pro football romance – Professor Romance

An illustrated cover of the book 'The Way We Collide' from the Bradford Boys series, featuring a couple in a football setting. The woman, wearing a dark shirt, embraces a man in a football uniform, who is holding a baby, with a football field background.

Overall Grade: B+

Tropes: surprise pregnancy; one-night stand; pro football romance; marriage of convenience

For readers seeking a romance that balances emotional depth with sizzling attraction, Tia Louise’s The Way We Collide delivers a compelling story that goes beyond the typical sports romance formula.

What truly makes this novel stand out is Hendrix’s remarkable character arc. We watch as this professional football star evolves from being solely focused on his career to embracing the responsibilities and joys of fatherhood. Louise crafts this transformation with authenticity, allowing readers to witness every step of his journey—the doubts, the mistakes, and ultimately, the beautiful moments of connection that change him forever. His growth feels earned rather than contrived, making his character all the more endearing.

The chemistry between Raven and Hendrix practically leaps off the page. Louise masterfully builds tension as these two fight their obvious attraction, creating delicious moments of “will they or won’t they” that keep readers turning pages well into the night. When they finally surrender to their feelings, the emotional payoff is as satisfying as the steamy scenes themselves. Their connection feels genuine because it’s grounded in mutual respect and understanding, not just physical attraction.

Equally compelling is Raven’s personal journey of self-discovery. Her evolution from aspiring storm chaser to finding unexpected passion in a different field feels refreshingly realistic. Louise portrays the uncertainty of changing life directions with sensitivity and insight, reminding readers that our paths are rarely straight and that’s perfectly okay.

The supporting cast enhances the story considerably, particularly Hendrix’s family, who provide both emotional gravitas and welcome moments of humor. Their presence makes the world of the novel feel lived-in and real.
Additionally, Raven’s unwavering support of Hendrix’s football dreams adds another layer of depth to their relationship, showing that true love means championing each other’s aspirations.

Louise’s writing style deserves special mention—it’s accessible and flowing, propelling the narrative forward with ease. Readers looking for an engaging story that doesn’t require mental gymnastics to follow will appreciate her straightforward approach.

While the focus on physical attraction is certainly present (and well-executed), there’s enough emotional substance here to satisfy readers who might typically shy away from steamier romances. That said, deeper character development would have elevated this from a good read to a truly outstanding one.

The Way We Collide is a solid four-star romance that offers more than meets the eye. If you’ve been hesitant to try Tia Louise’s work, this character-driven story of love, growth, and finding your path might just be the perfect introduction.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release

✍🏻 I have wanted Asher’s romance since the first book of Rebecca Jenshak’s Holland Brothers series. And she did NOT disappoint with Comeback. From start to finish, Jenshak’s newest romance is equal parts sweet and spice. ✍🏻

January 30, 2025 professorromance

🏈 Comeback by Rebecca Jenshak is NOW LIVE 🏈

The next book in the Holland Brothers series is NOW LIVE!

🩰 Best Friend’s Sister

🏈 Sneaking Around

🩰 Roommates

🏈 Sports Romance

🩰 ASL Rep

🏈 Chronic Illness Rep

🩰 Ballet Teacher

🏈 Broody, Tattooed Hero

Comeback is a football romance with lots of spice, swoon, and a happily ever after. It’s the third book in the Holland Brothers series and can be read as a standalone.

Read in Kindle Unlimited Here -> https://geni.us/Comeback

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Reviews: Tia Louise’s The Way We Score, book 3 of her Bradford Boys series ✍🏻

January 27, 2025 professorromance

Overall Grade: A-/B+

Tropes: second chance romance; high school sweethearts; small town; pro football; accidental pregnancy; soul mates; he falls first

I’ve recently fallen into the world of big “teddy bear” MMCs who fall hard for their FMCs. Tia Louise’s newest book, The Way We Score, is a lovely, engaging romance that reminds us that first loves are hard to get over. In this story, Olivia and Garrett, are high school sweethearts who lose each other to long distance in college. Years later, newly divorced Olivia returns home for her friend’s wedding, only to be met with Garret, her friend’s older brother and the one “who got away.” Attraction is re-kindled, and the two spend a passionate night on the night of the wedding. A couple of months later, Olivia, who has since left town out of a fear of her growing attraction to Garrett, realizes she is pregnant. She also misses the simplicity and ease of her hometown, so she returns to their small town to be near her mother. What she doesn’t expect is Garrett deciding he would end his football career so he can be close to her and the baby. Over time, they grow closer and realize they want to be together. When a couple of incidents threaten their happy lives, Olivia and Garrett work together to find solutions, landing squarely in their happy ending.

From the start, Tia Louise crafts Olivia and Garrett so that you cannot help but root for them as a couple. Garrett clearly adores Olivia, and Olivia has never moved past her feelings for Garrett, even though she works hard to ignore them. Their chemistry is off the charts. It is easy to love them throughout this story. In fact, there is no third-act break-up here; instead, they have to learn to navigate some challenges which Louise quickly resolves for her reader without much tension.

