What do you think?
Steel City Legacy #1
Perfectly Us
Since my wife died ten years ago my life has revolved around two things: football and my kids.
Then I met a girl in a bar and one single night changed everything. For six hours I wasn't the veteran Pittsburgh Renegades offensive linemen or single dad of two. I was just a man, and it felt like she was the one I had been
waiting for.
But when morning came I woke up to an empty bed, the girl of my literal dreams nowhere to be found.
Until I walk into work the next day and there she is.
Maddy Wright, Director of Sports Psychology for the Renegades and niece of the team's General Manager, is the last woman on earth I should want, but she's the one women I can't stay away from.
With my position on the team and her career on the line, a relationship is a terrible idea. But the draw to each other is too strong, the way she fits into my little family undeniable, our chemistry impossible to ignore.
We shouldn't need each other like this when being together could ruin everything we've both worked for. I shouldn't feel like I can't breathe without her when dating in secret is our only choice.
With our careers in the crosshairs, forever is the last word that should be on my mind. But with my heart utterly lost to Maddy, I'll stop at nothing to make sure that forever is exactly what we get. Together.
Then I met a girl in a bar and one single night changed everything. For six hours I wasn't the veteran Pittsburgh Renegades offensive linemen or single dad of two. I was just a man, and it felt like she was the one I had been
waiting for.
But when morning came I woke up to an empty bed, the girl of my literal dreams nowhere to be found.
Until I walk into work the next day and there she is.
Maddy Wright, Director of Sports Psychology for the Renegades and niece of the team's General Manager, is the last woman on earth I should want, but she's the one women I can't stay away from.
With my position on the team and her career on the line, a relationship is a terrible idea. But the draw to each other is too strong, the way she fits into my little family undeniable, our chemistry impossible to ignore.
We shouldn't need each other like this when being together could ruin everything we've both worked for. I shouldn't feel like I can't breathe without her when dating in secret is our only choice.
With our careers in the crosshairs, forever is the last word that should be on my mind. But with my heart utterly lost to Maddy, I'll stop at nothing to make sure that forever is exactly what we get. Together.
428 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2026
About the author
Samantha Brinn
15 books270 followersSamantha Brinn (Sam to everyone who knows her) is an author of sweet, spicy, and swoony contemporary romance novels. A Pittsburgh girl currently living in the suburbs of NYC, Sam stole her first romance novel off of her mom’s bookshelf at age thirteen and has read pretty much nothing but romance ever since. Her Kindle is basically an extension of her hand at this point.
A lawyer by day and author by night, Sam can most often be found in bed with her laptop and writing desk late into the night, having the time of her life writing words and weaving stories and grinning at her characters’ hijinks.
Aside from being a reader and a writer, Sam is a lover of French fries, Reese’s peanut butter cups, and diet Pepsi, and much like her debut FMC, she rarely makes her coffee the same way twice. A mom of two, Sam cosplays as an organized human, but at her core, she’s mostly chaos and prefers it that way, and is loving every second of this wild indie author ride.
A lawyer by day and author by night, Sam can most often be found in bed with her laptop and writing desk late into the night, having the time of her life writing words and weaving stories and grinning at her characters’ hijinks.
Aside from being a reader and a writer, Sam is a lover of French fries, Reese’s peanut butter cups, and diet Pepsi, and much like her debut FMC, she rarely makes her coffee the same way twice. A mom of two, Sam cosplays as an organized human, but at her core, she’s mostly chaos and prefers it that way, and is loving every second of this wild indie author ride.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews
March 10, 2026
4.5🌟, 3🌶️
Some books just feel comforting from the first chapter and this was definitely one of them.
Cameron Lowry is a widowed single dad and professional football player who has spent the last decade focused on raising his kids and moving through life after losing his wife. One unexpected night brings him together with Maddy Wright, and their connection is immediate. The next day she walks into his workplace as the team’s new Director of Sports Psychology, instantly turning their chemistry into something complicated.
What really made this story stand out was the heart behind it. Cam falls first and falls hard, while Maddy tries to stay cautious because she loves the career she has worked so hard for. Watching them slowly open up to each other and communicate honestly felt refreshing. Maddy’s bond with Cam’s kids was especially beautiful. She approached them with patience and care, never trying to replace anyone, and the way they naturally connected made those moments incredibly touching.
The found family element added so much warmth to the story and made the world feel alive. Seeing Cam welcomed into Maddy’s big, chaotic family while she found her place in his life felt genuine and heartfelt. Their relationship was tender, supportive, and full of quiet strength, making their second chance at love feel deeply earned.
If the rest of the series is anything like this one, I am going to be obsessed.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Samantha Brinn and The Smuthood for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
Some books just feel comforting from the first chapter and this was definitely one of them.
Cameron Lowry is a widowed single dad and professional football player who has spent the last decade focused on raising his kids and moving through life after losing his wife. One unexpected night brings him together with Maddy Wright, and their connection is immediate. The next day she walks into his workplace as the team’s new Director of Sports Psychology, instantly turning their chemistry into something complicated.
What really made this story stand out was the heart behind it. Cam falls first and falls hard, while Maddy tries to stay cautious because she loves the career she has worked so hard for. Watching them slowly open up to each other and communicate honestly felt refreshing. Maddy’s bond with Cam’s kids was especially beautiful. She approached them with patience and care, never trying to replace anyone, and the way they naturally connected made those moments incredibly touching.
The found family element added so much warmth to the story and made the world feel alive. Seeing Cam welcomed into Maddy’s big, chaotic family while she found her place in his life felt genuine and heartfelt. Their relationship was tender, supportive, and full of quiet strength, making their second chance at love feel deeply earned.
If the rest of the series is anything like this one, I am going to be obsessed.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Samantha Brinn and The Smuthood for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
Samantha can do no wrong in my eyes. This was perfection. This is a second generation book done so so right and I already know I'm going to be completely obsessed with every single book.
The found family, the girl gang, the forbidden aspect, the emotion, the spice... was EVERYTHING.
The connection that Maddy grew with Cams kids was so sweet. 🥹
Cameron is the greenest flag of all flags for men. Like are you joking?! He wanted Maddy from the second he laid eyes on her and never waived in that. He pursued her hard and made sure she knew she was wanted, even when he had a million other things going on. I love that Maddy also always showed him how much he meant to her right back.
Thank you Samantha for my ARC copy to review! ❤️
The found family, the girl gang, the forbidden aspect, the emotion, the spice... was EVERYTHING.
The connection that Maddy grew with Cams kids was so sweet. 🥹
Cameron is the greenest flag of all flags for men. Like are you joking?! He wanted Maddy from the second he laid eyes on her and never waived in that. He pursued her hard and made sure she knew she was wanted, even when he had a million other things going on. I love that Maddy also always showed him how much he meant to her right back.
Thank you Samantha for my ARC copy to review! ❤️
March 8, 2026
જ⁀➴ 3 stars
Thank you to Samantha Brinn and The Smuthood for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Perfectly Us is out now!
🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭
This was such a cute, emotional sports romance! If you're an NFL fan who loves mental health rep in their books, this may be the book for you!
Maddy Wright is thirty, has her PhD in Psychology, and is the newest sports psychologist for the Pittsburgh Renegades. Never mind that the industry will probably think that she got the job because her close family friend is the GM for the football team- she's there to do her job and prove that she was worthy enough for the job, connections be damned. On a night out with her friends before her first day on the job, she decides to let loose and have a one-night stand with a stranger. Little did she know that her one-night stand was the Renegades' top offensive lineman, Cameron Lowry, single dad, NFL veteran, and one of the players on the team she's now working for. As they dance around their attraction to keep things away from the public eye, it becomes harder to hide it from the people around them...will they give in to what they want, or will it all end before it begins?
