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Daniels Brothers #2
Red Zone
The only thing Rebecca Carson ever wanted to do was join the FBI. Now, that was in danger because of a situation, of which she’d had little control. So when her ex-partner and mentor, Travis Hansen, calls and offers her an opportunity to help him with a job, she jumps at the chance.
Gage Daniels has made a pretty good life for himself. As a professional football player, all he has to do is ask, and most things are made available to him. This includes women. A well timed smile is usually all it takes to attract the opposite sex, especially in Nashville.
When a stalker threatens Gage, the team owner calls an old friend to help protect his star quarterback. Rebecca must work to protect Gage while staving off his advances. The last thing she wants is to be another notch on a hot shot athlete’s belt.
Gage Daniels has made a pretty good life for himself. As a professional football player, all he has to do is ask, and most things are made available to him. This includes women. A well timed smile is usually all it takes to attract the opposite sex, especially in Nashville.
When a stalker threatens Gage, the team owner calls an old friend to help protect his star quarterback. Rebecca must work to protect Gage while staving off his advances. The last thing she wants is to be another notch on a hot shot athlete’s belt.
221 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2013
79 people are currently reading
1031 people want to read
About the author
Sherri Hayes
31 books1,249 followersSherri picked up her first romance novel when she was twelve and immediately she was hooked. She would stay up reading long after everyone else in her house had gone to bed, needing to see the hero and heroine get their happily ever after. But Sherri never imagined becoming an author.
At the age of thirty, all that changed. After getting frustrated with the direction a television show was taking two of its characters, Sherri decided to try her hand at writing an alternative ending to give the characters the happy ending they deserved.
Since then, writing has become a creative outlet that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions, while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create. You can find a current list of all of Sherri’s books and sign up for her newsletter at www.sherrihayesauthor.com.
At the age of thirty, all that changed. After getting frustrated with the direction a television show was taking two of its characters, Sherri decided to try her hand at writing an alternative ending to give the characters the happy ending they deserved.
Since then, writing has become a creative outlet that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions, while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create. You can find a current list of all of Sherri’s books and sign up for her newsletter at www.sherrihayesauthor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews
February 10, 2013
4 Fun, Sexy Stars!!
Enjoy my joint review with Steffi posted at Swept Away By Romance
What worked
Karla:
An enjoyable, well done plot; it was fairly believable (I’ll address that comment in the next category), and although the stalker was fairly easy to figure out, it was still suspenseful!!
I enjoyed seeing the tables turned, Rebecca was the protector and Gage was the one being stalked. Girl power!
Gage and Rebecca falling for each other. I could see it happening and loved how the author gave us the slow build-up, as opposed to jumping to the hot and heavy.
The family element that was brought in for both main characters. Megan, Rebecca’s sister, was introduced, and we meet Gage’s family at Thanksgiving.
Steffi:
I loved the dynamic between Gage and Rebecca, Gage’s friends and his family in particular. Red Zone has a very strong cast of secondary characters that turn a sweet and sexy sports-romance into a series by a talented author you don’t want to miss out on.
Also, while Red Zone is a sports-romance, it does not concentrate on fame and fortune but Sherri Hayes managed to write a believable and real hero who is approachable and lovable as well as uber hot!
This doesn’t pertain to the story directly but I really liked that Red Zone can easily be read as a stand-alone. I am going to go back and read the first book but it is not necessary to have any background info to understand Red Zone. Sherri Hayes managed this very nicely without repeating parts of the story to bring the reader up to speed on what had happened in Behind Closed Doors. This might sound unimportant but not many authors manage that and I always appreciate it when they do.
What didn’t work
Karla:
No epilogue! Especially the way the book ended, it could have used one, and I really needed it.
I had a little trouble believing that an FBI agent on leave would be permitted to work another case, even if it was through a PI agency, and it was something that was always hovering in the back of my mind.
It has nothing to do with the story, but I just didn’t understand the title of the book in relation to…anything! I kept thinking somewhere we were going to find out what the Red Zone was, but unless I missed it, the title made no sense. Honestly though, it’s just an issue for me.
Steffi:
The ending in general was a bit of a let-down for me. I thought the very strong suspense plot took a turn into the slightly ridiculous and unbelievable. I struggled fitting the actions of Gage’s stalker to the reasons the ‘bad guy’ states when he is revealed at the end of the book.
At the same time, 90% of the book were so strong, sweet, sexy and funny, the ending only made a small dent in my overall enjoyment of the book.
Best scenes
Karla:
They go for Thanksgiving at Gage’s parent’s house, and at this point Gage and Rebecca realize there is something more going on between them, than an FBI agent protecting her charge. She has to pretend to be his girlfriend, a role she had trouble with initially, but then starts to contemplate giving in to her desires. She’s introduced to the family and someone says what Rebecca’s been thinking all along. In an awkward moment that follows, one of Gage’s brothers stammers out that he thought Megan was the girlfriend; in other words, they don’t even think Rebecca is his type, something she keeps telling Gage. *cringe* Boy, did I feel bad for her.
There is a scene towards the end of the book, where Rebecca has a decision to make, does she take a shot at a relationship or walk away. Wow, her reaction to Gage was powerful, no words were spoken, but her actions said it all. Very emotional, sensual and the chemistry between them is undeniable. Once was not enough for me, I kept reading it over and over!!
Steffi:
By far, my favorite scene was Thanksgiving with the Daniels Brothers. While I enjoyed all the scenes with Rebecca and Gage, the book made it into my favorites because of the Daniels Family. It was funny, heart-warming and absolutely lovely to read about Gabe, his family and see the cracks in Rebecca’s armor becoming bigger the more time she spent with the Daniels. I can’t wait for Paul’s story and I already have a preferred love interest chosen for him.
Favorite characters
Karla:
Gage: Of course! He was a good man, even though he’s known as a player. On top of that, he came in a very appealing package, lot of sexy, hot goodness!
Rebecca: My heart went out to her; you knew there was a story from her past that she was holding back from Gage, which made her sensitive to having a relationship.
Megan: She was fun, quirky, energetic, and I’m sure she’s going to have a book, so that will be fun to read.
Steffi:
Usually, it’s easy to choose a favorite character but in this case I loved each and every one of them. Gage’s friends are hilarious, his family even more so and Gage and Rebecca a perfect fit. I also loved the interactions with Rebecca’s sister Megan and hope to see more of her in future books…*wink*
Overall Thoughts
Karla:
I couldn’t put it down!! From the beginning to the end, it owned me! While the story itself might have had a few glitches, the writing is very good! I regret not reading the first book in the series, which I will do very soon, I hate reading out of order, but I don’t feel like I missed anything by not reading the first book.
I really enjoyed that the brothers came from all walks of life, so we get something different from each of them, Gage is a football player, Trent is a landscaper, Paul is a cop, and Chris is in construction, a nice mix and basically, just ordinary guys. I’m curious to read all about them as the series moves on.
The writing is sensual and passionate, and the sex is driven by emotions, which you as the reader feel along with the characters. It was descriptive when it needed to be, but many times it’s left to the imagination, which was nice as the story wasn’t bogged down with sex scenes. I love her subtle humor and the way she sets us up for next book in the series.
Sherri Hayes, is now on my radar!! Not only will I be reading Behind Closed Doors (Daniels Brothers, Book #1), I will follow the series to the end. I’ll also be seeking out other books by this talented author, which brings me to one last issue. The author writes a good book, but I don’t feel that an ebook of hers warrants a price of $9.99. I was fortunate to get an ARC of the book, so for me the cost was nothing. So, I’m going out on a limb here and this is for the publisher, not the author. Lower the price of the book! $4.99 would be an acceptable price and fair. At the current price you are going to be hard pressed to draw readers. I don’t know the logistics of it, or what goes into promoting and distributing a book, but there are plenty of books out there with a more appealing price, and the writing is just as good, so I imagine it’s possible. Let the readers experience Sherrie Hayes, lower the price and they will come. This is just this reader’s opinion and in no way the opinion of the blog.
Other than that, I say well done Sherri Hayes! 4 Stars!
Steffi:
Without a doubt, Red Zone was a success for me on all fronts. Yes, the ending was a little disappointing and the suspense plot while starting out strong fell flat for me towards the end but if asked about Red Zone as a recommendation, I would tell you that it is a funny and sexy sports-romance with believable and likable characters that will draw you into their world no matter how hard you try to resist. There is great chemistry between Rebecca and Gage and a sweet romance that develops over time and doesn’t explode on the first page. Next on my list is Behind Closed Doors, the first book in the series, and I am looking forward to more from this great author! 4 Stars!
**ARC courtesy of The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House in exchange for an honest review**
December 4, 2013
Professional footballer Gage Daniels has a bit of a reputation as a ladies man, he works hard but plays hard too and when beautiful women are constantly throwing themselves at him he isn't about to say no. He has had a stalker for months but he never really thought much of it until they changed the game plan and started acting on their threats. Now his football team owner has decided enough is enough and has hired a PI to protect Gage and track down the stalker. Rebecca is an FBI Agent but after her last case ended badly she has been signed off work. Sitting around at home is driving her insane so when her ex-partner asks for help tracking down Gage's stalker she is grateful for something to do. What she didn't realise was that her cover would be posing as Gage's girlfriend and she isn't prepared for the emotions that brings out in her. Gage is the kind of guy who is used to getting what he wants and it doesn't take him long to set his sights on Rebecca. Rebecca is determined to keep a professional distance between them but when they have to pretend to be a couple in public it doesn't take long before the lines start to blur. Can they track down the stalker before one of them loses their heart?
Gage is the youngest of the Daniels brothers and I liked him immediately when we met him in Behind Closed Doors. He loves playing football and works hard to be the best at what he does, he is also a great looking guy so it is no surprise that he can have pretty much any woman he wants. Gage is definitely cocky, he knows how good he is and isn't about to hide that, but he isn't arrogant with it so I loved him. He is the kind of guy that gives 100% to whatever he is doing whether that is working, having fun or his new favourite pastime - toying with his uptight new FBI bodyguard! Rebecca couldn't be more different to Gage if she tried, she is tense and scared to let anyone close to her and the last thing she wants is to become another in a long line of women that Gage has taken to bed. It doesn't take long for her feelings towards him to change though, he infuriates her and pushes her buttons but she can't deny how attracted she is to him. She thinks that it might be best to have a fling with him and get it out of her system but Gage isn't going to be quite so easy to shake off. Once he has seen inside the barriers that Rebecca uses to keep the world out Gage knows he can't let her go.
The couple have great chemistry and I loved watching Gage work his way under Rebecca's skin. He certainly knows what he wants and isn't afraid to fight for it but Rebecca isn't going to be one of his usual easy conquests. It takes a lot of effort to knock down her barriers and Rebecca is doing her best to constantly rebuild them but that just makes Gage all the more determined. I have to admit I found myself getting a little irritated with Rebecca at times, I couldn't understand why she was trying so hard to keep Gage at a distance and I was almost shouting at her to just relax a bit and see where things could take them. I think because we didn't have a great deal of information about what had gone wrong on her last case or about her family history it was hard to see why she kept herself so tightly locked up but once we started to find out a little more about her background it was easier to understand where she was coming from.
I loved getting the chance to catch up with Chris and Elizabeth and see how they are doing now, the story picks up straight after their book ends and spans a period of several months so things have moved forward a little for the couple. I do think you could probably read this as a stand alone without giving away too much about the first book (after all what romance do you know of where the couple don't get together in the end?) but I would recommend reading the books in order just because of how great it is to get to know the entire Daniels family. In Red Zone we get to spend thanksgiving with the entire Daniels clan which was something I really enjoyed, I just love the banter between the brothers and the way they all have each others backs. I'm excited to read Paul and Trent's stories in the future, especially since I'm pretty sure we've already met the woman who is going to steal Paul's heart!
