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Trophy Boyfriends #1
Hard Pass
“Hard pass.”
That’s what the last girl I slept with said when she got her first sober glimpse of me. She laughed, walked out of my penthouse—and I never saw her again. It doesn’t matter that I’m a rich, professional athlete; what mattered was my face. Beauty might only be skin deep for some—but I know better.
“Pay up.”
That’s what the last girl I spoke to said over the phone when I made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Desperate to sell a set of rare baseball cards, she’s clever and entertaining. I’m instantly smitten, but nowhere ready to reveal myself. Thank god she has no idea who I am—or what I look like.
I’m a professional athlete--how hard can playing the love game be?
That’s what the last girl I slept with said when she got her first sober glimpse of me. She laughed, walked out of my penthouse—and I never saw her again. It doesn’t matter that I’m a rich, professional athlete; what mattered was my face. Beauty might only be skin deep for some—but I know better.
“Pay up.”
That’s what the last girl I spoke to said over the phone when I made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. Desperate to sell a set of rare baseball cards, she’s clever and entertaining. I’m instantly smitten, but nowhere ready to reveal myself. Thank god she has no idea who I am—or what I look like.
I’m a professional athlete--how hard can playing the love game be?
227 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2020
About the author
Sara Ney
66 books6,421 followersSara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte's, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 863 reviews
June 13, 2020
4 stars
Hard Pass is the first book in Sara Ney’s new ‘trophy boyfriends’ series and I enjoyed the heck out of it. It’s not your typical sports romance and I loved that it was different.
Noah is a professional baseball player, but he’s not lucky in love. Though he’s tall and in good shape, his confidence has taken a hit after the last woman he was with made some unkind comments about his appearance.
Because of this, he’s standoffish when it comes to women. Miranda is selling her beloved grandfather’s baseball cards to get the money to start her own business. They’re worth a ton and she’s finally found a buyer. Noah. The Noah she talks to on the phone doesn’t seem like the Noah she meets in person. Something just isn’t adding up…
Oh my sweet Noah. I loved this guy. My heart hurt for him and I truly felt for him. The way Miranda saw him only shows that beauty really is in the eye of beholder. I loved these two together and their slow burn romance was just what I wanted. It was also nice to see a pro athlete that wasn’t quite so alpha and didn’t think they were all that. Noah is a shy and sweet hero and I loved that about him.
If you’re looking for a different kind of romance, I highly recommend picking this one up! And after meeting some of Noah’s friends, I can’t wait for more from this group!
Hard Pass is the first book in Sara Ney’s new ‘trophy boyfriends’ series and I enjoyed the heck out of it. It’s not your typical sports romance and I loved that it was different.
Noah is a professional baseball player, but he’s not lucky in love. Though he’s tall and in good shape, his confidence has taken a hit after the last woman he was with made some unkind comments about his appearance.
Hard. Pass. Embarrassed and humiliated by those two words, I never breathed a word about it to anybody.
Because of this, he’s standoffish when it comes to women. Miranda is selling her beloved grandfather’s baseball cards to get the money to start her own business. They’re worth a ton and she’s finally found a buyer. Noah. The Noah she talks to on the phone doesn’t seem like the Noah she meets in person. Something just isn’t adding up…
Oh my sweet Noah. I loved this guy. My heart hurt for him and I truly felt for him. The way Miranda saw him only shows that beauty really is in the eye of beholder. I loved these two together and their slow burn romance was just what I wanted. It was also nice to see a pro athlete that wasn’t quite so alpha and didn’t think they were all that. Noah is a shy and sweet hero and I loved that about him.
If you’re looking for a different kind of romance, I highly recommend picking this one up! And after meeting some of Noah’s friends, I can’t wait for more from this group!
November 26, 2020
A different kind of sports romance!
I thought the couple in this book were super cute. This book was extremely humorous, but there were a few things I didn’t like about it. The Hero is a baseball star with an $80 million dollar contract, but he has some serious self esteem issues. He had a girl that he was with sort of laugh at him and say the words “Hard. Pass.” as she was leaving his bedroom when he asked if he would be seeing her again.
I have always said when reading any romance where the heroine is a “curvy girl” that if the book, or especially the heroine herself dwells too much on the fact that she is overweight that it lessens the likability of the book. I think a writer can convey the low self esteem without bringing up the topic too much. Like the fact that this Hero (Noah) thinks he is far from handsome. It wasn’t his low self esteem that was at issue, it was that it was just brought up too much in derogatory ways. Like having him referred to as a brown bagger.
The heroine (Miranda) was very attracted to him and he to her which I liked. So I guess I took the negative references to mean that he just took bad pictures. Because really when you think of it, there are a lot of famous and high paid athletes that don’t look like models, but really nobody says anything about their looks in the press except possible haters in comments and people jealous that they aren’t making a ton of money playing sports.
Anyway, I really liked the story about this shy, but extremely famous guy who tries to stay out of the public eye as much as possible. Noah does that so much that when he brokers a deal to buy a rare baseball card from Miranda, he has his best friend Buzz go pick it up for him. Buzz is also on Noah’s baseball team and is the one that loves the press and the women and has the looks to prove it. Though Buzz is sort of a Neanderthal, an in doing so offends Miranda and she thinks he is Noah, so refuses to sell him any more of her Grandfather’s collection.
I won’t go further into the plot because it is not a long book but to say that despite my issues with whether he is ugly or not, I really enjoyed this book. I liked that Noah is a really big guy and Miranda is a small woman. I like that dynamic, and their romance was terrific. Also despite being a shy guy, he is also rich and famous so it wasn’t like he hadn’t been with women in the past. Because I really don’t enjoy reading about guys who are virgins. It is a bit too weird for me unless they are in their teens.
The romance was also very hot and steamy, which I liked (heat level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥). It was also super funny (🤣😂😅😁). The supporting characters were terrific, especially Buzz as the best friend. I hope the next book is about him. I would like to see him stay with a woman. He is currently the type that is never photographed with the same woman more than once. Miranda’s friend claire is also very funny.
I give this one 4.2 stars overall. This book was cute and very funny and I really liked the originality and the story.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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I thought the couple in this book were super cute. This book was extremely humorous, but there were a few things I didn’t like about it. The Hero is a baseball star with an $80 million dollar contract, but he has some serious self esteem issues. He had a girl that he was with sort of laugh at him and say the words “Hard. Pass.” as she was leaving his bedroom when he asked if he would be seeing her again.
I have always said when reading any romance where the heroine is a “curvy girl” that if the book, or especially the heroine herself dwells too much on the fact that she is overweight that it lessens the likability of the book. I think a writer can convey the low self esteem without bringing up the topic too much. Like the fact that this Hero (Noah) thinks he is far from handsome. It wasn’t his low self esteem that was at issue, it was that it was just brought up too much in derogatory ways. Like having him referred to as a brown bagger.
The heroine (Miranda) was very attracted to him and he to her which I liked. So I guess I took the negative references to mean that he just took bad pictures. Because really when you think of it, there are a lot of famous and high paid athletes that don’t look like models, but really nobody says anything about their looks in the press except possible haters in comments and people jealous that they aren’t making a ton of money playing sports.
Anyway, I really liked the story about this shy, but extremely famous guy who tries to stay out of the public eye as much as possible. Noah does that so much that when he brokers a deal to buy a rare baseball card from Miranda, he has his best friend Buzz go pick it up for him. Buzz is also on Noah’s baseball team and is the one that loves the press and the women and has the looks to prove it. Though Buzz is sort of a Neanderthal, an in doing so offends Miranda and she thinks he is Noah, so refuses to sell him any more of her Grandfather’s collection.
