on in the book, but luckily that side of her fades away.

What I liked more in In It to Win It is how Drake and Morgan feel like a realistic and respectful couple. Sure, Drake is resentful early on, but he’s mature enough and kind enough to accept Morgan’s explanation and move forward. They go into their new relationship with caution, better communication, and clearer goals.

The business side of things is another strong point. We get some glimpses into what they each do, especially with Morgan’s new charity. And while both are competing for the same property, I appreciate that neither sees the other as a rival. Drake and Morgan each want to win the property bid, but if they don’t, they genuinely want the other to win instead. They support each other and want to see the other have professional success.

I was worried what the final act conflict would be. A fight over the property? A repeat of Morgan’s previous disappearing act? I was happy to see that it isn’t something overly dramatic or ridiculous. It’s something important that they must contend with, but they both handle it well and are better for it.

In It to Win It also highlights family and friendship. Karter and Dreamy both make appearances here (and move their relationship to the next level!), and we get to see Drake’s brother/guardian relationship with his now teenaged twin siblings. Both Morgan and Drake have close friends who look out for them and advise caution at times and encouragement at others.

Whereas Business Not As Usual had a magical realism element and got into some heavier issues, In It to Win It is much more based in solid reality and is overall lighter. It’s a low-tension love story with a couple that makes sense together.

In It to Win It is a cute, fun romance about second chances, growing up, and wanting your partner to be successful. Morgan and Drake make a sweet couple, and while some parts early on were silly, in the end I really enjoyed their love story. I hope more characters in this world will get their romances, too—maybe Dreamy’s cousin can be next? Either way, I’ll be looking for more from Sharon C. Cooper.

In It to Win It is a second chance romance. Morgan and Drake dated when they were in college, but then she ghosted him and left the country. She wasn't prepared for a serious relationship with him and his much younger twin siblings for whom he was the guardian. Now the two of them are vying for the same Los Angeles building and need to jump through hoops to purchase the property that has special meaning for both of them.

I really came to appreciate Morgan and understand her journey growing up. However, I was surprised how rapidly Drake's attitude toward her changed. Their romance progressed rather too quickly for me to find it believable.

The comedy for this rom-com stems from lots of physical humor, especially at Morgan's expense. I experienced so much secondary embarrassment. And the romance aspects come with lots of steam. The plot has a lot going on with some great secondary characters. I especially loved Drake's twin siblings.

3.5 stars rounded up

Cute and fast paced contemporary romance ! Overall, I wish the story had been more drawn out and we’d gotten more about drake and Morgan’s back stories, as some aspects felt a bit rushed. Overall, I enjoyed it !

I loved the idea of a progressive, wealthy black woman as romance heroine. YAY! More of that, please!
I wanted to like this book more than I did. The two stars are entirely for the side characters--the teens, and sweet Dreamy.. Morgan and Drake were okay, but the story was essentially over before the halfway=point, when the two finally got together to discuss why Morgan had ghosted Drake when they first knew one another., Yay for communication--but then we had to fill the book with a lot of crazy shenanigans, ending with a surprise pregnancy that was not at all well handled if we're to believe that Morgan is that much of a go-getter. While I do not want stories about abortion in my romances--the emotional fallout derails the fantasy--she ought to at least have considered her options (including adoption) the way an alpha-driven woman would.

There were two other problems that kept me from immersing in the book. First, the premise that these high-powered business people would take part in a competition game. Competition I totally believe in, but not games.

Second problem, the author had a tendency to spell out for the reader what the characters had just said and thoughtt. Let the dialogue stand on its own! We can figure out wha they are feeling!! The pace really dragged because of that.

I'm going to be the odd one out on this second chance romance between Morgan and Drake. They were lovers and then they weren't but now they are engaged in a bizarre competition for a property that she wants to develop as a home for teens who have aged out of the foster care situation. Drake, on the other hand, wants to acquire it as part of what seems to be a small empire. In what universe would a billionaire demand two potential buyers do an Iron Man thing? Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This goes over the t0p with attempts at humor. There's a much better book here.

