⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

10/10 witty banter between Brooks and Siena

Tropes:

He falls first
Fake dating

Plot and spice level were perfect!

Thank you Ellie K Wilde and NetGalley for the ARC!

I loved this one more than the first and I didn’t think it was possible. You can just FEEL the love Ellie has for Brooks and Siena!

Ellie did an amazing job connecting the characters (both new and from her previous book, Only in Your Dreams) and navigating both Brooks and Siena’s issues such as cheating and abandonment. It made me love both Siena and Brooks and make them very human.

Thank you Ellie for Brooks “Football Daddy and ‘Sign It’” Atwood 😍 and Siena was the perfect FMC, being independent and strong but also being able to let go without losing herself.

The spice was spicy and perfectly written to show their love for each other. And can I say, thank you Ellie for not having a third act break up!! My heart wouldn’t have been able to take it. I absolutely loved this football romance and highly recommend it! I can’t wait for Ellie’s next book!

I seriously love this series—it’s such an underrated gem in the sports romance world, and I don’t get why more people aren’t talking about it. Only Between Us is so good. Brooks gives total golden retriever energy—think Travis Kelce vibes but with a deep love for acts of service. He’s charming, thoughtful, and the kind of football player that makes you melt. If you’re into soft jocks and romances that make you feel all warm and fuzzy, don’t sleep on this one.

Loved the first Oakwood Bay book, now back for the second!

Tropes:
fake dating
one bed
very Spicy

Brooks is the perfect book boyfriend: sweet, passionate, funny, kind. He as the perfect match for Siena in every way while she sees him for who he truly is and not just a famous football player. The transition from fake dating to real feelings was seamless and it was frustrating and sad to see the characters go through the possibility of their relationship breaking up due to distance. They both wanted and supported each other in pursuing their dreams, but Siena is dealing with a lot of guilt from her childhood and is not ready to let go of her past. Throughout the book, she grows as a character as she learns to live for herself.
This was an easy romance to read and I'm excited for the third book!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If y'all are looking for a romance story where he falls hard first...this is for you. I loved getting to know both Brooks and Sienna. They are such great characters with depth to them and despite starting their relationship as a fake one, it was so heartwarming seeing them help each other through difficult situations in their lives. There's also quite a bit of spice in the story, but I surprisingly didn't mind because they didn't seem super out of place. My only complaint is the third act breakup - it's totally unnecessary. Otherwise, the pacing and the writing were good.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Brooks Attwood is working towards an NFL comeback. After an injury that resulted in early retirement and his ex-girlfriend cheating on him, Brooks has had a rough few years. He needs this win. Needs to feel like he’s worthy and capable. His only problem? The Rebels (his dream team) is turned off by the reputation he created after his retirement. Brooks made bad choices fueled by depression and grief and the Rebels want to ensure that behavior is firmly behind him. The solution: A fake girlfriend.

Siena Pippen has dated an NFL player and it ended disastrously. She’s written off dating athletes and is determined to pay her family back by working in their bait & tackle shop for the rest of her days. Even if it’s slowly killing her. Until she meets Brooks and becomes his fake girlfriend. Soon, fake becomes real and Brooks makes Siena long for a different life. But is she brave enough to go for it?

I think Brooks Attwood is my new book boyfriend. 😍 I really enjoyed the first book in this series (Only In Your Dreams) but this one was even better! I loved the growth of both Brooks and Siena and appreciated seeing their emotional maturity of tackling problems head on and figuring out a solution. This one was spicy but also filled with emotional depth, witty banter, and so many swoon-worthy moments! I am dying for a Parker/Summer book next!

4.5

Gahh I just loved Brooks and Siena so much!!! Add them to my list of characters that I want to wrap in a hug and protect them forever!

They were so heart-wrenchingly adorable. The similar feeling of having to prove their worth/place in life while finding a home in each other had me in pieces. I loved the way they both encouraged and supported one another without being overbearing or completely selfish in their wishes. They understood each other so well. It really made for great banter and a natural flow of their relationship — fake or not. The balance of vulnerability and humour was great.

You get deep into both Brooks and Siena’s thoughts and insecurities. A well rounded story that gave us the backstory/cause of them to seeing them grow towards their futures. There was so much care and gentleness that had me so taken by their relationship.

I adored book one so you bet I requested this so fast when I saw it on NetGalley. I had very big expectations for Brooks' story and they were fully met and exceeded. I truly loved everything about this book!

Brooks Atwood is a top tier book boyfriend. He brings all the golden retriever vibes with a side of protective guard dog. He was super sweet, but equally dirty and the balance between the two was perfect. Siena was strong, confident, and very independent. She was quick-witted and had some awesome lines.

