Review: Game On by Ki Stephens

About the Book

A sweet and swoony novel of high spice and low stakes from the Coastal Rivals series author, Ki Stephens!

She’s a college cheerleader trading in her Oxford life for one year in Nashville. He’s a star quarterback who doesn’t do distractions. But when they team up for a no-strings-attached fling, they’ll have to break their own rules to keep playing the game.

After moving from England and breaking up with her underwhelming boyfriend, Ella Davies has one thing on her mind: proving herself on Whitland University’s elite cheer squad. She’s determined to let nothing derail her focus―except maybe the annoyingly handsome quarterback who keeps popping up at the most inconvenient times.

At Whitland, Hudson Fox is synonymous with football. Known for his relentless drive and reputation both on and off the field, he’s all about control. This season, he’s sworn off distractions to keep his eyes on the prize. But Ella’s fiery spirit and unexpected presence threaten to unravel his carefully laid plans.

Desperate to keep things simple, they strike a deal: just fun, no strings attached. But when lines start to blur and feelings edge in, they'll have to admit the only more dangerous than falling off the mat is falling for each other.

Review

It took me three weeks to finish Game On. Not because I disliked it. In fact, I liked it so much that I found myself wanting to savor it. Let me be clear that this is very much a Ki Stephens book. It is low stakes, repetitive beats from previous books, and safe; however, Ella and Hudson stole the show. They clicked for me, which solidified my enjoyment of this book. They completed each other very well, and I loved watching their relationship grow.

Ella has left Oxford for a year and moved to Nashville. She has recently broken up with her boyfriend and lost a part of herself when that relationship ended abruptly. She describes herself as being steady and sure while cheering; however, she does not apply the same fearlessness to her life. I wouldn’t consider her a “black cat fmc” as described in the marketing. But she does have some bite to her. I enjoyed her character. She’s very cautious about getting too close to Hudson so that she doesn’t get her heart broken. Some might have issues with how she reacted at times, but I found her honest, and it felt realistic for her characterization.

Hudson is just as lovable. Ella describes him as being bold and self-assured. He’s such a sweet country boy who loves his adorable cat. He’s also guarded his heart and feels a need to control everything around him, so no one gets hurt. Once he meets Ella, he has a yearning to risk that which is extremely scary to him.

With Hudson and Ella, it’s an attraction at first sight. Though the more time they spend together, the more they can’t stop thinking about each other, the deeper the attraction and feelings develop. They become a constant in each other’s lives. Instead of flinching at each other’s scars, they kiss them and love them anyway.

Of course, there is an issue. Ella is leaving after a year. The end result in Game On was quite evident. As mentioned earlier, it’s a low-stakes romance. I felt the ending come too quickly. Though that could be me wanting to spend more time with these characters.

Final Thoughts

Game On is certainly a Ki Stephens book. It could be slotted in any of her other series, and it’ll fit perfectly. It has the same vibes as the others. I desperately want her to take some risks and switch it up. That aside. I did enjoy Game On.  It has consistent pacing, and I had no significant issues with it. The real stars of the show are the romance and the characters. That is what makes this a four-star read for me. I can see myself rereading this just to soak in the goodness that is Hudson and Ella one last time.

This book is scheduled for publication on September 9, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (St. Martin's Griffin) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Review: Roll for Romance by Lenora Woods

Roll for Romance was a charming and cozy read. For the most part, I had a fun time. I am very unfamiliar with how Dungeons and Dragons works. This book fully leans into the popular game so much so that there are multiple chapters written regarding the main’s D&D. Unfortunately, that was the weakest part of the book to me. I would have preferred them to be shorter, or if the author had only highlighted the most exciting and essential parts of the game storyline.

The romance was lovely. Noah was such a cinnamon roll and very forward with things. Of course, as the book progresses, we learn why he is the way he is and why he’s so determined to be well-liked. Sadie’s burnout and feelings felt painfully too honest to me. She’s the sole POV character, and I liked being in her POV as she figured out what she wanted to do in life.

Final Thoughts

Lenora Woods did her research, or is an avid Dungeons and Dragons player. I appreciate her commitment and dedication to weaving the game story elements into the book. Unfortunately, those parts were the weakest parts for me. Though, for the most part, I enjoyed myself while reading Roll for Romance. 

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Review: No More Yesterdays by Catherine Bybee

Author Catherine Bybee concludes The Heirs series with her latest, No More Yesterdays. Saving her best for last, it’s filled with explosive chemistry, dangerous suspense, and characters that will be unforgettable.

Front and center is Alex Stone. Everything we love about her was highlighted and how bright she shined. Intelligent, independent and strong, you can’t help but root for this fierce heroine from the first page. As you know, this powerhouse CEO was thrown into it all after inheriting her late father’s empire. She is faced with secrets, danger and an unexpected twist in her life that no one expected to come.

