Love is not just a game. It's

 

Blurb:

When Erica McCall finally gets her big break in advertising, she knows just which spokesperson to pitch: gorgeous football superstar Johnny Spurling.  She had followed his career since college and knows he's perfect for the spot, even though it's common knowledge his famous family doesn't do product endorsements, ever.  But Erica knows Johnny's weak spot, and she's confident she can use it to gain his trust and seal the deal.

Quarterback Johnny Spurling is running out of time.  His father's health is failing, and there's one last thing he's asked johnny to so - settle down and produce a so, before it's too late.  Which means Johnny needs a new kind of girlfriend.  No more casual hookups or high-maintenance divas.  When his sister-in-law claims to have the perfect candidate, he urges her to set up a post season blind date.

Then Johnny meets long-haired, long-legged Erica and can't resist her outrageous proposal - or er.  So he decides he'll do the commercial and have one final, hot-as-hell fling before settling down.  They set the ground rules, then proceed to break every one of them as fun turns to the kind of true romance that just doesn't end with the final touchdown - and with luck, never ends at all.

Review:

I have never read this author before nor have I read a sporting novel focused around the world of America football, the NFL and the Super bowl but this was such a great novel I think I may give these subjects another go.

This is the second book in a series but I don’t think that it matters if you have not read the previous book because I don’t think that the stories overlap.  I am not sure if the intention is now to look at the other characters in this book if it is I will definitely be on the lookout for them.

In this novel we have an ad executive and a star NFL quarterback that get together not only to make a commercial but for far more.  I loved Johnny he was a big star with a huge ego and expected women to fall at his feet.  But the other side of him was loving, gentle and a real team player.  He has promised his father to say away from women other than finding his life partner.

But Erica is a focused ad executive who has followed Johnny Spurling since she saw him play in college.  However, she did get on my nerves a bit constantly harping on about the ‘blind date’ and how this was affecting her decisions in this story.  Have more backbone girl and go for what you want (you’ve done it before).

There are some really passionate scenes (which to be honest fall a bit flat) and loads of romance even though both characters live on opposite sides of the country ... this is how long distance romances can be (if you have money).

As usual in these sorts of books there is an insta-attraction/insta-love.  There are also some really unrealistic elements but if you can get past this then the story is better than some others in this genre. There insta-attraction in real life and that is called infatuation which can turn in to real love with work or can fall flat on its face.  As shown in this novel relationships happen through work and determination.

I loved the chemistry of the main couple but also liked the secondary story of the Triple Threat team of Bannerman and Decker.  Their little side story was fascinating and Erica was called upon to help them sort it out … and quite a lot of humour ensues.  I would dearly love to read their separate stories.  To be honest I thought they stole the show from Johnny and Erica.  Then there was the on field tension with the Surgeon. 

There is just the right balance between the novel’s focus on American Football and the romance that it kept this reader reading although I had no previous knowledge of AF.  This is also some comic relief in all the romantic angst, drama and heartache caused by miscommunication.

So if you like romance stories and sports stories with hunky men then this book would be right up your alley.

Full Disclosure: I received a free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

I rated this 4 stars on Netgalley and 'I really liked it' on Amazon (3 stars) and Goodreads (4 stars).