Red Zone

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https://geni.us/red-zone

Amazon Audiobook: https://geni.us/redzoneaudio
Audible: https://geni.us/redzoneaudible
Narrated by: Liam DiCosimo & Stefanie Kay

Goodreads: https://geni.us/redzoneGR

𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊:
🏈 Football Sports Romance
😡 Enemies to Lovers
😈 Bad Boy Player x Brand Strategist
🏡 Next Door Neighbors
🚪 Forced Proximity
🌧️☀️ Grumpy/Sunshine
🥵 He Hates Everyone (but her)
🖤 Hero with a Tortured Past
🌶️ Open Door Spice
📚 Standalone in the Bradley Legacy

Heather Houghtaling

77 reviews

December 27, 2025

This was an easy, fun, quick read! I hated Maverick in the beginning but as the book went on, you really feel for him. When he ends up at the animal shelter with Everleigh, my little heart was so happy. This would have been 5 stars but the ending wasn’t for me. Maverick needed to also apologize. After he talked with Dex, I thought he was going to but in the end just Ev apologizes 🫣

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.

Sim-fully Ever After

137 reviews23 followers

4.25🌟, 3.5🌶️

Sometimes a grumpy quarterback romance hits harder than expected, and this was one of those times.

Red Zone surprised me with how emotional it ended up being. On the surface, it is a grumpy quarterback and his publicist, but there is so much more happening beneath that setup. Everleigh is driven, competent, and easy to root for, while Maverick comes off harsh and unapproachable until you start seeing the pressure and pain shaping his behavior. Their banter is sharp, their tension constant, and the enemies to lovers dynamic pulls you in fast.

What worked best for me was the emotional honesty. Maverick’s walls feel earned, not performative, and Everleigh never exists just to fix him. She pushes back, protects her own goals, and makes decisions that actually cost her something. When the tension finally breaks, it is intense, messy, and deeply satisfying. The spice hits hard, but it always feels connected to their emotional growth rather than replacing it.

I did struggle a bit during the conflict, especially with Everleigh’s choices and the third act breakup, which felt more frustrating than necessary. Still, the heart of the story carries it through. Red Zone delivers strong chemistry, emotional depth, and a grumpy sunshine romance that feels real and layered.