I enjoyed the mystery of who was Gage's stalker and trying to figure out what their reasons were. I have to admit I'd guessed who was behind everything fairly early on but I still didn't understand what they were trying to achieve or why they were doing it. Although both of the books in this series have had mysteries going on in the background I'd say that these books are much more about the romance and the mystery comes second, that isn't a bad thing but it is nice to know upfront where the focus lies. Red Zone is another great instalment to this series and has helped cement Sherri Hayes' place on my favourite authors list. If you enjoy romance with a darker feel to it then I'd definitely recommend her Finding Anna series but anyone who likes a sweet, sexy, contemporary romance will love the Daniels brothers.
Gage is the youngest of the Daniels brothers and I liked him immediately when we met him in Behind Closed Doors. He loves playing football and works hard to be the best at what he does, he is also a great looking guy so it is no surprise that he can have pretty much any woman he wants. Gage is definitely cocky, he knows how good he is and isn't about to hide that, but he isn't arrogant with it so I loved him. He is the kind of guy that gives 100% to whatever he is doing whether that is working, having fun or his new favourite pastime - toying with his uptight new FBI bodyguard! Rebecca couldn't be more different to Gage if she tried, she is tense and scared to let anyone close to her and the last thing she wants is to become another in a long line of women that Gage has taken to bed. It doesn't take long for her feelings towards him to change though, he infuriates her and pushes her buttons but she can't deny how attracted she is to him. She thinks that it might be best to have a fling with him and get it out of her system but Gage isn't going to be quite so easy to shake off. Once he has seen inside the barriers that Rebecca uses to keep the world out Gage knows he can't let her go.
The couple have great chemistry and I loved watching Gage work his way under Rebecca's skin. He certainly knows what he wants and isn't afraid to fight for it but Rebecca isn't going to be one of his usual easy conquests. It takes a lot of effort to knock down her barriers and Rebecca is doing her best to constantly rebuild them but that just makes Gage all the more determined. I have to admit I found myself getting a little irritated with Rebecca at times, I couldn't understand why she was trying so hard to keep Gage at a distance and I was almost shouting at her to just relax a bit and see where things could take them. I think because we didn't have a great deal of information about what had gone wrong on her last case or about her family history it was hard to see why she kept herself so tightly locked up but once we started to find out a little more about her background it was easier to understand where she was coming from.
I loved getting the chance to catch up with Chris and Elizabeth and see how they are doing now, the story picks up straight after their book ends and spans a period of several months so things have moved forward a little for the couple. I do think you could probably read this as a stand alone without giving away too much about the first book (after all what romance do you know of where the couple don't get together in the end?) but I would recommend reading the books in order just because of how great it is to get to know the entire Daniels family. In Red Zone we get to spend thanksgiving with the entire Daniels clan which was something I really enjoyed, I just love the banter between the brothers and the way they all have each others backs. I'm excited to read Paul and Trent's stories in the future, especially since I'm pretty sure we've already met the woman who is going to steal Paul's heart!
I enjoyed the mystery of who was Gage's stalker and trying to figure out what their reasons were. I have to admit I'd guessed who was behind everything fairly early on but I still didn't understand what they were trying to achieve or why they were doing it. Although both of the books in this series have had mysteries going on in the background I'd say that these books are much more about the romance and the mystery comes second, that isn't a bad thing but it is nice to know upfront where the focus lies. Red Zone is another great instalment to this series and has helped cement Sherri Hayes' place on my favourite authors list. If you enjoy romance with a darker feel to it then I'd definitely recommend her Finding Anna series but anyone who likes a sweet, sexy, contemporary romance will love the Daniels brothers.
January 20, 2013
THE STORY
Gage Daniels is a star Quarterback.
He leads a great life.
He’s great at what he does
The ladies love him.
Unfortunately, someone loves him too much.
He has a stalker.
It started out harmless…
It is now turned serious…
Rebecca Carson is an FBI agent on administrative leave, after her last case went bad.
She loves being an Agent.
It’s what she is good at with the great ability to turn off her emotions to get the job done.
The only person she loves is her sister Megan. She has seen love rip her sister apart time and time again. Just like it did her parents.
She likes being alone.
When retired FBI Agent Hansen gets a call from the owner of the professional football team in Nashville (for the life of me I can’t remember what it’s called or find it!) about Gabe’s stalker.
He thinks that his ex-partner Rebecca would be perfect for the role.
She can act like his bodyguard while pretending to be his girlfriend. She’s ridiculously stubborn so will be a perfect fit for Gabe.
Gabe is not happy about this.
He doesn’t need a bodyguard.
Sure she’s hot under that stuffy suit, and he can see himself sleeping with her.
He doesn’t have girlfriends.
He doesn’t have women come to his house.
He definitely doesn’t have women live with him.
He especially doesn’t have stuck up prudish women. She is not his type at all.
As payback he thinks it will be fun to play with her.
First thing is to call his stylist and have her look like his girlfriend would.
No more stuffy suits.
Then to try and be out in public with her, as much as possible. If he’s in public he can kiss and touch her and she isn’t able to cause him bodily harm like she does when he touches her in private.
She is starting to get under his skin.
He wants her, but she keeps shutting him down.
Every time he breaks a small part of her wall down, something happens and it goes back up.
He realises he wants her… more than he has ever wanted everything. He is not used to being told No.
He totally accept the challenge.
Rebecca finds Gabe very attractive but she is a professional and he is just a job.
His cocky attitude, to die for smile and subtle and not so subtle flirting are starting to get to her. Especially after Thanksgiving with his family.
How much longer can he stay just a job? She is supposed to protect him. Not sleep with him.
There is someone trying to hurt him after all. What if the person who gets hurt is her?
MY HONEST OPINION
Great!
This is the second book. The first was Elizabeth and Chris. Behind Closed Doors.
I haven’t read the first, didn’t know that there was one when I sent the request to NetGalley. Yep you caught me. I saw the hot footballer on the front and just went YEP I want that one!
So we do see Chris and Elizabeth again at thanksgiving and catch up on their life since we saw them last. We also meet the rest of the family.
Although a second book, basically a stand alone. I didn’t have any trouble with it.
The steam in this book was HAWWTT. Gage was HAAWWTT. Rebecca in true heroine style annoyed me, until the author convinced me to like her.
The drama and suspense were good. I did figure out who the stalker was early in the book though just was unsure why. All in revealed at the end of the book.
The secondary characters were a good addition. Especially Megan, Rebecca’s sister. Now that she has gone to live with Gage’s brother as a Nanny, I assume she/they are in another book?
His brothers had a good relationship with each other and of course doted on their “Ma” so they won my heart!
All in all it was a good little romance. Some reference to football, romance, steamy sex, stalkers, suspense, drama, comedic relief.
I think I will read the others, or definitely try something else from this Author.
ARC provided by NetGalley and Smith Publicity in exchange for an honest review
Gage Daniels is a star Quarterback.
He leads a great life.
He’s great at what he does
The ladies love him.
Unfortunately, someone loves him too much.
He has a stalker.
It started out harmless…
It is now turned serious…
Rebecca Carson is an FBI agent on administrative leave, after her last case went bad.
She loves being an Agent.
It’s what she is good at with the great ability to turn off her emotions to get the job done.
The only person she loves is her sister Megan. She has seen love rip her sister apart time and time again. Just like it did her parents.
She likes being alone.
When retired FBI Agent Hansen gets a call from the owner of the professional football team in Nashville (for the life of me I can’t remember what it’s called or find it!) about Gabe’s stalker.
He thinks that his ex-partner Rebecca would be perfect for the role.
She can act like his bodyguard while pretending to be his girlfriend. She’s ridiculously stubborn so will be a perfect fit for Gabe.
Gabe is not happy about this.
He doesn’t need a bodyguard.
Sure she’s hot under that stuffy suit, and he can see himself sleeping with her.
He doesn’t have girlfriends.
He doesn’t have women come to his house.
He definitely doesn’t have women live with him.
He especially doesn’t have stuck up prudish women. She is not his type at all.
As payback he thinks it will be fun to play with her.
First thing is to call his stylist and have her look like his girlfriend would.
No more stuffy suits.
Then to try and be out in public with her, as much as possible. If he’s in public he can kiss and touch her and she isn’t able to cause him bodily harm like she does when he touches her in private.
She is starting to get under his skin.
He wants her, but she keeps shutting him down.
Every time he breaks a small part of her wall down, something happens and it goes back up.
He realises he wants her… more than he has ever wanted everything. He is not used to being told No.
He totally accept the challenge.
Rebecca finds Gabe very attractive but she is a professional and he is just a job.
His cocky attitude, to die for smile and subtle and not so subtle flirting are starting to get to her. Especially after Thanksgiving with his family.
How much longer can he stay just a job? She is supposed to protect him. Not sleep with him.
There is someone trying to hurt him after all. What if the person who gets hurt is her?
MY HONEST OPINION
Great!
This is the second book. The first was Elizabeth and Chris. Behind Closed Doors.
I haven’t read the first, didn’t know that there was one when I sent the request to NetGalley. Yep you caught me. I saw the hot footballer on the front and just went YEP I want that one!
So we do see Chris and Elizabeth again at thanksgiving and catch up on their life since we saw them last. We also meet the rest of the family.
Although a second book, basically a stand alone. I didn’t have any trouble with it.
The steam in this book was HAWWTT. Gage was HAAWWTT. Rebecca in true heroine style annoyed me, until the author convinced me to like her.
The drama and suspense were good. I did figure out who the stalker was early in the book though just was unsure why. All in revealed at the end of the book.
The secondary characters were a good addition. Especially Megan, Rebecca’s sister. Now that she has gone to live with Gage’s brother as a Nanny, I assume she/they are in another book?
His brothers had a good relationship with each other and of course doted on their “Ma” so they won my heart!
All in all it was a good little romance. Some reference to football, romance, steamy sex, stalkers, suspense, drama, comedic relief.
I think I will read the others, or definitely try something else from this Author.
ARC provided by NetGalley and Smith Publicity in exchange for an honest review
February 11, 2013
Review also posted at Under The Covers Book Blog
Ms. Hayes knocked this out the ballpark and beyond my expectations.” ~Under the Covers
Red Zone is the second installment if the Daniels Brothers series and it’s even better than the first. It is without a doubt more suspenseful, the romance is stronger, definitely hotter, and the
mystery kept me guessing. Ms. Hayes knocked this out the ballpark and beyond my expectations.
Second brother to the Daniel Brother series, Gage is the long awaited, bro, the football player of the family. If you read Behind Closed Doors, at the end of the book, Gage received a mystery mail. Well, Red Zone takes place shortly after that. Gage has earned himself a stalker that has become out of control. Of course, the team owner hires Rebecca Carson who is an FBI agent on an administrative leave to protect him. And the good part is that she has to pose as his girlfriend while protecting him. Ah, yes. Can you already imagine the tension they will have?
Off the bat, Gage and Rebecca are hot for each other and I love their chemistry. As soon as they meet, you feel their attraction for each other. But due to circumstances, Rebecca attempts to avoid any relations with Gage. Obviously, she’s trying to do her job and I can totally respect that. The only thing is her game of tug-a-war annoyed me at times. Her inner battle to ward off gage just wasn’t working. I mean, how can you refuse a hot, rich, jock that is clearly crazy for you? I sure wouldn’t put up a fight…in my fantasy world. Oh man, I can’t believe I’m saying this because I loved Chris and I have a thing for Trent. But hot damn, Gage is adorably sexy. Let me tell you, this book gave me a different perspective on the football players.
