Running Interference

Penalty #1

by Cata Ree, E.K. Woodcock

Liza:

How would I describe Jace Jackson? That’s the real question isn’t it! He is the star athlete at our university and his prowess on the ice is unmatched. Off the ice.. he is enigmatic!

He is also arrogant, flirty, a playboy, and oh so frustrating!

My assignment is to interview and get to know him, but he says “trust is a two-way street”. Have I been wrong about him all this time? Will getting to know him leave me vulnerable? How do I stop him from breaking my heart?

Jace:

Liza Thorn.. Just thinking her name has me burning! She is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. Women usually fall all over themselves to land at my feet, not her! Instead she has me weak in the knees.

I’m falling and I’m not sure that I care to stop.

She is tenacious and resilient. Her inner strength only adds to her power over me, but how do I truly let her in? How do I show her the real me.. the one I hide away?

She is easily the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I want her more then I’ve ever wanted anything, even hockey!

Genres: Sports, Sports Romance, Hockey

179 pages, ebook

Published May 27, 2022

About the author

Cata Ree is a new breed called a nerdy-jock. She lives for her books and her sports. She often can be found either swooning over bat swinging, hockey stick wielding athletes on TV or writing about them.

She loves the clicking sound of the keyboard, a new book smell, or the way her kindle hits her face as she falls asleep during reading.

Cata Ree lives in Cochrane, AB, Canada surrounded by the beautiful Canadian Rockies with her beautiful family .

When she’s not writing, or reading, she can be found running after her gang of hooligans, also knowns as her children and husband.

Cata Ree can be reached at her email: catareeauthor@gmail.com

Reviews

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/21/2022)! 🎁

[Nicole Barkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jace and Liza have such a cute story. I didnt even realize how far into the book I was until I took a break (reluctantly I might add)! Running Interference has such a great flow and pulls you in! The way they help each other makes my heart melt! This is one book that you won't want to put down!

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liza has OCD, dyslexia, and anxiety. One day 2 years ago, Liza freaked out during her run that she didn't do her routine right and may have not locked her door. Panicking, she heads back but can't remember where her room is - instead ending up going into the wrong room, leading her into Jace's room - a day to remember for both of them. They see each other again 2 years later, at one of his hockey games. Jace is a playboy and gets who and whatever he wants, but Liza's different - she doesn't throw herself at him - she makes him work for her and want her more. He's more fascinated and intrigued about her after finding her blog post about him - that goes viral. He wants to get to know her and show her the real him that not many people know. After giving in at an afterparty, she tries to avoid Jace, but more things just keep pushing them towards each other when she's assigned an interview with the school's hockey superstar.
I really enjoyed getting to know Liza and Jace (& Jayme, Conny, Dean, Koda, Lexi). The storyline and plot were really well written - it was very intriguing from the start - I was hooked. It's a page-turner - I didn't want to put it down. The characters were really well developed - even though it does cover some tough topics as to why Liza and Jayce (& Jayme) are the way they are - you get a lot of background on them and understand them a lot better. They have their pasts, and they're able to heal together, with the others help and support. There's lots of angst and tension, humor, cute with some spicy scenes, and it gets emotional. I wouldn't necesarily classify it as enemies to lovers, especially since it doesn't last very long. I don't read a lot of sport romances but I absolutely loved this one and can't wait to read Jayme & Conny's story! Highly recommend this one! Can't wait to read more from Cata Ree.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Chey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liza needs to interview Jace and get to know him as an assignment. She knows how he is, or at least what he portrays. Will getting to know him mean seeing she was wrong about him and leaving herself open and vulnerable?

Jace and Liza have a stereotypical sports romance. He's an athlete, she is forced to get to know him, and learns he's not as bad as he seems. It was a little predictable and there weren't any twists to keep me on my toes or second guessing anything.

