Shoot Your Shot

Spicy! I enjoyed the forced proximity between the two main characters, who knew each other before and suddenly lived in the same building years later. I think the author did an excellent job with their stories, and I was like invested in the outcome. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Shoot Your Shot is a sports romance novel by Fiona Embers. It is a spicy feel good story.
Roxie Nowak is a former college basketball player, who was forced to quit basketball after a career ending injury.
Chris Dunn is her hot new neighbor, and a blast from her past.
The two quickly reunite and a friendship grows. As their friendship develops, a mutual attraction grows.
Soon, they are left to decide whether they will Shoot their shot, or leave the court empty.

I really enjoyed this book! Sports romances are my favorite, and I loved that this had the female main character as the athlete!
I loved that the characters were well developed and had strong personalities.
Definitely was super spicy, but it only made me love it more!
Cannot wait to read more by this author!

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn’t your normal boy and girl meet and we as readers go on a journey with them about how they end up getting together. This was more of a story around their past and their insecurities affecting how they define their relationship once they are together. They are both guarding their hearts because neither wants to get hurt.

Chris was a great MMC. He was respectful, considerate and a little dominant in the bedroom. Roxie is a strong, independent FMC who knows what she wants. Together they have great chemistry and there are quite a lot of open door spicy scenes between them.

What I didn’t like is that everything seemed to be Chris’ fault when he was trying to be respectful and chivalrous. I would have liked to see Roxie take more ownership and accept that her conversations and lack of verbal signals were also to blame.

Overall a great read that I do recommend. However it’s worth noting basketball is very much in the background of this storyline so I wouldn’t say it’s a sports romance.

I really enjoyed this book because its different from other romance books! Both main characters had problems accepting love. Chris wasn't used to feeling loved. His parents didn't give him the time of the day and Roxie helped him cope with that. Roxie on the other hand didn't think she was worthy of love. She saw it as a waste of time and preferred friends with benefits. However, this miscommunication was bothering me. There were multiple times where a simple talk could have avoided everything, but it wasn't bad enough to affect my review. Also, I would not consider this a sports romance. Overall, it was a quick easy read and I enjoyed it for the most part and I definitely recommend.

I loved that this book took place in Madison, WI. The references to things that I knew about made me feel connected to the story.
The angst angle of the book was a little too much for me - miscommunications/misunderstanding is definitely not my favorite trope.
The smut scenes were great!

Not my usual book genre but this was a good read. I felt like I needed more back story on both the leads. Enjoyed the funny moments and the back and forth. Strong female lead was a nice touch. Still worth the time to read. I received an ARC and review with no compensation.

This book did a great job of holding my attention and introducing a storyline to me that I haven't already read!

Such a good story 🫶🏼🌟.

This is Fiona Embers debut book and well done my dear.

Vulnerability was a fact both characters struggle to show and for them it was difficult to accept love. It was easy to connect with both main characters because there's no person in this world who hasn't struggled to feel worthy.

I loved this story 💘 A big applause for the character development - Chris acted like an absolute joke because of his insecurities 😠. I don't justify him but I can't blame him, he had such a peculiar family and traumas are real even we you are adult. However he wanted to be better for Roxie and looked for professional help.

And can we talk about Roxie's friends? *Chef kiss* their love and devotion for Roxie was so sweet. See, Roxie had a difficult relationship with her family and she felt no valuable enough for love, so having such a good friends was so important in this book - no matter what Liz and Joe always show her how loved she was.

Thank you Netgalley, Fiona Embers and Evernight Publishing for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#NetGalley #ShootYourShot
I love this slow burn friends to lovers the author wrote with the main characters. The main characters are two people who struggle with coming to terms with finding love. Roxie is former basketball player who uses casual sex to fill the void of not being what men want (shorter, smaller women.) And Chris is a man who grew up mostly neglected by his rich parents. Overall, I enjoyed the small town romance and the characters relationship throughout the book.

"Shoot Your Shot" is a captivating romance novel that takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of love, desire, and second chances.

