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Santa Fe Bobcats #3
Takes Two to Tackle
Sometimes faking it is your only option...
Football player Stephen Harrison has hit rock bottom—he’s fresh out of rehab, lost too much weight to be an effective offensive lineman, and has no support system in place. The Bobcats staff suggests he get a life coach to keep him sober and get him back into playing shape, but Stephen says his girlfriend will help. Too bad he doesn’t have one...
Luckily for Stephen, he does have a housekeeper. Margaret has always dreamed of starting her own elite cleaning service, and the money Stephen offers her to play the part of girlfriend is too good to pass up. But while Mags is helping Stephen bulk up and get ready for training camp, she can’t seem to block the feelings crashing into her heart. And one night of passion will pull both of their heads out of the game...
Football player Stephen Harrison has hit rock bottom—he’s fresh out of rehab, lost too much weight to be an effective offensive lineman, and has no support system in place. The Bobcats staff suggests he get a life coach to keep him sober and get him back into playing shape, but Stephen says his girlfriend will help. Too bad he doesn’t have one...
Luckily for Stephen, he does have a housekeeper. Margaret has always dreamed of starting her own elite cleaning service, and the money Stephen offers her to play the part of girlfriend is too good to pass up. But while Mags is helping Stephen bulk up and get ready for training camp, she can’t seem to block the feelings crashing into her heart. And one night of passion will pull both of their heads out of the game...
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2015
26 people are currently reading
573 people want to read
About the author
Jeanette Murray
18 books406 followersFacebook.com/JeanetteMurrayBooks
@KJMurrayBooks
Jeanette lives just outside St. Louis with her husband, daughter and their lovable-but-stupid Goldendoodle. When she's not writing her next romance, she's found hanging out with the new friends she's made here, catching up with old friends from past duty stations on Facebook, or surfing Pinterest pretending she can cook. Catch up with her on Facebook or Twitter for contests, sneak peeks of what she's working on, and updates about her life in general.
@KJMurrayBooks
Jeanette lives just outside St. Louis with her husband, daughter and their lovable-but-stupid Goldendoodle. When she's not writing her next romance, she's found hanging out with the new friends she's made here, catching up with old friends from past duty stations on Facebook, or surfing Pinterest pretending she can cook. Catch up with her on Facebook or Twitter for contests, sneak peeks of what she's working on, and updates about her life in general.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
September 23, 2015
3 Stars
Truth be told, I had a hard time rating this book. You know when you read something and there's nothing wrong with the book itself or the writing, it's just not your cuppa? That was essentially my problem here.
The writing was wonderful and the general idea behind the story itself was intriguing; famous footballer player straight out of rehab for his alcohol addiction falls for his quirky maid. Cute, right? And it certainly was. It was just way too sweet for my particular tastes.
I struggled to feel much chemistry between Margaret and Stephen. I loved their characters individually, and I absolutely loved the idea of them together, but somehow together they were just lukewarm. At least for me.
Jeanette Murray is a new to me author, and certainly one I'd gladly read in the future. Perhaps I wasn't in the right mood for a sweet story, perhaps it's just a fluke in the series and I'll love the rest of it. Whatever the case may be, I enjoyed the author's writing just felt underwhelmed with the actual story. But this is ENTIRELY a case of preference and nothing to do with the book itself. I have a feeling most readers will love this sweet and sexy story and if you're tired of manwhoring sports heroes, this is definitely a book you'll want to check out.
ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
Truth be told, I had a hard time rating this book. You know when you read something and there's nothing wrong with the book itself or the writing, it's just not your cuppa? That was essentially my problem here.
The writing was wonderful and the general idea behind the story itself was intriguing; famous footballer player straight out of rehab for his alcohol addiction falls for his quirky maid. Cute, right? And it certainly was. It was just way too sweet for my particular tastes.
I struggled to feel much chemistry between Margaret and Stephen. I loved their characters individually, and I absolutely loved the idea of them together, but somehow together they were just lukewarm. At least for me.
Jeanette Murray is a new to me author, and certainly one I'd gladly read in the future. Perhaps I wasn't in the right mood for a sweet story, perhaps it's just a fluke in the series and I'll love the rest of it. Whatever the case may be, I enjoyed the author's writing just felt underwhelmed with the actual story. But this is ENTIRELY a case of preference and nothing to do with the book itself. I have a feeling most readers will love this sweet and sexy story and if you're tired of manwhoring sports heroes, this is definitely a book you'll want to check out.
ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
For more reviews visit
March 30, 2022
This was fine, but I wish it was less heteronormative and white.
Takes Two to Tackle is a romance between recovering alcoholic Stephen and his cleaner turned sobriety advocate Margaret. The two come to an agreement as Stephen comes back to his NFL team and Mags agrees to pose as his girlfriend for the sake of his privacy. While their arrangement is only meant to be a couple months for Stephen to get used to the real world and convince his management he's capable, the two end up completely falling for each other.
There were some really sweet parts to this book. But the whole football thing just did nothing for me. I am not a sports person. Also this cover is just not for me and I did not like seeing it while listening to the audiobook. Tbh I am too asexual for this cover. I do not see the appeal.
I did like Stephen and Mags, but their communication issues drove me wild. I was glad when they finally sorted everything out by the end. The other thing that made me hesitant about this was the whole "science" behind Stephen's diet for recovering. Like he was only allowed to eat health foods. And I have no fucking idea what nutritionist was behind this, because what Stephen should've been more concerned about was his protein ratio and making sure he was eating enough calories a day. I've been building muscle and reading about the science of metabolism for years and the way things were framed in this was just so strange. It really felt like they had put him on a traditional diet to lose weight, which was his problem from rehab. I am still baffled by it.
Overall, if you want a fun romance and don't think too hard about the science behind this, you'll enjoy it. Also if you like football, you'll probably like this.
Rep: white cishet male MC who is a recovering alcoholic, white cishet female MC, cast of white cishet characters.
CWs: Sexual content, contents about weight loss, dieting, fatphobia, internalized body shaming, alcoholism, alcohol consumption (mainly other characters), classism.
Takes Two to Tackle is a romance between recovering alcoholic Stephen and his cleaner turned sobriety advocate Margaret. The two come to an agreement as Stephen comes back to his NFL team and Mags agrees to pose as his girlfriend for the sake of his privacy. While their arrangement is only meant to be a couple months for Stephen to get used to the real world and convince his management he's capable, the two end up completely falling for each other.
There were some really sweet parts to this book. But the whole football thing just did nothing for me. I am not a sports person. Also this cover is just not for me and I did not like seeing it while listening to the audiobook. Tbh I am too asexual for this cover. I do not see the appeal.
I did like Stephen and Mags, but their communication issues drove me wild. I was glad when they finally sorted everything out by the end. The other thing that made me hesitant about this was the whole "science" behind Stephen's diet for recovering. Like he was only allowed to eat health foods. And I have no fucking idea what nutritionist was behind this, because what Stephen should've been more concerned about was his protein ratio and making sure he was eating enough calories a day. I've been building muscle and reading about the science of metabolism for years and the way things were framed in this was just so strange. It really felt like they had put him on a traditional diet to lose weight, which was his problem from rehab. I am still baffled by it.
Overall, if you want a fun romance and don't think too hard about the science behind this, you'll enjoy it. Also if you like football, you'll probably like this.
Rep: white cishet male MC who is a recovering alcoholic, white cishet female MC, cast of white cishet characters.
CWs: Sexual content, contents about weight loss, dieting, fatphobia, internalized body shaming, alcoholism, alcohol consumption (mainly other characters), classism.
September 15, 2015
He’s mine, you can’t have him!
Stephen Harrison is a successful football player in the NFL. He is handsome, smart and knows how to take out the competition. He is also an alcoholic. Fierce opponents didn’t have him on his knees like the craving for alcohol had. Leaving rehab, Stephen couldn’t imagine being successful with a stranger as his life coach. Looking around, Margaret Logan, who he knew and trusted, was the obvious choice to help him. Agreeing to be his “girlfriend” was not a hard decision but keeping her distance was going to be the hardest task Mags ever had.
“He rolled a bit, trapping her against the back of the couch and his body. Other than being extremely warm, it wasn’t too bad. Comfortable actually. Okay, fine, it was wonderful.”
This is the first story I’ve read in this series and, while reading the previous books would have given more background, it totally works as a standalone. And what a story it is! Stephen is so much more than the brawny persona his football career gave him. He was struggling and vulnerable and honest about his addiction.