This new series from Tia Louise, The Bradford Boys, has become one of my favorites of hers. Louise writes them as realistic; they are characters you cannot help but swoon over. Adding to that realism is a small town filled with characters who add dimension to each of her stories in this series. One of my favorite parts is the Dare Dish challenges of the fictional Cooters & Scooters found in each of the series’ stories. It’s the moment when the characters come together with banter and sibling love. You cannot help but love the Bradford family and their community.

My only criticism relates to a slight plot point with Olivia’s husband. Creating that complication seemed unnecessary. It seemed tangential and out of focus. However, it’s a small moment in a larger enjoyable read.

If you’re looking for a story that grabs at your heart, steams up your glasses, and leaves you with all of the small town happily ever after feels, run and grab this book.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release, Review

✍🏻 Professor Romance’s Review: J. Saman’s Irresistibly Risky ✍🏻

October 2, 2023 professorromance

Overall Grade: A- / B+

Tropes: ONS to more; surprise baby; doctor/patient; workplace romance; found family; pro football romance; hate to love; insta-love

J. Saman’s Irresitibly Risky feels lighter than its predecessors even though its themes lean towards the serious. Two words: Asher Reyes. Saman’s MMC brings light into the dark of its FMC’s life. Asher’s ability to win Wynter’s love acts as the driving force of Saman’s book, and it’s slid into the top spot of her Irresistibly Yours series. To be fair, I suspect that my favorite story will be the forthcoming one, Irresistibly Dangerous, with a broody hero such as Lenox, but that isn’t the point of this review.

Instead, Saman has wielded her pen to create a story where her MMC falls instantly for his FMC and spends much of it chasing her. This is the dream of many a romance reader: a “golden retriever” of a man who falls hard and fast and uses his riches and influence to win her heart. Women want to be pursued and adored, and Saman grants that wish in Irresistibly Risky.

What I loved about the journey of her characters is Wynter’s path. Like Wynter, my biological father left my life with many questions and few answers. The pain of that experience forever marks your soul, and Saman has captured this through the difficulty of Wynter accepting Asher’s interest in and love for her. The juxtaposition of Asher’s easy adoration for Wynter with Wynter’s inability to accept his love for her creates tension that breeds a rabid need for their happy ending. I loved sitting in their tension even though I wanted Wynter to give her heart to Asher easily. But that wouldn’t be true for someone such as Wynter who gave her heart to the first man in her life, and he obliterated it. It’s difficult to give it away again because that pain never leaves you. Saman captures Wynter’s internal struggle well, and even if you become frustrated by her willingness to run from Asher, you at least understand it well because Saman draws it with skill.

The ups and downs of Irresistibly Risky and the underlying story behind Wynter’s father drive the story forward. I found one moment in the story where Saman should have provided more of the story because a gap was created. She didn’t acknowledge that pocket of time, and I wanted her characters’ actions. That moment is the reason for my lower grade; however, Wynter and Asher’s chemistry and story arcs make up for it. The inclusion of Asher’s found family, Zax, Greyson, Callan, and Lenox, as well as their respective significant others, adds humor and wisdom to its main characters, providing a reminder of the power of their connection to the entire series.

J. Saman’s style is simple: she creates characters who set the pages on fire and make us fall in love with them. Irresistibly Risky is a perfect example of this.

In love and romance,

Professor A

new release

✍🏻 In the first three books of J. Saman’s Irresistibly Yours series, Asher Reyes is clearly the “golden retriever” of his famous friend group. And he falls first and “down” in her newest story, Irresistibly Risky. This is NOW my favorite of the series. ✍🏻

October 2, 2023 professorromance

Irresistibly Risky by J. Saman is now live!

Picture this: you just won the Super Bowl. You’re out on the town celebrating with your teammates and best friends. And the cherry on top? You meet the sexiest woman you’ve ever seen.

Best. Night. Ever.

That is until things get going and you discover you’re suffering from a first-ever case of…performance issues.

Before you can even get a fix on your problem, *Poof* she’s gone and that’s the end of that.

Game over.

Or so I thought.

Turns out, that woman I met two years ago isn’t just some random woman from a club.

She’s my team’s new doctor.

As if that’s not already a penalty against me, she wants nothing to do with me now that she knows who I am.

But after our first go didn’t, well, go, I’m determined to prove myself and win a second chance with the woman I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.

Especially when she hits me with the biggest surprise of my life.

I know this new game is risky. That it could cost me everything I’ve worked impossibly hard to build for myself. Yet something tells me going up against this irresistible woman is worth the risk.

And I’m ready to play my heart out.

Download today or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: http://geni.us/IrresistiblyRisky

Amazon Worldwide: https://mybook.to/DiQZu0R

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3QmhAPz

Meet J. Saman

J. Saman is a USA Today and Amazon top 40 bestselling author who writes sassy, swoony, and scorching contemporary romances. She is addicted to Diet Coke, sour candy, and indie rock. She swears way too much (especially after a glass of wine) and has a penchant for sarcasm (or so her husband and children like to tell her).

J. is an admitted lover of second chance romances, enemies to lovers, and the perfect amount of angst. She is best known for writing funny and emotional romances filled with smart, strong women, and sexy alphas who have a softer side—especially for their women.

Connect with J. Saman

Website: http://jsamanbooks.com

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Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-Saman/author/B01FOIUR46

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