Publication Date: May 17, 2020
Frenemies become much more in this heartwarming Sports romance: Lucky Bastard by Kaylee Ryan
Kaylee Ryan is a new author to me but I’m so glad I was introduced to her work through the Cocky Hero Club! I loved Lucky Bastard!
Emma Deaton is Aubrey Bateman’s best friend who works with her at her animal rescue. She meets Landon Barker (“Lucky Bastard”) one day when she goes to family day with Chance and Aubrey at Chance’s new job as the kicking coach for the Hermosa Beach Trojans.
Landon is the hot shot quarterback for the team. He takes an interest in Emma when he asks her out and she turns him down. At first it bothers him that she’s “ruined his perfect record” by saying no to a date with him but then Emma slowly becomes more to him. “The more I’m around her the more I want to be.”
Landon starts trying to convince Emma to date him and he does this by hanging out with her, buying her dinner, watching movies with her – he jokingly refers to every instance as a date. Emma keeps denying it. But is he wearing her down?
When Emma sprains her ankle in front of Landon, he really steps up and starts looking after her. It’s incredibly sweet. One night Landon convinces her to “practice cuddling” with him. He says, “Just pretend with me. For tonight, let’s pretend that this is our normal.” (swoon!)
Landon likes that he has to pursue Emma and that she’s not even a fan of his team, she doesn’t doesn’t care that he’s a professional athlete, she doesn’t care about his bank account or his career. They start to feel deeply for one another.
“I want her to be mine.”
-Landon-
“What I do know is that I will never regret any amount of time that I get to spend with her.”
-Landon-
“Landon Barker is a heartbreaker…He’s never been serious with anyone. Why would that change with me?”
-Emma-
Emma continues to have doubts however as she only sees herself as “the girl next door” and not someone who Landon would ever change for.
Lucky Bastard is a beautiful book about two people who might seem to be on different levels but are perfect for one another. Lucky Bastard is a great, swoon-worthy, heartwarming read with incredible characters you will love.
What you need to know about “Lucky Bastard”:
- Sports Romance
- Complete Stand Alone
- Hot Quarterback
- “Girl Next Door”
- Frenemies to Lovers
- If you loved Cocky Bastard by Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward, you will get to see a lot more of Chance and Aubrey.
Grades
- WRITING STYLE: 5/5
- PLOT: 5/5
- WORLD-BUILDING: 5/5
- CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT: 5/5
- ROMANCE: 5/5
- HEAT: 5/5
Description
“Emma
When my best friend Aubrey asked me to tag along to an event with her, I never could have imagined that it would be the day that my life changed forever.
He’s arrogant and demanding and doesn’t take a hint. Landon Barker, the quarterback for the Hermosa Beach Trojans, is a player on and off of the field. He’s got his sights set on me as his next play, but I see right through him. Aubrey says I’m overreacting, that I should give him a chance. What she doesn’t realize is men like Landon don’t fall for the girl next door. That’s not reality. She got her fairytale, although it was a long road. Not all of us are that lucky.
Landon
She’s a friend of our new kicking coach’s wife. When I ask Chance for her number, he tells me I have to find a way to get it myself.Nothing when it comes to Emma has been easy. She’s the first woman ever to turn me down, and that won’t do. However, as time passes, it’s about more than that. It’s about her smile, her laugh, and just spending time with her. She thinks I’m a player, and she’s right. What she doesn’t know is that I play to win, and her heart is the ultimate trophy. ”
Many thanks to Give Me Books Promotions, the Cocky Hero Club, and Kaylee Ryan for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review of “Lucky Bastard”. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.
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