I really wanted to like this book, but I don’t think it was for me to be honest. It seems everyone in the book holds a grudge against the MMC, Colt Bradley, for leaving the FMC, May Velasco, to go to university away from their small town and play professionally for lacrosse. The way they all kind of gaslight him into believing he made a terrible mistake by leaving their town isn’t justified and I just felt annoyed seeing May constantly bring it up in front of Colt. There are too many characters to keep track of that don’t seem to be fleshed out completely, and the story leans more towards the action of sports without being addictive or suspenseful enough to hold my interest. Although it’s clear they say that they feel attraction to each other up until the 41% mark where I stopped, I didn’t feel any chemistry or tension between them.

Mein Leseerlebnis

Mit dem Buch habe ich mich leider von den ersten Seiten an etwas schwer getan. Der Schreibstil wirkte auf mich eher einfach und die Stimmen der einzelnen Charaktere hoben sich nicht genug voneinander ab.

Im Buch spielt der Lacrosse-Sport eine große Rolle und die teils ausführlichen Szenen mit Details dazu, fand ich ehrlich gesagt nicht besonders interessant. Ich mag Sport eigentlich schon, aber Lacrosse spricht mich nicht an.

Aus Desinteresse habe ich den Liebesroman nach gut 10 Kapiteln abgebrochen. Die Geschichte hat mir leider nichts gegeben. Schade, der Klappentext hörte sich gut an.

Keine Bewertung, da abgebrochen.

Für wen?

Wer sports romances mit jungen Erwachsenen im College-Alter spannend findet, für den könnte der Roman einen Versuch wert sein. Schaut vor dem Lesen unbedingt in eine Leseprobe rein und achtet darauf, ob euch der Schreibstil überzeugen kann.

It was my first Lacrosse romance and it actually made me want to watch a Lacrosse game. I really enjoyed how we went through many games and practices. It was refreshing to read about a new sport and, for me, it was the perfect balance between sports and romance!

I gotta say I am a sucker for second chances and I did love May and Colt's story. I love how they got reunited and then "had to" fake date to help May's team. I was hit with Colt's longing from the very beginning. It took me a bit more time to feel anything on May's side, aside from a lot of resentment. She brought back the breakup story a bit too often in my opinion and it got me a bit frustrated at some point.

That being said, I didn't expect the country vibes and I was here for it!!! Who doesn't like a hot cowboy? Who knows how to line dance ? I know I do 🙋🏽‍♀️🙋🏽‍♀️ I had such a fun time with this book!

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion 🫶🏽

Cross my Heart by Esha Patel

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

Expected release date - 22nd May 2025

Cross my Heart was a cute, wholesome read about 2 Lacrosse players, May and Colt, who reconnect in their small town by having to enter a fake dating situation.

This was a really interesting read as I have never seen a Lacrosse romance before but I was pleasantly surprised. I loved that we got to see the passion between both May and Colt for their sport and for the ones we love. I also really enjoyed that it had a little mix of the Twisters movie in too with Oklahoma being in the setting for this story.

The relationship between Colt and May progresses with them working through their feelings from the past as well as the future. I enjoyed the extra parts of May’s journey and how she has to deal with the small town farm element and the women’s sport being lower than men’s element. I enjoyed how Esha Patel wrote these subjects and gave them the insight that was needed.

Overall, Cross My Heart is a delightful read that will leave you rooting for the characters and their happily-ever-after. Perfect for fans of heartfelt romances and sports-themed stories!

cross my heart? erm no you took my heart.
this book is so beyond wonderful. it managed every romance novel readers wishes. and it did it with such brilliance i could not tell you how much i fell in love with this book.
sports romances are getting better and better.
May was so bold and strong. she was brave and didnt care showing how much she loves those she loves. she a lacrosse player and is finally getting to where she needs to be. but she needs this one last chance to go right because shes had a rough year of it. but someone then returns after leaving years ago. someone she tried to put behind her. that person is Colt and sadly hes here to help her,to should i say help the team. which yeh, means her.
whilst things start to get more intimate a mistaken picture in a bar sends the press wild. and everyone is overjoyed this is getting the team noticed.
and when May tried to get it shut down she finds herself being told to pretend. this is the press they need and she cant deny that. but can they play pretend. is that fair on them...or their hearts?
May and Colt are a beautiful pair to read about. and oh oh oh how i was rooting for them. they bring out all the best sides of eachother. they let eachother be seen just as they are by the other person. and thats ok. its more than ok. the way Colt cares for May is just glorious. and its not icky at all. it just feels real.
this is such a sunshine kind of book. and it brought so much light to my reading life. Esha has done herself proud with this one.

I suddenly have a desire to pick up a lacrosse stick and learn to play? I will always eat up a fake dating romance, and this delivered. All the forced proximity, fake longing glances, and genuine history and feelings between them made the building of their relationship authentic and a delight to read. Also, the small town/college sports/western romance aspects all colliding were so fun to see. More importantly to me, Patel delivers some really insightful commentary on the way women in sports are treated by comparison to men. While obviously it's lacrosse-centric commentary, it applies not just to other sports, but in the wide world. There were some structural changes it could benefit from, but overall Cross My Heart had both an adorable romance and important commentary and equality (in sports)! I loved it.