I won’t go further into the plot because it is not a long book but to say that despite my issues with whether he is ugly or not, I really enjoyed this book. I liked that Noah is a really big guy and Miranda is a small woman. I like that dynamic, and their romance was terrific. Also despite being a shy guy, he is also rich and famous so it wasn’t like he hadn’t been with women in the past. Because I really don’t enjoy reading about guys who are virgins. It is a bit too weird for me unless they are in their teens.
The romance was also very hot and steamy, which I liked (heat level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥). It was also super funny (🤣😂😅😁). The supporting characters were terrific, especially Buzz as the best friend. I hope the next book is about him. I would like to see him stay with a woman. He is currently the type that is never photographed with the same woman more than once. Miranda’s friend claire is also very funny.
“I thought you said you felt a tingle in your lady business on Saturday after you talked to him.”
“Claire!” I pointedly shift my eyes toward the back of the driver’s head. Though Claire can’t see him, she knows I’m in an Uber and knows he can hear everything she’s saying.
“Could you not?”
“You know I’m right. You had a party in your pants and you wanted to invite him.”
I give this one 4.2 stars overall. This book was cute and very funny and I really liked the originality and the story.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
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June 14, 2020
4 STARS
A new series from Sara Ney and with some baseball thrown in? SIGN ME THE H*LL UP, I SAY! To say that I've been eagerly anticipating this book may be a mild understatement. Rabid may be an apt description of my need. I've been chomping at the bit to get my hands on this book, so the second it landed on my kindle, I jumped on it faster than you can say "gimme".
As much as I love reading about those sexy alpha males, I do love a good underdog story. And when it comes to Noah, he was one of the most endearing underdogs. As a matter of fact, he reminded me so much of Rhett from The Learning Hours. And y'all, I loved Rhett from The Learning Hours. Noah is a professional baseball player and a total recluse. Being a shortstop for the Chicago Steam means he gets plenty of attention for his skill and money. But he's not exactly raking it in with the ladies. He's a genuinely nice guy but with plenty of insecurities when it comes to his looks. So when he sees a woman selling a rare baseball card on the internet that he's desperate for, he's too shy to go himself, and sends his womanizing teammate to pretend to be him. Suffice it to say the meeting doesn't go as planned and hilarity ensues.
Miranda has had it with the womanizing and cocky a-holes. And she's definitely not impressed with Noah's teammate. Especially when she can't reconcile the nice guy she's been talking to on the phone with the cocky jerk that shows up. She wants nothing to do with that guy, but the one on the texts still draws her interest.
I absolutely devoured this book. It was ridiculously cute with a touch of sizzle and plenty of laughs. I loved Noah. This is a guy that you can't help but to root for. He's adorably awkward but he's still all alpha male when it comes to pleasing his woman. GOD but I loved him. Miranda was the perfect balance to his quirks and insecurities and I absolutely loved the two of them together. Add in the quirky secondary characters like Buzz and I blinked and realized I was done with the book. I'm so hooked on this new series and seriously can't wait for the next one. As much as I love the nice guys, I hope we'll get a few a-holes out of this series too.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
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There’s nothing wrong with being a nice guy! Why do guys hate that so much?”
“Because, Miranda, nice guys usually only finish first in the movies. They are not the trophy boyfriends every girl wants.”
A new series from Sara Ney and with some baseball thrown in? SIGN ME THE H*LL UP, I SAY! To say that I've been eagerly anticipating this book may be a mild understatement. Rabid may be an apt description of my need. I've been chomping at the bit to get my hands on this book, so the second it landed on my kindle, I jumped on it faster than you can say "gimme".
As much as I love reading about those sexy alpha males, I do love a good underdog story. And when it comes to Noah, he was one of the most endearing underdogs. As a matter of fact, he reminded me so much of Rhett from The Learning Hours. And y'all, I loved Rhett from The Learning Hours. Noah is a professional baseball player and a total recluse. Being a shortstop for the Chicago Steam means he gets plenty of attention for his skill and money. But he's not exactly raking it in with the ladies. He's a genuinely nice guy but with plenty of insecurities when it comes to his looks. So when he sees a woman selling a rare baseball card on the internet that he's desperate for, he's too shy to go himself, and sends his womanizing teammate to pretend to be him. Suffice it to say the meeting doesn't go as planned and hilarity ensues.
Miranda has had it with the womanizing and cocky a-holes. And she's definitely not impressed with Noah's teammate. Especially when she can't reconcile the nice guy she's been talking to on the phone with the cocky jerk that shows up. She wants nothing to do with that guy, but the one on the texts still draws her interest.
I absolutely devoured this book. It was ridiculously cute with a touch of sizzle and plenty of laughs. I loved Noah. This is a guy that you can't help but to root for. He's adorably awkward but he's still all alpha male when it comes to pleasing his woman. GOD but I loved him. Miranda was the perfect balance to his quirks and insecurities and I absolutely loved the two of them together. Add in the quirky secondary characters like Buzz and I blinked and realized I was done with the book. I'm so hooked on this new series and seriously can't wait for the next one. As much as I love the nice guys, I hope we'll get a few a-holes out of this series too.
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
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August 27, 2020
Spoilers ahead
Ummmmm what even IS this??? Why'd you have to do him like that???
Review soon
Right
So the H/h "meet" as she attempts to sell some rare baseball cards left to her by her grandfather. With the money she hopes to open her own business. The H finds the ad and sends his buddy to do the transaction, the H/h however keep messaging each other and eventually feelings develop. She's been thinking his friend is him so he confesses, they act as a couple for his mom and a tabloid scandal rocks their little bubble before they slow walk to their very abrupt ending
*******
First of all the writing was all over the place
The humor was so immature I cringed
The chemistry was nonexistent and the sexy times sucked big time
BUT none of those were my main issue
The H wasn't a super attractive stud......okkkkkkkk but DID you have to beat me over the head with it???? Why was such a big deal made out of his looks??? To the point where he's a brown bagger???? What in the hell?? And to have his friend be so attractive and the H forever talking about it just about drove me bonkers! Then to make matters worst the scandal that caused a separation was because they'd both been dubbed ugly in the tabloids? I mean wow!!!!! Really??!! Just as I hate a fluffy mc harping on their weight I despised this book's focus on the H's lack of good looks, the funny thing is his description sounded normal???? IDK but I really hope this doesn't become a trend in contemporary romance, it's ok to have a "different" hero without making him sound worst looking than Shrek( though I did find Shrek cute so)
The only reason this wasn't a one star was because he wasn't a manwhore but this was definitely NOT it
Ummmmm what even IS this??? Why'd you have to do him like that???
Review soon
Right
So the H/h "meet" as she attempts to sell some rare baseball cards left to her by her grandfather. With the money she hopes to open her own business. The H finds the ad and sends his buddy to do the transaction, the H/h however keep messaging each other and eventually feelings develop. She's been thinking his friend is him so he confesses, they act as a couple for his mom and a tabloid scandal rocks their little bubble before they slow walk to their very abrupt ending
*******
First of all the writing was all over the place
The humor was so immature I cringed
The chemistry was nonexistent and the sexy times sucked big time
BUT none of those were my main issue
The H wasn't a super attractive stud......okkkkkkkk but DID you have to beat me over the head with it???? Why was such a big deal made out of his looks??? To the point where he's a brown bagger???? What in the hell?? And to have his friend be so attractive and the H forever talking about it just about drove me bonkers! Then to make matters worst the scandal that caused a separation was because they'd both been dubbed ugly in the tabloids? I mean wow!!!!! Really??!! Just as I hate a fluffy mc harping on their weight I despised this book's focus on the H's lack of good looks, the funny thing is his description sounded normal???? IDK but I really hope this doesn't become a trend in contemporary romance, it's ok to have a "different" hero without making him sound worst looking than Shrek( though I did find Shrek cute so)
The only reason this wasn't a one star was because he wasn't a manwhore but this was definitely NOT it
July 7, 2021
When the blurb said ugly H, I was IN.