The story follows the journey of Chris and Roxie as they navigate the twists and turns of transitioning from friends to lovers. With a skillful blending of themes like second chances and forced proximity, the author creates an emotionally resonant and steamy story.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this book is the perfect blend of thought-provoking character dynamics and the way they evolve emotionally throughout the story. The honest portrayal of the vulnerabilities and complexities of love adds depth to the story, making the characters feel authentic.

However, although the emotional depth of the characters is a strength, there are moments when the protagonist's internal monologues and self-doubt can feel repetitive and overwhelming.

Overall, the book is a captivating mix of steamy encounters and heartfelt emotion. If you are a fan of erotic romance or enjoy sports-themed love stories, then this book is a must-read.

Content Warning: This book contains explicit sexual content, strong language, and themes of insecurity and self-doubt.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Shoot Your Shot
By Fiona Embers

If you’re looking for something spicy I recommend Shoot Your Shot! 🥵Heat Level 6 🍆
Chris MMC believes in love and relationships but Roxie’s FMC is his polar opposite.
Moving back to Madison taking a job with the University. His building the same as Roxie’s and that’s where they reconnect.
I enjoyed that that they didn’t just meet fall in love and live HEA . Their's took a while to form any kind of friendship and or relationship. Roxie’s having trust issues causing all sorts of mixed signals hurting people in the process. Don't forget Chris’s story is one for the books. 😉 Between these two off and on doesn’t cover what’s in store for them.
In my opinion Roxie should have been held accountable for more of her actions. This my only qualm
I would recommend anyone to read this she did a fantastic job, I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley for this ARC

Shoot Your Shot:
https://www.netgalley.com/.
catalog/book/321012
Pub Date: 14 Mar 2024
Archive Date: 10 Mar 2024

🧡 Friends to Lovers
🏀 One Bed
🧡 miscommunication


“That the harder I fall for her, the more likely she is to just drop me.”

“I’m completely fucking gone for you.”


Roxie is a tall ex basketball player who could’ve gone pro had her career ending injury never happened in college. She switched gears to focus on computer sciences and has a great gig now despite missing what could’ve been. She roomed with her friend amy off campus and meets her new bf and spends quite a bit of time with him playing video games and chatting. They both are totally into each other but of course would never pursue.

Chris is Amy’s ex bf from college (10 years have gone by since) and he just moved back to Madison, Wisconsin for a position he really wanted. While checking mail he runs into Roxie and they live on the same floor just down the hall for each other. That night he sees a guy going to Roxie’s and is immediately jealous but says hey to Roxie on his way back to his room.

The guy with her gets all possessive and Roxie is not about that. Especially since they are just FWB. Roxie ends up blocking him after he leaves because he’s trying to start a relationship and be missive when she doesn’t want that at all with him. The next weekend Dave just shows up at her door when her and Chris are walking the hall together and he gets upset. Christ threatens him in lawyer talk and Dave backs down.

Chris & Roxie get so close so fast and start spending all of their time together. The sexual tension is high and they finally make out and start on to more when Chris stops it because he knows Roxie isn’t a relationship gal and he doesnt want to be a hookup. When he leaves Roxie calls a different FWB and girl what are you doing no… Roxie completely shuts down and they barely see each other for weeks. She is heartbroken because she let him in & he shut her down.

ONE BED trope and it was great!

We get miscommunication trope which is one that I really don’t love. They continue to not hear the other one out during arguments and they never tell each other the full story immediately.

Roxie’s sisters name is Malorie and that’s exactly how my sisters is spelled. Loved that connection!

It felt like sometimes bigger fancy words would be thrown in but the rest of the book wasn’t written that way so it felt a little out of place. I had to look up a few of them because I had no idea what they meant.

Occasionally some run on sentences & some bad grammar that may have been missed in editing. Which i don’t really care as I am not great with that either. I know some people won’t like that.

Overall this story was cute & fun. It’s a great debut romance novel! Thanks NetGalley, the publisher & Fiona for letting me read this book early! Comes out March 14!

I really liked this book! The characters had great chemistry, and the progression of their relationship also was paced well. Can't wait to read the next one!

"Shoot Your Shot" is a captivating romance novel that takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of love, desire, and second chances.

