Off The Mark is a beautiful friends-to-lovers, fake relationship story full of sexy banter and finding your soul mate.

Rowan O’Callaghan is sexy, kind, and adorable. The way he takes care of those he loves, from his grandma and friends to his community, is swoonworthy. After a devastating shoulder injury kills his baseball career, he finds purpose working at his community rec center. I love his carefree attitude and humor, along with his big heart.

Charlie Maddox is an amazing woman hiding her vulnerability under her badass exterior. She's been taking care of herself, and her father, since she was too young to do so. Charlie comes from a small gossipy town where everyone looks out for themselves. She doesn't let people in because then she won't be disappointed. Charlie is a professional motocross racer and she even does that mostly alone.

They both have always chosen people who were safe to date and they weren't afraid to lose. Unfortunately, they have both lost people in their past so it totally makes sense. Goodness I love Rowan and Charlie! Their banter is epic and the times they open up to one another, beautiful! They have been friends for a long time and have always been there for each other. I absolutely love their history! These two are too adorable! I love when they're open and vulnerable with one another. They both have such big hearts! Seeing them fall in love had me smiling and wanting to go back a reread their story! And Rowan's neighborhood! Perfection! I loved being back in south Philly. The way they welcome Charlie with open arms is so sweet! Especially Rowan's grandma and Tabitha. Gah! Everything about this book is excellent!

I received an ARC for an honest review.6 s Emily T351 15

Kathryn Nolan’s books are legitimately my favorite. Whenever someone needs a recommendation, she’s it. Her books are sexy and swoony and steamy…Lordy are they steamy in the best possible way!
Off The Mark ticked everyone of my boxes and it was fucking incredible! It was coming home to visit old friends and it tugged on my heart strings immediately. There’s so much heart and love in this book…not just between the ever-stubborn Charlie and sweet-talking Rowan, but between friends and family and neighbors, that you’re sad you don’t have your own stoop to sit on and shoot the shit.
From the very first page, I was invested in every single character and wanting the absolute best for them. I loved getting to see Dean and Tabitha again, and this book had me laughing, swooning and even a few tears because it was so perfect!
I loved so many things about this book...The bar scene. The tree scene. Pam and Tiffany. The cheek kiss (SWOON). Glitter signs and ring pops.
You ABSOLUTELY have to pick up this book! It's so full of joy and happiness that I can't quit smiling :)6 s JP632 16

4.5??
A fun, hot romance that will make you smile. The trope is twofold, fake dating and friends to lovers. This was a very smexy romance and these two were adorable together. I loved Rowan and how he fell for Charlie. This story spoke to me in so many ways. I really enjoyed all of the characters and the HEA. Charlie was strong, determination and honest.
What I loved:
• Chemistry
• Motor cross
• Friendships
• Hand kissing
• Intimacy
• HEA
I highly recommend this because it was good.
Thanks Rick and thank you Kathryn Nolan for writing it??arc4 s Booklover Judy Lynn1,364 21

This is a standalone that shares characters with “On the Ropes” and ends with a HEA. This hero, Rowan, is first introduced in that book as are many of the neighborhood characters that reappear in this book. Readers may find the most enjoyable experience to read “On the Ropes” before reading “Off the Mark”. This book is written in first person from an alternating dual POV.
Rowan is a ginger hunk of burning love. He has never had a real relationship, but he has loved the women and they have loved him. I adore that he is a former athlete and still built one. I love that he is a ginger. He has the biggest, softest heart under his playboy exterior. It is more than obvious in his interactions with his grandmother and with Dean and Tabitha as well as other neighbors. Charlie is fierce. A pro-motocross racer, she is at the top of her game professionally. She has been known as the bad girl of MotoX. She is tattooed and pierced with a fun sense of style a give no F’s attitude. I LOVED her character. Underneath her tough girl exterior is a woman who is steal dealing with baggage caused by family events of her childhood. Her fear of vulnerability is real and understandable.
I absolutely loved the banter and the friendship Charlie and Rowan share. They joke, and eventually open up to one another. I adore how they support each other’s dreams and goals. Meanwhile, the heat between them as they pretend to be a couple is palpable. This author is the master of slow burn. It takes quite a while before they even kiss, but that makes the book no less steamy. And when they do decide to make the relationship real? Whew! Get your fan. Smoking hot! Thankfully, their black moment is relatively low angst. They both have professional growth and change going on over the course of their relationship and that impacts their focus on each other. Rowan in love is something read, and I promise it will make you swoon. Philly is a character in these books on its own. I felt I was right there in the South Philly neighborhood. I could almost smell the dinners being cooked, hear the kids playing, and feel the heat and humidity of the summer evening. The found family dynamic of the neighborhood is something truly special.
This was a romantic and steamy read that I didn’t want to set down. But this author always brings so much more to the table in her books than just a love story. She tackles bias and misogyny in the treatment of female athletes in a sport traditionally dominated by men. She addresses poverty, bigotry, and discrimination. Her background in the non-profit sector is apparent, as is her passion for non-profit projects that benefit the community. The function of the community rec center and the programs it provides to the South Philly neighborhood is an important part of this story. Because it is an important part of the book, it shines a light on community needs not just in the inner city but everywhere. It inspires me to look around me and ask what I can do to help my town. I can always count on this author to give me a story filled with inclusivity, love of all kinds, and strong family and friend connections. Her writing is always elegant, and her characters are deep and well-developed. This was a joy to read and worth so much more than 5 stars.
I am voluntarily leaving this honest review after receiving an advance reader copy of the book.3 s Stephanie RoseAuthor 29 books2,886

I wanted Rowan’s story the second he came on the page in On The Ropes, and it was everything I wanted it to be and more. This story is everything amazing about a Kathryn Nolan book. The love of community, the sexy times that are equal parts emotional and filthy, and a couple whose “fraught pining” steams up your kindle and sets it on fire. The sweetest of cinnamon rolls, I hung on Rowan’s every word and loved soft hearted bad girl of motocross Charlie. They had combustible chemistry in spades but swooned my heart out at how they took care of each other for years without even knowing they were doing it. I laughed and teared up in the same parts. One of my favorites of 2022 for sure. 5+ stars ?? 3 s Jenny465 29

Love everything about this book!

At the heart of every story this author pens are characters you will meet and fall in love with, these characters are good people.

Yes, they’ve made some mistakes, yes, they can be fierce-looking at you Charlie, but oh what “cinnamon buns in a pan” Charlie and Rowan are!

Rowan is a dream guy, he’s kind of a player and admits he’s never really had a relationship per say, so when Charlie walks her bada$$ self back into his life, it’s very much a kindergarten classroom sharing rug situation for Rowan. He’s a pretty fast learner though
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