Not perfect, but deeply engaging and easy to recommend to sports romance fans.

~~~~

Thank you, Lisa Suzanne and Valentine PR, for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨

arc-reads

Sienasummerrreads

635 reviews353 followers

This story follows Everleigh, a successful brand strategist sent by her boss to LA to work with a high-profile client without being told who it is. Everleigh is very vocal about not wanting to work with athletes. But when she discovers her new client is difficult to deal with and a major player in NFL, things quickly become complicated.

Starting with the audiobook it’s brilliant in dual narration. Liam and Stefanie always do an amazing job, so I highly recommend picking this up in this format.

As for the story, I really enjoyed it because there was always something happening, from family drama and past betrayals to difficult, life-altering choices. I liked how Everleigh stayed and supported Maverick even when he pushed her away. She had a job to do, but she genuinely wanted to help, despite how difficult he could be.

The tension between them was great, and I loved the sneaking around. I’m also a sucker for a grumpy MMC who’s been hurt before especially when, beneath all those layers, he does quiet, meaningful things that no one knows about because they bring him a sense of peace amid the chaos in his mind. Watching Everleigh slowly unravel Maverick was incredibly satisfying, with the perfect amount of spice woven into a more character-driven storyline.

For my first book of 2026, I’m off to a great start! I’m definitely looking forward to picking up more of Lisa’s work in the future.

Genre/Type: Adult Romance 18+
APK: Audiobook ALC
Audiobook Length: 9hrs 41mins
Narrators: Liam DiCosimo and Stefanie Kay - Dual
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Series or Standalone: Third Book In The Bradley Legacy Series
Tropes or Themes: Sports (NFL), Enemies To Lovers, Workplace, Neighbours, Grumpy Sunshine, Forced Proximity, Found Family, Injured, Family Drama, Chemistry, Tension, Sneaking Around, Third Act Breakup, Intimate Tattoo, Grief, Loss, Death Of Parent, Betrayal, Family Drama, Sexual Content, Dirty Talk, Oral Play and Hate Spice.
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Lawlah

237 reviews19 followers

December 30, 2025

Red Zone is so beautiful. It has brother’s teammate, grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, sports romance—and it’s the third book in the series.

The story follows Everleigh and Maverick. Everleigh is a brand strategist whose boss sends her to Vegas to manage a reputation crisis—without telling her who the client is. She only finds out on arrival that it’s Maverick, a professional athlete who is notoriously difficult to deal with because… well, he hates everyone.

I loved how patient Everleigh was with Maverick, even when he was grade-A annoying.

One thing that really stood out was how the author wrote Maverick’s grief and deep-seated insecurity about people leaving him—it was handled so beautifully and with so much care.

Maverick hates everyone… except Everleigh.

I loved their “f*ck it” moments, and I won’t even lie—at some point in this book, I wanted to knock sense into both Everleigh and Maverick’s heads 😭.

And can we talk about the Bradley siblings? Do they not communicate at all? Because why do they keep falling for their father’s very illegal business, constantly disguised as “legacy”?

This is a 4-star read, and I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for the ARC.

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Doris

3,660 reviews138 followers

Another Fantastic Book by this Author

We are at book three in the Bradley Legacy series and they keep getting better and better (if that’s possible). Red Zone is all about Everleigh Bradley who is a brand strategist and never wants to work with athletes as she has had enough athletes especially with her brothers around. Now she is given a job she can’t refuse much to her distain. Maverick is a football player who is just traded to Vegas and to say he is not happy is an understatement and he makes it known to everyone how he is not good with this trade. This is how Everleigh is sent to Vegas to try to get Mav on board with the way things are.

I love how these two clash at every turn and the banter between them is awesome bringing so much more to their story. Ev and Mav have that special chemistry that burns hot. This book was one crazy rollercoaster ride of emotions. In true form this author killed this book and has me wanting for more. I highly recommend this book.

arc sports valentine-pr

Bárbara Moody

86 reviews1 follower

January 31, 2026

ARC review

Just like the rest of this series, this was really adorable with a touch (relative) of drama 👀
I love how there’s a bit of the plot that carries from the other books but their still independent stories and I loved finally getting to know a Bradley girl!
I did think there were moments where they miscommunicated and were assholes to each other and that’s not my vibe but it didn’t ruin the story for me somehow🫣

jenelle ｡･:*˚:✧｡

278 reviews20 followers

Read

DNF @ 39%

I was so excited for this one since I feel like I’m in a sports romance era, but this lacked a lot of depth, chemistry, organic plotting, and originality.

The FMC is a PR rep and literally said she’d be willing to hook up if that’s what it takes to make the job work.

The MMC is a literal man child. He’s extremely rude even to the FMC. We love when he’s rude to every one except her but he was just genuinely awful and truthfully it was ick. I enjoy the “PR rep, fix the athletes image” trope but he didn’t work for it.

Their relationship felt so yuck. Very inorganic and the pacing was so spotty. I feel like a lot of it was because I couldn’t figure out what she saw in him.

The concept of the book was very surface level and simple with no smaller intricacies that make you feel invested.

And the male narrator was not the business. He did ok with the male part but the female part was just so unenjoyable.

Thank you VPR for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Sassy Southern Book Blog

5,430 reviews274 followers

The Bradley Legacy series continues with Everleigh Bradley's story which is a grumpy sunshine kind of book.
