Catching Lightning by Kayleigh King

Catching Lightning Reviews

• 
  Kursed Reads

  Cocky athlete ✔️
  Sassy heroine ✔️
  Angst ✔️
  Unexpected surprises ✔️
  Sssssteam ✔️
  
  When a campus Halloween scavenger hunt unexpectedly puts Blake McKinley in the spotlight at Duvall University, she tries to put her head down and move on. However, the DU Devil’s QB, Hudson Wright, has other plans for his little huntress.
  
  “We may have left those woods, but the hunt is still on. You can keep running and I’ll keep chasing. One day you’re going to let me catch you for real and I’ll get to keep my fucking prize.”
  
  Catching Lightning is not just your standard sports romance. It has all the excitement of the game, but it is so much more! The entire cast of characters is perfect. I really hope we’ll see Deke, Kayce, and Frankie in the future!!
  
  Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
  Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
  Darkness: 🖤
  Heat: 🌶🌶🌶
  Ending: HEA
  POV: Dual
  
  🗂 Genre: New Adult/Contemporary Romance
  
  ✨ Tropes: College, Sports, Enemies-to-Lovers
  
  ⛔️ Warning: This book may cause blushing, squirming, combusting panties, and/or self-care.
  
  ⚠️ Safety Squad: Dömėstic VîoIencė (Not By H), Attempted SėxüäI AssäüIt
  
  📣 Type: Catching Lightning is a standalone.
  
  🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
• 
  RLbooks

  I love football so college romances with football players are my jam. Blake (h) and Hudson (H) have a lot more happening to and around them then just college and sports though. I had a bit of trouble connecting with them until later in the book when they opened up more to each other, but this was a great character-driven romance with a lot of drama and steam. Told in first person, dual POV. No ow/om drama, neither were virgins but not specified how long it's been, and no protection used (birth control and safety were discussed AFTER the first time). H was a player in his early college years, but hasn't been recently.
  
  There's insta-attraction happening and these two get together early on at a party for what Blake thinks will be a ONS and Hudson hopes will be more. It's a hot scene outdoors after a chase on Halloween. Then the drama starts with someone releasing a video. I both understood and was frustrated with how Blake reacts and I felt for Hudson. There are some time jumps, a week or two at a time, while the two of them are dealing with the fallout. Including one brief time jump after they give in to their attraction again (another hot scene) when I really wanted them to start working on themselves together. Personally, I enjoy books like these more when the characters are supporting and working together and while they do start later, there's a good amount of handling things on their own. But there's also more happening besides the video with each of them shouldering personal struggles.
  
  Eventually they start opening up to each other and we get more deeper togetherness and on page caring for each other. I do love the two of them together, I wish there had been more "regular moment" scenes too, outside of what they had to navigate. I was pleasantly surprised at how one hurdle was handled and appreciated how there weren't easy/pat solutions for the emotional side of things. Their exchange of "I love you" was awww-inducing. The epilogue is several years in the future and wraps up everything really well. I also loved that the story is therapy-positive! This ends with a HEA that's both sweet and sexy.
  
  Catching Lightning has a list of trigger warnings, so please mind those. On a positive note, we get some great game scenes and actual college campus times in class and at parties, which some college romances skip but I really enjoy. There are several side characters who stand out, Blake and Hudson have supportive friends, esp Blake's. I'd absolutely read books for a few of these side characters. Overall I ended up really enjoying this one!
• 
  aly ☆彡

  wasting my 14 february trying to finish reading trashy romance book 🫶🏻 the least i feel right now is loved 🥹
• 
  M

  4.5 stars
  
  After seeing a friend's review on here, I knew I needed to read this book. The cover is stunning and the blurb helped sealed the deal. Emotional read with rivals turned lovers. Filled with off the charts chemistry and angst that will have on edge. I really enjoyed this one!
  
  Blake is sassy, but broken. She doesn't let just anyone see her shattered pieces and her trust is something that is earned. Not freely given. Her pink haired friend Frankie is her rock and I adored her. Everyone needs a friend like that in their corner.
  
  Hudson, Hudson, Hudson. Star QB. Everyone loves him. Guys want to be him and girls want to do him. Don't let his handsome face and sly smirks fool you. He has some demons of his own. He's closed off and only his two best friends have a hint as to what pushes him to the greatest.
  Football should be his life, but a blonde haired woman has his pulse racing. He hasn't felt that in, well forever so he is determined to get to know her. Blake has other plans... let the fun begin!
  
  Together, these two were the perfect storm. It wasn't rainbows and unicorns... there was heartbreak, secrets and half truths swirling around them. The chase was far from over and the game is still going on.
  
  This book broke my heart and had me rooting for these two. I wanted them happy. I wanted them to feel loved and worthy. I needed them to rise above the storm and find a love they so very much deserved. Hudson is book boyfriend material for sure!
  
