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She's good at achieving her goals . . .
College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cut-throat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn't include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she's willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.
But the game just got a whole lot more complicated . . .
Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he's fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn't hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina's heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he'll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist . . .
Genre: contemporary romance
Publication date: November 2023
Mature content: yes
Review: The Goal might be my second favorite book in the Off-Campus series (after The Deal), and a huge reason for that is Tucker. We've had glimpses of his personality throughout the previous books, but this is the one that truly confirms what I always suspected all along: Tucker is simply operating on a different level of maturity than most of the other characters.
While the rest of the guys often find themselves creating chaos, overreacting, or struggling to communicate, Tucker remains remarkably steady. His calm, unshakable demeanor is incredibly refreshing. No matter what life throws at him, he approaches challenges with patience, thoughtfulness, and a level head that makes him stand out from the very first chapter. He's not perfect, but he's dependable in a way that feels genuinely adult.
What I loved most is that his maturity never comes across as boring. Instead, it makes him even more attractive as a hero. Watching him handle difficult situations with grace and responsibility only reinforced the hints we'd seen in earlier books. This wasn't a sudden personality shift—it felt like a payoff to everything Elle Kennedy had been quietly showing us about him all along.
Sabrina? Well, it took me a bit longer to warm up to her, mostly because in the other books in the series we are led to believe she wronged Dean in some way and no one really seems to like her...
The romance is heartfelt, the emotional stakes are high, and Tucker proves that being the most grounded person in the room can be every bit as compelling as being the loudest. A wonderful conclusion to the series and a perfect showcase for one of its most underrated characters.
And yes, I'm sort of binge-reading all of Elle Kennedy's books, so be prepared for more reviews in the short term future...
Happy readings!
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