Tag Archives: football romance

DELAY OF GAME (Game Time 4) by Tam DeRudder Jackson-review tour

Posted on by
15

DELAY OF GAME (Game Time 4) by Tam DeRudder Jackson-review tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Apple / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 29, 2025

Danny Chambers is back.

I lost my heart to Danny Chambers in high school, even though he parked me in the friend zone five minutes after we met. It’s taken years to stop thinking about him at least once every hour. It helped when he enlisted in the Air Force. But he’s back, and he’s walking onto the football team. He could go to college anywhere, so why does it have to be Mountain State?

Even best friends keep secrets from each other.

When Danny earns a spot playing receiver for the Wildcats, I’m in the clear. I can admire him from the stands and go back to my boring life of finishing my undergrad and resigning myself to being married to my career. After what went down with my one-and-only boyfriend last semester, well, I need to stop dreaming about happily-ever-after. Which makes the head games Danny is playing with me so painful. Why is he acting like he wants something more with me?

Five years ago, I made a colossal mistake.

I need a second chance. Growing up a military brat, the one constant in my life was playing football. Though I met all kinds of people while switching schools on the regular, one look at Taryn Hamilton and she’s my girl. Yet after we met, I discovered quick she was off-limits if I wanted to catch passes on Friday nights. I paid a big price for my bad choice. Now after giving Uncle Sam four years so I could attend college, I’m at Mountain State where I’m taking every opportunity to show Taryn how I truly feel—how I have always felt about her. She is so much more than my best friend.

Football was my first love. Now I’m playing for my only love.

Game Time.

••••••••

REVIEW: DELAY OF GAME is the fourth instalment in Tam DeRudder Jackson’s contemporary, new adult GAME TIME erotic, football romance series. This is former US Air Force member Danny Chambers, and Taryn Hamilton’s story line. DELAY OF GAME can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty, any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. The events of DELAY OF GAME run parallel to and cross over with all of the previous instalments.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Danny and Taryn) DELAY OF GAME follows the childhood friends to lovers relationship between former US Air Force member Danny Chambers, and Taryn Hamilton. Years earlier, while still in high school, Danny Chambers reluctantly placed his best friend Taryn Hamilton in the friend zone, and Taryn has never forgiven or forgotten about the humiliation. Fast forward to present day, having served his time in US Air Force, Danny has returned and enrolled in the same college as our story line heroine, and was granted a walk on position with the football team. Starting a slow seduction of Taryn Hamilton, Danny is met with trepidation and apprehension, and struggles to uncover the reasons why. Determined to keep her distance, Taryn finds herself distressing about the past, and a former relationship that refuses to let go.

The world building follows several paths including Danny’s growing friendships with his teammates; his need and love for the woman who’s heart he broke; and the determination of Taryn Hamilton to make it on her own.

The relationship between Danny and Taryn is a childhood best friends to lovers relationship that struggles with the demons from the past. Taryn’s humiliation, and the constant reminder of her previous relationship failures continue to beat at our heroine’s ego but Danny Chambers is determined to claim Taryn as his own in the face of her need to push Danny away. The $ex scenes are passionate and seductive.

The second and supporting characters include Danny’s sassy teammates and roommates Callahan O’Reilly and Jamaica Winslow, Wyatt ‘Bax’ Baxter, Finn McCabe, Tarvarius Johnson, Tamatoa Hall, as well the introduction of Taryn’s siblings and parents, friend Zoe Lampee, co-worker Hailey, and hometown bully Derek Watson. There may be something developing between Tarvarius and Zoe.

DELAY OF GAME is a story of harassment and vengeance, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is edgy, inviting and engaging; the characters are animated and spirited; the romance is tender and heart warming.

Reading Order and Previous reviews
Finding the End Zone
Out of Bounds
Offsides

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

 

FOLLOW: Goodreads/ Website/ Facebook/ Instagram/ Bookbub / Amazon

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.

NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour promoter

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!


Share

Dirty Goals (Florida Devils 3) by Michelle A Valentine-a review

Posted on by
10

DIRTY GOALS (Florida Devils 3) by Michelle A Valentine-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 30, 2022.

When our secret relationship was discovered, I thought the wrath of the Florida Devils would be what I needed to fear most.

I was wrong.

So. So, very wrong.

There are devils in this world, and as it turns out, not all of them are six-foot-four sizzling-hot football gods. There’s actual evil, and its set out to take Zayn and I down for good this time.

•••••

REVIEW: DIRTY GOALS is the third and final instalment in Michelle A Valentine’s contemporary, adult FLORIDA DEVILS erotic, romance serialized trilogy. This is the continuing story of thirty-four year old professional football player Zayn North, and twenty-four year old production assistant Vivi Honeycutt. DIRTY GOALS should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up after the cliff hanger of book one DIRTY PLAYS.

