Quarterback Sneak: A Forbidden Sports Romance: Special Edition (Red Zone Rivals: Special Edition)

Book 3 of the Red Zone Rivals series, and yet again, Kandi Steiner did not disappoint.I had been highly anticipating Holden's book since the beginning, and like I said it did not disappoint.Hot, confident, strong, stoic, focused QB1 is fighting through an injury during his final season, his dreams of the NFL hanging in the balance. The newest member of the athletic training staff is the one person that is holding Holden's attention, and the one person he's not allowed to have. She's the coach's daughter, and she's completely off-limits. Julep Lee is fighting to prove to her father, and herself, that she has her life on track. Suddenly she finds herself stuck between trying not to disappoint her father again and letting herself cave to the feelings she developing for a certain football player. Holden and Julep find common ground in the broken pieces of their tragic pasts.While Holden and Julep may be the focus of the story, we get to see the rest of the crew we meet in books one and two. Oh, and you get to meet Holden's uncles, which if you ask me secretly stole the show! Those two without a doubt make for some of the best and funniest parts of the book. They had me rolling! I love them so much. Almost as much as I loved the way Holden takes care of Julep, and the way Holden fights for Julep and his relationship. "Sir, with all due respect, bench me. Sit me in the championship game if that's what you want to do. Call every scout you know and tell them I'm washed up and that they shouldn't draft me. Blackball me in every way you possibly can. You can hold true on all your threats. You can take everything else away from me. But you can't take her." I mean c'mon?! How do you not fall for Holden Moore after something like this?? Answer: you can't.Such a good read! If you haven't already, I highly suggest you head over to North Boston University and catch up with Zeke, Riley, Clay, Giana, Holden, Julep, and the gang, before we get to read the grand finale of this wonderful series in February with Leo and Mary's book, Hail Mary!

I love Julep and Holden so much! Their back stories are so sad. I really felt for them. I loved how Julep started opening herself up as her relationship with Holden progressed. I just love Julep's friendship with the girls. And I definitely understand and share Giana's love for spicy romance novels. Chapter 21 broke me😭😭😭. And Holden was just so perfect to Julep. My heart really went out to her when she finally told him what happened and I couldn't help but cry. I was devastated after they got caught by her dad and had to break up. But I was so happy when her mom called her and talked to her. And the epilogue was so sweet. And I loved that second epilogue about Mary and Leo. Can't wait to read their story!!

Holden had an immediate interest in Julep, she is all the more tempting because she is the coach's daughter and off limitsHolden and Julep are connected through past traumas. While complicated as her and her situation may be Julep is trying to find her way. She blames herself and feels the guilt. I can understand thatLosing someone you love is something you never truly get over. Living without them as you move forward is the most difficult part of livingHolden and Julep both find comfort in one another and their struggle beyond the grieving period. The constant reminder having it in the back of their mind, the memories and the heartache, while simultaneously struggling to live your life without them, and putting on a front for everyone elseHolden is just one of those older souls I could relate to. He is a great leader to his teamates, a family guy, considerate and passionate. He always put Julep and her feelings first. Plus he gardens c'mon 🥰I really enjoyed the push and pull between the two mc's. Both trying to fight and push down their feelings for one another. But of course the forbidden is always sweeterTheir chemistry and past loss for a loved one brought them closer. Each character layer they exposed to one another helped them heal and grow in ways they hadn't before

This is my second book by this amazing author & I love every bit of this story the chemistry between main characters the plot everything 🥵🥹🥹 I got emotional too

Simply love this author

2.5/5 ⭐️I definitely did not enjoy this one as much as Blind Side (book 2 of this series). I just felt like it was much more dragged out and nothing happened for the first half of the book. I couldn’t connect with these characters as much either. I didn’t love Julep and I know she’s been through a lot but I didn’t find myself hooked to her pov. I do like Holden a bit more but I still didn’t find myself hooked. I’m also not a fan of when the guy character sees the girl for the first time and he HAS to have her… I just don’t love that concept unless it’s done amazing. I found myself skim reading the last half because I was just so not interested in the story. Some moments were cute and there was some decent spicy scenes but I didn’t love it.