3.5 STARS

I requested this from NetGalley without realizing it was part of a series. Nevertheless, it was easy to follow along, and it never felt like the previous book was a vital link. As with all RVD books, there is fabulous banter/dialogue and lovable secondary characters. My only complaint is I wanted the serious issue discussed to have been addressed more completely in lieu of a quick resolution. Overall, this is a light-hearted, sweet read, and everything I've come to expect from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Skyscape for my advanced review copy.

Kickin It is the second book in Rachel Van Dyken's Red Card series. It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first book, Risky Play, first. This book centers around Matt, the agent we met in Risky Play, and Parker, Matt's sister Willow's best friend. Willow begs Matt to take her under his wing for the summer so she can intern with him and learn the ropes of sports management. Willow brings her friend Parker along to keep her company for the summer. Parker is looking for a manager, and when Matt and Parker find themselves drawn toward one another, Matt eventually signs on as her manager. Parker has a complicated past with older men in charge of her career, so she tries her best to keep things professional and keep her distance. Rachel writes the best tension and banter between her characters, and Matt and Parker have that in spades. I must be honest, I'm not typically a huge fan of sports romances, but I love Rachel's writing, and this book is no exception. It's fun, full of banter, sweet, and sexy. It also tackles some heavy and very socially relevant themes (consent, misuse of power, etc.). Everything is handled delicately, so there's no need to fear reading this book. I like that Rachel created a character with trauma in her past without making her fragile and broken. Instead, we see a character with such strength and resiliency. It's a beautiful message. I highly recommend this book for the romance and the message.

When your career goes up in smoke, there are many ways you can handle the situation. For Matt – the lack of abilities on the field did not dampen his desire to ‘make it big’. Instead of kicking a ball on the field, Matt found his calling representing other players as their agent. To say that the career choice was profitable would be an understatement. Matt has worked hard to earn the livelihood that now graces his doorstep.

Matt is about to have his life turned upside down when his sister Willow moves into his home. Willow wants to learn the ins and outs of the business from the one person she looks up to most in this world. Did I mention that Matt has a hard time telling Willow ‘no’? That lack of attention to the things Willow asks for is about to turn Matt’s world around. When Willow shows up, it’s with her friend Park in tow.

With soccer as her main focus, Parker found her career in a downward spiral. No one wanted to even entertain talking to her about a career move after the fiasco on the field. After meeting Matt, Parker is hopeful that he can revive her career in spite of the secrets that she is keeping. Does Matt possess the magic to rebound Parker’s career while helping her secure a deal that would be life changing?

Kickin’ It is the second installment in the Red Card series by Rachel Van Dyken. This installment centers around Matt and career as a sports agent. With Matt trying to revamp Parker’s career, anything can and WILL happen. The banter between these two characters had me laughing at times, while pulling me in when the secrets surrounding Parker’s career came to light. I loved the fact that this novel brought to light one of the challenges that many individuals face when dealing with their careers. Kickin’ It is definitely one for the negotiating table and the playing field!!

Kickin' It is Matt's story and we met him in the first book. I fell in love with his "open mouth immediately stick foot in" nature. Also, he has this sense of humor that just drags the reader into both books and makes you love him. Parker is a wonderful character and we get to see all the other characters from the first book. I love what RVD does when she writes and that's bringing all her characters from others books into the second book - it flashes it out and makes it well-rounded. The storyline speaks for itself and I'm not going to give anything away. Just go read it...it's worth it!!

Okay, okay. I should just give RVD my ultimate fan card now, right? Matt and Parker are all the things I want in my romance. Sports, sexiness, banter, flirty, fun.

Yep, Kickin' It has all the things I want and it does NOT disappoint.

Started on a high note and I was overall please but the first few chapters but once the actual relationship began to develop between Parker and Matt, it was a fast moving train and once the "love you" bombed dropped I became instantly turned off. I will say I did like the dynamic between the athletes at first and I was really hoping Matt would be able to aide Parker in overcoming her past assault but once the attraction started, it didn't live up to my expectations. More built up and character development could have really made this series.

Matt is a successful sports agent and his sister wants to follow in his food steps. When his sister and her friend Parker come to his house it turns everything upside down. Parker wants to get back into playing soccer and wants Matt to be her agent. There’s only one problem, the sexual tension is high between them. Can they keep things professional or will they take the leap?

Kickin' It by RVD is a emotional ride from start to finish. It is full hardship, strength, courage, and compassion. Each character is unique in their own way. One character in particular will grab your attention and hold on to you and say watch my journey with me! Be brave with me! And if for some reason you are already in her predicament or been through it, you are not alone, you are not weak, you are strong! This story was beautifully written and I believe will go a long way.

Another awesome book by Rachel.


You get love, laughter, a little bit of insanity, and some fun!

Loved all of the characters but I have to say Jagger is trip! I laughed in the beginning about his grandmother wondering if he worked for the KGB. Hilarious.

