The one where flirting lessons backfire and Killian catches feeling for Rory. Squeals in excitement. It has been a minute since I’ve read a book with no third act break up or miscommunication and it feels good. Rugby thick thighs and tattoos what more do I need to say. Oh, and she is the coach’s daughter!!

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Red Card was a fun and emotional sports romance with great chemistry and just the right amount of drama. The audiobook narration was strong and really brought the characters to life. A few parts felt a bit predictable, but overall, it was an engaging and steamy listen. I’d definitely check out more from Meren Moore!

5 🌟
Spice: open door
Format: ALC

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

I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved this book. I've read this author in the past and didn't enjoy the books. So happy that I tried again because I love these two. I was fully invested from the start, I.never got bored. I love a good practice with me moment 🤭 when the faking starts tk feel real, perfection 👌
The bonding with the team and how they rallied around Cillian at the end was so touching. I was worried we were headed into a 3rd act breakup, but loved how it played out instead.

I will always advocate for an immersive/tandem read when possible. So I thank Forever and Hachette Audio for providing me an eARC and ALC of Red Card!!

This book was a fun time overall. I really enjoyed the narrators, especially Matt Sykes. I think he nailed Cillian and his broody type of character very well! Like him as Cillian makes me swoon so easily.
Now, Rory is kind of (very) cringe of a character but I think that was on the writing part and not the narrator's part. Stella Hunter definitely played into Rory's awkwardness around guys super well, and that helped make the whole premise of the flirting lessons more believable.

1.5 stars. I am so sorry for the following review, but the anger this book gave me! Are we writing characters in an early 90s sitcom or are we writing real women?? I have truly never read a book with a more obnoxious “pick me” girl. Her constant “no one cares about rugby more than me” when she doesn’t play women’s rugby, yet backseat coaches the players solely because she’s ThE cOACheS dAUgHtER …is deeply WILD and unhinged. I get that the author watched Remember the Titans one time and based an adult character on a 9 year old girl, but it only worked BECAUSE she was 9…and it was the 70s. So, As the adult daughter of a coach, I can tell you very clearly….absolutely the FK NOT to that behavior. Also, note to authors who care about writing solid female characters who care about other females….saying you only have guy friends is the absolute worst thing you can give your characters. ABSOLUTE. WORST. We want girl's girls not try hards who “can’t stop talking about sports”. No one is this one dimensional and delusional, and the standard is not to “only get along with guys”. Nothing is a bigger red flag of someone’s personality.

I understand that I will likely be banned from receiving any arcs from this author or publisher, but you can’t hang your hat on meaty thighs alone. I said what I said.

Well, having read this ebook already I knew this book was an absolute banger. No one it can get better right? Excuse meeeeee, but it sure can. The audio provided so much more depth to the characters, and um, swoon. 1000000/10. Will now be devouring all audios from these narrators, and listening again for good measure.

I’m fully obsessed! Red Card might just be my favorite Maren Moore book yet! This one had me hooked from page one with the hot and broody, British rugby bad boy! Cillian is a little broken, yet surprisingly sweet once you crack the surface, and Rory is a total queen! She’s passionate and not afraid to go after what she wants. Their dynamic is pure fire…the tension, banter, and chemistry! If you love a good sports romance with heat and heart, read this because Maren Moore absolutely nailed it! Also, the audiobook narrated by Matt Sykes and Stella Hunter was fantastic! Both narrators did a great job bringing the characters and emotions to life.

The narration was perfect, the story? Absolutely obsessed. I’ve never read a rugby book before and this one was the perfect place to start

MAREN STINKIN MOORE. OH. MY. WORD.

This was my first rugby romance, and let me tell you! I cannot wait for more books in this series! Every word and person and scene was just so good!

**premise**
Rory St. James was raised by only her dad who is also a rugby coach. Spending her whole life on the pitch got her comfortable with the game and around the guys. A while Rory can hang with the team with the best of them, she's found that her personal romantic life is severely lacking and she can't talk to guys without word vomiting about sports and rugby.

