HARD KNOX
by Amber Malloy
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GENRE: Sports Romance
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BLURB:
A simple favor to save the girl turns into the quarterback losing his heart.
As beautiful as she is fun, Remy Bell has only one problem—a psychotic killer with political power wants her dead. Always a ‘two steps ahead’ type of gal, she plans to outrun the maniac. Marriage and a sweet life in the football star’s hometown in Canada would give her the cover she needs, but Remy doesn’t stick around long enough to find out. She travels all over the world, photographing the most beautiful and devastating events, but her now-husband’s tabloid activities lead her to the one place she should avoid…back home.
Superstar Gavin Knox wins at everything. However, once he scores the girl of his dreams, he’s suddenly in danger of losing the one thing he has always needed. Before she can slip through his fingers, he offers her a deal she can’t refuse—marry him for Canadian citizenship, which will protect her, and after five years, they can divorce. Knox is positive that she will fall head over heels in love with him, but it doesn’t happen. After six years of marriage, two playoff titles and a third on the way, Knox is forced to contend with a successful wife almost more famous than he is.
Determined to get exactly what he wants, which includes having Remy and a family, he devises a stupid scheme that puts everything he’s worked so hard for in jeopardy.
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Excerpt Two:
“Where did you come from?” he asked her.
Confusion shuttled across her stunning face before she tilted her head to the side and smiled. “Nowhere.”
“So you just fell out of the sky?” It might have sounded lame, but he meant every word of it.
“Technically, you grabbed me. So, what happened here?” She checked out the field. “Did you win something big?”
“If the answer’s ‘you’, then sure.” As he looked into her eyes, he almost forgot the last few minutes of his life.
“Do you mind?” She glanced down at the ground. “The air’s kind of thin up here in Giantsville.”
Though he was reluctant to let her go, he set her down.
“So, what…? Are you like the main guy?” she asked, looking totally serious.
Knox laughed. He couldn’t help it. Obviously she didn’t care about football. “Something like that.”
“Which makes you a supastar, right?”
Positive that she didn’t have a bra on under her soft, cream-colored sweater, he desperately wanted to feel her body against his one more time.
“Are you going to tell me your name?” he asked abruptly. She glanced over her shoulder at something. For a split second he wondered if she had a boyfriend, but, truthfully, he didn’t care.
“And make it easy for you? No, but”—she raised onto her tiptoes and Knox leaned down to meet her halfway—“dream about me, okay? Then just maybe…” The warmth of her candy-scented breath heated his cheek.
Tempted to tip his head down a little farther to intercept her lips, he froze and hit the dreaded blue screen.
“Hey, man, congrat-u-fucking-lations!” His friend Hawk grabbed him in a big bear hug. When the melody of her laughter kicked him into gear, he realized that the beauty had disappeared.
Knox searched the crowd but couldn’t find her. “Where did she go?” he asked.
“Who? What the hell are you talking about? I didn’t see anybody.”
Positive that she’d given him a hint to her name, he ran through the possibilities in his head.
“The press wants to talk to you. Then we’re going out to celebrate.” Hawk patted him on the back and led him toward the locker room. Still shell-shocked by his encounter with the hottest girl he had ever laid eyes on, he reluctantly followed his friend.
I’m not going to lie, it took me a while to get into the book. I felt like it was a bit all over the place with the story but once I got to the halfway point, there was no going back. The pace was much quicker and the action ramped up. This book has a lot going for it. I loved Remy and Know. Especially Knox. Supastar! Loved that nickname. The reason why it took me some time was Remy. Ms. Malloy did a great job of keeping Remy’s secrets (once they were revealed) so then I was invested. I just needed to know how it was all going to play out in the end.
Ms. Malloy does a superb job with all of the secondary characters as well. Hawk, Mooch, Knox’s parents, Bane, Dahl, Daisy, and Bubblebee were well thought out characters. Oh my gosh and the reference to Edna from The Incredibles. I still have that image in my mind. And nevermind that she was a hoot and a half. The action in the movie is top-notch. And creepy. Yes, there is a scene that for me was cringe-worthy. The most endearing thing that runs throughout the book is Knox’s love for Remy. He never gives up on her. It’s always her move when it comes to their relationship. But first things first.
I loved this book. While I had some issues in the beginning, I would highly recommend to anyone that likes some romantic suspense, college sweetheart, football references and a love that will not die, no matter how hard someone wants it to die. I would love a book with Hawk or Mooch. Loved them to bits.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Amber Malloy dreamed of being a double agent but couldn’t pass the psyche evaluation. Crushed by despair that she couldn’t legally shoot things, Amber pursued her second career choice as pastry chef. When she’s not writing or whipping up a mean Snickers Cheesecake, she occasionally spies on her sommelier. Amber is convinced he’s faking his French accent.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Knox-Perfect-Stats-Book-ebook/dp/B087D62GH4/ref=sr_1_1
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hard-knox-amber-malloy/1136911688
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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE
PLEASE MENTION THE PRIZE THAT THE AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY:
$10 Amazon/BN GC
Thank you so much for taking time to bring to our attention another great read. I appreciate it and thank you also for the giveaway.
A helpful review thank you.
I like the cover! The colors are beautiful.