Being completely honest, this was an all right read, something simple and sweet but not memorable. But just the fact that the H wasn't a super specimen, all pretty face, hard muscles, massive and confident was a fresh new twist, and I loved it. He wasn't confident, and knew he wasn't handsome, and introverted... I don't know, it was a "normal" romance and it was great to read something different for once. Even the epilogue wasn't all babies and weddings stuff...
It wasn't a great book, but I will remember it because it was different from all the gorgeous faces we are used to read about (or at least, me) and I liked it.
Being completely honest, this was an all right read, something simple and sweet but not memorable. But just the fact that the H wasn't a super specimen, all pretty face, hard muscles, massive and confident was a fresh new twist, and I loved it. He wasn't confident, and knew he wasn't handsome, and introverted... I don't know, it was a "normal" romance and it was great to read something different for once. Even the epilogue wasn't all babies and weddings stuff...
It wasn't a great book, but I will remember it because it was different from all the gorgeous faces we are used to read about (or at least, me) and I liked it.
June 17, 2020
Once I started this book, I couldn’t put it down. The chemistry and banter between Noah and Miranda was great. What made it stand out, however, was that they weren’t your typical main characters. Noah was struggling with an internal battle a lot of us know too well. Miranda was someone who was open and receptive to people in a way that was beyond skin deep. They had their funny and awkward moments and I enjoyed their connection even though I would’ve liked for it to have been developed a little more.
The writing, as is typical of Ms.Ney, was spectacular. The pacing was on point and she made good use of secondary characters. All in all a great start to a new series.
Complementary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.
The writing, as is typical of Ms.Ney, was spectacular. The pacing was on point and she made good use of secondary characters. All in all a great start to a new series.
Complementary copy received and voluntarily reviewed.
October 13, 2020
2.75 stars
This one didn't hit the mark. I'm used to Sara Ney books, minimal to no conflict, slowburn, friends to lovers.. but this one lacked the chemistry between the leads. the romance just wasn't all that..
This one didn't hit the mark. I'm used to Sara Ney books, minimal to no conflict, slowburn, friends to lovers.. but this one lacked the chemistry between the leads. the romance just wasn't all that..
June 2, 2021
Hard Pass is barely passing. Miss Ney builds Noah as someobe recluse and low self esteem. However I do not get convinced on Noah character.
What is his real background that causing him to have such low esteem? Just because ONS gone wrong?
Miranda character is only hovering on the background. I am sensing she is not sure what to do to light up the story.
What I like about this book is only because of the humor in it. Some conversation cracks me a smile.
3 stars
What is his real background that causing him to have such low esteem? Just because ONS gone wrong?
Miranda character is only hovering on the background. I am sensing she is not sure what to do to light up the story.
What I like about this book is only because of the humor in it. Some conversation cracks me a smile.
3 stars
June 16, 2020
I was so excited to get my grabby hands on this. A sports romance from Sara Ney has my one click finger twitching hard. And that blurb had me even more excited. Seriously a jock who isn't full of himself or think he's gods gift is a hero I want to read.
Noah more than met my expectations. He was sensitive without being too soft. And I loved the contradictions of his character, it made him relatable despite his career and bank balance. It was really nice to have the hero as the insecure one for a change. Sara wrote him so perfectly that he didn't come across as a whiny cry baby …… much.
And of course his relationship with Buzz helped too.
Miranda was great. She just rolled with the punches and didn't get caught up in the things that could have caused petty problems. And I loved that she was freaked about what he was worth but didn't make it an issue.
The secondary characters were a lot of fun and added so much to the story. I really hope we get a lot more of them in the coming books. Partially because this one didn't give me nearly enough couple time. And I want to see more of these guys together but also because Buzz is such a nut job. Not only will he be awesome value in his own book but I think Noah and Miranda owe him a hard time or two.
For now I'm off to obsess over who we are going to get next.
Noah more than met my expectations. He was sensitive without being too soft. And I loved the contradictions of his character, it made him relatable despite his career and bank balance. It was really nice to have the hero as the insecure one for a change. Sara wrote him so perfectly that he didn't come across as a whiny cry baby …… much.
And of course his relationship with Buzz helped too.
Miranda was great. She just rolled with the punches and didn't get caught up in the things that could have caused petty problems. And I loved that she was freaked about what he was worth but didn't make it an issue.
The secondary characters were a lot of fun and added so much to the story. I really hope we get a lot more of them in the coming books. Partially because this one didn't give me nearly enough couple time. And I want to see more of these guys together but also because Buzz is such a nut job. Not only will he be awesome value in his own book but I think Noah and Miranda owe him a hard time or two.
For now I'm off to obsess over who we are going to get next.
June 18, 2020
3 🤔❤️🤔🌟s
A sweet and enjoyable sports romance read.
I was very intrigued by Noah’s character. He was not the typical gorgeous arrogant player I usually read in books. He might had been a pro baseball superstar guy, wealthy, modest, shy and kind, but he was not that good looking.
Noah and Miranda were likeable characters and their romance was lovely.
I would have given more stars to this story but the development was inadequate regarding the plot, the characters, even the epilogue - which was so abrupt...
A sweet and enjoyable sports romance read.
I was very intrigued by Noah’s character. He was not the typical gorgeous arrogant player I usually read in books. He might had been a pro baseball superstar guy, wealthy, modest, shy and kind, but he was not that good looking.
Noah and Miranda were likeable characters and their romance was lovely.
I would have given more stars to this story but the development was inadequate regarding the plot, the characters, even the epilogue - which was so abrupt...
September 7, 2020
Hard Pass kind of shocked me—adorable and heartwarming, this romance is filled with belly-aching humour, fantastic chemistry and characters outside normative romance characterisation. Sara Ney delivered a memorable collection of characters with interesting quirks and plausible adorableness; the overall cuteness and uncommon nature of this romance is an irresistible combination that will entice readers for certain.
Noah Harding embodies the atypical romance hero we’re unaccustomed to receiving. Kind and shy, Noah isn’t just humble, but sensitive and realistic and filled with self-doubt that isn’t common in heroes. Sometimes the inserted naturalism of self-esteem worries resonates with readers because we’ve all been there; because it’s uncommon to read about heroes who are not affluent, rife with success and described as classically or traditionally handsome. Who wouldn’t become enamoured?
However, my issues with Hard Pass stemmed from Noah. Part of my heart aches for him because the criticism and mistreatment he receives is horrible; no one has the authority to make judgements on another’s appearance and no one should feel less because of said unwarranted comments. It doesn’t excuse his decisions that he allowed to be dictated by disheartened emotions, or be overrun by dejected thoughts though, because what he does is frankly shit behaviour no matter what excuse is used.
