I enjoyed this quite a bit. Jillian was just the kind of strong, driven woman I want to read about in romance novels. Nick had a good heart. I liked the two of them together. I didn't love the conflict near the end of the book because blackmail(ish) plotlines drive me batty. But, I didn't dislike it enough for it to take me out of the story. All in all, a really good sports romance with a good mix of sweet and sexy.

The chemistry and sparks felt so real…

This story was all about Jillian and Nick – the way they connected and ‘saw’ each other. That way was all about brutal honesty and witty dialogue. About melting glances and an attraction that was physical and spiritual. And all of it was weaved into a romance that had me smiling and nervous right from the start.

From their first clandestine ‘meeting’ these characters spoke to me. Their struggles and the way they approached it all was refreshingly real. They made me laugh. I understood, their struggles (or variations of them) were mine. No, I absolutely have no idea what an NHL player’s life is really like. Or what a female agent was faced with in a man-dominated field. After this read though I have a greater appreciation for it all and I enjoyed every moment of that learning…

Sweet, sexy and just a fantastic read! I had no idea this was part of a series – it read like a standalone - but you know I now have to find the other stories in this series. And everything this author has ever written!

This was a decent sports romance and I somewhat enjoyed both the hero and the heroine. However, nothing really stood out making it a great book.

​
This is book 3 in a series of standalones in The Perfect Play series. You don't need to read the others to love this book, but I bet you'll want to read the others are this! If you like hockey romances like I do, you'll love this series. The chemistry between Jillian and Nich has to be one of my favorites. Their story is unqiue and had me loving it from page one. You aren't sure at first if you want to like Nick because of his attitude, but the more I read the book the more I loved him. Jillian has always wanted to be a sports agent and Nick wants her to his agent. What they weren't expecting was their chemistry and Jillian's firm rule of never dating clients. Watching these two navigate life, careers and their relationship is one of my favorite aspects of this book.

I enjoyed the chemistry of the main characters. It was just the conflict which caused a great deal of painful eye rolling. [/box]

We met Jillian Nichols in Keeping Score since she is the Agent for Jaime Chen. Here we learn more about Jillian who is a women in what is very much a male dominated business of sports management. Her father was taken advantage of by a crooked sports agent and lost all of his money. Jillian not only wants to build her struggling business, she needs a certain level of clientele if she wants to run for the Board which is currently dominated by Lou Parsons and his cronies. Lou owns one of the largest sports agencies and has taken advantage of most of the new, young talent who don't know any better. Somehow Lou is managing to steal all of Jillian's potential new clients and no matter how hard she explains that the contract Lou is offering is bad in the long-run, they keep signing with him. If Jillian can make it on the Board, she plans to fight to impose guidelines for sports agents which would protect the players from being robbed by their own agents.

Jillian in approached by Nick "The Punisher" Salinger to represent him and renegotiate his contract so he can continue to play with the New York Vipers. Nick isn't getting along with the new hotshot center, who just happens to be engaged to the owner's daughter, and who is trying to make sure Nick's contract doesn't get renewed.

Nick remembers meeting Jillian almost a decade before when she was just starting out and remembered how she planned to fight for what was best for her clients. He needs Jillian on his side if he wants to stay with a team that has any chance to win the Stanley Cup. But Jillian doesn't want anything to do with the Punisher. While his NHL salary will give Jillian the boost she needs to qualify for the Board election, Jillian wants clients that are going to work with her so she tells Nick thank, but no thanks.

She later has doubts that she hasn't given Nick a fair chance and goes to speak with him about how willing he would be to trust her. She can't promise the Vipers will resign Nick, but if he listens, she believes that she can get him what he wants, he just has to trust in her and work with her. Nick he isn't certain her plan will work. He especially doesn't like all Jillian rules, especially the one where Jillian says they can't date since dating clients is high up on her no-no list.

