I really enjoyed this book! I loved the relationships between our fmc and the group of rugby boys! I loved the relationship between the mmc and his sister - I loved that it showed his softer side! I thought this was a great book and left a star off only because for a sports book there really wasn’t any scenes that took place on the pitch. I felt myself longing a few times for the book to touch on a game or two, but it mainly skirted around them having a practise, mentioned they had a game and then it didn’t discuss any of the games, which I felt was lacking for me personally. Otherwise, I really enjoyed this one!

(3.5 Stars)
Thank you to NetGalley, Maren Moore, and Forever Grand Central Publishing for this eARC.

Cillian finds himself in the good old USA, mid–rugby season, stuck on a team that doesn’t want him after tragedy and mayhem got him kicked out of his school in London. Dragged through the fallout is his younger sister, Ainsley. While Cillian intends to keep his head down, play the game, and survive the next two years, the team—and the coach—need more from him if he wants to stay....enter Rory St. James. Not just the team’s equipment manager, but also the best friend of nearly every guy on the team—and, most importantly, the coach’s daughter.

Tired of being friend-zoned by guy after guy, Rory’s determined to have fun during her junior year. She strikes a deal with Cillian: he’ll teach her how to flirt and date, and she’ll help him win over the team. This book has heartfelt Ted Lasso vibes with an Ali Hazelwood level of romance. Spicy, fun, and heartwarming, this book has a little bit of everything: found family, romance, spice, and of course… rugby players.

This was a very fast and fun read. I finished it in an evening and overall just had a good time with it. It was refreshing to see a new sports romance that isn’t just hockey. While we all love a good hockey romance, it’s been fun to see the sports romance genre evolve a bit.

Although it feels like Cillian was dreamed up in someone’s head who’s never actually met a British rugby player, I couldn’t help but love him as a character. The brooding-but-soft-on-the-inside thing is just too cute.

A few gripes — the tension died way too quickly. Every issue was resolved within 1–2 pages. If those moments had lingered just a little longer, giving us more time to sit in the emotion or conflict, I think we would have connected with the characters on a deeper level. For example, when Cillian is out by the water after a difficult moment late in the book, we don’t get to sit in that scene with him—we just get the tidy resolution with Rory. A few extra beats here would’ve dialed up the emotional tension and payoff.

I’m also on the fence about Rory’s pick-me energy. On one hand, it was kind of annoying to read—like, yes, we get it, you’re besties with the rugby boys and not like other girls. But on the other hand… isn’t that kind of what college was like for some of us? As a recovering cool girl myself, I appreciated seeing her evolution—from being “one of the bros” to reading romance novels and shopping for clothes with Ainsley.

Overall, if you are a fan of spicy sports romance books, you're going to like this book. It's a fun, fast and spicy read.

Review posted on Goodreads -
Tiktok & Blog post entry scheduled 8/5

This was a really good book! I found the characters lovable and the plot was well written and interesting. I would definitely recommend to others!

As a huge fan of sports romance, I loved Red Card. Cillian is a British rugby player with a troubled past trying to earn his place on a new team, while Rory, the coach’s daughter, is passionate about rugby but clueless at flirting. Their deal to help each other leads to a sizzling, heartfelt romance full of witty banter and emotional growth. The rugby setting felt authentic and added great energy to the story. If you want a fun, spicy sports romance with depth, this one’s for you.

Recommended: sure
for a romance with a sports setting, for funny sexy situations that definitely lead to more, for a "reluctant allies to lovers" angle, for the story where the bad boy is won over by just the right girl with a soft heart

Thoughts:
The overall plot of this is exactly as promised in the blurb: they agree to help each other, and end up growing from allies to lovers. That's the biggest focus through the entire book and the plot. Little touches on serious issues are included, like his parent's death, becoming a caretaker at a young age, drug use, grief, etc but none of it really felt like it hit hard. They were more of little details about each of them to catalogue away like a checklist of info about them. I think for me this might have felt a bit watery because of all the other focus on sex.

If you're wondering, yes, there is LOTS of sex. A part of the plot is her romantic and sexual exploration and that's her primary motivation, so half of the story is strictly about her wanting to learn more flirting and physical seduction. But man, eventually I was just skimming like "ok got it they bang again" which is shocking because it takes a while for them to get to that point and then once it does? Wow does it come hard and fast (heehee) in the second half of the book.

Yes, of course, there is some side plot of him needing his team to like him, and her worrying about her dad and what he'll think, but overall it was pretty tightly focused on them. Almost every scene is interactions between them, and if they aren't together then they are probably thinking or talking about the other person. This helps build the relationship quickly and it has a very clear line on the romance. Everything else is just a mirror to give them more reason to be together. It definitely made me laugh a few times, which is always appreciated.