Cillian Cairney has a dark past in London that he would like to leave there, especially given that he didn't have any other option but to leave and start school at Prescott University in New Hampshire. With the rugby season well underway, the team knowing that favors were pulled so Cillian could be on the team, he is largely less than desirable to the guys and they're not shy about making it known.

Rory and Cillian both need help and the other is the perfect candidate to help. Cillian agrees to help Rory talk to other men in exchange for Rory getting the guys to warm up and accept Cillian.

----------

Y'all, this story was SOOOO GOOD. Maybe even 6 stars. It definitely hit and the timing was right for reading this!

What I loved:
- the CHEMISTRY WAS COOKING. I felt it between Rory and Cillian right away! It might even be considered "insta-love" but actions it was a sloooow burn.
- the drama was....sheesh. Like I knew Cillian was broken and some bad stuff happened in London, but poor boy just kept breaking and breaking and never got a break
- Rory is adorable and hilarious! She is seriously someone I want to be friends with and she has precious, granny hobbies!
- The pacing. I was sold from the first chapter. This is a "kept me up late" book because I never would notice how much time or percentage past on my kindle. All of a sudden I had read 30% in the blink of an eye
- secondary characters were sooo vital and good but didn't steal the show! And they had unique and interesting personalities!

I ADORE Rory and Cillian's story and they're definitely a new favorite couple for me!

And A HUGE moment for the narrators! If Maren is the one who made this decision, she absolutely knocked it out of the park! Both narrators had perfect inflection and their voices somehow matched their characters personalities perfectly! And big thanks for the continuity between Cillain being British and using a narrator with a British accent. We deeply thank you! The audiobook quality was so good and it’s such a fun and easy read!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Maren Moore for this advanced reader copy!

Do I know anything about rugby? Not a clue. Did I devour this book in a single day anyway? Without hesitation - yes!

What's Inside:
🏉 Sports Romance
😈💖 Bad Boy x Good Girl
🚫❤️ Forbidden Romance
😏🔥 Flirting & Spicy Lessons
🙌💔 No Third-Act Breakup

Red Card kicks off the Prescott University series by Maren Moore with a bank. After losing his mother in a tragic car accident, British rugby star Cillian Cairney's life spirals. In a last-ditch effort to salvage his career, he transfers to Prescot University in the U.S. But the team isn't exactly rolling out the welcome mat.

Enter Rory St. James: coach's daughter, equipment manager, and rugby enthusiast. Rory's world revolves around sports, which often lands her in the dreaded friend zone. When she and Cillian strike a deal - he'll teach her the art of flirting and she'll help him win over the team - their connection begins to spark.

I loved watching Rory and Cillian's relationship evolve from reluctant allies to best friends to lovers. Their banter was sharp, their chemistry electric. Cillian's tough exterior hid a tender inside that had me melting. Cillian's grief, care for his younger sister, and his struggle to find belonging added depth to his character.

I found myself hunting for any scene I could with the team. They are funny, chaotic, and full of heart. I wish we saw more of them on the page. In addition, Cillian is often going to or coming from practice or training, but there is never a mention of a game, how the team is doing, etc. I don't necessarily need entire chapters devoted to gameplay, but some mention of them occurring, especially as the team is supposedly looking for a championship, would have been great to see and helped set the stakes for some of the team tensions.

Overall, this was a fun, spicy romcom with heart. I'm excited to read more from Maren Moore. As the series progresses, I am hopeful for learning more about the other guys like Fitz and Ren, and maybe even Cillian's sister…

A special shout-out to the audiobook narrators who did a great job of embodying both Rory and Cillian. I love when a dual POV book has both a male and female narrator to narrate their respective chapters and this one was especially well done.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to hachette audio and NetGalley for this audiobook arc!

I love Maren Moore! Her writing is so good and this book is no different. It’s cute but spicy! The narrators did a fantastic job. I listened and read the book at the same time. It was great!

