Second Down: A Small Town, Second Chance, College Sports Romance

by Leighton Grace

Julie Stark was supposed to be my past.
The girl who left town, chased bigger dreams, and took my heart with her.

I stayed.
Built a life out of football, family, and responsibility, telling myself wanting her was a habit I’d broken.

Then she comes home, and in a town this small, I feel her everywhere.
At the diner. At the store. Standing too close, smelling the same, looking at me like she remembers exactly how this felt.

I try to keep my hands to myself.
I fail the second her eyes linger and her voice drops.

One almost-kiss turns into five years of wanting crashing back at once.
Watching her with my family reminds me she was always meant to be here—with me.

But when football ends and the dream dies, fear takes over.

Because if I let myself want her again—and I’m still not enough—losing her this time might ruin me for good.

Second Down is Book 2 in the Jeneson University Football series and can be read as a standalone romance.This book

Second-chance romance

Small-town setting

Friends to lovers to exes to lovers

Right person / wrong time

Emotional angst + HEA

Spicy scenes

407 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 8, 2026

About the author

Hello there! I am Leighton Grace and I'm so glad you are here! As a self-proclaimed introvert, reading is my passion...books are my passion and I want to share both with the world. Life is tough...books are magical. They allow us a bit of an escape from the frustrations of everyday life. Books have literally saved me in some very tough times - I want my books to do this for you! I want to put a smile on your face, or make you giggle or blush, even when life gets you down. ESPECIALLY when life gets you down!

When I am not reading or writing, I am busy with my teenage daughter or daydreaming my next business idea.

As an Indie author, your support means everything to me. Thank you so much for reading!

Reviews

[Mikaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Derek and Julie doesn’t have it easy.

Julie promised her sick and dying mom to not let the town keep her small. And she keeps her promise.
She leaves Derek behind.

Now five years later… To not be able to move forward from that relationship. And life isn’t what they wanted. Julie isn’t happy, and now her father tells her about his sickness. She makes the trip to see him for a few weeks. And who does she meet during that time?
Derek.
Is it just the past between them? Or could it be more?

I love the way Leighton Grace write, it makes time just fly by. It’s easy to read, and the words flows easy. I always get exited when I see a book by her, because so far, they are all good 👌

[De Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good read. The author does a good job of writing in such a way that you don’t realize how much you’ve been reading until it’s 2 am and you’ve got to get up in 3 hours. One promise changed the course of multiple lives. Julie left behind Derek to keep a promise and derailed their lives. The story that follows is full of twists and deviations you’ll never see coming but understand why it happens once you read it. The plot grips you and keeps you. And the heat is just right. In the end it’s about moving forward. Whether that’s together or not you’ll have to read to find out. Definitely recommend.

[Ildikó · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** ARC review ***

If your favorite tropes are football, enemies to lovers, small town, second chances then add this to your list!

This isn’t your average football romance story. This is about how two people struggle when their hopes and dreams don’t come true. We read about them trying to figure out what their new future will look like. It is also about high school sweethearts dealing with their feelings and figuring out what’s next. It is a fast paced story and before you know it, the story is ending. I liked that this was a different spin on a football romance and on the high school sweethearts trope.

[Pat Stanton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Derek and Julie's Story

This book is boring and very long. Probably 100 pages could be edited out.
Julie left town 5 years ago, supposedly to go to NYU. It is never explained how she got a good paying job in NY, working there 3 years. Did she graduate in 2 years?
Derek is a college senior when the book begins. Is he younger than Julie? Sis he take a year off? Is he going part time? Doubtful as he is team captain, never missing a game in 4 years.
They bicker constantly about her leaving 5 years ago.
Don't waste your time reading this book.
The bonus link goes to another book.

[Krista LaMothe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disappointed

This book had the potential to be great.. The story line was there, but there were too many mistakes.. In Tutor with Benefits, the very first paragraph says the Ian was not from Jeneson and that it takes place in NC, smh.. Ian also has a wife and a child per the first book.. Being Derek’s best friend didn’t mean he had to know him for years.. Also, it was hard to get over that everyone was mad at Julie for following what she thought were her dreams.. And it was too repetitive.. Story line was there, just didn’t hit its mark.. Disappointing after the first book was so good..

[MaryK · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost DNF

This book was hard for me to finish. Frankly it was exhausting to read. There were so many story inconsistencies. One example, when Julie first comes home she goes to a celebration kicking off the football season. Within two weeks time they were attending the end of the season banquet. That’s just one of many. Their conversation were also so repetitive. “I’m sorry” and “I don’t know if I can trust you” was repeated soooo many times by both Julie and Derek. There were other issues with the story too. I really think this needed some additional editing.

[Katie Vanderzee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book from the author for a review. I think this book is amazing. It has all sorts of mystery, that keeps you wanting to know what will happen. Then when you think you figured it out she throws a twisted reaction, that I didn’t expect but yet could understand why. This is a great story about young love and how it can destroy you but also if it is real you can find your way back with time!

[Siobhan D · Rating 5 out of 5]

One promise and your life can change. Julie makes a promise to her dying mum to leave the town, even if it means leaving behind Derek. Five years years later she finds herself returning. Never really having moved on.
Derek tries to keep away from the woman who still has his heart. She is everywhere.
This book has it all emotions, spice, angst as two people must learn to move forward.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an easy-to-read sports romance with drama, past hurts, issues to resolve and a second chance at a HEA. The defined MCs are likable, determined, and must heal before they can proceed with a relationship. I liked this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Make no mistake that Derek and Julie are going to become your next deliciously HOT romance book to read and in a snap because of the entertaining, captivating chapters they are in. This is the type of romance book that you will want to read and will dream about long after you hit the HEA ending.

[Brittany Rimmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story tugs at your heart strings, makes you scream at your book when characters are being oblivious and stubborn, and completely fall in love with this couple. The flow keeps you on the edge of your seat from the beginning to the very end. Definite must read & re-read!

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed second down which was Derek and Julie‘s story. It was an engaging roller coaster. And voluntarily leaving this review.