The Goal (Off-Campus, #4) by Elle Kennedy Series: Off-Campus #4
on September 26th 2016
Pages: 350
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She’s good at achieving her goals…
College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.
But the game just got a whole lot more complicated
Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.
When it comes to college sports romances, you don’t get much better than Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series. I’ve enjoyed all three previous books, and The Goal is a winning addition to the series. This is Tucker and Sabrina’s story.
In my opinion, Tucker is the sweetest and most nurturing of all his manwhore hockey teammates. He’s the one they call Mom because he cooks homemade meals for the other players in the house. Tucker was mysteriously MIA through most of the previous novel, The Score, and now we know the reason why: Sabrina.
Sabrina was introduced in The Score as Dean’s archenemy. She’s a competitive pre-law student with a reputation for being cold and bitchy, but there’s a lot of insecurity beneath Sabrina’s façade. She’s relying on her brains and hard work to get her out of a dismal situation and into Harvard law school.
Sabrina is a tough nut to crack, but Tucker sees the vulnerability she tries to hide. He loves a challenge, and he’s determined to win her over with his “aw shucks” charm, good manners, and perseverance.
I adored everything about Tucker! He’s funny, trustworthy, supportive, calm, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s phenomenal (and dirty) in bed. Good googly goo, Gus! I’ve never seen a man with so much patience and understanding.
I admired Sabrina’s tenacity despite her being prickly towards Tucker. I rooted for her big time. What frustrated me was her unwillingness to accept any help. Her stubbornness seems foolish and sometimes dangerous. She pushes Tucker away so many times it’s amazing he keeps coming back. Their chemistry is intense, though, and I really enjoyed them as a couple.
The book lags at times, and while I don’t think it’s as laugh-out-loud hilarious as the previous books, that’s okay. It’s sweet and highly entertaining. The Goal can be read as a standalone; however, I loved the way this story intersects with events from the other books in the series. As always, the interaction between the boys is one of the highlights. Such a delightful series!
Recommended for fans of:
Sports romance
Romantic comedy
New adult
**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.**
About Elle Kennedy
A New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Elle Kennedy grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario, and holds a B.A. in English from York University. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a writer, and actively began pursuing that dream when she was a teenager.
Elle writes romantic suspense and erotic contemporary romance for various publishers. She loves strong heroines and sexy alpha heroes, and just enough heat and danger to keep things interesting!
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