We got to see a bit of Chris and Elizabeth, Trent, Momma and Papa Daniels which was a fun scene. I swear they are the all-American family. We also got a good amount of Paul who I believe will be the next hero of this series. I thought Ms. Hayes, did a great job setting his character up and getting the readers ready for him.
Anyone who enjoys a good Contemporary, Romantic Suspense with a hot Jock Genre, this is the book for you. Ms. Hayes’ Finding Anna is also a great read for the ones who crave a darker story line.
*ARC provided by publisher
Ms. Hayes knocked this out the ballpark and beyond my expectations.” ~Under the Covers
Red Zone is the second installment if the Daniels Brothers series and it’s even better than the first. It is without a doubt more suspenseful, the romance is stronger, definitely hotter, and the
mystery kept me guessing. Ms. Hayes knocked this out the ballpark and beyond my expectations.
Second brother to the Daniel Brother series, Gage is the long awaited, bro, the football player of the family. If you read Behind Closed Doors, at the end of the book, Gage received a mystery mail. Well, Red Zone takes place shortly after that. Gage has earned himself a stalker that has become out of control. Of course, the team owner hires Rebecca Carson who is an FBI agent on an administrative leave to protect him. And the good part is that she has to pose as his girlfriend while protecting him. Ah, yes. Can you already imagine the tension they will have?
Off the bat, Gage and Rebecca are hot for each other and I love their chemistry. As soon as they meet, you feel their attraction for each other. But due to circumstances, Rebecca attempts to avoid any relations with Gage. Obviously, she’s trying to do her job and I can totally respect that. The only thing is her game of tug-a-war annoyed me at times. Her inner battle to ward off gage just wasn’t working. I mean, how can you refuse a hot, rich, jock that is clearly crazy for you? I sure wouldn’t put up a fight…in my fantasy world. Oh man, I can’t believe I’m saying this because I loved Chris and I have a thing for Trent. But hot damn, Gage is adorably sexy. Let me tell you, this book gave me a different perspective on the football players.
We got to see a bit of Chris and Elizabeth, Trent, Momma and Papa Daniels which was a fun scene. I swear they are the all-American family. We also got a good amount of Paul who I believe will be the next hero of this series. I thought Ms. Hayes, did a great job setting his character up and getting the readers ready for him.
Anyone who enjoys a good Contemporary, Romantic Suspense with a hot Jock Genre, this is the book for you. Ms. Hayes’ Finding Anna is also a great read for the ones who crave a darker story line.
*ARC provided by publisher
October 20, 2018
This is such a refreshing new story that quickly grabbed my attention and kept me turning the pages. I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say there is action, suspense, a bit of mystery, and of course love. This is a great book.
February 13, 2013
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog rating: B
Gage Daniels is a pro football player who loves his social life and hanging out with his friends. He starts getting anonymous letters and pictures in the mail and his team owner wants him protected. Gage doesn’t take the pictures seriously, but what he doesn’t know is explosives were found on his car and his owner doesn’t want to take any chances. He calls his friend for help, who in turns asks his ex-partner Rebecca, who is currently on leave from her job at the FBI, to watch out for Gage. She takes the job but doesn’t anticipate what being around Gage is going to entail. Her cover is his girlfriend and her life is flipped upside down.
I was already into this story with the sports theme alone. I love the combination of sports and romance and I was pleased that there are actual sports scenes included for Gage, it’s not always the case! We get to see Gage in his quarterback role at practice, in a game and being around his teammates and friends. It was easy to like Gage right from the start. He’s a nice guy, he loves his career and he absolutely doesn’t want Rebecca around. Instead, he decides to have some fun with the buttoned up woman, and starts to make her over into his girlfriend. She resists, hard, at first but Gage is too sexy to deny for long and of course she starts falling for the handsome quarterback. It’s especially easy for her to do once she gets to know him and sees him interact with his family and friends.
That was the other aspect to Gage I really enjoyed, seeing him around his brothers and parents and the sibling-like relationship he develops with Rebecca’s sister Megan, who comes to stay at Gage’s house since Rebecca is there and she needs her sister after having her heart broken, yet again. Gage was everything I enjoy reading about with a hero: sexy athlete, sweet with his family and young niece, protective of Rebecca even though she’s the one that’s doing the protecting. He’s a nice guy and carried the story for me.
Gage didn’t try to explain it to his brother. He couldn’t explain it to himself. Even though this was supposed to be a ruse, for him it was quickly becoming anything but. Rebecca was unlike any woman he’d ever met. She was beautiful, sexy and completely and utterly unaffected by his pseudocelebrity status. No matter what he threw at her, she gave it back to him, even when he was messing with her. The woman knocked his legs out from under him without even trying.
Red Zone was all about the romance, it’s what was strong and it overpowered the suspense storyline which ended up feeling a bit weak. The bad guy, who is revealed at the end, was almost a let-down. I guess I hard time with the reasons for this person to be stalking Gage. The stalker storyline didn’t take away from the overall book, as I thoroughly enjoyed Rebecca, Gage and their story together, but it wasn’t something that had me on the edge of my seat.
Also questionable was the ending. It ends very, very abruptly. Another chapter or an epilogue is really needed to finish out Gage and Rebecca’s story. We’re left with Rebecca and Gage in love, but they both love their jobs and live in different cities. One other surprise element is brought into their relationship at the very end, but I need to know how they’re going to make it work. There will have to be sacrifices made and I want to know what they are and how they’re making their relationship work going forward.
I had a lot of fun reading Red Zone and was pleased to see that the series is about all the Daniels brothers. This book reads well as a stand alone, but I’ll be picking up book 1 so I can get to know the entire family and all these sexy brothers. The combination of the romance, football and Gage all worked, and it’s a story I’d recommend.
Blog rating: B
Gage Daniels is a pro football player who loves his social life and hanging out with his friends. He starts getting anonymous letters and pictures in the mail and his team owner wants him protected. Gage doesn’t take the pictures seriously, but what he doesn’t know is explosives were found on his car and his owner doesn’t want to take any chances. He calls his friend for help, who in turns asks his ex-partner Rebecca, who is currently on leave from her job at the FBI, to watch out for Gage. She takes the job but doesn’t anticipate what being around Gage is going to entail. Her cover is his girlfriend and her life is flipped upside down.
I was already into this story with the sports theme alone. I love the combination of sports and romance and I was pleased that there are actual sports scenes included for Gage, it’s not always the case! We get to see Gage in his quarterback role at practice, in a game and being around his teammates and friends. It was easy to like Gage right from the start. He’s a nice guy, he loves his career and he absolutely doesn’t want Rebecca around. Instead, he decides to have some fun with the buttoned up woman, and starts to make her over into his girlfriend. She resists, hard, at first but Gage is too sexy to deny for long and of course she starts falling for the handsome quarterback. It’s especially easy for her to do once she gets to know him and sees him interact with his family and friends.
That was the other aspect to Gage I really enjoyed, seeing him around his brothers and parents and the sibling-like relationship he develops with Rebecca’s sister Megan, who comes to stay at Gage’s house since Rebecca is there and she needs her sister after having her heart broken, yet again. Gage was everything I enjoy reading about with a hero: sexy athlete, sweet with his family and young niece, protective of Rebecca even though she’s the one that’s doing the protecting. He’s a nice guy and carried the story for me.
Gage didn’t try to explain it to his brother. He couldn’t explain it to himself. Even though this was supposed to be a ruse, for him it was quickly becoming anything but. Rebecca was unlike any woman he’d ever met. She was beautiful, sexy and completely and utterly unaffected by his pseudocelebrity status. No matter what he threw at her, she gave it back to him, even when he was messing with her. The woman knocked his legs out from under him without even trying.
Red Zone was all about the romance, it’s what was strong and it overpowered the suspense storyline which ended up feeling a bit weak. The bad guy, who is revealed at the end, was almost a let-down. I guess I hard time with the reasons for this person to be stalking Gage. The stalker storyline didn’t take away from the overall book, as I thoroughly enjoyed Rebecca, Gage and their story together, but it wasn’t something that had me on the edge of my seat.
Also questionable was the ending. It ends very, very abruptly. Another chapter or an epilogue is really needed to finish out Gage and Rebecca’s story. We’re left with Rebecca and Gage in love, but they both love their jobs and live in different cities. One other surprise element is brought into their relationship at the very end, but I need to know how they’re going to make it work. There will have to be sacrifices made and I want to know what they are and how they’re making their relationship work going forward.
I had a lot of fun reading Red Zone and was pleased to see that the series is about all the Daniels brothers. This book reads well as a stand alone, but I’ll be picking up book 1 so I can get to know the entire family and all these sexy brothers. The combination of the romance, football and Gage all worked, and it’s a story I’d recommend.
November 30, 2012
What do does a FBI agent and a star quarterback have in common? Nothing. Yet sparks fly when Agent Rebecca Carson is assigned to protect Gage Daniels. This is a very sweet romantic suspense which will have romantic readers smiling while reading the book. It is very enjoyable and the characters are definitely engaging. Definitely a 3.5 star book!
Rebecca is a reserved and by the book woman. Her childhood shaped her to be the relationship adverse woman she is today. Gage is a cocky party guy from a huge loving family. With such different backgrounds, it's amazing they can even relate and have a baseline to understand each other. Ms. Hayes does a great job of blending these diverse backgrounds to allow for a romance to build and bubble over. Gage is definitely good for Rebecca.
This story is a feel good book where love does conquer over all. The characters were all lovable and I'd want to read more about them. This story style is reminiscent of a Nora Roberts romance which I absolutely adore. The romantic suspense part of it was believable for the most part. The villain revealed at the end was not a huge surprise. Ms. Hayes did an excellent job of building it up and providing a good resolution.
There were a few items which made me question the story. As long as I ignored those, I was okay with the story. The first one was Rebecca working on the case while she was placed on a leave of absences. I'm not sure on the FBI policies, but this seems to be very odd to me and I can't believe a FBI agent forced to go on a leave of absence would be allowed to moonlight for a private firm. The second oddity was Rebecca's response when she was with Gage. I would have thought to keep consistency while being undercover, Rebecca would continue to practice being a Gage's girlfriend even when in his home. Otherwise, she's slip up to easily and call him Mr. Daniels when they were out and about. The last item which threw me was Megan showing up at a bus stop but then Rebecca mentioned having picked her up at the airport. This discrepancy did throw me a little which caused me to flip back several pages and double check. This took me out of the story a little. Other than these oddities, the story flowed really well. It was a smooth easy read in one sitting. I recommend this book to all romantic suspense lovers.
* this book was provided by Net Galley*
Rebecca is a reserved and by the book woman. Her childhood shaped her to be the relationship adverse woman she is today. Gage is a cocky party guy from a huge loving family. With such different backgrounds, it's amazing they can even relate and have a baseline to understand each other. Ms. Hayes does a great job of blending these diverse backgrounds to allow for a romance to build and bubble over. Gage is definitely good for Rebecca.
This story is a feel good book where love does conquer over all. The characters were all lovable and I'd want to read more about them. This story style is reminiscent of a Nora Roberts romance which I absolutely adore. The romantic suspense part of it was believable for the most part. The villain revealed at the end was not a huge surprise. Ms. Hayes did an excellent job of building it up and providing a good resolution.
