The Hardest Play, an all-new emotional new-adult standalone from A.S. Teague is available now!
Amazon US | Amazon Worldwide | Paperback
Blurb
It’s easy to convince the world that you have it all.
I’m Quinn Miller––record breaking running back, professional football’s favorite rags-to-riches story, all-around good guy.
What’s not so easy? Repairing your reputation after mistakes both on and off the field leave you labeled as a disgrace to the league.
With only one team willing to give me a chance, I have no time for a relationship.
But after one night with Georgia Reed, the hopeless romantic with fiery red hair and an attitude to match, I’m hooked.
With Georgia cheering me on, it doesn’t feel like the world is against me anymore.
That is, until her father steps into the locker room as my new head coach.
Finding the woman of my dreams was the easy part; it’s keeping her that will be the hardest play of all.
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Review
4 stars!
This is the third book in The Hardest Series about a group of college football buddies who are all grown up and playing in the NFL, finding their HEAs. Each of the books read as standalones, but as the characters are interconnected, I would recommend reading them in order (plus, it makes the cameos just that much more awesome!).
Quinn Miller is a quieter member of the group. After a tragic upbringing, he has been the sole carer for his younger sister, Jamie, and though he showed great promise early in his career, his personal life has impacted his game and he has been dumped by his team and traded to Atlanta. It’s not a great move for him, and he’s struggling to fit in with his new team, but he is determined to concentrate on his game, turn his reputation around, and get back to being his best.
Georgia Reed is a bold, intelligent and passionate woman who met Quinn a few years earlier at a friend’s Christmas party (in a delightful twist, she’s also the best friend of Piper, and sister of Lawson from [book:When You Became Mine|39796794] – and they both appear, so beware spoilers for that book). Their last meeting was brief but memorable, and when they run into each other again, Georgia is like a hurricane, bursting in to Quinn’s life.
There is flirting, there is banter, there is absolutely no game playing, and there is chemistry galore. The attraction is evident from the very beginning, and without any messing about, they throw themselves into a sweet, fun and sexy romance. It was gorgeous to watch, and I loved how no-nonsense and upfront they are with each other. It’s definitely refreshing.
“You blew into my life and I had to grab on for dear life, but now? I’m not sure that I can let you go.”
Their first hurdle comes along when they discover that Georgia’s father has just been appointed as the head coach to Quinn’s team… awkward! And then Quinn’s personal drama resurfaces, throwing his new life into chaos, and leaving him floundering. It’s a heartbreaking situation, and Quinn and Georgia definitely have a lot to wade through. They are both so heavily impacted by it all, and my heart broke for both of them. Quinn has been through hell, and watching him try to deal with everything is so sad, I just wanted to hug him so hard. But Georgia absolutely shines as his rock who is determined to stand by her man’s side and support him through the darkness. It’s a great dynamic, and it’s both devastating and heartwarming as we watch them go through it all.
Their drama only seems to strengthen their relationship, and I loved seeing them stand strong together. And the swoon! OMG, the swoon. Quinn melted me over and over. He’s such a kind-hearted romantic, and I fell for him so hard. And Georgia was smart enough to recognise that and grab hold with both hands, and I loved that!
Quinn’s football buddies and Georgia’s family are a big part of the book, and they bring a lot to the story. I loved seeing them all together, they brought a lot of laughs and a lot of heart. And the epilogue features all the boys together (from each of their POVs), and was just gorgeous!
I loved this book. It’s a sweet and easy read with a lot of depth, and I fell in love with these characters and their story. It reads like the end of the series, but there are still two friends left to have their stories told – both of them are fairly wild though, so I’m not sure whether they’re ready to settle down, we’ll see.
4 stars.
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
The Hardest Series
The Hardest Route (#1) (Griff & Brooke)
Review
Buy: Kindle Ebook | Paperback
The Hardest Hit (#2) (Aiden & Mel)
Review
Buy: Kindle Ebook | Paperback
The Hardest Play (#3) (Quinn & Georgia)
Review
Buy: Kindle Ebook | Paperback
Excerpt
“Quinn Miller? Is that really you?”
