This is going to be a gushing review because I loved everything about this book. The characters were compelling yet fun, the plot is different and interesting, there’s action and not a lot of angsty drama, I could go on and on. Kinsley Bryant and Liam Wilder are a new favorite couple. She’s hilarious and real and very relatable. He’s sweet and sexy and wonderfully down-to-earth despite his fame. There was an element of forbidden love but that’s not their story, which was a nice surprise because I was expecting that to be a big part of the plot.
Kinsley is an Olympic-hopeful soccer star about to start college. She chose this school for their soccer program and excellent coach so she’s keen to make a good impression but the first thing she wants to do is break the rules. Liam Wilder is a professional soccer player and he’s volunteering as a coach for the ULA women’s team this summer. The first directive from the head coach is no fraternization with coach Wilder but Kinsley’s immediately smitten. That wouldn’t be a big deal except that Liam is every bit as interested in her and doesn’t do a very good job of hiding it.
“Cue dream sequence of Liam running slowly on a beach carrying me in his arms. I love how he’s strong enough to carry me with one arm while using the other arm to feed the seagulls. He’s such an animal lover like that.”
What begins as a lusty fling soon morphs into feelings and that’s a lot for anyone to handle but their unique situation makes things even trickier. Besides breaking the cardinal rule of her brand-new soccer program, Kinsley is already dealing with upperclassman hazing, largely motivated by her talent. She’s only nineteen and not used to the limelight so the growing media attention around her college career is unwanted and uncomfortable. The insecure bully of a team captain already had it out for Kinsley, but Liam’s interest in her kicks Tara’s jealous rage into overdrive. The media frenzy surrounding Liam and Kinsley’s skeevy loser of an ex being Liam’s teammate also complicate her life, but she handles it like a champ. Her internal monologue is hilarious and her interactions with friends are even better, especially her BFF Becca, who is the BFF we all need.
“If only we actually were in Harry Potter. I’d totally Crucio her ass. Yeah, that’s right, I’d use one of the Unforgivable Curses. Come at me, Ministry of Magic.”
The steaminess level is high because they have fantastic chemistry but it’s not all hormones, they’re great together. I’m not sure if this story has more dialogue than usual or if it just seems that way because I adored it but regardless, it’s fantastic. I loved the banter Kinsley had with her friends but especially between her and Liam. They’re LOL funny together but really sweet at the same time because they know when to stop kidding and talk real.
“Kinsley, I’ve never liked any girl more than I like M&Ms.”
“Am I getting close?” I joked.
“I’d say I like you more than regular M&Ms, but you’re going to have to really step it up if you want to beat out peanut M&Ms.”
I just really loved everything about this book. The characters were well-written and entertaining, the plot was interesting without overshadowing the romance and the romance itself was ideal. The story is told completely from Kinsley’s POV and I would have liked some of Liam’s POV in there but I enjoyed this story so much and can’t criticize a single thing about it. This is a new favorite and I’ll definitely read it again.
Scoring Wilder on Amazon
Scoring Wilder
by RS Grey
Standalone
Published 2014
What started out as a joke— seduce Coach Wilder—soon became a goal she had to score.
With Olympic tryouts on the horizon, the last thing nineteen-year-old Kinsley Bryant needs to add to her plate is Liam Wilder. He’s a professional soccer player, America’s favorite bad-boy, and has all the qualities of a skilled panty-dropper.
• A face that makes girls weep – check.
• Abs that can shred Parmesan cheese (the expensive kind) – check.
• Enough confidence to shift the earth’s gravitational pull – double check.
Not to mention Liam is strictly off limits . Forbidden. Her coaches have made that perfectly clear. (i.e. “Score with Coach Wilder anywhere other than the field and you’ll be cut from the team faster than you can count his tattoos.”) But that just makes him all the more enticing…Besides, Kinsley’s already counted the visible ones, and she is not one to leave a project unfinished.
Kinsley tries to play the game her way as they navigate through forbidden territory, but Liam is determined to teach her a whole new definition for the term “team bonding.”
