I’m a sucker for an enemies-to-lovers romance, so I went in with high hopes. And while I didn’t hate this one, it didn’t blow my socks off.

The writing’s solid, and there were some fun moments. The characters had good chemistry, and I was curious to see where things would go. But honestly? I couldn’t stand Hardy in the first few chapters. He was such an a-hole that his sudden transformation into Prince Charming wasn't convincing for me. Whitney wasn’t exactly winning me over, either.

It’s an okay read if you’re craving an enemies-to-lovers fix. I will probably listen to it again.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select | JKB Publishing, LLC for the free ALC.

TW: Foster situations, parental abandonment, drug use

OMG this was so good!!! I love a good sports romance and especially a soccer one because it doesn't get done too often.

Whitney has inherited her beloved soccer academy after the death of her mentor/father figure's death. It's in a not so great neighborhood but she loves that she gets to be there for the kids and to give them something to keep them out of trouble. While she loves her job, the financial struggle is real so she's been writing letters to MLS teams for donations in any form. One afternoon she gets a bit more than she bargained for. Alexander is on loan to the Miami Mayhem from across the pond to help garner more interest for soccer in America. He's an arrogant bad boy and of course gets himself into too many PR nightmare situations. To rehab his image he's been assigned to help out at Whitney's academy but their chemistry is too much for him to resist.

Whitney's past is tough being a foster kid and the trauma she behaviours she picked up. It's really hard for her to love people and that does show up here. Alexander's past is not rosy either, I cried so much during the flashbacks of him as a little boy, ugh so sad! Regrettably I couldn't stand Alexander in the beginning. His arrogance and ego was ridiculous and I was cheering Whitney on every time she dressed him down. He slowly checks the arrogance as he starts to fall for Whit and he turns into the biggest golden retriever for her.

I do think the last 20% or so went really quick after such a steady build up of the rest of the story. It felt rushed but I did enjoy the book overall. I listened to most of this thanks to receiving an ALC and I can't gush about Samantha Brentmoor enough, she's so enjoyable and makes every story that much better. Gary Furlong was good too, I enjoyed his accent but I think that the character was meant to be a bit more gruff sounding...I'm pretty sure his deep or gravely voice is mentioned once or twice and Gary's voice is much more light sounding. It didn't bother me too much after I got used to it. I listened at my usual 1.25X and had no issues with pacing. I would definitely recommend the audiobook over reading.

I really enjoyed Lucky Shot and hope to see more sports books by K. Bromberg in the future! Thank you so much to Dreamscape Select and JKB Publishing, LLC for gifting me this ALC!

Lucky Shot was my first soccer/football romance and I really enjoyed it. I went in expecting something lighter but the story surprised me with its emotional depth. It touches on some heavy topics and as the characters work through them, I found myself becoming more and more invested.

I loved Hardy. He’s a cocky playboy athlete but when he falls, he falls hard and shows up for Whitney in most thoughtful and patient ways. Whitney was a little frustrating at times, but her pain was real and raw, and my heart hurt for her. Their journey felt honest and I appreciated the way the story didn’t rush their healing or their relationship.

I listened to the audiobook version and enjoyed it overall. While I typically prefer duet narration, Samantha Brentmoor and Troy Duran did a great job capturing the emotions of the characters. Their performances added a lot to the story.

A solid, emotional sports romance that would recommend.

🌶️🌶️🌶️

4.5 stars. Great story! I love the enemies to lovers trope! Maybe because of that fine line between love and hate always makes for an entertaining story. And sports romance is also one of my faves. Hardy and Whitney are both characters that have a lot of emotional baggage. Surprisingly they end up being very good for each other, maybe because of that.
The narration is excellent! I’d never heard Gary Furlong before but he was spot on as Hardy, and Samantha was Brentmore is always amazing so she slayed Whitney’s part.
I enjoyed this book very much and I am so happy I listened to it because these two narrators really brought these characters and this book to life!