Everleigh is independent coming from a sports family she has her own career as a brand strategist and she is the best at her job.That is why her boss chose her for a special job to go to Vegas where she will work for one client for a year,to turn their reputation around.It is an offer she can't refuse and takes it.
Maverick Jennings is a football player who has just been traded from Dallas to Vegas and he is NOT happy about it.He makes his anger known when a viral video goes live with him complaining about his new team.
The Vegas Aces owners think he needs to be put undercontrol and this is were Everleigh comes in,she is there to change his life for the better.
She definately turns his life upside down.
Maverick does not make it easy for Everleigh,he continues to do what he wants despite the consequences..He gets injured so is suspended from playing so carries on drinking and gambling,Maverick is closed off and has his reasons for being grumpy and mean...It is a mask to protect himself because everyone he loves leaves him nobody ever chooses him,so in a way he feels unworthy of love.
Everleigh has to try an coax him to open up and be a team player,but in doing so she starts to realise that Maverick Jennings is not who she thought he was.
I thought Maverick was kind of lonely and the only person who is there for him is Everleigh,so it is inevitable that their relationship crosses the line..and a secret relationship happens.
Everleigh and Maverick do have one thing in common they both have family heartbreak and I did feel for them both with this..It actually triggered my own grief with what was happening to both of their Mums.Because in other ways they are opposites Maverick is mean to everyone and Everleigh is sassy and sweet she is definately the sunshine.They were great as a couple and Everleigh brought out Mavericks gentle,softer side.
But with every good romance nothing goes smoothly and the bumps in their road might be too much for them to stay together.
Narration for this Audiobook is gloriously performed by Liam Dicosimo and Stefanie Kay who are the perfect voices for Maverick and Everleigh.It was a delight to listen to them tell this story.
I Always enjoy listening to Lisa Suzannes sports romances her writing is kind of addicting her characters are so raw and vunerable..Sometimes you love to hate them but mostly you do love them.
Red Zone is a thoroughly enjoyable story and I loved listening to it.
Excellent
5 Stars.- Cat W.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.

Destany

461 reviews18 followers

I received an ARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.

From the opening chapters, Mav and Ev's story establishes a balance of wit, surprise and chemistry that keeps the pages turning. This is the third book in the Bradley Legacy series, but it can be read as a standalone. I mean, I suggest reading all of Lisa's books.

So my favorite of Lisa's series is The Quarterback series with Jake and Kate. I just recently re-read the series. In a nutshell, Kate is hired to babysit Jack, they fall in love and live happily ever after. (I said it was in a nutshell, but there's way more to it haha). This story? It's not so different hahaha

Everleigh's world revolves around clear goals and an outstanding work ethic. Hired to clean up the increasingly controversial image of star quarterback Maverick Jennings, she expects resistance, but not the deeply entrenched walls she finds instead. Maverick is volatile, guarded and clearly buckling under the weight of expectations placed upon him. His rough edges are carved by his past experiences, his family and secrets he can't escape.

Their relationship ignites through conflict. The banter is biting, the tension relentless and the slow shift from adversaries to something far more intimate is paced with precision. Every exchange pushes the connection forward. The chemistry crackles, making even their most combative moments feel electric.

As Maverick opens up to Everleigh, little by little, the narrative explores accountability and the cost of carrying fame alone. The romance is undeniably hot, but it never exists without purpose. Everleigh does not act as a savior; instead, she demands growth, protects her own ambitions and makes choices that place her career on the line. That balance gives their relationship weight and authenticity.

I will say that I was very angry at Everleigh through the conflict. Maybe it's because I don't have a family like Everleigh's family. Her loyalty was just so stubborn. I have a lot of now-resolved feelings with family that make it almost impossible for me to understand where she is coming from now - but when I was younger, I could totally see myself making all of those mistakes. So I guess I identify with Everleigh on some level.

Ultimately, Red Zone delivers a satisfying blend of heat and heart. With layered characters, sharp dialogue and a sweet, slow burn transformation, Lisa offers a standout grumpy-sunshine love story that will resonate with readers who crave intensity and depth.

Are we ready for the next Bradley story??

ebooks-i-have

Emmy Wong

346 reviews10 followers

I love a football romance but this one was one heck of an emotional roller coaster with many drops and turns that I was not expecting. I think the publicist fmc x bad boy sports player mmc is a pretty common trope but this book took it to a new level with the level of emotional integrity. Because Mavericks grumpy personality isn’t because he’s a mean person but because he’s so shielded and guarded. Yet after 10 years, Everleigh is able to break down his walls (after much struggle of course). They have this big enemies to lovers thing at first, but there’s so much tension. When it snaps, that fvck it moment? Is to DIE FOR! They can call it hatefucking all they want but they both know it’s not true. I also love the whole “Tell me to stop and that it’s a mistake” then “Don’t stop” trope! I live for this kind of stuff, and this scene had me screaming! The characters had such gorgeous chemistry and they fit together like two pieces of a broken puzzle as they help each other sort out their mommy and daddy issues. The plot was good, characters were beautiful and I loved the writing. I give this book a 4.5/5, and this would have easily been a 5/5 if not for the third act breakup. It’s a universally disliked trope but sometimes I understand why authors do it however this time, it was not essential to character develop and it was not needed to get closure for the story. I feel like this book could have ended earlier and not had as huge of a third act breakup. However all things considered this book was still great, could do without the break up, but it was an amazing book and emotional ride.

