Full disclosure - I've tried Serena Bell in the past (not recently) and she never worked well for me. But I guess because it's been some time since I'Full disclosure - I've tried Serena Bell in the past (not recently) and she never worked well for me. But I guess because it's been some time since I've tried her and this is the new start to a football series, I tried her again. The first half was a struggle for me, but the second half worked better.
Iona has accepted a coaching position in the Pro Football League (aka the NFL). She is going to be the Seattle Grizzlies Defensive lineman coach. Having some intern experience in San Francisco and a lifelong dedication to women playing tackle football, she is very excited. She knows she is going to have to prove herself - not only being a woman, but a black woman. She is ready.
Ty is an all-star defensive lineman who really hates his line coach. The coach degrades his players and puts way too much negative pressure on them. Ty looks to his teammates as more than brothers, and he thinks this coaching style is the reason they have lost so many games. Before he has a chance to tell the head coach all of his concerns, he learns the line coach is fired, and that Iona has been hired. Ty initially doesn't know what to think having a woman as a coach. The only thing running through his mind is how sexy she is and he can't concentrate on anything else.
Iona has known Ty from television and has followed his career because she is a fan. Now faced with coaching him, she too can't keep her eyes off him. But with so much at stake for her career, she knows she can't give in to her lust.
I had a hard time with the first half because so much emphasis is put on the sexual stuff between Iona and Ty. I love some good, hot chemistry but this felt too forced and in the reader's face. It's constant references to these lust-filled thoughts on both sides, rather than respecting her as a coach, or him as a player. For this to happen from the immediate meeting and as Iona gets settled as a coach felt odd to me for some reason.
Once they settle down and actually have dinner together (second half) it felt more natural for these thoughts to arise. Or maybe because she was out to dinner rather than a coach trying to do her job. I understood their attraction and chemistry better later in the book. I wanted to understand Ty as a football player and Iona as a coach first - and that took some time.
I really enjoyed Iona by the end - strong, confident, in love, and willing to fight for her job. I'm glad the author showed us into the locker room, coaches meetings and on the field - although I'm not sure how NFL it really felt.
After a rocky start, it worked out okay in the end
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