The final book in the By His Game series is here and Reid finally get his HEA after some serious drama! Check out the excerpt and enter a chance to win a signed set of the series and more!
Synopsis
Four people. Four goals. Four endings.
In the third and final book of the USA Today bestselling By
His Game series, the rules of the game no one knew they’d have to play are
blurring, and when the past becomes the opposing team, hearts aren’t the only
thing at stake of being lost…
Finding naked pictures of her best friend on her boyfriend’s
phone wasn’t in Everleigh White’s five year plan. Neither was moving back to
Los Angeles, the city of dreams that never managed to make hers come true.
There’s only so many years you can be in love with your best friend before you
realize he’s never going to love you back, after all. If only her ex would stop
showing up at the gym where she works, she’d be much happier
.
.
Being a father at nineteen wasn’t how Reid North, the
Vipers’ wide receiver, imagined his life going, but when his ex-girlfriend
tricked him into parenthood, he accepted it. Eventually. Now, with his ex on
the verge of being released from prison, he’s holding onto full custody of his
seven year old son, Leo. Football and Leo have left Reid no time for dating…
Until Everleigh comes back.
His best friend his whole life, Everleigh never knew Reid
loved her. She left before he could tell her. Now she’s back in front of him,
and he’s not letting go. Even if all he gets is her friendship again. But in a
city like L.A., dreams come true when you’re least expecting it.
So do nightmares.
With their exes beating down their doors with demands and
explanations, their hesitant and building relationship is threatened at every
corner. They’re at serious risk of being intercepted by the past, and that’s a
ball Reid is determined to catch.
Except desperation can lead to stupidity—and Reid soon
realizes he can’t catch every ball, no matter how perfectly it’s thrown to him.
This time a fumble could cost more than a few points.
It could cost him everything.
(INTERCEPTED is the third and final book in the By His Game
series and can be read as a standalone, although it is advised to read
BLINDSIDED and SIDELINED before, in this order.)
EXCERPT
I follow him down the sidewalk, feeling a little antsy. I
mean, he looks like Reid. Okay, an older Reid, but still Reid. He sounds like
Reid, he acts like Reid, but he… feels like someone else. He doesn’t feel like
the guy who dragged me out from behind curtains at parties and forced me to the
dance, or the guy who begged me to go to his high school and college football
games because he insisted he always caught better when I was there.
He feels… rawer. Realer. Rougher.
And I’m terrified.
He was always the one person I struggled to say no to. It
was his eyes, and his smile, and the fact that I was crazy fucking in love with
him. I’m afraid that now, although four years have passed, that I won’t be able
to say no, either
That much is obvious by the fact I’m standing outside a
sandwich shop I’ve never seen in my life.
“Trust me,” Reid says, smiling as he pushes the door open.
I stare at him flatly. Still, I follow him in like a little
puppy because I’m always game for a good sandwich.
“Two meatball subs,” Reid orders. “Both toasted with cheese,
but one with extra cheese. No salad or sauces on either.” Order done, he looks
back at me and winks.
God. He even remembers the sandwich.
“This isn’t good for my diet,” I mutter, following him along
the counter to the register.
“Or mine.” He smirks, glancing at me and running his eyes
over my body. “And for what it’s worth, you could probably have another cheat
day without it making a difference.”
I hit his arm again. “Shut up. You can’t perve on me. It’s
wrong.”
“That’s what you think.” He hands over twenty bucks and
raise his eyebrow at me. Then, leaning in, he whispers, “My cock thinks
different, Ever.”
I swallow. Well, shit. How am I supposed to respond to that?
I’m not. That’s right. I’m not.
I take my warm sandwich from the counter and grip it
tightly, heading toward a table in the corner. I slide into the seat against
the wall and unwrap my sandwich at a snail’s pace. Each crinkle of the paper
surrounding it seems ten times louder than normal as I studiously ignore Reid’s
bulky, muscular form sitting opposite me.
Dammit. I shouldn’t be attracted to him. I shouldn’t
consider being attracted to him.