BookishMya

1,136 reviews16 followers

This was a great story. There is nothing quite as exciting as football romance. I love growth in stories. Seeing the changes Maverick made to become his best self, the efforts Everly put in to get him there, that is what makes a good romance. Mavericks past is rougher than anyone realizes, he has lost so much. The chip on his shoulder was well earned. The banter and buildup to their inevitable pairing was delicious and heated and oh, so right. There are so many soft sides to the big gruff footballer and Everly’s soft touch brings it all out. The ever-challenging Bradley family dynamic creates an extra element of interest. This family has so many battles to fight, but a the core is love and support.

Liam Dicosimo & Stefanie Kay do a fabulous narration that keeps you glued to your speaker. Dynamic and full of energy, their chemistry keeps the pairing interesting and entertaining. I loved Liam’s emotion in Maverick’s story and Stefanie’s excitement in Everly. This made for an incredibly enjoyable listen.

audiobook

Julie Booklover

2,128 reviews106 followers

It is football season and we are back in Las Vegas. Everleigh is the best brand strategist out there, and she is about to meet her toughest client yet. She is being sent to Vegas to look after one client, one who will test all her skills, and an athlete. She does not normally work with athletes.

Maverick Jennings hates everyone, has a chip on his shoulder the size of Texas. Can Everleigh get past all of his defenses and see behind the mask Maverick shows to the world. Will he open up to her, or add her to his growing list of disliked people. Can she get past his mile high walls?

I am loving the Bradley family, and Everleigh’s story is just as addictive as the previous ones. Maverick is complicated and layered, the more we learn about him, the easier it is to like him. Both our characters have struggles they have hidden, but adding the emotional layer, rooting for them to figure it out.

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

2026 arc jan

katharine

378 reviews7 followers

January 6, 2026

3.5 ⭐️ thank you valentine pr for this arc!

i flew through this book and could not put it down. there’s just something about a tortured, grumpy sports player that calls my name.

while i did enjoy most of this book, the last 30% did really frustrate me and seemed a little ridiculous. maverick does something illegal and gets in trouble, yet everyone is blaming everleigh? make that make sense…

i also have not read the first two books in this series so maybe this is explained in those, but when everleigh first meets all the wags, why is literally everybody’s last name nash? the coach is a nash, two of the players are a nash, another player in the league is a nash. are they all related??? it never says. also the multiple repeated character names did get a little confusing.

all in all, an enjoyable read.

Wendy Livingstone

20.2k reviews257 followers

This is the third book in this amazing series, and this is Maverick and Everleigh’s story.
Maverick is a bad boy, broody, and moody quarterback, who hates everyone, and Everleigh is a strategist, who is tasked with making him look like a decent human being, but he challenges her at every turn, but she sees through his persona to the man underneath.
This is a well written emotional roller coaster, with found family, friendships, tension, challenges, enemies / lovers, forced proximity, opposites attract, grumpy / sunshine, redemption, romance, humour, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining story, which tugs at the heartstrings throughout.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

MrsxBxTurnsThePage

36 reviews

I received an ARC of In the Red Zone by Lisa Suzanne, and it’s hands down my favorite book in the series so far. Maverick and Everleigh’s story completely pulled me in. Their chemistry, banter, and emotional moments just worked, and I loved watching their relationship unfold.
Maverick quickly became a favorite, and Everleigh was strong and easy to root for. This book had everything I love about this series, and then some. If you’ve been enjoying the series, you don’t want to miss this one.
Thank you to the author for the ARC.

Arceli

1,603 reviews10 followers

January 14, 2026

This book was such a good time. I loved the grumpy/sunshine dynamic between Maverick and the heroine, and their banter had me smiling the whole way through. The enemies-to-lovers tension was spot on, and I really enjoyed seeing the layers behind Maverick’s tough exterior as his story unfolded. The football setting added fun stakes, and the found family moments brought so much heart. When the romance finally heated up, it felt earned and swoony with just the right amount of spice. Overall, Red Zone was emotional, sexy, and impossible to put down.

Johnnie-Marie Howard

1,139 reviews42 followers

January 16, 2026

Going into this story I was blown away however it took me so long as some pieces where hitting to close to home and found ai had to stop and walk away sometimes for hours or a day. Thats on me not the story. not the writing. cause let me tell you, once I did pick it up I couldnt stop the words just grabbed me over and over each time, heck each page. This was by far amazing and so worth reading like i did I soaked up all the feels.

shanelle maree

928 reviews57 followers

Read

RTC

ashley 🎀

96 reviews4 followers

January 15, 2026

I really enjoy this series! I’ve listened to the audio for all 3 books and they have all been preformed well!

If you love…
❤️ neighbors to lovers
❤️ hate to love
❤️ teammates sister
❤️ workplace romance

Then you’ll love this one!

Christine Riley

45 reviews5 followers

