e-ARC, 279 pages
Release Date: April 9, 2024
Published by: Webster Avenue Publishing
Read from: March 18-April 3, 2024
Las Vegas Ramblers, #2
Source: The Author (I received a copy of this e-ARC from the author in exchange for a just and honest review. This did nothing to influence my review.)
TW: Grief, Death of a Parent, Misogyny
For Readers Interested In: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Racial Ethnic Diversity, Black Romance, Billionaire Romance Trope, AdultYou can’t win unless you learn how to lose.
Sariah Thornton, a beauty industry mogul, dedicated herself to her brand and jet-setting around the world. Life hands her a lemon when her father’s passing bequeaths her ownership of a basketball team. She knows nothing about basketball and even less about why her father would choose to leave his prized team to her. As the new owner, she grapples with the complexities of the basketball world and enlists the help of the team’s charismatic coach.
As coach of the Las Vegas Ramblers, Justus Chappel is determined to secure the elusive NBA championship. But with the team suddenly under new ownership, Justus worries that his years of work will be undone. To his surprise, when his new boss seeks his assistance, he agrees, recognizing the opportunity to foster a positive relationship. Justus is caught off guard when he realizes the new owner is smart, funny, and easy on the eyes.
Together, they must overcome professional rivalries, personal insecurities, and the pressures of the game to discover that love might lead to a slam dunk for both their careers and hearts.
*MY THOUGHTS*
Kasha got me real good with this one. In the last Ramblers book I wanted more basketball. In this one, I got that, but from a completely different perspective than I was thinking. It still wasn’t from them being on the court, but from the eyes of the coach and the owner. She gave me what I needed in a way that I didn’t know I needed.
Ok so starting with Sariah….. I loved her. Not lying, I wanted to hug her. She was still grieving her brother when she lost her father. It was really interesting to see the way she evolved from that. And the way she was able to withstand all that came at her, including the double crossing?! Lordt. I can honestly say after that I would have been embarrassed and sold it. (But to…… someone I didn’t know lol) But she was strong af and so powerful. I really liked Sloane, but Sariah definitely gave her a run for her money.
Justus was…… Welp I don’t really know what he was lol I can’t explain the two of them. He was so smart, but not really? How did he not know that wasn’t a good idea? I was mad annoyed at him, but I knew it was from a good place. That’s the only reason I love books that have dual POV because I would have been as mad as she was if I had experienced that in real life lol And he’s a hot single dad too?! What isn’t there to like about this guy?
The two of them together was *WHEW* This was more spicy than the other one if I remember correctly. But it didn’t bother me at all. The only thing that bugged me was Sariah tried to use it as a way to drown out some of the things that were going on. I was glad she ended up going to see someone. Because when they finally had nothing stopping them from being together, it made it all the more sweeter.
The plot itself was so good! Trying to figure out what was going on at the office and seeing the two of them coming together, was so much fun. I don’t know what it is, but I get so lost in Kasha’s books and this one was no different. Idk I know it was realistic fiction, but it seemed like something that really happened and she was just writing about what she saw play out.
I DO wish we had gotten some glimpses of her at therapy tho. With the way Black people stigmatize mental health, it could have been really good for that representation. But just her admitting that she was going and that she still had some things to work on, that was good too. I was happy that she had someone to talk to. She had to be strong and by admitting that she needed help made her that much stronger in my eyes.
I can’t lie, this was so much more fun than I thought it would be. I didn’t think a sports romance book about an owner was going to be much fun, but I have to say, this was my favorite of the series. I can only hope Kasha never removes me from her ARC team lol Because books like this are why I love reading so much!
Overall, I give this
