Claiming Carter

A Forbidden Relationship Sports Romance (Waverly Wildcats, Book 1)

By: Jennifer Bonds

Narrated by: Ash Beverly, Amy Hall

Three words to describe Kennedy Carter?

Smart. Driven. Killer legs. See also: my last hope of winning a national football championship.

Okay, so technically that’s more than three, but I’ve got bigger problems at the moment.

Thanks to a drunken dare, Waverly University is short a kicker and with the home opener in three weeks, I’ll do whatever it takes to lead my team to victory. Even if it means poaching talent from the women’s soccer team. Or recruiting a sassy, STEM-loving feminist who wants nothing to do with football or me.

Fortunately, Kennedy Carter has a weakness. One I’m not above exploiting if it gets her to play ball.

Sparks fly and the more time we spend together, the harder it gets to fight the sizzling attraction. But Carter’s off limits and if word of our teammates with benefits arrangement gets out, I’ll be riding the bench. I’ve always played by the rules, but this is one game I can’t afford to lose.

Not when it means choosing between my legacy and claiming Carter.

©2020 Jennifer Bonds (P)2025 Jennifer Bonds

i loved this so much

i can truly say this was a sports romance unlike anything i’ve read before! i loved Kennedy and Austin so much and I will definitely be back for more Jennifer books 📚

Austin is a star quarterback for the Waverly Wildcats and he’s trying his best to be noticed for the NFL draft. There’s just one issue… the Wildcats are down a good kicker for their team. Austin recruits Kennedy, star female soccer player, to try out as kicker. Kennedy is reluctant at first, as she’s sworn off football, but Austin sweetens the deal by helping her attain a nice athletic scholarship. They start spending more time together on and off the field but you’ll have to read to find out what happens next! 💓

Kennedy was such a cool female character! I’ve never read a female football player and it honestly was such a gratifying experience to read a character who can break into a male dominated sport. She was so smart studying to be an engineer and her banter with Austin was top tier! She didn’t take anything off the guys on the team!

Austin was this cool quarterback who is on the lookout for everyone but he had a soft spot for Kennedy. I loved how he helped her with her engineering competition and he realized by the end of the book that she was way more important than any football game or scout.

I listened to this one as an audiobook and Amy Hall + Ash Beverly do an amazing job on dual narration! They really brought the banter and relationships off the page in an amazing way. I felt like these narrators really captured Kennedy + Austin at a core level. 🎙️

You definitely have to check out this unique sports romance series! 🏈

Football, STEM, Spice…yes please👏🏻

This was such a sweet sports romance! I thought the storyline was good, I loved seeing the interaction with most of the team with the FMC. I love the relationship that forms between the MMC and FMC. I listened to the audiobook and Ash Beverly and Amy Hall did a fantastic job bringing Austin and Kennedy to life. 10/10 recommend!

Very cute!

I absolutely loved this audiobook and getting lost in Austin and Kennedy’s sweet story. When Austin approaches Kennedy about joining the football team as a kicker, she’s hesitant until she realizes the scholarship could be a game changer. Though she’s not thrilled about the idea at first, their undeniable chemistry and playful banter make for an irresistible journey. What starts as a “teammates with benefits” arrangement, set to end with the season, soon turns into something deeper, though not without its challenges.

Amy Hall and Ash Beverly were the perfect narrators for Austin and Kennedy, bringing their dynamic to life effortlessly. They captured the playful push and pull of their relationship, excelling in both the witty banter and the passion between them. If you love sports romances packed with humor, sizzling chemistry, and heartfelt moments, this audiobook is a must listen!

Austin and Kennedy

Claiming Carter is my first book by this author and won’t be my last. I’ve read many sports romance stories but never one where the FMC plays on the same team as the MMC. I absolutely loved the uniqueness of Austin and Kennedy’s story.

Austin’s football team needs a kicker and Kennedy is the best choice. Although Kennedy initially wants nothing to do with football nor football players, and is comfortable being a star soccer player, Austin makes it worth her while by offering a scholarship.

I loved Austin and Kennedy together. Their chemistry is electric and it doesn’t take long for their teammates with benefits arrangement to turn into more. This story is a page turner packed with lots of banter and laugh out loud moments. I loved the fun side characters and the team shenanigans.

Their romance is a slow burn, but the buildup of Austin and Kennedy’s relationship is worth the wait. Austin was down bad for her and there is nothing better than a grand gesture. Claiming Carter is a great start to this series and I can’t wait for the next book.

Narration:
When I found out who was narrating this book, I couldn’t wait to listen. Amy Hall and Ash Beverly did a fantastic job brining Kennedy and Austin to life. They really embodied the characters, and expertly portrayed the essence of their personalities.

Fantastic Story with Wonderful Narration!

Claiming Carter is the first audiobook in the new Waverly Wildcats series by Jennifer Bonds, and I must say, this series is off to a great start! When the football team loses its star kicker, their QB, Austin, thinks out of the box to recruit Kennedy Carter, a powerhouse of a female soccer player to take his place. Problem is she just happens to hold all football players in disdain, thanks in large part to a deadbeat dad who was a football player. These two can’t deny their off-the-charts chemistry, though. But when their teammates-with-benefits arrangement turns out not to be enough for either of them, they both struggle to accept it. This incredible love story with a backdrop of intense football play, witty team banter, and parental issues makes for a fascinating story. I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series!

The dual narration is provided by Amy Hall and Ash Beverly, who are both brilliant in these roles. They bring this fantastic story to life with real and nuanced portrayals of these wonderful characters. I loved every minute of their performances!