Tag: football romance

Book Review: Playing for Keeps by Ranee S. Clark

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Rating: ★
Audience: NA Sports Romance
Length: 300 pages
Author: Ranee S. Clark
Publisher: Sweetly Us Press
Release Date: June 1st, 2015
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Football-loving TyAnne Daws has long admired BYU’s star quarterback from afar. This semester, she’s determined to step away from the sidelines and she has the perfect game plan for winning the heart of Anthony Rocket Rogers. When some smart moves land her in one of his classes, she finds herself in the perfect position to make her play. But as she gets to know the real Anthony, away from the lights of the stadium, Ty realizes that this is no game; she’s falling in love . . .
Anthony takes full advantage of his all-star status, holding girls at arm’s length for one reason: it keeps him from repeating the same mistakes that once led to a devastating heartbreak. When he meets Ty, his assumption that she’s just another pretty face is quickly proven wrong. Though he’s completely drawn in by this sweet young woman, her intriguing mix of amusing football know-how, and her quiet selflessness, he will not let himself fall in love. But when faced with the reality of losing the woman he’s come to care for despite himself, Anthony’s resolve is tested. It’s getting harder to keep his head in the game when his heart’s on the line.

IT DOESN’T HAPPEN OFTEN.

I won’t spend a lot of time on this because there’s too many things to touch on that made me rage as I read this book. Essentially all of these “college kids” act like middle schoolers and the drama is roll your eye worthy to the nth degree.

And there’s a stalker that everyone is way too lenient with? I don’t know why they kept brushing him off and then he’d just pop back up again like the worst game of whack-a-mole.

This poor FMC (and the MMC) made me want to bang my head against a wall. BLESS YOUR HEARTS.

Overall audience notes:

  • NA Sports Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild
  • Content warning: a side character who stalks the FMC

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Book Review: Catching Feelings (Varsity #2) by Emily Charlotte

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: YA Contemporary Sports Romance
Length: 304 pages
Author: Emily Charlotte
Publisher: Simon Teen
Release Date: September 1st, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

The first rule for a drama-free senior year? Don’t fall for the mysterious new football transfer. A swoony young adult romance full of undeniable chemistry and school spirit perfect for fans of Lynn Painter and Friday Night Lights, from the author of Heart Check.

When Sabrina and Tyler meet by accident outside (okay, inside) the football locker rooms, it’s not a big deal. After a rocky summer, Sabrina is focused on leading the Spirit Committee to its best year ever, while Tyler is eager to leave behind the mess from his old school with a second chance playing football as a transfer. Neither is looking for romance.

But as the team’s newest (and most eligible) varsity athlete, Tyler is suddenly the center of attention. And Sabrina is busy dodging Ryan, her longtime flirtationship who is determined to take her to the homecoming dance. Ryan is exactly the kind of chaos Sabrina doesn’t need, so she asks Tyler to go as friends instead. Eager to fend off other unwanted advances, Tyler is happy to accept.

Of course, this was before Sabrina realized Tyler is Ryan’s cousin. But as long as they’re just friends, everything should be fine. Tyler is less willing to ignore the connection he feels toward Sabrina, but he’s also desperate to keep his past buried. When the chemistry between them becomes impossible to deny, can their carefully laid plans survive the fallout, or will secrets and social pressure threaten everything they’ve built?

Thank you Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.

THIS WAS CUTE.

A quick little romance read I flew through the other day. I love reading sports books based on the season and football season is heeeere.

I loved the emphasis on acts of service. Tyler was so sweet in the way he tried to show Sabrina he cared. It was sincere and I adored it. They had a lot of good moments together. There was plenty of football content that capture the essence of those Friday night football games.

Both of these characters had some things to work through. It felt relatable to the age group and I liked how both learned that they needed to accept help and trust others with the truth. The nostalgic quality of high school and the insecurities that come along with it are absolutely relatable.

I wasn’t a big fan of the multiple moments of underage drinking. It’s not in your face, but present enough that I wish it would have been more cut from the plot. Otherwise I do think this fits into the young adult category well. I’d lean towards the upper age pocket though.

Overall audience notes:

  • Upper YA Sports Romance
  • Language: mild
  • Romance: heated make-outs
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: divorced parents (recounted, infidelity involved)

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Book Review: The Americana Playbook by Cathryn Carter

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Rating: ★★★★.5
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 412 pages
Author: Cathryn Carter
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: April 21st, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Parker Montgomery was once America’s sweetheart. She took her first steps in the Capitol when her father was a congressman, and starred in his senatorial campaign ads. But in high school, during his first bid for the White House, she disappeared from the political limelight, leaving her home and best friend, Fitz, behind.

