Thursday, January 13, 2022

Decker: Changing the Play by Kayley Loring & Connor Crais {a review}

Decker: Changing the Play is the brand new release from Kayley Loring and Connor Crais. This football romance released on January 11, 2022. If you're looking for a sports slash workplace romance, then look no further. Go grab this book now!

"Sometimes it's better for everyone if you let something that's really important to you go."

At the beginning of this story, I found myself a bit annoyed with Hannah. I get it, she was grieving (in her own way), and was shocked by the news that she was now the owner of the Tomcats. But the fact that she went in so unprepared just didn't sit well with me. She seems like a smart woman, and even if you despise the sport, you're the owner. Step it up.

Thankfully as the story progressed my view of her changed. She grew into the person I wanted from the beginning. Maybe that was Decker's influence, or maybe it was her taking her job seriously and figuring it out.

As for Decker, I wasn't certain about him in the beginning either. I really think it was the meet cute that had my first impression of both characters not be so favorable. Decker is an amazing football player, and it sounds like he has matured quite a bit after his earlier years in the league. So that was nice to see. I also liked how he was so protective of Hannah, and didn't her to fail. He was her cheerleader day in and day out.

When the dramatic moment happened, I can honestly say my jaw dropped a bit. I wasn't fully expecting that to happen. Yet I can see the reason behind it, and how it was beneficial in the grand scheme of things. The only thing that annoyed me about the situation is that it all could have been avoided if there was clear communication. Instead it was done in secret, and hoping for positive results. Yes, I know, it's a romance novel and they'll pull the drama how ever they can. Why do so many book characters have issues with communicating clearly? 

Then there was the reunion, and it was predictable. I saw that coming, and I just wish it had been slightly different. But you can't get everything you want.

All in all, I really did enjoy the story. Hannah and Decker grew on me as the story went, and at the end I was rooting for them. Hannah ended up impressing me with her growth, and that pushed this story from a 3.5 rating to a 4.

Will I be continuing on with the Boston Tomcats series? Oh most definitely. I am looking forward to seeing Hannah and Decker as side characters in the future. Now to find out who the next book will feature. I have my thoughts, but you never know, Kayley and Connor could surprise me!

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts. If you are a fan of sports romance that is also set in the workplace, then I hope you'll consider picking up Decker: Changing the Play.

Laura


 
 

#12 Johnny Decker. Star quarterback for the Boston Tomcats. Two-time Super Bowl MVP...a decade ago. Nickname: Decker the Panty Wrecker.

I get tackled for a living by men who are built like rhinos. I could take the wings off a fly with a football from 30 yards away. (I wouldn’t, but I could.) Being a veteran quarterback means I’m a mentally alert, fine-tuned athletic machine who can make split-second decisions.

It’s my job to anticipate what’s going to happen next and adapt. But I couldn’t have anticipated the death of our beloved team owner.

His estranged daughter Hannah Strong is a finance nerd from New York. She knows less than nothing about football. Know what she didn’t anticipate? Inheriting the Boston Tomcats.

She’s stubborn, uptight, infuriating, and wrong about absolutely everything—from pizza to how to run my team. And I don’t want to talk about how good she looks in a skirt. Or daydream about how good she’d look out of it.

Really, I don’t.

I’m not Decker the Panty Wrecker anymore—I’ve changed.

I can’t stop arguing with her.

Or thinking about her.

I thought I had a winning play.

But Hannah Strong changed everything.




Add Decker: Changing the Play to your Goodreads TBR!


🎧 AUDIOBOOK Info 🎧

The audiobook will release in March!

It will be duet-style, performed by Connor Crais and Mackenzie Cartwright, featuring Ava Lucas and Ron Butler. 


ABOUT KAYLEY LORING
Before writing steamy romantic comedy novels, Kayley Loring got a BFA in creative writing and had a fifteen-year career as a screenwriter in Los Angeles (under a different name). She mostly wrote PG-13 family comedies that studios would pay her lots of money for and then never make into movies. In 2017 she decided to move to the Pacific Northwest and write about all the fun stuff that she wasn't allowed to write about in those PG-13 scripts. Now she’s an Amazon Top 25 bestselling author who is breathing cleaner air and writing dirtier words. It’s an adjustment she’s happily getting used to.

Rest assured that her funny sexy sweet romances have no cheating or cliffhangers, and always have HEAs!

Connect with Kayley


ABOUT CONNOR CRAIS
Connor Crais is a classically trained actor living in the Midwest with his wife, two kids, and rescue greyhound. He has been both a stage and television actor, and before plunging into the romance genre, he had been narrating commercials, audiobooks, and explainers for well over a decade from his home studio. From alphas to bosses to cocky sports stars (a particular favorite), he loves sparring with beautiful, sassy heroines (and their talented narrators) but also loves winning them over and reaching that happily ever after. He is excited to now create those stories as an author.

Connect with Connor

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Thank you to Kayley Loring, Connor Crais, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Decker: Changing the Play.