The Risk

I have been so excited to read this book since Brenna was introduced in The Chase. I absolutely adored her character and her developing dynamic with Jake sounded so interesting that I have been waiting. And I’m so glad to have received this advance copy from the author. I know it’s just a few days before the release, but it’s a great feeling to review a book by one of your favorite authors early.

Brenna is the same badass, sassy, live wire protagonist we got to know previously. However, this book gives her a better opportunity to shine, and also show her vulnerabilities and insecurities, giving us a more rounded picture of her personality. She loves her hockey, has made some bad decisions in the past but has grown so much from the show more experience and is a very responsible person with clear aspirations for her career. I admired how sure she was of what she wanted to do in life and how she kept working towards it. On the other hand, Jake comes across as an arrogant cocky hockey god because obviously, he is the top college player in the country. However, he is also very focused on the game and his team, is a great captain and is actually a nice guy. When they are thrown together, sparks fly and I absolutely loved the scorching chemistry. Even though I might have enjoyed the fake dating trope if it was longer, I liked the way their love story played out. The banter is sexy and fun and eventually, the way their backstories are revealed is also handled very sensitively. I was completely invested in their relationship from the beginning and it definitely lived up to my expectations.

The side characters are usually important and well done in Elle Kennedy’s books and it’s nothing different here. We get to see Summer and Fitzy quite a bit and I liked seeing them all mushy mushy. Hunter is still pissed and behaving erratically, which doesn’t end well. I just hope he gets his head together soon. Hollis is hilarious and adorable and I really came to like him a lot in this book. We finally get to see Coach Jensen in close quarters after his lingering presence through so many books and I liked how the author handled the ups and downs in the father-daughter relationship. Jake’s teammate Brooks seems like an intriguing character and it’s possible we might get his story somewhere down the line. There were a couple of new female characters introduced whom I didn’t really like very much and I’m not sure if I want any of their books in the series, but let’s just wait and watch. I also loved the many many references to the boys from Off-Campus, especially Garrett. And the reference to Ryan Wesley brought such a big smile on my face, that I immediately want to read Him again.

I think this book may not live up to everyone’s expectations, especially if you are specifically looking for enemies to lovers, fake dating trope - while these elements are present, they are not prominent and it’s more like a slightly forbidden love story. However, Kennedy’s books always manage to make me smile and that’s exactly what I got here. And I really really hope we get Hunter’s book next. show less

Where I was not a huge fan of The Chase, I loved The Risk! This was definitely more true to the Off Campus series and had elements within the story which I loved in her previous books.

Yes! Sarcasm, fake relationships, and sarcasm! You get to see the development of the relationship between Brenna and Jake. This is what I missed in the first book. I just love banter between love relationships, and both characters give us just that.

This also brings more to the story than just a romance. There are issues with family relationships, drugs, pregnancy, and friendship. It had a little bit of everything. This is more of what I expect out of Elle Kennedy and I pray book three stays on this path.

Overall, I loved this one so much!!

Elle Kennedy lights the lamp with THE RISK, the second book in the Briar U series. Brenna Jensen is the daughter of Briar’s head hockey coach. Jake Connelly is Harvard’s hockey captain and rival. The two should have nothing to do with each other. However, Brenna needs Jake’s help to get her the internship she wants by pretending he’s her boyfriend. The only way he will agree is for him to get a real date for every fake one.

I have been looking forward to reading this story ever since being introduced to both characters in book one, THE CHASE. I love Brenna and Jake. Their banter was entertaining, and their chemistry was hot. Brenna and Jake are good together. I love how they open to each other and grow throughout the novel. They show more make mistakes and own up to them.

The plot was clever and skillfully written. I appreciated the background story with Eric Royce and Brenna’s dad. It added a lot of insight into the novel. I like that Brenna and her dad finally talked about their issues. I enjoyed how Hazel Simonson impacted the story. It was also thought-provoking to discover the reason behind Coach Jensen and Coach Pedersen (Harvard’s coach) rivalry. The stuff going on between Hollis and Rupi was amusing.

Every aspect of THE RISK was perfect. Be warned: this is a book that is near impossible to put down. I loved it! I would love a follow-up story with Brenna and Jake. I’m looking forward to book three, THE PLAY. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. show less

Elle Kennedy is known to be one of the most talented writers for sport college romance in her Off-Campus series. In the Briar U series she started it with a bang on The Chase, but let me tell you that The Risk has kicked it and set a bar higher. I was anticipating this book since I finished The Chase. Brenna is the daughter of Briar U hockey coach and she gets involved with the rival team from Harvard, making her life difficult, but when she finds herself in a job predicament she gets herself a fake boyfriend, but not only the fake is the problem, she goes with Jake Connelly, no other than Harvard’s hockey team captain and best player in the league, who has all eyes on him for the next big league. The chemistry is undeniable, the show more sparks fly everywhere but can been rivals become an impediment or can they find a way to be together? The friendship, romance, steam is all there. The Risk is a book I wasn’t able to put down at all, I had to read it all through the end. I can’t wait for The Play, it can’t come soon enough. A five star must read. show less

I fell in love with brenna and jake at their first scene in the chase so i really really wanted their story.
off campus (the main series) is one of my fave new adult series out there, but the chase disappointed me a lot so i was a bit nervous about this one but damn.. it didn't disappoint!
jake and brenna's chemistry is incredible, they're both amazing characters separately and together so i loved them even when they weren't in the same place and that makes me love a book.
even though the plot was a little bit messy, and i didn't really like how it took ten years for brenna and her father to actually talk?? really only it took was two words to fix their relationship and they waited so long for no reason?? that's dumb
i save this book for show more them and can't believe i'm saying this, hollis. he annoyed the hell out of me in the chase but i loved him in this book, he and rupi were the cutest side couple.
i hope the play will be about hunter because he's growing on me and he deserves love. show less

Just what I needed to get back into a good head space. Elle Kennedy continues to have fun and flirty books with a bit of steam that are impossible to put down.

YAYYY I LOVED THIS BOOK. Brenna is such a unique badass character and a softie at the same time. And Jake is a hard looking guy on the outside but all touchy like we read. Their tension and banter was AMAZING. I read this in 2 days cause it kept me on edge every time. Seriously one of the best off campus/briar u books yet. The smut was AMAZING. And Hazel was so annoying. I wanted to slap that bitch 51828727282 times. I thought the miscarriage topic was gonna be a little bit more sensitive but it kinda just passed quickly. I loved this book all in all though!!