“Dreams change. Dreams shift. It’s okay to find new dreams to hold on to.”

Lucky Shot had me hooked from the prologue to the epilogue. This is a short, fun, and sexy read and I’m so glad I took a shot and read it. The storyline is perfection. The characters are multidimensional and their banter and chemistry is everything. I loved watching their relationship grow and evolve. The ending was so sweet. There are some hard subjects spoken about, but I feel they were written beautifully and really gave the story and characters a true depth. This is my first book by K. Bromberg and I look forward to reading more. I listened to the audiobook and both of the narrators did a great job. 🩵🩷

I would like to thank Dreamscape Select and NetGalley for giving me an ARC (which did not sway my opinions or review).

“You make it so frustratingly hard for someone to love you. It’s fu*king maddening!”

LuckyShot by KBromberg is a 3.9 ⭐️ read.

The Audiobook is out on the 25th June 2025

It doesn’t matter that Alexander Hardy is a British football star extraordinaire, world famous in every way, and a certified sex symbol. He came from a different world and lives in a different reality.

The bet:
Whitney Barnes will help Alexander to rehab his reputation with the media, and the masses. And in exchange, he’ll help Whitney with her soccer academy and the underprivileged kids who idolize him.

—:—:—:—:—

Their first meeting, He stood her up.

Their second chance encounter, she told him exactly what she thought of him.

Their third meeting, came with a bet… one he lost! 

This is a spicy bad boy/good girl, close proximity, fake dating, sports romance. It brings all those tropes as promised. What more can I say to make you read or listen to this story?

Favourite Quote: “Who the hell are you, other than a Fu*k off, who has gift feet and too much talent for one’s own good?”

Spicy Level - 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Note: Please read and review all trigger warnings before reading any recommended book. We love to read for our pleasure, so keep your mind, and emotions safe!

3.5 stars!

I enjoyed this audiobook! I thought the premise was interesting. The writing and pacing were good. I really liked the FMC at the beginning but towards the end, she got a bit annoying. I did almost dnf the book because the MMC was insufferable for the first part of the book. I am glad I powered through until he had some development though because I did enjoy this story. The ending was a good resolution, but I do feel like the last piece didn't really fit the characters and was kind of thrown in to check a HEA box if that makes sense.

Overall, would recommend this book!

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrators were great. I loved the story. The plot was great. Great pace. Great spice. Just a really good sports romance.
Thank you for the opportunity to listen to this arc.

⚽️𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫
⚽️𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐲

✨𝒯𝒽ℴ𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈✨
𝐈 love a great sports romance, especially if it's centered around soccer, and Lucky Shot delivers exactly that. British soccer star Alexander Hardy goes off the rails, and his publicist sends him to help out at a struggling youth soccer academy in an attempt to repair his image. The owner, Whitney, is a fan of his but is soon disappointed when Hardy cancels his appearance last minute, leaving the kids dejected.

𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐲, a former foster child who took over the academy from her beloved mentor, is committed to providing underprivileged children with the same opportunities she was given. Hardy's absence initially casts a negative light on him in Whitney's eyes. However, as Hardy's troubled past is unveiled, misconceptions about him as a wealthy and careless womanizer begin to crumble. He reveals a more vulnerable side, one that can empathize with the struggles faced by the children at the academy and Whitney herself.

🎧𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 Whitney and Hardy share a sense of abandonment and insecurity from their childhood, making their connection all the more intense. The dual narration by 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐚 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐫 and 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 brings these complex characters to life, adding depth and emotion to their love story. All in all, if you're a fan of soccer-themed romance novels like myself, Lucky Shot is a must-listen!

