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Plays & Penalties #4
Reverse Pass
Violet
He’s the star wide receiver and the most wanted player on campus.
He has it all—the body, the voice, the charm and the dimples.
Plus he flirts constantly and cooks dinner shirtless in my kitchen.
There’s just one problem—he’s my best friend’s younger brother.
She sent him to live with me so I can help him get his life back in order.
Which makes him off limits in every way possible.
But now we share a wall and secrets.
Like the confession he makes when he accidentally walks in on me one night.
Ben
I’m usually so good with women that my teammates come to me for advice.
But they don’t know my secret. They don’t know about her.
The one woman I want—the one I can’t stop thinking about—barely knows I exist.
Until everything goes wrong, and I land on her doorstep.
The worst day of my life might just turn out to be my luckiest.
Because she’s fresh off a broken engagement—single for the first time in forever.
And she can’t keep her eyes off of me.
I just need to convince her I’m worth breaking the rules.
He’s the star wide receiver and the most wanted player on campus.
He has it all—the body, the voice, the charm and the dimples.
Plus he flirts constantly and cooks dinner shirtless in my kitchen.
There’s just one problem—he’s my best friend’s younger brother.
She sent him to live with me so I can help him get his life back in order.
Which makes him off limits in every way possible.
But now we share a wall and secrets.
Like the confession he makes when he accidentally walks in on me one night.
Ben
I’m usually so good with women that my teammates come to me for advice.
But they don’t know my secret. They don’t know about her.
The one woman I want—the one I can’t stop thinking about—barely knows I exist.
Until everything goes wrong, and I land on her doorstep.
The worst day of my life might just turn out to be my luckiest.
Because she’s fresh off a broken engagement—single for the first time in forever.
And she can’t keep her eyes off of me.
I just need to convince her I’m worth breaking the rules.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 2, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 283 reviews
February 10, 2024
When a party gets out of control, Ben takes the heat off his teammates, leaving the star wide receiver suspended and homeless. Needing to lay low, his sister reaches out to her bestie, Violet, to help keep her baby brother on the straight and narrow. Having crushed on her since he was 12, living with her is both a dream come true and his own personal hell. Navigating their feelings, old and new, as well as the challenges outsiders bring to their door, is angsty and sweet, and Steamy with a capital S.
This was my first read by the author and I really enjoyed everything about it. I’m looking forward to starting the series from the beginning and getting to know the stories from the rest of the team.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🤍
Heat: 🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 🥺😊🥵🤬😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual}
🗂 Genre: Contemporary Romance
✨ Tropes: ~Age Gap (4), College, Forbidden, Forced Proximity
💋 Kinks: n/a
⚠️ Warning: This sweet and steamy read will leave you wanton.
🚩 Safety Squad: OW/OM Drama
📣 Type: Reverse Pass is part of the Plays & Penalties series, but can be read as a standalone.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
This was my first read by the author and I really enjoyed everything about it. I’m looking forward to starting the series from the beginning and getting to know the stories from the rest of the team.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🤍
Heat: 🌶️🌶️
Range of Emotions: 🥺😊🥵🤬😍
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual}
🗂 Genre: Contemporary Romance
✨ Tropes: ~Age Gap (4), College, Forbidden, Forced Proximity
💋 Kinks: n/a
⚠️ Warning: This sweet and steamy read will leave you wanton.
🚩 Safety Squad: OW/OM Drama
📣 Type: Reverse Pass is part of the Plays & Penalties series, but can be read as a standalone.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
March 3, 2023
Unfortunately this book just didn’t do it for me. I read other reviews and I know everyone said Violet was too inconsistent and Ben was the star but I actually felt that they were both inconsistent and rushed. Violet had her reasons for keeping things under wraps, and while she definitely didn’t always handle things the right way, neither did he! I was incredibly annoyed that he used another woman anytime Violet was around another man, even one who liked men. That just screams immature. Also it’s certainly not how you win over the woman you supposedly have been in love with since childhood. Not to mention that Violet had history with her ex fiancé, they were together for 5 years, that’s a long time! I feel like Ben didn’t cut her any slack and the miscommunication was off the charts. Then to ignore her and get that angry with her at the end, also seemed immature. Which is a bummer because I was really looking forward to their book after we saw Ben in the others.
I was also less than impressed with the ending / epilogue / bonus epilogue. I get not all of them can have the same HEA but I found it annoying that after hardly any time as a couple they still spent over a year and a half away from each other. It just didn’t really feel like we got any type of conclusion to the relationship, unless you go for the bonus epilogue of them buying a house together after two years of living apart. Idk, not my favorite but it’s a short spicy read with reverse age gap of 5 years and sisters best friend trope if that’s your cup of tea. Honestly, I’m just hoping Joss gets her book because I LOVE her!
I was also less than impressed with the ending / epilogue / bonus epilogue. I get not all of them can have the same HEA but I found it annoying that after hardly any time as a couple they still spent over a year and a half away from each other. It just didn’t really feel like we got any type of conclusion to the relationship, unless you go for the bonus epilogue of them buying a house together after two years of living apart. Idk, not my favorite but it’s a short spicy read with reverse age gap of 5 years and sisters best friend trope if that’s your cup of tea. Honestly, I’m just hoping Joss gets her book because I LOVE her!
February 8, 2023
4.75 ⭐️
Ben Ben Ben. Oh how I have been dying for your story and Maggie Rawdon did not disappoint! He is every bit of the total package.
Ben recently ran into some trouble at his current home and now has no option but to look for a new place to live. His sister has the great idea that he lives in her best friend Violet's spare bedroom until he can find something better. Sounds great, right? In theory it is. But the inner turmoil that Ben is dealing with knowing that the girl he has loved from afar is only one wall away is eating at his resistance.
Violet agrees to let Nora's brother Ben live with her, because why not. She hasn't seen Ben in years, but when she stumbles upon him in their kitchen, she knows that she has made a mistake. The instant attraction that she has for him is strong, but throw in the fact that he cooks for her and her other roommate Joss, she knows she's in trouble.
They both try their best to stay away from each other, but the chemistry that is buzzing between them is fierce. Throw in an ex-fiancé who realizes his mistake leaving Violet behind and you are in for a treat!
Will they be able to pursue something more than just friends with benefits, or will there always be something in their way?
Okay first, let's talk about this couple. These two are just perfect for each other. The way that they instantly pick back up to years ago and the conversations that they have just draw you in.
Now, we are going to talk about the spice. WOAH. Is it hot in here?! From their very first interaction, WOW, to all of the ones after, this book was just filled with spicy scenes between the characters. I loved seeing both of them open up and be vulnerable with each other both sexually and emotionally.
I am hoping that we aren't done with the guys in this world! I would also LOVE a book with Joss as the FMC. I loved her sassiness and her bluntness and she needs the right guy to get her to settle down.
Ben Ben Ben. Oh how I have been dying for your story and Maggie Rawdon did not disappoint! He is every bit of the total package.
Ben recently ran into some trouble at his current home and now has no option but to look for a new place to live. His sister has the great idea that he lives in her best friend Violet's spare bedroom until he can find something better. Sounds great, right? In theory it is. But the inner turmoil that Ben is dealing with knowing that the girl he has loved from afar is only one wall away is eating at his resistance.
Violet agrees to let Nora's brother Ben live with her, because why not. She hasn't seen Ben in years, but when she stumbles upon him in their kitchen, she knows that she has made a mistake. The instant attraction that she has for him is strong, but throw in the fact that he cooks for her and her other roommate Joss, she knows she's in trouble.
They both try their best to stay away from each other, but the chemistry that is buzzing between them is fierce. Throw in an ex-fiancé who realizes his mistake leaving Violet behind and you are in for a treat!
Will they be able to pursue something more than just friends with benefits, or will there always be something in their way?
Okay first, let's talk about this couple. These two are just perfect for each other. The way that they instantly pick back up to years ago and the conversations that they have just draw you in.
Now, we are going to talk about the spice. WOAH. Is it hot in here?! From their very first interaction, WOW, to all of the ones after, this book was just filled with spicy scenes between the characters. I loved seeing both of them open up and be vulnerable with each other both sexually and emotionally.
I am hoping that we aren't done with the guys in this world! I would also LOVE a book with Joss as the FMC. I loved her sassiness and her bluntness and she needs the right guy to get her to settle down.
February 26, 2023
Tropes:
- football romance
- sister's best friend
- older fmc
- secret crush
- roomies to lovers
- friends with benefits
- he falls first
When his birthday party gets a little too wild, Ben finds himself suspended from the football team for a month and without housing. He reaches out to his big sister Nora for help, who finds him a place to stay with her best friend aka the girl of Ben’s dreams—Violet.
After all these years pining for her, Violet is now single and Ben wonders if being temporary roommates will give him the in he’s always wanted, but she’s not like all the other girls he’s bagged before. He has to tread carefully and to prove to Violet he’s not a kid anymore and someone she can take seriously.
Violet hasn’t seen her best friend’s little brother in five years, and the incredibly tall and sculpted god living in her spare bedroom is not what she pictured when she promised Nora he could stay with her. There’s a chemistry between them that she tries so hard to deny, but Ben is not at all what she expected, and he’s so easy to give in to.
Ben & Violet’s story was a pretty solid addition to the Plays & Penalties series! We’ve heard so much about Ben’s mystery girl throughout the series, that I was pretty excited for them to have their own book and finally meet her!
