Reviews

The Rival by Kendall Ryan

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graceangelmama's review

4.0

Ok- here’s the thing.

Redeemed bad boys are some of the best. They've done their thing, they've broken hearts, they've made the headlines, but then, then it's time to settle down. You know, put the shenanigans aside and show their true colors. In THE RIVAL by author Kendall Ryan, Alex Braun has some serious damage control to handle, and I wasn't sure how in the world Kendall could turn his story around, but she did it, and did it well.

There was truly not much to like about Alex in THE REBEL. I mean, he was pretty much the whole reason that Eden and Holt had a story to tell, and the fact that he was such a jerk made it easy to root for the two of them. But now, in this second book, Kendall develops Alex's story and we can see how much more there is to him than the quintessential bad boy, and allow him the space to grow into a person with much more depth and character.

Aspen Ford is Eden's right hand, and she is fantastic at keeping her boss on track. Aspen's personal life, though, could use some help, and no one is more surprised than she is when Alex steps in to save the proverbial day by getting her the chance to step away from it all for the summer. And to make things really interesting, she won't be doing it alone. What happens in Canada, stays in Canada, I suppose, because mum's the word on these two...until it's not.

I continue to enjoy this new hockey series very much, and, although there are only a few books slated for it, I'm really hoping to get stories for all the main characters. Both THE REBEL and THE RIVAL showcase Kendall's gift for writing a sweet and sexy tale that is guaranteed to deliver characters whose stories draw you in. I was hooked from the set-up with this book, and look forward to getting to know more about all of the Boston Titans. Steamy, sweet, and sure to satisfy, THE RIVAL is one date with your TBR that you should absolutely not miss. ❤️

diana123980's review

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2.0

I don’t rate books two stars often but this was bad. The chemistry was off. It was rushed. Just no.

taniamg's review

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4.0

Beautiful story from two individuals that didn’t expect to find love again. From the outside looking in Aspen and Alex were wrong but so right for each other. It was a bit hesitant because of their connection to another character who surprisingly gave her blessing. These two were exactly what each other needed to make themselves whole again. They were ups and downs but nothing to drastic and teammates that knew they were good for each other. It was full of emotions and lovely moments.

mamacalidad's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

javalenciaph's review against another edition

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5.0

Note: An ARC was provided by the author.

After how everything played out in the first book, I wanted to see how Alex would redeem himself, and if it's one thing I'm a sucker for, it's a well-written redemption story, and Kendall Ryan certainly succeeds in giving readers exactly that. Sometimes, it takes losing something (or someone) to realize just how good you had it before, and that appeared to be the case with Alex. I think that he and Aspen were a great fit as a couple, and being stuck in Canada together brought about realizations for both of them. I quite liked seeing Alex in a new light. Yes, he made his fair share of mistakes and he's definitely not perfect, but the guy's got a good heart, and maybe he needed someone like Aspen--and yes, she needed someone like him as well--to not only turn the page, but to begin a whole new story, this time with a far happier ending. I'm giving The Rival five stars.