One, Noah catfished Miranda, using his friend Wallace to collect baseball cards Miranda advertised to kickstart a business we don’t know a thing about (something we’ll never know about at this rate truthfully). Wallace is cute, I’m sure, but his abilities to converse with others is so lacking, it made me wonder if he actually knew how real life conversations work. What baffled me is when Miranda eventually discovers Noah’s identity, she doesn’t appear to give a fuck whatsoever; instead she’s interested in dating Noah (what?). More on this later.
Two, Noah bailed when shit became too difficult to deal with. Someone photographed Noah on some cute date with Miranda and the next day the tabloids - surprise, surprise - write an insensitive, scathing article. Rather than understand that some human beings are garbage and that you have to ignore them; or contact Miranda to ensure she’s fine with everything happening, Noah ghosts. I understand that criticism isn’t easy to deal with, but if your first response is to bail when shit hits the fan, then don’t have a girlfriend.
I believe, in my honest opinion, Miranda’s lax reactions are because the reading length of Hard Pass is so damn short, there’s no allowance for her emotions to be explored or expanded on. Miranda would’ve been furious, or at least miffed, because let’s be honest here: no one enjoys being catfished or ghosted whatsoever. From my view, it made this romance unbelievable because everything felt rushed and despite the chemistry being fantastic, it didn’t reach its entire potentiality.
Should Hard Pass have been less focused on Noah and his rooted self-esteem issues, but instead showcased a transformation of some kind, this would have been better. Putting aside my issues though, Hard Pass is an overall decent romance worth reading if wanting something with short, swift entertainment, leaning towards cute, fluffy encounters that don’t guarantee much seriousness. Noah and Miranda have an adorable connection; it’s too bad this wasn’t developed further.
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Noah Harding embodies the atypical romance hero we’re unaccustomed to receiving. Kind and shy, Noah isn’t just humble, but sensitive and realistic and filled with self-doubt that isn’t common in heroes. Sometimes the inserted naturalism of self-esteem worries resonates with readers because we’ve all been there; because it’s uncommon to read about heroes who are not affluent, rife with success and described as classically or traditionally handsome. Who wouldn’t become enamoured?
“There’s nothing wrong with being a nice guy! Why do guys hate that so much?”
“Because, Miranda, nice guys usually only finish first in the movies. They are not the trophy boyfriends every girl wants.”
However, my issues with Hard Pass stemmed from Noah. Part of my heart aches for him because the criticism and mistreatment he receives is horrible; no one has the authority to make judgements on another’s appearance and no one should feel less because of said unwarranted comments. It doesn’t excuse his decisions that he allowed to be dictated by disheartened emotions, or be overrun by dejected thoughts though, because what he does is frankly shit behaviour no matter what excuse is used.
One, Noah catfished Miranda, using his friend Wallace to collect baseball cards Miranda advertised to kickstart a business we don’t know a thing about (something we’ll never know about at this rate truthfully). Wallace is cute, I’m sure, but his abilities to converse with others is so lacking, it made me wonder if he actually knew how real life conversations work. What baffled me is when Miranda eventually discovers Noah’s identity, she doesn’t appear to give a fuck whatsoever; instead she’s interested in dating Noah (what?). More on this later.
Two, Noah bailed when shit became too difficult to deal with. Someone photographed Noah on some cute date with Miranda and the next day the tabloids - surprise, surprise - write an insensitive, scathing article. Rather than understand that some human beings are garbage and that you have to ignore them; or contact Miranda to ensure she’s fine with everything happening, Noah ghosts. I understand that criticism isn’t easy to deal with, but if your first response is to bail when shit hits the fan, then don’t have a girlfriend.
I believe, in my honest opinion, Miranda’s lax reactions are because the reading length of Hard Pass is so damn short, there’s no allowance for her emotions to be explored or expanded on. Miranda would’ve been furious, or at least miffed, because let’s be honest here: no one enjoys being catfished or ghosted whatsoever. From my view, it made this romance unbelievable because everything felt rushed and despite the chemistry being fantastic, it didn’t reach its entire potentiality.
Should Hard Pass have been less focused on Noah and his rooted self-esteem issues, but instead showcased a transformation of some kind, this would have been better. Putting aside my issues though, Hard Pass is an overall decent romance worth reading if wanting something with short, swift entertainment, leaning towards cute, fluffy encounters that don’t guarantee much seriousness. Noah and Miranda have an adorable connection; it’s too bad this wasn’t developed further.
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November 7, 2020
Adorable. I’m in love with Noah. I loved this book from the beginning. The premise of this book intrigued me and I love a grumpy guy. Noah was pretty much my perfect man.
Noah is a professional baseball player, but ever since he came into the spotlight he was told her wasn’t good enough looking. He has a terrible view of himself and thinks no one will want him. He finds a rare baseball card that Randi is selling and they start up a conversation. The banter between the two of them left me smiling to myself constantly. It was such a light read but I felt the chemistry jump off the pages!
I am a sucker for a good guy and Noah was it for me. When Randi met him the first time, you could feel the spark! I binge read this book in one sitting because I didn’t want to put it down. It was the perfect light, quick read for this heavy time.
Noah is a professional baseball player, but ever since he came into the spotlight he was told her wasn’t good enough looking. He has a terrible view of himself and thinks no one will want him. He finds a rare baseball card that Randi is selling and they start up a conversation. The banter between the two of them left me smiling to myself constantly. It was such a light read but I felt the chemistry jump off the pages!
I am a sucker for a good guy and Noah was it for me. When Randi met him the first time, you could feel the spark! I binge read this book in one sitting because I didn’t want to put it down. It was the perfect light, quick read for this heavy time.
October 11, 2020
Cute! I love how Sara Ney writes her characters. They always have flaws and I really appreciate it because sometimes it feels like a lot of fictional characters are cookie cutter perfect and resemble Greek Gods and Goddesses. It’s nice to be reminded that people are painfully average and have insecurities, ya know? Anyway. I wasn’t 100% feeling heaps of chemistry between these two but it was still a cute read nevertheless.
June 18, 2020
I wanted a light, low angst book with a little humour and that is exactly what I got from this book.
I like what the author tried to do. It was something unique. I think I liked this book from the second I read the blurb.
Noah has self esteem issues as you can probably see from reading the blurb. It gets in the way but Miranda fights through all those issues.
I love this couple and wish it would have been a little longer because I didn't want it to end. I loved the easy conversation they had going between them.
Oh and this book had some steam to it.
Also, this had a really cute epilogue which is always a favourite.
I need Buzz's book like now. Because he was amazing in this book. He kinda grew on me. I can't wait to see the girl who ends up with him.
I like what the author tried to do. It was something unique. I think I liked this book from the second I read the blurb.
Noah has self esteem issues as you can probably see from reading the blurb. It gets in the way but Miranda fights through all those issues.
I love this couple and wish it would have been a little longer because I didn't want it to end. I loved the easy conversation they had going between them.
Oh and this book had some steam to it.
Also, this had a really cute epilogue which is always a favourite.
I need Buzz's book like now. Because he was amazing in this book. He kinda grew on me. I can't wait to see the girl who ends up with him.
August 10, 2020
Sara Ney offers some MLB types. A tweak here a tweak there and you've read this before. Not conventionally attractive dude meets sassy heroine.
Detail issues.
I'll keep reading Ney, but I do find this increasingly aggravating. There was just nothing to this one. And the groupie / slutv shaming has got to go.
Detail issues.
I'll keep reading Ney, but I do find this increasingly aggravating. There was just nothing to this one. And the groupie / slutv shaming has got to go.
