Past the Rush

by Britt Stark

One night changed everything.

Every hope and dream I had vanished with the touch of a hand.

Whoever said love lasts forever obviously has never been in love with their brother’s best friend.

Ever since high school, I have been trying to replace the painful memories of my past with new ones. Forgetting every trauma was working until I ran into him… Conrad Stone. The man who broke my heart into a million pieces.

I’d locked him out of my head for so long that when he stood in front of me I could barely believe my eyes. I thought I was hallucinating until he spoke.

“What are you doing here?”

I should have been excited. I should have been ecstatic, but all I felt was anger. How could I let my first love back in my life after thirteen years?

This should be fun.

Genres: Football, Sports Romance, Second Chance, Forced Proximity, Romance, Audiobook, Sports

251 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 3, 2024

About the author

Ever since Britt was a child, she loved reading and telling stories. For a very long time, she kept an idea journal full of ideas never thinking she would actually write them into a story. She knew she wanted to be a teacher her whole life, but there was a passion calling her, the one to write.

Britt is a native of Louisiana and currently resides there with her husband and daughter. She hopes that others will fall in love with her fantasy world as much as she has.

Reviews

[Natalie Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC review

This is my first ARC read and first sports romance, this story will take you on an emotional roller coaster, I laughed, cried, got mad and happy all over again. The banter was so great and the spice was 🥵, I am definitely going to read the rest of the series when it comes out. I can’t wait to see how it will continue! Check content and trigger warnings before reading.

[AshReadThis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute second chance romance story!

Lenna and Conrad’s history was full of mutual pining for each other over the years, but also grief and trauma. The way they found their way back to each other after more than a decade was so sweet.

What to expect:
🏈 friends to lovers
🏈 brother’s best friend
🏈 football player x social media manager
🏈 forbidden romance
🏈 possessive MMC
🏈 pining
🏈 MCs >25
🏈 dual POV

Trigger Warnings:
-loss of a sibling
-trauma and grief
-PTSD

[PajamaMom Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love a a tragically beautiful second chance romance, with spice, a possessive Pro Football player all together in a work place romance, IT'S YOUR LUCKY DAY!

Britt Stark smashed it with her new contemporary romance. It will make you laugh, cry, squeal, and blush.

Lenna has been in love with her brother's best friend since they were in high school. When tragedy strikes, they go their separate ways until perfect timing throws them together again. Conrad Stone is a dirty mouthed jock with beautiful grand gestures.

I can't wait to see what Britt has planned for the next books in the series!

[BookishRaquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ | 3 🌶️ | 4 🎧

What to Expect:
- Sports Romance
- Pro Football Player MMC
- Second Chance Romance
- Brother's Best Friend
- Forced Proximity
- Workplace Romance
- “It’s Always Been You”
- Past Trauma
- Dual POV
- Duet Narration

My Thoughts:
This story combines two of my favorite things: sports romance and second-chance romance. Past the Rush had me in a serious chokehold. I finished this book in one sitting and could not put it down. It was an emotional rollercoaster. I yelled, laughed, cried, and swooned. I love that this is the first book in a series, and there is more to look forward to.

Lenna has been in love with Conrad, her brother Thomas's best friend, since high school. After a tragic accident in which they lost Thomas, Conrad left to play professional football. Thirteen years later, Conrad gets traded. To Lenna's surprise, Conrad now plays for the same team she works for. When they reunite, old feelings come crashing back.

This well-written story has the perfect balance of heartbreak, tension, romance, and spice. Britt wrecked me, and I will never see butterflies the same. I fell in love with Lenna and Conrad. Their chemistry was amazing. Although they both had their own individual struggles, they fit together so well as a couple. Their love for each other felt so genuine. Past the Rush is a nice, fast-paced, quick read. I highly recommend this book!

Narration:
Lauren Beck and Brandon Francis perform this audiobook in duet. They were the perfect voices for Lenna and Conrad, and brought the characters to life in the best way. I read an advanced copy of this book when it was released back in 2024, so it was nice to essentially do a reread with the audio. Lauren and Brandon did a wonderful job making me feel every emotion associated with Lenna and Conrad's backstories and their journey back to each other.

Thanks to Britt Stark and High Gravity Productions for the review opportunity. Opinions expressed are my own.