“I’m scared… There. He’d voiced his true emotions out loud. … I’m terrified I’m going to get out there and fail.”
Mags is determined to find her own way and, while falling ever harder for Stephen, she is also trying to be practical about the relationship they have. Making the leap from housekeeper to love interest doesn’t happen in her reality. Or could it?
Ably assisted by quirky and supportive friends and family, Mags and Stephen are going to have help fulfilling all of the dreams they hardly dared to believe. I, for one, was cheering all the way! Even if I sniffled just a bit… ~ Diane, 5 stars
~~~
After reading about how Stephen was taken to rehab in the previous book, I was very interested in finding out how he would do in his own book when he would be out.
Stephen has just gotten out of rehab and he’s lost a lot of weight. Since his weight is a big part of being an offensive lineman, he now has to gain it back the right way so he can be an effective football player. The team decides he needs a life coach. Stephen definitely doesn’t want that, so he says he has a girlfriend. The thing is—he doesn’t.
Margaret has been working for a cleaning service and one of her clients is Stephen…who decides that Margaret would be the perfect fake girlfriend and sober accountability partner. He already trusts her and knows that she could use some money to start her own cleaning business.
As the relationship goes on, fake feelings start to become real and now it’s not just about the money but about happiness with someone. Will the pressures of the fake relationship and hidden feelings end up as the start of something real—or the end of any kind of relationship?
I really liked this book. Margaret was always there for Stephen and she never looked down on him for what he went through. She was able to keep him on the right track after he got out of rehab. Stephen was a good guy despite his problems. He would do anything to keep playing with the Bobcats; he knew he had made a mistake and he was willing to do all he could to continue playing football.
The Santa Fe Bobcats series is a very good sports romance series. I hope there will be another book in this series in the future. I can’t wait to read more from this author! ~ Leah, 4 stars
Stephen Harrison is a successful football player in the NFL. He is handsome, smart and knows how to take out the competition. He is also an alcoholic. Fierce opponents didn’t have him on his knees like the craving for alcohol had. Leaving rehab, Stephen couldn’t imagine being successful with a stranger as his life coach. Looking around, Margaret Logan, who he knew and trusted, was the obvious choice to help him. Agreeing to be his “girlfriend” was not a hard decision but keeping her distance was going to be the hardest task Mags ever had.
“He rolled a bit, trapping her against the back of the couch and his body. Other than being extremely warm, it wasn’t too bad. Comfortable actually. Okay, fine, it was wonderful.”
This is the first story I’ve read in this series and, while reading the previous books would have given more background, it totally works as a standalone. And what a story it is! Stephen is so much more than the brawny persona his football career gave him. He was struggling and vulnerable and honest about his addiction.
“I’m scared… There. He’d voiced his true emotions out loud. … I’m terrified I’m going to get out there and fail.”
Mags is determined to find her own way and, while falling ever harder for Stephen, she is also trying to be practical about the relationship they have. Making the leap from housekeeper to love interest doesn’t happen in her reality. Or could it?
Ably assisted by quirky and supportive friends and family, Mags and Stephen are going to have help fulfilling all of the dreams they hardly dared to believe. I, for one, was cheering all the way! Even if I sniffled just a bit… ~ Diane, 5 stars
~~~
After reading about how Stephen was taken to rehab in the previous book, I was very interested in finding out how he would do in his own book when he would be out.
Stephen has just gotten out of rehab and he’s lost a lot of weight. Since his weight is a big part of being an offensive lineman, he now has to gain it back the right way so he can be an effective football player. The team decides he needs a life coach. Stephen definitely doesn’t want that, so he says he has a girlfriend. The thing is—he doesn’t.
Margaret has been working for a cleaning service and one of her clients is Stephen…who decides that Margaret would be the perfect fake girlfriend and sober accountability partner. He already trusts her and knows that she could use some money to start her own cleaning business.
As the relationship goes on, fake feelings start to become real and now it’s not just about the money but about happiness with someone. Will the pressures of the fake relationship and hidden feelings end up as the start of something real—or the end of any kind of relationship?
