Rival Hearts

By: Maggie Rawdon

Narrated by: Amy Hall, Lance Greenfield

Length: 8 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

Pro football might see me as their favorite underdog, but Madison Westfield would rather see me six feet under.

My ex-best friend’s little sister has every reason to hate me. I took her boyfriend’s spot on this team, her brother might lose his too, and our short-lived engagement years ago is part of the reason our families are locked in a grudge match that has the whole league on edge.

Ruining me would fix most of her problems, but she's stuck trying to work a PR miracle with my career instead.

Making my way through her build-a-better-image checklist is the kind of torture I'll gladly sign up for, especially if I get to help her prove everyone wrong.

But it means we're spending a lot of time alone together, and when it comes to Madison, I'll take any chance she gives me. Even if it means there's hell to pay—on and off the field.

©2024 Maggie Rawdon (P)2024 Maggie Rawdon

I liked this one

I have had this book on my TBR for a long time, and since the audio came out, I have tried to make sure that I would listen to it.

I liked the story and the characters. The audio was done really well, Amy Hall and Lance Greenfield narrated this one, and I liked them for the characters' voices. I don't know that I have listened to Amy Hall before, but she quickly got added to my list of ones to listen to.

This story will keep you interested, and I enjoyed the twists that came with it.
I will listen to the next in the series. I am invested now!

Rival Hearts

Rival Hearts is a second chance, sports romance (football) with Madison and Quinton who share a past 10 years prior and are just now seeing each other again. It’s no secret I love a second chance romance story and all things sports, real and in fictional romance, so this what right up my ally. Both books are full of angst, family drama, forbidden romance, and of course that side of spice 😉. @amyhallnarrates and @lance.greenfield narrate Rival Hearts in dual bringing each character to life and giving us the emotions behind each characters feelings and personality.
🎧Listened to Rival Hearts on Audible

“You’re the one. You were always the one.”

Rival Hearts was an absolutely beautiful and emotional story of second chances and a love that never died. Quentin and Madison’s journey started in Before The Chaos and I would absolutely recommend reading the prequel before Rival Hearts in order to understand the complexities of their relationship. It will help you appreciate Quentin even more and you won’t be able to help but to fall in love with him!!

Madison was such a strong and independent character. She hates Quentin for their past, but when she’s forced to work with him, she realizes that the man she thought she knew before and thought was an illusion really does still exist. I liked that she was willing to listen to Quentin and how she fought for him.

Quentin Undergrove is EVERYTHING!!! I couldn’t love a character more. He’s a filthy talking bad boy with a heart of gold for the woman he loves. His devotion to Madison was swoonworthy. He had always loved her and although he never felt he was good enough for her, he would do anything to make her happy. His determination to win back her heart melted my heart and his growth was so powerful. He’s the ultimate book hero.

Lance Greenfield and Amy Hall narrated the audio and they were fantastic as Quentin and Madison. Lance gave me all the feels as Quentin and while Amy Hall was new to me, I absolutely loved her performance of Madison. Both conveyed all the emotions of the story and gave me all the feels.

The push and pull between Quentin and Madison was absolute FIRE! The snarky, flirty banter between them was off the charts and the tension between them leaped off the pages. They had to work through a lot of issues and learn to forgive a painful past, but their connection was just as strong in the present as it was in the past. With each other, they can be their true selves. Rival Hearts was angsty, swoony perfection with strong characters and I am so excited to see what’s next in this new series.

A Man Obsessed

Hiiiiii! I’m back and the Maggie Rawdon obsession is in full swing 😍😍 I love everything she writes and I can never get enough. I don’t often reread books in the same year, but for Maggie’s first audio? I absolutely jumped on this.

There is a prequel to this novel called, Before the Chaos, it’s not required but it will absolutely set up taking Rival Hearts to the next level.

I love Madison and Quentin with my whole soul. 10 years after their story started, we’re back for more. Listening to them on audio took me right back.

🏈 Football Romance
🏈 Second Chance
🏈 Brother’s Ex Best Friend
🏈 (other) Brother’s Teammate
🏈 Enemies to Lovers

I love them. Have I said that already? I LOVE THEM! Quentin knows he messed up. But now he’s back for his girl and nothing and no one will stand in his way. He’s possessive and jealous but also perfect and supportive. I just want to squeeze his tattooed teddy bear self.

Maggie Rawdon’s spice is always my favorite. Some things I read had me squealing in joy. I loved this book and it was the perfect start to her new series.

Absolute PERFECTION

I am so in love with Quentin!!!!

