Ruthless Player by R.C. Stephens is now live!

Holland
Hockey winger and campus hottie, Cole Davis, might be an MVP with the ladies, but I'm not falling for a player...not with medical school on the line.

With our best friends dating, our forced proximity is inevitable.

That doesn't mean I have to like it—or the way he makes me feel. Like I'm missing out and there's more to life than sitting on the sidelines.

It only takes one moment of weakness to remind myself why I should have stayed away from Cole.

He might be a ruthless player, but nothing about this is a game.

Cole
Holland Donovan knows exactly what she wants out of life—and it isn't me.

She's not looking for any distractions, and I'm a one-night kind of guy, but that doesn't stop me from wanting her.

From the first electric kiss—I know one night will never be enough.

I just need to convince her that I'm in it for the long haul—this isn't just about scoring.

On the ice I'm a pro at blocking shots and stealing passes, but when it comes to Holland the rules change.

I won't stop fighting for her, for us, until I make her mine.

Caroline's Review
🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was a great read.

"Getting mixed up with Cole is an awful idea. His reputation and my drive are basically negative ions repelling each other."

Holland Donovan can't stand Cole Davis but she makes an effort to get on with him for the sake of their best friends, who are together. Cole's always hitting on her but not only is he a player through and through, she doesn't have time to be involved with anyone while medical school is calling her. However, there is no denying the frisson between them and, one night, she finally decides to let loose and forget about all the pressures on her shoulders. She doesn't remember much about that night, while Cole can't get that night out of his head. A summer spent in close proximity has Holland seeing Cole in a new light and, when life throws her a curveball, he ends up constantly surprising her with his actions.

"She's gotten into me...The girl has gotten under my skin."

I was pretty hooked on Holland and Cole's story as they gradually became friends and more, and let each other in. There was so much more to Cole than his reputation. He was carrying a lot of hurt and baggage around, but so was Holland. I loved the sweet and heartmelting revelation they made about something that happened in the past that connected them to each other. Holland had a lot to contend with but she was a pretty strong and determined young woman. It took a lot for her to lean on Cole, so much of the novel was the two of them tiptoeing around each other, too scared to express how they really felt. Only four stars for me though as I felt that the last few chapters were a little bit rushed, although the ending was sweet and sexy.