The story follows the journey of Chris and Roxie as they navigate the twists and turns of transitioning from friends to lovers. With a skillful blending of themes like second chances and forced proximity, the author creates an emotionally resonant and steamy story.

Overall, the book is a captivating mix of steamy encounters and heartfelt emotion.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Evernight publishing for this ARC of ‘Shoot Your Shot’ by Fiona Embers.

A slow burn second chance with spice. I’m there. This book was everything I needed and more! I loved Chris and Roxie! They felt perfect together. I cannot wait to continue this series!

"Shoot Your Shot" by Fiona Embers is a compelling romantic novel that delves into the lives of Roxie Nowak and Chris Dunn, two individuals grappling with their own insecurities and past traumas while navigating the complexities of love and relationships.

Roxie Nowak, a former basketball player turned tech professional, leads a fulfilling life devoid of serious romantic entanglements. She embraces casual hookups, believing that men are only interested in the conventional ideals of femininity she doesn't embody. On the other hand, Chris Dunn, a successful lawyer with a romantic heart, struggles to find love due to the emotional wounds of his past.

Their paths intertwine when Chris moves into Roxie's building, reigniting a friendship that had been dormant since Roxie's basketball career came to an end. As their connection deepens, they find themselves drawn to each other with an intensity that neither could have anticipated. However, their burgeoning relationship is put to the test when a vindictive ex-lover resurfaces, threatening to destroy the fragile balance they've managed to create.

Embers crafts a compelling plotline filled with realistic characters that readers can easily relate to. Roxie and Chris are depicted with depth and nuance, each grappling with their own vulnerabilities and fears. The dynamics between them are explored in a way that feels authentic, allowing readers to empathize with their struggles and root for their eventual happiness.

The author's writing style is engaging, drawing readers into the narrative from the very first page. Embers has a knack for capturing the intricacies of human emotions, making the characters' journey feel both poignant and relatable. The pacing of the story is well-executed, keeping readers invested in the outcome until the very end.

However, while "Shoot Your Shot" excels in many aspects, there are areas where it could have been improved. The resolution of certain plot points feels rushed, leaving some loose ends untied. Additionally, some of the secondary characters could have been developed further to add depth to the story.

Overall, "Shoot Your Shot" is a captivating romance novel that explores themes of self-discovery, forgiveness, and the transformative power of love. Despite its minor flaws, the book delivers an emotionally resonant story that will linger in the minds of readers long after they've turned the final page. Embers' poignant writing and well-drawn characters make "Shoot Your Shot" a worthwhile read for fans of the genre.

Although this book isn’t suitable for my students, I will recommend to friends and other book groups. It’s a very steamy book and I can’t wait for the additional stories from this author.

Shoot Your Shot by Fiona Embers is a steamy and emotionally charged romance novel that will leave you breathless. The story follows Roxie Nowak, a former basketball player who has a great job in tech and her own swanky place. She doesn't date because she's convinced that men only want someone petite, pillowy, and pastel, which is everything that Roxie is not. Instead, she sticks to casual hookups and enjoys her life.

Chris Dunn, on the other hand, is a hotshot lawyer who is also a hopeless romantic. Childhood hurts have left a gaping hole in his heart, preventing him from having the type of relationship he seeks. When Chris moves back to town and into Roxie's building, their friendship and mutual attraction deepen, and they finally give in to their feelings with blinding intensity.

However, their relationship is threatened when a vindictive ex-lover sets out to tear them apart. Fiona Embers has done a fantastic job of creating characters that are complex, flawed, and deeply human. The novel is a testament to the fact that love is not always easy, but it's worth fighting for.

The pacing of the novel is excellent, and the tension between the characters is palpable. Fiona Embers has a talent for writing steamy scenes that are both sensual and emotionally charged. This is a book that will leave you feeling hot under the collar and emotionally invested in the characters.

Overall, Shoot Your Shot is a well-written and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of love, insecurity, and vulnerability. Fiona Embers has created a world that is both tantalizing and relatable, and her characters are complex and deeply human. If you're looking for a steamy and provocative read with heart, then this is the book for you.