Touchdown

by Blue Saffire, FAIRY PROOFMOTHER (Editor), Covers By Combs (Illustrator)

Touchdown

***This is a Standalone
Award winning, Bestselling, Author Blue Saffire presents

Touchdown



Bentley



When I step on the field I know what my job is. Get my team to the red zone and get the touchdown. I’m great at what I do on the field.



However, off the field I’ve been struggling, doing my best to find my way. Especially when it comes to Zah, I’ve always managed to mess things up with her.



She’s the girl next door who has always had my heart. I just never acted on my feelings because she’s two years younger than me and my sister’s best friend.



Then my Junior year of college she shows up on campus and everything changes. She becomes the love of my life. Our future is all planned out by my senior year and I feel invincible until the hits start coming and don’t stop.





Zahirah



I’ve loved Bentley Coswell since I was a little girl hanging out with his sister, getting on his nerves. I never said anything and hadn’t planned to until that one summer when I was pretty sure he was going to kiss me.



One almost kiss and I made up my mind to follow him to college. I worked my butt off to get my track scholarship. However, my first day on campus wasn’t what I thought it would be.



The boy I’ve crushed on for forever has changed and I don’t think I like him very much. That is until he wears me down and takes me on my first date.



I fall in love with Bentley all over again and everything is perfect until it’s not. No one could have told us how much life would place on our shoulders.



Will we be able to handle the life altering events we face? Will love be enough to carry us through? Will our hurt and pain be enough to take the life right out of our love? Will our love be intercepted by hate or will Bentley find a way to run right into my heart for the Ultimate touchdown.

Genres: Sports

331 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 31, 2026

About the author

Blue Saffire
Contemporary Romance · Interracial Romance · 80+ Novels & Novellas
♕ The Queen of Connections
★ Award-winning
★ Bestselling
80+ novels & novellas
"Alpha men. Strong women. Love that leaves a mark."
"Words you can feel. Stories that never let go."
Blue Saffire is an award-winning, bestselling author of over 80 contemporary romance novels and novellas — and she has earned every word of that title.
Known as The Queen of Connections, Blue doesn't just write romance — she builds worlds. She hooks, weaves, and loops her series together into a universe so rich, so layered, and so full of heart that readers don't just finish a book — they disappear into it. Every alpha man has a story. Every strong woman has her moment. And every love hits so hard it leaves a mark you carry long after the last page.
Her catalog spans beloved series including the Brothers Black series, Legally Bound, Lost Souls MC, the Hush series, Dark Disciples, Kings of New York, Bay Breeze Peaks, the Immortal Iron Brothers series — and the list keeps growing. If you're new, start with Legally Bound — and try to stop at just one.
Blue lives in Long Island, NY with her husband. Creativity is their family business, and every book is a promise kept to the readers who show up for her world.
✎ Also writing MM romance as Royal Blue — find her My Brother's Keeper series on Amazon.

Reviews

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Second Time Around

Sweet love story. Our main characters are just coming into adulthood, experiencing college life and the excitement of young love. But, life happens, tragedy strikes, and sinister forces all combine creating a chasm so wide and deep the young lovers lose their way. True love never dies and like the lyrics of the song by Shalamar says... "The Second Time Around" is not like the first time! Bent and Zah are now members of the grownfolks club. Ten toes down! The characters are relatable and their growth as the story progresses is believable. Yes, there is a villain. But, karma says "I got this". It's a fun story, a great afternoon read. Enjoy.😍

[Yvonne Daniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah A Touchdown

OMG I really enjoy the POV's of these two characters. I enjoyed being allowed inside of Bentley and Zahirah heads which made it so much more enjoyable and it made me feel like I was right there. Both of these characters gives each other a push and pull that creates fire between them and it gets under my skin but all in a good way. This story will have you panting and screaming for more and you may even want a fan or two. WOW this story walks the line between the saddest and their captivating passions. I think my favorite part was the discovery of Aaron and how I could never guess what was going to happen next. These two will take you on a wild rollercoaster ride of feelings that you will definitely enjoy. What a fantastic story to be enjoyed. This is a must read story by Blue Saffire it will make you a fan if you are not one already. It has strong and independent woman in her own right and a drop dead gorgeous QB who loves his woman and have since their teen years and he considers this as their forever love and of course there's their steamy chemistry plus the interesting twists their relationships takes them through with their passion which is always sizzling hot, no matter how long they are a part. Now all I can say is that all of her characters in this story is marvelous and I'm happy that I get to binge read them all. Each one of her books are intriguing with enjoyable characters with the most entertainment they are still just so enjoyable. The sizzling hot passions will keep you turning pages until the end. Every moment of this couple's relationship makes it impossible to put down your reader until the story is at its end.This is not your average love story. What a wonderful experience with the entire story that I highly recommend!!