I turned, and my eyes landed on a face that I hadn’t forgotten. “Georgia Reed.”
Her lips parted in a smile that lit up her entire face, and she jumped from the stool she’d been perched on next to where my sister had been sitting and threw her arms around my shoulders. “I thought I saw you walk in earlier!”
I wrapped my arms around her waist and gave a quick squeeze before pulling back and looking her up and down.
I’d met Georgia last year at my best friend, Aiden’s, Christmas party. Her brother was a famous orthopedic surgeon who’d saved Aiden’s knee after a devastating hit. The two of them had forged a friendship, and Dr. Hampton Reed had brought his sister along when he’d been invited to the famous Shaw Christmas Party.
I’d seen her from across the room that night, unable to miss the gorgeous auburn hair that she’d let flow down her back. I’d walked over to introduce myself, but her green eyes had sparkled when she informed me that she already knew exactly who I was.
I wasn’t sure what I’d said after that, probably something ridiculous and cheesy, but we’d spent the rest of the evening chatting.
“How ya been?” I asked.
She stuck the straw that was floating in a pink drink between her pink lips and lifted a shoulder. After a quick sip of a fruity cocktail she said, “Same old. What
about you? I heard you’d been traded and was hoping I’d run in to you sometime.”
I’d completely forgotten that the Reeds lived in Atlanta, where my new team was, but suddenly, that shitty trade that I was forced to accept didn’t seem so
bad after all.
“Hey.” I glanced over to where my sister was eyeing us, her lips pressed together to conceal what had to have been the biggest shit-eating grin ever and squinted at her before turning and looking back to where Georgia was still sipping her drink.
“You know, I don’t know much about this town. You’re a local, right?”
“That I am. Born and bred in the great state of Georgia. You know, my parents, they probably could have been a little more original when they named me.”
“Any chance you’re free this weekend to play tour guide?” I asked, hoping that I sounded fun and flirty and not like the pathetic loser that I felt like.
Jamie choked on a laugh and tried to cover it with a cough. I swung my head in her direction just as she covered her mouth and quickly looked away from my death glare. God, my kid sister was an asshole.
I felt fingertips on my bicep, forgetting my stupid sister immediately when I glanced down to see the perfectly manicured yellow fingernails that were resting on my arm. “Let me make sure I am clear on what you’re askin’.” Georgia’s eyes were gleaming, and she stepped closer to me. “Now, am I going to show you the popular clubs and bars, the parks to take your dog, and the restaurants that cater to locals, and then you’ll thank me and we’ll go about our ways? Or is this tour going to consist of me taking you back to my place, and before I know it, your lips are on my neck and my dress is around my waist?”
My mouth fell open and I sputtered. “I, uh, I, what?”
“Well, you know at Aiden’s Christmas party, after you kissed me––”
“Woah!” I stepped back, her arm falling to her side. “What are you talking about?”
Her head shook back and forth. “I’m not sure if I should be insulted or not that you are this clueless. We had a drink outside around the fire pit, and then you leaned in and kissed me, remember?”
“That is not at all what happened!” I fired back incredulously. I’d had a couple of beers that night, but I never let myself get so drunk that I would completely forget kissing the gorgeous woman standing before me.
She frowned, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth, and I couldn’t stop my eyes from watching the way she worked it. No, I would most definitely
remember if my lips had tasted hers. “It’s not? Are you sure?”
My eyes bugged out of my head. “I’m pretty sure we didn’t kiss. Think I would have remembered that.”
“Oh.” She frowned. “Maybe that’s just what I hoped would happen.”
About the Author
A.S. Teague enjoys the warmth of South Carolina with her husband and two daughters. The stereotypes about peach cobbler and sweet tea are not overstated. After years in the medical field, she is now enjoying every minute of being a stay-at-home mom. She loves wine, the beach, wine on the beach, and crying at Disney movies. When she doesn’t have a book in her hand, she can be found pestering her husband with pictures of animals she wants to rescue, as well as debating whether to exercise or take a nap.
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