I absolutely LOVED Maddy and Cam. They're one of the most wholesome couples I've read about. It was like they could read each other's minds, and they knew exactly what the other person needed at the time. Maddy coming over during a storm to comfort Cam? Cam sending her breakfast to her office every morning so she doesn't go hungry and leaves little love notes on the cereal boxes? I also loved the mental health representation with Cam and his anxiety. I always love it when mental health is addressed in books, but I'm glad that authors are going out there now and addressing men's mental health now. Bonus points because Maddy has a PhD- we love an educated woman who stands on business.
As for Cam's kids, Riley and Ethan, they absolutely stole the show at times, and I LOVED that. Riley was the perfect representation of a teenage girl, and I loved how she was able to look up to Maddy and her friends for advice and see Maddy as a mother figure in her life. Ethan was so funny and watching him bond with Maddy's relatives was just so wholesome.
The one thing I couldn't get past was how LARGE Maddy's family and extended family are, which is the reason why this book lost 2 stars and will be the bulk of my review. I had ZERO idea that this was a second-generation series going into the book because I had never read Samantha Brinn's books before. This was definitely on me for not knowing that going into this story, but there were SO many people to keep track of that it was honestly overwhelming for me and made me feel disconnected from the story. I signed up for this under the impression that this was a new, totally different series of the author's, since this was the first book of a series. As soon as I opened up the eARC, one of the first things I saw was a GIANT family tree that took up an entire page of every single couple from the author's previous 8 books and 2 series, along with all of their kids (every couple had at least 2 children). The first chapter was just a giant info dump of Maddy's friends and how they all knew each other (AKA the giant family tree), and that's sort of when I knew this was going to be something I had a giant issue with going into the story.
Even now, I couldn't even tell you who Maddy was blood-related to and who she was just "related" to because of her parents' close relationships with their friends, because you're talking about 8 couples' worth of cameos, references, and callbacks that you have no idea even existed going into the story. You know how you have really close family friends, and you just call them "Aunt X and Uncle Y" and all of their kids aren't really your blood-related cousins, they're just your friends, but you're so close with them that they might as well be your siblings or cousins? That's basically Maddy and all her friends, and she interchangeably uses "sisters" and "cousins" with them in her POV/monologues, which threw me off at times, even though I knew she had one brother, Oliver, and another sister, Gracie.
I get that with the second-generation series that it focuses on the children of the main couples from the first-generation. Just look at the Monsters Within series by Sav M. Miller as an example. While that series was advertised as a standalone series that you could read without reading the Monsters and Muses series, I felt like you actually needed to read that entire series first to fully understand everything that was going on and the significance behind things in the plot. Perfectly Us felt the same way. The two first-generation series before the Steel City Legacy series should DEFINITELY be required reading before reading this. I honestly felt like I walked into the middle of a family function that I had no business being at the entire time reading. While I did love how close the family dynamics are, I felt like I would've appreciated it way more had I known there were 8 books' worth of stories about Maddy's parents and their friends before this one that I knew I could've read.
Overall, if you're a long-time Samantha Brinn reader or fan, you'll absolutely love this book about her previous couples' kids all grown up. If you're a first-time reader like me...well, I'd tell you to hunker down and read the previous 8 books she put out before reading this series if you don't want to be lost and confused the entire time.
🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭
Trigger/content warnings (just be warned that some of this may be spoilers for the plot or character background):
sexual content (2.75-3/5 on the spice scale, but that's my personal rating), on-page panic attacks, recounted death of a spouse, recounted memories of a difficult childbirth/pregnancy
Thank you to Samantha Brinn and The Smuthood for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Perfectly Us is out now!
"I love you so much. I have for a long time. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would get luck enough to have a second chance at a love like this, and now that I've found you, I am never, ever letting go."
🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭
This was such a cute, emotional sports romance! If you're an NFL fan who loves mental health rep in their books, this may be the book for you!
Maddy Wright is thirty, has her PhD in Psychology, and is the newest sports psychologist for the Pittsburgh Renegades. Never mind that the industry will probably think that she got the job because her close family friend is the GM for the football team- she's there to do her job and prove that she was worthy enough for the job, connections be damned. On a night out with her friends before her first day on the job, she decides to let loose and have a one-night stand with a stranger. Little did she know that her one-night stand was the Renegades' top offensive lineman, Cameron Lowry, single dad, NFL veteran, and one of the players on the team she's now working for. As they dance around their attraction to keep things away from the public eye, it becomes harder to hide it from the people around them...will they give in to what they want, or will it all end before it begins?
I absolutely LOVED Maddy and Cam. They're one of the most wholesome couples I've read about. It was like they could read each other's minds, and they knew exactly what the other person needed at the time. Maddy coming over during a storm to comfort Cam? Cam sending her breakfast to her office every morning so she doesn't go hungry and leaves little love notes on the cereal boxes? I also loved the mental health representation with Cam and his anxiety. I always love it when mental health is addressed in books, but I'm glad that authors are going out there now and addressing men's mental health now. Bonus points because Maddy has a PhD- we love an educated woman who stands on business.
As for Cam's kids, Riley and Ethan, they absolutely stole the show at times, and I LOVED that. Riley was the perfect representation of a teenage girl, and I loved how she was able to look up to Maddy and her friends for advice and see Maddy as a mother figure in her life. Ethan was so funny and watching him bond with Maddy's relatives was just so wholesome.
The one thing I couldn't get past was how LARGE Maddy's family and extended family are, which is the reason why this book lost 2 stars and will be the bulk of my review. I had ZERO idea that this was a second-generation series going into the book because I had never read Samantha Brinn's books before. This was definitely on me for not knowing that going into this story, but there were SO many people to keep track of that it was honestly overwhelming for me and made me feel disconnected from the story. I signed up for this under the impression that this was a new, totally different series of the author's, since this was the first book of a series. As soon as I opened up the eARC, one of the first things I saw was a GIANT family tree that took up an entire page of every single couple from the author's previous 8 books and 2 series, along with all of their kids (every couple had at least 2 children). The first chapter was just a giant info dump of Maddy's friends and how they all knew each other (AKA the giant family tree), and that's sort of when I knew this was going to be something I had a giant issue with going into the story.
Even now, I couldn't even tell you who Maddy was blood-related to and who she was just "related" to because of her parents' close relationships with their friends, because you're talking about 8 couples' worth of cameos, references, and callbacks that you have no idea even existed going into the story. You know how you have really close family friends, and you just call them "Aunt X and Uncle Y" and all of their kids aren't really your blood-related cousins, they're just your friends, but you're so close with them that they might as well be your siblings or cousins? That's basically Maddy and all her friends, and she interchangeably uses "sisters" and "cousins" with them in her POV/monologues, which threw me off at times, even though I knew she had one brother, Oliver, and another sister, Gracie.
I get that with the second-generation series that it focuses on the children of the main couples from the first-generation. Just look at the Monsters Within series by Sav M. Miller as an example. While that series was advertised as a standalone series that you could read without reading the Monsters and Muses series, I felt like you actually needed to read that entire series first to fully understand everything that was going on and the significance behind things in the plot. Perfectly Us felt the same way. The two first-generation series before the Steel City Legacy series should DEFINITELY be required reading before reading this. I honestly felt like I walked into the middle of a family function that I had no business being at the entire time reading. While I did love how close the family dynamics are, I felt like I would've appreciated it way more had I known there were 8 books' worth of stories about Maddy's parents and their friends before this one that I knew I could've read.