[BreakingtheEpigraph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bentley and Zahirah’s story took me on an emotional ride. The novel opens close to the end, then moves back through the past, showing how every moment shaped their relationship. I kept reacting out loud to the characters because the choices felt personal and real. Some moments made me smile, others made me frustrated, but I stayed invested the whole time. The parents added depth, and Fred was a standout presence. When tragedy hits, their love is tested in ways that feel honest and painful. The story focuses on growth, timing, and the idea that love can survive distance, mistakes, and heartbreak. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy emotional, character-driven romance or anyone looking for a reflective love story about second chances.

[Linda P. · Rating 2.75 out of 5]

2.75⭐️ | This book started off decent for the first half, but the last 50% went downhill fast. The plot twist felt like it came out of nowhere, and the “big secret” was completely unnecessary. The disagreements between the characters were childish, and Zah made several frustrating decisions—rather than communicating, she jumped to assumptions over and over. Bent was way too much of a simp, and there were moments where he really should have stood his ground. It also felt like he forgave things far too easily, which made the conflict feel even weaker.

Overall, the story had potential, but the execution in the second half just didn’t work for me.

[Teresa Hynson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for another great read

I love Blue's ever evolving characters. I also like that we are beginning to see FMC that are strong enough emotionally to choose a career (or not) that best fits who they are. This book was about holding onto emotional trauma for longer than necessary or healthy. Bent and Zah were thoroughly enjoyable even if I wanted to smack both of them at times. I appreciated the growth of the characters. Gilbert was seriously off. I really wished you hadn't done that to Robin. Thanks for the enjoyable hours of reading

[Shell Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

An emotionally intense read

This book had me in a choke hold of emotions.... I literally have laughed, cried, laughed some more, was ready to jump into this nook and lay hands on folks. Slap the taste out of some folks mouth.... Blue, you did the dog gone thing with this book. I freaking love Bentley and Zah story.... if you haven't read it, please do, but be warned, you will need some tissues and a cold or hot beverage of your choice.....

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

Good read, even if it took me months to finish. I just couldn’t get into it, but thankfully it’s over.

Zah & Bent were cute for the most part but it was a predictable romance book of where things were good, and it was just waiting on the other shoe to drop.

There was lots of spice and romance, but this book just didn’t do it for me and I can’t put my finger on it as to why.

[Ingrid Beach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well worth the read. I am a big fan of this author and she did not disappoint. Her FMCs are always strong and this is no different. The characters are young adults but the family dynamics between their two families were wonderful. When tragedy struck their families I felt it to my core. I loved how they navigate through college and adulthood to come out on top. This book is awesome.

[shelly shells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touchdown

What a great story, it was worth the wait to read this...
It started on Vella and now it's on KU and you get to see Bentley's and Zah's story and all the missing pieces...
There is drama, then there's tears, there is conspiracy, there is Lots of sexy scenes... Yeah a great read...

[Cammyjoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

👍❤️

Dang!!! I love Bentley, and the way he was forever putting his foot in his mouth. lol. Him and Zah are so great together, their chemistry,, they knew each other all their lives… It broke my when tragedy struck, I felt their pain…
Anyway, great read, amazing characters!!
And the babies, lol… I can’t believe Zah is giving him all his six babies!! 🙌🙌🙌

[Rayrita Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winning score

Everyone loves a star QB but can he keep up with a track star.
Second chance romance that pulls at the heart strings. Both deal with a devastating loss that has profound affect on their relationship but love has a way returning home.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

not what I was expecting but so good!

I’ve never read a book set up in that manner but I really enjoyed it and loved the relationships in the book and the way Bentley and Zah grew as people and in their relationship!

[claudette johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hooray...

For touch downs....A great coming of age book...boy next door falls for the girl next door...only to have life cause chaos and havoc amidst the growing over affair great read with a twist...

[ReneshaReadsRomance Renesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was soo sweet and I loved the story . Child hood sweet hearts , and she fell in love with her best friend’s brother . Watching the struggles they went through .. deals with grief .

Love this book .

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best love story

I love Brent and Say story. Two people who went through so much and never gave up loving each other. Love it

[Sparkles197 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[Nene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read!
Love the storyline, love, losses and growing up. Gilbert got what he deserved. I am glad they made it back to each other. I only wish it was more to their story.

[Rebecca Padgett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touchdown

As always Blue Saffire has delivered another winner . I enjoyed reading this book strong characters unexpected twist I didn’t see coming.

[Natalie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another One

Another good one from Blue, the books always have me ready to see what’s next. Can’t wait to dive into another book.

[Kimberley Yarbrough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

Enjoyed reading this book. I hate that Zah and Bent experienced so much in their relationship but happy it all worked out.

[Christi peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

mystery in itself

I loved from the beginning of the story, I loved the growth they showed as they both aged. Great story