Review: The Coaching Hours (How to Date a Douchebag #4) by Sara Ney

Book info:

Title:  The Coaching Hours
Author:  Sara Ney
Series:  How to Date a Douchebag #4
Genre: New Adult Sports Romance
Release Date:  February 5th, 2018
Source:  E-galley from InkSlingerPR
My rating:  4 stars

Synopsis:

THERE ARE NO DOUCHEBAGS IN THIS STORY.

Well, there are, but they’re not who this story is about.
 
This story is about me—the coach’s daughter.
 
When I moved to Iowa to live with my dad, the university's take-no-prisoners wrestling coach, I thought transferring would be easy as pie—living with my father would be temporary, and he'd make sure his douchebag wrestlers left me alone.
 
Wrong on both counts.

ASSHOLES ALWAYS COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK WHEN THE STAKES ARE HIGH.

A bet is placed, and I'm on the table. After one humiliating night and too much alcohol, I find the last nice guy on campus. And when he offers to rent me his spare bedroom, I go all in. It’s time for the nice guy to finish first.
 
Midnight chats and spilling my problems turn to lingering touches. Lingering touches turn to more.
 
And the ultimate good guy has the potential do more damage than any douchebags ever could.


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GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36974635-the-coaching-hours

AMAZON: http://amzn.to/2DKdYTv

AMAZON UK: http://amzn.to/2nqo1BU

AMAZON AU: http://amzn.to/2GrLKus

My Review:
I fell in love with this series when I got the chance to listen to the third book in the series, The Learning Hours for an audiobook tour.    After I finished that one, I knew I had to go back and read the first two in the series, which I haven't got around to yet, although I have a copy of the first one sitting on the bookshelf by my bed.  Of course I knew who the first two books were about because they tell you in each one basically.  From what I'd read, I'd really been looking forward to maybe this book being Rex Gunderson's story.  And in a way, it kind of is.  Just not the way I'd hoped.  

In this book we get to meet Anabelle, the daughter of the wrestling coach from the first three books.  As you would expect, he forbids all of his team members from dating her.  And as we know from the characters' behavior in the past books, some of them take that as a direct challenge.  Gunderson being one of them, along with his roommate.  The two of them are the ones who posted the flier that humiliated Rhett, yet led him to his true love in the end.  In this book they make a bet on who can sleep with Ana first.

I was confused at first about who the romance was going to be for Ana, because there was the chapter with Gunderson and Johnson, as they usually start out the books it seems.  Then there was some guy called Elliot, and I didn't quite understand about him.  But I see from some other reviews on Goodreads that I wasn't the only person a little confused at first. But I figured it out, and fell in love with Elliot.  Well, until...until he goes away to grad school in another state.  And that is where the book went a little south for me, and part of what made me drop it to a 4 star instead of 5.  

At that point it kind of developed almost into just letters between the two.  The story seemed a bit rushed at that point, almost glossing over the wonderful details the story had earlier on.  I kind of wish it had been more regular story chapters as opposed to the letters and emails that it was written as.  In the end I did like the way it went.  I will say that Gunderson definitely ended up getting what he deserved, although I still want a book about him getting his happiness.  And it's nice to see the author mention on Facebook that there is always a possibility that book could come about some how. 

Anyway, now I must get around to reading the first two books.  And I'm excited that I just got bumped up on the waiting list for Book Bonanza in Denver in July, and I think Sara Ney will be there, so I can't wait to meet her! 

About the Author:

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Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte's, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.

She lives with her husband, children, and her ridiculously large dog.

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Release Day: How to Date a Douchebag - The Coaching Hours by Sara Ney

      

THERE ARE NO DOUCHEBAGS IN THIS STORY. 

Well, there are, but they’re not who this story is about. 

This story is about me—the coach’s daughter. 

When I moved to Iowa to live with my dad, the university's take-no-prisoners wrestling coach, I thought transferring would be easy as pie—living with my father would be temporary, and he'd make sure his douchebag wrestlers left me alone. 

Wrong on both counts. 

ASSHOLES ALWAYS COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK WHEN THE STAKES ARE HIGH. 