Rival Hearts is a football romance, brothers best friend, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, secret relationship, forbidden love, second chance,delicious swoon fest!!!

I have read all of Maggie's books and fall in love with each couple, but Quentin and Madison are my new favorite couple for sure!!

Personally, I think you should read Before the Chaos, the prequel novella, but you don't have to read it to understand the story

Quentin and Madison have some history between them and it isn't pretty. There is 10 years of feelings between these 2 and that's not easy to let go of. Madison hasn't forgotten him, and Quentin has pined more than she knows. Now that they are back around each other, nothing will stop him from getting her back.

Quentin will have you swooning you guys!!! This man is what book husband's are made of. He is such a a good boy 😉 IYKYK

Amy and Lance brought this story to life!!! They are perfect as Quentin and Madison!!! The banter between them is perfect, the emotions, the spice, its all amazing!!! I have listened to alot of Lance and adore him, and this was my first time hearing Amy now i cant wait for more!!!

Rival Hearts is an absolute masterpiece and I can't get enough. Seriously, I just finished 2 days ago and already want to read it again. Go preorder this book and be ready to fall in love with Quentin and Madison!!! Thank you Maggie for this beautiful story!!!

Story of the year!

Rival Hearts is a second chance football romance that I fell hard for when I first read it. So, when I heard it was on audio I ran and downloaded it. This forbidden sports romance is full of angst, family drama, banter, and has hot as hell spice. Amy Hall and Lance Greenfield bring Madison and Quentin to life. In dual audio they delivered the feelings, and emotions of each of the characters. I do recommend that you read Before The Chaos which is a prequel novella. You truly want to know the full story.

Tropes: second chance romance, football, older brother’s ex best friend, younger brother teammate, workplace, rival family, close proximity, forbidden love.

Amazing story!

Rival Hearts is the first book in the Queen City Chaos series, but it can be read as a standalone. There’s also a prequel, Before the Chaos, which I highly recommend reading because not only is it amazing, but it also gives more backstory to Madison and Quentin’s story.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Maggie Rawdon’s books always give me a book hangover. She just makes you fall in love with the characters and their story.

I’m. I’m. I’m struggling to find words for how much I loved this book.

First, I was so happy seeing characters from both of Maggie’s previous series (Plays & Penalties and Seattle Phantom). And what Easton (Personal Foul) did just made me love him more. If you know me, you know how much I love the Westfield brothers…but I have to say, I’ve been converted from a Westfield girlie to a Quentin Undergrove girl.

After that prequel, my heart hurt for Madison. But she was so strong. Seriously. If I were her, I doubt I’d be able to be as nice to Quentin as she was when they saw each other again. Not that I truly hated him, but still. Anyway, she was such a great character and had such a huge heart, but she was no pushover. And when she loved, she loved hard (just like her brothers).

Quentin Undergrove. WHEW, this man. He was a little rough on the edges, but that was for everyone that wasn’t Madison. And the way he was so, so obsessed with her — THE TATTOOS (I was so shocked, and that was so swoony), the books, literally everything he did. He did everything he could to get a second chance, and he truly knew her, so he knew he just had to work for it.

Oh, and the spicy scenes? Well, f. Those were hot. Madison wasn’t afraid to go after what she wanted, and Quentin was filthy.

The tension, the angst, the banter, the chemistry, everything was perfect.

Audio:
Narrators: Amy Hall and Lance Greenfield
Narration style: Dual

I was so excited to listen to this, because I absolutely loved reading it. I’ve listened to both narrators before, so I kind of knew what to expect. Amy Hall did a fantastic job bringing Madison to life, and she has a great “male” voice. Lance Greenfield’s voice didn’t match Quentin’s character, and he doesn’t really put much emotion in his narration. And he didn’t really differentiate his voice for the different (male) characters, so they all sounded the same.

Love them!

I absolutely love this story and being able to hear these perfect voices read it was the best. The connection and hearing them fall in love was just what I needed!

If I Loved You Less

Rating: (5/5)  
Spice: (4/5)  
Audio Rating: (4.5/5)

“I need to know I’m the one. I need to hear you say it. Because as long as I breathe, I belong to you. My heart will go out beating for you,” I confess, my heart hammering in my chest. “You’re the one. You were always the one.”

