© ✰ Bianca ✰ Janeane ✰
• standalone College Football Romance
• Book #1 in the Hook Up Series
• #2 - I BET YOU - will be out in July
★★★★★
4.75 Stars
Bad Ass Athlete: I dare you to…
Delaney Shaw: Who is this?
The late night text is random, but "Bad Ass Athlete" sure seems to know who she is…
Delaney Shaw.
Good girl.
Lover of fluffy kitties and Star Wars.
Curious.
His dare? Spend one night in his bed—a night he promises will be unforgettable—and she can solve the mystery of who he is.
She knows she shouldn't, but what else is she going to do with her boring Valentine's Day?
One sexy hook-up later, her mind is blown and the secret's out.
Maverick Monroe.
Bad boy.
The most talented football player in the country.
Just ask him.
Too bad for him Delaney's sworn off dating athletes forever after her last heartbreak.
But Maverick wants more than one night and refuses to give up on winning Delaney’s heart. She isn’t one to be fazed by a set of broad shoulders.
Will the bad boy land the nerd girl or will the secrets they keep from each other separate them forever?
It's adorable!
They would be perfect together - both have had hard moments in their lives. Maverick still has to fight hard for things to be ok in his personal and professional life.
And of course poor Delaney swore off football players!
But she can't resist Mav's charm forever!
Such an adorable & funny story.
It wasn't anything new or mega exciting. I've read a million sexy and funny sports romances. And even lots of those had a cute nerdy girl. BUT - I love those books!!!! I love football romances. And this one was so sweet and funny and sexy and moving ... I loved Maverick and Delaney!
Even though I have NOTHING in common with Delaney - I hate cats & Star Wars and I've never seen The Princess Bride!!! ☺ But we both love sexy football players! ☺
And we can all agree that we hate Muffin!! Why is there always one of those mega b*tches in every college romance!?
I really enjoyed reading this book - I finished it in one day!
I would've loved a bit more epilogue or just a bit more of them after the happy end. It felt a tiny bit rushed at the end. But it was totally ok the way it ended!
Also, the cover - while mega sexy, it's not really Maverick. We don't have any football for most of the book, so he never runs around like that and... it's just not Mav.
Can't wait to get Ryker's story next!!!
I DARE YOU was such an adorable & funny & moving college football romance!
Run to your nearest amazon for your own MAVERICK - this one is MINE!
Run to your nearest amazon for your own MAVERICK - this one is MINE!
ARC received for an honest review
"Legend says the first person you kiss at the party is the one you'll never forget."
I am starting to shy away a little from college aged romances - nothing against the books, it is just that I am an old fart and it is a bit pervy lusting after 21 year old boys lol
Also, I know nothing about American football - other than it takes about 42 hours to play a game!
However, there are some authors that I will pick up no matter the age of the characters, and Ilsa Madden-Mills is one of them.
I DareYou is cute, sweet, sexy and a lot of fun. Delaney and Maverick are just adorable, right from the start. She is just the adorable, nerdy/geeky, Star Wars loving, As You Wishing girl.
Maverick is not what I expected him to be - and I loved that.
Together, they are just #goals.
There is a character that I hated from the first page, and yep, still hated them on the last page too. You will figure it out when you start reading too, believe me!
I am now looking forward to the next story in this series.
So run along and get your own Maverick- because this one is Maverick to my Goose.
♥ EXCERPT ♥
Prologue
Freshman year
Delaney
Welcome to Magnolia, Mississippi, where locusts are as big
as your hand and iced tea comes with a double helping of sugar.
It’s also home to the best damn annual bonfire party at
prestigious Waylon University, which is currently happening right now in the
middle of a cotton field.
But…
I shouldn’t even be at this party.
It’s mostly for Greeks and jocks and popular people, yet here
I am, a mere freshman, hanging out with my bubbly redheaded roommate, Skye.
“See?” she says as we take in the bonfire. “Isn’t this
better than watching cat videos on a Saturday night? What do you want to do
first?”
I sigh, feeling nervous. Ever since I moved here from North
Carolina, I’ve been pushing myself to try new things. Might as well put a crazy
college party on that list. “Let’s get a drink.”
She claps and excitedly replies, “Done. Alcohol at two
o’clock.” We weave through the crowd, headed in that direction, and eventually
we reach the bar, which is really just a long collapsible table someone set up.
On top are various bottles of alcohol, and I grab the Fireball to pour shots.
