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FROM POPULAR ROMANCE AUTHOR AMBER MALLOY

Book two in the Perfect Stats series

Everything comes easy to quarterback Gavin Knox—women, football, even money. However, the only thing he truly wants but can’t win is the beauty of his dreams, Remy Bell.

A simple favor to save the girl turns into the quarterback losing his heart.

As beautiful as she is fun, Remy Bell has only one problem—a psychotic killer with political power wants her dead. Always a ‘two steps ahead’ type of gal, she plans to outrun the maniac. Marriage and a sweet life in the football star’s hometown in Canada would give her the cover she needs, but Remy doesn’t stick around long enough to find out. She travels all over the world, photographing the most beautiful and devastating events, but her now-husband’s tabloid activities lead her to the one place she should avoid…back home.

Superstar Gavin Knox wins at everything. However, once he scores the girl of his dreams, he’s suddenly in danger of losing the one thing he has always needed. Before she can slip through his fingers, he offers her a deal she can’t refuse—marry him for Canadian citizenship, which will protect her, and after five years, they can divorce. Knox is positive that she will fall head over heels in love with him, but it doesn’t happen. After six years of marriage, two playoff titles and a third on the way, Knox is forced to contend with a successful wife almost more famous than he is.

Determined to get exactly what he wants, which includes having Remy and a family, he devises a stupid scheme that puts everything he’s worked so hard for in jeopardy.

Published June 16, 2020

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About the author

Amber Malloy

9 books150 followers
Amber Malloy dreamed of being a double agent but couldn't pass the psyche evaluation. Crushed by despair that she couldn't legally shoot things, Amber pursued her second career choice as pastry chef. When she's not writing or whipping up a mean Snickers Cheesecake, she occasionally spies on her sommelier. Amber is convinced he's faking his French accent.

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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
Profile Image for Shelleen Toland.
1,379 reviews73 followers
July 8, 2020
What a great story. Gavin is a quarterback and his wife's life is being threatened by a high power. The media doesn't know Gavin is married and the headlines always have him hooked up to other women. But when Gavin married Remy it was to keep her safe and out of the US. He told her she would only have to stay married to him for 5 years and then he would give her a divorce. Little did she know he had fallen for her and didn't really plan on giving her a divorce.
I really enjoyed these characters and Gavin's friends/teammates. Even the teammates wives/girlfriends. All except for 1 who was such a bitch that I couldn't figure out why the other women put up with her.
I received this ARC from Goddess Fish Promotions for review.
Profile Image for Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog).
5,354 reviews200 followers
August 7, 2020


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When Remy needs protection, a marriage to Knox seems just the ticket. Except, no one can protect Remy because the threat is more powerful than Knox can even comprehend. Doesn't mean he won't try to protect the love of his life, even if she seems disinclined to have a real marriage with him. Will Knox and Remy have the chance to turn their marriage of convenience into the real one they deserve?



Hard Knox is a steamy, intensely suspenseful story. I love how out of the box it is, I love the way they first met, but most of all, I love the two of them together. They ooze chemistry and it's painfully obvious how much Knox especially is desperately in love with Remy. If you like your sports romances with a twist, this is definitely for you.

ARC via Xpresso Book Tours for an honest review.

Review & Blog Tour: Live Through Books Blog.

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Profile Image for Kari Hansen.
10.1k reviews84 followers
August 5, 2020
When Remy found herself in danger marrying Gavin seemed like the perfect solution as it would give her the anonymity she needs and allow her to pursue her love of photography. She was content wit their lives the way they were until she returns home and so do the threats against her.

Gavin has achieved all the success he ever dreamed off when it comes to his professional football career however the same can’t be said for his personal life. When he married Remy he wanted more than never seeing his bride but now that circumstances have brought her home will he be able to convince her to make their marriage real and keep her safe?