Red Zone is book 3 in the Bradley Legacy series by Lisa Suzanne, and is another fantastic addition to this series. I absolutely loved Maverick and Everleigh. Maverick is the star quarterback for the Las Vegas Aces. He was recently let go by Dallas due to behavioral issues and is a new member of the team. Maverick has a tragic backstory and because of his past trauma, he shuts himself off from everyone and from any and all emotions. He refuses to let anyone close and the only relief he finds to his solitude and unhappiness is on the football field. During training before the season begins, he is injured by a teammate (Dex Bradley, Everleigh's brother) and is forced out of the first several games while he recovers. His behavioral problems continue in Las Vegas, causing the team to worry. Everleigh is a fierce, strong, ambitious, and determined FMC. She's a brand consultant living in Chicago and working hard at her company with the ultimate goal of making it out on her own and starting her own company. She's offered a job in Las Vegas to work with one high powered client. Her job is to turn his image around. Due to confidentiality, she is not told who the client is, but she decides to accept the job anyway. Once she arrives in Las Vegas and is told she'll be working with Maverick, sparks fly, and at first, they are very angry sparks. This is a true enemies/hate to lovers love story for sure and the banter between these two was fierce and very well written. In order to help Maverick, Everleigh tries to get to know him, and tries to get him to open up about his past. She begins to see that there is more to Maverick than the grumpy persona he portrays to the world. Maverick begins to realize that his trauma from his past doesn't have to define him and that perhaps he does deserve a little happiness in the world. He finds that Everleigh brings light to his darkness and makes him begin to feel things. Having shut off his emotions for almost a decade, it is jarring for him to begin to open up and to feel again, but he finds that he wants to do that with Everleigh. The two fall in love. But of course, it's not easy. Everleigh was hired, through her company back in Chicago, by the team to fix Maverick's image so to be romantically involved with him would be prohibited. They begin a romantic relationship in secret, but Everleigh is constantly worried they will be discovered and her career will be ruined. Maverick, not one to care much about the rules, hates things being in secret. Once he finally opened his heart to Everleigh, he's all in. But he still carries a fear of being left behind, a product of his past trauma. Unfortunately, Everleigh's father strikes again (he's a nemesis throughout the series so far) and Everleigh is put in a position where she has to choose between Maverick and her father. Maverick has never had anyone choose him. Even his beloved mother made mistakes in his childhood, so when Everleigh makes her choice, it breaks Maverick's heart. Everleigh breaks her own heart too, but she's blinded by her father's manipulation and his long preached "family loyalty." It's a hard fought happily ever after for these two and there is a lot of tragedy and speed bumps along the way. But the reward when they get there is so worth it.

If you love sports romance, enemies to lovers, and an emotional punch I didn't expect but absolutely loved, this is the book for you. Maverick is one of my favorite MMCs that Lisa has ever written. I just wanted to hug him. He's been through trauma and all he wants is someone on his side, for someone to choose him. Everleigh is fierce and can give it right back to Maverick when he's coming at her with all his grumpiness and attitude. She's driven and determined and it's so admirable. But I think, while she might not realize it, she needed someone to choose her too. She has a huge family (6 siblings). But they are all spread out and busy with their own lives. Their mother is absent in their lives, caring only about lunching and shopping and going to the spa. She tragically becomes ill (but refuses to really acknowledge the illness or improve her relationship with her children). Their father is only interested in his children when he's getting them involved in some nefarious scheme. So Everleigh became the "fixer" of her sibling group. She took it upon herself to fill the void her parents left in all her siblings' lives. She's the one who constantly checks in on her siblings, who makes sure they're okay. This doesn't seem to be reciprocated all that often. And this role of trying to keep everyone connected leaves her vulnerable to her father's manipulations, believing it's her job to keep the family together and do as he wishes. So Everleigh really needs someone to choose her, too. And Maverick does. And eventually, she chooses him, too, and it's beautiful to read. I loved the emotional punch of this story. It was so easy to connect with the characters. I just loved everything about this book and I highly recommend it.

Audio book lover

234 reviews1 follower

December 26, 2025

🏈🔥 A grumpy quarterback, a fearless brand strategist, and the kind of tension that could snap a helmet strap. 🔥🏈

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️🌶️☆☆☆ (2/5)
Audiobook: 🎧 Duet
Series: The Bradley Legacy, Book 3 (can be listened to as a standalone)

Red Zone steps onto the field with confidence and never fumbles the landing. Even as part of the Bradley Legacy world, this book stands tall on its own, delivering sharp banter, emotional depth, and a romance that simmers before it strikes. This is Everleigh Bradley’s story boss babe, marketing genius, and the woman brave enough to take on the world’s grumpiest quarterback and survive.

From the first chapter, the tension crackles. Everleigh is tasked with saving Maverick Jennings’ reputation, while Maverick seems personally dedicated to ruining both his career and her sanity. What begins as professional warfare quickly morphs into something far more dangerous, emotional, and magnetic.

The Story

Maverick is abrasive, closed off, and emotionally guarded in all the ways a tortured sports hero should be. His reputation is in shambles, his future uncertain, and Everleigh is his last shot at redemption. She is sharp, driven, and fiercely independent, unwilling to let his self-destruction derail her ambitions.