The two of them together were complete and utter perfection. From their meet-cute to the epilogue, they had me entertained and invested in their goals and relationship. The slow burn and the tension had me sweating and the banter was top notch. I spent the majority of the book giggling, kicking my feet, and doing weird twitchy happy dances.

Honestly, I have no criticism at all for this. I am completely obsessed and cannot wait for book three!

I was lucky to read the first book in this series and LOVED it, so my expectations were high. Luckily, I was not disappointed!
The main characters were well-rounded, and we met some secondary characters in the first book.
Brooks and Sienna started with hate at second sight and fought hard for their HEA, which, this book is a great reminder that love may not be enough; respect, communication, and compromise are equally important.

There are some difficult topics, as with the first book, that are treated with love and care. I wonder if the author has worked in mental health. Thank you for being delicate with these subjects!

I am declaring Ellie K Wilde the Queen of the Cinnamon Roll hero! Because the two heroes in this series are gooey, sweet delicious!
I NEED the third book in this SERIES!! That tease in this book has me counting the days.

Thank you, Netgalley, Atria, and Ms. Wilde for this ARC.

What an unexpected delight. I had such a good time reading this book. It had everything I love in a book: terrific banter, steamy scenes, and great character development. The book was well-paced, and I had to force myself to read more slowly so I could drag out the story. The main characters, Siena and Brooks, were well fleshed out, emphasizing Siena's strength and Brooks' sweetness. Their chemistry, both as friends and lovers, was outstanding. One of the things they most enjoy is talking with one another, which is always sexy. I cannot say enough good things about this book, and I recommend everyone read this story. Disclaimer: I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

When I say I devoured this book, I read it in less than 24 hours!

Brooks Attwood was at the top of his game in the NFL when he sustained a bad concussion that led to early retirement. His girlfriend of 8 years leaves him for one of his teammates which leads to his downward spiral.
Fast forward a couple years and Brooks is ready to make a comeback, He's training with his friend when he suddenly crashes into a woman who shouldn't be on the field.
Siena is at the UOB stadium on the second anniversary of her fathers death. Some of her favorite memories with her father happened at the college stadium. While reminiscing, she's suddenly bowled over by non other than Brooks Attwood.
Brooks needs to improve his image as a playboy if he wants a chance at being welcomed back on the Rebels. Now he's forced to fake date Siena who reminds him of his ex girlfriend. Sienas ex played for the NFL and she wants nothing to do with that world anymore. Unfortunately, she needs the money that comes with being a football players girlfriend.
The slow burn in this book was everything! I loved how the author really developed the characters, A peek into their pasts helped to understand the scars they wear today. And don't get me started on the chemistry between Brooks and Siena! I can't wait to read more from this author!

This book was a good time! A little fake dating, football romance with a cinnamon roll + black cat dynamic.

I loved how we got to see the evolution of Brooks from book one where I thought he’d be the grump, but turns out he’s a funny, thoughtful sweet man!

I can’t wait for book 3, Ellie’s books always hit for me!

Thank you to Ellie K. Wilde, Atria Books and NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

I like this one, not as much as book 1, but I enjoyed getting to know the characters and see their growth with softness for each other.

The spice rivaled the plot in some areas for me, but it was fun and well written spice.

Easy to see where she plans to go with the series!

This was a fun one! Only Between Us is book 2 in the Oakwood Bay series, this time featuring Brooks Atwood, one of my favorite characters from Only in Your Dreams.

Brooks Atwood has a dream: to come out of retirement and return to the NFL as a player for his previous team, the Los Angeles Rebels. Despite Brooks being in peak physical condition, the Rebels are hesitant to bring him back because of his womanizing reputation (even though that time of his life is long over). A chance encounter at the University of Oakwood Bay, where Brooks has been practicing, brings him into the orbit of Siena Pippen. When a selfie of the two goes viral, Brooks hatches a plan to fake date Siena in order to help clean up his image and entice the Rebels to hire him. But longer the two partake in the fake dating plan, the more it all starts to feel very real.

Ellie Wilde came in swinging with this sophomore book! It was a fun sports romance with a whole lot of spice. I will say that the book was heavy at times as we learned about Siena and her traumatic childhood, but that added more depth to her character and overall growth.

Brooks was such a lovable character! I enjoyed meeting him in Only in Your Dreams and was so excited that he got his own book and happily ever after. I would have loved to have seen more interactions in the story between Brooks and his family, but I did enjoy his interactions with Parker and Summer (who I think might be the stars of book 3???). If you are in the market for a cute sports romance with a fun fake dating scheme and lots of angst, this is the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

This author surprises me every-time I read her books.