[Kirsten | Bookish.kir · Rating 3 out of 5]

- Second Chance
- Pro Football
- Past trauma
- Brother's Best Friend

There was honestly so much potential with this storyline, but I personally felt like it was just too fast paced for my liking and some of the plot was pretty unrealistic in regards to the sports world. I was left craving more tension and definitely more groveling from Conrad.

[Amber Bromet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was SUCH a great quick read that was sweet and spicy. I love a short book but sometimes it’s harder to connect with the characters, the author did a fantastic job making the reader fall in love with the characters and their relationship. Can’t wait for more to come in the series! Glad this was recommended to me.

[Jen Altman]

DNF at 60%. This story is so choppy and is lacking enough character or story development to keep me interested in listening to 2 more hours of it.

[Melodylovesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

“My Lenna?”

“Yeah. My Lenna. You’ve always been mine. That hasn’t changed for me. Ever.”

I devoured this book in one sitting, I couldn’t stop! Britt has a way with words, I just love everything she writes! The spice in this book is perfection.

Conrad and Lenna are a swoon worthy couple, and this second chance sport romance is everything you could ever want!

I’m already ready for the next book in this series!

[Ashley Book.markedbyash · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️

🏈Sports Romance
📸Brothers Best Friend
🏈Tragedy
📸Second Chance Romance
🏈Dual POV
📸Spicy

I loved Past the Rush! This book was balanced so well. Right amount of romance, heartbreak, sports, and spice.
There is one trope in here I was not expecting and I usually don’t like it but this was done well in this book. I can’t say without spoilers.
I loved the heartbreak. The last 10 percent really had me in my feelings. I am excited for the next one. Congratulations on your first sports romance Britt!

[Bria Boyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was absolutely adorable 😍 I loved every moment of this!

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

• ARC REVIEW •

This was a quick sports romance book. Conrad & Lena grew up together. He’s her brother’s best friend. Just when she thinks something might happen, tragedy strikes.

Fast forward years, and it looks like both are headed back home to face each other & everything that happened all those years ago. This was a thoughtful second chance romance. Both are dealing with mutual tragedy & trying to navigate it. Enjoyed this book, wish it was a little longer so we would’ve gotten more details. However, I’m excited for the potential for another book in this series.

[Shauna Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an emotional rollercoaster 😭

It is a story of loss, grief, true love, and healing. Lenna has always loved Conrad but following a car accident in which Thomas (her brother, his best friend) died Conrad left. 13 years later, they are thrown back together in a second chance at romance, but will they take it?

Amazing storytelling that draws you in immediately, with ups and downs that have you laughing and crying throughout.

The first of the series with book 2 coming soon, and I hope it's Becca and Shy 🤭

[Paige (paigersturnspages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️Arc review✨️

Past The Rush by Britt Stark

Crescent City Kings Football # 1

Welcome to Crescent City

Where the love of your life finds you

🏈Sports romance
👑Small town
✨️Forced proximity
💕Second chance
🌶Brothers best friend
🫶Grief x Loss
🔥Dual Pov


We start off this beautiful sports romance with Lenna Hughes, a high school sophomore with her life ahead of her, until one night changes everything for everyone. Lenna, Thomas, Conrad, and her Becca have their lives flipped upside down.

Thirteen years later, we see Lenna far from home, dealing with her grief and all the loss she's going through(this poor girl) losing her job and boyfriend all in one day.

She decides to make her way back home for work, family, and finally putting ghosts of the past to rest.

Now, we have Conrad Stone, all american football player, leaving his hometown after a great loss, but life has a way of bringing you back home when you least expect it.

I knew I was going to fall in love with this story, and im head over heels for Crescent City and all its inhabitants(especially the hot jocks).
The way britt is able to pull on your heartstrings for conrad and lenna, how they really needed each other all this time, but were able to be brave on their own too.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶

Thank you for this beautiful arc. I'll be living in this book mentally for a while. 💕🫶

Available April 5th!!!

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Past the Rush
Crescent City Kings Football 1
By Britt Stark
Narrated by Lauren Beck, Brandon Francis

A sports book with some meat to it, this story had me from the prologue. Since high school, Conrad has had a crush on his best friend's sister Lenna. The night he finally made his move turned out to be the worst night of their lives, and he soon took off, leaving her alone. Confused and needing to heal, she tried to move on, as did he, and now their lives once again come together. Will they be able to find that first love as teenagers and flame it into forever? Will they be able to work through the sadness and pain? This is a fabulous story, true to life and while sad at times, was heart lifting. I enjoyed my first book by Britt Stark and now I am looking forward to the second one in this duet!