In an unusual decision by me, I decided at the start of the book to make a conscious effort to read his lines the way he would actually sound, in an English male accent. Weirdly, this was incredibly easy to slip into despite being something I've never bothered to try doing in my brain while reading. A little ways in I realized I was read-thinking it entirely in Will Ospreay's voice, which was shockingly fitting actually. So there's a little tip for you for some extra engagement with the characters. xD

There's a lot of mentions of rugby, but mostly at a superficial level. Things like her saying it's all she thinks about and people associate her with it, or him thinking about his next match, or what they're each doing during a practice or game. It was present, but really just a setting and a foil to the romance line of the story and a reason for them to be together so often. I learned a few terms and such from this book where I only had a very surface level knowledge of it at the start.

Overall this is a story focusing on their romantic and sexual connection, with a background of family and grief. It's a fun easy read that delivers exactly what it promised.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever publishing for a free advanced copy. This is my honest review.

This was honestly painful to read. I feel like associating it with Ted Lasso is also a stretch. The characters come off as inconsistent and immature.

This is my 8th Maren Moore arc (I am a huge Maren stan) and as always, this hit the spot. The FMC, Rory, is seen as "one of the guys" because she fits in so well with the rugby players she unofficially helps coach, but she desperately wants to be seen as more than that. Our MMC, Cillian, is a former bad boy and still current rugby player getting his final shot with a college rugby team, but he can't seem to fit in with the guys. They finally realize they can help each other with their dilemmas, and plenty of hijinks ensue. Naturally, while trying to help each other, they develop feelings, and their chemistry was off the charts IMO. Maren always writes the most swoon-worthy men with dirty mouths and big hearts, and Cillian was certainly not lacking. If you love fake dating, banter, a grumpy AF bad boy, the movie She's The Man, and spicy goodness, you need to pick up Red Card.

One sentence synopsis: Rory gets some dating lessons from the new bad boy rugby player, Cillian, and things turn spicy.

This book was a fast paced read and absolutely adorable. The story follows a strong and independent heroine and a swoon worthy rugby star who’s hiding more vulnerability than he lets on. Their chemistry is palpable and the tension builds beautifully as they navigate personal baggage, trust issues, and undeniable attraction.

What I loved most was the emotional depth beneath the surface. Moore gives her characters real struggles, making their growth feel earned. The banter is fun, the pacing tight, and the rugby backdrop adds a fresh dynamic without overpowering the romance.

Highly recommend! Read this if you:
❤️ love an independent FMC
❤️ have ever gotten lost on rugby Tok
❤️ enjoy a cast of fun side characters

Rate: 5/5 Spice: 5/5

If you are a sports romance fan you need to pick this one up! I absolutely loved this rugby romance. This book has British boy, coaches daughter, teach me, found family, and swoon moments. Cillian comes to the new team after have a rough time and need to learn how to work with a new team. Rory is the coaches daughter and has been around rugby her whole life. Rory is seen by guys as the wingwomen, but she wants to be able to flirt. When Cillian and Rory come up with a plan to help each other. What will happen in the end? You’ll have to read to find out. I highly recommend!🩵🏉

My first rugby romance and it was so good! I loved how protective Cillian was and the chemistry between him and Rory? 🥵 Would totally recommend to anyone who loves a good sports romance!!

✨ Review ✨
***
Red Card was so good!!! I loved Cillian was amazing. I loved his broody personality so much. He was so sweet and kind and loving. Rory was perfect for him . I loved her kindness and love for others. Their love was beautiful. The writing was amazing and so easy to read. I loved the spice and all the romance so much. The ending was perfect and left my heart so happy.
***
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🔥🔥🔥
Romance: 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷
***

Mild story spoilers ahead, proceed with caution!

Red Card is a cute and cozy rugby romance with some sort of fake dating mixed in (dating lessons with lesson role play) that leads to them getting to know each other quite well. It’s difficult to keep my interest in a contemporary romance that has no dark, sapphic, or poly aspects, but this story did that (without those).

I loved Cillian’s character but I think the reveal of the cause of Cillian’s actions that got him expelled in London would’ve been much more heart-wrenching if we’d known the things he’d done out of context toward the beginning of the story instead of finding out what and why at the same time.

Rory was adorable, but the book talks about how she’s plus sized and the cover has a very skinny girl portraying her.. I’m not sure if that’s the author’s idea of plus sized or if the cover artist didn’t know she was plus sized, but that was a big letdown for me.

There are some typos that I’m hoping were fixed after the ARCs were sent out, but the writing was good. It was strange to me that Aisling mentioned someone called the ambulance and rode with her to the hospital, but we never found out who that was.

4/5⭐️ because of the story aspects mentioned above.
2/5🌶️ because there was only a hint of spice, but it was mostly open-door.