I really liked this book. Margaret was always there for Stephen and she never looked down on him for what he went through. She was able to keep him on the right track after he got out of rehab. Stephen was a good guy despite his problems. He would do anything to keep playing with the Bobcats; he knew he had made a mistake and he was willing to do all he could to continue playing football.
The Santa Fe Bobcats series is a very good sports romance series. I hope there will be another book in this series in the future. I can’t wait to read more from this author! ~ Leah, 4 stars
Want to read
September 9, 2015No idea what this is about, but that cover. Wow.
April 19, 2019
4.5 Stars!
August 27, 2015
Highly enjoyed this!
What's it about?
Stephen has just come back from rehab for his alcohol addiction and for his football career he needs some sort of accountability partner but he didn't want some random live-in coach so he fibs that he already has a girlfriend who can help keep him in check. When he comes back home, Margaret, his housekeeper of two years is there and he ends up asking her to be his pretend girlfriend and in exchange he can pay her to help start her own house cleaning business.
My thoughts:
I loved both Stephen and Mags! Their relationship doesn't have instant sparks going off since they did know each other platonically for years so they gradually started falling for each other. I loved how he didn't look down on Mags because she was a housekeeper, in fact nobody in the book did. I also liked Mags. She was sensible and quite likable.
Overall, this had very likable characters and it ticked all my happy buttons.
Safety Gang:
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
What's it about?
Stephen has just come back from rehab for his alcohol addiction and for his football career he needs some sort of accountability partner but he didn't want some random live-in coach so he fibs that he already has a girlfriend who can help keep him in check. When he comes back home, Margaret, his housekeeper of two years is there and he ends up asking her to be his pretend girlfriend and in exchange he can pay her to help start her own house cleaning business.
My thoughts:
I loved both Stephen and Mags! Their relationship doesn't have instant sparks going off since they did know each other platonically for years so they gradually started falling for each other. I loved how he didn't look down on Mags because she was a housekeeper, in fact nobody in the book did. I also liked Mags. She was sensible and quite likable.
Overall, this had very likable characters and it ticked all my happy buttons.
Safety Gang:
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 15, 2018
The Delight
With no support system in place, Stephen Harrison still has turned his life around in good ways. Getting his story after watching him destroy his life in book 1 was delightful. Having a strong back up in Margaret who has humble beginnings was just the cherry on top. These two together made a story that felt real while also overcoming huge obstacles.
Have you read book 1 or 2 in this series? Stephen Harrison is the best friend of the hero in book 1, but Stephen has addiction issues that in the end get him put in rehab by his well meaning two best friends, Trey and Josiah.
Fresh out of rehab, Stephen doesn’t even tell anyone he got out a day early. Instead he takes a cab home to have alone time, but is that the best thing for a recovering alcoholic? All during his time away, his housekeeper, Margaret, has continued to clean his house unpaid. She’s great like that. They don’t have a romantic relationship, but more of a friendship and she wants to help Stephan stay away from alcohol.
Margaret cleans houses for a company, but has dreams of owning her own cleaning business. Having a tough life, she’s saving everything she can to achieve that goal. She continues to clean Stephen’s house even without pay. I didn’t really get why, but it just so happens she is there the day he arrives home.
Stephen is now pretty under-weight for being an offensive linebacker. The alcohol added the pounds and now that he is clean, he is one skinny, weak guy. The coach suggests he have a life coach and Stephen can’t stand the idea of a stranger being in his life watching him, so he lies and says he has a girlfriend...Margaret. Stephen offers her a job to pretend to be his girlfriend for an insane amount of money where Mags can now achieve her dream of owning her own business.
Mags takes this seriously and works hard with his nutritionist to make healthy meals that will help him bulk up. Stephen also takes things seriously by working hard to build up his muscles before training camp. As the two work together, they start the slow draw to falling in love, but neither want it to seem like he is paying her for sex even if most people think she is his girlfriend. The pressure to keep up the fake relationship weighs heavily on Mags through most of the story.
What I loved about this story was the friends to lovers theme. These were real people with real problems. Stephen wasn’t guaranteed his job back and Mags was having to work hard to achieve her goals. It wasn’t easy. Stephen often caught himself wanting to go buy liquor at the store and would have to call to be talked down.
Mostly these two had communication problems. They just never talked about how they felt because they were afraid of being hurt. So it bottled up until eventually it overflowed and exploded.