A bet is placed, and I'm on the table. After one humiliating night and too much alcohol, I find the last nice guy on campus. And when he offers to rent me his spare bedroom, I go all in. It’s time for the nice guy to finish first. 

Midnight chats and spilling my problems turn to lingering touches. Lingering touches turn to more. 

And the ultimate good guy has the potential do more damage than any douchebags ever could.  

AMAZON | AMAZON UK  | AMAZON AU

    

Excerpt: 

She perks up. “Wait, you’ve never had a back massage?”   

“No?”   

“Ever?”   

“Nope.”   

“Well, what the hell? How can I, in good conscience, lie here letting you rub my back when you’ve never had anyone rub yours?” She scoots over, pointing to the mattress. “Lie on your stomach, I’ll do you first.”   

I wave my hands in front of me in protest. The last thing I need is her warm hands roaming my body. “No, no, you don’t have to. It’s not a big deal.”   

“Are you crazy? Back massages are the best—like, better than an orgasm. You’re first, so lie down.”   

 “And you call me the bossy one?”   

 “Quit stalling and get on the bed.”   

Obediently, I climb to the middle of my bed in nothing but a pair of gym shorts, legs hanging off the side. Next to me, the mattress dips, Anabelle on her knees, approaching my side.   

A finger glides down my spine. “It will be easier for me to do this if I’m sitting on you. Hope that’s okay.”   

“Is that the approved method?”   

“No, but my arms will get tired if I have to lean over you the whole time.”   

“Do whatever then, I don’t care.”   

 I stiffen when Anabelle swings one leg over my body, straddling my ass. Warm palms at my lower back.   

“You’re so tense. Try to relax,” she coos, making it worse. “Tilt your head to the side, that’s it.”   

I hear the lotion bottle snap open. Click closed. My roommate’s palms rubbing together, warming it up. “Sorry, I don’t have any actual massage oil. This will have to do.”   

When her hands make contact with my back, I almost groan it feels so fucking good. Warm. Smooth. Pressure in all the right places, pushing gently into my muscles.   

Slowly.   

 Slower still, caressing along my shoulders, thumbs and fingers working together to soothe the burning on my right side.   

“Doesn’t this feel great?” Her soft voice cuts into the silence. “You’re loosening up. That’s good.”   

I feel her leaning as her hands move up and down my spine until they stop, hovering at the base of my neck. Thumbs stroking the skin below my hairline, back and forth.   

Kneading.   

Her torso dips, hands maneuvering my arms, placing them at my sides. Palms slide up and down my biceps.   

For several minutes, she rubs my arms and shoulders. Then she skims down my ribcage unhurriedly, in no rush, making little humming sounds inside her throat.   

I know I’m not imagining the feather-light way her hands drift down my spine. I remain still, letting her touch me, basking in it.   

Remain still when her lips kiss the tender spot of my shoulder where it meets my neck, nose nuzzling behind my ear, her breasts rubbing against my back and what the fuck was that all about? What does she think she’s doing, trying to drive me insane?  

         

Author Info:

Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte's, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British. 

She lives with her husband, children, and her ridiculously large dog. 

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Audiobook Blog Tour Review: The Learning Hours (How to Date a Douchebag #3) by Sara Ney

Book info:

Title:  The Learning Hours
Author:  Sara Ney
Series:  How to Date a Douchebag #3
Genre:  New adult romantic comedy
Narrated by:  Josh Goodman and Muffy Newton
Release Date:  September 26th, 2017
Source:  Audiobook from InkSlinger PR for honest review
My rating:  5 stars

Synopsis:
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He's not a douchebag; but that doesn't stop his friends from turning him into one.

MY FRIENDS WANT ME TO GET LAID.

So much so that they plastered my ugly mug all over campus, in bold printed letters:

Are you the lucky lady who's going to break our roommate's cherry?
Him: socially awkward man with average-sized penis looking for willing sexual partner. You: must have a pulse. He will reciprakate with oral. Text him at: 555-254-5551

The morons can't even spell. And the texts I've been receiving are what wet dreams are made of. But I'm not like these douchebags, no matter how hard they try to turn me into one.

THIS ISN'T THE KIND OF ATTENTION I WANT.