I’m a little disappointed though, I would have liked more depth to Vi’s character than what we got in Reverse Pass. Plus I feel like a lot of what see of her connection with Ben is more physical than emotional, and I didn’t buy too much into her feelings for him because of that.
Ben really stole the show though, and I loved his character so much! He’s so sweet and patient, way more patient than I would have been with the way Vi acted but whatever. So glad he finally got the girl of his dreams though.
- football romance
- sister's best friend
- older fmc
- secret crush
- roomies to lovers
- friends with benefits
- he falls first
When his birthday party gets a little too wild, Ben finds himself suspended from the football team for a month and without housing. He reaches out to his big sister Nora for help, who finds him a place to stay with her best friend aka the girl of Ben’s dreams—Violet.
After all these years pining for her, Violet is now single and Ben wonders if being temporary roommates will give him the in he’s always wanted, but she’s not like all the other girls he’s bagged before. He has to tread carefully and to prove to Violet he’s not a kid anymore and someone she can take seriously.
Violet hasn’t seen her best friend’s little brother in five years, and the incredibly tall and sculpted god living in her spare bedroom is not what she pictured when she promised Nora he could stay with her. There’s a chemistry between them that she tries so hard to deny, but Ben is not at all what she expected, and he’s so easy to give in to.
Ben & Violet’s story was a pretty solid addition to the Plays & Penalties series! We’ve heard so much about Ben’s mystery girl throughout the series, that I was pretty excited for them to have their own book and finally meet her!
I’m a little disappointed though, I would have liked more depth to Vi’s character than what we got in Reverse Pass. Plus I feel like a lot of what see of her connection with Ben is more physical than emotional, and I didn’t buy too much into her feelings for him because of that.
Ben really stole the show though, and I loved his character so much! He’s so sweet and patient, way more patient than I would have been with the way Vi acted but whatever. So glad he finally got the girl of his dreams though.
March 2, 2023
4.5 stars!
This is such a great read! A best-friend’s-brother, friends-to-lovers, NA sports romance that is fun, playful and sexy, with fantastic characters and a love story that stole my heart! I love this one!
When I signed up to read an advanced copy of this book, I had no idea it was part of a series. I usually hate to read interconnected standalones out of order, and I’m sure the earlier introduction to Ben’s character would have added to the excitement of reading his story, but it didn’t stop me from loving this book, which can easily be read on its own, and I’m excited to go back and read the earlier books in the series.
When football star and campus playboy, Ben, gets into trouble and loses his team-allocated housing, he finds himself forced to lie low. His older sister comes to the rescue when she asks her best friend, Violet, to rent him the spare room in her town home while he gets his life back together. Of course, Violet agrees, but her memories of Ben as a gawky teenager are quickly squashed when she comes home to a fully-grown, gorgeous football player in her house, and she knows she’s in way over her head. In fact, they both are, because Ben has crushed on Violet for as long as he can remember – she’s the only woman he’s ever had real feelings for, and nobody has even come close to her in his eyes. Now, he’s all grown up and she’s looking at him like she’s interested, this could finally be his chance with the girl he’s always loved.
It's a fun premise, and things get off to a fabulous start when we get to see the fantastic dynamic between Ben and Violet. They’re known each other forever, but things are different now, and Ben is full of confidence and wickedly flirtatious, and I loved their banter and teasing.
The attraction sizzles, the chemistry is fantastic, and I was laughing, cheering and giddy with anticipation as the line between friends and more is very quickly blurred.
It’s sexy and playful, but there’s also a really gorgeous emotional element. There’s a natural and close friendship between them, and Ben has had feelings for Violet for so long, and I loved seeing him finally get the opportunity to let all of that out as he becomes the most beautiful romantic hero.
But while Ben is walking around with hearts in his eyes, they’re not quite on the same page when it comes to a relationship. First, there’s the age gap, then there’s the complication of their tightly intertwined families, and then there’s Ben’s potential future in the NFL which may see him moving anywhere in the country while Violet is having to stay put while working on her Masters. There are ups and downs, and some angst and drama, but nothing too painful, and it’s worth it for all of the extra emotion and to see them work through it all and find their happy ending.
I loved this book so much. It made me smile and laugh, and I fell in mad love with Ben. It’s a gorgeous romance, and I’m so excited to go back and read more of this series.
4.5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is such a great read! A best-friend’s-brother, friends-to-lovers, NA sports romance that is fun, playful and sexy, with fantastic characters and a love story that stole my heart! I love this one!
When I signed up to read an advanced copy of this book, I had no idea it was part of a series. I usually hate to read interconnected standalones out of order, and I’m sure the earlier introduction to Ben’s character would have added to the excitement of reading his story, but it didn’t stop me from loving this book, which can easily be read on its own, and I’m excited to go back and read the earlier books in the series.
When football star and campus playboy, Ben, gets into trouble and loses his team-allocated housing, he finds himself forced to lie low. His older sister comes to the rescue when she asks her best friend, Violet, to rent him the spare room in her town home while he gets his life back together. Of course, Violet agrees, but her memories of Ben as a gawky teenager are quickly squashed when she comes home to a fully-grown, gorgeous football player in her house, and she knows she’s in way over her head. In fact, they both are, because Ben has crushed on Violet for as long as he can remember – she’s the only woman he’s ever had real feelings for, and nobody has even come close to her in his eyes. Now, he’s all grown up and she’s looking at him like she’s interested, this could finally be his chance with the girl he’s always loved.
It's a fun premise, and things get off to a fabulous start when we get to see the fantastic dynamic between Ben and Violet. They’re known each other forever, but things are different now, and Ben is full of confidence and wickedly flirtatious, and I loved their banter and teasing.
“Do you want to talk about it?” …
“About the way you were looking at me earlier? I thought maybe we should…I mean, I know it could be awkward having a thing for your roommate.” I give her a wide smile.
Dick move. I know, but I am desperate to change the subject and even more desperate to explore the depths of this whole – Violet actually noticing me – situation.
Her jaw drops. Literally drops. She hops up and sits on the edge of the ottoman and points to the door behind me.
“Get out!” There’s a teasing tone to her voice still, like she’s amused, but also not brooking any bullshift from me.
“I mean, I just think we need to talk about your attraction to me if we’re going to be roommates. You know, boundaries and all that.” I hold my hands open like we need to have a frank discussion about it, and I can’t help but laugh as she launches a pillow squarely at my face.
The attraction sizzles, the chemistry is fantastic, and I was laughing, cheering and giddy with anticipation as the line between friends and more is very quickly blurred.
“I’m supposed to be helping you get your shit together, not fantasizing about you, watching you…Oh my god, when I say it out loud, I feel like it’s even worse.” She presses her hand to her mouth, a horrified look on her face.
I can’t help but laugh at it, even though I regret it because it just makes her face contort even more.
“Violet.” I wrap my fingers around her wrist and pull her hand from her mouth.” I told you. I’ve been getting off thinking about you since I was a teenager. If one of us is a creep here, I promise it’s me.”
It’s sexy and playful, but there’s also a really gorgeous emotional element. There’s a natural and close friendship between them, and Ben has had feelings for Violet for so long, and I loved seeing him finally get the opportunity to let all of that out as he becomes the most beautiful romantic hero.
I don’t know if there are even the right words to explain what it means to finally have the person I’ve wanted, loved, wished for, for so damn long.
“You are it for me, Violet. I’m not exaggerating when I say you were and are in all my fantasies. The way you look, the sound of your voice, the little faces you make, fuck…the way you taste…and none of them can even touch the way you make me feel.”
But while Ben is walking around with hearts in his eyes, they’re not quite on the same page when it comes to a relationship. First, there’s the age gap, then there’s the complication of their tightly intertwined families, and then there’s Ben’s potential future in the NFL which may see him moving anywhere in the country while Violet is having to stay put while working on her Masters. There are ups and downs, and some angst and drama, but nothing too painful, and it’s worth it for all of the extra emotion and to see them work through it all and find their happy ending.
I loved this book so much. It made me smile and laugh, and I fell in mad love with Ben. It’s a gorgeous romance, and I’m so excited to go back and read more of this series.
4.5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
February 20, 2023
I'm in love. Maggie Rawdon has been teasing us with Ben for the past three books and finally - FINALLY - we get Ben's book! And I'm beyond head over heels in love! But not only do we finally get Ben's book, but we finally - finally, finally - get to know the woman who has not just captured his heart, but who has held it... for years! Quite literally - for years! The woman who stole Ben's heart must be some sort of special unicorn - I mean, Ben after all is (by all accounts) incredible, so how could the object of his obsession ... I mean affection, not be special?! Am I right - no, no, that's not a question but a statement, because Violet is indeed the entire package!
Rawdon has just been teasing us in the worst possible way (and here the "worst" really means the best) for the past three books in this series when it comes to Ben and his mystery woman, dropping little crumbs for us to gobble up - but they have not even come close to satisfying the hunger we have for Ben. If anything, those crumbs just made us ravenous for this story! In book #3 when Ben and East go to the art exhibit, we first glimpse Violet and that right there is the moment we become so enthralled by their love story (and what a story it is), and completely desperate for this book, book #4 - "Reverse Pass" - which is so incredibly addicting and authentic.