Overall, if you're a long-time Samantha Brinn reader or fan, you'll absolutely love this book about her previous couples' kids all grown up. If you're a first-time reader like me...well, I'd tell you to hunker down and read the previous 8 books she put out before reading this series if you don't want to be lost and confused the entire time.
🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭.𖥔 ݁ ˖.°.🩷 🍭
Trigger/content warnings (just be warned that some of this may be spoilers for the plot or character background):
sexual content (2.75-3/5 on the spice scale, but that's my personal rating), on-page panic attacks, recounted death of a spouse, recounted memories of a difficult childbirth/pregnancy
February 1, 2026
In true Samantha Brinn fashion, Maddy & Cam are pure perfection! 🩵
I think that when I get into a Sam book, I always find comfort in her characters. This one was no different. Maddy and Cam's story was so special! Especially because when we meet Maddy in Anything For You as just a child, you think wow.. what will life look like for her with parents like Jeremy and Emma. And this second gen, STOLE MY HEART. This book was every bit sweet and swoon, battling mental health struggles, and holy heavens the spice. Cam and Maddy building a life with Cam's kiddos, was so sweet to experience! I absolutely LOVED this book, more than any second gen I have read. Sam blew this one out of the water! It was phenomenal, everything I could have dreamed of.
I think that when I get into a Sam book, I always find comfort in her characters. This one was no different. Maddy and Cam's story was so special! Especially because when we meet Maddy in Anything For You as just a child, you think wow.. what will life look like for her with parents like Jeremy and Emma. And this second gen, STOLE MY HEART. This book was every bit sweet and swoon, battling mental health struggles, and holy heavens the spice. Cam and Maddy building a life with Cam's kiddos, was so sweet to experience! I absolutely LOVED this book, more than any second gen I have read. Sam blew this one out of the water! It was phenomenal, everything I could have dreamed of.
February 21, 2026
Perfectly Us by Samantha Brinn eARC Review 🏈🩵
This book is second generation perfection. I loved very second of seeing all these characters again and I’m pretty sure I had a permanent smile on my face the entire time I was reading.
I am truly obsessed with everything about Cam and Maddy. Their story is the sweetest. The forbidden aspect is delicious. The found family in this book is incredible, in true Sam fashion. The comfort that the two of them give each other and the way they understand one another. It truly is as if Maddy is the missing piece in Cam and his kids life.
After losing his wife several years ago, Cam didn’t think a second chance at love was possible but then he spots a red head in a bar and their story is sweet, spicy, forbidden and beautiful. Maddy is starting her career in professional sports and knows that dating a player isn’t a good look, but she has a really hard time resisting Cam Lowry and his incredible children, Riley and Ethan.
This book is exactly the reason that Sam is an auto buy, auto read author for me. This entire world she has created is my favorite and I don’t see that ever changing.
What to expect:
🏈 Football Romance
🩵 Single Dad
🏈 One Night Stand
🩵 Workplace Romance
🏈 Forbidden Relationship
🩵 He Falls First
🏈 Found Family
Thank you so much Sam for the arc!
This book is second generation perfection. I loved very second of seeing all these characters again and I’m pretty sure I had a permanent smile on my face the entire time I was reading.
I am truly obsessed with everything about Cam and Maddy. Their story is the sweetest. The forbidden aspect is delicious. The found family in this book is incredible, in true Sam fashion. The comfort that the two of them give each other and the way they understand one another. It truly is as if Maddy is the missing piece in Cam and his kids life.
After losing his wife several years ago, Cam didn’t think a second chance at love was possible but then he spots a red head in a bar and their story is sweet, spicy, forbidden and beautiful. Maddy is starting her career in professional sports and knows that dating a player isn’t a good look, but she has a really hard time resisting Cam Lowry and his incredible children, Riley and Ethan.
This book is exactly the reason that Sam is an auto buy, auto read author for me. This entire world she has created is my favorite and I don’t see that ever changing.
What to expect:
🏈 Football Romance
🩵 Single Dad
🏈 One Night Stand
🩵 Workplace Romance
🏈 Forbidden Relationship
🩵 He Falls First
🏈 Found Family
Thank you so much Sam for the arc!
Review of advance copy
Perfectly Us eARC Review 🩵
-Second Gen
-Single Dad/Widower
-He Falls First
-One Night Stand
-Found Family
-Mental Health Rep
-Forbidden Romance
Perfectly Us follows the second gen story of Maddy & Cam. Maddy is the daughter of Jeremy & Emma from Anything for you in The Laws of You series.
Maddy becomes the Director of Sports Psychology for the Pittsburgh Renegades NFL team and meets Cam. Turns out he’s the nameless guy that she shared a hotel room with the night before. 🤭 Cam is down bad for her from the get-go! Maddy quickly meets and fits right in with Cam’s kids. The way Maddy made Cam feel comfortable talking about his late wife made my heart happy. I love a women-in-sports story! The grand gesture scene was so freaking cute. 🥰 This book was ‘perfectly’ written and am looking forward to Tyler & Sophie’s story next!
Thank you Smuthood PR and Sam for the opportunity to read early!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️
-Second Gen
-Single Dad/Widower
-He Falls First
-One Night Stand
-Found Family
-Mental Health Rep
-Forbidden Romance
Perfectly Us follows the second gen story of Maddy & Cam. Maddy is the daughter of Jeremy & Emma from Anything for you in The Laws of You series.
Maddy becomes the Director of Sports Psychology for the Pittsburgh Renegades NFL team and meets Cam. Turns out he’s the nameless guy that she shared a hotel room with the night before. 🤭 Cam is down bad for her from the get-go! Maddy quickly meets and fits right in with Cam’s kids. The way Maddy made Cam feel comfortable talking about his late wife made my heart happy. I love a women-in-sports story! The grand gesture scene was so freaking cute. 🥰 This book was ‘perfectly’ written and am looking forward to Tyler & Sophie’s story next!
Thank you Smuthood PR and Sam for the opportunity to read early!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️
February 6, 2026
I love me a second gen series, and Sam kicks this off perfectly with Maddy’s story. The little girl we met in the Laws of You series is all grown up and a kick ass sports psychologist (which makes total sense if you read her parents’ story. If you didn’t, nbd, go back and read it after this). But then ooops! She accidentally has the best sex of her life with the widowed star of the football team she just signed on to work with.
This is everything you’ve come to expect from Sam if you’ve been reading her for a while—amazing found family, the elevation of strong women, a story with real heart and emotional pull, banter and fun, and delicious spice. And if this will be your first Samantha Brinn book, those are all the reasons you need to pick this one up!
This is everything you’ve come to expect from Sam if you’ve been reading her for a while—amazing found family, the elevation of strong women, a story with real heart and emotional pull, banter and fun, and delicious spice. And if this will be your first Samantha Brinn book, those are all the reasons you need to pick this one up!
June 25, 2026
This book completely stole my heart.
What started as a one-night stand quickly turned into one of the sweetest, most emotionally satisfying sports romances I've read. Maddy and Cameron had incredible chemistry from the very beginning, but what made me fall in love with this story was the respect, patience, and understanding they showed each other.
Cameron is everything I love in a romance hero. He's a devoted single dad, fiercely protective of the people he loves, and willing to wait for Maddy because he understands what's at stake for her career. He never asks her to choose between her dreams and him, and that made every romantic moment feel earned.