I can understand Jillian's hesitation to date Nick. It makes it look like sex with Jillian is just a perk in her representation and she's try to get on the Board of the all-boys club so she can't look like the only way a woman can get a big client is to sleep with him. Instead of just saying no, she could have stated her problem to Nick directly. He seemed to understand why she might be hesitant to be involved but he was more interested in getting Jillian in bed than worrying about any potential career problems.

There were some small plot issues to be found such as the hot shot star, who was a jerk to the rest of the team, was quite the womanizer and was picking up strange women in bars, even though it was public knowledge that he was engaged to the owner's daughter. I would imagine this should have made some kind of tabloid splash and that the owner would pay more attention to what his future son-in-law was doing but he seemed to be able to do anything he wanted like a spoiled child, although that seems to make him a perfect choice for the owner's daughter.

The eye rolling comes after we finally get the Nick/Jillian relationship in full swing and Jillian gets blackmailed to break up with Nick. Come on, really? There are only a few plots where this kind of blackmail still is believable and this is not one of them. Instead of going to Nick and explaining the situation and saying "hey, let's lay low until we get that contract signed and then we can go back to our lives and don't do anything stupid like confront the jerk," she breaks his heart and he is sulking around, not playing well, and is risking his contract anyway because of that. Would it have been so hard to fake a break up with someone for a few weeks? Hell, I would have preferred if it turned out he was faking the depression, then signed his name on the contract, gave the blackmailer the finger and kissed his girl, in a "screw you, you lose, we faked it" plot twist. But no, nothing so exciting happened.

Jillian, Nick and Nick's brother Ben were great characters and this was a really good story and I was enjoyed it up until the bad plot conflict. It ends well and the bad guys get put in their place but it was too late, my good feelings were spoiled and it ruined my overall enjoyment of the story.

What a pleasant surprise this story was...with heart and intelligence, the story captured my attention from the very beginning. The stage was nicely set to bring you into the characters' lives. There was the perfect combination of intensity and humor that made for an enjoyable read.

Along with the drama that unfolded, there were some very lighthearted moments that were pitch perfect in their situational timing:

Nick: “You’re laughing,” he said, pulling his mouth into a tight frown.

Jillian: “I swear, I’m not. I think that’s great. Really great. I was just expecting a more typical NHL-star answer, like contributing your services to the adopt-a-lonely-lingerie-model charity or something like that.”

Nick: “I’m not shaving my beard.”

Jillian: She rolled her eyes and pushed her way past him into the room. “Yes, you are. We’ve already talked about your need for an image reboot. Right now, you’re a mullet away from the 1980s..."

Even though this is the third book in thePerfect Play series, it makes a great stand alone HEA, without having to read the previous books. I look forward to reading more of this series in the future.

This book was provided by the Publisher and Netgalley, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Guess what? Sara Rider has release another fantastic sport romance in the Perfect Play series. And guess who is going to fall? That rights it is the sassy agent, Jillian.
Reader have read about Jillian before. And they definitely know that it is going to take a strong man to make Jillian fall. Jillian is a sassy yet determined women that she goes hell and back for her client no matter what. She will always give it her all for her clients that most of her client stay very loyal to her. Her reputation definitely attract the big and badass hockey player, Nick, who needs a major help in his career.
Nick is the ultimate badass hockey player since he is agressive and fierce in the ring and his life. But his reputation is getting him in trouble that he will need a feisty yet determined agent to fight for his back which would be Jillian. Jillian and Nick has some history between them that it starts their attraction for each other.
They may be all business between them but things will start heating up. Nick and Jillian will discover more about each other that makes them get closer than ever. But remember there will always be some challenges in relationship. It will be a bumpy road for them but love always upheld it.
Going for the Goal is an amazing sport romance read that you will enjoy all of the hot hockey player. Five Stars!

Going For The Goal, is the third title in the Perfect Play Series, but can be read as a standalone. Told in a dual point of view, this story revolves around Jillian Nichols and Nick Salinger.