Now, up until this point, we've gotten to know Ben as this gorgeous, capable, smart, sweet, sexy, talented football playing playboy. Yes, yes, he's a playboy. We learned in book #1 thanks to Mac and the gang that Ben had a type, and that type was blonde. Nothing wrong with that... but throughout the three books leading to this one, we glimpse more of the object of Ben's affection - as well as the reasons behind why and how Ben does things. We've also gotten to know Ben to be loyal, fun, and dependable in the three books leading up to this one (*swoon). The ladies love him - he is a genuine sweetheart - however, a girl hasn't been able to nail him down yet and that is a known fact around campus. But all of this we love - leading up to "Reverse Pass" - we can't say enough good things about Ben, our loyalty is firmly set in stone, and we're already rooting for him! So let's just state that fact right here before we go any further - we are so ready to go to bat for him!
Enter Violet. Ohhhh, Violet. I think some of us loyal-to-the-death Ben fans might have been willing to go after Violet if we felt that she had knowingly hurt our precious Ben... but she hasn't! (I'll come back to this). Rawdon has written Violet as this incredibly beautiful, capable, smart, funny, and KIND woman. I say woman, because yes, Violet is 5 years Ben's senior and she is also Ben's sister's best friend. Plot twist, I know!! But isn't it a delicious one?!
This is truly Ben and Violet's story, and Rawdon has written it beautifully. It is sweet, it is sexy, it hurts and is difficult to read in certain parts (because you feel so deeply for the characters and what they are enduring), and it is beautiful. It's hard to discuss much of the story specifically without giving details away, but my takeaways were these: first off, Rawdon's writing is superb! Her characters are incredible (I want Joss to be my BFF btw!) as is the world that she has crafted for our reading pleasure.
Secondly, she reminds us that people are not perfect and how we react to situations can be viewed as flawed... but we react how we react for a myriad of reasons. How this applies to Ben and Violet? Oh, this is such an integral part of their story. How Ben ultimately pursues Violet, and the reasoning for "how" and "why" he does it... there's so much there. The same can also be said about Violet and how she handles various scenarios throughout the book. Deliciously torturous!
Thirdly, I must factor in to this critique that some people are indeed oblivious. It's a thing! When it comes to being hit on or being the object of someone's affection - well, some of us can be very painfully oblivious. It happens! Rawdon has captured the brutal honesty of that here with Violet - like seriously... to those who have never been oblivious (for whatever reason),well I'm sorry but you just won't get it and I'm sure that you will judge Violet - but for those of us who know someone who is or has been oblivious, or we ourselves have been... Rawdon captures it so incredibly well and makes those parts seem all the more real. For me, this part of Violet made her, in certain ways, more humble and approachable as a character.
Speaking of making things feel real... This last point I'm going to make - arguably the most important point - is definitely a takeaway, but I need to specifically single this out. So, as is plainly stated in the description of this book, this is a reverse age gap scenario along with a best friend's younger sibling trope. Except here, the older person is the female lead and the taboo of the younger sibling is the fact that said younger sibling is the male lead - Ben's sister is Violet's best friend, and Violet is five years older than Ben. This is very important to their entire HEA story, and it plays a central role... or perhaps the age gap IS even the story! But what I want to focus in on is how well Rawdon has captured this situation! For those who have never been in an age gap scenario like Violet, well my friend, you have no foot to stand on and absolutely cannot judge Violet. The thoughts and hesitations that she has, every single woman who has ever dated a younger man has had those exact thoughts and hesitations. And it's almost eerie how well Rawdon has not just captured those thoughts and emotions, but how she has projected them onto the pages of this story and made them so incredibly vivid! I have to just stand up and slow clap in applause, because the writing talent is incredible and it is evident in these moments. How Rawdon has written these moments that Violet is dealing with the age gap, and her obliviousness factors in here, is critical to this book. I recognize that for those people who don't have first- or even second-hand experience with these two things, you may judge Violet - and maybe even harshly. But she does not deserve your judgement when it comes to these things! Rawdon is so incredibly spot-on in thoughts and emotions and behaviors when it comes to these things, that quite frankly it's almost scary - scary spot-on! I was just blown away by the accuracy with which Rawdon captured thoughts, emotions, interactions, and is able to weave it all together into this incredible book!
Maggie Rawdon and this series instantly burst their way onto my list of favorite authors and favorite series. These books left me desperate for so much more - more of these characters and of their worlds. Maggie, I look forward to your next book - your next story... it can't come fast enough!
Rawdon has just been teasing us in the worst possible way (and here the "worst" really means the best) for the past three books in this series when it comes to Ben and his mystery woman, dropping little crumbs for us to gobble up - but they have not even come close to satisfying the hunger we have for Ben. If anything, those crumbs just made us ravenous for this story! In book #3 when Ben and East go to the art exhibit, we first glimpse Violet and that right there is the moment we become so enthralled by their love story (and what a story it is), and completely desperate for this book, book #4 - "Reverse Pass" - which is so incredibly addicting and authentic.
Now, up until this point, we've gotten to know Ben as this gorgeous, capable, smart, sweet, sexy, talented football playing playboy. Yes, yes, he's a playboy. We learned in book #1 thanks to Mac and the gang that Ben had a type, and that type was blonde. Nothing wrong with that... but throughout the three books leading to this one, we glimpse more of the object of Ben's affection - as well as the reasons behind why and how Ben does things. We've also gotten to know Ben to be loyal, fun, and dependable in the three books leading up to this one (*swoon). The ladies love him - he is a genuine sweetheart - however, a girl hasn't been able to nail him down yet and that is a known fact around campus. But all of this we love - leading up to "Reverse Pass" - we can't say enough good things about Ben, our loyalty is firmly set in stone, and we're already rooting for him! So let's just state that fact right here before we go any further - we are so ready to go to bat for him!
Enter Violet. Ohhhh, Violet. I think some of us loyal-to-the-death Ben fans might have been willing to go after Violet if we felt that she had knowingly hurt our precious Ben... but she hasn't! (I'll come back to this). Rawdon has written Violet as this incredibly beautiful, capable, smart, funny, and KIND woman. I say woman, because yes, Violet is 5 years Ben's senior and she is also Ben's sister's best friend. Plot twist, I know!! But isn't it a delicious one?!
This is truly Ben and Violet's story, and Rawdon has written it beautifully. It is sweet, it is sexy, it hurts and is difficult to read in certain parts (because you feel so deeply for the characters and what they are enduring), and it is beautiful. It's hard to discuss much of the story specifically without giving details away, but my takeaways were these: first off, Rawdon's writing is superb! Her characters are incredible (I want Joss to be my BFF btw!) as is the world that she has crafted for our reading pleasure.
Secondly, she reminds us that people are not perfect and how we react to situations can be viewed as flawed... but we react how we react for a myriad of reasons. How this applies to Ben and Violet? Oh, this is such an integral part of their story. How Ben ultimately pursues Violet, and the reasoning for "how" and "why" he does it... there's so much there. The same can also be said about Violet and how she handles various scenarios throughout the book. Deliciously torturous!
Thirdly, I must factor in to this critique that some people are indeed oblivious. It's a thing! When it comes to being hit on or being the object of someone's affection - well, some of us can be very painfully oblivious. It happens! Rawdon has captured the brutal honesty of that here with Violet - like seriously... to those who have never been oblivious (for whatever reason),well I'm sorry but you just won't get it and I'm sure that you will judge Violet - but for those of us who know someone who is or has been oblivious, or we ourselves have been... Rawdon captures it so incredibly well and makes those parts seem all the more real. For me, this part of Violet made her, in certain ways, more humble and approachable as a character.
Speaking of making things feel real... This last point I'm going to make - arguably the most important point - is definitely a takeaway, but I need to specifically single this out. So, as is plainly stated in the description of this book, this is a reverse age gap scenario along with a best friend's younger sibling trope. Except here, the older person is the female lead and the taboo of the younger sibling is the fact that said younger sibling is the male lead - Ben's sister is Violet's best friend, and Violet is five years older than Ben. This is very important to their entire HEA story, and it plays a central role... or perhaps the age gap IS even the story! But what I want to focus in on is how well Rawdon has captured this situation! For those who have never been in an age gap scenario like Violet, well my friend, you have no foot to stand on and absolutely cannot judge Violet. The thoughts and hesitations that she has, every single woman who has ever dated a younger man has had those exact thoughts and hesitations. And it's almost eerie how well Rawdon has not just captured those thoughts and emotions, but how she has projected them onto the pages of this story and made them so incredibly vivid! I have to just stand up and slow clap in applause, because the writing talent is incredible and it is evident in these moments. How Rawdon has written these moments that Violet is dealing with the age gap, and her obliviousness factors in here, is critical to this book. I recognize that for those people who don't have first- or even second-hand experience with these two things, you may judge Violet - and maybe even harshly. But she does not deserve your judgement when it comes to these things! Rawdon is so incredibly spot-on in thoughts and emotions and behaviors when it comes to these things, that quite frankly it's almost scary - scary spot-on! I was just blown away by the accuracy with which Rawdon captured thoughts, emotions, interactions, and is able to weave it all together into this incredible book!
Maggie Rawdon and this series instantly burst their way onto my list of favorite authors and favorite series. These books left me desperate for so much more - more of these characters and of their worlds. Maggie, I look forward to your next book - your next story... it can't come fast enough!
