M

I am Lover of romance, who indulges in the romantic adventures of literature

My name is Renee, and I am the host of this site. I am a 34 year old woman, on the prowl for her mate, searching out the best of books, exploring the wilds of the imagination and delving into the heart of a beautiful love story.

 

Book Review-The Goal by Elle Kennedy

by | Nov 30, 2017 | Book Reviews | 7 comments

Book Review-The Goal by Elle Kennedy

Book Review-The Goal by Elle KennedyThe Goal by Elle Kennedy
Also in this series: The Deal, The Score
Series: Off-Campus #4
Published by Elle Kennedy on September 26th 2016
Genres: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Pages: 350
Format: eBook
Source: Self Purchased
Goodreads
AmazonLibrary ThingLibrary Thing
four-stars

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated...

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.

The Goal is the final and most emotionally driven story that will tug at those heart strings and pull your emotions through valleys and mountains to a beautiful finish….

I had decided that I need to pick up The Goal finally, because I have been meaning to pick this book up for the longest time now and I have been itching to get Tucker’s book because he is the “nice guy” of the group. He may like to sleep around on occasion but he stays best friends with his entanglements and to me that says a ton about his character.

The key players that we become introduced to in The Goal are:

  • John Tucker, our sexy hero, honest and an open book, key hockey player and is a “momma’s” boy. Looking to start his own business after college.
  • Sabrina James, our charming heroine, focused on getting into law school in Boston, and getting out of the gutter she was raised in.

I had a hard time remembering Sabrina in previous books, and I know we have seen her but we get to see a different side to her. Sabrina grew up struggling financially. She never knew her father, her mother ran off when she was a child and she was raised by her grandmother and her step father(who is down right disgusting) and she wants to be better than the way she grew up to be, she is focused on school and driven so on the outside many views her as cold when really she has dreams and doesn’t have time for boys or fun especially if she plans on going to law school. Then she has a one night stand with Tucker, and that is all it can be for her. Before long she keeps trying to evade Tucker, especially since he is a hockey player and she has some not so good history with hockey players. But Tucker is really drawn to Sabrina and she intrigues him and even though she gives him the cold shoulder more often than not, he knows that at heart she is warm and in need of love.

You’re the only one for me. My sun rises and sets on your smile. My heart beats because yours does.

I really enjoyed the way that these two come together. I love seeing a heroine that goes from being a queen of ice to become warm and free as we see unfold in this wonderful story here. I think what intrigued me most was seeing Tucker slowly get Sabrina to thaw and learn to open herself up to emotion that Tucker evokes in her. And when Sabrina learns that she is pregnant, well that just deals with a whole different aspect that Sabrina needs to learn to deal with. We see that she has to face some important factors in her life and see what is really important. And boy once Sabrina learns what she needs to, Tucker is always there patient and waiting. I loved this hero so much, so dreamy and kind and he is the type of hero you could see yourself married to in real life….that is how perfect he is. He is loyal, kind, charming, sexy, patient and understanding. What more could you ask for right? Now I tried not to be too hard on the heroine, because there is nothing wrong with the way she acts but she has a hard time letting people in due to how she was raised. I did like how she realizes that she can have a family and a career and she goes for it full speed and I adore that.

My goal, once upon a time, was to succeed. I didn’t realize that success wasn’t grades or scholarships or achievements, but the people I was lucky enough to have in my life.

This story was full on engaging, I couldn’t put it down and I loved seeing this story unfold in all its great dialogue and delicious tempting moments…..A ROMANCE TO SINK INTO!!

 

 

“Footsteps approach the kitchen. Garrett wanders in, wiping sweat off his brow. When he notices Sabrina, he brightens. “Oh good. You’re here. Hold on—gotta grab something.”

She turns to me as if to say, Is he talking to me?

He’s already gone, though, his footsteps thumping up the stairs.

At the table, Hannah runs a hand through her hair and gives me a pleading look. “Just remember he’s your best friend, okay?”

That doesn’t sound ominous.