Lauren Beck and Brandon Francis bring this story alive. All the feels come through with their voices and it brought me tears, had me angry and falling completely in love. Beck is amazing as Lenna. She is trying her best, and her heart knows what she wants. The love shines through even if she doesn't want it to in Beck's voice. Francis pulls out all the emotions as Conrad. Yes, he's a football star, but his heart is gold, and it feels everything. His inflections bring it all out in the open. It's a wonderful listen, one that should not be missed by sports romance lovers.

[Adrianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Past The Rush was my first true sports romance and I absolutely fell in love with it.
Lenna and Conrad are the main characters in this book and they both feel so much like people you would actually know.
I don't usually cry when I'm reading, but this book made me full on get in my feels!

There's an accident that happens and Lenna and Conrad don't see each other for 13 years. A twist of fate brings them back together, but neither one of them is the same person they were years ago.

These two have such amazing chemistry. Their thoughts align so well, even before they realize it. They both feel so real, from their conversations and the tension between them. Even the way they react to each other.
10/10 was in love with Lennas inner monolouge. She made me laugh and cry with her own thoughts and feelings.

I love how the author brings the setting to life through her descriptions. Getting drenched with sweat before making it into a building is 100% truth for Louisiana.

This book kept me saying, just one more chapter...until the end and I wished it wasn't over.

I highly recommend this book if you want to read something funny and real that will make you feel what the characters are feeling.

[Liz | ᥫ᭡reakawayreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

"𝘖𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘎𝘰𝘥! 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘳𝘢𝘥 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦! 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘚𝘩𝘪𝘵. 𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦."
**************************************************************
𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙫𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨, 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙚. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧.
“𝙁*𝙘𝙠. 𝙇𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙇𝙚. 𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡.”

This wonderfully written novel is based around a group of friends whose lives are forever changed after one horrible night.

Fast paced read, easy to follow along with. You will fall in love with everybody. I truly appreciated all the side characters in this book. Tee was hands down, my favorite. He always knew the right thing to say.

Britt, your love for these characters shines in your writing. You felt all the love, tragedy, resilience of these characters. Leena and Conrad were modern day star crossed lovers. They both had individual internal struggles that we felt right along with them on paper. Growing with them and falling in love all over again. Their passion for one another was off the charts. I ate every second of it up. *chefs kiss*

Please go check out this wonderful sports romance novel from this awesome author. Britt I am so glad to know you and so very proud of you for writing your first sports romance book! You are meant for writing intriguing novels and passionate, strong characters!

Thank you for allowing me to have an early copy of your wonderful book and blow up your DMs while reading!! I can’t wait to read the next installment for the Crescent City Kings!
•
Recommend if you love:
- 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
- 𝗣𝗿𝗼 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗹
- 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮
- 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱
- 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲
- 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗠𝗖
- 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀
- 𝗚𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘆
- 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗠𝗖
***𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘞'𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭; 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺!***
•
𝙷𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢 𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚖𝚢 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚜! 𝚡𝚘

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

~Alc Review~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

~Past The Rush~Crescent City Kings Football #1~Britt Stark~

~Duet Narration~Lauren Beck & Brandon Francis~

~Production~High Gravity Production~

"I want to battle every single thing in life with you. Every fight, every tear, every choice, every single thing I want to be ours. Because you make me brave, Lenna."

♡This was my first read by Britt Stark & I really enjoyed it! This story was an emotional rollercoaster. I laughed, I teared up, & I swooned. Lenna & Conrad started out having a harmless crush unsure of how to pursue it to having their world change in the blink of an eye. They are two lost souls learning to grieve while drowning in guilt. Little did they know that they needed each other to stop sinking.

The duet narration for this audiobook was fantastic! Lauren is a new to me narrator & I thought she did an amazing job bringing our independent, sassy FMC Lenna to life. Brandon did an impeccable job bringing Conrad our professional football jock with a dirty mouth & golden retriever MMC to life!