March 28, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Rounded down because it wasn’t good enough for 4 stars.
I thought this was overall a cute story, but there were some problems.
I LOVED Ben. Right from the beginning. I loved that he had been pining for Violet for years. Their chemistry in the first half of the book was off the charts.
Violet was another story. I don’t like how they started fooling around and it just felt kind of off to me? Like when she suggested reading books and hearing the other person get off. She was so unsure of what was really going on but it felt like she liked the attention he gave her and she liked the effects she had on him. She was so hard on herself, talked down about herself, and was in general kind of depressing. I understand, after her relationship with Cameron, but it just didn’t sit right with me. She took Ben for granted and didn’t appreciate him and wanted to continue to hide their relationship, yet was jealous when he got attention from other women and got mad? 🧐
And then all of the miscommunication and misunderstandings got resolved in the last 5%. 🙄
Rounded down because it wasn’t good enough for 4 stars.
I thought this was overall a cute story, but there were some problems.
I LOVED Ben. Right from the beginning. I loved that he had been pining for Violet for years. Their chemistry in the first half of the book was off the charts.
Violet was another story. I don’t like how they started fooling around and it just felt kind of off to me? Like when she suggested reading books and hearing the other person get off. She was so unsure of what was really going on but it felt like she liked the attention he gave her and she liked the effects she had on him. She was so hard on herself, talked down about herself, and was in general kind of depressing. I understand, after her relationship with Cameron, but it just didn’t sit right with me. She took Ben for granted and didn’t appreciate him and wanted to continue to hide their relationship, yet was jealous when he got attention from other women and got mad? 🧐
And then all of the miscommunication and misunderstandings got resolved in the last 5%. 🙄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2023
~~You are mine,right?
Always have been,you just didn't know it yet.~~
Just when I think I've found my favorite character of Maggie's, she has to go and Reverse Pass me.
Ben and Violet have a shared history, her being his older sister's best friend.
Unbeknownst to Vi, Ben has long harbored feelings of love and adoration for her...and for a certain galaxy themed bikini he caught glimpses of,as a teen.
When circumstances demand that he find a new place to live, Violet, fresh on the heels of a break-up,opens her home.
Being in close proximity to one another, and no longer having the societal and familial constraints of judgment to hinder them...their chemistry develops into the kind of slow burn passion I needed in a sports romance. Their HEA was perfectly written.
Ben is so swoon-worthy!
This man does it all:
*Cooks
*Buys and READS romance books in order to woo Violet
*Playfully banters with her best friend
*Knows her mind,intimately.
I enjoyed visits from old friends, and new in this story. I can't wait for future installments.
Always have been,you just didn't know it yet.~~
Just when I think I've found my favorite character of Maggie's, she has to go and Reverse Pass me.
Ben and Violet have a shared history, her being his older sister's best friend.
Unbeknownst to Vi, Ben has long harbored feelings of love and adoration for her...and for a certain galaxy themed bikini he caught glimpses of,as a teen.
When circumstances demand that he find a new place to live, Violet, fresh on the heels of a break-up,opens her home.
Being in close proximity to one another, and no longer having the societal and familial constraints of judgment to hinder them...their chemistry develops into the kind of slow burn passion I needed in a sports romance. Their HEA was perfectly written.
Ben is so swoon-worthy!
This man does it all:
*Cooks
*Buys and READS romance books in order to woo Violet
*Playfully banters with her best friend
*Knows her mind,intimately.
I enjoyed visits from old friends, and new in this story. I can't wait for future installments.
March 3, 2023
**4.5 Stars
Forbidden love. Older FMC. He falls first.
Was that not enough to grab your attention? What about adding in some 🔥🔥 scenes and a badass best friend?
Ben might just be a new favorite leading man for me. He's thoughtful, he cooks, he buys the girls baked goods, and he reads smut out loud to Violet. 🥵 I FLEW through this book. And I might have even teared up at the end... And what Violet does to prove her love to Ben...well, it gave me second hand embarrassment but also was so sweet and just what Ben needed to see she was in all in. And then Joss's words to Colton had me laughing so hard. I wanted to save them to share them hear, but it might give too much away.
While this does center around a star football player, you don't necessarily need to be into football to love Ben. This was the first I've read in this series, and I've already downloaded the rest from KU.
**I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
Forbidden love. Older FMC. He falls first.
Was that not enough to grab your attention? What about adding in some 🔥🔥 scenes and a badass best friend?
Ben might just be a new favorite leading man for me. He's thoughtful, he cooks, he buys the girls baked goods, and he reads smut out loud to Violet. 🥵 I FLEW through this book. And I might have even teared up at the end... And what Violet does to prove her love to Ben...well, it gave me second hand embarrassment but also was so sweet and just what Ben needed to see she was in all in. And then Joss's words to Colton had me laughing so hard. I wanted to save them to share them hear, but it might give too much away.
While this does center around a star football player, you don't necessarily need to be into football to love Ben. This was the first I've read in this series, and I've already downloaded the rest from KU.
**I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
May 18, 2023
4.5⭐️
I have loved this series and am sad to be leaving this world Maggie has created!
I have loved this series and am sad to be leaving this world Maggie has created!
February 12, 2023
4.25– Ben really said save the best guy for last. He’s the total package and I love watching the difference between hookup Ben and devoted Ben. He’s found himself temporarily suspended from the team and out of housing. The only person who can help? His older sister’s best friend and his long-time crush Nora.
Nora is in a state of limbo after her engagement ended when her ex-fiancé wanted an open relationship while he’s out of the country for a year. Nora’s roommates encourages her to start to heal and what better way to do that than to hookup with your new, hot, younger roommate.
We spend a long time watching Ben fall deeper and Nora fight her feelings. Ben is spicy and I love seeing his balance of spicy and romantic.
My only issue was Nora was older, but felt much more immature than Ben. She really has no direction and continually hurt people’s feelings out of fear. I expected that once, but she does it a couple of times and by the final time I was just angry with her.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Nora is in a state of limbo after her engagement ended when her ex-fiancé wanted an open relationship while he’s out of the country for a year. Nora’s roommates encourages her to start to heal and what better way to do that than to hookup with your new, hot, younger roommate.
We spend a long time watching Ben fall deeper and Nora fight her feelings. Ben is spicy and I love seeing his balance of spicy and romantic.
My only issue was Nora was older, but felt much more immature than Ben. She really has no direction and continually hurt people’s feelings out of fear. I expected that once, but she does it a couple of times and by the final time I was just angry with her.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2023
ARC kindly provided for the author in exchange for an honest review
I can't believe how quickly the end of this series came! And while I'm sad to say goodbye to these characters, I have to say I LOVED the way Maggie Rawdon ended his debut series: it made us love Ben so much since Play Fake, knowing his feelings for Violet and wait for them, but IT WAS SO WORTH IT! These two made me suffer more than I expected, but I also really enjoyed their chemistry, their fear of accepting their feelings, and of course, because it's Maggie we couldn't miss that little dose of drama that only she writes so well!
Ben is one of the sweetest, kindest & most thoughtful guys I've ever read, who his friends turn to when they have love problems and need advice, but who doesn't know how to approach the girl he's been in love since forever, who is also his older sister's best friend. Ben is the sweetest of Maggie's boys and I really enjoyed reading him so lost with his own love life after reading him being the wisest of all, it was also difficult to read his fear of rejection, his situation with the football team and the very complex feelings he experiences since he becomes Violet & Joss' roommate.
Violet is the only girl in this series that we hadn't met until now and it was a very positive surprise, she is a hard-working girl, who knows what she wants and strives to achieve her goals , has recently experienced a heartbreak and is shocked when she finds a shirtless Ben cooking at her house & everything she begins to feel for him from that moment on. Violet is a girl who values her friends, that's why she tries to ignore her attraction to Ben, but I love how little by little she gives in, how she's also afraid to allow herself to go further with him and the way in which she always supports him in difficult moments.
One of the things that I loved the most about the love story of Ben & Violet was that he has always been in love with Violet and she doesn't remember him as more than the boy who followed her and Nora everywhere, but at the same time as a constant presence in her life, someone who knows a lot about her and how her feelings for him begin to change from the first time she sees him after many years. I also really liked the way Maggie brought these two together for the first time, the disagreements between them, the drama that Cam added to their situation, and the funny touch that Joss she gave the plot by constantly supporting Ben in his fight to win over Violet and simply being the best friend in the world.
🏈Ben: 5/5
🏈Violet: 5/5
🏈Plot: 5/5
🏈Love story: 5/5
🏈Secondary characters: 5/5
🏈Universe: 5/5
🏈Cover: 5/5
Mi favorite in the series! 🤤😍
🌶️: 3/5
ARC amablemente proporcionada a cambio de una reseña honesta
No puedo creer lo rápido que llegó el final de esta serie! Y aunque estoy triste por decirle adiós a estos personajes, tengo que decir que AMÉ la manera en la que Maggie Rawdon terminó con su serie debut: nos hizo amar a Ben con locura desde Play Fake, conocer sus sentimientos por Violet y esperar con ansias por ellos, pero VALIÓ LA PENA! Estos dos me hicieron sufrir más de lo que esperaba, pero también disfrutar muchísimo con su química, su miedo a aceptar sus sentimientos, y claro, porque es Maggie no podía faltar esa pequeña dosis de drama que solo ella escribe tan bien!