Maddy was just as easy to root for. She worked incredibly hard to get where she is and refused to let anyone question whether she deserved her position. Her professionalism never felt frustrating—it made perfect sense, and I admired her for standing her ground.
The supporting cast was just as wonderful. Riley and Ethan felt like real kids with their own personalities, and I absolutely adored every scene they shared with Maddy. Her family was hilarious, chaotic, and endlessly supportive, adding so much warmth and humor to the story.
There were so many moments that made me smile, laugh, and even cry. The little gestures, the quiet conversations, the football moments, and especially the emotional scenes all came together beautifully. By the time I reached the end, Maddy and Cameron's happily ever after felt completely deserved.
If you enjoy mature characters, lovable families, fantastic chemistry, and romances built on trust, patience, and genuine emotional connection, I can't recommend this one enough.
What started as a one-night stand quickly turned into one of the sweetest, most emotionally satisfying sports romances I've read. Maddy and Cameron had incredible chemistry from the very beginning, but what made me fall in love with this story was the respect, patience, and understanding they showed each other.
Cameron is everything I love in a romance hero. He's a devoted single dad, fiercely protective of the people he loves, and willing to wait for Maddy because he understands what's at stake for her career. He never asks her to choose between her dreams and him, and that made every romantic moment feel earned.
Maddy was just as easy to root for. She worked incredibly hard to get where she is and refused to let anyone question whether she deserved her position. Her professionalism never felt frustrating—it made perfect sense, and I admired her for standing her ground.
The supporting cast was just as wonderful. Riley and Ethan felt like real kids with their own personalities, and I absolutely adored every scene they shared with Maddy. Her family was hilarious, chaotic, and endlessly supportive, adding so much warmth and humor to the story.
There were so many moments that made me smile, laugh, and even cry. The little gestures, the quiet conversations, the football moments, and especially the emotional scenes all came together beautifully. By the time I reached the end, Maddy and Cameron's happily ever after felt completely deserved.
If you enjoy mature characters, lovable families, fantastic chemistry, and romances built on trust, patience, and genuine emotional connection, I can't recommend this one enough.
September 22, 2026
5⭐️ This may be my favorite Sam book yet!! I was so so excited for the second gen series and this one definitely lived up to everything I wanted and so much more! Cam’s only focus nowadays are his kids and football. That is until one night at a bar brings Maddy into his world. They both thought one night would be all it is. That is until Cam walks into practice the next day only to realize the girl of his dreams is now the team Sports Physiologist. He can’t get her out of his head and regardless of how off limits she may be he doesn’t plan to stay away. Maddy is out to prove herself in her position so dating player is the last thing she should be doing. They have to keep what they have a secret. Things are getting serious and before long keeping their love a secret is easier said than done.
I absolutely adored Cam and Maddy. This is the book that second gen dreams are made of!! Maddy brought Cam back to life and showed him what it was like to love again. He had a wonderful life before her but now that she’s his he’s truly happier than he ever could’ve imagined. I really love the way these two fell into each other. Cam’s kids welcomed Maddy into their lives seamlessly and I feel like they all instantly became such a happy family. LOVED LOVED LOVED!! Cannot wait for what’s to come!
Tropes:
✨Football Romance
✨Single Dad
✨One Night Stand
✨Secret Relationship
✨Found Family
I absolutely adored Cam and Maddy. This is the book that second gen dreams are made of!! Maddy brought Cam back to life and showed him what it was like to love again. He had a wonderful life before her but now that she’s his he’s truly happier than he ever could’ve imagined. I really love the way these two fell into each other. Cam’s kids welcomed Maddy into their lives seamlessly and I feel like they all instantly became such a happy family. LOVED LOVED LOVED!! Cannot wait for what’s to come!
Tropes:
✨Football Romance
✨Single Dad
✨One Night Stand
✨Secret Relationship
✨Found Family
March 6, 2026
Picking up a book by Sam feels like coming home. It's filled with characters you love and relate to and just adore to pieces. This second generation story felt just like that. It was filled with so many past faves and introduced us to some soon to be faves too.
Cam and Maddy were absolute perfection. Their connection was undeniable, and the single dad didn't stand a chance against the hot one night stand who fit so well in his world with his children. It was like they were two pieces to a puzzle that can finally be complete now that they found one another.
I loved every single thing about their story. I laughed, I cried I was so damn giddy, and the little bit of drama they had felt very realistic and true to the life of a professional football player. And the parallels between some things in this and Maddy's parents' story was just so special (hence the tears).
This was the perfect start to Sam's brand new series and I cannot wait for what's to come!
What to expect:
🏈Football Romance
🩵Player/Team Psychologist
🏈Single Dad
🩵One Night Stand
🏈Forbidden Relationship
🩵He Falls First
🏈Found Family
Cam and Maddy were absolute perfection. Their connection was undeniable, and the single dad didn't stand a chance against the hot one night stand who fit so well in his world with his children. It was like they were two pieces to a puzzle that can finally be complete now that they found one another.
I loved every single thing about their story. I laughed, I cried I was so damn giddy, and the little bit of drama they had felt very realistic and true to the life of a professional football player. And the parallels between some things in this and Maddy's parents' story was just so special (hence the tears).
This was the perfect start to Sam's brand new series and I cannot wait for what's to come!
What to expect:
🏈Football Romance
🩵Player/Team Psychologist
🏈Single Dad
🩵One Night Stand
🏈Forbidden Relationship
🩵He Falls First
🏈Found Family
March 4, 2026
Do you ever read a book and JUST KNOW that the characters would be end game in real life? That is Cam and Maddy. The chemistry between these two is absolutely electric!
🏈Football romance
🏈Player x team therapist
🏈Single dad
🏈Forbidden romance
🏈He falls first
After one night together that ends with no numbers exchanged, they never expect to see one another again. Until Maddy is starting her dream job and bumps right into Cam, one of the star players. These two really try and stay away from each other, but their attraction ends up winning out!
I truly loved Cam and Maddy’s characters. It was so refreshing to see a widowed single dad who is able to talk to his partner about his late wife and her genuinely be his rock.
I loved the relationship that both Cam and Maddy had with the kids. They were each something different to them, but at the same time they were their person and that was so beautiful.
Overall, this was a really great read!
🏈Football romance
🏈Player x team therapist
🏈Single dad
🏈Forbidden romance
🏈He falls first
After one night together that ends with no numbers exchanged, they never expect to see one another again. Until Maddy is starting her dream job and bumps right into Cam, one of the star players. These two really try and stay away from each other, but their attraction ends up winning out!
I truly loved Cam and Maddy’s characters. It was so refreshing to see a widowed single dad who is able to talk to his partner about his late wife and her genuinely be his rock.
I loved the relationship that both Cam and Maddy had with the kids. They were each something different to them, but at the same time they were their person and that was so beautiful.
Overall, this was a really great read!
March 5, 2026
All the fucking stars. co
Sam has done it again. Any surprises about that? None
I absolutely adored Cam & Maddy's story. Cam was so gone for Maddy from the first night & it was so fun watching this second gen family. I absolutely adore this world Sam has created So excited for what else is to come!
Sam has done it again. Any surprises about that? None
I absolutely adored Cam & Maddy's story. Cam was so gone for Maddy from the first night & it was so fun watching this second gen family. I absolutely adore this world Sam has created So excited for what else is to come!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5⭐️ | 3.25🌶
I have yet to read Sam Brinn book I'm not obsessed with and this one was no exception! Like, I have no words for how utterly obsessed I am with this world and these characters. Can they not be fictional please? Thank you. Thank you to Sam and Team for the arc.