As forced proximity and next-door neighbor chaos blur the line between client and temptation, their enemies-to-lovers dynamic explodes into something deeply emotional. Beneath Maverick’s scowl lives a man aching with unresolved pain, and Everleigh refuses to let him hide from it. Their relationship builds on tension, trust, vulnerability, and a slow-burning chemistry that feels natural, earned, and deeply satisfying.

The pacing is spot-on, balancing romantic tension, career pressure, and personal stakes without dragging or rushing the emotional payoff.

🎧 Narration

Performed in duet by Liam DiCosimo and Stefanie Kay, whose voices fit these characters perfectly. Both narrators bring warmth, grit, and personality to Everleigh and Maverick, elevating the emotional beats and making their chemistry feel authentic and immersive.

What I Loved

✔️ Electric grumpy/sunshine dynamic
✔️ Sharp, addictive banter
✔️ Emotional depth beneath the sports romance
✔️ Strong female lead with real ambition
✔️ Well-paced tension and relationship development
✔️ Found family elements that ground the story
✔️ A satisfying redemption arc

Tropes & Vibes

✔️ Enemies to Lovers
✔️ Grumpy x Sunshine
✔️ Forced Proximity
✔️ Next-Door Neighbors
✔️ Bad Boy Athlete
✔️ Redemption Romance
✔️ Found Family

Final Thoughts

Red Zone delivers a compelling mix of sports romance, emotional healing, and sizzling chemistry. Everleigh and Maverick are messy, magnetic, and impossible to look away from, and their journey from professional warfare to emotional vulnerability is both addictive and deeply satisfying. This is a strong, confident standalone that proves the Bradley Legacy world still has plenty of fire left to burn.

BookReviews_by_MissaPoo

256 reviews10 followers

Franci N (Franci's Fabulous Reads)

Book 3 in the Bradley Legacy Series.

This was an angsty, fun, flirty, heat fueled, emotionally charged journey. One of trust, hope, sacrifice, healing, growth, acceptance and forgiveness. Two complete opposites finding love when they least expect it. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll be screaming for more as these two fumble their way to forever.

Maverick Jennings. The bad boy player. The newly acquired Quarterback for the Vegas Aces is in the prime of his career and carries a giant chip on his shoulder. This sinfully delicious man is every bit the grumpy, growly, moody and broody person that he is perceived to be and he doesn't plan on changing anytime soon. He's here to play football, not make friends. However, the Aces organization has other plans for their star QB and what he doesn't realize is that his life is about to be turned upside down and flipped inside out all because of HER...

Everleigh Bradley. His teammates sister. A Brand Strategist brought in to fix Mavericks image and create a legacy worth being proud of, she's feisty, fierce and extremely take charge. She's a caretaker. A fixer. And while she NEVER wanted to work with a professional athlete, she's determined to fix this one, even though she doesn't believe he's truly broken...

An instant attraction. An instant loathing. A fine line between love and hate that will have these two going at each other in a battle of wills. Maverick will block Everleigh at every turn, refusing to give even an inch, yet she keeps coming back, choosing him, until slowly but surely he begins to open up and let her in, revealing to her his long suffering pain and grief, the catalyst for the man in which he's become. A turning point for the two of them as they begin to cross lines that shouldn't be crossed. Hiding in plain site, it's only a matter of time before the dangerous game they're playing could come back to burn them both...

Just as they are making progress, Mavericks bad boy tendencies are still fighting for dominance and one bad decision after an emotional confrontation could very well destroy everything they've started to build together... When push comes to shove, will Everleigh choose him or will she walk away like everyone else has done in his life? Or will she stay and choose to fight? As outside pressures close in on them, it'll take all the fight they have to overcome the obstacles standing in their way.

The Bradley "Legacy" strikes again...yet which legacy will she choose? And even then, is it enough?

Like moths to a flame, these two will always find themselves drawn together. They were made for one another and while their road to forever isn't perfect, it's worth every misstep along the way. Every heartache. Every mistake. Every secret, lie and betrayal.

With some very familiar faces, twists, turns and upside downs, you'll be all up in your feelings as these two find their forever. You'll find yourself rooting for them from the very start, as together, they are sweet perfection....

Cigi cini

691 reviews50 followers

Review of advance copy received from Author

December 24, 2025

🏈 Pro Football Romance
🔥 Enemies to Lovers
😡 Grumpy x Sunshine
💼 Publicist x Athlete
🗞️ Reputation Rehab
❤️‍🔥 Forced Proximity
⚡ High Tension
😈 Arrogant Hero
💔 Hidden Pain
🔥 Spicy Romance
✨ Standalone Romance
❤️ Happily Ever After

Star: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Red Zone by Lisa Suzanne is a gripping and emotionally charged sports romance that digs far deeper than the headlines surrounding its grumpy quarterback hero. As the third book in The Bradley Legacy series, it stands confidently on its own while still offering the rich atmosphere of a connected world. From the very first pages, the story pulls you in with sharp banter, high stakes, and Everleigh whose ambition and determination make it impossible not to root for. Her job is to fix Maverick Jennings’ image, but what she quickly discovers is that repairing a reputation is far easier than navigating the man behind it.

Maverick is abrasive, closed off, and frustrating in all the ways a powerful, self-destructive sports hero should be. His resistance to help feel authentic, driven by pain and pressure rather than arrogance alone. The push and pull between him and Everleigh is intense, layered with sarcasm, frustration, and a spark that refuses to be ignored. Their enemies to lovers' journey unfold naturally, with tension that simmers before boiling over, making every interaction feel charged and meaningful.

