“Are you sleeping with my daughter?”
Not a question I want to hear from my coach. The man holding my pro future in the palm of his hand.
The answer: No, sir.
The real answer: I’d sure as hell like to be.
Marisa’s been my best friend since third grade. And now she needs my help—and a place to stay. Senior year was supposed to be the year to keep some distance until the season finished and my draft prospects were safe.
But resisting her is becoming impossible. Movie Thursdays under the blankets. Study sessions on my bed. Wild party nights where I kept any guy interested at bay with a single glare.
Her dad can bench my ass for the entire season, so she’s off limits—for now.
She’s the only woman I’ve ever loved. And one heated night, I can’t stop fighting every cell in my body and can’t stop myself from sampling her sexy smile, her sweet smell, and her sultry curves.
We’re walking a tightrope with my future on the line. Let’s just make sure Coach doesn’t find out…
| Title: | The Fourth Time Charm |
| Author: | Maya Hughes |
| Series: | Fulton U (Book 4) |
| Pages: | 354 |
| Genre(s): | Contemporary New Adult |
| Trope(s): | Sports Romance (American Football) Friends to Lovers Unrequited Love |
| Point of View: | First person, past tense, dual viewpoints (H & h) |
| Location: | US |
| HEA: | ✔️ |
| Release Date: | 7th January, 2021 |
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Exactly what we’ve been waiting for
I feel like I’ve been waiting FOREVER for this book and I couldn’t wait to get my hands and eyes on it. For those new to Maya Hughes or the Fulton U series, this is the fourth book (after The Perfect First, The Second We Met and The Third Best Thing). Technically, it does stand alone but characters from the previous books appear heavily in this one and I’m pretty sure The Third Best Thing (Berk and Jules’ story) is happening simultaneously to this one. Simply, you can read this one first but you are going to want to read the first three books after reading this one so you might as well head to the start and read them in order!! (There’s even a teeny tiny crossover with Liv and Ford from Fearless King.)
LJ and Marisa have appeared on the fringes of all the previous FU books. The two best friends who are adamant that they’re friends and only friends. However, as soon as we start this story we realise that, of course, it’s not that simple.
What follows is a delightfully emotional and engrossing tale of the changing of friends into lovers – and all the highs and lows that come with that change. It’s such a joy to read. Not too angsty although I did shed a tear regarding the relationship between Marisa and her father. There are also funny parts that had me laughing out loud – and some where I was cringing right along with our characters.
“…another gorgeously woven tale that sucks you in, wrings you out but still leaves you satisfied at the end!!”
LJ and Marisa have a built-in deep relationship due to their life-long friendship. I sometimes read friends-to-lovers stories where the minute there’s a change in the relationship, the chemistry goes flat. Not so with our couple here. I got butterflies in my stomach at the merest of touches, looks and smiles between them. And the fact that they still kept their banter and teasing as a couple also gave me a multitude of happies
It goes without saying that I loved both characters – but LJ really stole my heart. He is so good and so sweet. He deserved his happily ever after and that he got what his heart had always desired was the icing on this perfect story cake.
For me, Maya Hughes proves she’s the queen of new adult romance with another gorgeously woven tale that sucks you in, wrings you out but still leaves you satisfied at the end. I really hope that Keyton gets his own story next – I just can’t let this series go quite yet.
This is the first book I finished in 2021 and it’s set the bar very high for the rest of the year. I already know it’ll be one of the best of the year. 5 stars from me and very highly recommended.
Maya Hughes can often be found sneaking in another chapter while hiding in the bathroom from her kids! 🙂 I’m a romance writer who loves taking inspiration from everyday life, namely my husband and biggest fan. Inspiration also strikes when I hear a song, meet someone new or daydream while at soccer practice.
I’m the mom of three little ones, the wife to an amazing husband and also work full time. Some of my favorite things are cinnamon rolls, white wine, laughing until I can’t breathe and traveling with my family.
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Fulton U Series:
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Audiobook Review: The Hate of Loving You by Maya Hughes 🎧 - Jo Reads Romance
10 November 2021 at 8:49 am[…] fans of Maya Hughes, this book also gives us delightful cameos from LJ and Marissa, Berk and Jules – and a quick update about (but no page time for) Seph and Reece. There’s […]