Red Card
Maren Moore

ALC Review!
This book was such a fun read! I loved the story line and how their relationship started.
The FMC is sweet, adorable, caring and an authentic woman. She adored her character and passion she has for the game and her family. I love that she is so confident but when it comes to dating she has zero idea what she’s doing and is so lost. I loved getting to see her character grow and blossom the more time she spends with the MMC.
The MMC is just wonderful. He’s lived a hard life with a great loss and had to deal with the consequences of his actions that only made him who he is. As always, I loved seeing his walls break down and getting to know him. And then you add the British accent. Oh yes.
The tension and slow burn in this was top notch just bagging for one of them to make the damn move. I enjoyed watching their relationship grow from strangers to friends, to something so much more.
The audio was done really well. The actors really brought the story to life and made it so much more.

Rugby may be my future but Rory is my end game .. swoon

Thank you Net Galley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) & Maren Moore for the ALC. My thoughts are that of my own !

Red Card is a college sports romance, set in a new world by Maren Moore.

When Cillian moves from the UK to America to play rugby at Prescott he’s not openly welcomed by the team. His teammates immediately ice him out which finds Coach St. James having to decide on his team or the new guy. Determined to make it work, coach enlist his daughter, Rory, to help unite the team so they can learn to play among another harmoniously.

Rory has her own hurdles, talking to guys and dating.
Constantly called “just one of the guys” she wants to change how she’s seen and find a meaningful relationship.

Together Cillian and Rory team up to help each other with their issues and what ensues is a “She’s the Man/She’s All That” story that’s exciting, fun, and swoony.

Tropes you can expect:
🏉Rugby Player/Coach’s Daughter
🇬🇧British Bad Boy MMC
😤Grumpy/ ☀️Sunshine
🌶️Spicy
🏫New Adult/College Romance
❣️She's the Man x She’s All That Vibes

I also received an ALC of Red Card and it was a great listen! Matt Sykes and Stella Hunter did amazing with bringing to life Cillian and Rory.
Thank you to Forever Publishing, Maren Moore and NetGalley.

So good! A bit of a slow burn as Rory is learning from Cillian but so worth the wait! Maren’s books have always been a favorite for me- so excited that we’re entering a new world with Rugby! If you get the chance to listen to the audiobook, I highly recommend it! Matt Sykes is the perfect Cillian!

Absolutely loved this book. I read it on NetGalley and was happy to see the audio version. It was perfection. This book is going to be a hit when it releases.

'I found a home in Rory St James. I've realised that houses with walls, roofs and memories, they are not home, they're simply somewhere you life, where you go to bed each night and wake up every morning. But your real home is the beating breathing heart of the person you love. The one you'd do anything in the world for." Cillian and Rory's love story is powerfull, full of emotions, tough moments and funny ones. The audiobook with Matt Skyes and Stella Hunter is awesome. Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC. This is my honest review.

4.5 stars!! ⭐️ I ate this up. It was such an easy listen because it was that good! Our bad boy, Cillian, teaches his coach’s daughter, Rory, how to date and we all know how this trope ends!

What to expect:
✨ rugby romance
✨ player x coach’s daughter
✨ grumpy x sunshine
✨ slow burn
✨ fake dating

10/10 recommend the audiobook! Matt Sykes and Stella Hunter were incredible. I was completely engaged the entire time. Matt nailed the accent and they both did a fantastic job differentiating between characters. This is a dual narration.

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

5 ⭐️
Tropes: rugby romance, coaching romance w/ dating lessons, coaches daughter, secret dating, found family, grumpy x sunshine, friends to lovers

“Sometimes I think Rory is the only thing I’ve ever truly gotten right. She saved me in ways that I know she couldn’t possibly understand”

This was my first audiobook EVER and it’s safe to say im hooked 😍 I picked it up every chance I got. This was my first book by this author and it will definitely not be my last, I adored her writing and everything about this book!