There is so much in the book that it all goes and yet you can’t help but just fall right into it.

Rachel is an awesome writer and her books are a must for me.

was completely moved by the subject matter of this book. I love all of Rachel’s book. This one had such a strong message to all who read it. I hope everyone realizes how strong victims of abuse are when they come forward. Rachel told this story beautifully and I truly appreciate that.

Parker is Willow’s friend, and she is looking for a professional soccer team to be a part of. Willow manipulates Matt into letting her and Parker stay at his house for the summer while Willow “interns” for his agency. Matt takes Parker on as his client, and quickly starts getting her ready for meetings and tryouts for teams. Things quickly change for them when Parker is faced with the one person she was trying to get away from. Matt is super supportive of Parker once she tells him what has happened in the past. I won’t spoil it, but you have to read it to see what happens!

Matt and Parker’s story is awesome. I love how everyone is still part of this book as well. It wouldn’t have been as entertaining without Slade and Jagger having their say in everything possible!!! I absolutely can’t wait to get more story for Jagger’s Russian Grandma. Willow is the perfect little sister to Matt, and she just wants to follow in his footsteps. You can definitely see how much of a pushover Matt is when it comes to Willow. They have such a great dynamic, and you can really tell the love they have for each other. I also LOVE the Chief of Police..... and that’s all I’m going to say about him :)

Thank you Rachel for giving us another awesome story.

Kickin’ It is such a great story that will make you laugh out loud, make you angry,and make you love again kinda book. Rachel scores big with this book. This is a sports romance I totally loved and recommend you to read.!

After reading Risky play I couldn't wait to read Matt's book and Rachel did an awesome job with there story, as with most of her books she knows how to add humor into her stories while also writing about tough subjects, This was so well written and I really enjoyed getting to know Parker and Matt.

Matt's story was everything I wished it could be. Amazing story about a female athlete and some challenges she's overcoming. I appreciated the characters going through some very hard but also real issues. And we almost got two stories for the price of one with Jagger and Willow's story intertwined.
Matt is a great agent, works hard for his clients and is a great guy.
Matt and Parker's chemistry is off the charts, both trying to fight what they are feeling and failing. This book had me laughing and crying throughout. Loved this installment by Rachel Van Dyken and cannot wait for the next

After reading a couple of books by RVD, her patterns are readily apparent. When it comes to male heroes, they are rich, good looking, adequately equipped/able to pleasure, snarky as heck and flocks with friends of a feather (so if they're at athlete-level, he's at athlete-level). When it comes to female heroines, they are gorgeous and mouthy. On writing what emotional internal dialogues, she turns to prose:

The shorter, the better.
All it takes.
One. Sentence.

Ok, that's an exaggeration on the above, but those of us familiar with that device, know what's comin' from this dual POV story.

Despite all this, I still pick up RVD's books, which started way back when I won a Goodreads contest for Wingmen #1. Enjoyed it and recommended it to my Book Club. Then, I got Wingmen #2 on my e-reader and had to show Book Club the mini-movie scenes in the book. Now, if I see her books, it's essentially a done deal that I'm going to try to get it.

It's fun, it's fluff. The #MeToo element was a different twist than her usual and I'm still mulling over whether it was done well or not...

I loved Matt and Parker. Parker was really struggling with an issue she didn’t want the world to known. Where as Matt has an idea of what has happened he doesn’t want to be looked at in the same way. It was nice to see that their relationship wasn’t instalove. In my eyes their relationship grew over the time of the book.
I also enjoyed hearing about Willow and Jagger in this book. I’m hoping we will hear more about them in the future.

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have actually been sitting on this review for a week or so. Or rather, I’ve been mulling Rachel Van Dyken’s newest book, Kickin’ It, since I finished reading it a week ago. From the time I started it until I finished it (which, by the way, happened to be one day), I was engrossed in the story from its outset.

In the world of #metoo and the push for equality between the sexes, this book is necessary in the romance world. Let’s be honest. There are so many moments when romance readers must suspend their disbelief over the treatment of a woman in a story. I am a personal fan of BDSM and dark romance books because they allow me to live in a world that, I’m fairly certain, I will never exist. For a small time, I can imagine it, but it never becomes my reality. However, there are many instances when women are treated like possessions or worse in romance books. And we accept it because it is fiction.

Yet, there is a bigger reality in our world and in our time. Women are taken advantage of by people of power, most oftentimes, men. This is wrong and dangerous and disgusting. Van Dyken’s newest book gives voice to this problem in a way that gives me hope for our future, for change.

Parker is a graduated college soccer player who is looking for her big break on a professional team. Unfortunately, the “buzz” surrounding her suggests she’s a “problem” player. She’s been accused of erratic behavior, which makes her a liability to any team. Thankfully, her roommate’s, brother, Matt, is a seasoned, well-known sports agent, and Willow (her roommate) has promised Parker that she will ask Matt to represent Parker to find her the best contract with a pro team.