I have yet to read Sam Brinn book I'm not obsessed with and this one was no exception! Like, I have no words for how utterly obsessed I am with this world and these characters. Can they not be fictional please? Thank you. Thank you to Sam and Team for the arc.
July 9, 2026
DNF at about 85% because I could not stand to read about M&M’s and orange soda anymore.
March 5, 2026
I finished Perfectly Us by Samantha Brinn and I am in actual AWE of how much l adored Cam & Maddy's story. Samantha has a true gift of creating found family dynamics that will just leave you grinning the whole time you read her books! And the spicy, ohmylanta, DIVINE!
“Watch it, Wildcat,” he says in a low, raspy voice that has a shiver running down my spine. “Bratty girls get punished.”
“Can’t wait,”
It was so unbelievably special to get Maddy’s love story after seeing her as a child in Anything for You, (her adoptive parent’s story). This book isn’t just a love story, it’s also a full circle moment where Maddy is finally able to heal the wounds from her childhood, prior to meeting Emma & Jeremy.
While this story is a standalone, I truly had the most magical reading experience having read the first generation series! (The Laws of You & Boston Hearts series.)
“But what I learned then and have learned over and over again a million times since, is that hearts make space, Maddy. Family makes space.”
Maddy was such a strong woman. She had to be a strong child and she used that mentality to reach for her dream of helping players like her dad with their mental health. Her struggles as a women in a male dominated sport and were so relatable. Her entire friend group was seriously friendship goals. They are the type of people you want on your side when you are having a bad day or even a great day. They celebrated her wins and were there for her at her lowest points. I am so ECSTATIC to get their stories one day!
“I was waiting for you, Maddy. You make me feel things I didn’t know I could feel again. You make me want things. You make me want everything, but only if I get to have everything with you.”
Cam Lowry was a man head of skates in love with Maddy, nearly from their first encounter. She made him FEEL for the first time since being widowed a decade prior. I ADORED this man! His bond with his kids was so sweet and the way he took care of Maddy and sent her care packages melted my heart.
“Don’t tell me you’re one of those athletes who goes feral over a girl wearing his jersey.”
“Not a girl. You. I’ll go feral over you wearing my jersey. My girl. My name. My jersey.”
Listen y’all, the spice between Cam & Maddy was next level. They had an undeniable chemistry that left them feral for each other.
“Let me hear you. Every sound, Wildcat.”
This book had it all! I cried, giggled, swooned and straight up CACKLED at the romcom-esque grand gestures at the end. If you love sports romances, PLEASE go read this book! You will not be disappointed!
Tropes:
🏉 Football Romance
❤️🩹 Widowed Dad
🏟️ NFL Player x Team Psychologist
🤭 He Falls First
👀 Secret Relationship
💞 Romcom Grand Gestures
🫶🏼 Found Family
🥵 Spiiiiiicy
“Watch it, Wildcat,” he says in a low, raspy voice that has a shiver running down my spine. “Bratty girls get punished.”
“Can’t wait,”
It was so unbelievably special to get Maddy’s love story after seeing her as a child in Anything for You, (her adoptive parent’s story). This book isn’t just a love story, it’s also a full circle moment where Maddy is finally able to heal the wounds from her childhood, prior to meeting Emma & Jeremy.
While this story is a standalone, I truly had the most magical reading experience having read the first generation series! (The Laws of You & Boston Hearts series.)
“But what I learned then and have learned over and over again a million times since, is that hearts make space, Maddy. Family makes space.”
Maddy was such a strong woman. She had to be a strong child and she used that mentality to reach for her dream of helping players like her dad with their mental health. Her struggles as a women in a male dominated sport and were so relatable. Her entire friend group was seriously friendship goals. They are the type of people you want on your side when you are having a bad day or even a great day. They celebrated her wins and were there for her at her lowest points. I am so ECSTATIC to get their stories one day!
“I was waiting for you, Maddy. You make me feel things I didn’t know I could feel again. You make me want things. You make me want everything, but only if I get to have everything with you.”
Cam Lowry was a man head of skates in love with Maddy, nearly from their first encounter. She made him FEEL for the first time since being widowed a decade prior. I ADORED this man! His bond with his kids was so sweet and the way he took care of Maddy and sent her care packages melted my heart.
“Don’t tell me you’re one of those athletes who goes feral over a girl wearing his jersey.”
“Not a girl. You. I’ll go feral over you wearing my jersey. My girl. My name. My jersey.”
Listen y’all, the spice between Cam & Maddy was next level. They had an undeniable chemistry that left them feral for each other.
“Let me hear you. Every sound, Wildcat.”
This book had it all! I cried, giggled, swooned and straight up CACKLED at the romcom-esque grand gestures at the end. If you love sports romances, PLEASE go read this book! You will not be disappointed!
Tropes:
🏉 Football Romance
❤️🩹 Widowed Dad
🏟️ NFL Player x Team Psychologist
🤭 He Falls First
👀 Secret Relationship
💞 Romcom Grand Gestures
🫶🏼 Found Family
🥵 Spiiiiiicy
March 7, 2026
5⭐️
I randomly picked up the fourth book in Sam’s prior series and loved it, so when this new series dropped, I knew I had to get my hands on it immediately. And let me tell you… it did not disappoint.
Maddy and Cam’s story starts with a one-night stand—hot, impulsive, and the kind that makes you hope she doesn’t get caught sneaking out. Of course, the very next day she starts her new job as the team physiologist… and surprise, Cam is on the team. 🫣 Cue awkward glances, tension that makes your chest tighten, and all the “what now?” moments you live for.
Cam is a widower with two kids, Riley and Ethan, and his wife Lainey’s tragic death still weighs heavily on him. Watching Maddy gently encourage him to open up about Lainey—without ever making it weird—completely melted me. That scene hit me right in the heart. And Riley? She slowly starts leaning on Maddy as a friend and female safe space—the kind of support she desperately needed at her age. The first time Riley asked if she could text Maddy? I cried. Literally, cried.
Cam is such a dad and, honestly, swoony as hell. He’s patient, supportive, completely all-in from day one, and never plays games. The chemistry between him and Maddy is electric, but what really makes this book stick is its heart and soul. The spice is delicious, sure, but the emotional core is what will linger with you.
I also loved seeing Olivia again so soon after the prequel novella. Her little background nudges, rooting for Maddy and Cam, encouraging him to keep chasing her… I smiled every time. It’s these tiny connections to Brinn’s larger world that make this book feel cozy and layered.
Yes, the sheer number of side characters was a bit overwhelming at first, but the family tree at the start (and on Sam’s Instagram) is a lifesaver. And the ending—when Maddy’s dad, her parents, and friends show up for her at the ice rink—completely cracked me open. That moment had me in my feelings in the best possible way.
💫Thank you to Sam Brinn and The Smuthood for this ARC💫
I randomly picked up the fourth book in Sam’s prior series and loved it, so when this new series dropped, I knew I had to get my hands on it immediately. And let me tell you… it did not disappoint.
Maddy and Cam’s story starts with a one-night stand—hot, impulsive, and the kind that makes you hope she doesn’t get caught sneaking out. Of course, the very next day she starts her new job as the team physiologist… and surprise, Cam is on the team. 🫣 Cue awkward glances, tension that makes your chest tighten, and all the “what now?” moments you live for.