Known for his grit and unwavering determination, Fitzgerald Rhodes is a seasoned quarterback who has just led his team to the Super Bowl. But the bigger win is a chance reunion with his childhood partner in crime, the now sitting-President’s daughter, and–unknowingly to Parker–Fitz’s greatest love.

Reunited, Parker turns to Fitz when a question of inheritance involves not only a wedding, but a return to the spotlight she had been banished from. Seeing this as an opportunity to come clean about his feelings, Fitz agrees to help. But their mutually beneficial relationship grows less convenient as he begins to do just that.

In prime election season, Parker’s revenge on the political dynasty that harmed her unearths not just unrequited love, but secrets and scandal leaving Fitz and his career as collateral damage.

——

The Americana Playbook does include information some readers might find sensitive including: struggles with OCD, highlighting the troubled-teen industry, emotional abuse, details (though not graphic) of physical and emotional abuse as well as sexual harassment.

OH THIS HAD ME.

The things I get for not reading the summary and getting to enjoy all of the tropes and turns this book took (!!). It had me in a chokehold from the first chapter and I haven’t binge read an ebook like this in a long time. IT WAS GLORIOUS.

Fitz and Parker represented my favorite version of childhood friends to lovers. I LOVED that Fitz has been down bad for years and the angst was ramped up every time they were on page together. This was heated and tense and a bit on the heavy side but it worked really well. This was my first book by this author and I highly doubt it will be my last. There’s even football content?? BLESS.

Parker was a tad too oblivious about Fitz for me (and now that I’m thinking about it, the same goes for Fitz about a few other things). I spent most of my time wanting to shake her and I wish that had been resolved sooner. I was at least obsessed with the protective and control vibes that Fitz continually presented. It’s an easy book to fall head over heels for. I could not get enough.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary Sports Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 3-4ish open door
  • Violence: moderate – high
  • Content warnings: child abuse, false imprisonment in an institution, sexual assault, loss of life, abusive coach (verbal/emotional), abusive parents

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Book Review: First Down and Forever to Go by (River Foxes #1) by Leah Dobrinska

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Football Romance
Length: 285 pages
Author: Leah Dobrinska
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: January 20th, 2025
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Can a pair of opposites come together to heal from past wounds, lay their secrets bare, and pave the way for a future full of laughter and love? Or is this Cinderella story destined for an unhappily ever after?

TJ Wilson, the outgoing star running back for the Green Bay River Foxes, swears he’ll never fall in love again…not after losing his college girlfriend. He’s content with a life of football and carefree dating. Nothing serious. No strings. No matter how much his teammates rib him for it. When a stunning, secretive woman all but begs him to show her a good time at his team’s charity ball, he’s the man for the job. If the shoe fits, after all.

One heart-to-heart and an almost-kiss later, TJ finds himself enamored with the bashful but brazen mystery Cinderella, and, against his better judgement, longing for more than the one night she’s offered him.

One night. Lucy Dupree, a secret author and media personality-turned-social pariah, promises her literary agent she’ll come out of hiding for one night. Just long enough to get inspired, overcome her writer’s block, and finish her manuscript by the deadline. With the help of her fairy-godmother landlord and a vintage wedding gown, Lucy attends the Green Bay River Foxes Gala where she meets TJ, a walking, talking prince charming.

The masquerade theme allows Lucy to conceal her identity, and TJ provides her with enough content to write ten romance novels. A win-win. She got what she came for, and that’s enough. It has to be. Because when the clock strikes midnight, the fairytale ends. Or is it just beginning?

First Down and Forever To Go is a soft and sweet closed door romance with kissing only and no implied intimacy, perfect for fans of the opposites attract and friends to more tropes. This is the first book in the River Foxes Football Romance series. All titles can be read as standalones.

SWEET START.

I’m a big fan of Leah Dobrinska’s sports romances. They hit the spot and she rights some of the best closed door kissing scenes around. Even the *almost* scenes had my kindle heating up. I looooove it.

And this was such a good story. I adored TJ’s cocky nature with a soft cinnamon roll interior. The amount of times he just *adored* upon Lucy were some of the sweetest and I couldn’t get enough. I really liked the dynamic between them and the chemistry they couldn’t deny.

I did like Lucy for the most part. I understood the struggle and the time it takes to step back out, but I did get a bit frustrated with how the third act was handled. Some of it was fine? But for the most part I had hoped her growth had hit its climax before that point.

But a genuinely great start to the series and I’m looking forward to seeing the romances for the other players on the team!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Sports romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low
  • Content warnings: loss of a partner (recounted)

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