Sure, I was before. In the ‘you’re handsome, be my Prince
Charming’ kinda way. Now, though? Now it’s a, ‘holy crap, rip off my clothes
and ravish me on your backseat!’ kinda attracted.
I’m not saying either way is bad. I’m just saying that I
would prefer for the first type of attracted.
Maybe.
I bite into the sandwich so I don’t have to talk to him.
But, apparently, he doesn’t get the message.
“I didn’t know you worked at the gym.”
I swallow. “You say it like it’s the only gym in Los
Angeles.”
“It’s just... the gym.” He smirks. He studies me for a
second before the curve turns downward. “Why’d you leave, Ev?”
“You knew I was going.”
“Sure I did. I just didn’t know you were going Casper on my
ass and fucking off without a word.”
My eyes fall and I focus on my sandwich. Carelessly, I pick
at the top of the bread. “I had my reasons, okay? It was easier for me if the
media didn’t follow me so intently. You know they thought I was going to star
on Broadway instead of college.”
“God, you’re a damn shit liar, Everleigh White.”
“It’s the truth, Reid, okay? They were all up in Dad’s
business because of the Hartman movie, and when those Broadway rumors started
it was bullshit. I ran without anyone knowing so they wouldn’t follow me. It
lasted a week, but I didn’t have them timing my pees on the plane so there we
go.” I glance up. “Believe me, okay? I’m not lying.” Not entirely, anyway.
“Whenever you’ve told me you’re not lying, you’ve been
lying.” The force of his gaze makes me look up. “I still fucking know you,
Ever. You haven’t changed a single damn bit.”
“And you still can’t control your f-bomb,” I shoot back.
“Says the girl who drops it like she drops the word ‘hi’ at
a high school reunion.”
“Kiss my ass.”
“You offerin’, firecracker?”
“You taking me up on it?”
“I could flip you over this table in a second and you know
it.”
I narrow my eyes and grab my half-eaten sandwich. Standing,
I reach toward the trashcan and slam the screwed-up package into it, leaving
the lid to slam down as I turn on my heel and head for the door.
Reid says nothing. But he follows me. I hear his footsteps
against the tiled floor of the sandwich place, and he grabs the door the second
I let it go, stopping it from slamming.
My feet pound against the sidewalk. Jesus, I don’t remember
him being this so fucking infuriating before. Was he this demanding? Or
frustrating? Or goddamned annoying?
Hell to it all. Was he this fucking sexy?
No, siree. No, he was not.
And that’s the frickin’ problem.
Review
★★★★ stars
I love friends to lovers stories and Reid and Everleigh's story has been a long time in the making. Their reunion was satisfying and sometimes difficult to read about. It seemed like they had all these challenges to face all at once and it was a little overwhelming for them and me.
I liked Reid and I liked Ever. I loved Reid for how much he loved Leo his son. I understood his desire to protect his him from his biological mother and further heart break. I also understood how so many years later he still felt guilt about his initial response to finding out his girlfriend was pregnant. He's human and he made a mistake. I liked Ever for how she realized avoiding Reid wasn't going to work and how she came clean with him. I also liked how Ever was there for both Reid and Leo during hard times. I also liked her resolve to face things.
The two had great chemistry. Granted they'd always had that from the time they were teens, but this time it was sweeter because they acknowledged that things were different and they were different after all these years apart. So while there was familiarity between them, there was also new horizons to be explored. Ever also had a great dynamic with Leo. Leo was adorable always talking about cooties and there were a couple of scenes with him that had me torn between laughing and cooing at him.
I liked how characters from previous books in this series were involved in the story. It was great to see Leah, Corey, Jack, and Macey again. Coming back to the story, there was a lot of drama and action. I mean with multiple story arcs happening simultaneously, it made for an interesting book. It seemed like everyone had something going on. There were moments when I had to hold my breath because I was worried someone or something was going to throw a wrench in the modicum of happiness Reid and Ever had managed to get for themselves and ruin it permanently.
Honestly, I don't even know where this book went. I started reading it and by the time it was over everything was kicking in. It took me a couple of minutes after I finished to just sit and let it all sink in. I can't believe this series is over. I would've loved to see more of Ever with her parents, especially after the book ended. I would've loved to know more about her brother too. Of course you always want more when you fall for characters. Emma Hart has done a fantastic job on this series. I can't wait to see what she writes next!
