We meet Matt who is a sports agent. His sister, Willow followed in his footsteps for everything.. He’s currently working with his friend Jagger on his reputation. Willow and her friend, Parker accompany Matt to dinner with Jagger, Slade and his wife.

I absolutely loved this audio. Matt and Parker are so happy and in love. I highly recommend this audio

***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Van Dyken and Skyscape.***

Kickin' It, by Rachel Van Dyken, is the second book in the Red Card series. We meet Matt in book one, but a reader would have no problem reading this book as a standalone. Matt is a high-profile sports agent, and they don’t come more high-profile than Parker Speedman, known for punching her coach on live TV. Matt agrees to take Parker on as her agent and coach as a favour to his sister, Parker’s best friend. Both Matt and Parker know they need to keep things professional, but their blinding attraction is hard to ignore, especially when they don’t really want to ignore it.

I thought this was a thought-provoking look at power dynamics in sports. I adored Parker. It was impossible not to feel for her as you read her story and learn about what she’s been through. I liked seeing a different side of Matt than we saw in book 1. He was much more human and flawed rather than the superhero—swooping in and getting his athletes out of trouble—he seemed like in the prior story. He was very edgy at the beginning, and the hostility between him and Parker made their chemistry even more palpable. Not going to lie, I loved Matt’s dirty mind. Every inappropriate thought brought him that much closer to the edge. The story had lots of laughs to add balance to the heavier topics, lots of sass and heart. I liked it even better than the first book.

I am such a sucker for a good sports romance and lucky for me Kickin' It was a phenomenal read! It had a little bit of everything in it -- enemies to lovers, a strong female athlete, her sexy sports agent, forbidden love, laughter, tears and love! Rachel tackles some sensitive issues in this one (the me too movement) and does it seamlessly and with grace. I absolutely love when authors tackle current social issues and effortlessly weave them into the story.
Kickin' It is a sweet and sexy sports romance that you don't want to miss!

I loved this one even more than the first book in the series. This couple was so genuine and awesome together.

‘Kickin’ It’ is the second book in the Red Card series by Rachel Van Dyken. I am already a huge fan of Rachel’s work, she sets a tone that makes reading her books fun, exciting and easy. Her characters are always relatable and quirky, and Parker and Matt were no exception.

Matt is a high profile sports agent, and Parker is a wild fiercely independent soccer player. When Parker lands herself in a spot of bother, she ends up At Matt’s door, hoping for a team and help. Matt can’t resist the offer, but like all romances, it is not without its own dramas. He vows to keep their relationship professional, but there’s something about Parker that draws him in.

This is a fun, book and the romance is sweet and off the scale. Such an enjoyable read that had me page-turning. I loved reading a sports romance centred around a female, and felt like the book literally kicked ass.

Amazing read and I’d recommend to all romance and sport romance lovers.

Book Boyfriend: 💋💋💋💋.5
Matt Kingston is a retired professional soccer player turned sports agent. He is one of the best in the business and does anything he can for his clients. Matt has everything he ever wanted but nobody to share it with. He is tall, built and incredibly handsome. He has a hard exterior but is soft and caring on the inside. Matt is overprotective of the people he cares about which sometimes comes off in the wrong way. He is the very definition of selfless and putting others before himself.

Strong Female Lead: 💋💋💋💋
Parker Speedman is a tremendously talented soccer player that is passionate about the game and going pro. She is strong, fiercely independent yet has an extremely vulnerable side that she tries to mask with anger. Parker grew up distant from her only family, her father and was constantly doing anything she could to be better. She was willing to put in hours of extra work and wanted to please the coaches. Parker is beautiful, sarcastic and funny – kind of a tomboy as well. Parker overcomes a lot and is able to grow and realize her true priorities in life.

Plot: 💋💋💋💋
I enjoyed the main sports character being a girl and the plot being very relevant to today. We are hearing more and more about female athletes being taken advantage of by coaches, doctors and more so this story was very fitting with what is happening today. I felt like the author did a good job of walking the line between this confident, incredibly talented soccer player and this fearful, traumatized female. I thought the plot was fresh but I felt like they fell in love so quickly but that may just be my skeptical brain at work.

Steamy Factor: 💋💋.5
I always enjoy Rachel’s books because the steam is not over-the-top. I do think the steamy scenes in this book were detailed and 🔥🔥 HOT!🔥🔥

Overall: 💋💋💋💋
I enjoyed this book and actually read it in one sitting. It was a quick, easy read that dealt with heavy content in a lighter way – I didn’t feel this overwhelming heaviness after reading something so traumatizing to the main character. I think it was because it was relevant to the story but the main character, Parker, didn’t let it define her and the story was bigger than that event. I always enjoy a sports romance and a Rachel VanDyken book so this checked most of my boxes.