This one feels more She's the Man meets Ted Lasso, and I am loving it! It is a fun sports romance which will give all of the feels you love from a sports romance. Sexy guys, found family, spice spice spice... It was sooo good! I loved the team bonding and all of the emotions that go with it. I loved how the story made these characters real and relatable. The romance was believable and their chemistry is hot! You can tell the author knows their rugby, which is important for a book like this one. I really enjoyed this one.

On a note, I loved both of the narrators. The male narrator's voice was great with his British accent and even better when he switched back to an American one. It was smooth in its transitions.

Rory and Cillian are adorable in this new sports romance! I loved this story so much. Rory is considered one of the guys, as she grew up around rugby teams. She wants a boyfriend. And she gets a good one!

Many thanks to Net Galley and Hachette Audio for an audio ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Red Card is a rugby college romance. Cillian is a British rugby player that was kicked off his team and comes to the US looking for a second chance on a new team. However, fitting in on the new team is not going well. Rory is the coach’s daughter and equipment manager. She has always been one of the guys and needs someone to teach her how to flirt so she isn’t always in the friendzone. They make a deal, flirting lessons for help bonding with the team.

I really liked the first half of this, it was funny and had me giggling. The second half was still good but became a bit generic romance to me. The characters were very lovable, even the side characters, and I liked seeing the growth in Cillian. I wish there was more rugby, besides some mentions of practice the actual sport was nonexistent which was a bummer. I also wanted a bit higher stakes, the conflict felt too easy.

I thought the dual narration was pretty good both performed their characters well. However the male narrator’s female voices were cringey at times and took me out of the story. I think this would have been better as a duet narration.

Overall an entertaining listen and I would read other books from this author.

3.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ALC.

Classic Maren Moore charm! Red Card is effortlessly swoony, delightfully fun, and deliciously sexy! It's sincere, heartfelt, with just the right dash of drama...and also full of plenty of rugby team antics AND thick thighs. And as always, Maren Moore balances heart, heat, and humor with deft acumen. And the spice is spicing! Prepare to be charmed by the most endearing cast of rugby heartthrobs and the most delightfully fierce but vulnerable heroine who keeps them all in line. I'm already madly in love with the Prescott U world!

The audio for this was so well done! (If only it was duet!) But the dual format worked well since both narrators could voice both accents relatively well. Stella Hunter is always fantastic, and I really enjoyed how she balanced both sass and emotional vulnerability in how she voiced Rory. Rory has SO much heart, and i just adored her performance. And I knew someone special would need to voice Cillian- someone with both grit and edge, a little rough and gravelly, and with the "right" British accent (not too posh), and Matt Sykes definitely fit the bill. He's delicious to listen to, and he also brings that glimmering sensitivity we see in Cillian as the story progresses. Both really fit my conception of the characters, and added so much charisma to the performances.

What to expect:
-new adult/college
-rugby romance
-coach's daughter
-British bad boy x coach's daughter
-flirting lessons/dating "coaching"
-reformed bad boy
-amazing secondary cast
-high spice
-She's the Man Vibes

**Review: *Red Card* by Maren Moore – ★★★★☆**
**Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

*Red Card* is a fun, character-driven sports romance centered around redemption, growth, and unexpected love.

Cillian Carney, once the captain of a UK rugby team, finds himself in hot water after a string of bad decisions gets him kicked off the squad. With his career hanging by a thread, he joins an American team for a final shot at redemption. His success hinges on making this fresh start work—no room for mistakes.

Enter Rory St. James, the daughter of the team’s coach. She’s warm, likable, and well-loved by the players, but struggles with dating due to her awkwardness around men outside her rugby bubble. When Rory agrees to help Cillian navigate team dynamics in exchange for his guidance with her dating life, neither expects the arrangement to lead to more. But sparks fly, and what begins as a strategic partnership soon blossoms into a charming romance.