Cillian Cairney was faced with a suspension from his home rugby team and school - lucky for him his coach pulled some strings and got him into a school in the states. He had everything to lose uprooting his and his sister’s lives and making sure he didn’t squander what was probably his last chance to play rugby professionally. But he was off to a terrible start because as much as he didn’t want to be there, his new teammates really didn’t want him there and they were not shy about it. He met Rory St. James on his first day and he was amused at how a petite girl like her had all the rugby players wrapped around her finger.

Rory St. James is the coaches daughter and all the rugby players are like her brothers. She had no problem talking to them because they were like family but when it came to talking to other guys she never had luck thanks to her awkwardness and her nerves getting the best of her. To her horror she was always seen as just one of the guys, getting friend zoned and she was sick of it.

In came Cillian, the British bad boy - the one all the girls on campus were freaking out over. Rory came up with a plan that would not only help her but it would help Cillian as well. She would help him get in with the team IF he coached her on how to date. Easy right?

Cillian and Rory worked together on their plan and helped each other - never did they think things would be more than what they set out to do. Cillian realized how hard Rory was on herself and didn’t think she was desirable…

“You’re perfect exactly the way you are St James and if any asshole make you think that you have to change to be what he needs he’s the problem not you.”

Not only did they help each other but they became the best of friends and I absolutely adored that! But spending so much time around each other made it impossible to continue the way they were, and they finally gave in…

“I can’t help myself, it’s like I’ve had one single taste and now I’m addicted and desperate for another”

I SWOONED 😍 Cillian had a hard past and my heart broke for him. I loved how Rory helped him heal and helped him be in a better place. They had amazing chemistry, the banter was chefs kiss 💋 and I couldn’t get enough!

“I’ve found a home in Rory St James, I realized that houses with walls, roofs and memories, their not home, they are simple somewhere you live where you go to bet each night and wake up every morning but your real home is beating breathing heart of the person you love, the one you would do anything in the world for that’s who she is for me she neseled her way into my heart, into the seems of my soul, into my bones, my breath - everything belongs to her. I didn’t even realize I still had a fucken heart until it started to beat again for her”

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

CILLIAN my goodness what a grumpy softie 🥹

Thank you Forever & Hachette Audio for the ARC & ALC. All opinions are my own.

✦ tropes & stuff:
🏫 new adult/college
🏉 rugby - sports romance
🌦 grumpy sunshine
🖤 tattooed British (former) bad boy
🏟 coach’s daughter & equipment manager fmc (and TEAM SWEETHEART 🥰)
🤫 secret hookups & “teach me how to date”
🫶🏼 family + found family
❤️‍🩹 grief rep
🩺 type 1 diabetes rep (Cillian’s sister)
🚫 no 3rd act breakup
💕 dual 1st person pov

📝 mini blurb:
New to Prescott University & the team, British rugby player & bad boy Cillian is keeping his head down - show up, play, and don’t get into trouble.

Tired of being “one of the guys,” coach’s daughter Rory strikes a deal with Cillian - she’ll help him bond with the team, and he’ll teach her how to date & not end up in the friend zone.

•┈••✦ review ✦••┈•

🎧 audio+ebook | ⭐️: 5 | 🌶️: 3 |

I adored both Rory & Cillian, and this book - it was the perfect book at the perfect moment for me 🥰

Their relationship developed so naturally, from friendship to trust & vulnerability, and that’s one of my favorite things to read 🥹
also totally obsessed with a jealous man who “doesn’t want more” 🤭

I loved so many things about this, aside from the romance - how Rory was treated by the guys on the team & her dad (total respect), Cillian’s relationship with his sister, and the way certain things played out (no spoilers here).

🎧 audiobook thoughts:
LOVED both narrators, they were PERFECT for their characters! Stella Hunter as Rory was such a vibe, and Matt Sykes’ accent for Cillian was wonderful.

Red Card was a cute, sweet, steamy, lighthearted sports romance romp that I quite enjoyed. It was also funny and had some emotionally charged moments.