Matt lives a comfortable life at the top of his game as an agent. At first sight, he’s unimpressed with Parker, believing her to be a problem client. She is brash and outspoken. Even more problematic, he is instantly attracted to her which causes problems for their living arrangement and representation. However, he suppresses his interest in her and begins to work for her. Very quickly, Matt comes to realize that Parker harbors a secret, one she hides carefully from everyone (including Willow). When he finds out her secret, will this end their work relationship, or will he believe her and protect her at all costs?

There is so much I want to say about this book, and I struggle to find all the words to say it. For one, Parker is one of my favorite heroines to date. She’s strong and capable and tragic and sensual in a way that is understated. She’s incredibly athletic, and her strength on the field matches her inner strength to persevere. She has been taken gross advantage of, and she should be devastated. Instead, she utilizes tenacity to stand in the face of fear. I loved her from the beginning through the middle to the end of this story, and she’s a necessary heroine today.

Similarly, Matt is the quintessential hero. In this book, important people in Parker’s life have let her down. They’ve betrayed her trust in them, and it’s damaged her. Matt is the first male in this book to truly “see” her. I have to admit. That is always one of my favorite parts in a romance. In Van Dyken’s book, it made me cry because I knew it was necessary that Parker be seen, especially by a male. He is stalwart, aggressive when necessary, thoughtful, and compassionate, all the qualities men need today to bring about change in our society. To be honest, it isn’t surprising within the realm of this story and Van Dyken’s former book, Risky Play, where Matt plays a large part in bringing the H and h together. Yet, he is fairly neurotic and set in his ways, so I was initially worried that he couldn’t be strong enough for Parker. And I was wrong, thankfully.

For all of the angst of this story, it is also incredibly funny. Matt’s chemistry with his clients/friends, Jagger and Slade, are some of the best interactions in the book. His sister, Willow, also lends humor to the story, which is a refreshing break from the headiness of the book’s story. This book is equal parts funny, serious, and sweet, the reasons I could not put it down.

I really cannot say enough about Rachel Van Dyken’s book, Kickin’ It. I know my personal preference is romances with serious topics that force readers to ponder on the gravity of life’s complications. Van Dyken’s book adds more voices to these necessary discussions. If you love sports romance with a little “meat” to its story, then you definitely will want to read Kickin’ It.

3.5 Stars

Matt Kingston is a sports agent who goes above and beyond for his clients... and his family. So when his sister moves in and brings a surprise guest... he can't very well kick them out... right?

Parker Speedman needs to resurrect her career, and she knows just the sports agent who can help her do it. But, when Matt signs on to help her, he isn't taking any chances with her training... or her bathroom time...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kickin' It was a funny and sweet story set in the midst of a unfortunately darker reality for young women everywhere. Parker and Matt's complicated attraction only gets far more difficult with every practice, meeting and roommate run-in they endure...

Parker once felt like she could achieve anything that she set her mind to, until she suffers an incident that strips her confidence completely away. She is a highly accomplished athlete who has lost her way, but is determined to work for her next big break. And when she finds herself having to face the demons who took her down in the first place,  Parker will attain something even more important than her dream of playing professional soccer...

Matt enjoys being viewed as a tough, no nonsense agent, but underneath all of his gruff attitude lies a patient and observant man who cares so much more than he lets on. With a soft and supportive approach to Parker's feelings and her trepidation about sharing, he takes things slow and shows her just how trustworthy of a man he can be. 

I really enjoyed this book. The silly humor interjected was fun and on point with this authors writing style, and the premise was well done and original. And, while I thought the characters were great, I felt like there were some missing elements to their relationship that would have made it a little more believable and interesting.  

This book deals with some very sensitive and important subjects that deserved to be highlighted in the delicate way that this book handled them. The plot was incredibly well done with how it covered a very difficult subject, but still included enough humor to lighten it's possible intensity. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review.

I loved these characters Parker and Matt. As always with Rachel Van Dyken books, one minute I’m laughing the next I’m crying. I love how much I feel when reading her books. This one had me hooked from start to finish.

So I know I'm in the minority, but this just didn't do it for me. I spent the first quarter hating most of the characters. I understood why Parker was lashing out, but it didn't change my opinion of her. And Willow was awful. I thought the plot wa incredibly predictable, what little there was. It pains me to give a negative review to a RVD book, but this one missed the mark for me.

I can’t say enough about this book. I like the 1st in the series... it was great to read the storyline and get to know new characters while also having RVD’s amazing writing.... BUT this story. Y’all, Rachel knows how to get you right where the feels are. She writes about things that are relevant this day and age and is not afraid to cross those lines while keeping true to herself and her writing style.

These characters were AMAZING! Yes, we met one of them in book one and fell for him, but the heroine, y’all she is just the best!

Way to go RVD! You kept my attention, you wrote an amazing story, had great characters and everything was just straight badass! I love your rom-coms just as much as your mafias. 🖤🖤🖤