This was really fun and super spicy! I dont know much about Rugby but ....I still dont know much other than the field is called "the pitch" and the men who play are rough and huge. Rory is a sweet fmc. Coaches daughter and college sports romance are two tropes I loved in this!! I loved the older brother/ younger sister parts of the story the best. The way Cillian has a ptsd reaction to his sister being in the hospital was more emotional than I anticipated. The grieving aspects of this story are done well and seem really thought out.

5/5 Stars 3/5 Spice

Tropes:
Sports Romance - Rugby
Bad Boy x Good Girl
Forbidden
Coach's Daughter
Spicy Lessons

🎧 Narration: Stella Hunter was the perfect Rory! i loved her performance. Matt Sykes was a new to me narrator & he was FANTASTIC. i will definitely be keeping my eye out for more from him in the future. if you're an audio listener this one is a must listen! 10/10

oh cillian you are the love of my life. this is my favorite maren moore book so far & that's saying a lot bc i've read every single one. british accents, ruby thighs & a bad boy with a dirty mouth - need i say more? spicy lessons is always an elite trope & this one is *chefs kiss* the banter in this one is so fun. add in forbidden goodness of being the coach's daughter while being the last guy her dad would want her to date? delicious. i was glued to the page & flew through this one. 10/10 recommend!

This was a fun a quick read! I don't fully see how She's The Man ties into the story (as pithced in the summary) but it still gave those fun rom-com vibes nonetheless! I wish we explored a bit more of how Cillian fell for Rory but given the pacing of this story, I can forgive it.

When I saw comparisons to She's the Man I had to pick this one up. I enjoyed it overall, though I was actually hoping for a little more rugby and teammate interactions (shocking as a non-sports gal). I enjoyed watching Rory, the coach's daughter and team equipment manager, help Cillian integrate with his hostile new team members. I liked watching them slowly open up to one another, though I feel like Rory's transition from being awkward around men to addicted to hooking up with Cillian was abrupt.

If you like a college romance I'd recommend picking this up -- I enjoyed the dual narration audiobook.

Absolute banger. No notes. The literal best Maren Moore book out there. 11/10. I cannot say enough good thinks. Stella Hunter and Matt Sykes were beyond incredible in this audio, and I cannot describe how much I loved this story.

I normally do not like sports romances, but I love this one. Killian and Rory made the cutest couple. Killian was a dark, brooding, tattooed, rugby player who recently lost his parents. He coped with the death by drinking, taking drugs, and sleeping with women. He gets kicked off of his rugby team in the UK and is only accepted onto a rugby team in the US because his coach called in a favor. He moves to America and knows that he cannot make any mistakes or else his career will be over. However, his new teammates do not accept him and their dislike is visible on the field. Rory agrees to help Killian went over the team in exchange for providing flirting and dating advice. Both of their plans work a little too well because they end up falling in love.

Thanks to @hachetteaudio and @netgalley for the #gifted audiobook.
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I had such a blast listening to Red Card by Maren Moore. Matt Sykes and Stella Hunter absolutely crushed the narration. The banter? Hilarious. The chemistry? Off the charts. The rugby vibes? Strong enough to make me want to Google the rules (still confused, but loving it). I won’t lie, Ilona Maher brought my attention to rugby!
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British bad boy Cillian “Kill” Cairney isn’t exactly winning popularity contests when he lands at an Ivy League school after a career implosion in London. Between hostile teammates, a skeptical coach, and a whole lot to prove, the last thing he needs is to get tangled up with Rory, the coach’s fierce, totally off limits daughter.
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But Rory has a proposition for him. One that involves some lessons (not all of them about rugby). And suddenly, the lines between “for practice” and “for real” get dangerously blurry.
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This is a perfect mix of sports romance fun and emotional depth. There’s swoony slow burn and witty comebacks, but it also doesn’t shy away from tackling grief.

Maren did the dang thing with this rugby romance! A new sport, a British MMC, and rugby thighs, what more could a girl want?

I thought it was refreshing to see Maren tackle new to her things. You can tell she was trying her best to do the sport justice and she did such a good job with the British accent!

I actually listened to the audio of this one and the MMC performed Cillian so naturally and it was highly entertaining to listen to!

I loved this one, I thought it was a fresh take on She’s The Man with the “coach’s daughter”, and ofcourse all of the fun “teach me how to get guys to notice me” moments.