Thank you to 𝐊. 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠 and 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 for this audio copy. All thoughts shared here are entirely my own.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒.𝟓⭐️ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 𝟑🔥 𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝟒.𝟓🎧

narrators Gary Furlong; Samantha Brentmoor

Alexander and Whitny childhood have been different but abandoned Whitney has been in foster care and Alexander parent care more about their own life than their child. Whitney passion is soccer and when she an adult she manages a soccer academy for under privilege players. and when she meets Alexander she excited until she gets to meet the real him and is disappointed of who he is. Alexander image is bad with sleeping around and fighting and he need to repair it or he is out. So he has to volunteer, and when there is a bet between Whitney and Alexander Alexander Looses he has to show up for a whole month and practice with the kids. Whitney sees a side of Alexander behind all the rough edges.

Definitely enjoyed this! I am not a soccer girl, but really enjoyed it. The narrators did an amazing job like always. Enjoyed these two. Loved the story and will definitely be recommending this one

I loved the prologue seeing how Whitney's story started and loved what she dedicated her life to. I eventually liked Hardy but he was harder to like though he overcame a lot of family drama so it's understandable why he acts out. I liked that both of them had a lot to overcome in their lives. I think it eventually helped them understand each other.

I received an advanced copy of this audiobook through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Lucky Shot by K. Bromberg with narration performed by Gary Furlong and Samantha Brentmoor is an enemies-to-lovers, soccer romance. Whitney is running the soccer academy that saved her as a child, running very low on funds and resources. Hardy is a bad boy British soccer star who needs to clean up his reputation. I really enjoyed this books and the narration was fantastic! The author did a great job of developing the characters, slowly helping the reader understand who they are and why they behave the way they do. She also made me want to know the characters and really had me cheering for them! There are periodic flashbacks to the past that take place at the right time to give context and not confuse the story. I can't wait to read more by K. Bromberg, don't miss this wonderful book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Select, and the author for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars ⭐️ I loved this audiobook! It’s dual narration. Gary Furlong’s British accent added so much to the audiobook! Samantha Brentmoor did a phenomenal job narrating for the MMC during the FMC’s POV! I haven’t read a ton of soccer romances but I truly enjoyed Lucky Shot! Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the ALC. All opinions are my own 🫶🏼

Loved the female narrator on this one so much. His accent was good, but I wanted his voice to be slightly deeper to take his dirty talk to the next level.

Hardy, bad boy soccer star, sentenced to some philanthropy to clean up his image and falls for the woman who runs the soccer school. The character development of both main characters was good, they had complicated back stories that justified the roles they played in their relationship.

Their first time was perfection and Hardy definitely knows how to redeem himself in every sense of the word.

Thank you to Net Galley and Dreamscape Select for the ARC.

I quickly fell in love with the misfits that are Whitney and Hardy, the similarities in their upbringings with completely different results. The broodiness between them as he fell first and her walls had to be hacked away at with an ice pick. Perfection! Two chilli pepper kinda spice, in the best ways. I adore Samantha Brentmoor on audio! And the English accent from Gary Furlong? YES THANK YOUUUU.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for the opportunity to listen to and review this book!

OMG, totally did not expect I'd cry while reading this one. I read the Hard to Handle and Hard to Hold, but this one got my tear ducts going.

Basically Rich Bad boys meet Strong Willed Poor girl. He fell first, and she kept running away to protect herself. She's super damaged and trying to survive, he kept following her like a golden retriever, bad boy turn great man story.

What gets me the the emotional tuck on both of them. Both of them suffered losses, and both felt abandoned, and now both have to be vulnerable and trust each other enough to be open to this love. OMG, the parts on both of their journeys what they'd gone thru, just tucked on me.

I enjoyed the story alot, but appreciate a book boyfriend who recognize when it's no longer a game and it's becoming real. He wants to be around her, and he's honest about that. He knows she's not going to accept love and relationship like he had experience and know to show her. Just by him realizing all that before recognizing he loves her was just adorable and loving.

This is technically is not a quick read, but the writing flowed so well and the flip between present and how each of them came to be, worked very nicely that I just can't stop and finished it within a 1.5days.