June 18, 2020
4/5 Stars 🌟
Hard Pass is the first book in the Trophy Boyfriends series. Its a light & fun sports romance with a quirky twist & a hint of mistaken identity. I really enjoyed this one a lot.
Miranda is determined to start her own business at the young age of 22 but to help make her goals happen she needs money and decides to sell some of her Grandpa's prized possession vintage Baseball Cards. She is cute, funny, sassy, adorable and knows what she likes. After texting with a potential buyer she meets up with him. Eventually sells the card but it somewhat shocked to find out he is a lot different in real life.
Noah is a professional Baseball player but is different from most of his team mates. He is shy, resevered, insecure about his looks, sweet but awkward especially around affection and attention. He is very much career focused and prefers to stay out of the spotlight. He plays the sport because it is his passion & he is very good at it. I loved how real and raw his character felt. I hated how he let his insecurities hold him back and affect the way he reacted at times. He frustrated me but I still felt for him and loved him so very much.
This was such a fun, light & quick read and had me feeling all kinds of nostalgia as it brought me back to some of Sara's older stories with a similar tone & feel to it. These characters were only 24 & 22 but read much older which I liked a lot. The side characters in this book are some of the best & I can not wait for a 'Buzz' story as I already know he will be my favourite.
Hard Pass is the first book in the Trophy Boyfriends series. Its a light & fun sports romance with a quirky twist & a hint of mistaken identity. I really enjoyed this one a lot.
Miranda is determined to start her own business at the young age of 22 but to help make her goals happen she needs money and decides to sell some of her Grandpa's prized possession vintage Baseball Cards. She is cute, funny, sassy, adorable and knows what she likes. After texting with a potential buyer she meets up with him. Eventually sells the card but it somewhat shocked to find out he is a lot different in real life.
Noah is a professional Baseball player but is different from most of his team mates. He is shy, resevered, insecure about his looks, sweet but awkward especially around affection and attention. He is very much career focused and prefers to stay out of the spotlight. He plays the sport because it is his passion & he is very good at it. I loved how real and raw his character felt. I hated how he let his insecurities hold him back and affect the way he reacted at times. He frustrated me but I still felt for him and loved him so very much.
This was such a fun, light & quick read and had me feeling all kinds of nostalgia as it brought me back to some of Sara's older stories with a similar tone & feel to it. These characters were only 24 & 22 but read much older which I liked a lot. The side characters in this book are some of the best & I can not wait for a 'Buzz' story as I already know he will be my favourite.
June 14, 2020
AHHH!! There is nothing more that I love than a Sara Ney sports romance. I've said it again and again but Ney has the magic touch when it comes to the male perspective. She makes her heroes so real and addicting it's crazy. I absolutely loved Noah and Miranda. Their attraction was palpable and this story honestly had laugh out loud moments. The chemistry between them was slow burn and delicious and the back and forth banter/texting between them was my low key addiction. Noah and Miranda were SUCH a great start to a new series!
Ok so back to my latest obsession: Noah Harding. Gah! He was absolutely adorable. He was kind and vulnerable and my friends will already know, NOT my usual kind of favorite hero (READ: I need them mean boys.) BUT... he was so kind, self deprecating, real, blunt and heartfelt to a T. There was something about the reclusive, insecure and all around good guy that got to me. Overall this story was sexy and real. I loved the connection Noah shared with Miranda and how once together they were just so adorable. This story had me chuckling and swooning when nothing has in a long time. 5 stars! ~Ratula
***
I could not have been more excited to get my hands on a new Sara Ney sports romance. This is her sweet spot y'all. I mean, in my humble opinion. Sports romance is my very favorite trope and Ms. Ney can write the heck out of them. So I was stoked to dive into this one!
And? I was sucked in immediately. I wasn't really sure how I felt about all the things that were happening, but I knew I wanted to keep reading about them. I was addicted. Intrigued. Hooked by the fun meet-cute and the decidedly offbeat personalities of Noah and Miranda.
I love a wounded hero. I love an ugly duckling. One of my favorite things in any given story are the flaws and how - sometimes against all odds - two people love each other for the very flaws they are ashamed of. I was primed to love the crap out of this story. But this one actually fell a little short for me. I kept waiting for Noah and Miranda to take root in my heart. They were sexy and spicy and fun! But, that connection I was waiting for never really fired up for me. I would have liked a little more fire from Noah, I think. Or maybe a deeper dive into the why of him.
That said, I did love Miranda's spunk. She was the realest thing about this book for me - a perfect mix of humanity, insecurity, pluck, and quirkiness. I loved her for being so patient with Noah (especially because I was decidedly not patient with him). I loved her for continuing to push things forward even though it took a lot of courage. I just really loved her.
Honestly, there's a ton of goodness packed into this book. While I wish I would have connected more with the romance, I definitely went all-in for the bromance. I wasn't sure what to make of Buzz at first but, much like Miranda, I adored him for the lovable buffoon he was in the end. He was like a giant, overly-excitable golden retriever. Obnoxious and slobbery, but pure heart of gold. I can't wait to get my hands on his story.
In the end, this was a little bit of a mixed bag for me, but I am super excited to see where this series goes from here. Hard Pass was a solid start to an exciting new series - I can't wait for more! ~ Shelly, 3.5 Stars
Ok so back to my latest obsession: Noah Harding. Gah! He was absolutely adorable. He was kind and vulnerable and my friends will already know, NOT my usual kind of favorite hero (READ: I need them mean boys.) BUT... he was so kind, self deprecating, real, blunt and heartfelt to a T. There was something about the reclusive, insecure and all around good guy that got to me. Overall this story was sexy and real. I loved the connection Noah shared with Miranda and how once together they were just so adorable. This story had me chuckling and swooning when nothing has in a long time. 5 stars! ~Ratula
***
I could not have been more excited to get my hands on a new Sara Ney sports romance. This is her sweet spot y'all. I mean, in my humble opinion. Sports romance is my very favorite trope and Ms. Ney can write the heck out of them. So I was stoked to dive into this one!
And? I was sucked in immediately. I wasn't really sure how I felt about all the things that were happening, but I knew I wanted to keep reading about them. I was addicted. Intrigued. Hooked by the fun meet-cute and the decidedly offbeat personalities of Noah and Miranda.
I love a wounded hero. I love an ugly duckling. One of my favorite things in any given story are the flaws and how - sometimes against all odds - two people love each other for the very flaws they are ashamed of. I was primed to love the crap out of this story. But this one actually fell a little short for me. I kept waiting for Noah and Miranda to take root in my heart. They were sexy and spicy and fun! But, that connection I was waiting for never really fired up for me. I would have liked a little more fire from Noah, I think. Or maybe a deeper dive into the why of him.
That said, I did love Miranda's spunk. She was the realest thing about this book for me - a perfect mix of humanity, insecurity, pluck, and quirkiness. I loved her for being so patient with Noah (especially because I was decidedly not patient with him). I loved her for continuing to push things forward even though it took a lot of courage. I just really loved her.
Honestly, there's a ton of goodness packed into this book. While I wish I would have connected more with the romance, I definitely went all-in for the bromance. I wasn't sure what to make of Buzz at first but, much like Miranda, I adored him for the lovable buffoon he was in the end. He was like a giant, overly-excitable golden retriever. Obnoxious and slobbery, but pure heart of gold. I can't wait to get my hands on his story.