Some of my favorite things in this book include:
- The dress scene
- The bond that the team develops with Cillian along the way.
- The equipment closet scene
- Cillian’s relationship with his sister

I can’t wait to see what else comes out of the Prescott University! Thank you so much to Forever Publishing and Maren Moore for the ARC galley!

Thank you to Net Galley and Dreamscape Select for the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ — A Sports Romcom with Heart, Banter, and “She’s All That” Vibes
Red Card by Maren Moore was such a fun and heartwarming sports romance! This book had all the tropes I love rolled into one: sunshine x grumpy, bad boy turned good, fake dating, and of course — a swoony rugby star.

Cillian and Rory’s relationship absolutely stole the show for me. Like the promo promised, it really does give off She’s All That movie vibes — the kind of slow transformation and emotional growth that makes you root for them from page one. Their chemistry was undeniable, but what made it even better was the way their connection grew naturally through humor, trust, and vulnerability.

I also adored the rugby team’s dynamic. Their constant banter added so much levity to the story, but what really warmed my heart was how they embraced Rory like a little sister. It gave the group a found-family feel that made the whole cast of characters even more lovable.

And let’s talk about Cillian for a second. Yes, he has the classic grumpy/bad boy edge, but his soft side is what makes him unforgettable. The way he takes responsibility for his sister, managing her diabetes care and showing how deeply he loves her, proves he’s more than just the broody athlete. That tenderness is exactly the side we’re all here for.

Overall, Red Card is a wonderful sports romcom filled with laughs, heart, and a romance that makes you swoon while tugging at your emotions. Maren Moore nailed it, and I can’t wait to read more from her!

Fable review: Check out this review on Fable
https://fable.co/review/273998f8-7b83-4d85-95d6-bf7b1bc71d3a/share

I loved the ebook and the audio did not disappoint!!! I really love this sports romance! I will be reading more from this author in the future.

My first book by this author (I was waiting for a new series!) and it won’t be my last. What a fun fake-dating, sports rom-com. Tired of being the wing woman and a forever friend, the rugby coach’s daughter, Rory, seeks the assistance of the newest player, British bad boy Cillian, to help her in the area of romance. Their time together leads to more, with him being a patient mentor and she the willing learner. I enjoyed how the characters revealed their true personalize over the course of the book, with Rory’s innocence turning into confidence and Kill finally being able to showcase his inner green flag loyalty. This was sweet, spicy and just right for a sports romcom.
Also new to me were the narrators, Stella Hunter and Matthew Skyes, as I was able to listen to this as an audiobook. Performed in dual narration, their voices were a stunning combination that portrayed the angst, intimacy and support of the two characters. An enjoyable experience! 4.25 stars

wasn't my favorite sports romance. I was really excited being a rugby book because we don't get those too often but I felt like there was too much predictability. I know so many people are going to go feral for it though so I don't want to sway or discourage anyones opinions. the narrators were fantastic too, it just wasn't for me.

This was such a fun sports romance! I love a good “teach me to date” premise and I think this one did it really well! Rory is literally me, I love her so much. From assertive and sibling-like banter with the guys on the team to bumbling dork with attractive guys at parties, I was like omg twin! What really sealed the deal was both of our favorite food’s being McDonald’s chicken nuggets.

I loved that we also got Cillian’s POV throughout. We got to see how much being part of the team meant to him and how he saw himself falling for Rory the more time they spent together. They were so cute together!

I think overall this was a super cute and relatable college romance. No annoying miscommunications or excessive drama. I finished this book in just a day, I could barely pause it. I kept wanting more of Rory and Cillian.

The audiobook narrators did a great job, too. They totally matched what I would imagine for Cillian and Rory. Plus, I just love a sexy rough British accent. 😆

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the Advanced Listening Copy for review. All opinions are my own.

This was an amazing story. The romance was swoon worthy. The friendship between the rugby player was beautiful and they accepting him. The narrators matched the characters’ personality perfectly. I can’t wait for the series to continue!

Rory is tired of being one of the guys and being friend-zoned by every guy she’s interested in. So she proposes a deal with the new bad boy, Cillian “Kill” Cairney, who has been transferred to the rugby team... he helps her learn to flirt, and she helps him fit in with the team.