There were a few items which made me question the story. As long as I ignored those, I was okay with the story. The first one was Rebecca working on the case while she was placed on a leave of absences. I'm not sure on the FBI policies, but this seems to be very odd to me and I can't believe a FBI agent forced to go on a leave of absence would be allowed to moonlight for a private firm. The second oddity was Rebecca's response when she was with Gage. I would have thought to keep consistency while being undercover, Rebecca would continue to practice being a Gage's girlfriend even when in his home. Otherwise, she's slip up to easily and call him Mr. Daniels when they were out and about. The last item which threw me was Megan showing up at a bus stop but then Rebecca mentioned having picked her up at the airport. This discrepancy did throw me a little which caused me to flip back several pages and double check. This took me out of the story a little. Other than these oddities, the story flowed really well. It was a smooth easy read in one sitting. I recommend this book to all romantic suspense lovers.
* this book was provided by Net Galley*
February 9, 2013
Red Zone is Book 2 in the Daniel Brothers series by Sherri Hayes. This story is a step above most sports romances. It is a cross-genre book where it appeals to both sports romance readers as well as romantic suspense. I enjoyed the build up of the suspense and particularly liked the evolution of the relationship.
The critique I have for this book is the same one I have for most sports-related stories:
1. Is it relevant that the character is a professional athlete? If the main characters was in a different profession, would it significantly change the story? For this story? Yes and no. It is relevant that Gage is a public figure, but not so much that he is a football star.
2. Does it address any sports-related issues? Stalkers and stardom
3. Are there good scenes of the game being played? This book needed more Game Day coverage. I prefer it when authors not talk about the game, but rather get us into the game.
As mentioned above, Ms. Hayes really hits her stride with the developing attraction between Rebecca and Gage. In this area, this book is a winner. I like how Rebecca keeps holding herself apart by clinging to her professionalism. It is easier for her to be detached and stoic rather than have to address her emotions. I like watching Gage bring down those walls.
IN A NUTSHELL:
This is more of a romance with a sports element, but nonetheless, a good read and one I would recommend.
Thank you to The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House for the ARC via Netgalley
The critique I have for this book is the same one I have for most sports-related stories:
1. Is it relevant that the character is a professional athlete? If the main characters was in a different profession, would it significantly change the story? For this story? Yes and no. It is relevant that Gage is a public figure, but not so much that he is a football star.
2. Does it address any sports-related issues? Stalkers and stardom
3. Are there good scenes of the game being played? This book needed more Game Day coverage. I prefer it when authors not talk about the game, but rather get us into the game.
As mentioned above, Ms. Hayes really hits her stride with the developing attraction between Rebecca and Gage. In this area, this book is a winner. I like how Rebecca keeps holding herself apart by clinging to her professionalism. It is easier for her to be detached and stoic rather than have to address her emotions. I like watching Gage bring down those walls.
IN A NUTSHELL:
This is more of a romance with a sports element, but nonetheless, a good read and one I would recommend.
Thank you to The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House for the ARC via Netgalley
November 29, 2012
The Hero, a professional football player, is being stalked and management of his team insists that he have a full time bodyguard until the stalker is identified.
The Heroine, a FBI agent on administrative leave, is bored out of her mind, so she agrees to help her ex-partner (now PI) by posing as the Hero's girlfriend and protecting him against the stalker.
The interaction between the H/h is somewhat in the theme of Alpha male meets strong, independent professional woman. But something was lacking for me. The sexual tension was there, but wasn't as strong as it could have been.
The stalking intensifies and the investigation become interesting, but once again, there is a certain lack of tension. It was as though the characters were just going through the motions.
This book was well written and well edited. The plot and characters were enjoyable, but not extraordinary. I can recommend this book if you want an uncomplicated, enjoyable weekend read.
ARC obtained on Netgalley.
The Heroine, a FBI agent on administrative leave, is bored out of her mind, so she agrees to help her ex-partner (now PI) by posing as the Hero's girlfriend and protecting him against the stalker.
The interaction between the H/h is somewhat in the theme of Alpha male meets strong, independent professional woman. But something was lacking for me. The sexual tension was there, but wasn't as strong as it could have been.
The stalking intensifies and the investigation become interesting, but once again, there is a certain lack of tension. It was as though the characters were just going through the motions.
This book was well written and well edited. The plot and characters were enjoyable, but not extraordinary. I can recommend this book if you want an uncomplicated, enjoyable weekend read.
ARC obtained on Netgalley.
December 1, 2012
Yes...I know the author...so knowing that I might be biased can give you pause....BUT....keep reading.
This book...well this series is just my very favorite type of books. Gage is just a dream come true. He is hot, sweet, loyal, loving (oh sooo loving). Seriously, you just love him from the very beginning. Rebecca is great to as she works hard to solve his mystery. This is an action packed, fast-read. You will not be able to put this down.
The Daniels brothers are right there on the top of my list of favorite male heroes. I was seriously in a funk when I finished thinking, "I have to wait for the next brother...boooo." But them I realized, I can go back and read their stories as many times as I want. The joy!!
Yes, I need help. I'm starting a Daniels brothers support group...want to join?
I think maybe they might stop by once in a while. :)
This book...well this series is just my very favorite type of books. Gage is just a dream come true. He is hot, sweet, loyal, loving (oh sooo loving). Seriously, you just love him from the very beginning. Rebecca is great to as she works hard to solve his mystery. This is an action packed, fast-read. You will not be able to put this down.
The Daniels brothers are right there on the top of my list of favorite male heroes. I was seriously in a funk when I finished thinking, "I have to wait for the next brother...boooo." But them I realized, I can go back and read their stories as many times as I want. The joy!!
Yes, I need help. I'm starting a Daniels brothers support group...want to join?
I think maybe they might stop by once in a while. :)
June 16, 2019
Once again a very forgettable read. The heroine did a very abrupt U-turn into love-land and giving up her career for a man she hadn't know for long. The H too from a panty-chaser to one-man woman was like getting a quick whiplash.
March 5, 2013
3.5 Stars
Gage Daniels is a pro football player, good looking, with a reputation of a ladies man. He's been receiving letters from a stalker and the owner of his club felt the need to call a favour from one of his old friends Travis Hansen, a retired FBI agent, who incidentally used to be Rebecca's ex-partner.
Rebecca Carson is a straight laced FBI agent, single and devoted to her job. She's been on leave from her job after her last assignment went wrong. Not used to hanging around and doing nothing, she's bored to death and jumps at the offer to go and give Travis a hand.
There is more than just anonymous letters and the situation is more serious than Gage thinks, but he is kept in the dark, the reason being that the owner of the club doesn't want him to get stressed because that would have an impact on his performance at the games.
So the natural solution is for Rebecca to move in with Gage and pretend to be his girlfriend. She has already read his file and combined with her preconceived ideas about the football players she's quite wary of him, not that she's looking for a relationship.
Relationships are a strange notion when it comes to Rebecca. From her waking hours, to fitness running, her wardrobe, all are planned in minute detail. Everything is controlled and precise in her life, there is no spontaneity. She feels that by doing so she can have some control and therefore stability, not a surprise when considering her background.
Gage is confident, with somehow on a cocky side attitude. He isn't impressed with Rebecca moving in with him, he's used to living on his own and regardless of his various encounters with ladies he never had brought one at his place. In fact he hasn't had a girlfriend since high school.
He finds Rebecca attractive but most of all a challenge. He's used to the girls throwing themselves at him but this Special Agent not only is not falling for his charm but she is in charge of looking after him and protecting him. That doesn't bode well with a man's ego.
She is so different from his usual type, she's pretty and has a good figure but hides it all under unflattering clothes. She thinks her wardrobe is practical (well a FBI girl has to hide her gun somewhere) and professional, after all she's here on a job and not to party, not that she's done much of that lately.
Both are attracted to each other and each deals with it in different ways, it just makes for embarrassing moments and an entertaining story...and so the fun begins.
The story was told by both POV. I must admit I liked Gage's POV better than Rebecca's, he was fun and I really liked the way he started to chip off her hard exterior and not be afraid of his feelings.
Her excuses and reasoning for not being with Gage were grating on me a bit, at first it was understandable but later it just got annoying. She did get to know him better after spending so much time together and she gets the chance to see him in a different light. She appreciates that he's a hard worker and loyal to his friends and family.
The sexual tension did build up nicely, all thanks to Gage and I'm not talking just about his gorgeous physique here. He used every single opportunity to get close to her and rattle her cage with innuendos.
But despite the hot scenes and the build up before them there was something missing, what exactly I dunno...
I think the pace of the book picked up when her sister Megan arrived. That brought some more life and changed the dynamics and that's when the story started flowing for me.
As per the whodunit , that was predictable quite early but I was still interested enough to see what the stalker would do next and how would be caught.
I thought the ending was a bit abrupt. I really would have liked to see these two interacting now that the feelings were out in the open.
Overall it was an enjoyable read.
ARC copy provided by The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House via NetGalley
Gage Daniels is a pro football player, good looking, with a reputation of a ladies man. He's been receiving letters from a stalker and the owner of his club felt the need to call a favour from one of his old friends Travis Hansen, a retired FBI agent, who incidentally used to be Rebecca's ex-partner.
Rebecca Carson is a straight laced FBI agent, single and devoted to her job. She's been on leave from her job after her last assignment went wrong. Not used to hanging around and doing nothing, she's bored to death and jumps at the offer to go and give Travis a hand.
There is more than just anonymous letters and the situation is more serious than Gage thinks, but he is kept in the dark, the reason being that the owner of the club doesn't want him to get stressed because that would have an impact on his performance at the games.
So the natural solution is for Rebecca to move in with Gage and pretend to be his girlfriend. She has already read his file and combined with her preconceived ideas about the football players she's quite wary of him, not that she's looking for a relationship.
Relationships are a strange notion when it comes to Rebecca. From her waking hours, to fitness running, her wardrobe, all are planned in minute detail. Everything is controlled and precise in her life, there is no spontaneity. She feels that by doing so she can have some control and therefore stability, not a surprise when considering her background.
Gage is confident, with somehow on a cocky side attitude. He isn't impressed with Rebecca moving in with him, he's used to living on his own and regardless of his various encounters with ladies he never had brought one at his place. In fact he hasn't had a girlfriend since high school.
He finds Rebecca attractive but most of all a challenge. He's used to the girls throwing themselves at him but this Special Agent not only is not falling for his charm but she is in charge of looking after him and protecting him. That doesn't bode well with a man's ego.
She is so different from his usual type, she's pretty and has a good figure but hides it all under unflattering clothes. She thinks her wardrobe is practical (well a FBI girl has to hide her gun somewhere) and professional, after all she's here on a job and not to party, not that she's done much of that lately.
Both are attracted to each other and each deals with it in different ways, it just makes for embarrassing moments and an entertaining story...and so the fun begins.
The story was told by both POV. I must admit I liked Gage's POV better than Rebecca's, he was fun and I really liked the way he started to chip off her hard exterior and not be afraid of his feelings.
Her excuses and reasoning for not being with Gage were grating on me a bit, at first it was understandable but later it just got annoying. She did get to know him better after spending so much time together and she gets the chance to see him in a different light. She appreciates that he's a hard worker and loyal to his friends and family.
The sexual tension did build up nicely, all thanks to Gage and I'm not talking just about his gorgeous physique here. He used every single opportunity to get close to her and rattle her cage with innuendos.
But despite the hot scenes and the build up before them there was something missing, what exactly I dunno...