This was the exact light, fun, distracting read I was expecting. I like second chance romance and most of the tropes in the story, but I’m not a huge fan of “I’m not mom material” until an oops happens. Otherwise the story wasn’t bad it was full of good humor and completely unrealistic plot lines (billionaire makes people compete physically for the chance to buy his building?). The heat in the romance did feel realistic and I liked that there was history behind their instant (re)connection. Morgan has never wanted for anything but her heart goes to the teens aging out of foster care so she and a friend started a non-profit to help them find homes and other life skills. She’s determined to expand and provide more young adults homes. Drake is excited that his mentor is selling a perfect building for his current project with an emotional connection he is determined to win. Neither one was expecting to see the other and to learn that their shattered college romance may not be as dead as they expected. I gave it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because it was the fun distraction I was hoping it would be.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5027049948

USA Today bestselling author, Sharon C.Cooper has once again written another entertaining romance- comedy that presents two lovable lead characters. Drake Faulkner and Morgan Redford were college sweethearts. In this story, they are reunited after 10 years. Yes, fans 10 years! Morgan ghosted Drake and broke his heart. I’ll allow you to discover the details that led to that fiasco. The story is set in LA, where Drake and Morgan come face-to-face after a decade of no communication.
First, let me say that the comedy aspects of the story are hilarious:From the TikTok dance mishap, the lasagna fail, to the grocery store meet-up, those scenes will have you laughing out loud. On the other hand, there is so much regret between Drake and Morgan- 10 years worth to be exact. It’s apparent that Morgan has a lot of explaining to do. Ms Cooper does a wonderful job of bringing some resolution to Drake and Morgan’s situation that leads to unforgettable romantic moments. Their chemistry is off-the -charts.
I enjoyed the side characters who support and give unsolicited advice to the lead characters. Addison and Aiden, Drake’s twin sister and brother, are stand-out side characters. I really enjoyed catching up with Dreamy and Karter from BUSINESS NOT AS USUAL. The HEA is unforgettable!
IN IT TO WIN IT is a story that I am sure you will enjoy. It is the perfect combination of charm, humor, and romance in all the right places. I highly recommend it for your reading pleasure.

Four and a Half Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭒
In It to Win It by Sharon C. Cooper is a second-chance romance that I just loved.

Story Recap:
Morgan Redford is a bit spoiled and has grown up not wanting for anything. But, she’s determined to make her own way in life. She found a cause that she’s passionate about and it’s helping children age out of the foster care program. But, in order to grow her nonprofit, she needs a building, and a friend of the family has the perfect place up for sale.

Real estate developer Drake Faulkner wants the same property. It has sentimental value to him, and his mentor is selling it, so he believes he’s a shoo-in to get the property. Drake is shocked when he learns there will be a competition for the property and he’ll be competing against his ex-girlfriend, Morgan. He was madly in love with Morgan in college, until the day she suddenly left him and left the country without a word of explanation.

My Thoughts:
I loved this wonderful second-chance romance. I could understand why Morgan left the country and Drake when she was still in college. It’s not a very mature move, but Morgan wasn’t very mature at that time. She’s now grown up and much more mature and self-assured than she was back in college.

Drake is a swoon-worthy hero. He had to raise his teenage twin siblings since they were 2 years old after their parents were killed when he was in college. He was forced to become self-sufficient and responsible from a young age.

Drakes's teenage twin siblings, Aiden and Addison stole the show for me, I just loved them. I was surprised that the actual competition didn’t happen until after the halfway mark, but that was ok with me. Obviously, Drake has some hard feelings towards Morgan, but once he heard her explanation for disappearing all those years ago, he finally forgave her, he was still wary that she might leave him again.

Although this is not a series, we got to meet up with some of her characters from her previous book, Business Not as Usual, and that was fun.

Recommendation:
I highly recommend In It To Win It to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.