Cam is a widower with two kids, Riley and Ethan, and his wife Lainey’s tragic death still weighs heavily on him. Watching Maddy gently encourage him to open up about Lainey—without ever making it weird—completely melted me. That scene hit me right in the heart. And Riley? She slowly starts leaning on Maddy as a friend and female safe space—the kind of support she desperately needed at her age. The first time Riley asked if she could text Maddy? I cried. Literally, cried.
Cam is such a dad and, honestly, swoony as hell. He’s patient, supportive, completely all-in from day one, and never plays games. The chemistry between him and Maddy is electric, but what really makes this book stick is its heart and soul. The spice is delicious, sure, but the emotional core is what will linger with you.
I also loved seeing Olivia again so soon after the prequel novella. Her little background nudges, rooting for Maddy and Cam, encouraging him to keep chasing her… I smiled every time. It’s these tiny connections to Brinn’s larger world that make this book feel cozy and layered.
Yes, the sheer number of side characters was a bit overwhelming at first, but the family tree at the start (and on Sam’s Instagram) is a lifesaver. And the ending—when Maddy’s dad, her parents, and friends show up for her at the ice rink—completely cracked me open. That moment had me in my feelings in the best possible way.
💫Thank you to Sam Brinn and The Smuthood for this ARC💫
July 1, 2026
O my goodness, I am SO GLAD I finally read this book! It was so so good. New author to me and I can’t wait to read the next one! Perfectly Us is book one in the Steel City Legacy series. This book completely touched my heart. 🥹❤️ I just felt every emotion, I adored this couple, LOVED the found family, the slow burn was pure fire, I loved it was a football romance, it was pure swoonworthy moments!
Cameron Lowry is just the most amazing, loving, caring and selfless single dad who balances life as a professional football player after the heartbreaking loss of his wife ten years ago.
Maddy Wright, she is girl goals! The first ever female as a football team's new Director of Sports Psychology, she’s fierce, she’s so smart, funny, caring. When one unforgettable night sparks an instant connection with both of them thinking their paths won't cross again, little do they know she’s working for his team!
Their undeniable chemistry is impossible to ignore. This man falls first, falls hard, and never stops showing Maddy just how much she means to him. It was EVERYTHING! The sweet gestures, handwritten notes and the way he loves her so effortlessly was priceless! I loved how they truly grew their relationship slowly and truly built something on the perfect foundation for him and the kiddos. The slow burn, OMG, it was so freaking yearning and when they finally give in, holy hell, these two are pure fire and his dirty mouth, yes pleaseee
One of my favorite parts was watching Maddy and Cam's kids. Ethan and Riley werre absolutely adorable. Their bond felt so genuine. Add in the incredible found family, perfection!
This book is emotional, it’s heartwarming, and seriously swoon-worthy. It shows healing and waiting for the one you are meant to be with. I am running to book two now and can't wait for more!
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
💙 Football player x team psychologist
🏈 Forced proximity (workplace)
💙 Forbidden & hidden
🏈 Found family
💙 He falls first
🏈 Love after loss
💙 No third-act breakup
🏈 One-night stand
💙 Second generation
🏈 Single dad
💙 Strong friendships
Cameron Lowry is just the most amazing, loving, caring and selfless single dad who balances life as a professional football player after the heartbreaking loss of his wife ten years ago.
Maddy Wright, she is girl goals! The first ever female as a football team's new Director of Sports Psychology, she’s fierce, she’s so smart, funny, caring. When one unforgettable night sparks an instant connection with both of them thinking their paths won't cross again, little do they know she’s working for his team!
Their undeniable chemistry is impossible to ignore. This man falls first, falls hard, and never stops showing Maddy just how much she means to him. It was EVERYTHING! The sweet gestures, handwritten notes and the way he loves her so effortlessly was priceless! I loved how they truly grew their relationship slowly and truly built something on the perfect foundation for him and the kiddos. The slow burn, OMG, it was so freaking yearning and when they finally give in, holy hell, these two are pure fire and his dirty mouth, yes pleaseee
One of my favorite parts was watching Maddy and Cam's kids. Ethan and Riley werre absolutely adorable. Their bond felt so genuine. Add in the incredible found family, perfection!
This book is emotional, it’s heartwarming, and seriously swoon-worthy. It shows healing and waiting for the one you are meant to be with. I am running to book two now and can't wait for more!
Rate: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
💙 Football player x team psychologist
🏈 Forced proximity (workplace)
💙 Forbidden & hidden
🏈 Found family
💙 He falls first
🏈 Love after loss
💙 No third-act breakup
🏈 One-night stand
💙 Second generation
🏈 Single dad
💙 Strong friendships
March 5, 2026
I absolutely devoured this one and it completely had my heart. 💫
This story follows a veteran pro-football player and single dad who has spent the last ten years focusing on football and raising his kids after losing his wife. One unexpected night with a woman he meets at a bar 🍸 gives him a glimpse of something he hasn’t felt in a long time… only for life to get a little complicated when their worlds collide again.
I’m always a sucker for a single dad romance because it melts my heart every single time 💙 and this one really delivered on the emotional side. The chemistry between these two was undeniable 🔥 and the forbidden aspect of their relationship created just enough tension to keep me completely hooked.
I also loved the he falls first energy because that will always have me swooning 😍 and the found family vibes throughout the story added so much warmth to everything.
I will say this is a second generation story, and while you can absolutely read it on its own, I do feel like I should have read the first generation books first. After finishing this though I will definitely be going back to read them because this world and these characters pulled me in so quickly 📖✨
If you love football romances, single dads, secret relationships, and found family, this is definitely one to add to your TBR 🏈📚💙
🏈 Tropes
• Second Generation
• Football Romance
• Single Dad 👨👧👦
• One Night Stand 🔥
• Pro-Football Player x Team Psychologist
• Forbidden Relationship 🚫💘
• He Falls First
• Found Family 💙
This story follows a veteran pro-football player and single dad who has spent the last ten years focusing on football and raising his kids after losing his wife. One unexpected night with a woman he meets at a bar 🍸 gives him a glimpse of something he hasn’t felt in a long time… only for life to get a little complicated when their worlds collide again.
I’m always a sucker for a single dad romance because it melts my heart every single time 💙 and this one really delivered on the emotional side. The chemistry between these two was undeniable 🔥 and the forbidden aspect of their relationship created just enough tension to keep me completely hooked.
I also loved the he falls first energy because that will always have me swooning 😍 and the found family vibes throughout the story added so much warmth to everything.
I will say this is a second generation story, and while you can absolutely read it on its own, I do feel like I should have read the first generation books first. After finishing this though I will definitely be going back to read them because this world and these characters pulled me in so quickly 📖✨
If you love football romances, single dads, secret relationships, and found family, this is definitely one to add to your TBR 🏈📚💙
🏈 Tropes
• Second Generation
• Football Romance
• Single Dad 👨👧👦
• One Night Stand 🔥
• Pro-Football Player x Team Psychologist
• Forbidden Relationship 🚫💘
• He Falls First
• Found Family 💙
March 9, 2026
Sam Brinn does it AGAIN, gifting us with more book boyfriend perfection 😍
Cameron Lowry has spent the last decade doing two things: showing up for his kids and learning how to live again after losing his wife. As a widowed single dad and professional football player, his world is carefully structured—until one unexpected night with Maddy Wright shifts everything. Their chemistry is instant, undeniable… and complicated the very next day when she walks into his workplace as the team’s new Director of Sports Psychology.
What truly sets this story apart is its heart. Cam falls first—and he falls hard—in a way that feels both tender and inevitable. Meanwhile, Maddy keeps her guard up, fiercely protective of the career she’s worked so hard to build. Watching them navigate that push and pull, choosing honesty and communication over drama, felt incredibly refreshing.