SOME BACKGROUND: Zayn North has been followed by scandal for the better part of a year, and the Florida Devils have ‘ordered’ our hero to stay out of the public eye including no relationships for the foreseeable future but the arrival of Vivi, his half-nephew’s ex-girlfriend, stirs something deep within Zayn North, something he struggles to keep contained in the face of living under the same roof. A new scandal has placed Zayn and Vivi in the spotlight, a scandal that is threatening the life of the woman Zayn loves.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Zayn and Vivi) DIRTY GOALS picks up immediately after the cliff hanger of book two DIRTY PLAYS in which a Hollywood starlet has gone missing and is presumed dead, a starlet directly connected to our story line hero. As the investigation begins to stall, and Zayn increases the security around the woman he loves, the person responsible continues to gain access, access that becomes personal and deadly. What ensues is the ongoing relationship between Zayn and Vivi, and the potential fall-out as our couple are targeted by a psychotic mind.

The secondary and supporting characters include Vivi’s friend Bella, and Zayn’s best friend Beckett, as well as Bella’s lecherous boss Harry, and Florida Devils’ team owner Bruce Bayne. Here’s hoping the author plans on going back and telling Bella and Beckett’s story.

DIRTY GOALS is a fast paced, quick read that resolves the who and why of Zayn’s latest stalker but saying that the conflict resolution feels rushed and underwhelming, and at one of the most pivotal parts of the story, we are not privy to Vivi’s side. The premise is intriguing and intense; the romance is passionate; the characters are energetic and determined but I was hoping for a little more.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Dirty Games
Dirty Plays

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

FOLLOW: Goodreads / Website / Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram/ Blog/

Michelle A. Valentine is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Rock the Heart. Wicked White is the first novel in her Wicked White romance series. She attended college as a drafting and design major, but her love of people soon persuaded her to join the nursing field. It wasn’t until after the birth of her son that she began her love affair with romance novels, and she hasn’t looked back since. When she’s not writing, she feeds her music addiction, dabbles in party planning, and expresses herself by working with arts and crafts. She currently lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, son, and two beloved dogs.

Share

Getting Inside (Seattle Grizzlies #1) by Serena Bell-a review

Posted on by
12

GETTING INSIDE (Seattle Grizzlies #1) by Serena Bell-a review

Getting Inside

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 3, 2017

They’re big. They’re hot. And they play hard.

In the kickoff to Serena Bell’s sexy new football romance series, the heat between a female coach and a cocky linebacker turns the Seattle Grizzlies locker room upside down.

Iona: There’s nothing like the rush of going head-to-head with the boys. Football is my life, and I got my new job with the Seattle Grizzlies because I know how to play rough. But as a woman in a man’s game, I can’t afford any distractions—like panty-melting tabloid darling Ty Williams, my star linebacker. I’ve stared down plenty of good-looking players without losing my cool . . . and yet something about Ty’s intense gaze burns straight to my core.

Ty : Despite what they say in the press, I save my best moves for game day. The Grizzlies aren’t just my teammates, they’re my brothers—no way am I going to let some new coach shake up our defense. But Iona Thomas isn’t just some coach. It’s so tough to keep my head in the game when I’d rather be in bed with her. She may take charge at practice, but if I had her in my arms, I’d be choosing the plays. I just need to figure out what makes her tick—and what makes her want to break the rules.

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: GETTING INSIDE is the first installment in Serena Bell’s contemporary, adult SEATTLE GRIZZLIES football, romance series focusing on the member of the professional football team the Seattle Grizzlies. This is offensive lineman Ty Williams, and coach Iona Thomas’s story line.

Told from dual first person points of view (Iona and Ty) GETTING INSIDE follows the building but forbidden relationship between offensive lineman for the Seattle Grizzlies Ty Williams, and the professional football league’s first African –American female coach Iona Thomas. The Seattle Grizzlies have been struggling; with a 1-6 record the owners and staff were desperate for a change-enter Iona Thomas-the first African –American female coach in the PFL, and the woman that would steal Ty Williams’s heart. What ensues is the turn around of a floundering professional football team, and the growing love between player and coach-a relationship that may not be accepted by the people in charge.

The relationship between Ty and Iona is one of immediate attraction but Iona knows that it is her job on the line as both a coach and the person in charge. Our heroine has struggles through most of her life trying to prove she was as capable as a man in the field of professional football. Ty’s attraction to Iona becomes a distraction both on and off of the field when Iona begins to push away the man with whom she is falling in love. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive.

We are introduced to a number of Ty’s fellow Seattle Grizzlies team mates including his best friend ‘O’ aka Michel Ohalu, as well as quarterback Zach Jones, and cornerback Calder Blake. Iona’s parents, and Ty’s brother add some personal family drama throughout the story.

GETTING INSIDE is a predictable story line of forbidden romance but I struggled with the lack of conflict when all was said and done. The final resolution is more of a fizzle, and this reader was left wondering about the little details in between that were never brought to the reader’s attention. I also had a difficult time with the fact that a woman was coaching a professional football team (ala the NFL) and was readily accepted by most if not all the players, other coaches, and people in charge. I suspect there would have been many more issues than what was presented in the story. The premise is entertaining; the characters are colorful; the romance is sexy.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

Share