This story offers a satisfying mix of humor, chemistry, and emotional moments. Both Rory and Cillian are endearing in their own ways, and their dynamic feels natural and well-paced. The villain of the story is appropriately frustrating and adds tension without overwhelming the romance.

Overall, *Red Card* is an enjoyable listen/read with lovable leads, a unique sports backdrop, and a sweet slow burn romance.

A story that's heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, it just pulled on all my heartstrings in the best way!
Oh Cillian Cairney, what have you done to me?! He's the MMC, and has dealt with his share of heartbreak in life, including the death of his Mum, and getting kicked off his rugby team at his London University, landing him at Prescott University in New England. His new teammates give him anything but a warm welcome, and Cillian is trying to fit in with his new team, while trying not to repeat his past. When he offers to help give Rory St. James, the coach's daughter dating lessons, in exchange for her helping him fit in on his new team, we see his true heart, and what a gentleman he is, and how he's learned from his past mistakes that landed him in America.
I related so much to the FMC, Rory St. James. She's a girl who grew up in a sports world, and doesn't have much experience with dating. She barely knows how to flirt with guys, and the few experiences she's had haven't been positive. Rory is the example of a strong female, but she also has an extremely sweet soft side to her, and can't keep her eyes of Cillian.
This book had friendship, romance, fun banter, wit, and I couldn't put it down!
The audiobook narrators were perfect for this story, especially Matt Sykes reading Cillian's part, my ears were in heaven!

Thank you for this arc!

This was such a sweet college sports romance! The story and banter was amazing. I think the pacing was steady and good.

Cillian is such an amazing character, not only grumpy and tattooed but also has a heart of gold and is protective, plus he plays rugby? I ate it right up. His relationship with Rory was amazing, they had a lot of good chemistry which ended in some amazing steamy scenes. They also had great banter which made the book so much more fun and definitely made me laugh. Rory’s character was written so well and you can definitely see her growing throughout the book!

The voice acting was done by Matt Sykes and Stella Hunter, they both did an amazing job voicing Cillian and Rory, I felt like their voices definitely matched the characters!

I’m curious to see if this will turn into a series, would definitely check out the other books!

***Trigger Warning: Loss of a a parent***

Red Card follows Cillian who gets kicked off of his rugby team in London. The only team that will take him now is an Ivy League school in New Hampshire. All of the guys hate him, the coach doesn’t trust him, and his fate is in the fate of the coaches daughter Rory. Cillian knows it is going to be hard to get people to like him. That is until Rory comes up with a proposition that will benefit both of them. Rory has no luck when it comes to guys. They always see her has a tom boy and friend zone her. So Rory asks Cillian to teach her how to flirt and get guys. In exchange she will help Cillian get the guys on the rugby team to like him. But the more time they spend together they start falling for each other.

If you know me I am a big Maren Moore fan. If she writes it am going to be obsessed with it and love it. I have read all her books and this might be my favorite one. Okay I know I say that about every one of her books, but I mean it this time. This was so good!! It had the perfect amount of spice ( like all her books). Cillian was just EVERYTHING. I love that he was a bad boy, but also put this family above everything. I also just thought they were the perfect couple. ( sorry Davis and Zara I still love both of you though, but Cillian and Rory are now my number one). Also this was the first rugby romance I have read. I knew a little bit about ruby because my brother and his best friend played. You could really tell that Maren but a lot of research into learning the sport. Anyway I loved this so much and now I fear I have a book hang over. I just love Maren Moore so much!

Thank you so much Maren Moore and Forever pub for the ARC of this book. This comes out August 12.

I loved this dual POV college rugby friends to lovers romance between Rory, the coach's daughter and Cillian, the new Brit on the team who is the sole caregiver to his younger sister who has Type 1 diabetes. I loved the dating lessons, the sexy banter, the mental health rep (grief over the loss of a parent) and the found family rugby team vibes. This was great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Hannah Grace, Elle Kennedy or Grace Reilly. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!