Trey and Cassie make a lot of appearances throughout the story as Trey is Stephen’s best friend. As Mags gets more integrated into Stephen’s world, she becomes friends with Cassie, who is the first to figure out that Stephen and Mags are quite what they say they are.
Josiah has a smaller role, but he hasn’t found his lady love yet. Throw in Killian and Aileen who are the H/H from book 2, and you see even more why I loved Aileen.
The story did seem to end kind of abruptly. I wanted probably another chapter to round it all out. But oh eieeee! Look at that cover. I could have drooled over that for a couple of hours. This is a very serious but also sexy addition to the Sante Fe Bobcats series that will leave you with a smile *smile*
November 28, 2015
Good Lord. Look at that cover. Total #Covergasm. Everything about Takes Two to Tackle was...delicious. From cover to characters it was sports romance at it's best. Sexy and satisfying.
Full review to come...
Reviewing for herding cats & burning soup.
Full review to come...
Reviewing for herding cats & burning soup.
September 19, 2015
4 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 15, 2015
Sometimes faking it is your only option...
Football player Stephen Harrison has hit rock bottom—he’s fresh out of rehab, lost too much weight to be an effective offensive lineman, and has no support system in place. The Bobcats staff suggests he get a life coach to keep him sober and get him back into playing shape, but Stephen says his girlfriend will help. Too bad he doesn’t have one...
Luckily for Stephen, he does have a housekeeper. Margaret has always dreamed of starting her own elite cleaning service, and the money Stephen offers her to play the part of girlfriend is too good to pass up. But while Mags is helping Stephen bulk up and get ready for training camp, she can’t seem to block the feelings crashing into her heart. And one night of passion will pull both of their heads out of the game.
••••••••••
REVIEW: TAKES TWO TO TACKLE is the third installment in Jeanette Murray’s contemporary, adult SANTA FE BOBCATS erotic romance series focusing on the men and women of the Santa Fe Bobcats professional football team. This is offensive lineman Stephen Harrison, and housekeeper Margaret Logan’s storyline. TAKES TWO TO TACKLE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives TAKES TWO TO TACKLE focuses on Stephen Harrison’s physical and emotional recovery following a three month stint at rehab for alcohol abuse. Without any means of personal support at home, Stephen lies to the Santa Fe Bobcat staff saying his ‘girlfriend’ will aid in his at-home recovery. Enter Margaret Logan-Stephen’s part time housekeeper- and the woman who will steal his heart. Stephen offers Margaret a business arrangement whereby he will double her wages if she pretends to be his live-in girlfriend. There is an expiry date on their ‘faux’ relationship, and with it will come heartbreak and the loss of friendship and love.
TAKES TO TWO TACKLE looks at the long road to recovery as Stephen’s cravings increase with exposure to his ‘drug’ of choice. While the other players enjoy a beer or two with friends, Stephen craves what it is he cannot have.
The relationship between Stephen and Mags begins as employee/employer to friends to something more. Mags (as she likes to be called) is a part time housekeeper for a number of Stephen’s teammates, and in this many of the players and their wives have grown close to the woman that Stephen wants to call his own. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive.
Many of the previous storyline couples and characters play secondary and supporting roles. We are re-introduced to Cassie and Trey (One Night With a Quarterback #1), and Aileen and Killian (Loving Him Off The Field #2). There is some personal trouble brewing for the Santa Fe Bobcats head coach, and his two youngest daughters will begin to act out accordingly, looking for support from an outside source. Cassie’s friend Anya arrives in time to save Mags from a fashion disaster. Anya and Josiah’s story is next-ROMANCING THE RUNNING BACK.
TAKES TWO TO TACKLE continues to focus on the Santa Fe Bobcats professional football team: the players, the girlfriends and wives, the staff, the media and game day excitement. Jeanette Murray pulls the reader into the locker room, onto the field, and behind the scenes as the players navigate the world of professional sports. We are witness to Stephen’s struggles as he endeavors to regain some of the weight and muscle he has lost, as well as staying sober to maintain his position on the team and a positive direction in life.
Jeanette Murray writes a story about two people with issues of betrayal; personal insecurities; and professional demons. The premise is entertaining with some moments of fun and humor; the characters are likable, colorful and realistic; the romance is slow to build with a happily ever after.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 15, 2015
Sometimes faking it is your only option...