Ben es uno de los chicos más dulce, buenos, considerados y amables que he leído, a quien sus amigos recurren cuando tienen problemas amorosos y necesitan un consejo, pero que no sabe como acercarse a la chica de la que ha estado enamorado desde siempre, que además es la mejor amiga de su hermana mayor. Ben es el más dulce de los chicos de Maggie y disfruté mucho leerlo tan perdido con su propia situación amorosa después de leerlo siendo el más sabio de todos, aunque también fue complicado leer su miedo al rechazo, su situación con el equipo de fútbol y los sentimientos tan complejos que experimenta desde que se convierte en el roomie de Violet & Joss.
Violet es la única de las chicas de esta serie que no habíamos conocido hasta ahora y fue una sorpresa muy positiva, es una chica trabajadora, que sabe lo que quiere y se esfuerza por conseguir sus metas, recientemente ha experimentado una decepción amorosa y se sorprende muchísimo cuando encuentra a un Ben sin playera cocinando en su casa & todo lo que empieza a sentir por él desde ese momento. Violet es una chica que valora a sus amigos, es por eso que intenta ignorar su atracción por Ben, pero amé como poco a poco va cediendo, como también tiene miedo a permitirse ir más allá con él y la forma en la que siempre lo apoya en los momentos complicados.
Una de las cosas que más amé de la historia de amor de Ben & Violet fue que él siempre haya estado enamorado de Violet y ella no lo recuerde como más que el niño que las seguía a ella y a Nora a todas partes, pero que al mismo tiempo lo recuerde como una presencia constante en su vida, alguien que sabe mucho de ella y como sus sentimientos por él comienzan a cambiar desde la primera vez que lo ve después de muchos años. También me gustó mucho la manera en la que Maggie hizo que estos dos tuvieran su primer acercamiento, los desencuentros que hubo entre ambos, el drama que Cam agregó a su situación y el toque divertido que Joss le dio a la trama apoyando constantemente a Ben en su lucha por conquistar a Violet y simplemente siendo la mejor amiga del mundo.
🏈Ben: 5/5
🏈Violet: 5/5
🏈Trama: 5/5
🏈Historia de amor: 5/5
🏈Personajes secundarios: 5/5
🏈Universo: 5/5
🏈Portada: 5/5
Es mi favorita de la serie! 🤤😍
🌶️: 3/5
I can't believe how quickly the end of this series came! And while I'm sad to say goodbye to these characters, I have to say I LOVED the way Maggie Rawdon ended his debut series: it made us love Ben so much since Play Fake, knowing his feelings for Violet and wait for them, but IT WAS SO WORTH IT! These two made me suffer more than I expected, but I also really enjoyed their chemistry, their fear of accepting their feelings, and of course, because it's Maggie we couldn't miss that little dose of drama that only she writes so well!
Ben is one of the sweetest, kindest & most thoughtful guys I've ever read, who his friends turn to when they have love problems and need advice, but who doesn't know how to approach the girl he's been in love since forever, who is also his older sister's best friend. Ben is the sweetest of Maggie's boys and I really enjoyed reading him so lost with his own love life after reading him being the wisest of all, it was also difficult to read his fear of rejection, his situation with the football team and the very complex feelings he experiences since he becomes Violet & Joss' roommate.
Violet is the only girl in this series that we hadn't met until now and it was a very positive surprise, she is a hard-working girl, who knows what she wants and strives to achieve her goals , has recently experienced a heartbreak and is shocked when she finds a shirtless Ben cooking at her house & everything she begins to feel for him from that moment on. Violet is a girl who values her friends, that's why she tries to ignore her attraction to Ben, but I love how little by little she gives in, how she's also afraid to allow herself to go further with him and the way in which she always supports him in difficult moments.
One of the things that I loved the most about the love story of Ben & Violet was that he has always been in love with Violet and she doesn't remember him as more than the boy who followed her and Nora everywhere, but at the same time as a constant presence in her life, someone who knows a lot about her and how her feelings for him begin to change from the first time she sees him after many years. I also really liked the way Maggie brought these two together for the first time, the disagreements between them, the drama that Cam added to their situation, and the funny touch that Joss she gave the plot by constantly supporting Ben in his fight to win over Violet and simply being the best friend in the world.
🏈Ben: 5/5
🏈Violet: 5/5
🏈Plot: 5/5
🏈Love story: 5/5
🏈Secondary characters: 5/5
🏈Universe: 5/5
🏈Cover: 5/5
Mi favorite in the series! 🤤😍
🌶️: 3/5
ARC amablemente proporcionada a cambio de una reseña honesta
No puedo creer lo rápido que llegó el final de esta serie! Y aunque estoy triste por decirle adiós a estos personajes, tengo que decir que AMÉ la manera en la que Maggie Rawdon terminó con su serie debut: nos hizo amar a Ben con locura desde Play Fake, conocer sus sentimientos por Violet y esperar con ansias por ellos, pero VALIÓ LA PENA! Estos dos me hicieron sufrir más de lo que esperaba, pero también disfrutar muchísimo con su química, su miedo a aceptar sus sentimientos, y claro, porque es Maggie no podía faltar esa pequeña dosis de drama que solo ella escribe tan bien!
Ben es uno de los chicos más dulce, buenos, considerados y amables que he leído, a quien sus amigos recurren cuando tienen problemas amorosos y necesitan un consejo, pero que no sabe como acercarse a la chica de la que ha estado enamorado desde siempre, que además es la mejor amiga de su hermana mayor. Ben es el más dulce de los chicos de Maggie y disfruté mucho leerlo tan perdido con su propia situación amorosa después de leerlo siendo el más sabio de todos, aunque también fue complicado leer su miedo al rechazo, su situación con el equipo de fútbol y los sentimientos tan complejos que experimenta desde que se convierte en el roomie de Violet & Joss.
Violet es la única de las chicas de esta serie que no habíamos conocido hasta ahora y fue una sorpresa muy positiva, es una chica trabajadora, que sabe lo que quiere y se esfuerza por conseguir sus metas, recientemente ha experimentado una decepción amorosa y se sorprende muchísimo cuando encuentra a un Ben sin playera cocinando en su casa & todo lo que empieza a sentir por él desde ese momento. Violet es una chica que valora a sus amigos, es por eso que intenta ignorar su atracción por Ben, pero amé como poco a poco va cediendo, como también tiene miedo a permitirse ir más allá con él y la forma en la que siempre lo apoya en los momentos complicados.
Una de las cosas que más amé de la historia de amor de Ben & Violet fue que él siempre haya estado enamorado de Violet y ella no lo recuerde como más que el niño que las seguía a ella y a Nora a todas partes, pero que al mismo tiempo lo recuerde como una presencia constante en su vida, alguien que sabe mucho de ella y como sus sentimientos por él comienzan a cambiar desde la primera vez que lo ve después de muchos años. También me gustó mucho la manera en la que Maggie hizo que estos dos tuvieran su primer acercamiento, los desencuentros que hubo entre ambos, el drama que Cam agregó a su situación y el toque divertido que Joss le dio a la trama apoyando constantemente a Ben en su lucha por conquistar a Violet y simplemente siendo la mejor amiga del mundo.
🏈Ben: 5/5
🏈Violet: 5/5
🏈Trama: 5/5
🏈Historia de amor: 5/5
🏈Personajes secundarios: 5/5
🏈Universo: 5/5
🏈Portada: 5/5
Es mi favorita de la serie! 🤤😍
🌶️: 3/5
March 5, 2023
Super super super cute! I wish it had more football actually in the book, but Ben is on suspension when he moves into an apartment with his childhood crush. She’s older, he’s younger and think he’s not good enough for her.
But omgggg I love a cinnamon roll here!!!
But omgggg I love a cinnamon roll here!!!
February 27, 2023
Maggie Rawdon is a new author for me. I stumbled across her after I saw an instagram post of her cover (the discreet version of Reverse pass) and thought damn. Thats beautiful. I am ALL about the male human covers normally but the alternative is so pretty!! This is the first Ive read of this series but there are others before it - Play fake, Delay of game and Personal foul. These are the Plays & Penalties series (so far?)
Maggies writing is super easy to read, I flew through this - the pages practically turned themselves. Ben is the wide receiver on his College Football team, destined for the NFL. Violet is older, working towards her PhD and the best friend of Bens older sister, Nora. Ben literally takes one for them team after a messy party and ends up benched and out of a place to live. Violet has a spare room in the apartment she already share with Joss and they become roommates.
Ben had a crush on Vi back when they were kids but she met Cam who recently became the ex-fiancé. Ben and Vi’s chemistry is magnetic. The history & closeness they already have. The way these two actually come together is bloody brilliant though. Accidentally walking into her reading a one handed book ‘for research’ then reading it aloud for her whilst she finished said research 🫶🏼 Bravo Maggie!! Over time their love for smutty books evolves 😜 It was just amazing to read!!
This is such a fun read with only a little heartbreak. I loved it! Reverse age gap, forced proximity, sports romance, best friends brother.. if you like any of these then pick this up!
Maggies writing is super easy to read, I flew through this - the pages practically turned themselves. Ben is the wide receiver on his College Football team, destined for the NFL. Violet is older, working towards her PhD and the best friend of Bens older sister, Nora. Ben literally takes one for them team after a messy party and ends up benched and out of a place to live. Violet has a spare room in the apartment she already share with Joss and they become roommates.