One text stands out from hundreds. One number I can't bring myself to block. She seems different. Hotter, even in black and white.

However, after seeing her in person, I know she's not the girl for me. But my friends won't let up--they just don't get it. Douchebags or not, there's one thing they'll never understand: GIRLS DON'T WANT ME.

Especially her.

LINKS:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2eUg3jU
Amazon UK:: http://bit.ly/LearningZonUK
iBooks: http://bit.ly/LearningiBooks
B&NOBLE: http://bit.ly/LearningBN
KOBO: http://bit.ly/LearningKobo

My Review:
This is my first book in this series, as well as by this author, but I can tell you that it won't be my last.  One thing that I really loved about the book is that we get the guy being the insecure one.  The one who knows/thinks he isn't attractive, and therefore judges all of his interactions with the love interest as not being anything more than friends.  I hated the way it started out, that Laurel didn't give Rhett her real name to start with, even though I understand why, and I also know it was going to add tension to the story.  I was also a bit shocked when that whole debacle blew up as early in the story as it did.  Overall Rhett was really just such a sweet guy.  I adored him so much!  His naivete was very adorable, although at times you could totally get where Laurel's frustration was coming from.  His sweetness would probably not work for me, as I need a guy to be the one to lead the way and take charge.  Although, this did make me think about taking charge with a guy I know who I might be interested in, but I think he might not know that I am for reasons similar to Rhett.  I know that I'm going to have to go back and read/listen to the first two in the series, to learn about the guys who are mentioned as already being hooked up.  And I totally loved the snarky dialogue between Rhett and the guys, as well as how much they were just guys.  I laughed so much at them.  I hope that a future book will be about his one roommate, Rex, who started out the narration of the story for us.  

When Laurel started googling Rhett and going gaga over him in his wrestling singlet, it almost made me interested to do that myself.  But then I remembered I think those are funny looking, and didn't want to go look at those pictures.  I did hate her cousin Alex, and I wonder if she'll feature as a love interest in any of the future stories, I would love to see her get the comeuppance she deserves, and in a good way probably.  Maybe she could end up with Rex?  This was such a fun read, with definitely sexy parts, and one of the best quotes:

"Hot guys are such assholes. I wish I was dating one."  

Now, for the audiobook itself, I really liked it!  Both narrators voices were perfect for the character.  I really liked the male better.  Sometimes the way the female narrator said the name Laurel was kind of over-exaggerated, but other than that, her voice was definitely perfect.  As I mentioned at the beginning of my review, I plan to go back and read the rest of the series, and honestly, I think I'd like to listen, the story definitely works very well for listening.

Excerpt:

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He’s seated at a table in the far corner when I spot him from the door. He’s not hard to miss—not with his purple t-shirt in a sea of black and yellow, and wavy mussed hair.

He’s slouching, hunched over his table.

Defeated. Tired.

My stomach rolls with nerves, nerves that have me rooted to the spot in the doorway, watching him.

Just watching.

For the entire four minutes I stand here, he sits immobile, studying his laptop, eyes moving along the screen, completely transfixed by whatever he’s reading.

Learning.

“Just go over there,” I whisper to myself, blowing out a puff of pent-up air.

I put one foot in front of the other and begin toward him, spine ramrod straight, steeling myself, prepared for another argument.

Twenty feet.

Fifteen.

Eight.

Two.

“Hi.”

No reply.

“Do you mind if I sit here?” I lay my hand on the back of the wooden chair across from him, intending to pull it out.

He stiffens but doesn’t lift his head. “Yes I mind.”

“Would you mind if I sat at the table next to you?” I’m pushing his buttons, looking for a reaction, but he only spares me a brief glance.

Shrugs. “Free country.”

I bite my lip to hide a smile, glad he didn’t tell me to take a hike...

About the Author:

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Sara Ney is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the How to Date a Douchebag series, and is best known for her sexy, laugh-out-loud New Adult romances. Among her favorite vices, she includes: iced latte's, historical architecture and well-placed sarcasm. She lives colorfully, collects vintage books, art, loves flea markets, and fancies herself British.

She lives with her husband, children, and her ridiculously large dog.

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