The Cad and the Co-Ed

by L H Cosway and Penny Reid

• ISBN10: 1942874308
• ISBN13: 9781942874300
• Publish Date: 14 February 2017
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Cipher-Naught
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 306
• Language: English

Reviews

[leelu92]

I remember when I finished The Player and the Pixie (the book before this one) and I read the teaser for this book. I knew then that I wanted to read this book. I’m a complete sucker for a baby in a book, I don’t know why but that trope just works for me. Soon, I realized that this was going to be somewhat of a secret baby book and at that point, I became concerned. I’m NOT a fan of the secret baby trope when that secret is kept for a long time for a stupid reason.

In the Co-Ed and the Cad, Eilish kept Patrick’s paternity a secret for a very good reason. Bryan was in no way shape or form, in a place to be a father, much less, even remember the time he and Eilish spent together. (This is not a spoiler, by the way, it’s in the synopsis.) When Bryan and Eilish were together, he was an alcoholic, plain and simple. Thanks to his rugby coach he was able to pull himself together and live his life in a completely different way. Enter Eilish.

It’s clear to Eilish that Bryan has absolutely no memory of her and while she concerned about his ability to be a parent to Patrick, she realizes she needs to tell him about his son. I was cool with all of this and I wanted Bryan to know about his son. It was also obvious that Bryan and Eilish were very attracted to each other and I was really looking forward to how they could work through Patrick’s paternity and maybe become a family. Bryan wanted to create a family, he cared for Eilish and Patrick and knew he had a lot of work to do. All of the pieces were there (and here is where the BUT comes in) but I just wasn’t crazy about how all of the pieces were put together. I think the thing is, I’ve become intolerant of conflict and drama due to lack of communication. There was a MASSIVE speedbump that revolved around this very plot device and it really diminished my overall enjoyment of this book.

This book was funny, sexy and entertaining, plus I truly enjoyed Eilish’s cousin Sean (from the previous book). I have enjoyed Penny Reid and L.H. Cosway’s work in this series but I was really bummed out by the use of conflict in this book.

[Cocktails and Books]

This review was originally posted on Cocktails and Books

This is the first book I've read in the Rugby series. I wasn't sure what to expect but I was delighted with Eilish and Bryan's story.

We discover, very early on, why Bryan Leech is a cad. He broke Eilish's young girl crush and seriously made me wonder how he could possibly redeem himself. Fast forward five years and we discover a completely different Bryan Leech. One you couldn't help but root for as he went after his girl.

After their night together, Eilish would have liked nothing better than to forget it happened and move on. But she couldn't. She had a constant reminder of Bryan. You could understand why she was hesitant when she started her new job with the rugby team and knew she's be seeing Bryan every day. But when she found out how different this Bryan was from the one she was with five years before, you wanted her to fall for him. Forgive his past and love him now and in the future.

Bryan was a hot mess up until a few years ago. Since hitting rock bottom, he's dug his way out and become a better man. When he "meets" Eilish, he's instantly drawn to her although he doesn't know why. As he plays by her rules, it's hard to deny their attraction to one another and the developing friendship between them. As that grows it's hard to imagine Eilish would ever say no to Bryan or what they could build together. Eilish is a tough one though. She's been hurt and she's protective (as she should be) when it come to her heart and Bryan. But there isn't a single moment in this romance where I thought they would come out the other side in a place other than them being together. They simply worked...quirks and all.

If you, like I, haven't read the previous two book in the series...have no worries. The authors did a fabulous job of giving enough detail that we could move along with the story without knowing much about the other characters. This is definitely a series I'll be going back to the beginning with (I NEED to know Sean's story).

[Sam@WLABB]

This is a series that just continues to win my heart. It had humor, romance, heat, and lots of very sweet moments that warmed my heart.

Once again, we have a fabulous couple. Eilish lost a lot when she chose to raise her son. She lost her trust fund and familial support (with this exception of the awesome Sean). Yes, she lost a lot, but she came out on the other side a much stronger person. I loved her commitment to her son, her pluck, and her sense of humor. As another single mother by choice, I was able to relate to Eilish, and adored the way her love for her son radiated from the page. Our hero quickly wormed his way into my heart. First and foremost, this was his opportunity to redeem himself, and I love me a redemption story. He had so many good qualities too. His commitment to his mother showed that he would not abandon the ones he loved, and would support them no matter what their life choices. He was just an "all-in" kind of guy. The way he quickly accepted Patrick as his own and jumped in with both feet made my heart swell, and I could not get enough of him trying to woo Eilish. **sigh**

@ECassChoosesPikachu:Mirror, mirror on the wall..
@THEBryanLeech to @ECassChoosesPickachu: You are. Aways.

