FOURTH DOWN (Portland Pioneers 1) by Heidi McLaughlin-Review Tour

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 10, 2021

Autumn LaRosa has been playing defense since the moment she met Julius Cunningham. After accepting a position as a meteorologist in Portland, she strives to make a good first impression. Then she meets the arrogant wide receiver who belittles her in front of her new friends. She could have walked off the sting of his bitter words, but he keeps showing up in her social circle.

Now, she is determined to meet him at the line of scrimmage and prove she’s not one to back down.

Julius Cunningham is well aware there’s a flag on the play after his harsh words to Autumn. The more he sees of Portland’s new weather girl, the clearer it becomes his judgments of her were unfounded.

But how can he call a timeout on the animosity he created?

When Autumn attends a charity event with the Pioneer players, she sees an opportunity too tempting to resist. Julius looks miserable being a part of the date auction, making it even more fun for Autumn to bid. Will she use the opportunity for some good old-fashioned payback? Or will this be their fresh start at the twenty-yard line?

Get ready for the snap and sprint for the end zone because Autumn and Julius are headed for either a tackle or a touchdown!

••••••••

REVIEW:  FOURTH DOWN is the first instalment in Heidi McLaughlin’s contemporary, adult PORTLAND PIONEERS romance series-a spin off /companion to the author’s BEAUMONT and BEAUMONT: NEXT GENERATIONS series. This is meteorologist Autumn LaRosa, and Portland Pioneers’ wide receiver Julius Cunningham’s story line. FOURTH DOWN can be read as a stand alone. You do not have to have read either of the previous two series to follow. Several of the characters cross over for cohesion and familiarty.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Autumn and Julius) FOURTH DOWN follows the building romance and relationship between meteorologist Autumn LaRosa, and Portland Pioneers’ wide receiver Julius Cunningham. Autumn LaRosa believes she has finally found a direction in life, accepting a position in Portland as the evening news meteorologist but reconnecting with Peyton Westbury, a former college sorority sister, places Autumn in the direct line of fire when Portland Pioneer’s wide receiver Julius Cunningham takes an immediate dislike and hate-on for our story line heroine. As a friend and teammate of Noah Westbury, Julius struggles with Peyton’s immediate friendship with Autumn LaRosa, a friendship he believes to be orchestrated by our story line heroine. Julius Cunningham is in the process of a divorce, and struggles with his attraction to Portland’s newest ‘weather girl’, and in this directs all of his anger at our story line heroine. What ensues is the building but contemptuous relationship between Julius and Autumn, and the potential fall-out as Julius’ past demands everything and more.

Julius Cunningham is heading for divorce in the wake of his wife’s affair but Julius refuses to give into Elena’s demands, demands that will force his children to choose sides. Meeting Autumn stirs something deep within our story line hero but from the outset Julius struggles with his attraction to a woman he fears could break his heart. Autumn LaRosa has no idea why Julius Cunningham despises the ground upon which she walks. With little knowledge about Julius and his life back home, Autumn will get caught up in the drama of his impending divorce, drama that threatens her relationship with the man with whom she is falling in love.

The relationship between Julius and Autumn begins acrimoniously as Julius refuses to accept Autumn as anything more than a star-crossed, gold digger. There is no reason for Julius to presume such a threat but his anger towards his wife is now direct at the woman with whom he will fall in love. As their relationship builds, Julius quickly discovers that everything he thought about Autumn is built upon his own anxiety and fears. The $ex scenes are all implied and fade to black.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful and energetic secondary and supporting characters including Julius’ children Reggie and Roxy, his soon to be ex-wife Elena, and his parents Susan and Roger; Julius’ teammates Alex Moore, and Chase Montgomery, station owner Leon Woolworth, and Autumn’s ex Camden Porter.
We are reintroduced to Noah and Peyton Westbury (Beaumont: Next Generation), and Petyon’s sister Elle; Liam Page, Harrison and JD, as well as Quinn James and Nola, and several more characters from the previous series.

FOURTH DOWN is a story of family and betrayal, forgiveness and love. The character driven premise is emotional and real; the romance is seductive and tender; the characters are animated and edgy. FOURTH DOWN is a welcome addition to the Beaumont Family of stories and books.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

Heidi McLaughlin: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Newsletter /Instagram /Pinterest

Originally from Portland, Oregon and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland Westie/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL and her brother, Racicot.

Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018, and is now available on DVD & Digital.

To stay connected with Heidi visit www.facebook.com/authorheidimclaughlin or heidimclaughlin.com