Description
Never date a jock – it’s her one rule. He'll do whatever it takes to break it.
When seventeen-year-old Violet is left heartbroken by the captain of her school’s ice hockey team, she vows to never date a jock again. But, in an attempt to prove she’s moved on, she turns to the most unlikely person—her ex’s biggest rival, the notorious captain of the Ransom Devils.
Reed Darling is gorgeous, mysterious and intimidating, both on and off the ice. Wild rumors constantly circulate about him, and the only thing people love to talk about more than his hockey skills are his exploits as a ruthless heartbreaker and bad boy. Who better to serve as Violet’s fake boyfriend until her ex gets the message, right?
But despite the intense rivalry between their two schools and Reed’s infamous reputation, Violet soon starts to wonder if there’s more to him than the gossip suggests. And while she tries her best to control their ‘relationship’ with a list of strict guidelines, Reed has other ideas. He’s set his sights on winning her over and is determined to show Violet he’s not the guy everyone thinks he is.
She should have known better than to make a deal with a devil because this one is going to break all her rules.
Rival Darling is a YA hockey rom-com with a HEA and no cliffhanger and the first in the Darling Devils series.
Review
Violet is not happy at having to start her senior year at a new school but having Jeremy, who is captain of the school hockey team, as her boyfriend makes it a bit easier, that is until she catches him cheating on her and she is left devastated. Why didn’t she follow her number one rule - never date an athlete!
When Jeremy won’t leave her alone she makes an unexpected deal with Reed Darling, the gorgeous captain of the rival school’s hockey team, to have a fake romance to prove she has moved on. Reed has a notorious reputation for being a heartbreaker, when in reality it’s all a cover to make sure he never gets hurt again by falling in love.
Violet and Reed put strict rules in place to make sure there are no emotional attachments, but as they spend more time together it’s becoming increasingly hard. Reed is falling for Violet and he needs to make sure she knows that he is not at all like people think he is. Violet is beginning to realise that all the rumours she has been told about Reed are not true - but she must remember to never date an athlete.
Will they ever be able to tell each other how they really feel? Or are they too scared to get hurt?
This is a really enjoyable and easy read with great characters, and a few plot twists. It’s a true romance novel all entangled with the rivalry between the two schools and their hockey teams, who have quite a feud. A perfect story for romance lovers who also like sport. Best suited to those aged 15 and up.