This was a fun, sweet, and spicy romance that made me want a snickerdoodle! 🤣
I always love the “teach me” trope. I loved how Cillian was helping her flirt with guys, but really being so jealous and wanting her for himself. 

I would’ve liked to see more of Cillian playing rugby. I feel like it lacked a bit for a sports romance. 

The audiobook was fantastic. Stella Hunter and Matt Sykes did an amazing job. I loved Matt’s accent!

ARC/ALC review

🎧Dual narration
🎙️Narrators: Stella Hunter and Matt Sykes

🏉Rugby
🏉College
🏉Coach’s daughter
🏉British bad boy
🏉Teach me
🏉He rides a motorcycle

I have read all of Maren Moore’s books. I am so proud of her for getting traditionally published.
Her books are always so fun and cute. They give you the right amount of nostalgia while still feeling fresh and new… this book was no different!

The narrators were great and a great listen!

5 ⭐ 3.5 🌶️ 5 🎧

This was my first Maren story, but it certainly won't be my last. I absolutely adored Rory and Cillian; they were so cute together and their banter was perfect. Cillian is a little bit broken and watching Rory seal those cracks and get him to open up was just the best.

I really enjoyed the storyline as well with the British bad boy crashing the tight knit rugby team. I had a feeling I knew where the third act was headed... But I definitely didn't guess the outcome/resolution and was really pleasantly surprised by it. I thought it was so well done and it makes me even more excited to continue on with Prescott University.

The audio was amazing. Matt Sykes and Stella Hunter were both so perfect and I absolutely loved this listen. Thank you so much to Forever and Hachette Audio for this advanced copy!

Well....I listened to this in one sitting. It was entertaining and fun. Was it something memorable? Not necessarily but it was an easy and quick listen. Cillian is the British bad boy rugby player that's moved to America to play. He starts to bond with the coach's daughter, Rory and hilarity ensues.

There were some goofy/cheesy parts in the dialogue, but for the most part I think this was a good summer read. I'd be interested to see where this series is headed. There are some interesting guys on the team (loved their dynamic!) and also...Cillian's sister?! I know we've gotta get her story at some point.

Thank you to NetGalley, Maren Moore, and Hachette Audio for allowing me to listen and review!

This grumpy with sunshine, rugby player with coaches daughter romance would be perfect for fans of spicy sports romances, especially those by authors like Tessa Bailey and Elle Kennedy. I felt like the plot slow to start but it was super spicy throughout and the drama at the end was definitely more engaging! There was a sort of speed bump or miscommunication, but there wasn't a third act break-up, which I really appreciated. I will definitely continue this series - I hope that Cillian's sister Ashlan is the female MC in the next installment. Some potential trigger warnings include drug use and abuse, car accident/ death of a parent (prior to the start of the book), and health problems associated with diabetes.

Red Card is a rugby romance that follows Cillian Cairney, a British bad boy whose behavior has gotten him kicked off of his rugby team in London. The only team willing to take him now is a team at an Ivy League school in New Hampshire, but they don’t even try to hide the fact that they don’t like or trust him. Cillian has to prove himself, but has no idea that his fate might actually lie in the hands of the coach’s sassy, rugby-obsessed daughter, Rory.

I absolutely devoured this book! I have a serious soft spot for bad boys who are trying to do better, so Cillian just had my whole heart from the moment I first met him on the page and learned about all he had been through and how he was trying to change.

I also adored Rory right away and found her to be such a relatable character. Even though she’s in college, she’s always with her dad acting as an unofficial assistant coach and hanging out with the team. She’s just “one of the guys” and so her flirting skills are lacking. When she sees how much Cillian is struggling to fit in with the team, she offers to help pave the way for him if he’ll give her flirting lessons and help get her out of the friend zone. I loved the chemistry between Rory and Cillian, especially once those lessons started and they started to actually catch feelings for one another.

The romance was fun, flirty, and spicy, and with Rory being the coach’s daughter, forbidden as well, and I loved every page of it. What I also loved though was that the story also had a lot of emotional depth. Cillian is not only trying to secure this new position in the U.S., but he’s also processing grief and trying to care for his sister. He shows so much vulnerability it was impossible not to root for him.

I read this one with my ears and eyes and highly recommend both formats. The audiobook is outstanding! Matt Sykes and Stella Hunter narrate, & I loved the contrast of the accents & how well their voices worked together.