FINDING THE END ZONE (Game Time 1) by Tam DeRudder Jackson-review & giveaway

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 8, 2023

Never date a player.
Football god Callahan O’Reilly can keep his blazing blue eyes to himself. I have a scholarship to maintain, and I do not have time to babysit a jock through a make-or-break class project. Even if one smoldering glance from him sets my panties on fire.
Time to change her mind.
Jamaica Winslow opens her mouth and spews sass like a volcano. One look at her uptight package and I want to coax the genie from the bottle, unleash all the passion she hides beneath a mop of unruly curls and a smart-ass attitude. She’s not my type, she doesn’t know one damn thing about the game that rules my life, and I can’t stop thinking about her.
Who said anything about love?
Jamaica does her best to keep me at arm’s length, but I’m not a pro prospect because I let the plays come to me. With the game on the line, I always want the ball. When an alum with deep pockets and delusions of grandeur makes demands that threaten my NFL chances and Jamaica’s scholarship, I have no choice but to man up and do the right thing no matter the cost.
It started as fun and games. Now I’m playing for her heart—and my own.
Game Time.

•••••

REVIEW: FINDING THE END ZONE is the first instalment in Tam DeRudder’s contemporary, new adult GAME TIME erotic, romance series. This is college juniors, football tightened Callahan O’Reilly, and RA Jamaica Winslow’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Callahan and Jamaica) FINDING THE END ZONE follows the building romance and relationship between Callahan and Jamaica. Callahan O’Reilly is a college football star, and Jamaica Winslow is a fellow junior dependant upon her scholarship for survival. Forced to work together on a project for English Lit, Jamaica struggles with her attraction to a man she believes is nothing more than a jock and a player, someone she believes is cruising through life but as our couple work together, Callahan slowly breaks down Jamaica’s walls only to discover his own career will be threatened by his love for our story line heroine. Meanwhile, someone else is targeting our story line couple, making good on promises to destroy both of their lives. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Callahan and Jamaica, and the potential fall-out as secrets and lies threaten everyone concerned.

The world building focuses on the growing relationship between our story line couple. Jamaica continues to struggle with her preconceived notions about our story line hero, often becoming jealous and angry at the slightest provocation. Someone else has set their sights on Callahan O’Reilly, and in doing so, threatens his future if he will not comply. As well, the reader is pulled into the competitive world of sports sponsorship, and the threats against players who do not comply.

The relationship between Callahan and Jamaica begins acrimoniously in the face of Jamaica’s inability to drop her preconceived notions about Callahan O’Reilly. Callahan is desperate to prove he is worthy of Jamaica’s love and attention but at every turn, Jamaica is set up to believe Callahan is proving her right. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of energetic and dynamic secondary and supporting characters. We are introduced to Jamaica’s friend Chessley Clarke, as well as Callahna’s teammates Finn, Axel, Baxter and Drake’ professor Dair, Coach Ainsworth, Tory Miller and her group of ‘jersey chasers’

FINDING THE END ZONE is a story of secrets and lies, power and control, acceptance and love. The premise is captivating, intriguing and entertaining; the characters are numerous, determined and desperate-the mean girls and spoiled ‘heiress’ are reminiscent of young adult story lines; the romance is provocative and seductive.

But, I do have some questions and concerns: it is never revealed as to why Jamaica dislikes athletes or refuses to date athletes, or has preconceived notions about our story line hero. Jamaica knew nothing about football, yet she was too eager to condemn and paint all athletes with the same accusations. There is also the issue of her extreme jealousy that manifested whenever another woman or female fan acknowledged Callahan O’Reilly. Again, there was no explanation or admissions of past betrayal, in this I felt there were too many unanswered questions.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

“Let me guess—you have a 4.0.”

“Lucky you to be paired with me, huh?” I shot him a smug grin.

A naughty smile broke over his features, and I think his voice dropped an octave. “Oh, yeah, but not for your GPA.”

Beneath the table, I crossed one knee over the other and willed myself not to react to that voice. “Exactly what’s that supposed to mean?”

Callahan leaned forward on those delicious forearms. “It means I get to study with the hottest girl in class.”

With a snort, I shook my head. “I don’t get involved with study partners, especially study partners who are also jocks.”

“I prefer football player.” He winked. “And those were your rules before you met me.”

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Tam DeRudder Jackson is the author of the paranormal romance Talisman Series and the contemporary romance Balefire Series. Her favorite “room” in her house is her back patio where she dreams up stories of romance and risk. When she’s not writing her latest paranormal or contemporary romance, you can usually find her driving around with the top down in her convertible or carving turns on the slopes of the local ski hill. The mom of two grown sons, Tam likes to travel, attend rock concerts, watch football and soccer, and visit old car shows with her husband. She lives in the mountains of northwest Wyoming where she spends most of her free time trying to read all the books. Her TBR piles are threatening to take over her office, and she’s fine with that.

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