Fair Catch

An Enemies-to-Lovers Roommate Sports Romance

By: Kandi Steiner

Narrated by: Hannah Chiclana, Chris Williams

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.

©2022 Kandi Steiner (P)2022 Kandi Steiner

Enemies-to-Lovers But Make Them Teammates

Riley has despised Zeke Collins since a drunk driving accident left her twin brother, Gavin, in a wheelchair and Zeke unscathed. Despite the three of them being childhood besties and Gavin forgiving Zeke, Riley takes his presence in their life as a personal offense. She makes a promise to her brother to become a football kicker in his place and she will stop at nothing to make it happen.

When she’s accepted into a D1 college for football the hard work is just beginning when just her luck Zeke accepts a spot on the same team. When the coach says no one wants to room with her except Zeke they end up roommates too.

Zeke made a promise to Gavin to look after Riley and it’s a promise he intends to keep no matter how much she pushes him away. Zeke has always had a learning disability and when his grades dip dangerously low Riley reluctantly agrees to help him out for the good of the team. The more time they spend together the more the tension builds but can Riley ever truly forgive him for the past? And how will she ever earn credibility with the team if she’s sleeping with her teammate?

Enemies to lovers is my cat nip and I loved the tension between these two. The steam was impeccable as well! Riley is such a strong and admirable heroine that I couldn’t help but fall head over heels for her.

My only compliant is the audio could have been better edited. There’s some weird awkward pauses especially with the male narrator that seemed out of place and a few times where the audio level was too low for no reason.

This is my first listen by Kandi and it won’t be the last! I can’t wait to dive into Clay’s story next!

Zeke ❤️Riley

I love this book and listening to the narrators bring it to life was amazing. Zeke and Riley have known each other for a long time and we’re friends. But it’s heartbreaking that something that happens to her brother tears that friendship apart. Zeke carries so much inside and he deals with things no one knows about. I felt so bad for him. Riley lays blame on Zeke but she doesn’t know the whole story of what happened that night.
These two have chemistry from the very beginning. There’s growth and change once they get together. Feelings are that we’re there grow stronger. I love how Zeke respects Riley and cheers her own.
I highly recommend this audiobook.

Angsty

If you are looking for some angst in an enemies to lovers sports romance, look no further. Kandi Steiner will tug on those heartstrings with this book. You also will get brothers best friend and forced proximity as additional tropes. It’s everything you could possibly want.

We get a kick butt female heroine, Riley, who is on her college football team due to a promise she made to her brother. She also happens to be assigned to ROOM with a guy, Zeke, who she just can’t stand. He’s her brothers best friend and lines start to blur and emotions develop and it all explodes from there.

I felt like this was a wild ride in all the best possible ways. Theres laughter, tears and all the feel good butterflies. Its a must read!

The narrators were new to me but fantastic. They kept me engaged with the story. I also feel like when I find new narrators they truly become those characters for me and their is no auditory confusion.

Great story!

Riley Novo has all kinds of feelings about Zeke Collins and none of them are flattering. She blames Zeke for her twin brother Gavin's paralysis. Zeke hasn't corrected any of her assumptions about that night; it is his penance for hurting the one family that has welcomed him. Somehow Riley and Zeke end up as roommates in the team dorm at NBU. They're more enemies than frenemies, but their mutual love of football keeps the animosity off the field.

They tried to resist their mutual attraction, but it turns out to be futile. They make better lovers than enemies and when they finally give in, they make a formidable team both on and off the field.

Hannah Chiclana and Chris Williams were amazing narrators. They brought Riley and Zeke to life. The characters became multi-dimensional that it felt as if I was right there with the characters!

I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this review.

3.5 stars

I had some issues with a big plot point of the book, but overall I loved the couple and their dynamic. I also love this team so much.

There did seem to be some quality issues with the audio. It didn’t always match. Sometimes one of the narrators sounded like they were in a cave, distant.