Enter Hawk Bronson, the bodyguard whose job is to protect Alex but whose heart soon finds itself on the line. Their energy sizzles with tension, fun banter, and deep emotional resonance, making every interaction charged.

This book was very different from the first two. What really sets this book apart is the seamless blend of suspense with heartfelt romance. You feel every threat, deep dark hidden secrets and the emotional ride is just as exciting as the physical danger described. There is an exciting bolt of adrenaline that runs through this book with its pulsing twists and moments of vulnerability and ease of past wounds that make you want to keep reading. 

No More Yesterdays was a fast-paced, emotionally charged romantic suspense that was impossible to put down. Each book in the series brought their own flare that was fitting for their collective journeys to unfold. If you have been following the series and haven’t read this one yet, you’re in for a good read. If you’re new to the series and love good characters especially strong heroines, steamy slow burn romance or just a fan of romance suspense then I would recommend checking this one out.

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Review: Rock Paper Scissors by Alice Feeney

I have yet to decide on an overall rating for Rock Paper Scissors. It might require another read-through to determine if I enjoyed it or disliked it more. I’ll try to keep this review as spoiler-free as possible.

I would classify the relationship between Adam and Amelia as a marriage in trouble. They’ve been in a rough spot, and this getaway is an effort to get things back on track. Neither Adam nor Amelia is a likable character. It felt like they were constantly becoming more unlikable. From page one, I was advocating for them to get a divorce and end this madness.

Their “getaway” is in the middle of nowhere in an abandoned church. Truthfully, I would not have even considered walking in there, but Adam and Amelia do and experience many peculiar events. This was not a heart-racing thriller. I was uneasy at times, but the feeling never lasted long. I often wondered if this was a thriller and if I had misread the genre. The end is where the real thrill happens. It almost makes up for the dry parts during the first and middle half of the book.

Final Thoughts

The back half of Rock Paper Scissors does a lot of heavy lifting to make this a thriller, with twists and turns that are entertaining and jaw-dropping. Some parts of the first half are unexciting and feel like an information dump. 

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Review: Billon Dollar Enemy by Olivia Hayle

Billion Dollar Enemy is a fun, no-strings-attached read. While reading, I was utterly immersed in the characters and the romance. I recommend this to anyone wanting something fun, quicky, and spicy. However, I certainly wouldn’t hail this as my favorite from Olivia Hayle. As entertaining and fun as I believed this to be, I had issues with the back half of the book.

The third act conflict left me scratching my head, and the overall resolution was simply okay to me. Truthfully, I don’t think there was a resolution that I would have loved. All I knew was that I wanted Skye to keep the bookstore after she had worked hard to save it, and I didn’t want Cole to hand it over or for there to be a sudden solution to everything after the third-act conflict. It was just a tough solution.

Final Thoughts

Billion Dollar Enemy was fun and entertaining for most of the book. The book encounters some trouble towards the end as the deadline for the bookstore approaches. However, I’ll fondly remember the time spent with Cole and Skye.

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Review: Pity Play by Whitney Dineen

As much as this series has been fun to read and I’ve wholeheartedly loved each book so far, Pity Play is definitely my favorite. It took a second, diving into the book to realize when I saw the character names, an instant love for what was to come and it never disappointed. With the its small town charm and romantic tension, you will fall in love with this Luke and Lorelai just the same.

Lorelai Riley has been in love with Luke Phillips since they were kids. As the friend to her older brother Noah, the last thing on his mind back then was his younger sister. Fast forward to life as an adult, with a family accident that brings him back to Elk Lake, what other place would his best friend recommend to stay? With that life long crush of hers, Luke needs a place to stay and guess who has a spare room? Could this be the moment she has always wished for?

Without taking away from the swoon craving journey that you will be on, Pity Play delivers a slow burn romance full of all the charm of that small town romance. It’s unspoken glances, close proximity tension and gives some unforgettable smooches that change the trajectory of fantasy to reality. Despite Luke returning to Elk Lake to deal with some personal obstacles and adamant on returning to his life in Chicago, then with one kiss, fate had another plan to remind never to judge a book by its cover.

There’s so much to love about this book. You’ll not only fall in love with the both of them but be endeared by the charm of Elk Lake. For those who have followed the series, you will feel right at home. The highlights for me are the laugh out loud moments that make you smile. The heart warming moments balancing out with the flirty ones give you just enough steam to savor the moments.

Despite this being part of the series, it can be read as a standalone. If you’re new to the series, start from the beginning to get to know everyone. If you’ve followed along then I know you will love this one. Make sure to look out for the next book in the series, Pity Play which will follow Noah and Allie.

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