I’ve just tossed mine back and set down my cup when a prickling sensation
washes over me, giving me goose bumps.
My gaze moves across the crowd, stopping on a tall guy with
dark blond hair, broad shoulders, and a cocky smile. Aha. He’s been staring at
me, and now that he’s caught, he raises his glass as a half-grin crosses his
face.
I blush wildly as I adjust my black cat-eye glasses. I’m not
used to such blatant male attention.
Skye—who’s followed the trajectory of my gaze—spits out part
of her drink. “Oh my God, do you know who that is?”
“Obviously I should,” I say dryly.
Her mouth flops open. “You really need to get out more.”
My eyes drift back to him but keep moving as if I’m not
staring. “So who is Mr. Hottie McParty Pants?”
“If you don’t know him, you don’t deserve to know. But, he’s
H-O-T—like Chris Hemsworth hot. I dare you to flirt with him.” She wiggles her
eyebrows at me, knowing full well that for some reason, I can’t resist a dare.
Normally rather reserved, a dare gives me permission to be someone I’m not.
So does Fireball. I sling back another shot.
“I’ll bring you a donut every day for a week if you flirt
with him,” she adds, watching me.
My ears perk up. “The ones with edible glitter?”
She nods, and I toss a quick glance back to him. Our eyes
collide again, and a zing of connection fires between us. He has a strong,
handsome face and a stance that has masculine written all over it. A smile tips
up his full sensuous lips, and—
Two brunettes—twins, no less—approach him, one on either
side, and wrap their arms around his waist. He smiles down at them. Oh. Well then.
I turn back to Skye and frown. “Player. Not interested.”
She waves her hands in my face. “He likes you—I saw it on
his face.”
I snort. “Probably gas pains. Your dare is not accepted.”
We hear our names being called from the other side of the
party and turn to take in the helmet-haired Martha approaching us, which is
taking some time due to the fact that she’s wearing stilettos and a slinky
halter dress. She carefully picks her way through the crowd, nudging people out
of her way—sometimes rudely—as she focuses on us. Great.
“Incoming mean girl,” I mutter under my breath.
Like us, Martha Burrows is a freshman and lives on our
floor. Rather full of herself, she announced within a week of meeting us that
she’d no longer answer to anything but Muffin, a nickname she’d given herself.
She eyes us both, a look of superiority on her pretty face.
“I didn’t know you two were invited to this little shindig. Obviously, I know
all the right people, so I’m always invited.” Her gaze zeroes in on my outfit
and she rears back. “What on earth are you wearing, Nerd Girl?”
“Clothes.” I stiffen at her name for me as I tug on my
fitted Star Wars shirt and the pleated red miniskirt I made from a man’s shirt.
My long pale blonde hair is up in curled pigtails, and I went a bit
heavy-handed with the shimmery eye shadow and red lipstick. It’s not your
typical look for WU—which is anything monogrammed—but I’m learning to ignore
the raised eyebrows.
Skye, the peacemaker among us three, clears her throat and
nods her head at the guy who’s been staring. “Delaney has an admirer, but she
doesn’t know who he is.”
Martha-Muffin follows Skye’s gaze, eyeballing the mystery
man over my shoulder. She gives me an exasperated look. “That’s Maverick
Monroe, you idiot. He’s the biggest football star in Mississippi and the
freshman recruit of the year. Word is, though, girls like you aren’t his
type—not at all.” Her hand flicks a stiff honey-colored curl over her shoulder.
My teeth grind together. “Martha, if you think I care what
you think about me and whether or not a quasi-famous football player is
interested in me, then you are confused.”
Her lips tighten. “It’s Muffin now, and why do you have to
use such big words? What does quasi even mean?” is her cutting reply.
Skye’s eyes get as big as saucers, and I assume it’s because
Martha-Muffin and I are about to finally have it out. I can’t stand her, and
she can’t stand me. We just…clash.
But that isn’t what has Skye in such a titter.
She points over my shoulder, and I get it.
It’s the person standing behind me, the one I can’t see. I
feel a nervous sneeze coming on and—thank God—I somehow push it down.
A husky voice reaches my ears. “Quasi means seemingly or
supposedly. What she means is I’m probably not a famous football player but
rather one that’s been highly touted but is without merit.”
Oh, shit. The voice is rich and smooth with just enough
southern drawl to make a girl swoon. He also sounds halfway intelligent.