Kickin It was fun, flirty and I couldn't stop smiling or laughing. With deep and meaningful friendships, characters who came alive off of the pages and a romance that had me constantly begging for more, this book was a solid win! While Kickin It can easily be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you also read, Risky Play. They're both a ton of fun and if you're looking for books to take to the beach, look no further!

“Behave.” His breath was hot on my ear. “I don’t know you. In fact, I’m instantly regretting letting you into my house, but this night is important. These people may be friends, but they’re still clients. Respect them or I’m finding you a nice cardboard box to call home in downtown Seattle. Got it?”
I sucked in a breath. “You would steal a box from people who are truly homeless?”
“What did I do to deserve this?” He looked toward the sky and then shook his head.


I adored Matt Kingston from Risky Play. He was such a thoughtful, caring and considerate man. But he was also ruthless in the work world and he owned a highly successful business of managing sports players. There was an edge to him and while he could be a dickhead, he loved his sister fiercely. So when his sister, Willow, asked him if she could work for his company over the summer, he gave in. But Matt had no clue what he was getting himself into lol. Willow brought her bestie Parker Speedman to live at Matt's house with her. And Parker and Matt didn't get off on a good foot at all.

She was pretty when she smiled, but she didn’t do it often enough.
And it made me wonder too much.
It made me want to dig when I had no business digging.
Coach.
Agent.


Parker Speedman was sassy and bold, but she was also hurt and broken from the past. She wanted to play professional soccer more than anything, but her past reputation of punching her coach didn't have teams lining up for her. Even though she was an amazing player. So when Matt agreed to be her agent, Parker was finally within reach of her dreams.

“Good thing we aren’t friends,” Parker piped up, her venom directed at me. And all I could conjure up was an image of us being anything but friendly in the shower.
And me pulling her hair.
Running my hands over—
I locked eyes with her and whispered gruffly, “Good thing.”


Not only was there a ton of banter between Matt and Parker, but there was attraction too. But Parker is focused on her goal, to be signed by a soccer team. And Matt needed to just be her agent, nothing more. Well until he also agreed to be her trainer too. Between living and training together, it was hard for them to keep the lines from not being blurred. Even if they were still fighting and throwing jabs at each other. But that didn't matter because any time they were together, that attraction was there. It helped that they both had ridiculously high walls, but spending that much time together meant walls would eventually crumble a little. And any time they got emotionally closer to the other, it felt like the hugest victory ever.

“Also, stay far, far away from Willow.”
“I love the name Willow.” Jagger stared me down.
“I have no problem shoving you off my yacht and dumping a bucket of blood in afterward for good measure.”
“Graphic.” Jagger grinned. “I like it.”
Slade stood. “What’s for lunch?”
“You aren’t staying for lunch.”
“I’ll get the plates!” Jagger followed.


One of the gems I always find in Rachel Van Dyken's books are the friendships. Not only the one that the hero and heroine form, but the ones they have with their friends. Parker and Willow's friendship felt so real and was filled with tons of love. And then there was Matt with Jagger and Slade. The three of them were brutally honest with each other and had the others back. But Matt, Slade and Jagger also messed with one other, and there were so many moments that had me laughing hysterically. I love that Rachel Van Dyken is the queen of writing friendships that are deep and real.

Our eyes locked.
Off-limits. She’s off-limits.
I just never realized how much.


On top of the friendships, banter, and chemistry there was also a side love story between two characters. I can't say who, but know that it was hilarious, smile inducing and absolutely everything! It added so much to this story and the epilogue at the end of this book was absolutely perfect! Kickin It was such a huge score! I loved every single minute of it and I can't recommend this book or series enough!

PS We don't learn much about Chief Johnny Alfero but I need MORE! He seems like a man who has miles of secrets and I was obsessed! I'm hoping he gets a story!!

It’s no surprise that I love Rachel Van Dyken. She is without a doubt one of my favourite authors. 

I love the first book in this series and I am honestly not even surprised that I really enjoyed this book too.

I loved Parker. She is such an amazing female character. LOVE her ! Love her strength and her determination.

Kickin’ it gave the perfect contemporary romantic story that was fun,sexy and had incredible secondary characters that makes me excited for more books.