I think the pace of the book picked up when her sister Megan arrived. That brought some more life and changed the dynamics and that's when the story started flowing for me.
As per the whodunit , that was predictable quite early but I was still interested enough to see what the stalker would do next and how would be caught.
I thought the ending was a bit abrupt. I really would have liked to see these two interacting now that the feelings were out in the open.
Overall it was an enjoyable read.
ARC copy provided by The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House via NetGalley
December 11, 2012
I received this as a ARC to review ..
Just like the first book it pulled me right in from the beginning and kept me turning the pages till the end . I will say this it seems that Sherri is a little like KA in regards to we had the main characters from the first book in this series in the second one , which I will say was kinda cool.
After a case ended badly for Rebecca Carson, she’s losing her mind sitting around her apartment waiting on her superiors to allow her to return to work. Since she was a teenager, the only thing she’d ever wanted was to join the FBI. Now that dream was in danger.
Gage Daniels has made a pretty good life for himself. A nice house. A career he loves. As a professional football player, he’s used to getting almost everything he’d ever want with just the snap of his fingers. This includes women. A well-timed smile is usually all it takes to attract the opposite sex, especially in Nashville.
When a stalker threatens Gage, the team owner calls an old friend, Rebecca’s ex-partner Travis Hansen, to help protect his star quarterback and find the person responsible. Hansen offers Rebecca the job, and she jumps at the chance. It’s work, and it will get her out of her apartment. How bad can it be?
Posing as Gage’s girlfriend, however, isn’t as easy as it seems. The man is relentless. Rebecca must work to protect Gage while staving off his advances. She’s there to do a job, nothing more. The last thing she wants is to be another notch on a hotshot athlete’s belt.
As the stalker continues to up the ante, Rebecca finds it harder and harder to keep her distance from Nashville’s star quarterback. He isn’t what she expected in one of the city’s most notorious playboys. Now all she has to do is keep him safe until they can find his stalker, and hope she doesn’t lose her heart in the process
Gage , hot , steamy totally Male Football star , build like a brick house Quarterback lol ... He was sweet from the start with his calling Rebecca beautiful . He was not happy at first when he found out that she would be staying in his house and Being his "girlfriend" but once he thought about it he decided to tease her and have fun with the whole thing . He was great throughout the whole book in my honest opinion .
Rebecca FBI agent , on leave due to a case she was on , is asked by her partner to help him out ( he is a retired FBI agent , currently a PI) and has a friend who needs someone to protect one of his players . From the start she is all trying to be professional at all times right down to calling Gage Mr. Daniels , which he nips in the butt right away .
She is trying her best through 50% of the book to keep things professional and not get involved with Gage . but she fails hahahah
I think the chemistry between the two is great once they get past her trying to be all professional and I love how Gage treated her and worked at her slowly versus full blown going after her when he realized he was interested in her ..
I am hoping their is a book 3 with the story of Megan (rebecca's Sister & Paul Gage's Brother ) ---- you will know why I say this after you read the story .
Just like the first book it pulled me right in from the beginning and kept me turning the pages till the end . I will say this it seems that Sherri is a little like KA in regards to we had the main characters from the first book in this series in the second one , which I will say was kinda cool.
After a case ended badly for Rebecca Carson, she’s losing her mind sitting around her apartment waiting on her superiors to allow her to return to work. Since she was a teenager, the only thing she’d ever wanted was to join the FBI. Now that dream was in danger.
Gage Daniels has made a pretty good life for himself. A nice house. A career he loves. As a professional football player, he’s used to getting almost everything he’d ever want with just the snap of his fingers. This includes women. A well-timed smile is usually all it takes to attract the opposite sex, especially in Nashville.
When a stalker threatens Gage, the team owner calls an old friend, Rebecca’s ex-partner Travis Hansen, to help protect his star quarterback and find the person responsible. Hansen offers Rebecca the job, and she jumps at the chance. It’s work, and it will get her out of her apartment. How bad can it be?
Posing as Gage’s girlfriend, however, isn’t as easy as it seems. The man is relentless. Rebecca must work to protect Gage while staving off his advances. She’s there to do a job, nothing more. The last thing she wants is to be another notch on a hotshot athlete’s belt.
As the stalker continues to up the ante, Rebecca finds it harder and harder to keep her distance from Nashville’s star quarterback. He isn’t what she expected in one of the city’s most notorious playboys. Now all she has to do is keep him safe until they can find his stalker, and hope she doesn’t lose her heart in the process
Gage , hot , steamy totally Male Football star , build like a brick house Quarterback lol ... He was sweet from the start with his calling Rebecca beautiful . He was not happy at first when he found out that she would be staying in his house and Being his "girlfriend" but once he thought about it he decided to tease her and have fun with the whole thing . He was great throughout the whole book in my honest opinion .
Rebecca FBI agent , on leave due to a case she was on , is asked by her partner to help him out ( he is a retired FBI agent , currently a PI) and has a friend who needs someone to protect one of his players . From the start she is all trying to be professional at all times right down to calling Gage Mr. Daniels , which he nips in the butt right away .
She is trying her best through 50% of the book to keep things professional and not get involved with Gage . but she fails hahahah
I think the chemistry between the two is great once they get past her trying to be all professional and I love how Gage treated her and worked at her slowly versus full blown going after her when he realized he was interested in her ..
I am hoping their is a book 3 with the story of Megan (rebecca's Sister & Paul Gage's Brother ) ---- you will know why I say this after you read the story .
February 11, 2013
I was excited when I read the preview of Red Zone by Sherri Hayes, why you may ask, well, how many times I have read the same typical storyline, female in trouble, male agent come along to protect her….. You get my point.
How refreshingly different to see the tables turned, Gage Daniels, star quarterback has a stalker. He thinks it’s harmless, but what he doesn’t know, that explosives were found on his car. Now the owner of the football team calls in a favor, wanting protection for his quarterback. So in comes Rebecca Carson, FBI agent.
Rebecca is on administrative leave after her last case went bad. She is bored and jumps at the chance to work with her old mentor (who has since retired from the FBI), when he calls her with a job.
Rebecca is to pretend to be Gage’s girlfriend, while acting as his bodyguard. Neither of them is happy about this.
Rebecca and Gage are like oil and water...they just don’t seem to mix well. She is straight laced, very up tight. She has fine-tuned the control of her emotions to an art form. Her career has become her life. Gage on the other hand is known for his moves on the field as well as in the bedroom. He knows how to have a good time. And Rebecca doesn’t fit the model of his girlfriend.
So, Gage calls his stylist to come and dress his new girlfriend. At this point Gage decides to have fun with the situation, not only forcing her to change the way she dresses, he knows he can touch and kiss her in public, because after all she is his girlfriend.
Rebecca see Gage as a job and keeps her walls up, but has met her match with him, for he is a stubborn as her is. He even takes her home for Thanksgiving to meet his family. Personally, this was my favorite part of the book. LOVED the whole family dynamics, you could just feel the love this family had for each other and Rebecca must have felt it too, because this was a major changing point for her.
And just when things are going great for our two lovers, who should make an appearance? Our forgotten stalker is back. Rebecca slips back into agent mode and things become crazy between her and Gage.
‘
I stayed up till 2 am reading because I had to see how Red Zone ends. Could Rebecca finally accept Gage as her man or would see continue to see him as another “job”. Or was Gage finally able to break the wall Rebecca had built around her heart?
If you’re looking for a contemporary sport suspense romance genre, then Red Zone is the perfect book for you.
How refreshingly different to see the tables turned, Gage Daniels, star quarterback has a stalker. He thinks it’s harmless, but what he doesn’t know, that explosives were found on his car. Now the owner of the football team calls in a favor, wanting protection for his quarterback. So in comes Rebecca Carson, FBI agent.
Rebecca is on administrative leave after her last case went bad. She is bored and jumps at the chance to work with her old mentor (who has since retired from the FBI), when he calls her with a job.
Rebecca is to pretend to be Gage’s girlfriend, while acting as his bodyguard. Neither of them is happy about this.
Rebecca and Gage are like oil and water...they just don’t seem to mix well. She is straight laced, very up tight. She has fine-tuned the control of her emotions to an art form. Her career has become her life. Gage on the other hand is known for his moves on the field as well as in the bedroom. He knows how to have a good time. And Rebecca doesn’t fit the model of his girlfriend.
So, Gage calls his stylist to come and dress his new girlfriend. At this point Gage decides to have fun with the situation, not only forcing her to change the way she dresses, he knows he can touch and kiss her in public, because after all she is his girlfriend.
Rebecca see Gage as a job and keeps her walls up, but has met her match with him, for he is a stubborn as her is. He even takes her home for Thanksgiving to meet his family. Personally, this was my favorite part of the book. LOVED the whole family dynamics, you could just feel the love this family had for each other and Rebecca must have felt it too, because this was a major changing point for her.
And just when things are going great for our two lovers, who should make an appearance? Our forgotten stalker is back. Rebecca slips back into agent mode and things become crazy between her and Gage.
‘
I stayed up till 2 am reading because I had to see how Red Zone ends. Could Rebecca finally accept Gage as her man or would see continue to see him as another “job”. Or was Gage finally able to break the wall Rebecca had built around her heart?
If you’re looking for a contemporary sport suspense romance genre, then Red Zone is the perfect book for you.
March 28, 2013
Darn you GoodReads! When will you add the 1/2 star!
Red Zone falls right in between a 3 star and a 4 star. It was good, but it just wasn't quite there. Often times, it reminded me of a Rachel Gibson novel, which is a good thing!
Awkward sexual tension with a person that you should NOT be sexual with... and then there's sharing living quarters with said person... I LOVE IT.
I love that name Gage.... Just saying.
He really had a lot of layers. Which is funny because Rebecca pretty much had 3 modes. Professional, lustful, and terrified. Gage was patient, compassionate, fun and flirty. And since he is a professional football player and a total figment of my book-loving imagination, he is also a total stud!
Though at first I was a little puzzled by him... I mean come on a stylist? What straight man has a stylist... I was cautious at first....
But it all worked out!!!
Hottest moment for me was the scene in the laundry room at his parents house. Let me explain, because for those who didn't read it yet, there is no actual sex there. But it was written really well and it took me back to those days of teenager-hood when we would sneak around in my now husband's parents house... Ah, the good ol' days... heheh
Gage's best trait... HE TRIES! That's how you can tell he was made up by a woman, haha! A very hungry one at that. There was a lot of food mentioned in Red Zone. Mainly eggs. But my favorite part of the whole book: When he called his mom to help him prepare a nice meal for Rebecca even if she wasn't ready to return to a relationship with him... Man who loves his momma, BONUS POINTS!
"She was beginning to think being in his arms was one of the best places in the world"
** Provided graciously by NetGalley for an honest review **
Red Zone falls right in between a 3 star and a 4 star. It was good, but it just wasn't quite there. Often times, it reminded me of a Rachel Gibson novel, which is a good thing!
Awkward sexual tension with a person that you should NOT be sexual with... and then there's sharing living quarters with said person... I LOVE IT.
I love that name Gage.... Just saying.
He really had a lot of layers. Which is funny because Rebecca pretty much had 3 modes. Professional, lustful, and terrified. Gage was patient, compassionate, fun and flirty. And since he is a professional football player and a total figment of my book-loving imagination, he is also a total stud!
Though at first I was a little puzzled by him... I mean come on a stylist? What straight man has a stylist... I was cautious at first....
But it all worked out!!!
