Rival Darling Book 1, By Alexandra Moody

Violet swore off jocks the moment the captain of her school’s hockey team shattered her heart. Determined to prove she’s moved on, she makes a bold choice—she’ll fake-date the one boy guaranteed to get her ex’s attention: Reed Darling, the fierce and famously untouchable captain of the Ransom Devils.

Reed’s reputation is the stuff of school legend. He’s talented, intimidating, and surrounded by rumors that paint him as a heartbreaker with a dangerous edge. But when Violet asks him to play the part of her pretend boyfriend, he surprises her by agreeing without hesitation. And he’s not interested in sticking to her carefully crafted rules.

As their fake relationship becomes the talk of both schools, Violet starts to see sides of Reed that don’t match the stories—soft moments, quiet loyalty, and a determination to prove he’s more than the villain everyone makes him out to be. Reed, meanwhile, is set on showing Violet that she deserves someone who actually fights for her.

She thought she could handle a deal with a devil. She didn’t expect him to rewrite all her rules—or steal her heart in the process.