Yet another great book from Rachel Van Dyken! I adored Matt and Parker so seeing their story come together was great fun. As a couple, their banter was fantastic. There is quite a bit of heavier material in this one but she handles that quite deftly - keeping the story balanced. The secondary characters in this book are also fantastic - it was great to see Mackensie & Slade again, as well as Jagger. Although there is some drama in this one, I'm not sure that I'd call it angsty. In fact, I'd think it may be better described as sweet & flirty, for the most part. Yet, there is true substance to this book which gave the story some drama and offered interesting opportunities for the reader to see how those events impacted the couple and their relationship! I definitely recommend this as well as the first book in this series.

Kickin’ It by Rachel Van Dyken is a sports romance novel. Matt was a former soccer player turned sports agent. He tries very hard to be everyone’s best friend. The thing about Matt is he has it all. Anything he could ever ask for he has it so why isn’t he happy?



Parker was hoping to have an amazing soccer career but one tragic moment derailed everything for her. Parker turns to her best friend Willow’s brother Matt for help. With Matt being the best agent around she is hoping that he can help her save her reputation and secure her a soccer deal.



These two characters worked so well together. Their banter was absolutely amazing and I think that is what kept me interested in this book. You couldn’t help but love these characters. Van Dyken definitely knows how to hook a reader and keep them interested in the story.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance

Matt is on top of the world. He loves his life. He has a job that allows him to rub elbows with some great athletes and runs his own company. When his sister comes to him and asks to shadow him in his job because she wants to work with him.

Parker is a fantastic soccer play with a dry sense of humor. She's learned that to get what she wants, sometimes it takes some groveling and sometimes, it takes a very thick skin. When she is invited to stay in the house of a great sports rep, she jumps at the chance. Even though her first impression of him isn’t great, she has learned that sometimes, it is a good thing to give someone a second chance.

Matt and Parker start down a path that will allow them to find comfort in each other and their friends. When an opportunity knocks on Parker's door, will Matt have the courage to figure out what haunts her and push her towards her dream, even if it moves her further from him?

This was a sweet story with a snarky lead character. I loved her attitude and how she decided to live her life. It was heartbreaking and loving all wrapped into a great story. I can't wait for more!

Trigger: Rape, stalking


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, but could be read as a standalone for sure.

I love sports romances, and this one is fun as it turns the tables with the soccer star, Parker, being female and having a bad reputation due to punching her coach. We soon discover that the reason why is one that she has not had the strength to admit to anyone, and just how much that is messing with her mind, as well as her future.

Luckily, her best friend, Willow, has a brother who played soccer himself and is now a top level agent. So, Willow manages to score them both digs with Matt, and get him to become her coach and agent! Of course, living and spending so much time together, they both have to fight a massive dose of chemistry. Matt because it is just wrong, and Parker because she fears history repeating itself.

When her ex-coach starts to cause more trouble, everything starts to unravel, and maybe together they will be able to face what needs to happen for Parker to move forward emotionally and with her potentially stellar career.

I loved the banter between the trio staying at Matt's – and Willow is just a blast, she was the perfect foil to the other pair, and made me laugh a lot! I am hoping that we have her story soon.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
Matt is the sports agent of some high priced, high profile, great soccer players. Loves his life as a single man and loves his baby sister. While talking to her, she tells him she wants to be just like him, so she is coming home to learn from the best, him. What he doesn't hear is that her best friend/roommate is coming with her and they both need a place to stay. When Matt sees Parker, he is drawn to her but she is his sister's friend and that means she is too young for him.

Parker wants two things, have Matt be her agent and get her back on the soccer field. It's the only thing she wants until she sees Matt. She is drawn to him and would like to be more than just his client. But her past might get in the way.

Can Matt help Parker train to get ready to show the local team she is ready to play? Will Parker trust Matt enough to tell him what happened to her? Can they make a relationship work between them off the soccer field? Will Matt kill Jagger for trying to date his baby sister?

After reading the first book, I knew I wanted to read Matt's story and wow what a story it was. It has all the feels I love in a great story, I was laughing one minute and crying the next. I would recommend you read the first book, but you don't have to read it first. But why would you miss Slade and Mack's story? And I hope there is a story coming for Jagger and Willow.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
This is a great story that addresses what has been happening recently in women's sports. Young women are often intimidated by those in control – whether the person in control is a man or a woman. We see those in control – coaches and mentors – as having our best interests at heart. It’s only when something goes horribly wrong, do we see the red flags and other warning signs.

It’s in our nature to trust, to trust those in control, to trust those older than us, to trust those who should protect us. Once that trust is betrayed, we (the victims) often blame ourselves for the actions of the person who should have protected us. The abuser reinforces that belief by saying that the victim shouldn't have "dressed like that," "acted like that," or "had too much to drink."