In the end, this was a little bit of a mixed bag for me, but I am super excited to see where this series goes from here. Hard Pass was a solid start to an exciting new series - I can't wait for more! ~ Shelly, 3.5 Stars
June 16, 2020
This was a fun, sweet & sexy read that had me reaching for a "cold drink". There wasn't much drama but there was plenty of laughter, especially when Buzz was involved...No not that kind of "Buzz"😉😁
Noah was a mystery to me. But the more I read, the more I discovered who the real Noah was the more I started rooting for him. Unlike many athletes who were wanting the fame and money Noah was in it for the love of the sport. So when he's told that he's a "Hard Pass" it hurts him more than he ever imagined. So he builds walls around his heart and decides that it's not in the cards for him. Well talking about cards, baseball cards to be exact, that is how Noah and Miranda come to be. Miranda didn't really want to sell the collectible cards that belonged to her grandfather yet she needed to since she was going to be starting her business. Noah wants the card and all the other ones Miranda has to offer but before he can get all of them he realizes he has to confess to Miranda who he really is. Here we get to the nitty gritty and let me tell you that there is plenty of laughter and sweetness. This book was a refreshing read and one I totally recommend. Kara~ 4 Stars
Noah was a mystery to me. But the more I read, the more I discovered who the real Noah was the more I started rooting for him. Unlike many athletes who were wanting the fame and money Noah was in it for the love of the sport. So when he's told that he's a "Hard Pass" it hurts him more than he ever imagined. So he builds walls around his heart and decides that it's not in the cards for him. Well talking about cards, baseball cards to be exact, that is how Noah and Miranda come to be. Miranda didn't really want to sell the collectible cards that belonged to her grandfather yet she needed to since she was going to be starting her business. Noah wants the card and all the other ones Miranda has to offer but before he can get all of them he realizes he has to confess to Miranda who he really is. Here we get to the nitty gritty and let me tell you that there is plenty of laughter and sweetness. This book was a refreshing read and one I totally recommend. Kara~ 4 Stars
June 15, 2020
'Hard Pass' is the first book in the new 'Trophy Boyfriends' series by the amazingly talented author, Sara Ney. She is one of my all-time favorite authors, so I was anxious to get my hands on this one. While I found it to be cute, sweet and funny, it fell a bit short for me. I really liked it and enjoyed it, but I didn't love it like I was expecting to.
Miranda has big dreams of starting up her own company but unfortunately, she is a little strapped for cash. In order to come up with the necessary funds, she must sell her late grandfather's old and rare baseball cards. Enter Noah. He's a rich, professional athlete who's had an eye out for some of these particular cards. It turns out the cards are in mint condition too, so he makes her a generous offer to which she can't refuse. But what he doesn't expect? To find himself instantly smitten with this beautiful, smart and intriguing woman.
I think the reason this fell a bit short for me was because I couldn't really connect with Noah. Don't get me wrong, he's a great guy. He was real, honest and kind, but I prefer my boys a little more bad, cocky and mean. In the end though, I found this to be a really enjoyable read. It's definitely a solid start to this new series. If you're looking for a cute, sexy and fun sports romance, then please be sure and snatch this one up. 4 stars for Miranda, Noah and Hard Pass!
Miranda has big dreams of starting up her own company but unfortunately, she is a little strapped for cash. In order to come up with the necessary funds, she must sell her late grandfather's old and rare baseball cards. Enter Noah. He's a rich, professional athlete who's had an eye out for some of these particular cards. It turns out the cards are in mint condition too, so he makes her a generous offer to which she can't refuse. But what he doesn't expect? To find himself instantly smitten with this beautiful, smart and intriguing woman.
I think the reason this fell a bit short for me was because I couldn't really connect with Noah. Don't get me wrong, he's a great guy. He was real, honest and kind, but I prefer my boys a little more bad, cocky and mean. In the end though, I found this to be a really enjoyable read. It's definitely a solid start to this new series. If you're looking for a cute, sexy and fun sports romance, then please be sure and snatch this one up. 4 stars for Miranda, Noah and Hard Pass!
December 21, 2021
4+ ⭐️
Una storia semplicissima che scorre tranquilla, senza drammi o colpi di scena ma che risulta ideale per passare qualche ora piacevole. Mi è piaciuto molto il fatto che i protagonisti non fossero super fighi ma due persone normali.. finalmente! 😊
Curiosa di leggere di altri personaggi!
Una storia semplicissima che scorre tranquilla, senza drammi o colpi di scena ma che risulta ideale per passare qualche ora piacevole. Mi è piaciuto molto il fatto che i protagonisti non fossero super fighi ma due persone normali.. finalmente! 😊
Curiosa di leggere di altri personaggi!
December 26, 2021
Devo dire che in precedenza la Ney non mi aveva colpito granché (almeno la serie "The Studying Hours"), ma stavolta m'incuriosiva la trama e soprattutto il fatto che il protagonista fosse un campione sportivo atipico, non la solita star da copertina, ma un tipo semplice e pure bruttino.
Uno da descrivere dopo un appuntamento come "uno zero assoluto", tanto è lontano dalle aspettative abituali che si hanno dall'uscire con un campione.
In effetti questo si è rivelato uno sport romance con personaggi normali, e devo riconoscerlo: finalmente! Finalmente una storia romantica con due tipi alla mano: un ragazzo che pensa a giocare e che magari è pure timido e soffre la vicinanza dei suoi compagni di squadra, arroganti e da sbavo; una ragazza che non è la solita reginetta di bellezza, ma comunque una tipetta sicura di sé e che non si lascia sminuire, anche se non è quella che fa girare tutti entrando in un locale.
I due si incontrano per caso, grazie alla collezione di figurine del nonno di lei, e Miranda davvero all'inizio non sa chi sia Noah, per cui ci sono scambi di persona, malintesi divertenti, diffidenza tra loro e persino intromissioni esterne, visto che ci si aspetta che un campione si comporti sempre in un certo modo, tra lusso, attrici o modelle al proprio fianco, e prodezze esibite di continuo per la gioia di fan e giornali.
La loro è una storia dove si affronta con un tono delicato il problema dell'apparenza a ogni costo, del dover sempre rientrare nei canoni richiesti dai mass-media quando si è personaggi famosi e del dover anche sottostare al gradimento del pubblico persino nelle scelte della sfera personale. Quante coppie note vengono formate semplicemente perché sono affini come bellezza o per una questione di reciproco interesse? E quante forse vanno in crisi perché i fan non approvano?
Ebbene, Miranda e Noah se ne fregano alla grande di tutto ciò; restano se stessi, con i loro difetti e le loro imperfezioni, per cercare un sentimento vero, al di là di ogni statistica e pressione sociale (e senza trasformarsi in divinità del sesso acrobatico, aggiungerei).
Un romanzo simpatico, a tratti divertente, ma anche tenero.
Uno da descrivere dopo un appuntamento come "uno zero assoluto", tanto è lontano dalle aspettative abituali che si hanno dall'uscire con un campione.
In effetti questo si è rivelato uno sport romance con personaggi normali, e devo riconoscerlo: finalmente! Finalmente una storia romantica con due tipi alla mano: un ragazzo che pensa a giocare e che magari è pure timido e soffre la vicinanza dei suoi compagni di squadra, arroganti e da sbavo; una ragazza che non è la solita reginetta di bellezza, ma comunque una tipetta sicura di sé e che non si lascia sminuire, anche se non è quella che fa girare tutti entrando in un locale.