I got the audio book, Samantha Brentmoor is the bomb, and while I'm not familiar with Gary Furlong - he's very underrated. We need more books read by him.
Thank you NetGalley & Dreamscape Select for the audio ARC

4 🌟
Spice: Open Door
Format: ALC

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the alc in exchange for an honest review.

It took me some time to really be invested with this one. I found the MMC incredibly hard to like at first. He is very alphahole coded and just so grumpy. I did eventually come to really like both of them and the story. I adored the way he took care of her after the hospital. They are both super frustrating and stand in their own way so much. The audio is really good, both narrators are easy to listen to.

I am always down for a K. Bromberg sports romance! I loved her F1 romances, and even though soccer is the one sport I'm not really a fan of, she made this story so enjoyable.

One thing I appreciated about this book was the character growth an development for both of them. They both struggle with very similar issues even though they come from vastly different experiences and worlds. Their differences are also some of their similarities and it's what brings them together.

I love how much the MMC genuinely cares about the children they work with once he actually gets there.

There are so many deep feelings of loneliness, abandonment, grief, poverty and heartbreak, but also so much joy and positivity that comes from their connection too.

I'm a huge Samantha Brentmoor fan and think she did a fantastic job narrating this one. I don't know that i've listened to many by Gary Furlong, but enjoyed his performance as well.

Thank you to Dreamscape Select for the ALC!

🎧ALC REVIEW🎧
📚Lucky Shot by K. Bromberg
🎤Dual narration by Gary Furlong & Samantha Brentmoor
💘Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Select for this ALC

4.5⭐️- This was such a wonderful sports romance and an absolute insane audiobook.

Below is my 📚 general review and then further down you’ll find my 🎧audiobook specific review!

—

📚general review📚

Oh my god!!!! I have never read this author before and I’m so excited to have discovered her! I loooove a soccer romance, especially with a British MMC. The slow burn in this is so good. He falls first and she’s got abandonment issues and they fight but they are exactly what each other need. So it takes her some time to catch up and you see her start to unravel from start to end.

It’s kind of giving A Cinderella Story vibes (the first one of course). Like at least similar themes of rich athlete x nonfamous adult just scraping by financially. And I ate it up - let’s be real, we’ve all been that girl scraping by, hoping for a someone rich and hot to make all our problems go away. But also being stubborn about it. But I loved their relationship - ultimately they both had deeper abandonment issues which is both like an awful match but also there’s nothing better. Because they will both put each other’s needs first if the opposite means them being apart.

Character wise -I loved how stubbornly independent Whitney is, and she really truly holds on to her principles, sometimes even to her own detriment. But it was like charming how disciplined she was. And then you have Hardy who is just so eye-rollingly cocky/play boy that it borders cringe. But the kind that you secretly enjoy cuz sometimes it’s just hot!! But the way he softens for her, he didn’t even know he was desperate for true companionship until he met her.

I was super close to 5 stars, I think I just wanted a bit more at the end. It felt both drawn out but also abrupt, if that at all makes sense. However, it did not take away from the whole book for me and I still loved it!!


🎧audiobook review🎧
-Dual narration by Gary Furlong & Samantha Brentmoor
-Dual pov, single timeline ( & some flashbacks)
-Allow me to YELL!!! about this audiobook!!!! Ms. Brentmoor is already one of my favorites ever so I was so ready. But my god did she impress me even more?? Her voice for Hardy was so good sometimes I forgot it was a dual and not duet, because she truly pulls me into the story so wonderfully. Like a deeper voice AND an excellent British accent, what a talent my god. ART.
-And hello, Gary Furlong?!?! Where have you been hiding cuz are you kidddinnng!!! He is such an incredible narrator. The swoony British accent! He performs the “grunts” and the “sighs” in his narration and that really takes the audio to such a new level and ahhhhhh I cannot wait to hear him narrate more!
-Easily a 5 star audiobook alone, and I’d highly recommend if you’re not sure whether to physically read versus listen to the audio - pick up audiobook now.