*Thank you to the publicist for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for them in any manner.*
Other Books in the Series
Bindsided (Book 1)
Two people. Two agendas. Two games.
What happens when the out-there It-Boy of football meets the
secret It-Girl of fashion?
As the daughter of Hollywood’s sweetheart, Leah Veronica
can’t even buy a coffee without finding her face on a magazine stand, so it’s no
wonder she’s launching her first fashion line in secret. With it debuting at
New York Fashion Week in just under a month, extra time in the spotlight is the
last thing she needs.
The son of the best quarterback the league has ever seen,
filling legendary shoes as the L.A. Vipers’ quarterback was inevitable for
Corey Jackson. So was meeting Leah Veronica—the first girl to hand him his ass
without putting a hair out of place.
Getting the handsome, prickly blonde into his bed becomes
his number one goal. But getting the sexy, over-confident footballer the hell
away from her becomes Leah’s—at least until she realizes the best way to do
that is to give him what he wants.
If only it was that simple.
When Corey discovers who she is, and private photos of
Hollywood’s finest find their way online, everything they thought they knew is
thrown into disarray.
And when secrets are exposed and hearts are shattered, they
have to figure out if they’ve been blindsided by love or reality, and if it’s
worth running the extra yard to win the game they never meant to play.
Purchase Links:
Sidelined (Book 2)
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Three people. Three motives. Three reasons.
When the game leaves the field in the second book in the USA Today bestselling BY HIS GAME series and mixes with sex, lies, and betrayal, the future isn't the only thing on the line...
Macey Kelly has sworn off men. Unless they’re going to zip in and out of her apartment—and her vagina—quicker than they can give her an orgasm, she’s not interested. Finding out her boyfriend of three years got her cousin pregnant was a total confidence knock. Luckily for Macey, confidence is
something she has in abundance, so all Mitch’s asshole move did was make her pretty cynical toward men.
The last thing Jack Carr needs at the start of the season is for a dark-haired, sexy as sin, gyspyesque beauty to be consuming his thoughts. Football is his life, which leaves no time for girls. Unless they’re the love ‘em and leave ‘em girls. Becoming one of the best running backs the league has ever seen by racking up the yards is his top priority… not bedding Macey Kelly, despite her affinity for blow jobs and total sexual abandon.
Avoiding each other is the perfect solution, but when your best friends are in a serious living together kind of relationship, that isn’t always an option. Sometimes, sex on tap is the easiest option. And the sweetest.
Until Mitch shows up with a bombshell that could shatter Macey’s perfectly carved out life. It’s been a year, but he isn’t giving her up, not now he has a chance at winning her back. And he knows her buttons. Every single one of them.
Unfortunately for him, Jack Carr isn’t a loser. The star running back has his eye on the Vince Lombardi—and on Macey. But seeing her hanging between them both isn’t something he’s down with, not when he discovers why she’s so against anything more-ish, as she puts it.Macey quickly realizes she’s the ball being passed between two desperate yet opposing teams, and that only one of them can score the touchdown. But will the winner be the guy she lived with and loved for three years, or will the winner be the guy who understands her and makes her body come alive?
In this game, someone will be sidelined, and calling the play isn’t always as easy as it seems.
(SIDELINED is a full-length, standalone novel. It's not necessary to read BLINDSIDED before this book, but it is advised.)
RELEASE DAY: MARCH 2, 2015
About the Author
By day, New York Times and USA Today bestselling New Adult author Emma Hart dons a cape and calls herself Super Mum to two beautiful little monsters. By night, she drops the cape, pours a glass of whatever she fancies - usually wine - and writes books.
Emma is working on Top Secret projects she will share with her followers and fans at every available opportunity. Naturally, all Top Secret projects involve a dashingly hot guy who likes to forget to wear a shirt, a sprinkling (or several) of hold-onto-your-panties hot scenes, and a whole lotta love.
She likes to be busy - unless busy involves doing the dishes, but that seems to be when all the ideas come to life.
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