This pair of characters are complex, and have much in common they are both extremely stubborn, hard headed and neither likes to give in. Nick is an NHL enforcer, and Jillian is a sports agent, they are both incredibly hard working, driven and love their roles within sport, even with the challenges they face.

The love scenes between this pair are hot and steamy yet quite intimate and intense. Their chemistry is intense and the sparks fly with this pair both between the sheets and outside the bedroom.

This story has elements of a second chance romance, and also a forbidden romance due to their chosen career paths.

Both these characters are quite realistic and like-able, their faults and all, and their shared dynamic is quite intriguing. Nick is a brooding, alpha hero, who has a hidden heart of gold, and when this tough hero shows his moments of sweetness, it's completely swoon worthy.

I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between this pair, it's both fun and flirty.

Overall Going For The Goal, is a fun, engaging and entertaining sports romance. I thoroughly recommend this book to lovers of the sports romance genre or contemporary romance.

Jillian Nichols is a sports agent who takes on the clients that most don't feel are worthy, yet she does. Being in a male dominated field is difficult enough, now Nick Salinger aka the Punisher of NYC hockey wants her to rep him. Nick is amazing nice guy who deserves more then his team is willing to give, problem is no one sees that side of him. Jillian has a huge crush on Nick, since a chance meeting almost ten years ago. Can Nick and Jillian work through their own issues to find love?

Going For The Goal by Sara Rider

A female sports agent and a male hockey player, well that is going to ruffle some feathers for sure! I really enjoyed the sparks and combustive energy that was raving between these two people. There just seemed to be this almost undeniable sexy tension which kept me glued to this book and invested in their story.

I won’t go into the plot because that spoils the journey this book takes you on but I promise you this, it is worth it.

Jill is a feisty character who is wary and doesn’t want to put her heart on the line, the way she slowly gives is perfect for her character. It doesn’t feel fake or out of character. It suits her perfectly.

All in all, this book worked for me and I’m proud to rate it 4 stars!

Second chances, intrigue, and a misunderstood “bad boy” with a good heart are all at play in Going for the Goal.

10 years after a chance meeting that resonated with both of them; NHL player Nick and sports agent Jillian are both in precarious positions professionally and can help each other. I liked both Nick and Jillian. She is a strong female character in a male-dominated profession who works hard but doesn’t let that prevent her from being a good person and someone you could admire. Nick initially comes across as a bit of an alpha-hole, but it doesn’t take long to figure out that is more of an image he has played into instead of who he really is.

The intriguing element is woven into the story via Jillian’s professional competition along with a player conflict for Nick. Both of those subplots play out well and add interesting dynamics to Nick and Jillian’s budding relationship. I appreciated the fact that the relationship conflict was external because these two are great together and it would have stunk to have to pick sides between the two of them.

Overall, this was a fun book and a quick read. Nick and Jillian are a couple that is easy to root for and they have a fantastic supporting cast.

Hot read. Jillian and Nick met when she was an intern trying to make it as a sports agent. Thee was a lot of chemistry when they met. Years later they meet again and Nick needs an agent but Jillian wants nothing to do with the arrogant hockey player that she's attracted to. An incent leads to her seeing him in a different light and she is his agent. As they spend time together the lines becomes blurred between professional and personal relationship. A teammate and ex boss is out to not only sabotage Jillian's business but their relationship. Great read could not put down.

A fresh spin on a hockey romance

I’ve been meaning to try this series for a while but never got around to it. Once the featured sport was hockey, I couldn’t put it off any longer. This can certainly be read as a standalone. Characters from the past two books appear as secondary characters, but each book features a new couple and I never felt lost or like I missed a big piece of the history. The writing was solid and the pacing brisk but thorough. I was engaged throughout the book, and found the couple and their romance really enjoyable.