Hottest moment for me was the scene in the laundry room at his parents house. Let me explain, because for those who didn't read it yet, there is no actual sex there. But it was written really well and it took me back to those days of teenager-hood when we would sneak around in my now husband's parents house... Ah, the good ol' days... heheh
Gage's best trait... HE TRIES! That's how you can tell he was made up by a woman, haha! A very hungry one at that. There was a lot of food mentioned in Red Zone. Mainly eggs. But my favorite part of the whole book: When he called his mom to help him prepare a nice meal for Rebecca even if she wasn't ready to return to a relationship with him... Man who loves his momma, BONUS POINTS!
"She was beginning to think being in his arms was one of the best places in the world"
** Provided graciously by NetGalley for an honest review **
December 5, 2012
Hot Football Star meets FBI Agent!
Gage Daniels...Pro football Quarterback. Hot. Sexy. Charming. Cocky. Confident. Ladies Man. Unhappy about being an Underwear Model.
Rebecca Carson...FBI agent. Buttoned up. Closed off. Scared of commitment. Miss "I Can't Let Loose for 5 Minutes."
He'd never met someone who was so buttoned up. Yet, sometimes, when he'd push her just a little too far, he'd see a fire in her eyes. He wanted to tap that fire.
For some reason, Daniels seemed to push her buttons. When he was around her brain did not want to work right.
Gage is being stalked by someone with threatening and notes and pictures. Rebecca is on administrative leave from the FBI after a bad case. So her ex partner asks her to go pretend to be Gage's girlfriend in order to protect him while they try to solve the case.
What begins as an uneasy alliance turns into more. Gage can see past her armor and pushes her beyond her limits. She fights the whole way, but their budding relationship is fun to watch. Their chemistry is hot! She thinks she can just use him for sex. She does not realize he is not going to settle for that. Gage becomes so sweet and endearing that you cannot help but root for him to win this game.
Rebecca, whatever it is between us...this doesn't happen everyday. Hell, sometimes it doesn't happen in a lifetime. I'm sorry it scares you.
The mystery of the stalker and danger continues as they struggle to find their way. It was hard to see Gage have to fight so hard to win her heart, not scare her off, and worry about both of their safety. The stalker story comes to an exciting finish. I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read with great characters.
Even though this can be read as a stand alone, this is the 2nd in the Daniels Brothers series and the couple from Behind Closed Doors makes an appearance at Thanksgiving. It also opens up the story for Rebecca's sister Megan and Gage's brother Paul. I liked both of their characters and am interested in seeing more of their story.
Thank you to netgalley and The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House for a chance to read and review this book. Release Date is February 7, 2013.
Gage Daniels...Pro football Quarterback. Hot. Sexy. Charming. Cocky. Confident. Ladies Man. Unhappy about being an Underwear Model.
Rebecca Carson...FBI agent. Buttoned up. Closed off. Scared of commitment. Miss "I Can't Let Loose for 5 Minutes."
He'd never met someone who was so buttoned up. Yet, sometimes, when he'd push her just a little too far, he'd see a fire in her eyes. He wanted to tap that fire.
For some reason, Daniels seemed to push her buttons. When he was around her brain did not want to work right.
Gage is being stalked by someone with threatening and notes and pictures. Rebecca is on administrative leave from the FBI after a bad case. So her ex partner asks her to go pretend to be Gage's girlfriend in order to protect him while they try to solve the case.
What begins as an uneasy alliance turns into more. Gage can see past her armor and pushes her beyond her limits. She fights the whole way, but their budding relationship is fun to watch. Their chemistry is hot! She thinks she can just use him for sex. She does not realize he is not going to settle for that. Gage becomes so sweet and endearing that you cannot help but root for him to win this game.
Rebecca, whatever it is between us...this doesn't happen everyday. Hell, sometimes it doesn't happen in a lifetime. I'm sorry it scares you.
The mystery of the stalker and danger continues as they struggle to find their way. It was hard to see Gage have to fight so hard to win her heart, not scare her off, and worry about both of their safety. The stalker story comes to an exciting finish. I really enjoyed this book. It was an easy read with great characters.
Even though this can be read as a stand alone, this is the 2nd in the Daniels Brothers series and the couple from Behind Closed Doors makes an appearance at Thanksgiving. It also opens up the story for Rebecca's sister Megan and Gage's brother Paul. I liked both of their characters and am interested in seeing more of their story.
Thank you to netgalley and The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House for a chance to read and review this book. Release Date is February 7, 2013.
July 31, 2014
This story is told through both POVs which I really liked. I really liked Gage. I thought he was a good person who loved his family and was a stand-up guy, who was also a hot, professional football player. I have a love for contemporary romances with hot sport players.
I liked Rebecca but then she got on my nerves a little. At first, I understood Rebecca’s reasoning for not wanting to start a relationship with Gage, but then it got a little silly and when she finally realized that she should give Gage a try, I was over it.
I love when there is sexual tension, but this one either took too long or just came at a weird time in the book.
I liked the characters, I liked the plot, but I think the execution of the two could have been better.
Did I skim? A little. I got tired of Rebecca’s silly thoughts about how she should not be with Gage. I felt bad for the guy after the while.
Did I feel connected to the characters? Yes
Do I recommend? If you are looking for a sweet romance with some suspense, yes.
Ending? It was nice and sweet.
An ARC was provided by the publisher and Net Galley for an honest review.
I liked Rebecca but then she got on my nerves a little. At first, I understood Rebecca’s reasoning for not wanting to start a relationship with Gage, but then it got a little silly and when she finally realized that she should give Gage a try, I was over it.
I love when there is sexual tension, but this one either took too long or just came at a weird time in the book.
I liked the characters, I liked the plot, but I think the execution of the two could have been better.
Did I skim? A little. I got tired of Rebecca’s silly thoughts about how she should not be with Gage. I felt bad for the guy after the while.
Did I feel connected to the characters? Yes
Do I recommend? If you are looking for a sweet romance with some suspense, yes.
Ending? It was nice and sweet.
An ARC was provided by the publisher and Net Galley for an honest review.
January 7, 2013
For this review and more Live Read and Breathe
Well I was given the chance to read and ARC of this book and was so excited for two reasons.
1) It was written by Sherri Hayes whom I love her writing especially the Finding Anna Series and
2) It is a sports romance *sigh* I am a sucker for that genre. Sweaty, sexy athletes whom find love mmmm.
This is the second book in a series. The first book was Behind Closed Doors (The Daniels Brothers). In this book you get to meet the Daniel family with a quick glance of Gage and his player ways.
That Daniel's family has some bad luck with stalkers. First Chris and now Gage.
In this book to help protect Gage he has to pretend to be Agent Rebecca boyfriend. I didn't feel the connection from Gage towards Rebecca right away like I did from Rebecca with Gage but his love and feelings for her grew and became quite all consuming.
I assume there will be a third book with the third brother Paul
The connection between Gage and Rebecca is loving, yet steamy. As usual with Sherri there is alot of drama and suspense that keeps you engaged throughout the book.
Well I was given the chance to read and ARC of this book and was so excited for two reasons.
1) It was written by Sherri Hayes whom I love her writing especially the Finding Anna Series and
2) It is a sports romance *sigh* I am a sucker for that genre. Sweaty, sexy athletes whom find love mmmm.
This is the second book in a series. The first book was Behind Closed Doors (The Daniels Brothers). In this book you get to meet the Daniel family with a quick glance of Gage and his player ways.
That Daniel's family has some bad luck with stalkers. First Chris and now Gage.
In this book to help protect Gage he has to pretend to be Agent Rebecca boyfriend. I didn't feel the connection from Gage towards Rebecca right away like I did from Rebecca with Gage but his love and feelings for her grew and became quite all consuming.
I assume there will be a third book with the third brother Paul
The connection between Gage and Rebecca is loving, yet steamy. As usual with Sherri there is alot of drama and suspense that keeps you engaged throughout the book.
February 8, 2013
Once again the author has written characters that you come to care for throughout the story. At this point I am wishing it was a family of ten boys instead of four.
We didn’t get to see a lot of Gage in the first book since he is a professional football player, so going in I didn’t know as much about him as I did Paul and Trent. But it wasn’t long with his sense of humor and sexy flirty ways I was entranced.
One of the things I really like about this series is the sense of family. In this book we not only get the Daniels strong family bond but we get to see Rebecca and her sister Megan and how despite not having a happy childhood and the two of them being polar opposites they never let that get in the way of their sisterly bond.
This book was a good mixture of both romance and suspense. It also seemed to really set up the next book in the series. I was wondering who was going to be able to bring Paul out of his mourning over his dead wife after many years and I think we’ve met her.
We didn’t get to see a lot of Gage in the first book since he is a professional football player, so going in I didn’t know as much about him as I did Paul and Trent. But it wasn’t long with his sense of humor and sexy flirty ways I was entranced.
One of the things I really like about this series is the sense of family. In this book we not only get the Daniels strong family bond but we get to see Rebecca and her sister Megan and how despite not having a happy childhood and the two of them being polar opposites they never let that get in the way of their sisterly bond.
This book was a good mixture of both romance and suspense. It also seemed to really set up the next book in the series. I was wondering who was going to be able to bring Paul out of his mourning over his dead wife after many years and I think we’ve met her.
November 25, 2012
Romantic suspense. This the second Daniels Brothers story can be read as a stand-alone. I enjoyed this one even more than the first.
Gage Daniels is a professional football player. He has been getting pictures from a stalker and his boss wants him protected. Enter FBI Agent Rebecca Carson. Rebecca is on administrative leave after a case went down badly. She is going stir crazy so when her former mentor (now in the private sector) offers her a job she jumps at the chance. Gage is nothing like her preconceived notion and Rebecca is unlike any woman Gage has ever known. Posing as Gages girlfriend can be dangerous to both her body and her heart.
This mystery will keep you guessing and the sizzle between Gage and Rebecca will keep you turning pages. I read this book in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down.
I’d like to thank The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House and NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Gage Daniels is a professional football player. He has been getting pictures from a stalker and his boss wants him protected. Enter FBI Agent Rebecca Carson. Rebecca is on administrative leave after a case went down badly. She is going stir crazy so when her former mentor (now in the private sector) offers her a job she jumps at the chance. Gage is nothing like her preconceived notion and Rebecca is unlike any woman Gage has ever known. Posing as Gages girlfriend can be dangerous to both her body and her heart.
This mystery will keep you guessing and the sizzle between Gage and Rebecca will keep you turning pages. I read this book in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down.
I’d like to thank The Writer's Coffee Shop Publishing House and NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for a fair and honest review.
February 12, 2013
3.5 stars. Again, good enough to make me want to read the next one, but not great. I'm a sucker for a family romance and with 2 brothers to go, I can't beleive myself but I'll read on. I keep wanting these to be better. The HEA ending here was too abrupt (and rather unbelievable) and all fit ever so neatly in a box of uh, huh, yea, sure.
November 29, 2014
3,5 stars
January 9, 2013
Review can also be found on my blog.
As soon as I read the blurb, I was hooked. The idea of a hunky, hotshot football player and a female FBI agent is exactly the kind of romantic suspense I love to read about. I imagined two very attractive, very fit characters with off the charts stamina, the hero would be confident and cocky, and the heroine would be sexy, confident and she would be able his equal. The plot wasn’t bad; it had all the elements for some humorous conflict between the MCs as well as sizzling attraction. Unfortunately, due to the lack of personality from Rebecca, this story was half good and half bad.
Gage was the typical drool-worthy hero. I loved how he engaged Rebecca with cheeky innuendos and comebacks just for shock value and to make her feel like a fish out of water. I liked that Gage had more depth to him than just riding the high of his status as a pro football player, the money, the glam, the women. He’s extremely caring and close to his family, and he was always serious when it came to his job. I was definitely more enGAGEd with him.
