Review: The Trouble with Quarterbacks by R.S. Grey

R.S. Grey throws another touchdown with The Trouble with Quarterbacks

I’ve never met an R.S. Grey story I didn’t like. As with so many books and authors whose work I have thoroughly enjoyed, I discovered her work by accident because some of the lovely book lovers on my Instagram feed were raving about her. 

I wasn’t disappointed. 

And when I saw that her new book The Trouble with Quarterbacks had a sports connection, I was thrilled. 

In fact, I ended up finishing the book in a matter of hours and my only regret is that I now have to wait for her to release another book. 

Sometimes authors who write lots of books tend to become formulaic. Grey mixes so many types of characters who have such varied lives that you don’t see signs of her work being formulaic, and the mix of characters (ranchers, doctors, vets, etc) make the journey to HEA even more enjoyable. 

Such was the case with The Trouble with Quarterbacks, where preschool teacher Candace falls for the uncle of one of her students. She doesn’t realize that he’s a famous quarterback, as in Super Bowl winning quarterback, and this is what really catches Logan’s eye. Candace is unlike any of the women who vie for his attention these days, and he’s intrigued. 

Candace is British, and as she is the narrator of the story her thoughts and phrases are as British as she is. It’s cute. As a main character, Candace’s only flaw in my mind is that she’s a little over the top. I love that she’s perky and quirky, but she tends to let that get in the way of seeing how much Logan likes her when it’s as clear as day….but in a way, that’s less a flaw and more of the way she sees herself. She doesn’t think she’s worthy of a man like Logan, and that means he has to prove it to her.

For his part, Logan is a very well-rounded character and instantly likable. He’s definitely got the All-American thing going for him, but he remembers where he came from and he knows how to take care of the people he loves.

Rather than showing Logan’s life during the season, readers are treated to a glimpse of his life as a sports icon out of season and it’s an interesting decision. Obviously with a professional athlete lives change when their sport is in season, and I think it would have been a completely different book if Grey had placed their budding relationship in-season. That said, there were plenty of sports references to make me happy.

The Trouble with Quarterbacks is a fun read, perfect for the weekend at home or an afternoon on the beach and you’ll finish the story with a smile on your face.

Review: Unexpected, by Liza Gaines

Politics and romance cross paths in Unexpected by Liza Gaines

Unexpected, the second book in Liza Gaines’ Public Relations series, is every bit as fast-paced and witty as its predecessor Undisclosed but the stakes are even higher this time around. 

Mac and Gwen have just discovered that Gwen is pregnant. She’s worried about the future and Mac is worried about being a father – again – given the nonexistent relationship with his own father. Not only that, but the campaign they’re working on is getting heated and everyone is under a microscope. They’re both committed to making this pregnancy work, but life has a way of making things oh so challenging. It’s complicated because Mac loves being Tristan’s father but Gwen refuses to allow him to take care of them. She wants things to be equal, and that’s not working for him. 

Coming in at just under 250 pages, Unexpected is a quick read in the literal and figurative sense. It speeds through the days and months with ease as Gwen and Mac struggle to figure out their dynamic. Gaines guides readers effortlessly through the story, which is tightly written and isn’t full of unnecessary information.

The story is relatively streamlined, and there’s no question that Unexpected is the setup for the conclusion to Mac and Gwen’s story, Undeterred, which is coming in October. 

Every now and then you come across a fantastic new series and I was lucky enough to encounter the Public Relations series in its infancy. I love politics and the PR world, so there’s plenty of industry talk to make it feel realistic. Gaines doesn’t let a pregnancy deter Mac and Gwen from keeping things hot in the bedroom, either. 

I really, truly loved this book and I think you’ll enjoy it, too!