I turn around slowly. Mr. Tall, Blond, and Football is right
in front of me wearing a cocky smile.
How in the hell did he get over here so fast?
You know that moment when everything stops and the next
breath you take is the first one of the rest of your life? That’s what it feels
like as Maverick Monroe stares at me with his piercing blue eyes.
I glance down and take in the sculpted chest and hard
biceps.
I look back up and see a chiseled jawline that’s defined and
lined with a slight scruff. I see the thin pink scar that slices through his
left eyebrow, and it does nothing to detract from his appeal.
He’s perfection.
He’s air.
Which I desperately need right now, because I can’t breathe.
He smirks, as if reading my mind, and I scramble to pull
myself together. Someone calls his name—it’s a girl’s voice, probably one of
those twins—but he doesn’t budge.
His eyes rove over my skirt, glasses, and lips. “The
question is…do you even know what makes a good football player?”
“Nice hands?”
His lips twitch. “Hardly.”
“A tight end?” I smirk, feeling sassy…which is weird. I
don’t know who I am right now, but it’s like my mouth has a life of its own,
saying things I normally wouldn’t.
Martha-Muffin chokes on her drink at my remark and Skye
watches me with glee, clearly excited that I have the attention of someone who
is apparently very important at Waylon.
I put my hand on my hip. “The question is…why do I need to
know?”
“You don’t. All you need to know is I’m the best.”
I suck in a little breath at his arrogance.
A guy walks past us and claps him on the shoulder. “Badass
game last week, Mav. Rock on.”
“Thanks, man.” Maverick acknowledges the compliment and
lifts his chin, his eyes never straying from mine.
“What position do you play?” I ask. “Quarterback?”
He smirks. “Middle linebacker—defense.”
“Sounds fancy.”
He laughs.
Skye, who’s been eavesdropping unabashedly, sighs with a
dreamy expression on her face. “His stats are the best in the country.” She
clears her throat. “I-I only know that because my brother is a huge fan, I
swear.”
“Hi, Maverick,” Martha-Muffin says as she edges closer to
him, nudging me out of the way with her sharp shoulders. “Remember me?”
He focuses on her. “No.”
She glowers. “I was in your dorm room with your roommate
last week. You said hello to me.”
He shrugs. “A lot of girls come through. I can’t remember
them all.”
Oh. My. God. He is arrogant, but I like how he just shut her
down.
Martha-Muffin’s face reddens and she mutters something under
her breath, flips around, and flounces off. Good riddance.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Skye is drifting away
too, giving me a thumbs-up.
Whatever. I am not going to flirt with this guy…am I?
He’s definitely got something about him, something that
makes my body buzz. I tilt my chin up, taking in how tall he is. He has to be
at least six-four.
His gaze drifts over my face. “You know there’s a legend
here at Waylon about our famous bonfire party?”
“Oh?”
He smiles, a flash of white on his handsome face. “Legend
says the first person you kiss at the party is the one you’ll never forget. It
might be years later, and still their face is the one you dream about.”
“Sounds like hocus-pocus.”
He lifts that mesmerizing left eyebrow. “I like to believe
in legends—after all, I am one.”
I smirk. “Probably a game made up by some
frat-boy-slash-jock wanting to kiss all the girls.”
He pauses for a moment as if thinking, and then he steps in
closer, so close that I can see the varying shades of blue around his pupils.
“May I?”
My heart does somersaults.
“May you what?” I ask, my voice low, but I know what he
wants. My body is already leaning toward him, wanting it too.
“This.” He kisses me, an almost imperceptible touch as he brushes
his full lips against mine. The contact of our mouths is electric, sparks of
fire skating along my skin.
As if from a distance, I hear someone calling his name. It’s
a female, and she’s pissed.
It’s one of the twins probably.
And I’m jealous.
But, I don’t look. We pull away, and I stare at him as he
stares right back. A stillness settles over the party, although I don’t think
anything’s actually changed. The music is still playing. People are still
talking. Beers are being passed around.
Yet…
We’re connected.
Two stars in the black velvet sky.
Two ships passing in the night.
Oh, fuck, stop the nonsense, I tell myself.
“What was that?” I ask, my voice breathless.
“That’s your first kiss of the bonfire. Now you’ll never
forget me.”
And then, before I can think of a reply, he’s gone.
I watch him go back to the twins, frustration coiling inside
of me as I exhale.
It would be two years before I kissed him again.
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