I due si incontrano per caso, grazie alla collezione di figurine del nonno di lei, e Miranda davvero all'inizio non sa chi sia Noah, per cui ci sono scambi di persona, malintesi divertenti, diffidenza tra loro e persino intromissioni esterne, visto che ci si aspetta che un campione si comporti sempre in un certo modo, tra lusso, attrici o modelle al proprio fianco, e prodezze esibite di continuo per la gioia di fan e giornali.
La loro è una storia dove si affronta con un tono delicato il problema dell'apparenza a ogni costo, del dover sempre rientrare nei canoni richiesti dai mass-media quando si è personaggi famosi e del dover anche sottostare al gradimento del pubblico persino nelle scelte della sfera personale. Quante coppie note vengono formate semplicemente perché sono affini come bellezza o per una questione di reciproco interesse? E quante forse vanno in crisi perché i fan non approvano?
Ebbene, Miranda e Noah se ne fregano alla grande di tutto ciò; restano se stessi, con i loro difetti e le loro imperfezioni, per cercare un sentimento vero, al di là di ogni statistica e pressione sociale (e senza trasformarsi in divinità del sesso acrobatico, aggiungerei).
Un romanzo simpatico, a tratti divertente, ma anche tenero.
May 19, 2023
Loved the shy hero who had some anxiety to work through and a girl boss heroine who takes no shit.
3.5 stars
2 on the spice scale
3.5 stars
2 on the spice scale
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September 4, 2021
3.5 stars: Looking for a cute, sexy, and charming romance for a relaxing evening after a long day of work? Noah and Miranda’s story might be just the thing for you. If you’ve read, as I have, Sara Ney’s How to Date a Douchebag series, Noah will remind you a lot of Rhett from The Learning Hours, only we‘ve graduated from college (wrestling) to professional baseball.
So even if Noah‘s character felt recycled (considered unattractive with resulting self-esteem problem; exceptional athlete; meeting his girl via texting), this was still a typical Sarah Ney read: enjoyable, slow-burn, fun dialog, with some brief 75% tabloid drama (which I could have done without – I‘m so over media of any type creating problems in a sports romance), and a HEA which is thankfully not cheesy.
However, I had one major issue with the premise of this short novel: Believing that no woman (not even gold-diggers) were interested in Noah. You’d think being a multimillionaire star athlete is bound to attract women no matter how he looks.
Now it’s your turn…. How would you understand the following question: “You like that baby?” You assume there is an infant present and person 1 is asking person 2 about said baby’s cuteness? Right? How about now: “You like that, baby?” My point is: punctuation matters! And being me, the daughter of an editor who passed being a pain in the ass about such things to her, I needed to get this off my chest. Dear Miss Ney, faulty punctuation is a common theme throughout your novels and it is distracting. Can you please fix that?
Sorry, I really needed to get that off my chest.
Now I can look forward to Trace “Buzz” Wallace’s story in the next installment of this series, which I’m already looking forward to. He was already hilarious here; despite – or maybe because of – his arrogant, outrageous, yet somehow weirdly endearing nature.
Already preparing myself for mentally placing some commas...
So even if Noah‘s character felt recycled (considered unattractive with resulting self-esteem problem; exceptional athlete; meeting his girl via texting), this was still a typical Sarah Ney read: enjoyable, slow-burn, fun dialog, with some brief 75% tabloid drama (which I could have done without – I‘m so over media of any type creating problems in a sports romance), and a HEA which is thankfully not cheesy.
However, I had one major issue with the premise of this short novel: Believing that no woman (not even gold-diggers) were interested in Noah. You’d think being a multimillionaire star athlete is bound to attract women no matter how he looks.
Now it’s your turn…. How would you understand the following question: “You like that baby?” You assume there is an infant present and person 1 is asking person 2 about said baby’s cuteness? Right? How about now: “You like that, baby?” My point is: punctuation matters! And being me, the daughter of an editor who passed being a pain in the ass about such things to her, I needed to get this off my chest. Dear Miss Ney, faulty punctuation is a common theme throughout your novels and it is distracting. Can you please fix that?
Sorry, I really needed to get that off my chest.
Now I can look forward to Trace “Buzz” Wallace’s story in the next installment of this series, which I’m already looking forward to. He was already hilarious here; despite – or maybe because of – his arrogant, outrageous, yet somehow weirdly endearing nature.
Already preparing myself for mentally placing some commas...
April 13, 2021
I really liked, or at least thoroughly enjoyed, quite a few Sara Ney’s books in the past, so I was excited to give this one a try… at first I gave it 5 stars, but looking back at it now, I am lowering it to 4, maybe 4,5 stars instead… don’t get me wrong, I liked it plenty, but it wasn’t at that highest level for me :) it’s a sports themed romance with some hidden identity trope, and I would definitely prefer if things got out in the open a bit sooner in the story… but over all it was a hilarious and sexy romance :) I definitely recommend you give the audiobook version a try :) that’s how I read it and loved the experience :) I am looking forward to checking out other books in this series even though it’s not a priority for me :)
XOXO
A
XOXO
A
June 19, 2020
Hard Pass (Trophy Boyfriends #1) by Sara Ney
5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hard Pass is a fisrt read for me, from author Sara Ney. I didn't knew what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised for what I read. I will definitely read her other books.
Noah is a professional baseball player. Hot AF, rich, great player, and definitely not what I was used to see in a hero, cocky, or arrogant. Yeah, he gets plenty of attention for his skill and money, but he is not a ladies man, or a manwhore. He is nice and has many insecurities regarding his looks. He sees an advertising online regarding the selling of a rare baseball card from a woman. He wants that card so much, but he is he doesn't want to go himself for it, so he sends his teammate/friend Buzz, to get it. Buzz is the exact opposite of Noah, manwhore, womanizer, self-confident.
Obviously, the transaction doesn't take place, but the funny is just began.
Miranda is not at all impressed by Buzz, Noah's friend and teammate, she doesn't stand cocky and womanizer jerks. Buzz is nothing like the sweet & nice guy she talked on the phone, but she is interested in the guy from her texts.
I absolutely devoured this book. It was cute, hot and funny. I loved Noah. He was definitely something else. Different, shy, a little wkward but when it comes to pleasing his woman.... Dayummm🔥🔥🔥.
GOD but I loved him. Miranda was his perfect match for him. A true balance for his shyness and insecurities.
I am so anxious for Buzz story.
So... If you are looking for something hot & sweet & funny, this book is the one for you.
5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hard Pass is a fisrt read for me, from author Sara Ney. I didn't knew what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised for what I read. I will definitely read her other books.
Noah is a professional baseball player. Hot AF, rich, great player, and definitely not what I was used to see in a hero, cocky, or arrogant. Yeah, he gets plenty of attention for his skill and money, but he is not a ladies man, or a manwhore. He is nice and has many insecurities regarding his looks. He sees an advertising online regarding the selling of a rare baseball card from a woman. He wants that card so much, but he is he doesn't want to go himself for it, so he sends his teammate/friend Buzz, to get it. Buzz is the exact opposite of Noah, manwhore, womanizer, self-confident.
Obviously, the transaction doesn't take place, but the funny is just began.
Miranda is not at all impressed by Buzz, Noah's friend and teammate, she doesn't stand cocky and womanizer jerks. Buzz is nothing like the sweet & nice guy she talked on the phone, but she is interested in the guy from her texts.
I absolutely devoured this book. It was cute, hot and funny. I loved Noah. He was definitely something else. Different, shy, a little wkward but when it comes to pleasing his woman.... Dayummm🔥🔥🔥.
GOD but I loved him. Miranda was his perfect match for him. A true balance for his shyness and insecurities.