Rebecca. I hated her. There, I said it. She was all over the place, emotionally, and that behavior lasted from the beginning until very near the end. When I think of character arcs, I expect a conflicted persona in the beginning, a thawing out in the middle, and at the end a newer, better, stronger person should emerge. With Rebecca is was one step forward, a huge leap back, constantly. She’s very uptight and stiff which came across in her dialogues. Even if she was trying to maintain the illusion of professionalism and detachment, she didn’t need to sound like a robot reciting some per-programmed personality program. The best word to describe her is a cold fish. It’s one thing to be a woman who doesn’t wants advances made on her, but running hot and cold like she did throughout made her seem like a tease. Once she acknowledges that her body is reacting to Gage’s advances, she hides in her room or just tries to avoid him at every turn. Given her assignment as a bodyguard, I thought her behavior was childish and unprofessional. How can she keep a straight head and look out for danger when she’s in her little bubble? Granted, it happened mostly within the walls of his house, but who knows how close the stalker could have gotten. Her behavior was just absolutely unrealistic. Having her little sister show up, in the middle of an assignment, that was just ridiculous. Why would an agent want her family anywhere near a case that involves car bombs and bullets? Rebecca harps on keeping professional distance, but she fails not only herself but also by bringing her sister into it. And here’s a valid question for you: considering the car bomb threat and the shooting incident on Gage, was it a smart idea for Gage to go home to his family for Thanksgiving and possibly leading the crazy stalker to his parent’s doorstep?
When Gage realizes he’s fallen in love with Rebecca, he thinks to himself that she’s “the right person for him”. Based on what? Lust at first sight? Because she made him work for it by running hot and cold? Because she has as honorable job? That woman is so hung up on her family drama that she’s closed off to relationships (and the drama wasn’t even all that), but yet she wants a stable and secure man as a husband one day, like a lawyer, or a banker. Someone stiff, but well off. If I were a man, I’d have written her off a long time ago. There was just nothing about her that made me think she was worth all the trouble.
And then there’s her sister Megan, who is an adult mind you. A free spirit, always falling for the wrong guy and ending up broken-hearted. Well, it has happened yet again, and Gage offers to let her stay with them. I didn’t serve any purpose other than to highlight Rebecca’s flaws and set up a possible romantic interest for Gage’s brother, Paul. As soon as Paul’s daughter takes an instant liking to Megan, the writing was on the wall. How predictable.
As for the suspense part of the story, when bullets went flying I thought, “finally some action!” But no, she throws Gage to the ground until the threat has passed without even firing her gun. WTH? I fully expected to see her in action, because it would show her skill, she’d be in her element, it’d be hot! But nothing. And the ending, it was what I expected to happen which I’ll admit sent a little thrill through me, but the stalker’s reason for targeting them was so lame *facepalm*
This was my first book by this author, but I’m not sure I’d run to pick up another. If there was anything I liked about Sherri Hayes’ writing, I would say her strong point is writing the male characters. At least there I felt a connection. She also writes some very hot sex scenes. Even I broke out in a sweat reading them. Definitely big thumbs up there.
I don’t deny not being able to put the book down at all once I got started, but I kept hoping for more suspense, and more personality from the heroine. Thumbs up: Plot/idea, male characters, humor and sex. Thumbs down: The heroine, and the suspense aspect of the story. As this ARC stands, I’d give it a 2.5 rounded up to 3.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy from The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House via NetGalley.
As soon as I read the blurb, I was hooked. The idea of a hunky, hotshot football player and a female FBI agent is exactly the kind of romantic suspense I love to read about. I imagined two very attractive, very fit characters with off the charts stamina, the hero would be confident and cocky, and the heroine would be sexy, confident and she would be able his equal. The plot wasn’t bad; it had all the elements for some humorous conflict between the MCs as well as sizzling attraction. Unfortunately, due to the lack of personality from Rebecca, this story was half good and half bad.
Gage was the typical drool-worthy hero. I loved how he engaged Rebecca with cheeky innuendos and comebacks just for shock value and to make her feel like a fish out of water. I liked that Gage had more depth to him than just riding the high of his status as a pro football player, the money, the glam, the women. He’s extremely caring and close to his family, and he was always serious when it came to his job. I was definitely more enGAGEd with him.
Rebecca. I hated her. There, I said it. She was all over the place, emotionally, and that behavior lasted from the beginning until very near the end. When I think of character arcs, I expect a conflicted persona in the beginning, a thawing out in the middle, and at the end a newer, better, stronger person should emerge. With Rebecca is was one step forward, a huge leap back, constantly. She’s very uptight and stiff which came across in her dialogues. Even if she was trying to maintain the illusion of professionalism and detachment, she didn’t need to sound like a robot reciting some per-programmed personality program. The best word to describe her is a cold fish. It’s one thing to be a woman who doesn’t wants advances made on her, but running hot and cold like she did throughout made her seem like a tease. Once she acknowledges that her body is reacting to Gage’s advances, she hides in her room or just tries to avoid him at every turn. Given her assignment as a bodyguard, I thought her behavior was childish and unprofessional. How can she keep a straight head and look out for danger when she’s in her little bubble? Granted, it happened mostly within the walls of his house, but who knows how close the stalker could have gotten. Her behavior was just absolutely unrealistic. Having her little sister show up, in the middle of an assignment, that was just ridiculous. Why would an agent want her family anywhere near a case that involves car bombs and bullets? Rebecca harps on keeping professional distance, but she fails not only herself but also by bringing her sister into it. And here’s a valid question for you: considering the car bomb threat and the shooting incident on Gage, was it a smart idea for Gage to go home to his family for Thanksgiving and possibly leading the crazy stalker to his parent’s doorstep?
When Gage realizes he’s fallen in love with Rebecca, he thinks to himself that she’s “the right person for him”. Based on what? Lust at first sight? Because she made him work for it by running hot and cold? Because she has as honorable job? That woman is so hung up on her family drama that she’s closed off to relationships (and the drama wasn’t even all that), but yet she wants a stable and secure man as a husband one day, like a lawyer, or a banker. Someone stiff, but well off. If I were a man, I’d have written her off a long time ago. There was just nothing about her that made me think she was worth all the trouble.
And then there’s her sister Megan, who is an adult mind you. A free spirit, always falling for the wrong guy and ending up broken-hearted. Well, it has happened yet again, and Gage offers to let her stay with them. I didn’t serve any purpose other than to highlight Rebecca’s flaws and set up a possible romantic interest for Gage’s brother, Paul. As soon as Paul’s daughter takes an instant liking to Megan, the writing was on the wall. How predictable.
As for the suspense part of the story, when bullets went flying I thought, “finally some action!” But no, she throws Gage to the ground until the threat has passed without even firing her gun. WTH? I fully expected to see her in action, because it would show her skill, she’d be in her element, it’d be hot! But nothing. And the ending, it was what I expected to happen which I’ll admit sent a little thrill through me, but the stalker’s reason for targeting them was so lame *facepalm*
This was my first book by this author, but I’m not sure I’d run to pick up another. If there was anything I liked about Sherri Hayes’ writing, I would say her strong point is writing the male characters. At least there I felt a connection. She also writes some very hot sex scenes. Even I broke out in a sweat reading them. Definitely big thumbs up there.
I don’t deny not being able to put the book down at all once I got started, but I kept hoping for more suspense, and more personality from the heroine. Thumbs up: Plot/idea, male characters, humor and sex. Thumbs down: The heroine, and the suspense aspect of the story. As this ARC stands, I’d give it a 2.5 rounded up to 3.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC copy from The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House via NetGalley.
November 16, 2017
2,5 out of 5. Better than the first book. The set up for the 3rd book though?! Saw it coming, loved it. So I guess the series does an excellent job at hyping up itself. Like, you finish a book, don't love it, but you are eager for the next book anyway!
PS: I sort of wished they prolonged the tension between the two main characters longer. More tension, more rewarding climax. Pun intended.
PS: I sort of wished they prolonged the tension between the two main characters longer. More tension, more rewarding climax. Pun intended.
July 5, 2013
RED ZONE sucked me in, hook, line and sinker! The story was chocked full of sexy elements I love.
✔ The hero is a hottie jock who’s a wanted man, but he’s happy being a playboy
✔ Super-strong heroine who can kick any man’s ass and look damn fine doing it – what did you expect, she’s FBI bitches!
✔ Okay… *screech* She needs a makeover THEN she looks damn fine ;-)
✔ Yes, there’s a beauty hidden under all those frumpy clothes
✔ The story’s got great sexy humor
✔ There’s a whole gaggle of hotties in the Daniels clan – so, there’s a definite promise of more to come
Let’s face it, Rebecca Carson is a beautiful woman in a predominately male profession, so I really can't blame her for doing everything in her power to tone down any little thing that points to the fact that she’s a woman. When a case ends in a suspension for Rebecca, she needs something to do and know that sitting at home for an undefined period of time is just not going to cut it. So, when her ex-partner offers her a job on a freelance-type basis, she jumps on it!
Meet hunky, pro football player, Gage Daniels. He has a stalker and who better to protect him than Ms. Carson? She can do it, she is a professional, and all she has to do is POSE as his girlfriend. Gage is a celebrity, so she has to look the part and her boxy suits aren’t going to cut it… not if they want the public to buy their shenanigans. When the charade begins is when it starts to get very humorous.
❝ “Oh! This must be her,” he gushed. “I see what you mean. I can definitely help.” Before she knew what was going on, he was reaching for her suit jacket, trying to remove it.
She reacted instinctively before thinking it through. Within seconds, the man was bent over the kitchen island with his arm pulled tight and high along his back.
“What in the world are you doing?” Daniels demanded.
“What was he doing?”
“Jeez, lady. Relax. This is Charlie, my stylist.” ❞
What a great visual. I can totally picture that scene. I love it when characters are taken out of their element and forced to step outside their comfort zone… it makes for a very entertaining read. RED ZONE is no exception. I also happen to totally love it when said characters think they are immune to the powers of persuasion of the opposite sex, especially when the opposite sex is master of seduction – yes, it is super fun to watch them fall… LOVE IT!
I am really looking forward to getting better acquainted with these Daniel Brothers. First on the list is Christopher… yes; you read that correctly, that’s the first book in the series. Although I am sure these books are best enjoyed in the order in which they were released, I started with book number 2 and as you can see, I enjoyed it just fine. If cocky jocks and strong heroines are your bag, then you are sure to enjoy all the sexy romance and suspense RED ZONE has to offer.
✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews
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✔ The hero is a hottie jock who’s a wanted man, but he’s happy being a playboy
✔ Super-strong heroine who can kick any man’s ass and look damn fine doing it – what did you expect, she’s FBI bitches!
✔ Okay… *screech* She needs a makeover THEN she looks damn fine ;-)
✔ Yes, there’s a beauty hidden under all those frumpy clothes
✔ The story’s got great sexy humor
✔ There’s a whole gaggle of hotties in the Daniels clan – so, there’s a definite promise of more to come
Let’s face it, Rebecca Carson is a beautiful woman in a predominately male profession, so I really can't blame her for doing everything in her power to tone down any little thing that points to the fact that she’s a woman. When a case ends in a suspension for Rebecca, she needs something to do and know that sitting at home for an undefined period of time is just not going to cut it. So, when her ex-partner offers her a job on a freelance-type basis, she jumps on it!
