Book Review: Risky Game (Out of Bounds #3) by Tracy Solheim

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: Berkley
320 Pages

In the next sizzling sports romance from the author of Foolish Games, Brody is at the top of his game… until Shannon changes the rules.

Baltimore Blaze tight end Brody Janik is a natural-born football star. At twenty-seven, his record-breaking athletic performance and his cover-boy good looks have turned him into a household name. But Brody’s hiding a major secret behind his charming public persona: a health condition that may cut his career short.

PhD candidate Shannon "Shay” Everett works multiple jobs to put herself through school—including an unpaid internship with the Blaze training department.  Strapped for cash, Shay answers the call of an NFL gossip blogger to uncover personal details about the Blaze players. Sneaking into the locker room one night, she gets entangled in Brody’s secret…and swept up by his charm.

Brody isn’t sure what to make of the gawky girl with the whiskey eyes, especially when he discovers she was snooping. His first instinct is to turn her in as a snitch, but she could destroy him by sharing his secret. Instead, he decides to keep her close…perhaps closer than either of them originally intended…

Goodreads.Twitter.Website.Facebook

Goodreads.Amazon.Barnes & Noble.

Brody Janik has a secret. A secret that could possibly prevent him from continuing his career of a professional football player. The only person who knows this secret besides his trainer is the one of the teams interns, Shay Everett. Shay makes a deal with Brody to keep his secret if he lets her use him and his illness for her thesis paper. A deal is struck and I’m sure you can guess where this is going.

Both Brody and Shay don’t believe in love. Sure, Shay finds the star football player beautiful and charming, but she never would expect him to even glance her way. Having been overlooked all her life, Shay is more than happy to just melt away. However, once Brody gets more than a glance and actually begins to get to know Shay, he won’t let her just melt away.

I really enjoyed Brody and Shay as characters. I have a weakness for sports books, and even though I’m not a fan of football, I still enjoyed this book. There was just enough sports talk so that it didn't feel weighted down and also easy enough for someone who's never followed football to understand. Brody wasn’t your typical jock meathead. He came from a big family and pushed himself to the limit, always wanting to be the best. His relationship with his sisters and also with Shay’s neighbor were the highlights for me. Shay was feisty and when she finally lets her personality show, she becomes a very determined woman. I also felt the chemistry between him and Shay – even if they themselves didn’t see it. 

This is a steadily good adult series – and just look at those covers *drools*. I don’t know if this is the last one or if the writer is going to continue, but either way, I will check out what comes next from Solheim. 

I received an copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

ARC Review: Foolish Games (Out of Bounds #2) by Tracy Solheim

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Publisher: Berkeley
320 Pages

A Hail Mary play for the heart.

Bridal gown designer, Julianne Marchione knows better than to lose her head at a client’s wedding. But, much to her embarrassment, a mix of migraine medication and a smoking hot football player lead to a steamy one night stand resulting in a surprise pregnancy. Julianne has every intention of leaving her NFL hookup far in the past until her son, Owen, is born with a life-threatening blood disorder that requires a transfusion—and Julianne is not a match.

Will �William the Conqueror” Connelly grew up tough, shouldering the stigma of being a bastard child born on the wrong side of the tracks. He refuses to let any child face the same discrimination. When he finds out about Owen, he’s furious that Julianne kept his son a secret. But when he sees her again at the hospital, he realizes that his feelings for her go far beyond anger.

Will insists that Owen recuperate at his home in North Carolina, and he’s adamant that Julianne become his wife—even if it’s only a temporary marriage in name only. But will their simmering attraction ever lead to a real connection?  Or are they just playing foolish games?

Goodreads.Twitter.Website.Facebook

Goodreads.Amazon.Barnes & Noble

One night stand leading to baby…not necessarily new. Mom doesn’t tell boy he’s the father …still not necessarily new. Baby needing a blood transfusion because it was born with a rare disease and that’s why the father was contacted…ok, that’s semi-new.

Julianne and Will share one night together and then she disappears. Out of nowhere, Will, a successful football player, is suddenly thrown into a world of fatherhood – one that he enters head on. Having grown up with no father, Will vows that his son will not share the same upbringing with him and he brings Julianne and their son to his North Carolina home. 

Foolish Games was a fun read. I definitely enjoyed reading about Will bonding with his son. Anything with a baby and father is pretty much swoon worthy. The one negative thing about Will – his paranoia. He was constantly paranoid that Julianne would just take his baby and leave. He was so paranoid that he wouldn’t be around his baby growing up that he goes to extreme measures to keep them close.  He overreacted a lot, but he was definitely swoon worthy to me. All masculine and sexy...sigh. I'm getting off topic. And then there’s Julianne, who kind of just goes with anything people tell her. She also had a tendency to let other people fix her problems. 

Most of it was a little on the unbelievable side though. The fact that Julianne gives up her entire life and not only goes to live with Will in North Carolina, but marries him as well, was a little ridiculous. I find it extremely hard to believe that a woman would just give everything up and marry a man for a time period of 3 months so he can bond with the baby. Um, there is a thing called joint custody. Or even just the living together, but the marriage was pushing it. A lot of their issues could have been handled better if they would have only talked to each other and listened to what the other had to say. 

Then there was the side stories. Yes, there were two (so three stories going on in one book). Will’s football drama wasn’t a horrible tale. It added more depth to his character and the reader could understand his background a little more. But adding the point of view of his mother felt unneeded. Every time we switched to what was happening in his moms life, I immediately checked out and spent the time wondering what Will and the baby were doing. 

This being the second book in a series, I am interested in going back and reading the first. Some characters from the first carry over and based on their interactions here, I’m interested in seeing their story. Also, I adored the character of Brody and can’t wait to read his story next. I have a feeling that one will be exceptionally entertaining.

 

I received an copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.