User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
4 stars 
I need a girl I can bring home to my mother, and Hollis Westbrooke is perfect in every way. Other than the fact that she hates me…
Reading
Hard Fall was such a blast. Seriously, this one was so much fun to read. I enjoyed the first book in this series a lot, but I think I liked this one even more. Buzz was such a hilarious hero and I loved getting his perspective.
Trace ‘Buzz’ Wallace meets Hollis Westbrooke at the stadium he plays ball and naturally, he hits on her. He has no idea she’s his team managers daughter but once he finds out it doesn’t stop him. She needs to get her ex off her back and he needs to bring a girl home to make his mom happy. They are exactly what each other needs.
Oh my goodness Buzz Wallace might be the funniest and sweetest hero I’ve read about. He’s such an oddball but I loved him so much. Hollis couldn’t resist his crazy charm as much as she tried. My favorite parts of this book were when they were around Buzz’s family and when Hollis started to see him for the kind of man he really is, not the guy he appears to be at first.
Honestly, the only thing I would change about this book would be to make it longer. I wanted more from Buzz and Hollis, especially once they got together. This was an odd combo of slow burn/friends to lovers and a bit of insta love once they realized their feelings but it really worked for me.
The first two books of this series have been wins for me and I’m looking forward to seeing where Sara Ney goes with the next. I kind of hope it’s about Buzz’s brother, even though he’s not a baseball player (he plays football) because I want more of the Wallace family. If you’re looking for a sports romance that will make you laugh out loud and that’s sweet and steamy, pick up
Hard Fall.
Rating: really liked it
This is fun. I feel so entertained by Wallace. He is super cute. Perfect boyfriend material. I love how persistent he is pursuing Hollace. Miss Ney brings this book to a different level. Instead of man whore, we got commited hero.
What a fresh breath of air. Hard Fall is the first book I read in this series. Hopefully I can get copy of other books.
Very entertaining reading to start Christmas holiday.
4 stars
Rating: really liked it
Okay, Trace and his entire family were HILARIOUS. This is the kind of Sara Ney romance I’ve been missing! I laughed so much during this. Trace is a total DORK but he grew on me. I enjoyed the fake dating/forbidden aspect too. Hollis is the daughter of the GM of Trace’s baseball team and he saves her one night by pretending to be her boyfriend, and things spiral from there. It’s really fun and entertaining!
Rating: really liked it
4.5 Stars 🌟 
Hard Fall is the 2nd book in the Trophy Boyfriends Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a laugh out loud romantic comedy between a professional baseball player and the daughter of his Boss with a fake dating element to it.
When it comes to rom coms and any sort of sports romance I have a very specific type of hero I'm always drawn to and
Trace 'Buzz' Wallace checks all the boxes. He is loud, obnoxiously funny, a little dorky, he has no boundaries but is a sweetheart, super supportive and a total hopeless romantic. He is basically part labrador, part man child with a heart of gold. He reminds me a lot of my fave man child Blake Riley and I. Am. Here. For. It. I don't know what it is about this type of hero but I can't help but love them. I pretty much spent the entire book smiling and laughing at every single thing he said or thought. I must've highlighted the entire book with all things Buzz Wallace.
And we can't forget our main girl
Hollis Westbrooke as I also loved her a lot. She is sassy, independent, kind and so very loveable. She is somewhat guarded and cautious when letting new people in having been used before due to her families connections and money and doesn't always know if people's interest in her is genuine. The first time she meets Buzz he can't help but hit on her and she is not into it at all. She doesn't date baseball players especially ones on the team run by her father. Having trouble with an ex who doesn't know when to back off she is swiftly rescued by Buzz which then leads them into sort of fake dating and shenanigans ensue, many many shenanigans.
Also can we take a second to appreciate the brillance that is Hollis Wallace 😅💕
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was highly entertaining and very reminiscent of Sara Ney's earlier work. I only wish the book's in this new series were longer as I'm sure I could read about these couples all day and I'm looking forward to the 3rd book.
《book aesthetic made by me. I do not own the pictures, all found via pinterest》
Rating: really liked it
It was a cute read. Nothing special but sweet.
Rating: really liked it
I was super excited to see that the second book in the Trophy Boyfriends series was Trace “Buzz” Wallace. I loved him so much in the previous book and I was hoping he would meet his match and cop a heap of trouble from Noah and Miranda as payback for all the Buzzness he put them through because man is he a character and a half.
Even in his own story he was larger than life. In a way that felt like it would be painful if you didn’t know how absolutely caring and sincere he could be. Everything about Trace has you either wanting to smack him in the head or tear his clothes off and climb on. And his relationship with Hollis was on point.