It was a joy to listen to this story. The narrators were well chosen to depict this story. They embodied these characters tones to a T. The British accent was well done. They both did an awesome job bringing this story to life.

I loved the way the romance between Rory and Cillian developed as well the comradery between the team. I also loved the tension and chemistry between Rory and Cillian it was definitely palpable. My fave part was watching them fall for each other angst and all. It was so amusing to watch.

I enjoyed this book and I'm so looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

A girl who’s “one of the boys” so nobody can see her as “dateable” is so relatable and something I often feel, having a lot of guy friends and no one wanting to date me. This book had an amazing found family with the Rugbee team, and it killed it with the spicy romance. The characters were likable and their chemistry was off the charts!

Expect: Flirting Coach, Coach’s daughter and rugbee player, He is a hot biker bad boy, good big brother, steamy romance, sports romance, and found family

“Let the whole world know you’re mine.”

Thank you Netgalley and Hachette Audio | Forever for the free alc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. I really liked this one. Tje narration was done perfectly. I enjoyed how it was done and mote then kept my attention. I loved the taboo portion of it and the bond of the FMc and her father. It kinda gave me Armageddon vibes just not set in space, for the father daughter relationship.

This was my first my the author will need to check out her backlist.

Suggest giving it a try

4.5/5☆

I absolutely loved this rugby romance. I think it was my first one. This isn't usually a trope I devour, but I fell for Rory and Cillian early and couldn't get enough of them. Their effortless back and forth and the pining from both of them was just on point. I can't wait for more of this series. 4.5 stars.
The narrators did a fantastic job.
Thanks to Hachette, Netgalley and Maren Moore for an early copy.

I absolutely LOVED this audiobook! Stella Hunter (she is always fantastic) and Matt Sykes were a great duo for portraying Rory & Cillian! It is dual narration, & they both were so good during their chapters. How they brought the story & characters to life, expressed all the emotions that they went through, it was just fantastic!! You really felt everything that they felt, & it made the reading experience even better than anticipated (expectations are always high with how great Maren is). ESPECIALLY getting to hear Cillian's (Matt's) British accent! Talk about swoony!

Full story review will be on the book listing, but just know that I 1000% recommend it, as well as this audiobook!

This was so cute! I really enjoyed the premise, the character development, and sweet moments.

Red Card features:
🏉 Rugby player x coach’s daughter
😍 Bad boy x good girl
💕 Dating coach
🥺 They can’t help but falling for each other

The audio was so great, and you should definitely check this one out when it releases on the 12th.

3⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC!

The story was good and entertaining but nothing out of the ordinary. It was a great sports romance with a little bit of spice.

Tropes: Coach’s daughter, rugby romance, the trope where the MMC teaches the FMC how to flirt… lol

Both narrators (Matt Sykes & Stella Hunter) did a great job!

ARC and ALC review
Publication date 12 August 2025.

"Red Card" by Maren Moore is a new adult sports romance.

I received an e-ARC from Forever and an ALC from Hachette Audio (via Netgalley).
Opinions from this review are completely my own.

What you can expect:
- rugby romance
- fake dating
- coach's daughter
- friends to lovers
- grief
- found family
- banter
- spice

Cillian is a British rugby player that get a permanent red card from his team in London and the only team that will have him is an Ivy League school in New Hampshire.
Rory is coach's daughter, friends with the team and she can help him get the starting position.

I liked the fake dating trope in books as it helps them get to know each other better.
Rory and Cillian banter a lot, but also become friends before developing feelings.
The relationship has a slow burn, but they have great chemistry.
Rory is such a good influence for him and I like that she had a lot of confidence in him.

The audiobook is narrated in dual style by Matt Sykes and Stella Hunter.
They did a great job bringing the characters to life.
I enjoyed a lot the British accent and the overall experience was great so I recommend it.

3.7⭐️ /🎧

I will admit I almost cried, but also I definitely laughed out loud. This had some really funny moments that took me by surprise making those moments even better. I was sold on this book mostly because it’s being advertised as She’s all that meets She’s the Man and both those movies are a core memory for me. Did this book live up to those expectations? Hmm.