I am so anxious for Buzz story.
So... If you are looking for something hot & sweet & funny, this book is the one for you.
June 17, 2020
Hard Pass by Sara is a sports romance with a unique twist and it's the first book in the Trophy Boyfriends series. Here we have a famous jock who's shy, sensitive and awkward and a sassy, outspoken heroine. Together these two made this story one that I could not stop reading. It was different, flirty and funny, with amusing back and forth banter, some heart-warming moments, some awkward mishaps, and although a slow burn it eventually led to some hott steamy scenes. There was a cast secondary characters who all added to the hilarity of the story and I can't wait to read more about them in further books.
This was a light, easy, fun read with likable characters you would be rooting for throughout the story. It was a great start to this new series and I would recommend it to all lovers of romantic comedies.
This was a light, easy, fun read with likable characters you would be rooting for throughout the story. It was a great start to this new series and I would recommend it to all lovers of romantic comedies.
June 15, 2020
After thinking "This is getting good", the next page was the epilogue. I needed more.
March 22, 2023
This is my first foray with Sara Ney- but I can tell it won’t be my last! This was a cute, heartfelt read with rich characterization, tons of humor, and limited drama that kept my heart happy and the pages turning.
I love it when authors flip tropes on their heads, and here Sara delivers a different kind of romance hero. Sure, Noah is a professional athlete, but he’s insecure about his looks, awkward, shy, and jaded. Noah finds himself in a text-meet-cute situation with a woman over some baseball cards- delightful witty banter ensues and eventually this relationship extends outside of text, raising Noah’s insecurities to a heightened level. And, this adorable, not-too-heavy and humorous love story ensues. Less-cute/awkward guy gets hot girl? That’s a change! I’m here for it.
I really loved the narrative structure Ney uses to evolve this relationship- what a masterful use of dialogue. I loved the flipping of the trope- and I did enjoy Noah, mostly. I related to his insecurities, he’s a wonderful guy at heart, and he’s respectful, considerate, and kind- dreamboaty stuffy. He’s insecurities certainly get grating though, frustrating at times- but that is the point, right? How debilitating they are. I just wanted to see a bit more evolution from him- but he’s just charming despite that. And, I loved Miranda- sassy and sweet. I love how focused she is- determined and opinionated. I love how she was really the driver of this relationship, the “alpha” if you will- and their banter was cute. I wanted to sit in their happy a bit more at the end after the road bumps, but overall, we got a great story.
As a Ney newcomer, I found her story telling to be quite skilled- the book flowed fluidly, the dialogue was clever and fresh laden with humor and charm, and the characters are richly developed, interesting, and uniquely drawn. I’m not normally a huge “sports romance” avid reader, but I enjoyed this book and I think Ney has a talented and unique voice- looking forward to reading more from her!
I love it when authors flip tropes on their heads, and here Sara delivers a different kind of romance hero. Sure, Noah is a professional athlete, but he’s insecure about his looks, awkward, shy, and jaded. Noah finds himself in a text-meet-cute situation with a woman over some baseball cards- delightful witty banter ensues and eventually this relationship extends outside of text, raising Noah’s insecurities to a heightened level. And, this adorable, not-too-heavy and humorous love story ensues. Less-cute/awkward guy gets hot girl? That’s a change! I’m here for it.
I really loved the narrative structure Ney uses to evolve this relationship- what a masterful use of dialogue. I loved the flipping of the trope- and I did enjoy Noah, mostly. I related to his insecurities, he’s a wonderful guy at heart, and he’s respectful, considerate, and kind- dreamboaty stuffy. He’s insecurities certainly get grating though, frustrating at times- but that is the point, right? How debilitating they are. I just wanted to see a bit more evolution from him- but he’s just charming despite that. And, I loved Miranda- sassy and sweet. I love how focused she is- determined and opinionated. I love how she was really the driver of this relationship, the “alpha” if you will- and their banter was cute. I wanted to sit in their happy a bit more at the end after the road bumps, but overall, we got a great story.
As a Ney newcomer, I found her story telling to be quite skilled- the book flowed fluidly, the dialogue was clever and fresh laden with humor and charm, and the characters are richly developed, interesting, and uniquely drawn. I’m not normally a huge “sports romance” avid reader, but I enjoyed this book and I think Ney has a talented and unique voice- looking forward to reading more from her!
October 29, 2020
This book was so bad! I was like; Who thought this book was a good idea?
In this book we met Noah, he is a professional baseball player, muscular, full of money, but complex because he thinks he is ugly compared to the other players on his team. A psychologist would have a field day with him, well more like months than a day but you get it.
So we met our heroine, imagine the most unsalted girl you’ve ever met, she has no flavor, she’s the typical “I’m not like other girls girl”.
This book is so stupid that I felt like pulling out my eyes with each chapter,
Rating: 1 Stars.
Steam: 4 out of 10.
Triggers:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
In this book we met Noah, he is a professional baseball player, muscular, full of money, but complex because he thinks he is ugly compared to the other players on his team. A psychologist would have a field day with him, well more like months than a day but you get it.
So we met our heroine, imagine the most unsalted girl you’ve ever met, she has no flavor, she’s the typical “I’m not like other girls girl”.
This book is so stupid that I felt like pulling out my eyes with each chapter,
Rating: 1 Stars.
Steam: 4 out of 10.
Triggers:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
July 20, 2020
It’s been nearly 4 weeks now since I last picked up and finished a book; I’ve not even had the urge to read. Last night though my brain decided it wanted to give it another try...so after trawling through Amazon, I stumbled across this new series by Sara Ney. Well, what better book to get me out of that book funk...or so I thought!
It was all going so well. I’d laughed a bit (mainly over Wallace - that guy is hilarious). I’d swooned a LOT (Noah is such a sweetheart - shy, sensitive and awkward), and I was absolutely loving the story. This was it...I’d finally got my reading mojo back. I had come to a really funny scene (with an appearance from the aforementioned Wallace), Noah and Miranda had sorted their shit out and realised they were perfect for each other, I was laughing my socks off, trying not to wake up my hubby who was snoring his pretty little head off next to me...turned the page and saw the word “Epilogue”
WAIT....what???? At first I thought it was a formatting error, but after coming on here to check, I realised that the book had actually ended really abruptly and I wasn’t the only one pissed off about it.
Guys, this book was getting so good, and then...it just stopped. I was so confused. I truly felt like half of the story was missing, or Sara just got bored and decided to give up. I was so in love with these characters and feel like their story wasn't quite finished. Such a shame.
So...my book funk continues.
It was all going so well. I’d laughed a bit (mainly over Wallace - that guy is hilarious). I’d swooned a LOT (Noah is such a sweetheart - shy, sensitive and awkward), and I was absolutely loving the story. This was it...I’d finally got my reading mojo back. I had come to a really funny scene (with an appearance from the aforementioned Wallace), Noah and Miranda had sorted their shit out and realised they were perfect for each other, I was laughing my socks off, trying not to wake up my hubby who was snoring his pretty little head off next to me...turned the page and saw the word “Epilogue”
WAIT....what???? At first I thought it was a formatting error, but after coming on here to check, I realised that the book had actually ended really abruptly and I wasn’t the only one pissed off about it.
Guys, this book was getting so good, and then...it just stopped. I was so confused. I truly felt like half of the story was missing, or Sara just got bored and decided to give up. I was so in love with these characters and feel like their story wasn't quite finished. Such a shame.
So...my book funk continues.
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