Anti Player by R.C. Stephens is one of those romance stories that will give you the feels. This is the 4th book in the Player series, and it can be read as a stand-alone. In this instalment, the author takes readers on a journey which delves into the complexities of relationships. Whether it’s a relationship involving parents and children, siblings, friends, or a romantic one.
Hooking up with my best friend’s little sister was my first mistake… falling for her was my second. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. 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.
Title: Anti Player
Author(s): R.C. Stephens
Series: The Player #4
Also in this series: Forever Player
Published by Self Published on January 24, 2024
Pages: 279
Genre(s): Contemporary Sports Romance
Source: Publicist
Format: eArc 
Purchase: Amazon
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But being a twenty-seven-year-old virgin on a pro hockey team was messing with my head and my game.
Plenty of women would have gladly helped me out with my little predicament, but it wasn’t me they were after—it was my status.
To keep things simple, I decide to make Madison a proposal: take my virginity and I'll help the beautiful single mom find her confidence after a bad breakup.
We promised each other it was only temporary, our dirty little secret.
We had an expiration date.
The season would start, Maddie would go to school, and my best friend wouldn’t have a clue about what transpired between us.
Maddie keeps her end of the deal… it’s me who can’t follow through.
Full length standalone novel. HEA, no cheating. Get ready for a cinnamon roll hero hockey player, a heroine that's trying to find her way and an adorable five year old boy who steals everyone's heart.
Maddie’s childhood whilst a bit more stable than Kaleb’s had its share of issues. As a result, she always chooses the wrong men. One such choice led to her being a single mom. Her latest choice in men led to her moving in with her brother. It so happens Kaleb lives in the same apartment complex as her brother. Now, while Maddie as sworn off love and relationships, Kaleb sees her as the best person to take is V- Card. He convinces her it would be a short term friends with benefits arrangement and her brothers could not know. How can she refuse to help out a friend and besides her heart would not be involved. But you know what they say about good intentions.
This was such an adorable read. It was interesting watching Maddie trying to protect her heart. An impossible task, especially knowing the crush she had on him as a teenager was very much alive. Once they both got a taste of the forbidden fruit, there was no turning back. However, fears, traumatic childhood issues, an overprotective big brother and the failure to communicate their feelings served as roadblocks to their relationship.
Despite the issues preventing them from acknowledging their feelings, I thought they made a wonderful couple. I kept hoping they would both come to their senses and cease fighting what was obvious to everyone, their love for each other. Her relationship with Kaleb was nothing like she experienced before. The way he treated her was an added bonus. I loved Kaleb’s relationship with Maddie’s son, Asher. Their interactions with each other will warm your heart. Asher was an adorable child.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
I always appreciate romance series that can be read as standalones. You get the best of both worlds–completed stories but more in the same world/universe/town (as applicable) if you want it! Hockey romance sure does seem to be having a bit of a moment, doesn’t it?
That sounds sweet. I love a friends to lovers type romance.
I have a thing for hockey romances so I bet that I would enjoy this one. Thanks for putting it on my radar!
This sounds so good! I love a fun hockey romance. 😀