  I hope we get to see side characters with their own books!! They were all a great addition to this story.
• 
  Medollga

  It's not you, it's me. But probably mostly you 🤷🏻‍♀️😅
  
  We dive right in with hero being obsessed about the new girl on campus, aka the heroine, after their first conversation. Instead of SHOWING us their first meeting and the start of his feelings for her, we are TOLD post factum about it happening. Just deal with it, mkay?
  
  Then they have their masked romp against the tree trunk, both knowing who the other person is, but the girl thinks the hero doesn't know her identity. The guy is instantly possessed by the girl's feminine powers and vows to himself to get her all to himself.
  
  Someone recorded their night rendezvous, posted it on campus and the girl is painted as a slut. Wow, how original. The hero reveals himself as a jerk: is inconsiderate to the girl's panic, pissed off she thinks he's responsible for the video, thinks about his potential draft to NFL being at stake and never spares the girl a second thought.
  
  One third of the book done, and they start showing pining towards each other, when there's literally no reason for them to feel this way. The love angle is unconvincing, because we never got to see their initial attraction, any ground to stand on to assume they like each other. We only witnessed the sex video fiasco and after that, there's no redeeming the story.
  
• 
  Helen Power

  This enemies-to-lovers romance is just what the doctor ordered! While Hudson and Blake seemingly despise each other from the start, the “enemies” elements are light in this book. Both Hudson and Blake have dark pasts that they keep to themselves. Because of a terrible tragedy that happened to her a year ago, Blake has a phobia of thunderstorms, and I loved how this recurring theme came into play throughout the story, including in the title of the book. While Hudson comes across as a cocky athlete, he has a lot of hidden depths, and he is quite well developed as the story progresses. I loved reading Hudson and Blake’s love story!
  Do heed the trigger warnings before reading this book–they’re pretty well outlined in the beginning of the novel.
  
• 
  Carla Bulian

  3,5. Just good!
• 
  Inés Molina

  “I’ll help you. You want to keep fighting storms, baby? I’ll fight them with you. We’ll fight until I can kiss you in the rain and you’re not afraid.” -Hudson
  
  I love this book, a spicy sports romance.
• 
  ❤️ Nanda ❤️

  
  
  
  It was a good reading.
  Sweet, a bit emotional and with good steamy scenes.
  
  Blake and Hudson were a great pair since the beginning and their chemistry was also great.
  
  There's a bit of unnecessary drama that felt a lot like filling and the "twist" was as predictable as ever.
  You could know who was involved with the video leaking since like 10% in!
  
  But I guess that with the amount of sports romance that I read, there's not much to surprise me anymore.
  
  I'll mention again that I love when the twist isn't something to break up the couple! I'm really tired of those.
  This one broke them apart in the beginning, so it was a nice change.
  
  
  
• 
  Erika

  Hudson Wright 🛐 TE AMOOOOO 😍❤️
  
  ✨📖✨
  
  “I’ll help you. You want to keep fighting storms, baby? I’ll fight them with you. We’ll fight until I can kiss you in the rain and you’re not afraid.”
  
  “Because, little huntress, I’ve chased you. I’ve fought with you. And now that I’ve caught you, I’m going to fight for you. I made you a promise, Blake McKinley. There’s no fucking way I’m letting anything hurt you ever again.”
• 
  zahraa

  Thank you to the authors for sending me this book!
  +check tw’s
  
  This was a cute fast paced, sports romance, with tropes like brother’s rival! The concept was really entertaining, but I couldn’t help but feel like it was all going a little too fast. I feel like I definitely would have enjoyed it a bit more had there been more character & story development.
• 
  Lee Jacquot

  RTC!
• 
  Jenifer Briggs

  I hadn't read these authors before, but this book pleasantly surprised me! It's really steamy with all the feels, and even a bit of suspense thrown in. There's some sensitive topics that are dealt with here (attempted sexual assault, physical abuse -- all that were done by someone who is NOT the H. The hero is a truly good guy!) But these ladies handled this with so much care, that you could just tell how much these characters meant to them. It's been a while since a college romance hit me this hard, and I'm very glad it did. This isn't your usual college romance either, even if it did start off that way.
  
  I'm definitely being vague for a reason, but I truly believe this is a book where you need to go in blind to appreciate its beauty. All I can say that these authors are on my radar now!
  