Intrigue, heat and emotion as Gavin goes to extreme measures to show Remy that the only place she belongs is with him.
Profile Image for Ally Swanson.
282 reviews93 followers
July 15, 2020
A couple months ago I had the chance to read and review “Winning Her,” by Amber Malloy, which is the first book in her Perfect Stats Book Series. Since I enjoyed it, I was excited to read Malloy’s latest book, “Hard Knox,” which is book two in the same book series.

This book is intriguing, interesting, exciting, and very entertaining!

I love sports romance books! I’m a sporty girl and I think sports are a great way to stay active and meet new people – perhaps even a cute guy! These books are easy to relate to and connect with!

I really liked both main characters, Knox and Remy!! They were both strong, persistent, successful, driven, and stubborn.

This book is full of fun, playful, witty banter between Knox and Remy!! There were many LOL moments that kept me laughing so hard!!

I really enjoyed that the author used so many pop culture references and well recognized brand mentions. These allowed for easy connections to be made and provided authentic details to the story line.

I really liked the story line concept and found it very intriguing and entertaining!

I really enjoyed the exciting, suspenseful, action scenes that really kicked this book up a notch! There were definitely some surprises and unexpected moments that helped keep the story moving at a respectful pace and this reader on her toes!

I am a huge sports fan and follow football, so I was excited to read this book about a big football supastar. It is clear that the author is also a sports fan and knows her football! I liked that she was able to convey football terms that were easy to understand for even a novice, but were not dumbed-down. She kept the true essence of the sport in her writing.

There was really only one dig I had, and it was that I felt this book, like book one, had a strong, domineering male POV in the writing style. It felt like many of the scenes with Knox were on the side of an arrogant, cocky, cavalier manner. At times it even seemed offensive, misogynistic, over the top, and inappropriate, which really detracted from the story.

There are some predictable scenes. However, there are still a few very unexpected twists and turns that you won’t see coming!

This book is Book Two in the Perfect Stats Book Series. Even though I had previously read book one, this book can be read as a standalone without any confusion.

All in all, there were just a couple hang-ups for me, but overall, I still enjoyed reading this book and would still recommend it! I think all sports romances readers will like this book too! So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading – you won’t be disappointed!

**Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book and have voluntarily provided an honest, and unbiased review in accordance with FTC regulations.**
Profile Image for Lilly.
373 reviews18 followers
July 25, 2020
This was such an entertaining book. It pushed me right in the middle of the action and it kept me there until the end. This is both a good and a bad thing – I will get immediately into the details.

Ok, “Hard Knox” tells the story of Gavin and Remi, who have been secretly married for some time now but have not had a real marriage experience. He is a famous football player and she is now a renowned photographer. Gavin decided to marry Remi so she can keep her Canadian citizenship, with the promise off a divorce in five years. Little did she expect to see a change in his intentions. Because our boy has no plans of letting her go, especially with the threats that she’s been dealing with lately.

As I was mentioning, I was pulled into the action right from the beginning, as the story stars six years after the marriage, with Gavin trying to gain Remi’s attention. As the blurb is mentioning, his plan is a dangerous one that can push Remi farther away, instead of making her fall far his charm. I really loved his determination and even if his method was childish, I see the good intentions there.

Speaking of determination, both characters are very much invested in their careers and this is something I respect as well. With all their messy personal lives, professionally speaking, they are the best versions of themselves. And give all to the jobs they have.

When it comes to the negative aspects, this way of going directly to the point in the book made me doubt a little weather this was a standalone or not. In the beginning I had no idea what the deal was between our main characters and for a god part I did not understand if these two actually had any feelings beyond sexual attraction. At some point, I felt that he was forcing himself onto fer (it was not the case, everything is consensual in this book), or at least forcing a pregnancy with the hope of it tying her to him.