I read a lot of sports romances, especially hockey-centric ones, so it’s always nice when an author takes a bit of a different angle. In Going for the Goal, the heroine is a female sports agent trying to create a name for herself in a man’s world and have her own company thrive while maintaining an ethical standard. I liked both the hero and heroine. They’re both brusque in many ways and challenge each other a lot. It made for some good banter and fast-paced dialogue. I always like when the heroine is a strong professional who can hold her own, and that’s exactly who Jillian is. I was even more pleased that it was the hero falling harder and pursuing the relationship in this romance. Not only did it fit with Jillian’s personality, but it made for a more interesting read. The brooding hero with the heart of gold tripped me up at first. In my opinion, that characteristic is overdone and feels like a silly cliché. However, I thought the author balanced Nick’s sweetness with a nice intensity. It never felt disingenuous and there was a sufficient history which provided insight into why he had those contrasting personality traits.

Nick and Jillian’s romance was both sweet and fiery. I liked the concept of a missed connection resurfacing. I also appreciated that the author let time pass over the course of the book. The jumps in time flowed cleanly, making the timeline believable and giving depth to the sports/professional aspects of the plot. I did wish there was more focus on the relationship and chemistry building between the two, but the connection felt solid and not solely fueled by lust. The conflicts facing the characters and couple were unique and kept me invested in their story. There were a few times I started to worry things were becoming too predictable or cookie cutter, but the author surprised me and took the plot in a different direction. Although the hockey specifics weren’t exceedingly thorough, there were enough details to keep me- an avid hockey fan- satisfied. I really liked the sports agent aspect, especially the behind the scenes strategizing Jillian did for her clients. Not only did we get to see Jillian in her environment, but it also kept things really interesting on the romance and personal levels.

Going for the Goal was a good hockey book with a sweet, but smart romance. The characters were well developed and likable, the pacing perfect, and there were enough surprises keeping things fresh. I’ll definitely be going back and reading the other two books from this series and following the author’s future works.

Going for the Goal is the third, stand-alone book in Sara Rider’s The Perfect Play series. If you haven’t read the previous two books, you don’t need to in order to enjoy Going for the Goal, but they are great books too and should be in your to-be-read pile. If you like a hockey romance, you will love this entire series.

Jillian Nichols has always wanted to be a sports agent, and she’s determined to become a great one. It’s been her sole focus for years, and she’s driven to succeed, which is no easy task considering this is a male dominated profession. She’s tenacious and scrappy and now has her own agency, but she’s never landed a really big name client. She’s gets an opportunity to sign a REALLY big one when hockey star Nick “The Punisher” Salinger walks through her door asking her to take him on.

Although Nick would be her big break, Jillian hesitates to sign him, because they have a history although a very brief one. They met 10 years ago while trapped in a stairwell at a party and neither have forgot the exchange. Jillian has a firm rule to not have any clients who she could imagine naked and she definitely imagines Nick naked; therefore, she doesn’t think it is a good idea to become his agent. Nick wants her not just as his agent but also in his bed, and he convinces her to take a chance on him.

Jillian makes Nick agree to do exactly as she advises, which is difficult for him to do. He’s always been a bit of a trouble maker and is on the verge of being traded from the team he loves, but Jillian promises that she has a plan that will keep him with the team. As they navigate Nick’s career, the sexual chemistry between the two becomes too much to ignore. Nick’s all in, but Jillian fears she’ll be forced to choose between her career goals and a chance at love.

I simply adored Nick. He seems like just a rough hockey jock, but he is such a soft-hearted, nice man. His brother is a prominent character in the story, and their relationship is humorous and very sweet. He is so good with Jillian as he gently pursues her. I wanted to shake Jillian at times, because I couldn’t see how could she keep resisting him. I know her career was important to her, but I would have given into Nick long before she did. In the end, they’re a great match for each other, and Going for the Goal is a sweet and sexy sports romance that should be on everyone’s Kindle. 

