Red Card by Carrie Aarons

She spent five years planning a future that will never exist. He spent five years trying to erase a past he can’t forget.

London is Leah Watson’s fresh start. When she secures the perfect internship during her study abroad semester, with an infamous celebrity public relations firm, she is determined to forge her own path - one that is nothing like her life back in Oklahoma. That plan is tested when British football’s bad boy, Killian Ramsey, decides that she's the one he wants and he's playing for keeps. 
Will she put her future on hold - again - for the type of man she swore she'd stay away from?

Killian is one bloody good football player. After a tragedy shattered his entire world, the cocky and arrogant face he puts on for the media is a complete lie. When he meets Leah, his heart starts to beat for the first time in years. But when the feelings get too real, his perfectly constructed facade starts to slip. 
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Will he risk it all to be with her - taking whatever penalties are thrown his way - or will he play it safe?

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My ratings:

Overall Rating: 5 Stars

Writing Style: 5 stars! Carrie is witty, sarcastic, and has some seriously sexy characters. Her style is filled with great laughs and punchlines that will have you giggling the whole time... except when you're crying. Or you'll do both. A lot. 

Descriptions/Scenery/Setting: 4.5 stars- I loved Carrie's descriptions, but I would have loved to see just a little more about London sprinkled in there! It's a fascinating place, and I think some readers would have preferred to have a little more writing to paint that picture in their head. This little tidbit didn't really take away from Red Card, because of how well Carrie picked up with settings and the plot in other areas of the book. 

Plot/Story Line: 5 stars! At first, I thought I had some "page one" characters on my hands, and had them figured out. I was, in fact, incorrect! This book, while having hilarious areas, and original characters and jokes, also had a deeper plot running through, speaking of things such as suicide. That made me really fall for the story as I watched these characters deal with something very, very real. There were also whispers of a borderline abusive relationship between the heroine and her ex (mainly isolation and some manipulation.) 

Genre: Romance (Sports)

Maturity Rating: I would recommend this stayed open for audiences 18+, due to sexuality, language, and references to the suicide of a character. (Don't worry, none of the main characters die!)

Would I recommend this book? Without a doubt! I loved the sarcasm, wit, and passion in this book, along with the seriousness of other areas of the book. It wasn't overtaken by the light hearted areas, nor the dark, and had the perfect amount of angst that spiced up the book.

What is unique about this book? There are so many things to love about this book. Endearing characters,  wonderful settings, and an awesome plot. It's a fun, sexy, and fresh read that would definitely catch your attention! 

Leah is different in the fact that she's actually extremely independent, and was often upfront with Killian in explaining that she came to find herself, and make her own way.  I enjoyed that fact that despite this, the romance was still hot and fun, and even a little more endearing, because our heroine didn't wilt away, but instead kept going, and actually changed through the book. 

Along with this, we watched Killian have his own changes, especially in learning to trust, and be open with his struggles and fears. The characters, in the end, found that their other half needed certain aspects of their dealings with stress and new situations needed change, and went through with it. They were actually trying, not just expecting one to fall at the other's feet, as we so often see. 

"His lips brushed my ear. “I’m going to go so slow that by the third time you come, you’ll be shaking like a leaf under me. You won’t be able to speak. The world will cease to exist, because your body will be in a different dimension.” And that’s exactly what he did to me."

Killian grew a pair, and fought back for Leah. 

Leah found her inner strength, and walked out when she knew that how Killian had begun treating her was not okay. No abuse, no waffling, just a straight, head-on view. I loved that. I cannot wait to see more from Carrie in the future, and, hopefully, more from these characters and this world.

I hope you choose to enjoy this witty, hilariously endearing read, and follow the lives of Killian Ramsey and Leah Watson. you won't be disappointed!

Enjoy! 
-Megan 

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