False Start

Red Zone Rivals

De: Kandi Steiner

Narrado por: Heather Schroeder, Wesley Mercer

Kyle Robbins: Seattle's rookie tight end and the first boy to break my heart.
Oh, did I mention he's also my new client... and fake boyfriend?

The commission from working with him is a key to my new life -- it's worth putting up with the cocky athlete. The problem is that my past is dark, and when Kyle sees the bruises, he thinks he can save me.

Fake-dating each other was supposed to be for my safety.
But I can't help thinking my heart is more at risk now than ever before.

TROPES:
Sports Romance
Fake Dating
Second Chance
Single Mom
He Falls First
"Who Hurt You"
One Bed

©2023 Kandi Steiner (P)2024 Kandi Steiner

Heartfelt, Spicy and Beautifully Written

False Start by Kandi Stein delivers a compelling premise supported by a well-crafted storyline and thoughtfully placed plot twists that keep the listener engaged from beginning to end. The pacing feels intentional, allowing the story to unfold in a way that builds both tension and emotional investment.

Stein excels in character development, creating layered, believable protagonists whose histories are revealed with care and precision. The way the author integrates their pasts into the narrative adds depth and authenticity, making their emotional journeys feel genuine and impactful. At times, the writing is so evocative that you can truly feel what the characters are experiencing.

The romance strikes a satisfying balance, offering a level of spice that enhances the story without overwhelming it. It feels purposeful and well-integrated, complementing the emotional arc rather than distracting from it. Readers who appreciate a well-balanced blend of chemistry and storytelling will find this particularly enjoyable.

The audiobook narration further elevates the experience. The narrators deliver strong, nuanced performances that bring the characters to life and enhance the emotional resonance of the story. Their ability to capture the tone and personalities of the characters adds an extra layer of immersion.

Overall, False Start is a well-written, emotionally engaging romance with strong character work, a satisfying level of heat, and standout narration that makes it an enjoyable listen.

KYLE, MADS & SEB 🤭🖤

✨✨ALL HAIL QUEEN KANDI✨✨

I say this with every single kandi review and I’ll say it again…. KANDI DID THE DANG THING. This book right here is why Kandi Steiner is my favorite author OF ALL TIME. How did she go from making me so annoyed from season 1 Kyle aka fair catch to being my absolute favorite red zone rival man!?!?! Holy smokes. What a redemption arc for my man!!! Kyle was not hated by me by any means, he was just an annoying side character in the beginning and he grew in my heart as the books moved on. By Hail Mary I was so sad we weren’t getting a Kyle book because I had loved him at that point, then Kandi surprised us worth this gem.

This book holds such a special place in my heart. It was such a perfect ending. These narrators were absolutely amazing. I wouldn’t have pictured mads and Kyle any other way. Kandi had me so emotional throughout, and the narrators brought it to life perfectly, they had me crying both happy and sad tears. I did not want it to end!!! Thank you Kandi for giving us Kyle’s book, this is truly the perfect ending to this series. 🖤

Tropes:
- sports romance
-first love / second chance
- single mom
- he falls first
- who did this to you

5++⭐️
2.5🌶️

Adore…WOW

When this book started I didn’t think I would like it because it was starting to similar to Hail Mary, boy was I wrong. This story is fantastic. Kyle’s growth started in Hail Mary and wins you over in this book. Who would have thought jerk face Kyle was really a kind, sweet, romantic and protective man. Their story was so sad. I adored Sebastian in this book. This was my favorite story in the series. Great book and series. Can’t wait for Braden’s book.

Protect Kyle at all costs

Protect Kyle at all costs!!

False start is a second chance romance with Kyle Robbins, now a professional NFL player and Madelyn James (Hearst) a real estate agent, each other’s first love from High School and a past that suddenly tore them apart. After years of no communication, Madelyn Is now Kyle’s real estate agent. Reading about Kyle and Madelyn coming back into each other’s lives was so emotional, Madelyn was now a single mother going thru a divorce and when Kyle and Madelyn see each other again the tension is real. They are both hurt and yet care so deeply for one another and still appreciate the friendship they had in the past. I loved how all though major miss-communication tore them apart, communication brought them back together. They were able to be there for one another in so many ways, with her son, with his friends, they had real talks, real emotions and you could feel how much they cared for one another. As the book goes on the story gets sweeter. Kyle is seriously so caring and the strength Madelyn shows during her dark days is admirable. This book has so much going on and all of it was wrote so well, with a bit of
fake dating for a second chance at forever, a survivor single mom with a nightmare of an ex, an NFL player with amazing friends, a surprise pregnancy and that extra bit of spice that makes you feel all the things!

Purchased this audio

Kyle’s Redemption 🥹

📖 False Start by Kandi Steiner (@kandisteiner)
🎙️ Narrated by Heather Schroeder (@heatherwiththebangs) and Wesley Mercer (@awordwithwes)

Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/ 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5
Narrator: 🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️ / 5

I really have no backbone. How in the world did Kandi Steiner give Kyle Robbins a story that had me crying actual tears for him?!? The redemption arc this man got was a whole damn circle!

When I saw Kyle was getting a book, I scoffed! Why waste the time!?? 🫣 Well, this is me eating my words. It was absolutely worth the read! Kyle and Madelyn’s story was so beautiful. 🤌🏽💋 The second chance romance. The shared tragedy 🥺 (Did Kandi Steiner give me a good example of the miscommunication trope?!?🤔 Still undecided on that.) Just wow. Kyle’s story was surprisingly sweet.

And to add on all that, we got some really great scenes with the rest of the Red Zone Rivals gang. Honestly, I’d read just about anything to get more of Giana and Leo FUCKING Hernandez 😁

🎧 I think that listening to the audiobook contributed to the overall volume of tears shed. The emotion that Heather Schroeder and Wesley Mercer put in their monologues (you’ll know which ones) had me sobbing 😭 Amazing jobs! I definitely recommend the audio for this book!

TLDR: Proof that Kyle Robbins has a heart. Sweet second chance romance with a shared tragic past, but oh-so-sweet future.