Overall, I did enjoy the story and the author’s writing style. The series has received a lot of love so far from the readers and I cannot wait to read the other books by Amber Malloy.
Profile Image for Sapphyria  .
1,891 reviews55 followers
July 27, 2020
I enjoyed Hard Knox, book 2 in the Perfect Stats series by Amber Malloy. I was pulled in by the synopsis and couldn't put the book down. The story is engaging, fast paced, and includes intriguing characters. Remy and Gavin have a marriage of convenience but it's mostly to keep Remy safe. Both of them are like magnets to one another and when they get withing range, the sexual tension and steamy scenes are inevitable.

The suspense in the novel is subtle but I couldn't help sitting on the edge of my seat. Remy is running from someone and he/she may have just followed her right back home. I can't imagine having to look over my shoulder at every turn. The scene in Barbados was anxiety-inducing and I wondered who/what Remy was facing. The romance is hot. The chemistry between Remy and Gavin is undeniable and completely realistic. There are definite feelings between the two, despite their marriage to keep Remy safe.

The only thing I found off-putting about the story are random thought shifts and mentions or phrases that didn't go with what was happening in the scene. This didn't happen often but I had to re-read some passages and try to figure out what I missed because something would happen or someone would say or do something that didn't make sense. I still enjoyed the story and was able to move past those parts.

If you like a good romance with a touch of suspense and scorching-hot passion, I recommend Hard Knox. The author's writing style is smooth and conversational, the story is interesting, and I enjoyed the entire book. I look forward to reading more by this author.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.
Profile Image for Naturalbri (Bri Wignall).
1,094 reviews106 followers
June 23, 2020
Whoa, talk about a heated romance story. The sexy sports star and the always in trouble, traveling girl; the explosion when they are near, the angst when they try not to be. Honestly, this book is everything you need in a hot romance, and written so well you can’t help but fall completely in love with the crazy story.

I really like the blend of characters, personalities and emotion that the author threw at us. We are left turning our heads side to side, thinking about what just happened and did we like it or not. I like the excitement and angst, as it really thrusts the story into the next level, making it so real.

Overall, really exceptional book and one I highly, highly recommend!
1,319 reviews
August 4, 2023
Fast Paced

I really enjoyed Remy and Knox’s story. This book is the third one in the series but I read Hawk’s story first. While interconnected, the stories can be read as standalones. The books have sports themes but also suspense and intrigue are intertwined. Football star Knox fell in love with Remy when they met in college. He was a high profile athlete and she was a girl on the run….. literally for her life. Remy has a complicated and dangerous backstory….will she and Knox ever be able to live a normal life together? The book used humor and was not told in a linear fashion. I enjoyed the surprising ride!
Profile Image for Alicia Pressey.
352 reviews6 followers
November 28, 2022
Great book this was my first time reading anything from this author and I am glad I read the book she is now added to my TBR author list
Profile Image for Kelly-Jo Sweeney.
1,111 reviews16 followers
August 4, 2020
I wasn't completely sure what I was going going to get with Hard Knox. The blurb suggests that Knox and Remy have a marriage of convenience and that he has feelings for her that he wants to take further. As the story progresses it soon becomes clear that this isn't really the case here. There's is a relationship that was possibly always going to end with them together, but in the early days, things happened that both rushed them to that place and then kept them apart.

As the story unfolds we quickly learn about Knox's feelings. But this isn't a one-way street and while they may have spent years apart, meeting up only at intervals, they understand each other well and know what the other wants and needs, even if they haven't fully admitted to themselves what they want.

I really enjoyed this romance. It wasn't a sporting romance in the usual sense. Or rather it was different enough from others that I have read to be set apart as something different. It was obvious, or at least I thought it was obvious why they loved one another. There were a couple of times where I felt the action jumped a little without it being obvious as to why, but I think that just helped things to move along at a fast pace and it didn't throw me out of the story.

Overall this was a great read and one that I would highly recommend. I haven't read the previous book in this series, but that didn't really matter. That said, I enjoyed this one so much that I'd be more than happy to go back and give it a go.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews

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