Football player Stephen Harrison has hit rock bottom—he’s fresh out of rehab, lost too much weight to be an effective offensive lineman, and has no support system in place. The Bobcats staff suggests he get a life coach to keep him sober and get him back into playing shape, but Stephen says his girlfriend will help. Too bad he doesn’t have one...
Luckily for Stephen, he does have a housekeeper. Margaret has always dreamed of starting her own elite cleaning service, and the money Stephen offers her to play the part of girlfriend is too good to pass up. But while Mags is helping Stephen bulk up and get ready for training camp, she can’t seem to block the feelings crashing into her heart. And one night of passion will pull both of their heads out of the game.
••••••••••
REVIEW: TAKES TWO TO TACKLE is the third installment in Jeanette Murray’s contemporary, adult SANTA FE BOBCATS erotic romance series focusing on the men and women of the Santa Fe Bobcats professional football team. This is offensive lineman Stephen Harrison, and housekeeper Margaret Logan’s storyline. TAKES TWO TO TACKLE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from previous storylines is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives TAKES TWO TO TACKLE focuses on Stephen Harrison’s physical and emotional recovery following a three month stint at rehab for alcohol abuse. Without any means of personal support at home, Stephen lies to the Santa Fe Bobcat staff saying his ‘girlfriend’ will aid in his at-home recovery. Enter Margaret Logan-Stephen’s part time housekeeper- and the woman who will steal his heart. Stephen offers Margaret a business arrangement whereby he will double her wages if she pretends to be his live-in girlfriend. There is an expiry date on their ‘faux’ relationship, and with it will come heartbreak and the loss of friendship and love.
TAKES TO TWO TACKLE looks at the long road to recovery as Stephen’s cravings increase with exposure to his ‘drug’ of choice. While the other players enjoy a beer or two with friends, Stephen craves what it is he cannot have.
The relationship between Stephen and Mags begins as employee/employer to friends to something more. Mags (as she likes to be called) is a part time housekeeper for a number of Stephen’s teammates, and in this many of the players and their wives have grown close to the woman that Stephen wants to call his own. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive.
Many of the previous storyline couples and characters play secondary and supporting roles. We are re-introduced to Cassie and Trey (One Night With a Quarterback #1), and Aileen and Killian (Loving Him Off The Field #2). There is some personal trouble brewing for the Santa Fe Bobcats head coach, and his two youngest daughters will begin to act out accordingly, looking for support from an outside source. Cassie’s friend Anya arrives in time to save Mags from a fashion disaster. Anya and Josiah’s story is next-ROMANCING THE RUNNING BACK.
TAKES TWO TO TACKLE continues to focus on the Santa Fe Bobcats professional football team: the players, the girlfriends and wives, the staff, the media and game day excitement. Jeanette Murray pulls the reader into the locker room, onto the field, and behind the scenes as the players navigate the world of professional sports. We are witness to Stephen’s struggles as he endeavors to regain some of the weight and muscle he has lost, as well as staying sober to maintain his position on the team and a positive direction in life.
Jeanette Murray writes a story about two people with issues of betrayal; personal insecurities; and professional demons. The premise is entertaining with some moments of fun and humor; the characters are likable, colorful and realistic; the romance is slow to build with a happily ever after.
Copy supplied by the publisher through Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
January 1, 2016
This review was originally published on Latte Nights Reviews on 10.7.15.
This is my first time reading a book from this series. I already bought the previous books because after reading this one, I definitely want to know about the other Santa Fe Bobcats' players. I was happy to not feel lost while reading this book and I believe it can be read as a standalone.
Stephen was recently released from rehab for his alcohol addiction and he is trying his hardest to stay sober and to not give in to temptation. His coaches would love if he'd get a live-in coach to help him stay sober and keep his diet in check but that is the last thing Stephen wants so he tells them he has a girlfriend even when he doesn't. He proposes the deal to his housemaid Margaret and after much thought, she agrees but she has to guard her heart in the process and keep distance.
