I finally, FINALLY, moved this up to the top of my TBR, and it made my love for the rest of the series come rushing back to me – one of my all-time favorites. Often, when you’ve been anticipating reading a book for so long, you build up unrealistic expectations that it has no chance of meeting. That wasn’t the case here; I’d just had this little gem sitting on my Kindle, waiting for the right moment. And this was it!
There’s something about Dangelico’s work that resonates with me; I always devour her books in one sitting, and they are often poignant, memorable reads. This one pairs humor with heart, providing a playful, friction-filled roommates to lovers romance, a story of redemption, AND a sweet, sentimental single mom romance, all rolled into one. The hero is a lovable grump who is shameless, but such a little sweetheart in the ways that count. He’s a giant linebacker with a marshmallow heart and the tendency to blush when he’s embarrassed… how adorable is that? The chemistry that sparked between this couple leapt off the page, and I experienced so many emotions while reading. I loved it!
The story follows Amanda, a single mom who is trying to do things right this time around. She knows she’s made plenty of mistakes in the past, but she’s been sober for three years, and is now focused on being a great mom. So when she borrows her brother’s vacation home for an extended business trip, the last thing Amanda expects to see is a large man clad in his birthday suit. Grant is her brother’s former teammate, and while she’s been told he’s one of the good guys, he certainly doesn’t seem to match that description. Reeling from a spinal injury, the giant man is moody, broody, and all kinds of frustrating. As the two – along with Amanda’s son – figure out how to live together temporarily, Amanda soon realizes that there’s more to Grant than meets the eye. He’s determined to stay away, but that zap of connection keeps pulling them together.
As with the other (excellent) books in this series, there’s a phenomenal slow burn romance, plus a great combination of lighthearted moments and shots of angst that will HURT. I loved watching Amanda and Grant stumble along the way; they’ve both got their walls up, and that means it’s not an easy progression. In the other books in the series (certainly not required reading, but I highly recommend them), we got to see the troubled side of Amanda. Here, she’s in a much more stable place, and I loved that she’s actually the one with a steady foundation. The story is told exclusively from her perspective, but we really do get to know Grant well – he’s this big, strong man who is broken and vulnerable on the inside. They make such a compelling combination, and the payoff at the end was immensely satisfying. It renewed my love for the series in a big way, and that’s always a fantastic feeling.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/386jv7a
Blurb:
What happens when a single mother is forced to live with a grumpy, ailing football star? The smolder turns red hot.
A standalone follow-up to the best-selling, WRECKING BALL.
Amanda Shaw has pulled it together. It’s taken a couple of years, a boatload of hard work, and a ton of self-discipline, but she finally has her problems in a headlock. Her yoga studio in the city has become so successful she’s opening one near the beach, and her relationship with her ten-year-old son is improving every day. The last thing she needs is a monkey wrench thrown into her smoothly running life.
Grant Hendricks is one big monkey wrench. The four-time Defensive Player of the Year, three-time NFL sack leader, and all-around football god has officially hit rock bottom. A devastating back injury means he may have to retire and that scares him more than doctors telling him the next hit could leave him paralyzed. All he needs is a quiet place to think and his teammate’s beach house sounds like just the place. Problem is, the woman already living there.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/386jv7a
Start the series today!
If you haven’t checked out this series yet, well, what are you waiting for? I loved all three books, and they are all easy to read as standalones if you prefer – though there are overlapping characters that make them better together. The heroes are all mysterious, lovable jerks who take awhile to puzzle out, and the heroines are all strong in their own ways. I love the slow burn, tense storylines, and they each have such a unique feel. Certainly worth a try!
Find them on Amazon
Wrecking Ball: https://amzn.to/39uYLGs
Sledgehammer: https://amzn.to/3FkUMrW
Bulldozer: https://amzn.to/386jv7a
About the Author:
Paola Dangelico loves romance in all forms, pulp fiction, the NY Jets, and to while away the day at the barn (apparently she does her best thinking shoveling horse poop). She was born in Milan, Italy, grew up in New Jersey watching her father paint the covers of bestselling romance authors like Danielle Steel and Amanda Quick, and after a long stint on the left coast, she returned to the right coast to write about finding love in a modern world. Presently, she resides in New Jersey with her fur family.
Connect with Paola
Website: http://www.pdangelico.com/
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2C91Fv7
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2IQRRKT
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p.dangelico/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PDangelicoModSquad/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pdangelicoauthor/
Bookbub: http://bit.ly/PDangelicoBB
Book+Main: https://bit.ly/2WTw1xV
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