The story was sweet and I liked Jace and Liza together. She struggles with some issues like OCD, dyslexia and anxiety that make her relatable. Jace is a sports star that is more than just his sport, and getting to see that side of him was interesting.

Overall rating:
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
1 🌶

[GKP2460 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new to me author and I was pleasantly surprised! I'm not real big on sports romance so to find it very enjoyable is a definite plus. It's a well written story that touches on sensitive topics respectfully and seems to keep in mind these are real issues that real people suffer from. The storyline flows seamlessly and is easily read. I can't wait for the next book from this exciting new to me author.

[Jess A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Running Interference

This book is an enemies to lovers college sports romance. This was such and easy read. The story flowed and was easy to follow.
I loved seeing the growth of Liza and Jace throughout the book. The hot jock hockey player and the journalism major blogger have some major chemistry with a bit of a spice throughout the book.
Looking forward to the next book in this series!

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. Ms. Ree was a new author to me when I read this book. I can't wait to read book two.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[lin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Running Interference: ( Penalty Series Book 1 )

Cata Ree, this is one major story. From one moment to the next it keeps your readers turning the pages. Thank you for an awesome, super read.

[Shannon Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been very lucky to be a chapter-by-chapter beta reader for this book. It was amazing to see it evolve and come together to be what it is now. I really love it, and as early feedback has stated, it’s her best work yet! I hope others enjoy it too!

[Nicole Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow

Wow! What a great way to start a new series! I couldn’t put the book down once I started! I can’t wait for book 2.

[Breanna Allred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dont judge a book by its covef

This is a cute cute story on stero types. U never know what someone else has gone through till u get to know them.

[Anne Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read

This is not my usual type of read, college and enemies to lovers. I love trying new authors and I will continue to read this author's books.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I volunteered to read this ARC for an honest review. I enjoyed this story about Jace and Liza. He's the star hockey player for the college team and she's an introverted college student. They meet by chance when she enters his room by accident. There's an instant connection between them, an understanding that makes them better. But when life happens they work it together. Great HEA in the beginning.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tracy Pulley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ree is a new to me author so I felt like I was taking a chance on this book. The blurb sounded great so I dove in. Over all, I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the story. Even though I felt a little attacked in the prologue (I’ve never been diagnosed with OCD but I swear it was like Ree was in my head!). This would have been a 5 star rating but I finished a chapter and then I was at the epilogue. It was sort of anticlimactic. In the end, it was a good, quick read and I’m ready for the next in the series.

I received an ARC for my honest opinion.

[Mrs K · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read

This is the first book in this series. I thought this book was very well written and I couldn't put the book down. I highly recommend this book.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liza Thorn is a jumbled up ball of nerves she's in college now but dealing with everyday life is tuff when you have OCD and Dyslexia so when her mess up leads to a wrong dorm room with a guy who is noticeable hot but a real pig too she hopes the rest of college goes smoother. Two years later and a Hockey game now she is on a mission let Mr Dimples have it on her daily blog both there first meeting and second haven't turned out well and the mother of all bombs just dropped her professor has given her and assignment interview you guessed it Jace Jackson the annoying Mr. Dimples let's hope it gets better for Liza and she can find the nice guy behind all the cockyness that is Jace Jackson.

Jace can't believe his luck his tempting but annoyed girl in pink from freshman year is now back on his radar no matter what he dose she blocks him at every turn maybe she should be playing hockey but his chance to show her his real self has just landed him her undevided attention now he just needs to let his guard down and show her hes more then a flirt with hockey for brains.

This was a cute sports romance with low angst plenty of snarky banter in the beginning but dose have some depth when it comes to both Jace and Liza past and home life and why Jace wares a carefree mask around everyone but his closest friends and how Liza struggles with and moves forward after early trauma in her life.

I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book via Booksprout and this is my honest review.