Meet hunky, pro football player, Gage Daniels. He has a stalker and who better to protect him than Ms. Carson? She can do it, she is a professional, and all she has to do is POSE as his girlfriend. Gage is a celebrity, so she has to look the part and her boxy suits aren’t going to cut it… not if they want the public to buy their shenanigans. When the charade begins is when it starts to get very humorous.
❝ “Oh! This must be her,” he gushed. “I see what you mean. I can definitely help.” Before she knew what was going on, he was reaching for her suit jacket, trying to remove it.
She reacted instinctively before thinking it through. Within seconds, the man was bent over the kitchen island with his arm pulled tight and high along his back.
“What in the world are you doing?” Daniels demanded.
“What was he doing?”
“Jeez, lady. Relax. This is Charlie, my stylist.” ❞
What a great visual. I can totally picture that scene. I love it when characters are taken out of their element and forced to step outside their comfort zone… it makes for a very entertaining read. RED ZONE is no exception. I also happen to totally love it when said characters think they are immune to the powers of persuasion of the opposite sex, especially when the opposite sex is master of seduction – yes, it is super fun to watch them fall… LOVE IT!
I am really looking forward to getting better acquainted with these Daniel Brothers. First on the list is Christopher… yes; you read that correctly, that’s the first book in the series. Although I am sure these books are best enjoyed in the order in which they were released, I started with book number 2 and as you can see, I enjoyed it just fine. If cocky jocks and strong heroines are your bag, then you are sure to enjoy all the sexy romance and suspense RED ZONE has to offer.
✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.
✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews
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December 9, 2012
*4.5 Stars*
Sherri Hayes’ new book, RED ZONE, is romantic suspense at its best. The story was intriguing and the chemistry between the main characters was so palpable, I was getting hot under the collar.
Gage Daniels has a pretty good life. He’s a professional football player at the height of his career, he has his pick of willing women at any given time, and he’s got a great house. So imagine his irritation when he starts getting threatening letters and photographs from an apparent stalker. He ignores them at first but when the letters kept coming, it was becoming obvious that this stalker wasn’t going away.
Not wanting anything to happen to their star player, the management of his football team hires a private investigator to figure out who is after Gage and to protect him as well. That’s why Rebecca Carson has been called in on the case.
Rebecca is an FBI agent on administrative leave after a case goes bad. She’s been going stir crazy at home, so she jumped at the chase to work on a case with her former partner. But that was before she found out she was going to have to pose as the girlfriend of the cocky and way too good looking Gage Daniels. Gage is attracted to Rebecca and isn’t afraid to take his role as Rebecca’s boyfriend to heart.
Trying to protect him will be hard enough, but trying to protect her heart from the man she is becoming more attracted to is a whole other story.
RED ZONE was such a great story, I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely adored Gage and Rebecca as a couple. They didn’t seem like they were well suited for each other at first, but they ended up being exactly what they each needed.
The plot was suspenseful. I didn’t really know who the bad guy was until right before it was all revealed so that kept me turning page after page to see what would happen next.
RED ZONE is the second book in the Daniels Brothers series, but it could be read as a standalone easily. However, I’ve read the first book and it was excellent as well, so I advise reading them both.
I’ve come to really enjoy the whole Daniels clan. The brothers are all appealing in their own way, so I’m really looking forward to this series continuing. I got a little hint of what’s going to happen in book 3, so I’m eagerly awaiting the next book!
My only complaint about RED ZONE is that after all the big build up, I thought the end was a little too abrupt. That may just be me though because honestly, I didn’t want the book to end. I just couldn’t get enough of Gage and Rebecca.
All in all though, it was a five star read for me. I must say that I’ve been reading quite a bit of Sherri Hayes’ book, and I’ve been impressed with all of them thus far. She’s quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me.
Sherri Hayes’ new book, RED ZONE, is romantic suspense at its best. The story was intriguing and the chemistry between the main characters was so palpable, I was getting hot under the collar.
Gage Daniels has a pretty good life. He’s a professional football player at the height of his career, he has his pick of willing women at any given time, and he’s got a great house. So imagine his irritation when he starts getting threatening letters and photographs from an apparent stalker. He ignores them at first but when the letters kept coming, it was becoming obvious that this stalker wasn’t going away.
Not wanting anything to happen to their star player, the management of his football team hires a private investigator to figure out who is after Gage and to protect him as well. That’s why Rebecca Carson has been called in on the case.
Rebecca is an FBI agent on administrative leave after a case goes bad. She’s been going stir crazy at home, so she jumped at the chase to work on a case with her former partner. But that was before she found out she was going to have to pose as the girlfriend of the cocky and way too good looking Gage Daniels. Gage is attracted to Rebecca and isn’t afraid to take his role as Rebecca’s boyfriend to heart.
Trying to protect him will be hard enough, but trying to protect her heart from the man she is becoming more attracted to is a whole other story.
RED ZONE was such a great story, I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely adored Gage and Rebecca as a couple. They didn’t seem like they were well suited for each other at first, but they ended up being exactly what they each needed.
The plot was suspenseful. I didn’t really know who the bad guy was until right before it was all revealed so that kept me turning page after page to see what would happen next.
RED ZONE is the second book in the Daniels Brothers series, but it could be read as a standalone easily. However, I’ve read the first book and it was excellent as well, so I advise reading them both.
I’ve come to really enjoy the whole Daniels clan. The brothers are all appealing in their own way, so I’m really looking forward to this series continuing. I got a little hint of what’s going to happen in book 3, so I’m eagerly awaiting the next book!
My only complaint about RED ZONE is that after all the big build up, I thought the end was a little too abrupt. That may just be me though because honestly, I didn’t want the book to end. I just couldn’t get enough of Gage and Rebecca.
All in all though, it was a five star read for me. I must say that I’ve been reading quite a bit of Sherri Hayes’ book, and I’ve been impressed with all of them thus far. She’s quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me.
February 7, 2013
My Review:
*happy sigh* I do love reading sports themed books. There's just something about an athletic alpha hero that just does it for me...and Gage is a good one.
Gage has been playing in the NFL, both on and off the field for ten years. He is VERY MUCH a player....no serious relationships for him, EVER. He doesn't even date, so when Rebecca has to pose as his girlfriend, it's a stretch. He never has a girl hanging around, but he finds that he likes it.
Rebecca is the polar opposite of any girl that Gage would ever hook up with. She's attractive, but she hides behind practical, uptight business suits that she wears for her job in the FBI. More times than not, her hair is pulled back tight and she keeps her personality the same. She's very much...what you see is what you get, and she's not going to let you see much.
This was simply a fun book. Gage is being stalked and when the incidents ramp up, the owner of the team calls in Rebecca's old partner who then hires her to help protect him. There's a bit of a suspense story line and I'll admit, I had NO CLUE who the bad guy was until right before it was revealed.
This book also takes place over the holidays which means Gage had to take Rebecca home for Thanksgiving. It gave me a glimpse into the Daniels brothers that I loved. I haven't read book #1 from this series yet, but definitely plan to in the near future. All four of these guys are awesome and the basis is there for some great story lines. I'm definitely adding Sherri Hayes to my author-buy list!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
*happy sigh* I do love reading sports themed books. There's just something about an athletic alpha hero that just does it for me...and Gage is a good one.
Gage has been playing in the NFL, both on and off the field for ten years. He is VERY MUCH a player....no serious relationships for him, EVER. He doesn't even date, so when Rebecca has to pose as his girlfriend, it's a stretch. He never has a girl hanging around, but he finds that he likes it.
Rebecca is the polar opposite of any girl that Gage would ever hook up with. She's attractive, but she hides behind practical, uptight business suits that she wears for her job in the FBI. More times than not, her hair is pulled back tight and she keeps her personality the same. She's very much...what you see is what you get, and she's not going to let you see much.
This was simply a fun book. Gage is being stalked and when the incidents ramp up, the owner of the team calls in Rebecca's old partner who then hires her to help protect him. There's a bit of a suspense story line and I'll admit, I had NO CLUE who the bad guy was until right before it was revealed.
This book also takes place over the holidays which means Gage had to take Rebecca home for Thanksgiving. It gave me a glimpse into the Daniels brothers that I loved. I haven't read book #1 from this series yet, but definitely plan to in the near future. All four of these guys are awesome and the basis is there for some great story lines. I'm definitely adding Sherri Hayes to my author-buy list!
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
December 5, 2012
Thank You NetGalley!
So I really enjoyed this one, what's not to like? A hot football player who oozes sex appeal and charm, not to mention that cocky attitude that makes you smile. A straitlaced FBI agent who tries her best not to let him get to her.
While the story is a bit predictable and in all honesty not completely new, it was still entertaining. It was fairly easy to come up with the identity of the stalker but it didn't take away from appreciating the entire story. I also liked the build-up the the attraction between Gage and Rebecca.
The ending was a little abrupt though. I felt like the last chapter was too rushed and I almost wanted an epilogue. There were a lot of unanswered questions for me and I hate that. I assume since this book is part of a series (I didn't read the first one) that those questions will be answered in the next book. With that in mind I know that I will read it when it comes out.
So I really enjoyed this one, what's not to like? A hot football player who oozes sex appeal and charm, not to mention that cocky attitude that makes you smile. A straitlaced FBI agent who tries her best not to let him get to her.
While the story is a bit predictable and in all honesty not completely new, it was still entertaining. It was fairly easy to come up with the identity of the stalker but it didn't take away from appreciating the entire story. I also liked the build-up the the attraction between Gage and Rebecca.
The ending was a little abrupt though. I felt like the last chapter was too rushed and I almost wanted an epilogue. There were a lot of unanswered questions for me and I hate that. I assume since this book is part of a series (I didn't read the first one) that those questions will be answered in the next book. With that in mind I know that I will read it when it comes out.
March 2, 2013
The author put together a well-crafted, suspense-filled, contemporary, sport-based romance. I knew the villain’s identity early in the story but, it didn’t detract from the intrigue of the overall story. I enjoyed watching Gage get under Rebecca’s skin; his laid-back lifestyle {opposites attract} her straight lace.
First book by the author, I was very impressed by her ability to wordsmith – the descriptions and dialogue were masterful. The only reason this didn’t get a higher rating was it has some rough transition points. Looking forward to many future reads with this author.
Disclosure: This ebook was provided to me free of charge by NetGalley and Smith Publicity for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments, and ratings are my own.
First book by the author, I was very impressed by her ability to wordsmith – the descriptions and dialogue were masterful. The only reason this didn’t get a higher rating was it has some rough transition points. Looking forward to many future reads with this author.
Disclosure: This ebook was provided to me free of charge by NetGalley and Smith Publicity for the sole purpose of an honest review. All thoughts, comments, and ratings are my own.
March 4, 2015
I thought Chris Daniels was going to be my favourite one of these brothers, but that was until I read all about Gage. *fans self* Gage is an NFL star, cocky and gorgeous and being threatened. Enter Rebecca Carson, an FBI agent brought in to protect him, who takes to guarding his body with hers... if you know what I mean ;) Oh, I know it's all kinds of unprofessional of her, but I can fully understand the temptation!
Sherri Hayes has done it again with another hot romance with a thrilling plot. Can we also take a moment to admire the cover? Mmm. A nice continuation to the Daniels Brothers series, and there's a setup for a potential third book with cop brother Paul.
Sherri Hayes has done it again with another hot romance with a thrilling plot. Can we also take a moment to admire the cover? Mmm. A nice continuation to the Daniels Brothers series, and there's a setup for a potential third book with cop brother Paul.
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