A review by bookbae96
The Rival by Kendall Ryan

4.0

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. ❤️