“Because I am scarred by the fire you started in me. Because you have reduced me to fucking ashes.”

This book was AMAZING!!! Kandi has done it again and completely stolen my heart with this story. Our main characters are Riley and Zeke. Riley’s twin brother, Gavin, and Zeke have been best friends since they were children. In high school, Gavin and Zeke got into a car accident and Gavin was paralyzed. Because he was unable to fulfill his dreams of playing college football alongside his best friend, he asked Riley to join the high school team and hopefully make his college dreams come true. Riley was a soccer player, so the shift over to kicker on the football team wasn’t an impossible change. She then becomes the first ever woman to be a kicker on a college football team when she makes it onto the North Boston University team. Zeke also makes it onto that team and that’s where it all begins. 

Riley blames Zeke for the accident that caused her brother to lose the ability to walk, and she holds a huge grudge against him for it. It was a very one-sided hate-to-love relationship for Riley. Zeke never hated her. In fact, he felt ashamed and so regretful for his actions that night of the accident. He struggles with self-worth and self-deprecation. It broke my heart to read about all of his other struggles, but I think Kandi did a fantastic job of breaking down some of the stereotypes around those struggles. (I’m purposefully being vague as to not spoil anything). I loved that although Riley has always had feelings for Zeke, he fell first in this story. Zeke pined after Riley for a while and was the first to jump in and say “I want more”. I love it when the guy takes that first leap! The gradual change in their sexual relationship was one of my favorite parts too. I loved how initially it was a comment made by Zeke which turned into self-pleasure which then turned into roommates with benefits which finally turned into “let’s do this for real”. My heart was so happy as I read through this entire story. It wasn’t as angsty as a lot of Kandi’s books, but I was okay with that. I loved what she did with these characters. I loved the representation! I cannot WAIT for the next book. That teaser at the end has me desperate for it!! I’m so impatient!! 5 stars!

“Because I ache for you,” he breathed against my lips next. “And I’ll end anyone who touches what’s mine.”