Thank you so much to Atria books and Net galley for the opportunity to Arc read this spectacular book!

Sports romance, fake dating, and banter?? Sign me up!

Brooks and Siena have an unmatched chemistry that is undeniable from the moment they met. Naturally when all of Brooks’s dreams are on the line Siena comes into the picture with her wild attitude and smart mouth that Brooks can’t help but ask her to fake date him. Well with the help of his manager, but that’s what they all say… am I right. Siena has clearly struggled with so much in her life, and yet she bends over backwards for the people she loves.

Seeing her open up to Brooks and begin to trust him had me so giddy! Seeing the way he falls for her was so cute and I couldn’t help but root for him to get everything he wanted out of life! This book was full of everything you could want out of a book. It made me so happy and had all the butterflies going! Ellie K. Wilde really knows how to hook her readers. From the first sentence I knew I was going to love this book!! I also love how she subtly sets up her future books and I can’t wait to read them as well!!

“I’m yours Siena. I’m yours now, yours tomorrow. I’ll be yours even if you decide you’re no longer mine.”
Give me this kind of love!!!!!!! Brooks Atwood is a top tier book boyfriend!

✨ARC Review✨
I’ve been waiting for this one!! With how much I loved Only in your Dreams, I knew this book would be just as good. It was the epitome of the fake-dating trope, but written so well. I loved seeing the relationship between Siena and Brooks blossom, and their individual character development was great to read. There was a really nice balance of spice, heartfelt moments, and emotional moments too! I also loved seeing old characters pop up and hints to what (I’m guessing) will come next in the series. Thanks so much to Ellie, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the ARC!
4.25⭐️

okay yeah, i ate this up!!!! fake dating, image makeover, dislike to lovers, he falls first. DEVOUREDDDDD

this book served BANTER and i’m a little bit obsessed with them. from their very first, serendipitous meeting brooks and siena had instant chemistry and it only got better as the book went on. i loved that siena was a truly confident, badass of a women who was so unabashed about everything. from the slightly crude jokes, to the teasing i am obsessed with her and her energy. and brooks is the biggest lover boy ever omggg. what does one do when you hookup with your pretend girlfriend for the first time and she steals your car to drive herself home afterward because she’s scared of her feelings? oh, buy her her own car and trick her into signing over ownership, of course! and what about when you realize she’s missing sailing and being on the water? buy out the bachelorette charter and pay for their entire extravagant trip elsewhere so she can go out on the boat where she’s happy, what else. and when she gushes over a sailboat she saw and loves back out in california? find a way to buy it for her, duh. there’s actually nothing he wouldn’t do to get that girl what she wants. i loved it so much. what a man.

This was EVERYTHING I have ever wanted/needed in a sports romance.

Pro football player Brooks is trying to get resigned by his old team when Siena, a sassy and confident woman who accidentally went viral and is now semi-famous, posts a photo of them together. To help save Brooks PR image, they end up fake dating until he is signed on by a pro team.

I loveeee my smutty little sports romance books and this hit all my marks. The perfect combo of plot and no plot (iykyk) and I need everyone to add this to your TBR. I ate this one up and now even more excited to read the rest of Ellie K Wilde's books! This was my first of hers but it solidified her in some of my favorite sports romance authors just by this one book!

Thank you to NetGalley an Atria books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I INHALED this book. 24hr read. Frantically trying to figure out when I could next squeeze in some reading time.

Injured NFL-er trying to make a comeback runs into (literally) a sassy ex WAG. They have to fake-date so she can get brand deals to support herself and her family’s failing tackle shop (yes you heard that right) and so he can heal the playboy image he earned in a 6 month bender post retirement/injury. Misconceptions about the other run RAMPANT and it was such a joy to watch these two STRUGGLE to not fall for each other.

The spice is spicing— 🌶️🌶️🌶️ and I’m here for it. The family dynamics: A+. Extra points for a super cute pup. Just enough sports to work for both sports and non-sports romance readers. Ellie K. Wilde is a new auto-buy for me, and this book might just be going in my hall of fame. I’m not okay.

Accidentally falling in love? Running out trying to have a one night stand and instead being given a car? Absolutely love Brooks and what he's doing for Siena. I love both characters so much. But Brooks doing all the things he is for Siena is making my heart melt! Scare off the creeps? Yep. Protects her?
Yes. Absolutely love them so much together.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this ARC