And then there are the kids. Maddy’s relationship with them is handled with so much care and intention. She never tries to step into a role that isn’t hers—instead, she meets them exactly where they are, earning their trust in the most genuine, heart-tugging way. Those moments? Easily some of the most emotional and beautiful in the entire book.
The found family element adds another layer of warmth that makes this story feel so alive. Cam finding his place within Maddy’s big, chaotic family, and Maddy quietly building a home within his—it all unfolds in a way that feels natural, soft, and deeply real.
This is a love story built on patience, respect, and quiet strength—and it makes their second chance at love feel completely earned.
If the rest of this series delivers even half of what this book did, I already know I’m going to be obsessed.
5 🌟 / 3 🌶
What to expect:
🏈 Football Romance
🩵 Single Dad
🏈 One Night Stand
🩵 Workplace Romance
🏈 Forbidden Relationship
🩵 He Falls First
🏈 Found Family
Thank you so much to Samantha and the The Smuthood for the advanced reader copy! All opinions are my own :)
Cameron Lowry has spent the last decade doing two things: showing up for his kids and learning how to live again after losing his wife. As a widowed single dad and professional football player, his world is carefully structured—until one unexpected night with Maddy Wright shifts everything. Their chemistry is instant, undeniable… and complicated the very next day when she walks into his workplace as the team’s new Director of Sports Psychology.
What truly sets this story apart is its heart. Cam falls first—and he falls hard—in a way that feels both tender and inevitable. Meanwhile, Maddy keeps her guard up, fiercely protective of the career she’s worked so hard to build. Watching them navigate that push and pull, choosing honesty and communication over drama, felt incredibly refreshing.
And then there are the kids. Maddy’s relationship with them is handled with so much care and intention. She never tries to step into a role that isn’t hers—instead, she meets them exactly where they are, earning their trust in the most genuine, heart-tugging way. Those moments? Easily some of the most emotional and beautiful in the entire book.
The found family element adds another layer of warmth that makes this story feel so alive. Cam finding his place within Maddy’s big, chaotic family, and Maddy quietly building a home within his—it all unfolds in a way that feels natural, soft, and deeply real.
This is a love story built on patience, respect, and quiet strength—and it makes their second chance at love feel completely earned.
If the rest of this series delivers even half of what this book did, I already know I’m going to be obsessed.
5 🌟 / 3 🌶
What to expect:
🏈 Football Romance
🩵 Single Dad
🏈 One Night Stand
🩵 Workplace Romance
🏈 Forbidden Relationship
🩵 He Falls First
🏈 Found Family
Thank you so much to Samantha and the The Smuthood for the advanced reader copy! All opinions are my own :)
February 26, 2026
Thank you to the author Samantha Brinn for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!
Maddy is out celebrating her recent graduation and job with her large friend/family group when she meets a handsome stranger and spends the night with him. And as fate would have it, he happens to be a football player for the same team she just started working for!
This was my first book by the author and I really enjoyed the banter between all the characters as well as how introspective the two main characters were. Maddy being a psychologist was super helpful in navigating dating a widower as well as integrating yourself into an established family. I felt the parts where Cameron and his kids were able to freely discuss their wife and mom were done so well. I love mature and understanding characters!
The sheer amount of side characters were a bit overwhelming for me in the beginning. I have not read the previous books and while this is the first book in a new series, I feel like it would have been better to read the previous series beforehand.
Overall I have a great time with this book, it’s a great balance of spice but also genuine and interesting relationships.
Maddy is out celebrating her recent graduation and job with her large friend/family group when she meets a handsome stranger and spends the night with him. And as fate would have it, he happens to be a football player for the same team she just started working for!
This was my first book by the author and I really enjoyed the banter between all the characters as well as how introspective the two main characters were. Maddy being a psychologist was super helpful in navigating dating a widower as well as integrating yourself into an established family. I felt the parts where Cameron and his kids were able to freely discuss their wife and mom were done so well. I love mature and understanding characters!
The sheer amount of side characters were a bit overwhelming for me in the beginning. I have not read the previous books and while this is the first book in a new series, I feel like it would have been better to read the previous series beforehand.
Overall I have a great time with this book, it’s a great balance of spice but also genuine and interesting relationships.
March 2, 2026
Thanks to Samantha Brinn, and the Smuthood for the opportunity to read this ARC!
Cam and Maddy forever!!!🩵
This is a #1 in a new series, and if you’ve never read or heard of Samantha Brinn, well, you’re in for a real treat! Her books exist in the same universe and timeline. This is a legacy series so we see and hear about a lot of the past characters and it’s so fun to just see it evolve. If you’ve never read the previous series, you can still easily drop into this one as it’s an interconnected standalone with enough world building and family web dynamics spread through out.
One of my favorite parts of Sam’s books is that we get strong badass females and incredible found family storylines. I love that the girl groups are always there for each other and lift each other up, and that the men do the same.
As all Brinn books - the spice was spicing!! 🌶️🌶️🌶️
What you’ll find here:
Football players aiming to please, a widowed dad, a very wise preteen daughter and hockey loving son, a former hockey player now Sports Psychologist, found family, forbidden relationship, he falls first, and a whole lotta love.
TW (if you need):
Cam and Maddy forever!!!🩵
This is a #1 in a new series, and if you’ve never read or heard of Samantha Brinn, well, you’re in for a real treat! Her books exist in the same universe and timeline. This is a legacy series so we see and hear about a lot of the past characters and it’s so fun to just see it evolve. If you’ve never read the previous series, you can still easily drop into this one as it’s an interconnected standalone with enough world building and family web dynamics spread through out.
One of my favorite parts of Sam’s books is that we get strong badass females and incredible found family storylines. I love that the girl groups are always there for each other and lift each other up, and that the men do the same.
As all Brinn books - the spice was spicing!! 🌶️🌶️🌶️
What you’ll find here:
Football players aiming to please, a widowed dad, a very wise preteen daughter and hockey loving son, a former hockey player now Sports Psychologist, found family, forbidden relationship, he falls first, and a whole lotta love.
TW (if you need):
March 5, 2026
Perfectly Us by Samantha Brinn
Steel City Legacy book 1
What a sweet endearing book. I was hooked right away, and melted on the spot 🥰
Maddy the is a sport psychologist and just landed a job for an NFL team. People might think it’s nepotism but she’s worked her hard for this. Maddy is just perfection, sunshine personified. Having the night of her life with a handsome stranger after celebrating her new job only to get to work and realize he’s one of the players.
Cameron a widower with 2 teenaged kids and a life devoted to football all. He falls fast and hard. I’m completely in love with the way Maddy forms a relationship with Cameron’s kids before him. And the bantering between all of them is just so hilarious.
This book had the perfect amount of spice while also diving deep in the emotional part of their relationship! Such a great romantic read this was 🖤
Steel City Legacy book 1
What a sweet endearing book. I was hooked right away, and melted on the spot 🥰
Maddy the is a sport psychologist and just landed a job for an NFL team. People might think it’s nepotism but she’s worked her hard for this. Maddy is just perfection, sunshine personified. Having the night of her life with a handsome stranger after celebrating her new job only to get to work and realize he’s one of the players.
Cameron a widower with 2 teenaged kids and a life devoted to football all. He falls fast and hard. I’m completely in love with the way Maddy forms a relationship with Cameron’s kids before him. And the bantering between all of them is just so hilarious.