I loved how passionate Rory was about sports!! This book was so lighthearted and fun. And ok a british bad boy who’s a major softie as the love interest! i’m obsessed

absolutely DEVOURED this one 😭

we have bad boy cillian who’s newly from london, and has to start over in the U-S of A with a whole new team and a bad reputation

then we have rory… basically “the girl next door” vibes, coaches daughter, and someone completely inept when it comes to the opposite gender in a romantic setting

what happens when you put them together? a feral vanessa 👹

i absolutely loved these two together and the second i saw the book had “she’s the man” as a way to describe it … i knew i immediately would love it.

it had hot moments, emotional moments, and times where i found myself just cheesin’ at my phone screen like a psychopath 😭

i hope we get to see more of side characters in the future, i definitely wouldn’t mind seeing more of their universe 🤭

Can Maren write anything but perfection!! I absolutely love her writing, she draws me in from page 1 with characters you cant help but love and connect with and keep my attention until the very end. I always finish her books wanting MORE!!

thank you to Forever (grand central publishing) for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was so fun! I’ve read many stories with a plot like this but I can never seem to get enough of a story like this one. Cillian sounded literally like the hottest man you could picture. A buff Hardin Scott is what I pictured! Which means he was definitely hot. And Rory was just the cutest inexperienced girl ever😂 I loved the chemistry between them. Also cillians accent and being British and all? Like Hardin from the “After” movies!!? Bonus!! Super cute read!

I loved this book so much! Maren Moore writes the best characters- lovable, flawed, human. I really related to Rory's experience as a coach's daughter wanting to be seen beyond her relationship to her dad. The development of Cillian and Rory's relationship was really fun read. The spice was great and the banter was even better!

🏉Rugby College Sportsmance
🍪Coach’s Daughter
🏉Grumpy x Sunshine
🍪Dating Lessons
🏉Secret Relationship

This maybe my favorite Maren Moore book! The friendship Cillian and Rory developed as they teamed up to help each other and how it naturally progressed was fun, natural and steamy. Cillian holding back because this was his last chance and he was also worrying about how the consequences could impact his sister only made me love him! I loved Rory’s take no shit attitude with the rugby players but became this nervous, rambling and bumbling mess when trying to flirt and meet guys. I loved that the 3rd act drama didn’t include a breakup (I don’t usually mind these but for this couple I would have been sooo sad) but I couldn’t have predicted what happened. The found family that grew made love this group and want more of them. Maybe Cillian’s sister and a teammate? I only had good vibes and smiles reading this, very light angst and easy to read.

#Review: *Red Card* - Maren Moore - ARC [18+]
4.5/5✨
3/5🌶️

I'm always super excited to read anything Maren Moore writes. I was lucky enough to be able to grab an ARC of this book from Netgalley and all thanks to Maren's team. Thank youu!🥳

Cillian Cairney had a complicated past in London, where he did way too many bad things which resulted in receiving a red card on the rugby field and be thrown out of the team. Now, the only place that will accept him is across the ocean, at a Ivy School in New Hampshire. But there everyone from the team hates him and he isn't trusted by his coach either. Besides that, he needs to have the coach's daughter approval to earn his time on the field.

Rory St. James is the coach's daughter, for whom rugby was always part of her life. Maybe that's why all the guys have always been seeing her different and not like a woman, like she wanted them to see her. A stupid proposal for Cillian, to teach her how to flirt with guys and not being friend-zoned all the time, transforms into something else, the lines getting blurred with each moment they were spending together. But can Cillian won everyone's trust or everything will come crumbling down again? Can Rory fulfill her purpose of mastering the flirting skills?

How much fun and, also, emotional this book was! It had this charming british boy, who's life wasn't pink at all, but who was trying his best to be better for his sister, Aisling. On the other side, Rory was best friends with the guys from the team but that caused her having some doubts about her self-esteem, not being able to win the right guys. The little pact they've made brought the fun in the book, but Cillian's story was so emotional, that made me really sad for him. It was a lot to handle and he clearly didn't choose right all the time, but that was his chance to prove everyone wrong.

This was such an easy read, not really realizing when all the pages just flew away, being pretty immersed in this story. A book with a bit of everything, from laughable moments, to some which were a bit sad and to some really spicy parts, which have completely raised the temperatures up🤭.

✨Tropes
#BritishHero
#BadBoyGoodGirl
#SecretRomance
#Banter
#Spice
#CoachsDaughter
#ForcedProximity
#SportsRomance
#Rugby

Red Card is a cute and relatively quick read, but it didn’t quite work for me. I struggled to get through it, mostly because the tropes just weren’t to my taste. The “I’m not like the other girls” angle made it hard for me to connect with Rory, though I did enjoy Cillian’s POV. I can definitely see this as a series with the character introductions! That said, if you’re into sports romances with a dual POV, friends-to-lovers dynamic, “teach me” elements, and a coach’s daughter x bad boy pairing, this might be right up your alley.