The Striker: 1 (Gods of the Game, 1)

"She's the only woman he wants and the only woman he can't have " Though I don't agree with it cz he had her quite easily. I loved the story as well as Scarlett and Asher's chemistry but I'm already in love with Vincent ( and idk why tf) but can't wait for Vincent to come in action

This is the first book in Ana Huang’s new sports romance series-Gods of the Game, and it is filled with searing passion, redemption, and some great emotional depth and healing. The book follows Asher Donovan, a star footballer known for his skill and reckless reputation, and Scarlett DuBois, a former prima ballerina whose career ended abruptly after an injury. When certain circumstances forces the two to work together, sparks fly and we see what began as forced proximity slowly turn into something beautiful and deeper between them. What really stood out to me was the way the author blended two very different worlds i.e. football and ballet, showing us how both require discipline and passion. The rival’s sister trope was also perfectly executed and Scarlett’s journey of recovery and resilience along with Asher’s character development gave me all the feels. That said, the pacing does slow down in a few places and some sections felt a bit stretched, but that’s just my take. Overall, I enjoyed the book, so if you’re into angsty, slow-burn sports romances with strong character growth and some redemption+healing, then this one’s definitely worth picking up.

I love it

1. Asher calling Scarlet as "Darling" 2. Justice for Pluto 3. Blackcastle Brotherhood Camaraderie ☆Same Plot with a different Setting☆ I had high hopes for this book, but sadly, the only thing that kept me hooked was my curiosity about whether it would ever pick up the pace. Thankfully, halfway through the book, plot looked interesting enough to keep me engaged and not add it into my DNF list. ☆Plot Summary☆ The story follows the classic ' Forbidden Love ' arc, with a setting swap that seemed to promise a fresh take on the formula. However, much of it felt like a rehash of the author’s previous work, with a setting change that didn't add much to the core of the story. However, the second half of the book can be called a saving grace as it had some character building. Again, the breakup scene looked forced as if it was added just because the author wanted to add it but not all required. Somehow, it got related to some heart touching realizations which added up to the drawbacks. But, I haveto mention that the brotherhood that the Blackcastle teammates showed towards each other was adorable. And don't get me started with the "Blackcastle Book Club". That was sooo hilarious. ☆The Pacing and Breakup Drama☆ The pacing left a lot to be desired. There were sections that felt like they dragged on without contributing much to character development or the plot. And the breakup? It felt completely forced—like it was included just to add drama, but it didn't feel authentic to the characters or the relationship. ☆Characters☆ The characters, unfortunately, didn’t shine as much as I hoped. Scarlett and Asher had potential, but they didn't really develop as much as I wished them to. Anyway, Asher calling Scarlett "Darling" got me blushing so hard. It wasn’t the intimate scenes that left me blushing throughout the book. It was Asher calling Scarlett "Darling" was soo cute and very romantic. ☆Final Thoughts☆ This book might still appeal to readers who love slow-burn romances or enjoy a familiar storyline, but for me, it missed the mark. The pacing issues, forced breakup, and lack of chemistry between the leads left me feeling more frustrated than satisfied. ☆Would I recommend it?☆ If you’re a fan of the And Huang's previous works and enjoy slower-paced, dramatic love stories with a predictable structure, you might find some enjoyment here. But for anyone looking for fresh romance with strong character development, you might want to skip this one.

5/5 stars yess !! I loved the book so much nd what's more I got the deluxe edition with a character art in it nd original book ,loved it tq amazon

I m hoping it's an original copy. Printing and paper material is also good. Bought for my daughter, so don't know about the story. I m just letting know about the quality of the book.

Really enjoyed this book. It was heartwarming, easy to read, and beautifully written. A must read for sure👍🏻❤️

Good

Estaba segura que odiaría a Asher y se convirtió en uno de mis personajes masculinos favoritos de Ana Huang.

i love the book itself but it did not come as the deluxe edition as stated in the product title… the deluxe edition has the picture on the cover of the book but mine does not.

Having loved the Twisted series and the Kings of Sin series as well, I just knew The Striker was going to be another great book. I wasn’t wrong. I absolutely loved Asher Donovan’s story. I had always enjoyed his small interactions in other books and was thrilled when he got his own story. There was so much more going on with his character than I could have ever guessed. He’s hot, rich, charming and successful. Falling for his greatest rivals sister was not in the cards. Scarlett, a former prima ballerina doesn’t date footballers, especially not the footballer who her brother absolutely despises. Due to the ongoing animosity between Asher and Scarlett’s brother Vincent their coach orders them to cross-train together in the off season using ballet. Their ballet teacher is none other than Vincent’s sister Scarlet. Forced Proximity, Enemies to Lovers and Forbidden romance? Sign me up ! Asher and Scarlett have insane chemistry together. It’s like they instantly can see who the other person is and not the persona they put on for the world. This is a fun, spicy sports romance filled with angst and heartache. You get some steam with tons of tension, but also a really great in depth story line. Both of the MC’s have a lot of trauma they’re trying to live with and watching how they discover their path to healing was a beautiful journey. I also loved how there were character’s from previous books that popped up into parts of this story. Easter Egg Cameos are Reader gifts and I’m here for them all. This was a great read. I highly recommend and am looking forward to the next book in this series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Prêt a entrer dans une era de sport romance avec la nouvelle saga « Gods of the Game » de @anahuang entre un joueur professionnel de foot en première League et une ancienne ballerine ? ⚽️🩰 Et quoi de mieux pour ça que de poser nos bagages à Londres 🇬🇧 Il s’agit d’un tournant par rapport à ce qu’a pu écrire Ana. Et qu’est-ce que j’ai adoré ce premier tome. Honnêtement je n’ai absolument rien à redire, toutes les cases ont été pour moi cochées. La plume d’Ana est toujours aussi additive, et la nouvelle dimension qu’elle a apporté aux personnages d’Asher et Scarlett en abordant des thèmes importants notamment sur la santé mentale est si justement traité. J’ai ressenti toutes les difficultés à exercer un sport de haut niveau, la pression, le besoin constant de se dépasser au risque de négliger sa santé physique et mentale. Asher et Scarlett sont devenus leur bouée de sauvetage réciproque, mais aussi pour apprendre à prendre soin d’eux mêmes. Scarlett et Asher sont hyper attachants et leur première rencontre a été si drôle. Leur proximité forcée est un régal et les voir ressentir une attraction si forte sans oser la franchir est dingue. Leurs séances d’entraînements et moment à deux m’empêchaient de poser mon livre. Le talentueux joueur de foot Asher Donovan est une chose, mais l'humain, l'homme, Asher, c'est quelque chose d’autre… Je veux dire quel genre d'homme te demande officiellement en personne d'aller à votre premier date ? 😮‍💨🤌 Et la scène du match, le voyage à Tokyo leur officialisation sont ✨ OMG 🥹 mais c’est aussi des cicatrices invisibles… Scarlett est humaine, attentionnée et déterminée. Malheureusement elle a subit un grave accident qui a brisé sa carrière. Alors comment passer à autre chose ? Elle est si juste et toujours prête à s’investir pour ceux qu’elle aime. Je l’ai trouvé si forte, courageuse et rempli de sagesse. Alors forcément, Asher & Scarlett ensemble ça ne peut que fonctionner. Et je suis la première à être leur plus grande fan 😍 p.s : Le premier épilogue est un fou rire 🦖

Good condition recommend it