This ended up being a very softcore romance. Cillian and Rory are sweet together and I really enjoyed the comfort between them. The beginning starts off slow but they eventually make a deal, Rory offers to help Cillian get along with his rugby teammates and in return Cillian teaches Rory how to flirt/date. When I tell you Rory’s initial flirting skills are horrendous, I mean it was physically painful. The secondhand embarrassment I had for this girl was something.

The audiobook was great. Matt Sykes and Stella Hunter were the perfect duo for Rory and Cillian. Keep in mind this is a dual narration and not a duet narration. I thought Stella did a great job with her male voice, I kept forgetting that it wasn’t duet, until you get to Cillian’s POV and it will quickly remind you. That’s very typical though and easy for me to look past in most cases and this was one of them.

There was a lot of mystery as to why Cillian received a red card and had to move to America. If I’m being honest, you don’t find out till like 90% in and I wish it was delved into throughout the book or earlier on. I think it would have brought the two closer. Overall this felt very low stakes even when the stakes were high. I enjoyed it for the most part.

I would’ve personally liked to see more of the side characters and even the sport itself. This is a rugby book but you don’t get much other than the mention of practices and some weight training. I ended up liking the end and I wouldn’t consider what happened a third act break up (yay).

If you’re looking for something cute, low stakes, with lots of humor then I’d recommend this book!

I really enjoyed the story on this one.
I always love a forbidden trope. She’s the coach daughter and he is the new player on the team.

Cillian was definitely drool worthy hot British bad boy who under that mask is just trying to survive and make it.
Rory our beautiful girl who is trying to blossom with the help of cillian but him trying to help her shows how they are truly made for each other!

Maren always knows how to suck you in with a good romance.

The narrator’s do an amazing job bringing these characters alive for us.

“Leaving it all on the field is one thing. Giving his all to love? Terrifying.”

Firstly Thank NetGalley and the publisher for the audio ALC of this book. Please note this gift has not affected the way in which I have reviewed this book.

#RedCard by MarenMoore is book one in the PrescottUniversity series, and is a 3 ⭐️ read.

The Audiobook out on 12th August 2025

British bad boy Cillian “Kill” Cairney is ruthless on the rugby pitch. After getting a permanent red card from his team in London, the only team that will have him is an Ivy League school in New Hampshire. But the guys hate him, his coach doesn’t trust him, and worst of all? His starting position is in the hands of his coach’s fiery, rugby-obsessed, very off-limits daughter.

Rory St.James has spent all her life immersed in rugby. Which is… part of the problem. She’s tired of being friend-zoned. She wants to get the guy, and to do that, she needs the frustratingly charming Cillian to teach her.

But the more time they spend together, the more lines begin to blur. In a game where trust and loyalty are tested, who will be the winner? Or will love be the final red card?

—:—:—:—:—

She’s All That meets She’s the Man in this New Adult sports romance about a British bad boy rugby player who’s forced to start over in America and finds an unlikely ally in the coach’s daughter when she offers him a deal he can’t resist.

This spicy sports romance give all the right feels. From the He falls first, to the dating coach eliminates, and then the tragic beginning of where the story starts. I enjoyed myself in this world of Cillian and Rory.

Favourite Quote: “I feel like a man from the renaissance, peeping at ankles!”

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!

Audio Book Available
Publisher: HachetteAudio | Forever
Narrator: MattSykes & StellaHunter
Release date: 12AUG2025

sports romance with almost zero sports, the best! I learned zilch about rugby, but the found family/comradely I love in sports rom coms was fully present.

Rory is a little pick-me girl coded, I’m sorry, but I don’t trust a chick who doesn’t have any girlfriends. I got the feeling some of the character descriptions were written by a man, you know the “dainty girl, the big man”yeah yeah we get it…but also, it’s hot lol. Killer is so Roy Kent coded, surely but actually kind and sweet.

Thank you Net Galley for the ALC!