When Garrett returns, he’s holding a notepad and a ballpoint pen, which he sets on the table as he sits across from Sabrina. “Tuck,” he says. “Sit. This is important.”

I’m so baffled right now. Hannah’s resigned expression doesn’t help in lessening the confusion.

Once I’m seated next to Sabrina, Garrett flips open the notepad, all business. “Okay. So let’s go over the names.”

Sabrina raises an eyebrow at me.

I shrug, because I legitimately don’t know what the fuck he’s talking about.

“I’ve put together a solid list. I really think you’re going to like these.” But when he glances down at the page, his face falls. “Ah crap. We can’t use any of the boy names.”

“Wait.” Sabrina holds up a hand, her brow furrowed. “You’re picking names for our baby?”

He nods, busy flipping the page.

My baby mama gapes at me.

I shrug again.

“Just out of curiosity, what were the boy names?” Grace hedges, clearly fighting a smile.

He cheers up again. “Well, the top contender was Garrett.”

I snicker loud enough to rattle Sabrina’s water glass. “Uh-huh,” I say, playing along. “And what was the runner-up?”

“Graham.”

Hannah sighs.

“But it’s okay. I have some kickass girl names too.” He taps his pen on the pad, meets our eyes, and utters two syllables. “Gigi.”

My jaw drops. “Are you kidding me? I’m not naming my daughter Gigi.”

Sabrina is mystified. “Why Gigi?” she asks slowly.

Hannah sighs again.

The name suddenly clicks in my head. Oh for fuck’s sake.

“G.G.,” I mutter to Sabrina. “As in Garrett Graham.”

She’s silent for a beat. Then she bursts out laughing, triggering giggles from Grace and eventually Hannah, who keeps shaking her head at her boyfriend.

“What?” Garrett says defensively. “The godfather should have a say in the name. It’s in the rule book.”

“What rule book?” Hannah bursts out. “You make up the rules as you go along!”

“So?”

About Elle Kennedy

A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.

Elle currently writes for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!

You May Also Like…

ARC Book Review-My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

ARC Book Review-My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

About The Book In USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s latest installment in the Palace of Rogues series, a notorious rake meets his match in a doe-eyed girl from the country, changing the course of both of their futures… A London season is the chance of a...

Book Review-Wilde for You by Jennifer Ryan

Book Review-Wilde for You by Jennifer Ryan

About The Book New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan’s page-turning Dark Horse Dive Bar series continues with this story of love lost...and found…as a widow seeking to heal her heart crosses paths with a rancher/bartender who offers her a taste of...

Book Review-Leopard’s Hunt by Christine Feehan

Book Review-Leopard’s Hunt by Christine Feehan

About The Book The next exhilarating Leopard novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan. In this pulse-pounding novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Leopard series, animal instinct unites two elite shifters whose heads are at war...

7 Comments

  1. Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog

    The Goal is on my winter TBR! I loved this series and have just not gotten to this one. Glad you enjoyed it. Great review!!

    Reply
  2. Karen

    I think I’ve only read the first two. I need to catch up!

    For What It’s Worth

    Reply
  3. Blodeuedd

    I have come to really appreciate great dialogue. SO fun

    Reply
  4. The Book Disciple

    I really did not care much for Sabrina. By the end I thought she was okay, but I never really loved her. I loved Tucker though!

    Reply
  5. Kimberly Caffeinated Reviewer

    I still need to try this author. I am thinking iI might have the Deal on my kindle. I love the last quote.

    Reply
  6. Kristin @ Addicted to HEA

    OHHHH, this is Sabrina’s book… hmmm… I wonder if I actually read this one! I loved all the other books but I’m not sure if I read this one. I have to go run and check. THANK YOU for the reminder and excerpt. I DO love Kennedy’s writing 🙂

    Reply
  7. Nadene@Ttly addicted 2 reading

    I have not read anything from this author. I am happy to see you enjoyed it. I will dd this to my TBR.

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Kimberly Caffeinated ReviewerCancel reply