Fair Catch by Kandi Steiner

Fair Catch

Posted on October 20, 2022 by Nadene @ Totally Addicted to Reading in Reviews / 3 Comments

Fair Catch by Kandi Steiner is the first book I am reading for the author. As a lover of sports and college romance, I couldn’t resist this little gem. I am glad I took the chance. In Fair Catch, book one in The Red Zone Rivals, Steiner delivered a beautiful and heartfelt romance.

 

Fair Catch by Kandi SteinerTitle: Fair Catch
Author(s): Kandi Steiner
Series: Red Zone Rivals #1
Also in this series: Blind Side, Quarterback Sneak, Hail Mary
Published by Self-published on March 16, 2022
Pages: 362
Genre(s): Contemporary Sports Romance, New Adult, Romance
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Format: eBook
Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Series Rating: One StarOne StarOne StarOne Star
Heat Level: One FlameOne FlameOne FlameOne Flame

As if things aren’t already tough enough as the only girl on a college football team, Coach had to go and assign Zeke Collins as my roommate.⁣⁣⁣⁣A cocky kick returner and my brother’s best friend who should have been ripped of that title years ago, he’s as infuriating as he is undeniably sexy.⁣⁣⁣⁣I hate him, and for good reason — reason I won’t ever let him forget.⁣⁣⁣⁣He thinks because we grew up together that it’s his role to protect me, but all he does is get in my way, make me look weak, and piss me off more.⁣⁣⁣⁣I tell him I can handle myself, and I’m hell-bent on getting that point across to him and the rest of the nation watching the only girl in collegiate football.⁣⁣⁣⁣The pressure doesn’t get to me. The scrutiny? I’m ready for.⁣⁣⁣⁣But sharing very thin walls with Zeke Collins? I wasn’t prepared for that.⁣⁣⁣⁣And the more we’re forced together, the harder it is to distinguish that pencil-thin line between hating him… and wanting him.⁣⁣

This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.

 

The story began by making the reader aware of a motor vehicle accident that robbed the Riley’s twin brother of fulfilling his dream of playing football. She blames his best friend Zeke for stealing her brother’s dream and has hated him since. Being the supportive twin, she vowed to her brother to take his place and work on making the team. A task which she accomplished to the delight of her brother and his best friend. Being a part of the team was a challenge because of the unwelcoming spirit swirling in the midst. Nevertheless, she is determined to prove she earned her spot on the team fair and square and that she deserves to be there. Then she learns she would be roommates with Zeke, her brother’s best friend, the friend she hated and blamed for her brother’s broken dreams.

Zeke’s love of football is the one thing keeping him sane. He struggles academically because of a learning disability. As a result, he believes football was his only saving grace. He stills carry around the guilt for what happened to his best friend. To make the situation more complicated, he was in love with the woman who blamed him for the incident.

 

The heroine, being the lone female on a college football team, influenced my decision to pick up Fair Catch. I enjoy stories where females can hold their own in a male dominated sport, and I wanted to see how well the author would handle it. Now I know nothing about football. (Where I am from soccer is our thing). However, after reading Fair Catch, I am itching to learn more about the sport.

It was an absolute delight getting to know the hero, Zeke. He exuded confidence, but hidden beneath that confidence was a level of vulnerability, which makes you want to reach out and hug him. I felt for him, especially with how Riley treated him. Through all the animosity she throws his way, he remained her number one supporter. I admired Riley’s abilities as a ballplayer, her loyalty to her twin and her determination to succeed. However, in relation to Zeke, I wasn’t her number one fan. That girl had a chip on her shoulder that was higher than Mount Everest. The amount of hatred she carried around made her toxic. Funny enough, the person who was affected the most didn’t Harbor any ill- feelings, but she refused to let it go.

I enjoyed how the romance developed. However, given Riley’s disposition, I expected the other shoe to drop, and it certainly fell. Using his past mistakes to hurt him was a below the belt move. It’s true when they say there is a thin line between love and hate. In Zeke and Riley’s case, it was very thin indeed and, thankfully, love prevailed.

Overall, Fair Catch held me captive, and it delivered as expected. Fans of sports romance featuring enemies to lovers, close proximity and brother’s best friend trope will find Fair Catch entertaining. 

About Kandi Steiner

Kandi Steiner is an Amazon Top 5 bestselling author and whiskey connoisseur living in Tampa, FL. Best known for writing “emotional rollercoaster” stories, she loves bringing flawed characters to life and writing about real, raw romance — in all its forms. No two Kandi Steiner books are the same, and if you’re a lover of angsty, emotional, and inspirational reads, she’s your gal. An alumna of the University of Central Florida, Kandi graduated with a double major in Creative Writing and Advertising/PR with a minor in Women’s Studies. She started writing back in the 4th grade after reading the first Harry Potter installment. In 6th grade, she wrote and edited her own newspaper and distributed to her classmates. Eventually, the principal caught on and the newspaper was quickly halted, though Kandi tried fighting for her “freedom of press.”  She took particular interest in writing romance after college, as she has always been a die hard hopeless romantic, and likes to highlight all the challenges of love as well as the triumphs. When Kandi isn’t writing, you can find her reading books of all kinds, planning her next adventure, or pole dancing (yes, you read that right). She enjoys live music, traveling, playing with her fur babies and soaking up the sweetness of life.

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3 responses to “Fair Catch by Kandi Steiner

  1. I just love the header you did there! I had such a fun time with this one. If I remember correctly, I also had an issue with the heroine in how she was with the hero, it just wasn’t my favorite thing, and there was some toxic elements to it. But such a solid romance and I really enjoyed how atmospheric she made the sport to be. And right now is football season, so plenty of games to watch if you want to learn more about it! I recommend college over pro though. Its more fun to watch.