Hollis was utterly unique in her world. She had spent so much time being on the outside but close enough to know how it all worked and to know that she wanted more. And Trace was so much more. I could honestly wax poetic about how much I loved this couple. Although I do have to admit I’m a little disappointed that we didn’t get more of Mirada and Noah. And I was really hoping for a little more drama from his craziness but then again what I got was pretty perfect so I am not complaining just wanting more.
Of course, getting Trace 2.0 in his brother Tripp’s story next should be just as entertaining. And we can only hope that his family will be slightly more hilarious especially since I am sure Trace will give him a hard time for coming second. I really can’t wait.
Rating: really liked it
Hard Fall is the second book in the Trophy Boyfriends series by Sara Ney. Told in dual perspectives, this is Trace 'Buzz' Wallace and Hollis Westbrooke's story.
Now while I enjoyed the first book in this series a lot, I liked this one even more. It was a barrel full of laughs and so much fun to read. Buzz was such a sweet and hilarious hero. His antics in trying to win over the team's general manager's daughter were highly entertaining. The adorableness of these two slayed me, and I can't see anyone not absolutely loving their story.
Hollis meets Buzz when she goes to the stadium to visit her father. She accidentally gets off on the wrong floor, and this is where the two cross paths. He has no clue that she's his team's general manager's daughter, but once he finds out, that doesn't scare him off. His mom has been on his back about his love life and wanting grandbabies, and Hollis, being the girl next door type, is exactly who he needs to bring home to mom. Not to mention, he's exactly what she needs to get rid of her pesky ex.
Their mutually beneficial fake relationship was a hoot, and in time, turned into something so much more. I absolutely loved each and every second spent with these two - the banter, the sass, the laughs, the swoons. I recommend this to anyone who loves a slow burn, friends-to-lovers, sports romance that will win over your heart. Five stars for Hollis, Buzz and Hard Fall!
Rating: really liked it
Review coming soon
Rating: really liked it
4.5⭐️
This is the Sara Ney I LOVE. This book is laugh out loud funny. Trace ‘Buzz’ Wallace is one of my favourite hero’s of all time. He made me laugh one minute and swoon the next. He is serious at all the right times, super sweet, funny and just the whole package. He pursued Hollis with so much confidence and never wavered in his pursuit of her.
Hollis Westbrooke is the daughter of the GM for the baseball team Buzz plays for. She is sassy, and sweet and the sexy, flirty banter between her and Buzz was the BEST! I love her outlook on life and refusal to live under her fathers thumb.
The scenes with Buzz’s family were my absolute favourite and I CANNOT wait for his brother, Tripp’s book next.
If you love sports romance with humor and steam this is your book! Highly recommend.
Rating: really liked it
I love Sara Ney's stories! They are always banterific and full of sass and swoons. But while I thought Hollis and Trace's story was really cute with funny laugh out loud moments, Hard Fall was a bit of a mixed bag for me.
I enjoyed Hollis' sass, independence and wit and the endearing role reversal in the story where we see the hero's vulnerability and how he wore his heart on his sleeve. I just wish I felt more of a connection between the couple. I never really felt the swoons and butterflies in my stomach like I have with Ney's previous stories. Overall, while this story wasn't what I was expecting, I am intrigued by Tripp's story and the reason he is the way he is. 3.5 stars ~Ratula
***
In my review of
Hard Pass I said of Buzz:
I wasn't sure what to make of Buzz at first but, much like Miranda, I adored him for the lovable buffoon he was in the end. He was like a giant, overly-excitable golden retriever. Obnoxious and slobbery, but pure heart of gold. I can't wait to get my hands on his story. Holy cow, was that description apt.
A giant, lovable golden retriever, indeed.
This guy. Equal parts perplexing and endearing, he took a bit for me to get used to. In fact, I would imagine that my emotional processing of Buzz was similar to Hollis's emotional processing of Buzz. There wasn't an immediate connection. But over time, he won me over. He was sweet and heartfelt. He was immature and buffoonish, but also steadfast and sincere. And paired with Hollis's own quirks and sassy, down-to-earth personality, it's easy to buy into their happily ever after.
That said, I didn't
feel this book the way I wanted to. Here we had two likable characters in all their banterific, playful glory. But the chemistry was off for me. I enjoyed their story, but it felt like it stayed on a superficial level for me. No butterflies, no delicious ache in my heart. I think I might have liked a little more depth or complexity to these characters. It all happened so quickly and so neatly - and while I enjoyed it, it wasn't quite the emotional experience I was looking for.
Criticism aside, there were still plenty of smiles delivered over the course of this storyline, and a setup for more quirky, offbeat antics to come, and I can't wait to see what's in store! ~ Shelly, 3 stars
Rating: really liked it
[Like when his mom pretty much forced them to stay the night at her home and
Rating: really liked it
3.5 stars Better than the first book. I liked the male lead, he was such a ... i have no idea what word would describe him. But unique is one. He was childish but mature when it mattered.
