River you cocky beautiful man stole my heart from the beginning.
River has a heart of gold, learns about other so he can truly be a good friend and help them if they ever need it. Yes, he can be a little cocky because he is a jock but deep down, he truly has the most beautiful soul ever. The way this book started I loved that it kind of reads like a news article or gossip rag telling us about the tragic fall of the three football gods at Braxton then it introduces us to River’s story. River may seem like he has it all with good looks, president of the Kappa’s, making friends everywhere he goes, but what others do not see is he everyday struggles. River suffers from dyslexia, ADHD, family loss, among other things plus he cannot ever have the girl of his dreams. He knows his Rainbow girl is the one but she is dating his frat brother so that is a hard no for him, but man does he want her so bad that he has to treat her awful in order to stay away. Anastasia is this beautiful free spirit that was raised by her parents that loved to live on the nomadic side, travel, and experience life wile she enjoyed getting to see so much of the world she always craved a family and stability. She thinks she has that in her current boyfriend, but he comes from money and deep down she knows it isn’t something that could truly work and then her eyes are opened. She starts to see the heart of River and she knows how amazing he truly is, but do they cross that line? Do they let what others will think of them let them determine they can’t? Or will they throw caution to the wind and realize life is too short to waste time? I loved this book and every character in it and can’t wait for their stories, but it was truly River, his struggles, and his heart that had me falling in love.
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4.5 stars

I will be the first to say that I struggle with sports romance. Especially, football. However, I put that aside when I know that the author is going to be this one. There is just something captivating about the way that this author crafts a story. Her characters seem to jump off the pages and the story itself takes shape in my mind.

This story was an example of her at her best. It might be my favorite book by her to date. I fell in love with a certain note and from then on I waited on bated breath for the relationship to blossom between River and Anastasia. I felt the connection between these characters. It felt authenticate and real. I liked how the three main characters were introduced also because it offered me a little glimpse of what to expect with Adriana and Meghan's books.

I highly recommend this author and the start of this great trilogy of interconnected standalones. ( )

Excellence in every way
5 stars

From one Ilsa Madden-Mills books to the next - I genuinely forget just what an amazing writer she is, and how she manages to bring out so many emotions in me. But as soon as I start reading, and get sucked into her story, I wonder how I could forget how much I adore her and her writing.

This particular story is the first in a trio of novels called The Kings of Football about three football playing college friends, all written by different authors. After this one we have The Romantic Pact by Meghan Quinn and then The Relationship Pact by Adriana Locke. Each stands completely alone and focusses on a different couple.

Without a doubt, Ms Madden-Mills is the queen of new-adult, college romance. I tend to shy away from books that claim to be full of the angst, or pull on the heartstrings - they sound far too emotional for me. But this book just tells the story of a couple - in this case River and Anastasia. That it happens to have such an emotional depth that it will leave you reeling - that’s just an added bonus from the effects of a fantastic tale and characters with multiple layers.

I loved Ana. She has a unique blend of confidence and acceptance of herself - good and bad - and youthful doubt. She was a little bit quirky, astonishingly kind-hearted and just the most generous soul. As I said, I loved her.

But River? River slayed me. It wasn’t that he was gorgeous - even though he was. It wasn’t that he was kind - even though he was. It wasn’t even that he had his issues - and he definitely did. It was all of that mixed with the sheer depth of his feelings and emotions. His way of looking at the world. The way he thought about things. His loyalty. And the way he was with Ana. They way they had such a deep connection and had finally found the person they were meant to be with. Oh, those feels, man. Oh those feels.

It takes a while for our first kiss and more with our couple but you hardly even notice, if I’m honest. It’s so charged with emotion, lust and feelings that the first kiss is just the explosion at the end of the shooting firework. Pretty soon after that, it’s a delicious free-for-all. Happiness abounds.

This is the kind of book where you have to force your eyes to stay on the line you’re reading - so desperate are you to want to know what happens next. Damn me sideways for not being able to read faster! Gah!

There's something so energising about Ms Madden-Mills’ writing and her stories. I want to live inside her worlds. I want to keep on reading about these characters, their friends (extra points for the epic friendships in the story), their lives. I highlighted so many passages - wanting to remember each and every detail. But even if all I remember is the romance of River and Ana, then I’ll be one happy bunny.

An amazing read, highly recommended and one of my best reads of 2020. If the next books in the series are even half as good as this one then they’ll be winners, too. 5 stars. ( )