Blind Side: A Fake Dating Sports Romance

I want to give a big thank you to Kandi Steiner for hosting a giveaway in her Facebook group, Kandiland, that I won and received and e-arc of Blind Side to review.REP:TW + CW: discussion of rehab, alcohol/drug addiction, blackmailTropes: fake-dating, sports romance, hero falls first, virgin heroine, jock heroSimilar Books: The Deal by Elle Kennedy, The Perfect First by Maya Hughes, The Relationship Pact by Adriana Locke,When I won the arc giveaway, I did the biggest happy dance and squealed a little. Another Kandi Steiner book in my hands? HECK YEAH! Every book that I have read by her has 4 stars and above. She just never disappoints! Ever since I discovered her books last year, I have been down a rabbit hole trying to read her backlist. Let's just say it has been THE BEST TIME. I originally planned to take my time with reading Blind Side because I wanted to savor every bit of it but its Kandi Steiner, who am I kidding? I was not expecting to be just as OBSESSED with the main characters as I was with Fair Catch but, here I am!! Clay and Giana just found a spot in my heart and set up shop right next other characters written by Kandi Steiner.Blind Side is set in the same world as Fair Catch (I'm not too sure if this would be considered a sequel or a companion. Both books can be read on their own.) and follows the perspective of two characters, Clay and Giana. Clay is one of the most popular football safety players in the country and Giana works as Public Relationships Coordinator for the team. Clay is used to be the easiest for Giana to work with but after a devastating break up from his girlfriend, Clay is cold and not in the mood for any of it. As much as Giana would love to work with other players and move on, she needs Clay. When they meet up to discuss a new strategy, Clay takes notice of how Giana melts around her crush and comes up with a plan that could help the both of them. Clay and Giana will fake-date in public to get his ex jealous and running back and her crush to notice her. Also, he'll stop being difficult when she needs him for the media. The plan starts off simple but quickly becomes complex when the feelings Clay and Giana have change and Giana asks Clay to take her virginity so she knows what to do when she's with her crush.Kandi's Steiner writing has continuously gotten better over time. I swear each book I read is better than the last. Blind Side is also the spiciest book Kandi has written. I am very curious to see if that trend will continue or if there will be a surprise extra spicy book every once in awhile. In this one, Clay and Giana's chemistry was obvious from the jump. They already have an established friendship but there was room for them to build and grow that friendship. Having both perspectives allows readers to see that growth from both the character's eyes and how their motivations have changed. At first, I was skeptical of this because sometimes the POVs blend together or I really enjoy one character more. But Kandi succeeded in keeping me interested in both characters with every chapter. I wanted to know who was going to fall first and how the romance was going to play out. Who was going to cause the big conflict in the third act? Who will commit first? Giana just wants to do well with her career and get this guy to like her but she's a little lost in the romance category. She reminded me a lot of me during my past relationships because I felt LOST. I loved reading about her and watching her grow. Pet names like the one Clay has for her (Kitten) normally makes me want to gag but you know what, PURRRRRR. I was eating this up! Where are these men when I was going on dates with people from my college??With all that being said, I was a bit underwhelmed with the ending. If I were Giana, Clay would have to GROOOOOVEEELLL. The grand gesture was cute but I think Clay would need to put in some more work to repair that damage afterwards. I know Giana's heart took a hit and realistically, would probably have some trust issues from him. The way he handled the situation that caused the big breakup was not my favorite. I understand wanting to help and protect your mother but where would any of that gotten him? I did not see that playing out well for him in the end.Overall, Blind Side by Kandi Steiner is a fantastic read. It is definitely one of the best she has written and is going high on my tier ranking. If you are looking for a steamy fake-dating sports romance where the male love interest falls first and keeps you on your toes, this is a good one to check out! It will get you laughing, smiling, and hurting all within a few pages. You'll be dying for more (there's books set in the same university if you do end up looking for more!!!) 5/5 stars, I can not wait for the next one!If you're looking for exclusive information about what Kandi is writing or up to, join her Facebook group, Kandiland! Also, I heard there is a hockey romance book in the works?? Say less. Once the preorder link and "Want to Read" button is available, I'm on it!