It was a short, sweet read.
Rating: really liked it
If I didn't already have some books I loved by this author...
I don't know if I would ever read another one.
Like... WTF was this book?
Nope. Nope. NOPE.
2.5/5 stars
Rating: really liked it
Buzz is the book boyfriend I hadn’t expected… But now he is my soulmate *swoon*
When I was reading Hard Pass, I liked Buzz, I thought he was funny and cutely annoying, but I couldn’t imagine an epic love story for him, I was seeing him as too much of a goof or a flirt. How wrong was I…. Trace (aka Buzz) is the ultimate romantic! He is so darn cute and sensitive while being HILARIOUS, you could make a joke book with only the nicknames he gives to Hollis, but the funniest thing is not what he says, but what he does (read the book and you’ll get it). Hollis… She is so sassy but so sweet at the same time, she is a book lover and Trace knows exactly what to do to win the heart of this junior publisher.
When I first read their “meet-cute” (that was sarcastic FYI), I had no idea that their story was actually going to be pretty darn cute! I think that what I love the most in Sara Ney’s books is how naturally the love story develops. There is no big revelation or the characters do not magically change for the best, they are just who they are and they fall in love (and let me tell you, Trace does not change one bit from the first page of the book to the last, you just learn so much about this big goof).
For people who adore drama in romance, you might be disappointed. For the others who are OBSESSED with Sara Ney’s low drama books? You’ve just found your next favourite read. I absolutely hate drama, I believe some books would be so much better without it, so you can only imagine how much I love all of Sara Ney’s romance stories.
For a tiny bit of criticism, as for Hard Pass, it was way too short! Sara?! How can you do this to us? I needed at least 200 more pages of Trace and Hollis!
Therefore, if you are looking for a story that will melt your heart and your panties… Hard Fall and Trace Wallace are made for you!
*ARC reveived in exchange for an honest review*
Rating: really liked it
4.5 stars!Oh, what a fun read! Sweet, sexy and laugh-out-loud funny, this playful sports romance is a great read with a gorgeous love story, and I loved it!
Trace “Buzz” Wallace was introduced in the first book of this series as the annoyingly over-familiar best friend to Noah (but note that this book can easily be read as a standalone). Trace is a professional baseball player who is as well known for playing off the field as he is for his skill on the field. He doesn’t have the greatest reputation, but deep down he’s a sweet guy who has had enough of the sports groupies and is trying to move on from his past, and who wants to find a nice girl to bring home to his mother and build a life with.
Hollis Westbrooke is the daughter of the General Manager of Trace’s baseball team. She has a difficult relationship with her father and has removed herself from the family business as much as she can. When she first meets Trace, she is less than impressed, and she rejects him when he hits on her. But later, he comes to her rescue by pretending to be her boyfriend, and she gets sucked into this sort-of fake relationship, sort-of friendship dynamic which is fun and hugely entertaining – especially because she wants nothing to do with ball players, and Trace is about to get all up in her life.
Trace is freaking hilarious. An overgrown man-child, he’s immature in so many ways, but he’s also so sweet with the biggest heart, and he totally wears his heart on his sleeve. I laughed over and over at his antics with Hollis, and with his family, but at the heart of him is a man who wants a family, he wants to settle down, and he wants to win Hollis’ heart.
These two are a fantastic match. Their dynamic is fun, flirty, and full of teasing, they don’t hide their attraction, they’re open about what they want and what they don’t want, and though Hollis may not necessary want a relationship with Trace, she doesn’t resist too strongly. Things progress naturally and easily between them, watching them navigate their situation and all that they’re feeling is so entertaining, and I loved their dirty/sexy/playful relationship.
“I’m very fertile,” Hollis informs me, flipping her hair back. “You should stay as far away from these ovaries as you can unless you want me showing up on your doorstep in nine months.” She rubs her belly in slow circles and I feel myself hardening.
I’ll fucking put a baby in that sexy stomach.
“Is that supposed to be a turn-off? Because I just came in my pants twice.” Pause. “Congratulations, you’re having twins.”
But there is also a lot of emotion there, and those moments where you can see just how deeply they care for each other are just beautiful!
It’s a great set-up, and watching it all unfold is so much fun. I laughed so much while reading this book, and I could
feel Trace and Hollis gradually falling for each other, which was beautiful to watch.
Noah and Miranda from the first book appear, and we get to see lots of Trace’s brother, Tripp, who will be the hero in the next book of the series. Equally immature but way more serious and closed off, I’m really looking forward to his story.
This is a great read. Lots of fun with a fantastically funny romance and lots of heart, I loved it.
4.5 stars!
An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. 