This book had the perfect amount of spice while also diving deep in the emotional part of their relationship! Such a great romantic read this was 🖤
March 5, 2026
4.5 stars!
Tropes-
Football romance
Single dad
Workplace romance
ONS
Forbidden
He Falls first
Love after loss
Found family
“I also think you need more time, and that’s okay. I can wait. I think I would wait for you forever.”
Thank you to Samantha and Smuthood PR for this ARC for my honest review! I have loved every single book Sam has written. I love that this is a second gen series. We get glimpses of the other characters from her prior series but I also feel like this could easily be read and enjoyed if you haven't read her other books. I loved Maddy and Cam's connection from the first chapter. I also loved that Maddy didn't try to take Cam's late wife's place and she still fit into their family so well. The found family is amazing. I wish I was in their friend group. I can't wait for the next book! I definitely recommend!
Tropes-
Football romance
Single dad
Workplace romance
ONS
Forbidden
He Falls first
Love after loss
Found family
“I also think you need more time, and that’s okay. I can wait. I think I would wait for you forever.”
Thank you to Samantha and Smuthood PR for this ARC for my honest review! I have loved every single book Sam has written. I love that this is a second gen series. We get glimpses of the other characters from her prior series but I also feel like this could easily be read and enjoyed if you haven't read her other books. I loved Maddy and Cam's connection from the first chapter. I also loved that Maddy didn't try to take Cam's late wife's place and she still fit into their family so well. The found family is amazing. I wish I was in their friend group. I can't wait for the next book! I definitely recommend!
March 9, 2026
Holy woman empowerment! This book was amazing! I love that it is heavy on women encouraging and supporting women! Fitting that I finished reading this on International Women's Day. Aside from that the love story between Cam and Maddy was absolutely beautiful! The way Samantha Brinn wrote about finding love after loss was absolute perfection! I also loved the connection between Maddy and Cam's kids as well. There was very little drama in this story and the tiny bit that is in the story was definitely necessary so everyone could heal properly. I definitely recommend this if you love slow burn, love after loss, she falls for his kids first, he falls first and hard, found family and amazingly supportive girlfriends, and women making their way in a male predominant job and rocking it!
Thank you to Samantha Brinn and The Smuthood for this empowering and beautiful ARC! I can't wait to read the next one!
Thank you to Samantha Brinn and The Smuthood for this empowering and beautiful ARC! I can't wait to read the next one!
March 6, 2026
Samantha Brinn proves me wrong with every book. She has definitely became one of my favorite authors.
Maddy and Cam were perfection. One night turned into more as time goes on. The undeniable connection between them.
Cam is the man. While respecting Maddy's wishes, he still did whatever he could to show her what they could be together. The everyday breakfast delivery with a note had me kicking my feet. He was respectful in her wishes, but still made sure she knew he wanted something real between them. Then his mouth in the bedroom... Yeah, I love it.
Maddy was also just ugh. First off, love the psychologist work.. but also the way she always naturally helped those around her and did not always fight about her growing attraction to Cam. And the way she was with his kids?? It was so awesome to see the way she grew up and see her fall in love.
Another great book by Samantha Brinn. Thank you so much The Smuthood and Samantha Brinn for the ARC opportunity!
Maddy and Cam were perfection. One night turned into more as time goes on. The undeniable connection between them.
Cam is the man. While respecting Maddy's wishes, he still did whatever he could to show her what they could be together. The everyday breakfast delivery with a note had me kicking my feet. He was respectful in her wishes, but still made sure she knew he wanted something real between them. Then his mouth in the bedroom... Yeah, I love it.
Maddy was also just ugh. First off, love the psychologist work.. but also the way she always naturally helped those around her and did not always fight about her growing attraction to Cam. And the way she was with his kids?? It was so awesome to see the way she grew up and see her fall in love.
Another great book by Samantha Brinn. Thank you so much The Smuthood and Samantha Brinn for the ARC opportunity!
March 13, 2026
I'm obsessed. I loved every minute of this reading, from start to end. Maddy and Cam were such a cute couple, and I really enjoyed meeting Ethan and Riley. Honestly, I loved the idea of a second-generation series. After reading about the love story of Maddy's parents (the first book I read by Samantha Brinn) in Anything for You and her adoption, getting to read about Maddy's own love story made my heart melt. Add to this the football romance, and I was swoony from the first sentence. It is an absolute must <3
Review of advance copy
This was possibly the CUTEST single dad romance I've ever read! It still brought the spice, but Cameron is completely the dream book boyfriend! The chemistry between the main couple was insane, and how she fit in with his kids was chef's kiss! 🤌💋 I will one million percent be going back and reading the other series' that came before this one! 100000% recommend!
February 20, 2026
Samantha Brinn does an incredible job of creating found family and showing that even though life is messy and complex there is joy to be found.
Cam and Maddy are everything together. Watching them open up to each other and be vulnerable about their pasts. Was so refreshing to see. Their ability to communicate as adults was *chefs kiss*.
Seeing how easily these two integrated into each other’s lives, despite everything was incredible.
Watching Maddy’s interactions with Cam’s kids was beautiful. How careful she was with them and how she never wanted to overstep, but also how much those kids loved her from the beginning.
Seeing Cam get accepted into Maddy’s crazy intricate family was wonderful. Getting to see him involved in a family dynamic he had dreamed about but thought he lost when his wife died brought me so much joy.
The gentleness they show each other. Their communication and the way they understand each other in a way that no one else does. The care they take with each other was beautiful to see especially when Cam knew that Maddy needed space. Or when Cam opened up to Maddy about his past and his wife.
Maddy handled Cam’s grief and his families grief with so much care. She allowed them to speak without feeling shame and I LOVED how she never made anything about her or feel like she was competing.
These two overcame so much to get to where they are and their story was the perfect example that love will always find away, even when we try to fight it. Their love was always meant to find away no matter what they had to overcome.
Cam and Maddy are everything together. Watching them open up to each other and be vulnerable about their pasts. Was so refreshing to see. Their ability to communicate as adults was *chefs kiss*.
Seeing how easily these two integrated into each other’s lives, despite everything was incredible.
Watching Maddy’s interactions with Cam’s kids was beautiful. How careful she was with them and how she never wanted to overstep, but also how much those kids loved her from the beginning.
Seeing Cam get accepted into Maddy’s crazy intricate family was wonderful. Getting to see him involved in a family dynamic he had dreamed about but thought he lost when his wife died brought me so much joy.
The gentleness they show each other. Their communication and the way they understand each other in a way that no one else does. The care they take with each other was beautiful to see especially when Cam knew that Maddy needed space. Or when Cam opened up to Maddy about his past and his wife.
Maddy handled Cam’s grief and his families grief with so much care. She allowed them to speak without feeling shame and I LOVED how she never made anything about her or feel like she was competing.
These two overcame so much to get to where they are and their story was the perfect example that love will always find away, even when we try to fight it. Their love was always meant to find away no matter what they had to overcome.
June 10, 2026
GOD.. this book was refreshing. Honestly is up there with the Windy City series. CAM LOWRY.. 🥵
The yearning. The love. The spice. The COMMUNICATION. Utter perfection 🤌🏼
The yearning. The love. The spice. The COMMUNICATION. Utter perfection 🤌🏼
March 13, 2026
RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨Football Romance
✨ Workplace Romance
✨ Widowed Single Dad
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ One Night Stand
✨ She works for the Team
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨Football Romance
✨ Workplace Romance
✨ Widowed Single Dad
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ One Night Stand
✨ She works for the Team
Displaying 1 - 30 of 250 reviews