  **I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions**
• 
  mk

  tropes: college football romance
  I was lucky enough to receive an arc for Chasing Lighting and let me tell you all that you will not be disappointed. If you want a good spicy, sports romance look no further. Blake and Hudson are so cute and I loved all of the side characters as well. It was easy to connect with them and actually care about what was happening to them. This book is pretty fast paced, but the tension and desire between the two main characters is still very intense. I highly recommend you pick up Chasing Lighting and give it a try.
  
  check tw!
• 
  •Mahnoor•

  3.5 🌟
  RTC
• 
  The Romantic Rush Blog

  What an unexpected treat from these two co-authors- one new to me and the other whom I’ve only really known for her PNR deliciousness. This is decidedly different for Kayleigh King, and I must say, I really loved this collaboration. They delivered a story with beautiful emotions, heartfelt romance, and so much juicy drama. A new adult, college sports story that feels familiar but becomes something else entirely- a fresh and original take on the trope.
  
  The characters were mesmerizing, main and secondary alike. Each has their own substance, and I really appreciated how strategically and thoughtfully King and Greer unfold the full depth of our hero and heroine. Our heroine has been through quite a bit of adversity, pain that has left her distrustful and broken. But her unexpected connection with Hudson challenges her emotional security in ways both entrancing and alarming to her. And Hudson turns out to be so much more than the quintessential arrogant athlete- he’s kind of just a dreamy guy.
  
  If you’re new to these authors, this is a great introduction. The narrative style felt seamless and the story has many layers and surprising components that make it quite griping and fast-paced. Looking forward to future co-writing by these brilliant authors!
  
• 
  Kathe

  Hudson hermoso 🥺💗
• 
  Cheyenne (That Tall Book Girl)

  DNF at 30%
• 
  Rhi

  “𝑾𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒇𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒖𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒏. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰’𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒛𝒆.”
  
  When Blake McKinley transferred to Duvall University all she wanted was to keep to herself and keep her head down, what she didn’t want was to find herself on the star quarterbacks radar or to become the centre of a campus scandal.
  
  When the DU Devils host their Halloween scavenger hunt Blake never expected the night to go as it did, and now she finds herself at the centre of another scandal only this time she’s not alone. Unfortunately for Hudson right his little huntress thinks he’s to blame for everyone seeing Blake in a very compromising position, only things aren’t what they seem. Hudson definitely has his work cut out for him but he’s not going to give up easily.
  
  “𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒎, 𝒘𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆, 𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒌𝒆.”
  
  I absolutely loved the story behind this book, how it’s about learning to overcome your fear and to not let it rule you. Hudson became Blake’s rock helping her battle her demons and in turn Blake battled Hudson’s, they truly were made for each other. Not only did love both MC’s but I fell in love with Blake’s BFF Frankie, I hope she gets a book soon. Definitely recommend.
• 
  Ella

  spoilers
  I didn't like it.
  I didn't finish at 44%
  It sounded good, and many good reviews of 4 and 5 stars, so I started this book.
  now I know many like it but for me having sex at 8% of the book, it's not exciting, it loses all the anticipation.
  the writing: we meet the main characters already knowing each other without some details, in fact, there is no background at the beginning, yes there starts to be a little going further but not enogh.
  the heroine: wow was she annoying and really a little full of herself, I personally I prefer shy with a little sass and that don't take shit heroines, and not the snarky, sassy, cocky ones, but that's just me. this heroine however wasn't sassy and snarky in a good way, we're told that she doesn't like the hero and treats him badly from the first page, but why? did he do something? that I would have understood, but no didn't do anithing to her, they never even spoken, she just assumes that he is such and such based on nothing. and the thing with the video, my god she acted like a 5-year-old, I cant even.
  the hero was ok but again he is so fixated on her when he doesn't know enithing about her and never even spoken to her, but at their first encounter they have full sex.
  no not for me, I like more depth and background in a book.
• 
  Brianna

  *ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review*
  
  5/5 ⭐️
  3/5 🌶
  
  Tropes:
  - sports romance
  - enemies(ish) to lovers
  - brother’s rival
  - college football
  - past trauma (heroine)
  - insta-lust
  
  POV: first person - dual
  
  Type: stand-alone
  
  Hudson has only ever chased after one thing: football. But when the new girl glares at him, making an impression, he’s found a new game he’s ready to chase. Except one public rendezvous together puts them in a situation that can affect them in the long run.
  
  Do you ever have trouble writing reviews for books you really like? This one of those times so I’ll keep it short. ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR.
  
  YOU GUYS!! Excuse me, this was SO GOOD. I don’t typically pick up sports romance but this was THE exception.
  
  I absolutely loved Hudson and Blake. Hudson is our star quarterback and Blake is our feisty girl who gives him the run of his lifetime.
  
  Things start happening within the first 10% (which reminded me of the video meme “why we going so f*cking fast”) BUT trust the process because everything unravels so perfectly and it all starts to make sense throughout the plot!
  
  Also, THAT JEEP SCENE?!!!… my jaw was on the ground.
• 
  Rhonda Ziglar

  5 AMAZING STARS!! This story was amazing!! I could not put Hudson and Blake, they held my attention all the way through. The feels were off the charts. These two author did an amazing job, their writing flowed perfectly. I can't wait to read more books by them.
• 
  mel

  wasnt that impactful tbh they dived into a relationship without actually doing something together
• 
  samantha ఌ

  It's bewildering to me how I just finished this 300+ paged book in less than 12 hours... coming from a person who takes days to finish a book.
  
