REVIEW: A Wild Card Kiss by Lauren Blakely

A Wild Card Kiss by Lauren Blakely: Katie Madigan is ready to start over after catching her fiancé with another woman moments before their wedding. What begins as a heartbreak-fueled escape to the local bowling alley bar leads to one unforgettable night with Harlan Taylor, a charismatic pro football star and devoted single dad. But when Katie discovers her yoga studio has been hired to work with Harlan and his team, keeping things casual suddenly becomes a lot more complicated. The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes to ignore the very real feelings growing between them.

A WILD CARD KISS was a warm, feel-good romance about trusting again and finding love when life takes an unexpected turn. Between the playful chemistry, the heartfelt family moments, and a hero who showed up with both confidence and tenderness, this was the kind of story that kept me smiling from beginning to end.

There was something instantly fun and comforting about this story. It opens with one of the most satisfying rom-com setups—a jilted bride, a chance encounter at a bowling alley bar, and one impulsive night that changes everything. But beneath the playful, flirty energy is a story about starting over, learning to trust again, and discovering that the right person can show up when you least expect it.

Harlan was exactly the kind of hero I can never resist—confident and sexy, but also incredibly attentive and completely devoted to his daughter. He knew what he wanted, and there was something so attractive about how open and intentional he was with Katie from the very beginning. The chemistry between them was playful and undeniably hot, but it was the quieter moments that made this romance work so well for me. The easy comfort between them, the trust that built naturally, and the way Katie fit so effortlessly into Harlan’s life made their relationship feel genuine from the start. By the end, they felt less like two people caught up in a whirlwind romance and more like two people who had found exactly where they belonged.

Tropes & Themes
💔 Runaway bride
🏈 Sports romance
👨‍👧 Single dad romance
🔥 One-night stand to more
🚫 Workplace complications
💞 Unexpected second chance at love
💛 Starting over after heartbreak
🏡 Found family
🧘 Healing and self-discovery

A WILD CARD KISS was the kind of story that blended playful chemistry with genuine emotional warmth. Between the runaway bride setup, workplace complications, and a football hero who adored his daughter, this was a feel-good romance about trusting again and finding love when life took an unexpected turn.

Perfect for readers who love charming football heroes, workplace tension, and romances filled with humor, heart, and plenty of swoony moments.

QOTD: Which romance trope has you adding a book to your TBR immediately: single dad, runaway bride, or one-night stand to forever?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: December 2, 2025 | Sourcebooks Casablanca | Ballers and Babes

For Katie Madigan—who catches her groom kissing another woman just minutes before they head to the altar—there’s nothing more apt than ditching the whole event for a drink at the bowling alley bar down the street. She’s just about had enough of men altogether when in walks a deliciously charming local football hero, Harlan Taylor—the perfect distraction for Katie’s heartbreak.

Another drink turns into a one night stand with hunky Harlan. When he asks in the morning if they could get together again, how could she say no? But then Katie learns his football team just hired her yoga studio to teach the star player, which means Harlan is officially off limits.

Trouble is, the more time Katie spends working with Harlan, the sexy single dad who dotes on his daughter, the more she’s feeling things far too soon. There’s no way this can end well, but tell that to her runaway heart.