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon, and Esha Patel for the advance copy. I am leaving this honest review voluntarily, and all opinions remain my own.

Firstly, thank you so much for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

This was my first book by Esha Patel and I really enjoyed it! Through hockey romances I’ve really gotten into sports romances and am enjoying broadening my horizons to new sports… lacrosse is a sport I don’t know much about but really enjoyed this book regardless and was able to follow along and understand what was happening. I found this to be a lighthearted, easy read and I really enjoyed it. I’m definitely excited to read more of Patel’s work in the future!

It was just fine. I found myself disinterested and unengaged for most of the book, but still enjoyed a few parts here and there. Lots of random jumps and seemingly missing plot points. May was reallllllly annoying. Grow up. Please.

Review also found on goodreads

This story gave me all the feels. The romance is playful and swoony but also so grounded, and the sports backdrop adds a gritty, determined energy I loved. Anyone who loves college romance with strong heroines, messy feelings, and that heart-fluttering realization that what’s fake might just be the realest thing of all is going to fall hard for this one. I know I did.

LOVED THIS!

Is there such a genre as cosy spice? Because this is it.

A great sports romance with moments of swoon worthy sex appeal.

Fast paced with a great cast of characters. The story had the right combination of drama and humour, making it all the more realistic.

Was really good to see women in sport highlighted too!

⭐️⭐️.5

Now I am very well acquainted with fake dating romances, however a lacrosse romance was a new one for me. Cross My Heart was both of these things which lead to an interesting read.

I feel as though if this had been another sport, I might have been more invested with me knowing marginally more about hockey let’s say, but let’s be real we aren’t reading these books for the accuracy of how the sport is represented (although I do enjoy a well researched book). Fake dating may be one of my favourite tropes so I was’t amazed with the way this book turned out. Whilst I understand this is all fiction, the fake dating scenario wasn’t as believable as it could have been. The inclusion of the scholarship angle did redeem this book somewhat and helped me push through to the end.

Overall this is most definitely a college sports romance book, and absolutely does include fake dating, however I wouldn’t be rushing to read it again.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This review was left honestly and voluntarily.

This book was very cute, and gave me all the good feels. I enjoy reading cute romance books, especially anything to do with sports. While I’ve never read a lacrosse book, i throughly enjoyed it!

This second-chance romance completely captivated me! The chemistry between the characters was so genuine and intense. The best part was the positive portrayal of female sports—those team moments had me teary-eyed.

It was my first lacrosse romance, and it didn’t disappoint. The ending, especially May’s win, was unforgettable—so beautifully written and well-deserved. I loved how these two supported each other through their fears, even without confessing their feelings yet.

DNF at 26%….

This book has been pretty slow thus far, and I feel like there’s been a lot of vague anger and angst. Their communication style is that of dramatic teenagers, but they are supposedly the age of college seniors. I went back to read some reviews and was forewarned that the miscommunication/lack of communication continues to be a theme throughout the book, and I don’t think I can go through with it at this point. Maybe I’ll try again in audio format, we’ll see.

i don't have anything to say. just no. wish i wouldn't have spent my time on this one, but at least i binged/skimmed a decent portion bc... no.

thank you to netgalley & avon books for the arc! all opinions are my own <3

Super cute. I love May, she's really interesting and sweet. The writing is nice, it's a quick and easy read. I really recommend it.

What a sweet new adult second chance romance! I adored May and Colt's story.

While not a big sports fan myself (unless it's swimming) and someone who doesn't normally read sports romances, I loved the sound of the premise of this book and wasn't disappointed. And I've learned a fair bit about lacrosse!

Both MCs felt real, with their hearts sliced wide open, their vulnerabilities and fears exposed. I love when books show real people instead of cookie cut versions of what a perfect character would feel like. We all make mistakes, it's only human; the way we go about fixing them is what matters. Reading about May and Colt's paths to that was so satisfying.

Colt, gosh - what a green walking flag. He was literally the greenest flag MMC possible. Amazing golden retriever energy. The way he worshipped May? It'd break the swoon meter. The care, the patience, the softness betweeb these two when they got their second chance - and the moment the "fake" relationship stopped being fake.

Loved it all. The Oklahoma setting, the ranch backdrop, Holi, the nod to Twisters - and to The Longest Ride! - Jordan! 🫶🏻 Jordan has a huge main character energy. She was such a fantastic friend to May and I just found her awesome.

Though I fear I won't be able to look at strawberries again and not think of May's pain.

Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for the e-arc. It took me a little while to get into this one. I haven’t come across many sports romances that focus on lacrosse, so it felt quite different, nonetheless very enjoyable; and I really liked that women’s sports got some proper attention too.

I thought Colt was great — really kind and easy to like. May took me a bit longer to warm to. I could understand why she was hung up on how things were left with Colt, but after a while it did start to feel a bit repetitive.

Overall, it was an enjoyable enough read once it found its stride, with a refreshing focus on a different sport and I’m glad I gave it a go.

Book was a 3 star read 🌟. Really enjoyed this authors style of wiring and reallt enjoyed rhe characters in this book

A really sweet, calming book. Getting to know CJ and May was a pleasure. Esha Patel does a very good job of making miscommunication and character thought processes easy to understand and empathise with. I also appreciate the emphasis on other parts of their lives rather than solely the romance.