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley, but this review was voluntarily and honestly written

3.5 Stars
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the push and pull of the relationship. And I was totally going to give this book 4 stars until the last 15%. She stood up for herself through the whole book until the end, where all of a sudden she is cowed by a boy and can't come up with any possible solution. And then the whole bug thing thrown in was total overkill. Not necessary at all, only made the whole thing seem implausible.

3.75 stars--GOING FOR THE GOAL is the third installment in Sara Rider’s adult, contemporary THE PERFECT PLAY erotic, romance series. This is professional hockey play/enforcer Nick ‘The Punisher’ Salinger, and sports agent Jillian Nichols’s story line. GOING FOR THE GOAL can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous story line is revealed where necessary. The reader was first introduced to our heroine in book two-Keeping Score.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Jillian and Nick) GOING FOR THE GOAL follows the personal and professional relationship between NHL enforcer Nick Salinger, and sports agent Jillian Nichols. Eight year earlier both Nick and Jillian were newbies in the world of sports: she an intern with an agent whose reputation as a misogynistic pig pushed Jillian to hand in her resignation; and he a rookie hockey player who spoke more with his fists than anything else. Fast forward to present day wherein Nick Salinger needs a new agent but Jillian Nichols refuses to accept any clients whose attitudes match the infamous Nick Salinger. When a disastrous fight with a teammate almost destroys Nick’s career, Jillian remains steadfast in her refusal to accept Nick as a client until the truth about what happened is finally revealed. What ensues is a campaign to rival all others as Jillian struggles to clean up Nick’s reputation while her own slowly begins to unravel and fall apart.


The relationship between our couple begins acrimoniously. Nick’s reputation as a fighter pushes all of Jillian’s buttons but neither Jillian or Nick has ever forgotten about their first meeting and the possibility of what never was. Jillian struggles to be accepted into a career dominated by the male of the species and with it comes the sexist attitudes of those who think themselves better than everyone else. The sex scenes are seductive, intimate and intense.

We are introduced to several members of the NHL’s New York Vipers including rookie Sebastian Liakos and his fiancée Alexa Whittaker , captain and goalie Mike Lambert, left wing Luke Anderson, and an assortment of coaches, trainers and team owner John Whittaker ; Nick’s younger brother Ben-a high school teacher and struggling actor; as well as Jillian’s former mentor Lou Parsons who sets out to destroy Jillian’s career. Soccer player Jaime Chen (Keeping Score) has a couple of cameo appearances throughout the story.

GOING FOR THE GOAL is a story of betrayal and revenge; romance and love; second chances and happily ever afters. The premise is lively and inspiring; the characters are dynamic and heartwarming; the romance is captivating and passionate. GOING FOR THE GOAL is a fascinating story line with a few twists and turns to the conflict resolution.

Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley

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There was so much right about this book. First, we have a hot, sexy, bad boy hockey player and we have an independent woman who is a workaholic. Nick Salinger and Jillian Nichols met nine years ago and after spending an evening talking while locked in a stairwell it ended after Nick was involved in a fight. This was the beginning of "The Punisher" and now he is looking for a new agent and steps into Jillian's office where she turns him down. Oh, this just starts a wild and twisty and oh so good story. I truly enjoyed this story and deem it a standalone since I have not read the others in this series.

**Received an ARC copy for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

***ARC Provided by the Publisher and NetGalley***

Nick and Jillian were a lot of fun, their chemistry was great and their story was compelling. There were parts that I thought were a little drawn out, but nothing that detracted enough for me to put it down or even get frustrated with the story.

I liked the resolution of their story, and the place where they ended up after everything. I thought it felt real, authentic. A lot of times when there is a lot of drama, it is not balanced well. In this book, it really was with an ending that felt like it fit with the drama the characters were put through. I appreciated that it felt authentic.

I recommend this book.

I really enjoyed reading this book. This is my first read from this author, but I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another one. Jillian and Nick are a great couple.

Note, I did receive an advanced copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.