Ben had a crush on Vi back when they were kids but she met Cam who recently became the ex-fiancé. Ben and Vi’s chemistry is magnetic. The history & closeness they already have. The way these two actually come together is bloody brilliant though. Accidentally walking into her reading a one handed book ‘for research’ then reading it aloud for her whilst she finished said research 🫶🏼 Bravo Maggie!! Over time their love for smutty books evolves 😜 It was just amazing to read!!
This is such a fun read with only a little heartbreak. I loved it! Reverse age gap, forced proximity, sports romance, best friends brother.. if you like any of these then pick this up!
August 15, 2023
This is my first read by the author, and I loved every moment of this book. Once I finished this book it became a binge reading session where I needed to read every other book in the series. I love sports romance, but have a hard time finding a good sports romance. This was on the mark and totally above the bar at the same time. I normally do not like reverse age gap’s, but this was done with perfection, and it paved the way for me to crave every book in the series.
Violet was such a relatable FMC. She was down to earth, sexy, intelligent, funny and easily someone who I I can understand her mindset. I feel a lot of women have had a fear dating younger men, or the concern of what others may think if they were to date a younger man.
Violet is in her last year of college and completing her Arts degree. All this takes place amidst an ex cheating fiancé, and then uncertainty about her future..
When her best friend asked if her younger brother could stay with her for awhile Violet pictures, the boy from when she was a teenager. When she sets her eyes on the man that Ben has become, it’s a shock to her mind, and a double shock to her body. No man should be that talented, that hot, and that sweet. It’s immediately a training wheels experience to full on riding. They start something that will never be finished, and both prove that they won’t fight fair when it comes to the other.
Ben is a God on the football field. He proves to be a leader, a team player,and a man who is as honest and loyal as he portrays . His team mentality however places him in a bad place after he takes one for the team literally. Destined for the NFL he sees his future clearly.
Bens loyalty to his team lands him right on the doorstep of the woman that never left his teenage mind. The moment he reunites with Violet he is immediately and enraptured by the woman she has grown into. What was a teenage crush has become full on Lust. He knows Violet is the endgame, and he brings his “A” game. The moment he walked in on her having a little me time and decided to help her out by reading her book to her…. I felt like I stopped breathing. There was nothing sexier than his take control, initiative and his desire to please her.
Jealousy, angst, lust, Romance, possessiveness and spice are just a few of the highlights in this book. I fell in love with this couple, and their story gave me a smile like no other. this book will keep you excited and will be the one that you don’t put down until the end.
Violet was such a relatable FMC. She was down to earth, sexy, intelligent, funny and easily someone who I I can understand her mindset. I feel a lot of women have had a fear dating younger men, or the concern of what others may think if they were to date a younger man.
Violet is in her last year of college and completing her Arts degree. All this takes place amidst an ex cheating fiancé, and then uncertainty about her future..
When her best friend asked if her younger brother could stay with her for awhile Violet pictures, the boy from when she was a teenager. When she sets her eyes on the man that Ben has become, it’s a shock to her mind, and a double shock to her body. No man should be that talented, that hot, and that sweet. It’s immediately a training wheels experience to full on riding. They start something that will never be finished, and both prove that they won’t fight fair when it comes to the other.
Ben is a God on the football field. He proves to be a leader, a team player,and a man who is as honest and loyal as he portrays . His team mentality however places him in a bad place after he takes one for the team literally. Destined for the NFL he sees his future clearly.
Bens loyalty to his team lands him right on the doorstep of the woman that never left his teenage mind. The moment he reunites with Violet he is immediately and enraptured by the woman she has grown into. What was a teenage crush has become full on Lust. He knows Violet is the endgame, and he brings his “A” game. The moment he walked in on her having a little me time and decided to help her out by reading her book to her…. I felt like I stopped breathing. There was nothing sexier than his take control, initiative and his desire to please her.
Jealousy, angst, lust, Romance, possessiveness and spice are just a few of the highlights in this book. I fell in love with this couple, and their story gave me a smile like no other. this book will keep you excited and will be the one that you don’t put down until the end.
August 19, 2023
4.5⭐️
One million forehead kisses for Maggie for creating yet another fictional man I want 😩
Ben is the man — idc what anyone says. He is the golden retriever athlete I wish existed IRL.
I always thought brothers best friend was the best trope but best friends brother has me 🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻♀️
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕?” 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒖𝒑 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆, 𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒆-𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒏𝒐. “𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕 𝒚𝒆𝒕.”
When Ben gets in trouble with his team after taking the fall for his friends, he needs a place to live for a bit — who else better than his sisters best friend that he has been in love with for yearssss 😛
The tension and chemistry between Violet and Ben had me SWEATING and my god, where do I find a man who will read my books to me for 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 😏
This was a great way to end the series! I wish we would have gotten more of the other side characters but getting to see Mak and Waylon was amazing 🫶🏻
Off to read more from Maggie! 🖤
One million forehead kisses for Maggie for creating yet another fictional man I want 😩
Ben is the man — idc what anyone says. He is the golden retriever athlete I wish existed IRL.
I always thought brothers best friend was the best trope but best friends brother has me 🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻♀️🧎🏻♀️
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒆, 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕?” 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒖𝒑 𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒆, 𝒘𝒊𝒅𝒆-𝒆𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒂 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝒏𝒐. “𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒊𝒕 𝒚𝒆𝒕.”
When Ben gets in trouble with his team after taking the fall for his friends, he needs a place to live for a bit — who else better than his sisters best friend that he has been in love with for yearssss 😛
The tension and chemistry between Violet and Ben had me SWEATING and my god, where do I find a man who will read my books to me for 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 😏
This was a great way to end the series! I wish we would have gotten more of the other side characters but getting to see Mak and Waylon was amazing 🫶🏻
Off to read more from Maggie! 🖤
March 1, 2023
ARC REVIEW
⭐️ 5/5
🔥 3/5
I have been waiting for Ben since Book 1 of the series and he was everything I needed!
Throughout the series we get little crumbs of Ben pining after a mystery girl. He only goes after blondes, he makes statements about not getting EVERY girl he wants, and finally we see him become a little stalker in Easton’s book and showing up at an art show.
And finally, we get to meet Violet. Violet is Ben’s older sister’s best friend. They’ve known each other since childhood and Ben has harbored a crush on her as far back as he can remember. Now Ben has gotten himself into some trouble and his sister’s solution is to move him in with Violet until he can find a new place and what better opportunity for Ben to seduce his favorite girl? And Violet is a weak woman. She hasn’t seen Ben in years and he is not the little boy he once was🥵
Everything about this book was fun, sweet, sexy, and I loved every second of it. And you guys.. THEY READ SPICY BOOK SCENES TOGETHER. He literally seduces her with spicy books.. my man.
I did want to throttle Vi at times for hurting poor Ben’s heart but I can’t say I wouldn’t have made the same mistakes she did. But don’t worry, she makes up for it in a big way.
Ben and Violet are just too damn sweet together and if you’re a fan of the series, you’ll love this one!
⭐️ 5/5
🔥 3/5
I have been waiting for Ben since Book 1 of the series and he was everything I needed!
Throughout the series we get little crumbs of Ben pining after a mystery girl. He only goes after blondes, he makes statements about not getting EVERY girl he wants, and finally we see him become a little stalker in Easton’s book and showing up at an art show.
And finally, we get to meet Violet. Violet is Ben’s older sister’s best friend. They’ve known each other since childhood and Ben has harbored a crush on her as far back as he can remember. Now Ben has gotten himself into some trouble and his sister’s solution is to move him in with Violet until he can find a new place and what better opportunity for Ben to seduce his favorite girl? And Violet is a weak woman. She hasn’t seen Ben in years and he is not the little boy he once was🥵
Everything about this book was fun, sweet, sexy, and I loved every second of it. And you guys.. THEY READ SPICY BOOK SCENES TOGETHER. He literally seduces her with spicy books.. my man.
I did want to throttle Vi at times for hurting poor Ben’s heart but I can’t say I wouldn’t have made the same mistakes she did. But don’t worry, she makes up for it in a big way.
Ben and Violet are just too damn sweet together and if you’re a fan of the series, you’ll love this one!
February 25, 2023
Maggie you were not kidding about Ben. Holy crap he is everything. I would let him read to me any day 🥵
Ben and Violet are amazing together. They compliment each other so well and their chemistry is off the freaking charts. Through a series of misfortune, Ben and Violet become roommates. Violet recently ended her relationship with her fiancé, and Ben has only one girl who ever caught his eye. Ever since they were kids, Ben had a massive crush on his older sisters best friend. Aka, his new roomie.
I was so sad for this series to end. To be quit honest I put off reading it a little, just so it wouldn’t end. But I can hands down say this is one of my all time favorite series. And although I’m sad to see it end, Maggie gave the series a hell of a send off.🖤
Ben and Violet are amazing together. They compliment each other so well and their chemistry is off the freaking charts. Through a series of misfortune, Ben and Violet become roommates. Violet recently ended her relationship with her fiancé, and Ben has only one girl who ever caught his eye. Ever since they were kids, Ben had a massive crush on his older sisters best friend. Aka, his new roomie.
