Hail Mary

3.5✨

Kandi Steiner what have you done to me?! I mean, Leo Hernandez— swoon! I loved this book so damn much! Hail Mary is the fourth installment in the Red Zone Rivals series, and it did not disappoint. This book follows Leo, a cocky football player, and Mary, a sexy and confident woman whose dream is to be a tattoo artist. Mary and Leo have history, but Leo doesn't realize that she's the girl from his past. After Mary's house turns into a mess and needs tons of repairs, Leo offers The Pit as a place for her to stay. This is forced proximity at its finest y'all! The tension is sublime, and don't get me started on the spice— it. Is. Hot. Leo is everything and honestly, so is Mary! I love a second chance romance, and this was no exception. I'm sad it's over, and I love the glimpses of the other characters from the series and their lives. Thankful for friends who peer pressure me to read amazing books! This is an new adult romance, 18+ for sexual content and themes

2.75/5

i feel disappointed, because this book was not what i expected it to be. I was really excited to read about leo's story and how much he was hyped until release. I really wanted to like this book but so many things about this set me back.

- the miscommunication/misunderstanding trope
- im glad the author did not make the big confession the third act conflict but the third act conflict was even worse lmao
- leo was hot but so much of his lines were cliché especially during sex
- mary seemed to have a very mediocre personality. when she was introduced in the previous book, she seemed like a badass but i hadnt really liked her much
- mary over reacting to leo beating the guy who sexually assaulted her and telling him that he hurt her etc. Like i get it but you also have to understand the guy's perspective before jumping to conclusions. she suddenly wants to find self love now?
- her leaving the pit because of this was my last straw

Look, i loved LOVED blind side which is how i found kandi steiner basically and wanted to read all of her work but i have been repeatedly disappointed. Maybe except for quarterback sneak, which was nice and better than this. This whole story and plot felt dragged and forceful, like something to be written. The smut was okay but not as great.

Clay Johnson will be my number 1 and only book boyfriend.

I had chalked up my disinterest in this book to my romance reading slump era but really, this was not good anyway.