Reid and Cosway always bring the fun. This book is packed with laughs and great banter. The characters all have these fun quirks, and I looked forward to finding out what a particular characters peculiarity was going to be. Container store love? Kid sized tuxes? Birdwatching, mint tea, and fur lined slippers? All sorts of fun little idiosyncrasies.

She laughed. "He doesn't like the term 'babysitter'. He prefers 'child haute couture consultant.'"

Speaking of Sean, he was a total rock in the book. He was there for Eilish and Patrick each and every time in big and small ways. I think I smiled during every single one of his scenes. His meddling was wonderful, and I just adored him. I have to admit, the males really stood out in this book. I found their camaraderie entertaining, and like seeing men having meaningful exchanges too.

Confession: I messed up. I read this book thinking it was book 2. So now I need to read book 2, Sean's book, but it by no way hampered my enjoyment of this book, as these are true companions.

Overall: A fun and engaging story filled with lovable characters and lots of laughs.

[stacey_is_sassy]

Showing bravery and strength when your world falls apart.

I’ll be honest, when I first became a parent I LOST THE PLOT!! Not a little but a whole lotta. There was one thing that got me through…my hubby. I cannot imagine doing it alone and yet I know that there are a lot of women and men who face parenting alone. By choice, or by being forced into the situation you can either step up and attempt to get through or you don’t. In The Cad and the Co-Ed we meet a brave and strong woman who not only attempted to cope but conquered single-parenting.

Eilish was 19 when she found out that she was pregnant and it definitely wasn’t planned. One night of pleasure that ended in humiliation changed her whole world. The father wasn’t in the picture, her stuck-up and snobby mother and siblings disowned her and what friends she did have didn’t stick around. There was one person who had her back, her cousin Sean.

Stubborn and determined to be self-sufficient, Eilish packs her bags and uses her savings to move to America. Studying and working 3 jobs to support herself and Patrick, her son, she struggles through the best she can. Eilish is not invincible and ends up getting a wee bit sick. Sean is a rugby player who earns plenty of money and could easily support Eilish and Patrick. It’s not until she’s nearly dying that she calls him for help. Sean decides to only lend her the money if she promises to come home to Ireland when she finishes her studies.

The only problem for Eilish is, moving back home means facing the father of her son who is one of Sean’s teammates.

Bryan was a douchewaffle and he freely admits it. As a recovering alcoholic and sleazy party boy, Bryan has been sober for nearly two years. It will never be easy but by sticking to a fairly boring and predictable life, he manages his addiction. His biggest regret for the wasted years is the memory lapses when he was under the influence.

With his life back on track, Bryan is finally ready to start thinking about dating again. When a striking redhead catches his eye, he can’t help but think it was perfect timing. The only problem is, this woman is completely indifferent to him which, to be honest, is very shocking. With his curiosity aroused, Bryan is determined to find out her story. Luckily, his teammate happens to be her cousin…

I really enjoyed The Cad and the Co-Ed. It’s one of those stories where you get to see the best and worst of the characters. Both Bryan and Eilish struggle with guilt and the repercussions of their choices. Seeing these struggles, you can’t help but sympathise and understand how and why they chose to make these decisions. It was not easy for them to look past their pasts and see a future together. The one thing they both wanted and I admired them for, is their dedication to their son. Patrick’s needs were a priority for them both.

I liked Bryan…well the new and improved Bryan, and Eilish as well. Their connection was believable and the chemistry jumped off the pages.

It was great to catch up with the gang and see Sean as the sweet and quirky man we came to love at the end of The Player and the Pixie. I loved that Sean had a close relation with Patrick and bought him custom-made suits to wear.

I liked Bryan’s sponsor, Sarah (even when she interfered a little too much) and his roommate William, The Brickhouse, Moore. I’m hoping we might even get a story for William…I think he’s got a secret.

I read The Cad and the Co-Ed in one day and enjoyed every minute of it. I laughed, cried, smirked and snorted. This sports romance was an entertaining addition to the series and I’m really hoping for more in the future.

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I’m an Aussie chick who loves to read and review romance, drink coffee, be a Style Setter and stalk David Gandy. To see more of my reviews, fashion, food and pervathons -