I was so sad for this series to end. To be quit honest I put off reading it a little, just so it wouldn’t end. But I can hands down say this is one of my all time favorite series. And although I’m sad to see it end, Maggie gave the series a hell of a send off.🖤
August 20, 2023
Calling all cinnamon roll lovers. Ben is the man for you! He buys and reads her romance novels and cooks all her favorite meals??? Say less.
I am reading these a bit out of order, but after seeing adorable glimpses of Vi and Ben in Pick Six and Overtime, I knew I needed their story.
What you can expect:
Reverse age gap
He falls first (and hard)
Family friends
Childhood crush
Onto the next in the series, I can't get enough of this world!
I am reading these a bit out of order, but after seeing adorable glimpses of Vi and Ben in Pick Six and Overtime, I knew I needed their story.
What you can expect:
Reverse age gap
He falls first (and hard)
Family friends
Childhood crush
Onto the next in the series, I can't get enough of this world!
March 2, 2023
4.5/5 Stars 3/5 Spice
Tropes:
College Football Romance
Best Friend’s Brother
Reverse Age Gap
Forced Proximity
He Falls First
It’s Always Been You
eARC Review
Y’all. 😍 I love a good college sports romance && this one delivered. So so freaking good. Ben was just perfection. && Violet was a great FMC. && her best friend Joss? *chefs kiss* we love a good girl gang moment.
Ben has always had a crush on his older sisters best friend but she has always seen him as a kid. But when Ben gets himself into some trouble his senior year of college his sister helps him out by having her bestie Violet give him a place to stay while he gets his life back together. Only now, Violet doesn’t see Ben as a kid. She sees him as a D1 athlete & grown man. So when Ben sees that spark in her eye he decides to make his move. && from there the drama begins.
Ugh it was just so fun. A quick read. Well paced. && freaking precious Ben. Protect him at all cost. He’s top notch book boyfriend. Definitely recommend.
Tropes:
College Football Romance
Best Friend’s Brother
Reverse Age Gap
Forced Proximity
He Falls First
It’s Always Been You
eARC Review
Y’all. 😍 I love a good college sports romance && this one delivered. So so freaking good. Ben was just perfection. && Violet was a great FMC. && her best friend Joss? *chefs kiss* we love a good girl gang moment.
Ben has always had a crush on his older sisters best friend but she has always seen him as a kid. But when Ben gets himself into some trouble his senior year of college his sister helps him out by having her bestie Violet give him a place to stay while he gets his life back together. Only now, Violet doesn’t see Ben as a kid. She sees him as a D1 athlete & grown man. So when Ben sees that spark in her eye he decides to make his move. && from there the drama begins.
Ugh it was just so fun. A quick read. Well paced. && freaking precious Ben. Protect him at all cost. He’s top notch book boyfriend. Definitely recommend.
![Profile Image for Liz [reads books].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1668868475i/23423026._UY200_CR19,0,200,200_.jpg)
March 2, 2023
You got me.
Older woman younger man
Instalove for him
Friends to lovers
Well written
Engaging
I thought this book was really, really good. 4½ stars
Older woman younger man
Instalove for him
Friends to lovers
Well written
Engaging
I thought this book was really, really good. 4½ stars
March 8, 2023
Was obbessed with this entire series!
I loved the age gap (6 years) and the girl older. 🥵
Cute storyline of childhood friends.
I loved the age gap (6 years) and the girl older. 🥵
Cute storyline of childhood friends.
February 26, 2024
is kindle unlimited the new wattpad?
March 5, 2023
this one felt so fast, but i still love Maggie's writing.
March 7, 2023
REVIEW COMING SOON!
June 26, 2023
Reverse Pass - Maggie Rawdon
⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒆, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒇 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒅, 𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚.
I loved Ben and Violet since reading Pick Six and needed to know there story so I went back and picked up Reverse Pass and am SO happy I did. Ben is Violets best friends younger brother who grew up 😏 Ben got himself into a pickle and needed a place to stay....YUP. Best friends younger brother and forced proximity. This was a quick read and I ate it up. Also, he READS to her while she does "research" for work.....IYKYK and then she returns the favor. If that doesn't convince you to read this then I don't know what will 🥵😂
“𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉? 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒔?”
⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒆, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰 𝒄𝒂𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒘𝒐𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒇 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆𝒅, 𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒚.
I loved Ben and Violet since reading Pick Six and needed to know there story so I went back and picked up Reverse Pass and am SO happy I did. Ben is Violets best friends younger brother who grew up 😏 Ben got himself into a pickle and needed a place to stay....YUP. Best friends younger brother and forced proximity. This was a quick read and I ate it up. Also, he READS to her while she does "research" for work.....IYKYK and then she returns the favor. If that doesn't convince you to read this then I don't know what will 🥵😂
“𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉? 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒓 𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒔?”
October 18, 2023
I absolutely loved parts of this book. Up until about 75ish% then we took a turn. I get why we did it but I wasn't happy about it. I don't want to give spoilers but I love Ben with my whole pussy💕 This story is cute and it is an HEA. We didn't need to do my boi like that towards the end but since nobody asked me here we are.
January 21, 2023
I'm in love. Maggie Rawdon has been teasing us with Ben for the past three books and finally - FINALLY - we get Ben's book! And I'm beyond head over heels in love! But not only do we finally get Ben's book, but we finally - finally, finally - get to know the woman who has not just captured his heart, but who has held it... for years! Quite literally - for years! The woman who stole Ben's heart must be some sort of special unicorn - I mean, Ben after all is (by all accounts) incredible, so how could the object of his obsession ... I mean affection, not be special?! Am I right - no, no, that's not a question but a statement, because Violet is indeed the entire package!
Rawdon has just been teasing us in the worst possible way (and here the "worst" really means the best) for the past three books in this series when it comes to Ben and his mystery woman, dropping little crumbs for us to gobble up - but they have not even come close to satisfying the hunger we have for Ben. If anything, those crumbs just made us ravenous for this story! In book #3 when Ben and East go to the art exhibit, we first glimpse Violet and that right there is the moment we become so enthralled by their love story (and what a story it is), and completely desperate for this book, book #4 - "Reverse Pass" - which is so incredibly addicting and authentic.
Now, up until this point, we've gotten to know Ben as this gorgeous, capable, smart, sweet, sexy, talented football playing playboy. Yes, yes, he's a playboy. We learned in book #1 thanks to Mac and the gang that Ben had a type, and that type was blonde. Nothing wrong with that... but throughout the three books leading to this one, we glimpse more of the object of Ben's affection - as well as the reasons behind why and how Ben does things. We've also gotten to know Ben to be loyal, fun, and dependable in the three books leading up to this one (*swoon). The ladies love him - he is a genuine sweetheart - however, a girl hasn't been able to nail him down yet and that is a known fact around campus. But all of this we love - leading up to "Reverse Pass" - we can't say enough good things about Ben, our loyalty is firmly set in stone, and we're already rooting for him! So let's just state that fact right here before we go any further - we are so ready to go to bat for him!
Enter Violet. Ohhhh, Violet. I think some of us loyal-to-the-death Ben fans might have been willing to go after Violet if we felt that she had knowingly hurt our precious Ben... but she hasn't! (I'll come back to this). Rawdon has written Violet as this incredibly beautiful, capable, smart, funny, and KIND woman. I say woman, because yes, Violet is 5 years Ben's senior and she is also Ben's sister's best friend. Plot twist, I know!! But isn't it a delicious one?!
This is truly Ben and Violet's story, and Rawdon has written it beautifully. It is sweet, it is sexy, it hurts and is difficult to read in certain parts (because you feel so deeply for the characters and what they are enduring), and it is beautiful. It's hard to discuss much of the story specifically without giving details away, but my takeaways were these: first off, Rawdon's writing is superb! Her characters are incredible (I want Joss to be my BFF btw!) as is the world that she has crafted for our reading pleasure.
Secondly, she reminds us that people are not perfect and how we react to situations can be viewed as flawed... but we react how we react for a myriad of reasons. How this applies to Ben and Violet? Oh, this is such an integral part of their story. How Ben ultimately pursues Violet, and the reasoning for "how" and "why" he does it... there's so much there. The same can also be said about Violet and how she handles various scenarios throughout the book. Deliciously torturous!
Thirdly, I must factor in to this critique that some people are indeed oblivious. It's a thing! When it comes to being hit on or being the object of someone's affection - well, some of us can be very painfully oblivious. It happens! Rawdon has captured the brutal honesty of that here with Violet - like seriously... to those who have never been oblivious (for whatever reason),well I'm sorry but you just won't get it and I'm sure that you will judge Violet - but for those of us who know someone who is or has been oblivious, or we ourselves have been... Rawdon captures it so incredibly well and makes those parts seem all the more real. For me, this part of Violet made her, in certain ways, more humble and approachable as a character.