Tropes:   
Pro Football Romance
Second Chance
Rival Families
Older Brother’s (ex) Best Friend
Younger Brother’s Teammate
Quarterback x PR Rep
Forced Proximity
Secret Relationship
Man Obsessed
No Third Act Breakup
Spicy

Vibes:   
Maggie - YOU QUEEN! These characters are PERFECT. It’s truly a fantastic continuation of all the goodness from Before the Chaos! Quentin has the bad boy exterior but is a complete obsessed when it comes to HIS Madness. Mads has grown up so much, is a little jaded, but is so fierce in her job and for her loved ones. I cannot gush enough about the chemistry and spice between these MCs - so yummy. Every single thoughtful gesture and heart felt confession had me swooning. As usual, our side characters bring the whole story up to another level. I love all the cameos! My only ask - I need to see justice for the villain - like a full fledged take down. I’m still boiling about all of it. But also, I’m so very much here for the Bea and Cooper’s story next!

Audio Notes:
Dual Narration by Amy Hall and Lance Greenfield. This performance brought an already great book to life. Amy’s voice paired perfectly with Madison’s character. I would have preferred a different male narrator, as Quentin embodies a rough-around-the-edges professional quarterback. Lance’s voice lends more towards an academic sound. I would still highly recommend this audiobook - this story is full of angst, drama, tenderness and spice (all the best of romance).

Recommended to...  
All the sports readers who love the extra spicy rival families to lovers vibes.

Fantastic performances

Audio: Both these narrators were to me and WOW!! I really enjoyed their performances! I liked the book but I LOVED the audio, so these two really brought it to life. Lance has all the grit and swagger and charisma that I love about Quentin- but also so much heart in the performance. SWOON. And I loved Amy’s range- she brought great vulnerability and emotive resonance to her performance of Madison. Really loved this one.

Book Review:

My first Maggie Rawdon book- but given how sweet and OH SO SEXY this second chance romance is, it’s safe to say this world and her writing have captured my heart! Rival Hearts is the perfect balance of heartfelt tenderness and sultry spice, it’s all heart and heat and a big ole dash of swoon. Charming characters, a fun secondary cast, and oozing charisma, this was a great intro to Maggie!

Sports, second chance, workplace, enemies to lovers, forbidden brother’s (now ex-) best friend…and ex-fiance?! OH cue all the tension, the angst push-pull, and those yummy forbidden vibes that melt me. Quentin and Madison have quite the complicated and heartbreaking history. An epic forbidden love story squashed by poor decisions long before it really got to start. Lost innocence, heartbreak, and regret. Now years later, they are not only forced to reconnect but they are also forced to work together- and ultimately forced to confront their past. The mistakes and misunderstandings, and their festered longing.

Their forced proximity demands their story move deliciously quickly- so the grovel drama and hurt definitely doesn’t overstay it’s welcome as we dive back into a complicated, secret, explosively hot second chance. But, the stakes are even higher now- more than feelings. Careers, friends/family, dreams, and the weigh expectations all make it even more complex of a situation. But the draw of these 100% is easy and straight forward. Quentin wants to right his wrong, and Madison just can’t seem to keep the wall around her heart when he goes on the offensive to score her, heart and soul. Their chemistry is really cute. And the spice is definitely SPICING in this- lordy, these two sizzle.

And while certainly these two have some baggage, the angst is actually not super thick. Quentin makes it clear early on he is ALL in early on, so while they have fantastic bantery push-pull moments, we also know where their hearts stand. They just have to re-learn to trust and to be vulnerable enough to go for it. Definitely more “will they” and “won’t they” LOL, but it means we get so much spice! I do wish we’d gotten to develop their relationship a bit more in their “current state”- it’s been so long, and they were barely together in the past, so I feel like they don't really know each other anymore, but they go from zero to one hundred and once they clear the air about past stuff, I feel like their relationship didn’t develop further emotionally. But, their physical connection is fire, and they are certainly cute together. AND the spice is really really good- the bedroom chemistry is magnetic.

While this can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading the novella about them because it gives a more complete picture of their past. Also there are a lot of other Maggie characters from prior series in this. There were times when I felt there was a lot of secondary character action and I wasn’t super invested because I don't know the characters, BUT it also made me want to get to know them, especially her brothers who clearly had their own bumpy loves stories.

This was a great intro to the Maggie world and I’m so excited to spend more time there. It’s a cute, spicy, and fast-paced read that had me grinning, and introduced me to a world of sports drama and stories told and untold I can’t wait to discover. Excited to read more Maggie!

🖤Older Brother's (Ex) Best Friend
🏈Second Chance
🖤Younger Brother's Teammate
🏈Rival Sports Dynasties / Enemies to Lovers
🖤Workplace / Forced To Work Together (forced proximity)
🏈Forbidden + Secret Lovers
🖤He's Obsessed/ Full Court Pursuit
🏈Football Romance
🖤Ex Fiancees/ He took her v-card
🏈But he's only ever loved her