It takes courage to stand up after having been abused, and often the victim stays in the shadows because who would believe her when the abuser has standing where she has none.

Only when the victim finds her strength can she release the blame and guilt she's placed on herself and give to the right person – the abuser. It can take months or years for the victim to find that strength, to give it a voice but at no time is she weak. After all, she has survived and continues to survive and will continue to survive.

This is one of those stories.

Triggers - intimidation and sexual assault

Love Rachel Van Dyken. I'm always up for a sports romance and this book didn't disappoint me. I appreciate that she put in the theme of me too movement.

Kickin' It is a sport romance featuring Matt and Parker. Matt is a first class sports agent and former athlete. Parker is a soccer player dealing with a past which can destroy her future. I enjoyed how their relationship developed from hostility to love. This a great addition to the Red Card Series but can be read as a stand alone. Thanks Skyscape and NetGalley for the ARC of this title.

At the beginning, there were some really hilarious moments, which covered for a rather sad and serious situation. Parker is a star athlete who has dreams of being a big soccer star. Matt is an agent for his friend Jagger and Slade Rodriguez.

When his sister decides she wants to be an agent, one of her stipulations is that she has to live with him while training as his intern. But what she slides by him is that her bestie, Parker, is also moving in. Parker has some anger issues, but she has a reason for them, and when the reason comes to light, she gains more than just acceptance, she learns to live her truth.

This is my first book by Ms. Van Dyken and I hope there will be more on my plate soon. In one of my recent reviews, I started that I usually feel overwhelmed by sport in sports romance - you know when sport overshadows every other aspect of the book. Here something like that happened, but it was only in a very few places that still hadn't taken my pleasure of reading from me.
Ms. Van Dyken for sure knows how to pull a reader in her new books and how to keep them anticipating every new thing on the edge of their sits.
Parker and Matt worked perfectly for each other. I loved how those two were interacting and Willow well you have to read the book but i promise you will fall for her as well!

Highly entertaining, sexy, fun, engaging and emotionally thrilling romantic journey filled with lots of witty banter, intriguing charters, tense situations and hard to ignore forbidden passion.... really enjoyed every heart pounding twist and turn. This is a great reading experience from beginning to end and I look forward to the next adventure in this series.

This is the second book in the series and before I read I had read some of the reviews just to get a basic idea. I didn't agree with some of them. why? well I totally agree that Matt was a jerk at the beginning of the story and he totally pushed Parker really hard for a couple of reasons one mainly that he was attracted to her and acted like a child but I didn't agree that it was abuse but we all have opinions and that is mine and those readers had theirs and that is why we have a voice. I enjoyed it and loved reading about Jagger and Willow, and enjoyed reading about Slade and Mack it was nice to read about how there relationship was going, so all in all I encourage you to read the book, because I enjoyed!

This was enjoyable read but sadly I didn't like this book as much as I liked the previous book in the series. There were a number of things in this book that really put me off, the characters and their relationship being the main one.
I think the author was trying to pull off a sarcastic banter between the two of the characters and I don't think it was really pulled off. Almost all of the interactions between the two of them just really came off as rude and they would be unnecessary.mean to each other just for the sake of being mean. All of this is why I wasn't really feeling their relationship, and I wasn't the biggest fan of the characters individually either.
There are also some decisions towards the end of the book that Matt makes that I think undermined some of the other things happening in the story. Regardless of my issues with the characters relationship, I'm still glad I read this book, and I'm more than willing to read more books in this series.

GAH! Rachel took a character I was DYING to get a book for, and made me love it more that the first book I met him in.

See what she does? It is literary witchery. I don’t understand it, but I will take it. This book follows Parker and Matt. YES THAT MATT. And it also has our favorites in it and they SHINE y’all. I devoured every page.

This novel throw some twists that I didn’t see coming and did have some moments that brought all he emotion. I loved the character. Parker was everything I needed her to be and she also ever everything I didn’t see coming.

This book blended the romcoms we love from Rachel and the emotions that she always brings in her books. I hope we get more in this series. I am content, but I would happily take more.

Kickin' It is the second book in RVD's Red Card series and keeps the series moving nicely.

This book can easily be read as a standalone and is very sweet and funny sports romance.

This book moves at a nice, easy pace. You can see the attraction between Matt and Parker but they both don't act on it immediately for their own personal reasons. Things do get dicey and while I don't like how everything played out, the book wasn't too overly dramatic and things settled a bit too quickly.

Overall, RVD delivers a story with a nice blend of sexiness and humor that allows this story to play out nicely.