One Last Try: A Small Town Single Dad Rugby Romance (Try for Love Book 1)

I had such a blast reading this book. It's fun and sweet and kind, filled with both funny and tender moments. I would move to this charming & inclusive little town with its fun cast of characters in a heartbeat. I really liked both MCs, but Matthias and his neurospicy little brain (specifically autistic) hold a special place in my heart. He was so relatable. I didn't expect the final bit of drama, and it wasn't my preference, especially past the 85% mark. The book is incredibly soft and sweet and kind, and so I felt like this drama was out of place. That said, the author did a good job of resolving it and it led to some really sweet moments. The epilogue was great, exactly what I want in a one year later follow up. Thanks to the author for an ARC! I can't wait to read Harry and Lando's book.

A delightful rugby themed romance, complete with a small village of irreplaceable characters and exceptionally smart dialogue. Instant attraction, but a slowly developing relationship makes this an entertaining storyline and the ending brings it all together.

This was my second standalone book by Jemma Croft. I previously read book 2 in this series and really enjoyed it. I loved nearly every page of Mathias and Owen's story and really enjoyed seeing them find their HEA together, especially that very last page of the story. I also enjoyed the writing style of intermixing present day and some past events, which was really well done. Finally, the Twilight references were delightful! I look forward to eventually reading the third book in this series once it's done.

Amazing book, so cozy and sweet. I love the community and found family in this and i wish I could read this for the first time again.

I've only ever read one book by Croft, her co-write with Lex Easton, but now I'm running over to Amazon to check out her others. I couldn't resist when I saw the small town, cozy vibes, and One Last Try didn't disappoint. Matthias was just adorable. I wanted to give him a hug once we got to see the way he internalizes his guilt about what happened to Owen, as well as his doubts that he's ever really wanted anywhere. He's clever, a bit naughty, thoughtful, caring, and he really just wants a place to feel safe and to belong. Owen is just a cinnamon roll. He has two older daughters, which was a nice dynamic, because we got to see a different aspect of the single father role that I think I normally get. When the kids are younger, the dynamic is just a bit different. Owen loves his daughters, his town, his pub, and he's just a genuinely kindhearted person with a lot of love and passion to give. I will say, the one thing I was kind of questioning was his representation as demi. I know this could be different for everyone who identifies that way, but it seemed a little at odds with the way he even describes himself as falling super fast. Our supporting characters fit the small town setting to a T. They're quirky, they're caring, they're supportive, they're appropriately nosy, and they just exude those found family vibes. Who I wanted to know more about was actually not a resident, but Matthias' coach. It seemed like the man had a real soft spot for him, and I would've loved to…