Speaking of making things feel real... This last point I'm going to make - arguably the most important point - is definitely a takeaway, but I need to specifically single this out. So, as is plainly stated in the description of this book, this is a reverse age gap scenario along with a best friend's younger sibling trope. Except here, the older person is the female lead and the taboo of the younger sibling is the fact that said younger sibling is the male lead - Ben's sister is Violet's best friend, and Violet is five years older than Ben. This is very important to their entire HEA story, and it plays a central role... or perhaps the age gap IS even the story! But what I want to focus in on is how well Rawdon has captured this situation! For those who have never been in an age gap scenario like Violet, well my friend, you have no foot to stand on and absolutely cannot judge Violet. The thoughts and hesitations that she has, every single woman who has ever dated a younger man has had those exact thoughts and hesitations. And it's almost eerie how well Rawdon has not just captured those thoughts and emotions, but how she has projected them onto the pages of this story and made them so incredibly vivid! I have to just stand up and slow clap in applause, because the writing talent is incredible and it is evident in these moments. How Rawdon has written these moments that Violet is dealing with the age gap, and her obliviousness factors in here, is critical to this book. I recognize that for those people who don't have first- or even second-hand experience with these two things, you may judge Violet - and maybe even harshly. But she does not deserve your judgement when it comes to these things! Rawdon is so incredibly spot-on in thoughts and emotions and behaviors when it comes to these things, that quite frankly it's almost scary - scary spot-on! I was just blown away by the accuracy with which Rawdon captured thoughts, emotions, interactions, and is able to weave it all together into this incredible book!
Maggie Rawdon and this series instantly burst their way onto my list of favorite authors and favorite series. These books left me desperate for so much more - more of these characters and of their worlds. Maggie, I look forward to your next book - your next story... it can't come fast enough!
Rawdon has just been teasing us in the worst possible way (and here the "worst" really means the best) for the past three books in this series when it comes to Ben and his mystery woman, dropping little crumbs for us to gobble up - but they have not even come close to satisfying the hunger we have for Ben. If anything, those crumbs just made us ravenous for this story! In book #3 when Ben and East go to the art exhibit, we first glimpse Violet and that right there is the moment we become so enthralled by their love story (and what a story it is), and completely desperate for this book, book #4 - "Reverse Pass" - which is so incredibly addicting and authentic.
Now, up until this point, we've gotten to know Ben as this gorgeous, capable, smart, sweet, sexy, talented football playing playboy. Yes, yes, he's a playboy. We learned in book #1 thanks to Mac and the gang that Ben had a type, and that type was blonde. Nothing wrong with that... but throughout the three books leading to this one, we glimpse more of the object of Ben's affection - as well as the reasons behind why and how Ben does things. We've also gotten to know Ben to be loyal, fun, and dependable in the three books leading up to this one (*swoon). The ladies love him - he is a genuine sweetheart - however, a girl hasn't been able to nail him down yet and that is a known fact around campus. But all of this we love - leading up to "Reverse Pass" - we can't say enough good things about Ben, our loyalty is firmly set in stone, and we're already rooting for him! So let's just state that fact right here before we go any further - we are so ready to go to bat for him!
Enter Violet. Ohhhh, Violet. I think some of us loyal-to-the-death Ben fans might have been willing to go after Violet if we felt that she had knowingly hurt our precious Ben... but she hasn't! (I'll come back to this). Rawdon has written Violet as this incredibly beautiful, capable, smart, funny, and KIND woman. I say woman, because yes, Violet is 5 years Ben's senior and she is also Ben's sister's best friend. Plot twist, I know!! But isn't it a delicious one?!
This is truly Ben and Violet's story, and Rawdon has written it beautifully. It is sweet, it is sexy, it hurts and is difficult to read in certain parts (because you feel so deeply for the characters and what they are enduring), and it is beautiful. It's hard to discuss much of the story specifically without giving details away, but my takeaways were these: first off, Rawdon's writing is superb! Her characters are incredible (I want Joss to be my BFF btw!) as is the world that she has crafted for our reading pleasure.
Secondly, she reminds us that people are not perfect and how we react to situations can be viewed as flawed... but we react how we react for a myriad of reasons. How this applies to Ben and Violet? Oh, this is such an integral part of their story. How Ben ultimately pursues Violet, and the reasoning for "how" and "why" he does it... there's so much there. The same can also be said about Violet and how she handles various scenarios throughout the book. Deliciously torturous!
Thirdly, I must factor in to this critique that some people are indeed oblivious. It's a thing! When it comes to being hit on or being the object of someone's affection - well, some of us can be very painfully oblivious. It happens! Rawdon has captured the brutal honesty of that here with Violet - like seriously... to those who have never been oblivious (for whatever reason),well I'm sorry but you just won't get it and I'm sure that you will judge Violet - but for those of us who know someone who is or has been oblivious, or we ourselves have been... Rawdon captures it so incredibly well and makes those parts seem all the more real. For me, this part of Violet made her, in certain ways, more humble and approachable as a character.
Speaking of making things feel real... This last point I'm going to make - arguably the most important point - is definitely a takeaway, but I need to specifically single this out. So, as is plainly stated in the description of this book, this is a reverse age gap scenario along with a best friend's younger sibling trope. Except here, the older person is the female lead and the taboo of the younger sibling is the fact that said younger sibling is the male lead - Ben's sister is Violet's best friend, and Violet is five years older than Ben. This is very important to their entire HEA story, and it plays a central role... or perhaps the age gap IS even the story! But what I want to focus in on is how well Rawdon has captured this situation! For those who have never been in an age gap scenario like Violet, well my friend, you have no foot to stand on and absolutely cannot judge Violet. The thoughts and hesitations that she has, every single woman who has ever dated a younger man has had those exact thoughts and hesitations. And it's almost eerie how well Rawdon has not just captured those thoughts and emotions, but how she has projected them onto the pages of this story and made them so incredibly vivid! I have to just stand up and slow clap in applause, because the writing talent is incredible and it is evident in these moments. How Rawdon has written these moments that Violet is dealing with the age gap, and her obliviousness factors in here, is critical to this book. I recognize that for those people who don't have first- or even second-hand experience with these two things, you may judge Violet - and maybe even harshly. But she does not deserve your judgement when it comes to these things! Rawdon is so incredibly spot-on in thoughts and emotions and behaviors when it comes to these things, that quite frankly it's almost scary - scary spot-on! I was just blown away by the accuracy with which Rawdon captured thoughts, emotions, interactions, and is able to weave it all together into this incredible book!
Maggie Rawdon and this series instantly burst their way onto my list of favorite authors and favorite series. These books left me desperate for so much more - more of these characters and of their worlds. Maggie, I look forward to your next book - your next story... it can't come fast enough!
May 14, 2023
⭐️⭐️.25
After reading PICK SIX and loving it, this one was a big let-down unfortunately!
The FMC was a doormat of a mess and just didn’t know what she wanted? Throughout the whole book she pretty much used the MMC as her personal s*x-toy. She took him for granted and didn't appreciate him and wanted to continue to hide their ‘relationship’.
The MMC on the other hand was childish and used other woman took make the FMC jealous.
Another issue I had was the reverse age-gap! The fact that it was made out to be such a big deal (by the FMC especially) really bothered me!? Like five years, when they are both over twenty and in the same life stage (still getting their degree) is nothing and is in no way ethically wrong?? I just didn’t get the whole issue?
I was also less than impressed with the ending / epilogue. I get that not everybody can have the same HEA, but I found it annoying that after hardly any time as a couple they still spent over a year
away from each other. It just didn't really feel like there was any type of conclusion to their relationship.
After reading PICK SIX and loving it, this one was a big let-down unfortunately!
The FMC was a doormat of a mess and just didn’t know what she wanted? Throughout the whole book she pretty much used the MMC as her personal s*x-toy. She took him for granted and didn't appreciate him and wanted to continue to hide their ‘relationship’.
The MMC on the other hand was childish and used other woman took make the FMC jealous.
Another issue I had was the reverse age-gap! The fact that it was made out to be such a big deal (by the FMC especially) really bothered me!? Like five years, when they are both over twenty and in the same life stage (still getting their degree) is nothing and is in no way ethically wrong?? I just didn’t get the whole issue?
I was also less than impressed with the ending / epilogue. I get that not everybody can have the same HEA, but I found it annoying that after hardly any time as a couple they still spent over a year
away from each other. It just didn't really feel like there was any type of conclusion to their relationship.
October 30, 2023
4.5 stars.
This is a reverse age gap, forbidden romance.
Ben, the star wide receiver, gets into trouble and ends up rooming with Violet, his older sister’s best friend. Ben is a huge flirt, but the only one he truly wants to be with us Violet.
I read the first two books in this series before this, but they can all be read as a standalone. Anyway, the first book really made me want to read Ben’s story and it did not disappoint! I read this in one day!
Ben is such a sweetheart and he takes care of Violet and her roommate as well as his teammates. He is honest about his feelings and tries to be understanding when Violet’s actions hurt him.
I wasn’t a big fan of Violet’s though. I mean, she was a bit childish, especially since she made a big deal of being older than him. It’s okay, because Ben made it worth it.
There were hints of other characters having problems, so I’m hoping those characters get a story too!
This is a reverse age gap, forbidden romance.
Ben, the star wide receiver, gets into trouble and ends up rooming with Violet, his older sister’s best friend. Ben is a huge flirt, but the only one he truly wants to be with us Violet.
I read the first two books in this series before this, but they can all be read as a standalone. Anyway, the first book really made me want to read Ben’s story and it did not disappoint! I read this in one day!
Ben is such a sweetheart and he takes care of Violet and her roommate as well as his teammates. He is honest about his feelings and tries to be understanding when Violet’s actions hurt him.
I wasn’t a big fan of Violet’s though. I mean, she was a bit childish, especially since she made a big deal of being older than him. It’s okay, because Ben made it worth it.
There were hints of other characters having problems, so I’m hoping those characters get a story too!
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