  Anyway, I really enjoyed this more than I thought. Can't say I'm totally surprised since I've read Phantom by the same author, and this just proves that I loveee her writing style. It's so easy to follow and get lost into it. It's the kind of writing style that's my jam.
  
  As for the characters, they have chemistry and depth. I love how they helped each other overcome each other's problems. I did get pissed at the heroine at the first few chapters, but she eventually owned up to it and apologized when she realized she was in the wrong. As for Hudson, the hero, man do I love that guy. He was the perfect man for Blake and was so supportive, patient and understanding. He would give up anything and everything he has if it meant he could have Blake at the end.
  
  My only complaint was I wish I could've seen more of them as a couple!! But overall, this was such a good read.
• 
  Sandra

  3.75
• 
  Tori - Novel Life

  Nope. It just didn’t make sense.
• 
  Birgit

  I think this is the first book I ever read written by two authors - and I really liked it. To be honest, I couldn't tell while reading that two people were writing it. It was so smooth to read.
  
  I enjoyed the story of Blake and Hudson. There was tension between them from the first page and I could buy it. Within these 300+ pages is soooo much happening. Really we have funny college student funny-party moments, public shaming/bullying (in some kinda way), angst, spice, trauma and trauma healing and romance.
  The story starts with a fun hunting game on Halloween night - the football team is doing every year and Blake is participating this year to win the big prize by finding the watch every QB in the team has to protect since the first hunt. That's the moment Blake and Hudson meet for the first time alone 😏.
  After that night, a lot of things happen and Blake and Hudson work through them - what was really nice to read. Both surprised me at how in some situations they handled everything very mature besides I thought they will. Besides the classic banter and steam and finally falling for each other, both MCs have trauma to work trough. And I love how this is giving both characters a bigger meaning just within these few pages.
  
  Rating: 5/5 ⭐
  Spice: 2,5/5 🌶️
  
  Hudson he is a playboy, but there is more to him than you realize at the beginning. By having a father who played football in the NFL - all eyes are on him. He's pushing him self to be the best man for his team. He falls for Blake first, and I love how he tries to convince her and make sure she is safe. Not only that, but he also never pushed her to upon up about her past / trauma.
  
  I'll help you. You want to keep fighting storms, baby? I'll fight them with you. We'll fight until I can kiss you in the rain and you're not afraid.
  
  Blake at first to seems like a party girl. But after a few pages you learn she made some mistakes before in her life and because of that she tries to change. She doesn't want to be involved in the football team and with Hudson, but it's too hard for her to resist him. After finally upon up to him - she sees that he can actually help her with her trauma and will not be another burden to her.
  
  Because, little huntress, I've chased you. I've fought with you. And now that I've caught you, I'm going to fight for you. I made you a promise, Blake McKinley. There's no fucking way I'm letting anything hurt you ever again.
  
  Read if you like/What you can find in this book:
  - sports romance
  - dual POV
  - both MCs have Trauma's they're working trough
  - college but very mature
  - HEA
  - brother's rival / coach-sister
• 
  Sammie Bow

  3.5⭐️
  Dual POV
  M/F new adult, college, sports (NFL) romance
  
  The following ratings are out of 5:
  Plot: 📚📚📚📚📚
  Romance: ❤️❤️❤️❤️
  Steam/Spice: 🌶🌶🌶.5
  Triggers: 😈 (attempted sexual assault, domestic violence - not by main characters).
  
  The story:
  After a terrible life changing event Blake has moved schools and is attending her first Halloween scavenger hunt. She knows Hudson is keen for the hunt, he made it clear he loves the chase and wasn’t Blake to know she will need to run fast. The following day reality bites them hard and pushes them away from each other to deal with the fall out but truths are slowly revealed. Hudson has also been dealing with his own drama outside of school and Blake makes it her mission to help him.. They deal with their problems and fears together.
  
  My thoughts:
  Such a entertaining college romance. This was classed as enemies to lovers trope but I disagree, she didn’t like him for a period of time but he never stopped trying to make things right. Hudson wasn’t as badass as most college quarterbacks are depicted, he was sweet and caring…I kind of wish he was more or a badass though. Blake was a good character but her reactions at the beginning and her assumptions annoyed me but it wasn’t long before she came to her senses.
• 
  Karie (Beautifulwildromantic)

  I absolutely loved Hudson and Blake’s story!
  
  We all have fears to overcome and this book just shows with the right support behind you, you can overcome anything!
  We all need that one person to fight for us along with catching us when we run from a situation that scares us.
  
  Add Catching Lighting to your TBR now!