[BrittneyandtheBooks · Rating 1 out of 5]

Trigger warnings if anyone may need them:

•There is sexual trauma referenced with little detail
•Graphic memory of a death




Spoilers Ahead:
———

I’d like to preface by saying my average rating for a sports romance is usually a 3.5-4 stars. I like a large range of tropes so I tend to read quite a bit of sports romance, particularly hockey.

This is marked as an enemies-to-lovers sports romance but I didn’t really understand the enemy vibe. The FMC, Liza, made our MMC, Jace, her “enemy” based off a single line and 2 minute interaction with him. Then we jump 2 years later and she still hates the guy even though she can barely remember what he looks like. But don’t worry, if you like a FAST burn this is for you. She goes from hating him to wondering if she’s in love with him in the span of a week. If that?

My biggest issue with this was how a sexual trauma was handle. Liza describes how her brother basically sold her to his friends so they could stand over her and masturbate. She was traumatized by this!! Yet, the next chapter she’s waking Jace up with a hand job. This scene didn’t sit right with me.

Everything kind of fell apart after that. The cheesy lines turned childish, the dialogue wasn’t good, things that played out didn’t really feel realistic.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jace and Liza . . .

Jace Jackson is a star on the ice. But he’s a player too. Liza Thorn is supposed to get to know him and interview him, but he won’t make it easy and she does not want to fall for him and get hurt.

Jace is intrigued by the fact that Liza doesn’t fall for him like every other female on campus. She shows strength of character and he is finding himself very attracted to her. He wants to show her the person he really is and not the one he pretends to be. But that puts him at risk. Is she worth risking his own heart this time?

[Mulan Book Princess · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a meet cute for Liza and Jace! I didn’t know whether to be appalled or to keep giggling away. Jace is so funny with his one-liners which hide his more sensitive and caring side. He is a total sweetheart. Liza is adorable and I love her interactions with Jace. These two had such a great group of friends who care for them, and really contributed to this story. I thought Liza and Jace had great chemistry together and really enjoyed reading this romance.

I received a free advanced reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my fair and honest review.

[Cari Sims-Burks · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good

The author is new to me and I might read the next one. It depends on what I'm into reading next April. The characters were likable, even the side characters.

I didn't like that the setting seemed to be the NE US, maybe MA, but spellings used were British English. It was a tad weird. It wouldn't have taken much to set it in Canada, as hockey is a thing there too. Or change the spellcheck settings even.

The flow of the story, grammar, typos, were all great.

[Pink_lady78 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Jace and Liza’s story. Liza is an introverted college student with OCD and dyslexia and Jace is the star hockey player for the college team. They have a chance meeting by accident and there was an instant connection. Later after seeing each other a hockey game, they start to push each other’s buttons. They both have things they are trying to overcome from their past. Cata Ree is a new author to me, but I enjoy her storyline and writing very much. Great Book!

[tburbr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great start to a new series as well as being a great introduction to a new to me author. The character work and story line were well written and kept me entertained. I look forward to my next adventure with Cata Ree.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Belen Gonzalez Munera · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters and the story had so much potential but this story fell so short. I felt like things were happening so fast & it was hard to keep up. :/ I think it could have a been a wonderful hockey romance if it was slowed down a bit so it could give their relationship more time to grow. The few spice scenes were great though.

[Di Ketchup · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another sexy read from this author. The story is written well, you literally jump right in and get a clear understanding of the characters. They really do fit together.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the plot line. But the execution was ehhh. It was really the writing that wasn’t my favorite. There was a lot of telling not showing. I am invested enough in the characters though that I will finish the second book.

[Fallon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thinking about reading this book? Yeah, maybe don’t do that. The writing style was not for me at all, everything felt extremely rushed, the characters had very little depth. There really wasn’t much I liked about this, to be honest…

[Erin Vargas · Rating 3 out of 5]

This definitely had the potential to be more! Certain parts didn’t seem to fit well and their was definitely triggers- Alcoholism, abuse, sexual trauma. It kept me interested for the most part.