Clay & GianaClay- He's a star college football player, 19 and his high school sweetheart just broke up with him and he is devastated. He'd do anything to get her back- including fake date someone to get her attention to make her jealous.Giana- is a PR Coordinator for the football team and also just 19, which makes this a little unbelievable. Not exactly a 19 year old job. She's quiet, shy, and a bookworm who is also a virgin. She is crushing on a musician she sees on campus. She would like to get him to notice her. She wants "lessons" in how to land the guy.enter fake dating. begin love lessons. then uh-oh very real feelings. I struggled with them being 19 and wish they were portrayed a few years older. This did not read like 19 year olds so I struggled with some scenes, including a few of the spicy ones. The characters felt so young that I felt creepy reading their scenes. Then, the 3rd act conflict- why. It was annoying if anything. While it made me smile to find out Clay read some of Giana's books for pointers on what she would like I did find the grand gesture to fall a little flat.I did enjoy that it was told in dual POV and that we got to see previous characters. Not my favorite book of Kandi's, but I had high high expectations after reading the Becker Brothers series.

Absolutely enjoyed this book! "Blind Side" serves up a scorching blend of college romance, sports drama, and irresistible chemistry with a generous dash of spice. The story of the hottest college football safety, and the PR Coordinator with a plan, is a rollercoaster of emotions from the very first page.The fake dating trope is expertly crafted into a plot that's not only entertaining but also heartwarming. Clay's Adonis-like physique and devilish smirk make him headline material, but his vulnerability adds depth to his character.What sets "Blind Side" apart is not just the engaging storyline and relatable characters, but Kandi's ability to infuse the narrative with clever twists and unexpected turns. The spice factor adds an extra layer of excitement, making the romantic moments even more electrifying.Kandi's vivid descriptions and skillful storytelling make the characters come alive, allowing readers to feel every emotion throughout the journey. "Blind Side" is a delectable read, blending romance, humor, and a touch of spice seamlessly. Highly recommended for those who crave a well-crafted fake dating romance with relatable characters and an enticing storyline, spiced up just right!

Is this what all of Kandi Steiner's writing is like? Because if it is, I need to read it all! As anyone can tell this was my first book from Kandi and her writing brought me to tears. Her similes left me speechless, they were perfectly written. I could smell the things she wrote about, I could feel my heart breaking when she described it, it was just perfection. I loved this book so much.I was quite hesitant to read this one just because I tend to stay away from too much Young Love or New Adult romance stories, but I'm so glad I didn't because this book was so fantastic. I loved Clay and Gianna's relationship, I loved Gianna's passion for learning and Clay's depth. And this is why I usually stay away from New Adult stuff because the characters lack depth, but that is not the case here. Also, Gianna's love for Cheetos hit me on a personal level considering that was my main food group during my undergrad.I need to read the entire series even if I started on the second book! This is a prime example of why I love to read! Kandi's writing is a wonderful reminder of all things good in books.

Great romance history, love every turn and that it didn’t have so much drama, just the perfect to make it amazing!Without directly stating it, this book talks about healthy boundaries and loving with out codependency

I loved this book. The plot is great and the development awesome. Seeing them slowly realizing that they wanted each other and seeing the, falling in love was amazing. Clay is really sweet with her and completely head over heels with everyt she does. She sounds like such a beautiful girl, he had no chance against her. It bother me Maliya always been there though. But I totally recommend.

With spice! It was really good. Like reaalllly good!

This was very hyped which made me afraid to read it.I should not have been. Loved both characters and all the goodness they had together.------------------------------------------------⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I loved this book⭐⭐⭐⭐ I really liked this book⭐⭐⭐ I liked this book⭐⭐ Meh...bored or annoyed⭐ What did I just read?!