What truly elevates Red Zone is its emotional depth. As walls come down, the story reveals vulnerability, past hurt, and the weight of expectations that Maverick carries both on and off the field. The romance is spicy and passionate, but it is also grounded in emotional growth and trust. The heroine is not simply there to save him. She challenges him, stands her ground, and risks her own career as her feelings deepen, which adds real weight to every choice she makes.

The pacing is strong, balancing professional conflict, romantic tension, and personal stakes without ever feeling rushed or drawn out. One reckless night acts as a turning point that reshapes their relationship and raises the emotional and professional risks, pushing both characters to confront what they truly want and what they are willing to lose. The football setting enhances the story rather than overpowering it, adding authenticity and pressure to Maverick’s world while keeping the focus firmly on the romance.

Red Zone is a swoony, spicy, and heartfelt read that delivers every promise of the grumpy sunshine trope. Lisa Suzanne crafts a story that is equal parts heat and healing, making it perfect for readers who love emotionally rich sports romances with sharp dialogue, strong character development, and a satisfying happily ever after.

arc

Kay Burrows

312 reviews12 followers

January 14, 2026

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

The Bradley Legacy is back with another exciting addition. The Bradley family secrets and drama continue to unfold as Everleigh moves to Vegas for a career opportunity and unexpectedly finds love.

Everleigh Bradley works as a brand strategist. When an opportunity with a high profile client comes up, her boss asks her to leave Chicago and relocate to Vegas to work with the client. She takes on the client hoping this opportunity will be a stepping stone before opening her own company.

Maverick Jennings is the world's grumpiest quarterback. He’s arrogant, impossible and determined to self-destruct. It’s Everleigh’s job to fix his reputation only he is determined to make her life a living nightmare. He won’t accept any of her ideas and challenges every strategy.

The closer Everleigh gets to Maverick, the more she begins to see that underneath the scowl and bad headlines, is a man masking his pain.

Between the tension and temptation, one reckless night changes everything. Protecting his image becomes more of a job. Everleigh’s career ends up in the red zone and she’s faced with making a difficult choice between loyalty and love. Making the wrong choice could cost her everything.

Red Zone is a spicy pro football romance with enemies to lovers and grumpy x sunshine characters. As usual Lisa Suzanne has written another fun and engaging sports romance. I am absolutely loving this series and the underlying Bradley family legacy storyline that is slowly unraveling throughout each book in the series.

I related to Everly‘s character and her being the caretaker of her family. I feel like I fit into the same role with my own family.
I personally love an mmc who is a bit broken and Maverick certainly fits the description. My heart broke for him the more I got to know his character and his history.

I really enjoyed Maverick and Everleigh together. The tension and sneaking around kept me on the edge. Just waiting for them to cross the line and given in to the building tension and attraction to each other was so deliciously enjoyable. Everleigh was so patient with Maverick no matter how irresponsible and childish he was acting. She didn’t give up and was determined to get to know him.

The storyline was more character driven but Lisa captured their complex emotions and growth really well. And as with all the other books in this series there is always some type of drama going on to keep you interested whether between the main characters or side characters.

I am really enjoying this series. I am loving each of the siblings we have gotten to meet so far and always get so excited when you get to see some of the original characters coming up seamlessly into the story.

If you are a fan of sports romances or football romances and you have not read anything by Lisa Suzanne yet you really need to. Her books are always easy to read, lighthearted, entertaining, and overall just an enjoyable read.

The dual narration by Liam Dicosimo and Stefanie Kay for the audiobook was well done. They both did a great job bringing the characters and story to life. Their narration kept the story engaging and enjoyable to listen to.

Thank you to Lisa Suzanne and Valentine PR for the opportunity to receive an advanced listener copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

arcs

2,372 reviews102 followers

alc audiobook dirty-talker

5 She Brought Love Back into his Life Stars!

I’m loving this amazing series by Ms. Suzanne. With each book I’m so enjoying getting to know all the Bradley siblings and watching them metamorphosis into different people than they thought they were all meant to be courtesy of their father and his obsession with “Legacy.”

This book centers around Everleigh Bradley and Maverick Jennings and how they’re literally forced to spend time with each other. Everleigh is sent to Las Vegas to help reframe the public’s perception of Maverick which isn’t great thanks to how obstinate he is since he was recently traded to the Aces. This man has a huge chip on his shoulder and when he’s told that it’s Everleigh or the highway, he begrudgingly agrees. Little does he know that not only does Everleigh not want this assignment, she has no desire to spend anytime with a football player whatsoever. I loved the setup for this because I just knew that these two were going to clash and it was going to be hot, hot, hot!!

As these two dance around each other, Maverick has a past that has defined who he is today and it’s heartbreaking. The more he begins to trust Everleigh, not only does their relationship change from a purely business arrangement to finally giving in to the insanely intense chemistry. I mean my eyes were wide as I listened to Liam DiCosimo and Stefanie Kay give me a play by play of their coming together! These two are well matched in this area of their relationship that’s for sure.

