REVIEW: Winner Takes All by Erin Kern

Winner Takes All by Erin Kern is a slow burning romance that combines just the right amount sweet moments with sexy ones. The characters are one-of-a-kind and memorable. Contemporary readers will rejoice at this heartwarming romance!

Blake Carpenter is the new high school football coach and he has one season to produce a winning team. He has no room for distractions, but when Annabelle Turner announces they will be working together, a distraction is exactly what he’s going to get.

Annabelle challenges Blake and sees through his tough guy persona. He comes off as cold and can be a tyrant at times, but his heart is in the right place. He’s trying to move on with his life after his football career went to crap and in order to do that, he’s going to need Annabelle to help him through his issues. Lucky for Blake, Annabelle is always willing to help anyone in need. Not to mention, it helps that he’s sexy as sin and determined to get her into bed.

I loved Annabelle. She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body, but don’t mistake her for weak, because she isn’t. She’s witty, tenacious, and meddlesome. Blake, on the other hand, takes some time to warm up to. He wasn’t too nice to Annabelle in the beginning, but the more he’s with her, the more he wants to be around her. Blake soothes a part of Annabelle that was damaged due to her failed marriage.

“The depth of passion behind their kiss had been enough to scorch the clothes right off their bodies. Oddly enough, that wasn’t what rattled him.

The mystery he usually saw behind her green eyes had melted away. For one brief moment, he saw the woman underneath her cool exterior. She’d been hurt deeply and had probably spent a lot of time and energy burying it. The scars on her soul had reached out to him with trembling fingers and latched on.

And he feared they wouldn’t ever let go.”

I really enjoyed how much time it took for these characters to be together. An instant love connection would have never worked for either of them, and I’m glad the author had them take their time at building a relationship.

Overall, Blake and Annabelle’s story was an enjoyable one and I will definitely be checking out other titles from this talented author. Readers that enjoy slow burn romances and/or sport romances, should absolutely add Winner Takes All to their reading list.
 

Book Info:

 August 30th 2016 | Forever | Champion Valley #1

THE LOVE OF THE GAME

Money. Fame. Endorsements. Blake Carpenter had it all—before his professional football career spiraled out of control. Determined to rebuild his life, he takes on coaching the high school team in his Colorado hometown. Despite a few fumbles, Blake knows he can lead these boys to victory. As long as he can keep his eyes on the prize and off the team’s distractingly gorgeous physical therapist.

Annabelle Turner knows all about the scandal that cost Blake his NFL career, and she’ll be damned if she’s going to let his mistakes hurt her team. What she doesn’t count on is the intense attraction that turns every heated run-in they have into a wildly erotic competition. Point by point, play by play, kiss by kiss, they try to keep things professional for the good of the team. But when the score is this close—and the passion this fierce—it’s anybody’s game…