Heroesinbooks's Reviews > The Revenge Pact

Beyond 5 River and Anastasia Golden Stars



I haven't read a College romance for a little while but I liked the sound of the blurb for 'The Revenge Pact' , so once it released I took a peek at the first page , just to get a feel for the story. Three hours later I was completely immersed , absorbed , hooked and unable to put it down. This is the first in the Kings of Football series and each book is written by a different author , each focusing on one of the three friends who are All-American players who were a sure thing for NFL greatness post College...until they aren't. Their season tanks and this book picks up where their team is out of contention for any acclaims or awards.

River Tate is the popular Kappa Frat President and the College football team's Wide Receiver who is adored by all.....except for Anastasia Bailey. Ana is the quirky girl who is not quite so popular. She has been going out with Donovan for a year and during that time has got to know lots of his Frat brothers and they all think she is sweet, kind and lovely. But River Tate? River Tate presses all her buttons.He is trying everything to ignore his pull to her. There is a simmering energy between them. She may be unsure of River but she's not blind to his attractiveness.

The outline of his patrician nose, the straight bridge, the slight bump at the top where he might have broken it, the shape of his dark brows, then I'm back to his lips.
"Well played, God." I whisper.



He is cool towards her , smirks, irritates and clearly is aware that he winds her up. She holds her ground against him. Despite that , these two are like magnets , helplessly drawn to each other. But River is doing all he can to not think about Anastasia. She's his friend's girl and he cannot break the loyalty that they live by. Except things with Ana and Donovan are not going well and things are changing. I have to say that I did NOT consider this to be a love triangle. The story is so well written and from the very start it's clear that Ana and Donovan are on the outs and that the spark between her and River is something that cannot be ignored. The crafting of this love story is beautifully done and as a reader you are completely invested from the start. Donovan is a nice guy in a lot of ways but he is pretty spineless at times and he was never going to be good enough for our heroine. Donovan behaved stupidly. She could do so much better and watching her and River navigate their path to each other made for heady reading. They are simply meant to be.

She isn't beautiful in a cookie cutter way like some of the made up sorority girls who hang at our house; no, she's frighteningly pretty in an ethereal , natural way. Like a wild angel.



It's rare to read a book where you adore the Hero and heroine equally but River and Ana are both very loveable and both have strengths, vulnerabilities , challenges and something uniquely special about them. River battles with his ADHD, dyslexia and dyscalculia and is very private about it. He adores his family and there are difficulties there too which are pretty heart breaking. I loved his relationship with his Mum. Ana is so alone in the world. She is clearly very loved by her parents but they have a very nomadic lifestyle and that means she has never felt like she belonged anywhere. Ana cares deeply about people and she shows that in her actions. I teared up at a couple of scenes involving June, an older lady that she helps, a surrogate Granny in a way.

As sweet as she is, Anastasia absolutely holds her ground against the mean girls that resent her.

On her way out, Harper's face is flat as she sniffs at my pink knee socks, black velvet mini skirt and Eiffel Tower cropped sweater. I push up my glasses in defiance. Try me , sorority girl.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It is funny, sassy, it will tug your heartstrings, it's endearing , it makes you want to scream at the top of your voice in support of the underdog and the lonely and it will make you think long and hard about destiny and what is meant to be. The relationships between different characters are well written and entertaining. But , ultimately it is a love story that captured my heart completely.

Fate has a way of bringing people together, and , baby girl, we're meant to be.



HEA? Yes.
Cheating? No
Be aware - Loss of a parent (Father) / Parent with cancer (Mother).

Without doubt one of the very best books I have read.

AUGUST 2022 - I re read via audible. I fell in love with Ana and River all over again. Excellent narration by CJ Bloom and Lee Samuels.

The second book in the series is The Romantic Pact by Meghan Quinn and is about Crew Smith (the Protective One) . The third is The Relationship Pact by Adriana Locke and is about Hollis Hudson (the mysterious One).