Everleigh has so much patience with this man. It’s something he hasn’t had in a very long time and I started to fall in love with him too just like Everleigh. There’s this cinnamon roll lurking inside this man and I was captivated with how much he changed as he realized it’s okay to feel emotions that he’s pushed down for years. There were some very touching moments throughout this book that had me tearing up too.

Not only do we see a change in Maverick, Everleigh has some tough moments in this book especially when it come to her family. There’s a turning point that literally dictates both of their futures. The “legacy” that her Dad is so focused on, has ramifications that affect everyone in this book. I may have been doing a fist pump at certain times because, it was a beautiful thing because sometimes people need to get their comeuppance!

Overall this is the perfect next book in this series. I loved both Everleigh and Maverick so much. The narrators did a phenomenal job of bringing their story to life and I’m very confident I’ll be doing a re-listen in the very near future!

Cassie

96 reviews

January 15, 2026

✨️✨️ ARC Review ✨️✨️

Red Zone pulled me in fast and never let go. Maverick Jennings is the kind of MMC you love to hate at first. Grumpy, closed-off and wearing his reputation like armour, he seems exactly like the man the headlines talk about. But Liza Suzanne does a brilliant job peeling back the layers and revealing the pain, pressure, trauma and loneliness hiding beneath his scowl. Watching Maverick slowly confront his own self-destruction and lead how to try to put down his walls, made his character arc deeply satisfying.

Then there’s our FMC, Everleigh Bradley is smart, ambitious, independent and determined to build something of her own, outside of her family name and refuses to be intimidated, even when Maverick does everything he can to push her away. I love her strength and professionalism, especially as she tries to walk the line between protecting her and Maverick's careers while still following her heart. Their dynamic is full of sharp banter and frustration with an undeniable pull that makes every interaction crackle.

The chemistry between them is intense and perfectly paced. What starts as a strictly professional arrangement quickly blurs into something deeper, messier, emotional and impossible to ignore. Forced proximity, clashing personalities with that constant push and pull made the tension delicious. Every step forward felt earned and the emotional payoff was absolutely worth the wait.

Like the rest of series, family plays a powerful role here, I love that there is an ongoing story that threads each book together that doesn't feel like it drags or is predictable. Loyalty, expectations, secrets and old wounds add some emotional weight without overpowering the romance. I really appreciated how the story explored the cost of keeping up with an image, in both public and private, how damaging it can be to carry everything alone and also how relationships can pay the price.

There were moments where choices made by Everleigh and Maverick that tested my patience and had me screaming at them but they suited the characters and raised the stakes in a way that kept me fully invested. The consequences felt real, and the growth that followed made it all worthwhile.

The ending delivered exactly what I wanted. Emotional resolution, hard-earned trust, and a future that felt believable and truly deserved.

If you’re looking for a steamy, emotionally charged sports romance with a grumpy hero, a driven heroine, and tension that lives right in the red zone, Red Zone is a must-read. Liza Suzanne continues to deepen this world beautifully, and I am more than ready for whatever comes next in The Bradley Legacy series with Ford.

nfl romance

Rebecca

929 reviews27 followers

Review of advance copy

January 5, 2026

Red Zone, the third installment in Lisa Suzanne’s Bradley’s Legacy series, is a captivating grumpy-meets-sunshine romance that easily became my favorite of the series so far. Narrated by the incredible duo of Liam DiCosimo and Stefanie Kay.

The story follows Everleigh Bradley, a talented brand strategist from a powerful Chicago sports family, who moves to Las Vegas for a high-stakes mystery assignment. The deal is simple: if she can successfully rebrand a difficult client within a year, she earns the freedom to launch her own consulting firm.

However, that "difficult client" turns out to be Maverick Jennings, the surly new quarterback for the Vegas Aces. Maverick is already on edge after being traded, and he has no interest in making friends—least of all with the sister of the teammate who just sidelined him with broken ribs.

The chemistry between Everleigh and Maverick is electric from the start, channeled initially through a mutual "hate at first sight" dynamic. Maverick is arrogant and determined to self-destruct, while Everleigh is the persistent professional tasked with being his "babysitter."

Their banter is absolutely hilarious, fueled by a tension where they both seem to be deciding whether to strangle or kiss each other. As Everleigh works to break down the walls Maverick has erected, their hostility melts into a comforting honesty, and their attraction becomes impossible to deny.

The narrative beautifully balances laugh-out-loud humor with genuine emotional depth, touching on past trauma and the heavy weight of secrets. Just as Maverick begins to thaw and let Everleigh into his world, the stakes are raised when he is caught at an illegal underground casino owned by Everleigh’s father.

This puts Everleigh in the "red zone," forced to make an agonizing choice between her career, her family loyalty, and her growing love for the man she was supposed to fix. It’s a compelling climax that keeps you hooked until the very last page.

Liam DiCosimo and Stefanie Kay deliver an outstanding performance on the audiobook. They bring a level of realness and emotion to the dual points of view that truly elevates the story. Their narration perfectly captures Maverick’s grumpiness and Everleigh’s fierce determination.

This is a must-read for fans of sports romance and complex rivals-to-lovers tropes. It’s an amazing addition to the series, and I can’t wait for Ford’s story next!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Cat

2,212 reviews1 follower