If you love football, small-town romances, second chances & a brother's best friend trope that will have you tearing up then this is the read for you♡

~As Always Happy Reading~

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Past the Rush is a sweet, spicy, and complex romance. In this short novel, just over 200 pages, Britt creates characters that you love, make you laugh out loud, want to punch in the face (looking at you, Tyler), and make you want to cry. Conrad & Lenna's love story is a well-written second chance story that doesn't fall into some of the issues that I can sometimes have with that trope. They have grown, become aware (or work on it) of their issues, and know what they want. Lenna's older brother is a force throughout the book and good luck ever seeing a butterfly the same way again 😭
The spice was spicing in all the right ways and was a perfect balance for the sloooooow burn book that I was reading at the same time. (#moodreader)
Past the Rush comes out 4/5 and is absolutely worth a read! I'm excited to read more about the Cresent City Kings 🏈 team

[tyleralesia · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

ARC review- all thoughts and opinions are my own!

“Lenna. You are mine. You have always been mine. My girl. My future. My entire world.”

I love a good second chance romance but a second chance SPORTS romance?! Sign me up!! Lenny & Conrad come back together after years apart due to tragedy and I loved watching their relationship bloom once they reunite! This was a fun and quick read and I can’t wait to see more from this universe! Thank you Britt for the opportunity to read this!

[jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

i enjoyed this book so much ! it is such a sweet but also heartwarming quick read ! thank you so much for the arc, i cannot wait for everyone to be able to meet conrad & lenna💞


tropes included:
- sports romance
- nfl player x social media manager
- grief/ angst
- second chance
- brothers best friend
- aspects of small town
- forced proximity
- workplace romance
- “it’s always been you”

* check trigger warnings— some topics mentioned may be sensitive to some readers

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️3.5
i really liked the concept of this book- brothers best friend, second chance sports romance. lenna and conrad have gone through a lot of trauma together and hadn’t seen each other in over a decade. coincidentally they both end up back in their home town that they’ve avoided since high school. i loved the plot however it felt very rushed to me. thank you britt for this arc!! can’t wait to read the next books in this series.

[Amundeep Kaur · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. The beginning is complicated, emotional and very tragic. It starts with a flashback that broke my heart even though the trigger warnings did inform me of what would occur I was still not ready. I loved the chemistry between the main characters. The author did a great job of adding in the spice in this book without making it the main focus of the book. I can’t wait to read more from this author.

[Dianelsie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting. I wish it would have been longer so I would have been able to connect more with the characters. I loved seeing this second chance romance develop, however, the story felt a bit rushed. I really wish I would have gotten more Lenny and Conrad. I’ve been reading a lot of fantasy and this was a great genre change but I needed more!

[Ashley Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in less than 48 hours.

I love a good straight to point, low angst, high smut romance. Mix in some sweaty football eye candy…SIGN ME UP.

I was locked in at the last sentence of chapter one. The banter was bantering. I love intrusive thoughts. I also love a hot grump.

I can’t wait to read the next one since it’s about Shyloh!

[My Reading Era · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since high school, Lenna has tried to put Conrad behind her. They shared a painful past, and just when Lenna felt her world crumbling, Conrad walked away. Now, years later, fate has brought them back together, working side by side and living next door to each other. Forced into close proximity, they must face not only their unresolved feelings but also the trauma that shaped them.

Brandon Francis and Lauren Beck were absolutely perfect as Conrad and Lenna. Their performances captured the tension, vulnerability, and undeniable chemistry flawlessly.

This was a fast, captivating listen and one I definitely recommend.

Thank you, Britt Star and High Gravity Productions for the ALC.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️ ⭐️

This book! It’s not just a sports romance, it is a beautiful heart wrenching and healing story… more to come!

[Bobi Jo Bartow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Football Romance

This book was such a cute love story. Has a little spice but not too much. If you want to read something that will keep you wanting more, this is the book for you

[Shelly Stradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent football sports romance you won’t want to miss! This is a second chance romance that starts w/ tragedy and ends happily ever after. Highly recommend this book

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narration for this story was fantastic!

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

This was a cute, spicy sports romance! Although this is a series, I read this novella as a standalone. The spice was spicing in this one, but overall I wanted more story. I think this could have been a 4 or 5 star read if it were longer!

I would recommend this to someone looking for a short spicy sports romance.