Rosewood Devil's hockey player Hayes Madden isn't a nice guy, but he's hot and convenient when cheerleader Brogan Astor feels the need to scratch that itch while at a frat party with friends. Unfortunately, he immediately demonstrates his worst impulses before the afterglow even fades and Brogan writes him off as just another jerk. Flash forward, and the cheerleader is now dating a guy from the university's football team. She's feeling disenchanted with her relationship, and has just ended it when a scandalous video of them is posted to social media. Somehow, Hayes, the guy who couldn't get rid of her fast enough after their hookup suddenly has her back when it goes viral.
If you're looking for a book where the author puts their foot on the spice pedal early and hammers down, this is it. I loved every bit of it. The banter, the snark, the heat, it's all in the mix with an interesting plot to boot. One of my favorite things about this book is that Brogan is no pushover. She's stronger than anyone gives her credit for in the face of scandal and shame. Her refreshing decision to embrace the moment and publicly proclaim that her sexuality is nothing she's ashamed of even though she didn't give consent to being exposed publicly is such a flex. I love that she doesn't want to give the people trying to bring her down the satisfaction, and wants to exact her own form of revenge. The twist close to the end is something I had a feeling was coming from pretty early on, but I still enjoyed how it played out. This is my first Rachel Leigh book, but I ate it up. I vibed with her style, and will be going to her backlist for more.
Thank you to Valentine PR & Rachel Leigh for the ARC review opportunity.