YA romance

Riley and Zeke grew up together and shared a love with for many things. The main one was Riley’s twin brother who both had a bond with. They both felt they owed their lives to. Riley played football in honor of her twin brother’s injury that left him paralyzed and Zeke felt a sense of guilt because he helped cause it. Riley always blamed Zeke for this. Once they graduated and went off to college they are playing for the same team and now tensions high and also feelings. This was an extremely slow burn romance for me. The character development was great and I really enjoyed that, I would have loved to have seen them together more. Once they were their chemistry was great. The narrators did an excellent job. I loved the dual dialogue.

Great story!

Zeke and Riley's story was touching. Zeke is Riley's twin brother's best friend. He plays a part in her brother getting injured and she can never quite forgive him. Their story is one of resilience and forgiveness and maturity. Sometimes you have to let go of the past to find your future. These two gave me all the feels as Zeke supports Riley on her climb up the ranks of college football. This was a great read about a great couple. I look forward to reading more on their team mates!

I listened to this book and the narrators did a great job capturing their spirits and telling their story.

Fair Catch: An Enemies to Lovers Romance

🎧AUDIO REVIEW🎧
⁣
Because I listened to this story rather than reading it, I shall tell you a bit about that experience before I share my thoughts on the story. Okay, here are my two cents:

Hannah Chiclana did a good job narrating her part. She brought it to life really well except for every inhale she did before she started a chapter. I know that may sound like an insignificant point to even bring up in a review but when the only thing you have is your ears to bring a story to life in your mind, those deep breaths by a narrator will pull you right out of the story and suck your joy (if you happen to have some). At first, they were really pronounced but I think after I listened for a few hours, they just blended in and weren’t so disruptive. But they were, so it had to be brought up #sorrynotsorry Chris Williams did not narrate this story. He read his parts like he was giving a speech to a crowd, and wherever he was recording, had the worst acoustics. He sounded like he was in a vacant warehouse with the sound bouncing off 20-foot ceilings. He was not enjoyable at all. *shrug* So overall, my listening experience was less than stellar … but the story itself … :)

The journey of Zeke and Riley was typical new adult shenanigans and I was expecting it most of the plot-points so nothing really made my eyes roll lol I’m making sure to mention this because if we’re reading friends, then you know how I feel on most occasions after reading this age group and that wasn’t the case this time. Don’t get me wrong, every single cliché about young people was represented but because the story had the Riley twist (you’ll have to read it to find out what that means lol) and her growth and development (and also Zeke’s), everything else fell to the background. This could easily have been the story of how Riley conquered and took names without the romance element, and it would have been just as captivating. That’s the Riley twist in a nutshell ;)

Sooooooo, when it comes to recommendations, I’d have to honestly say invest in the book and not the audio. Life is too short to not be enjoying all your spare time and I think reading this story would be a much more enjoyable use of your spare time :)

STORY: 4 Stars
AUDIO: 2 Stars

That’s it. Those are my 2 cents. Don’t spend them all at one :)

Zeke and Riley are sooo amazing!

Riley and Zeke have been friends cause of Riley’s twin brother. When Riley and Zeke’s friend ship gets strained because of her brothers accident, and she blames him for her brothers being paralyzed. She promises her brother that she will become the football kicker and go to college and play for a college team too. So that is what Riley does, she becomes one of the best football kickers and gets on a team first girl on a all boys team. Zeke just happens to be on the same team and they become roommates. What happens when force proximity comes into play? What happens when the story of what really happened the night of the accident comes out? What happens when Zeke screws up?

I really enjoyed this story and the plot line. I loved that Riley was also the football player too! It made it for a fun ride and more sport moments which was really fun! I really loved how everything fell into place. With listening the only thing I have to say about the narration is that it seemed like the voices were a bit far out so it didn’t feel as intimate of a story but it was still good. I really loved the connection between Riley and Zeke. I loved how much football was in the story it wasn’t just like “oh this is a sports romance” but there’s only mention of a game here and there.

So good!

After listening to this book I love it even more. I mean I loved it when I read it. The narrators really brought the story to life and pulled me in.

One of my favorite genres, enemies to lovers. Who doesn’t love a good sports romance. These characters and this story were everything and more. Once I started Fair Catch I stayed up way past my bedtime. I devoured this book and can’t wait for more. This book has easily become one of my favorites by Kandi Steiner. Must read!