Never Say Never (ARC Review)

It's the debut of the new format. I recently decided to take a little detour with my blog, make it more along the lines of what I had set out to do years ago. Before I was an author. Before that thought even crossed my mind. Before I thought about doing a podcast (still on the bucket list!).

Originally I had created a blog site dedicated solely to the books I had read. Reviews were the norm. I also shared every week the books I had finished that week before. I was really good at being consistent... until I wasn't.

Typical ADD fashion. Missed one "deadline" and never did the habit again!

When I started this blog, I thought I would share 2 or so posts a month. Something that was manageable along side my writing projects + motherhood + wifedom + working at a shipping warehouse overnights.

And I realized something: I missed reading. I missed getting books from my favorite authors and shouting it from the rooftops. Part of me thought I couldn't do it anymore because the Zon put me in Review Timeout and I felt like it wasn't fair to the authors--especially indie ones-- who rely heavily on those reviews. With the shift to Social media though, I feel like I can get back to the thing I loved to do and had done for nearly a decade.

ARC READING!

So. That's what this is. This is the first post on a book that I was allowed to ARC read. (ARC = Advanced Readers Copy. Essentially a book that I was gifted in exchange for an honest review).

I take ARC reading seriously and try to only commit to authors I love as a rule. Jennifer Sucevic is one of those authors. Her books aren't always on KU and yet I have read each and every one of them. That should tell you something.

In case it doesn't, let me continue.

I was given Never Say Never to read. It's an enemies to lovers, accidental marriage, hidden identity, college sports romance. And for some reason I wasn't prepared for, Sucevic made all of those trope ingredients come together in one of my newest fave-reads.

BLURB

Colby McNichols, otherwise known as the baby-faced assassin, is the left wing for the Western Wildcats hockey team. All he has to do is sign his name on the dotted line and he’ll play for the pros after his senior season. What I’ve heard from the girls on campus, who aren’t shy about spilling the tea, is that he’s totally earned his reputation.

And then some.

It’s just one of the reasons I choose to steer clear.

Trust me when I say that my life is complicated enough without getting tangled up with a player.

For reasons I can’t fathom, Colby has decided to insert himself in my life. Everywhere I go, there he is. Which makes holding him at a distance nearly impossible. He might be smoking hot but there’s zero point in starting something with this guy. Especially since I can’t be honest about who I am.

Unfortunately, a weekend spent in Vegas changes everything.

Turns out that our friends weren’t the only ones who tied the knot in Sin City.

I can only hope that what they say is true—what happens in Vegas stays there.

Because if it doesn’t…

I’m screwed.

And not in a good way.

REVIEW

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶/5

Married? In college?

To most that doesn't sound like a good time.

So tell me why Colby has me rethinking this!

We've met Colby throughout the Western Wildcats series. He's the guy that has drawers dropping every time he flashes his dimpled smile. I'll admit, it had me questioning whether I would like this guy as an MMC or if he'd play out like some cliched reformed player.

Y'all. I have never been so wrong (and happy for it!) in my life!

Colby and Britt aren't exactly enemies to lovers. More like, she's not willing to put up with his cockiness ... and he realizes he kinda of likes that about her. When they wake up married and decide to give it a chance, this man is ALL IN. And, I can't believe I'm about to say this, but I audibly gasped when I read a "that's my wife" line in a college sports romance book because it was perfection!

It's a Jennifer Sucevic book. You're going to fan yourself during the spicy scenes. You're going to love the couple. You're going to fly through the story and then start over immediately. She's absolutely amazing at giving us more BBFs to add to our collection. Just, prepare yourself.

**SIDE NOTE: Yes, it is part of a series. Yes, it can technically be read as a standalone. But honestly, her stories are so incredibly interwoven that I do recommend reading the first 3 of this series and potentially the others as well, to truly appreciate the little details she gives us.

What was it about this book?

Look, I love a reformed bad boy. I really do. And Sucevic is truly 😘🤏 with how she writes these guys. I have now added Colby McNichols to the list of book boys that I will go to bat for. He's there with Crosby Rhodes (Campus God [Campus series]) and Jordan Thatcher (Tutoring the Player [Campus Wallflowers series by Rebecca Jenshak]).

I'm not typically one for young marriages. I don't love books that focus on high schoolers that get married. And I kinda only like the college couples getting married after graduation. I don't know what. But I do.

BUT!! I also love a marriage of convenience and/or fake dating. And while those don't fit this situation 100%, the fact is I loved this story. I loved how all in Colby is. I loved how sure he is even when he probably shouldn't be. I loved how understanding he was... you know, after he kind of lost it.

Because, while Colby is a fictitious character, Jennifer writes him perfectly. He's real(-ish) and relatable even when I know there's not a chance in Hades underworld that I'll ever meet someone like him IRL. haha

And Britt. Man oh man was she great. She is standoffish without being snooty. She hides who she really is because the truth could cost her. And maybe that price is just a bit too high for her to gamble with.

This book is currently WIDE (meaning you can get it online from multiple places -- not just the Zon). This also means you cannot currently (as of 4/3/2024) get it through a Kindle Unlimited subscription. I believe the author has plans to pull from wide release soon and offer it on KU, but even if she doesn't --or if you find this at a time when she's gone wide--I definitely recommend purchasing it. Add to TBR and read right away!

IG: @jennifersucevicauthor