"I'm scared." There. He'd voice his true emotions out loud. [...] "I'm terrified I'm going to get out there and fail."*
Stephen is such a vulnerable character (lately, I love reading male characters who are vulnerable) but he is also so strong to get back into football after what he went through. He has to do even more exercise than the rest in order to get back the muscle mass he lost. I loved how he really was trying to stay in the right track and asking Mags for help took a lot out of him. He didn't want to see Mags as something else but slowly, he started to see her in a new light. Plus, he trusts her enough to offer the deal of becoming a couple and he even helps her out with starting a cleaning business.
When was the last time dressing a woman had been more erotic than undressing her? Never. That's when.*
Mags was not expecting this offer from Stephen. It would mean she'd have to quit her job as a housemaid for the rest of the team in order to help Stephen out. Mags really puts others before herself and this can be seen when she decides to help Stephen. She stops having a job to help him in the present but she also has plans for what she's going to do after—own a cleaning company—and Stephen is right there beside her through everything just as she is for him. She keeps his diet in check, helps him to not fall back into his addiction and overall, helps him to have a good time. Mags never thought Stephen couldn't do this. On the contrary, she always believed he would get back on his feet. As for Stephen, he knew he made a grave mistake and this is his last chance and he won't pass it up.
Also, if you have read the previous books, you won't be disappointed in this one since the characters make quite a few appearances and are there for Stephen 24/7 like good teammates and friends.
Overall, this story had great writing style. These humorous and vulnerable characters made for a great reading experience, with a touch of realism. The romance is not fast—it takes its time to build up slowly with the ultimate happy ending that every New Adult fan will enjoy.
*Quotes taken from advanced copy which may not end up in final copy.*
This is my first time reading a book from this series. I already bought the previous books because after reading this one, I definitely want to know about the other Santa Fe Bobcats' players. I was happy to not feel lost while reading this book and I believe it can be read as a standalone.
Stephen was recently released from rehab for his alcohol addiction and he is trying his hardest to stay sober and to not give in to temptation. His coaches would love if he'd get a live-in coach to help him stay sober and keep his diet in check but that is the last thing Stephen wants so he tells them he has a girlfriend even when he doesn't. He proposes the deal to his housemaid Margaret and after much thought, she agrees but she has to guard her heart in the process and keep distance.
"I'm scared." There. He'd voice his true emotions out loud. [...] "I'm terrified I'm going to get out there and fail."*
Stephen is such a vulnerable character (lately, I love reading male characters who are vulnerable) but he is also so strong to get back into football after what he went through. He has to do even more exercise than the rest in order to get back the muscle mass he lost. I loved how he really was trying to stay in the right track and asking Mags for help took a lot out of him. He didn't want to see Mags as something else but slowly, he started to see her in a new light. Plus, he trusts her enough to offer the deal of becoming a couple and he even helps her out with starting a cleaning business.
When was the last time dressing a woman had been more erotic than undressing her? Never. That's when.*
Mags was not expecting this offer from Stephen. It would mean she'd have to quit her job as a housemaid for the rest of the team in order to help Stephen out. Mags really puts others before herself and this can be seen when she decides to help Stephen. She stops having a job to help him in the present but she also has plans for what she's going to do after—own a cleaning company—and Stephen is right there beside her through everything just as she is for him. She keeps his diet in check, helps him to not fall back into his addiction and overall, helps him to have a good time. Mags never thought Stephen couldn't do this. On the contrary, she always believed he would get back on his feet. As for Stephen, he knew he made a grave mistake and this is his last chance and he won't pass it up.
Also, if you have read the previous books, you won't be disappointed in this one since the characters make quite a few appearances and are there for Stephen 24/7 like good teammates and friends.
Overall, this story had great writing style. These humorous and vulnerable characters made for a great reading experience, with a touch of realism. The romance is not fast—it takes its time to build up slowly with the ultimate happy ending that every New Adult fan will enjoy.
*Quotes taken from advanced copy which may not end up in final copy.*
December 3, 2016
This is the first book I have read in this series and my first book by this writer and I really enjoyed it.
The love story deals with addiction in a thoughtful caring way. It is a great sports romance. And the friends to lovers theme is well done.
Stephan is a wonderful hero with none of the alpha male man ho issues I dislike. He talks about his feelings. He has to as part of his recovery and has friends.
Mags is a wonderful working class heroine with her own support network and dreams. She is great.
Their relationship is honest and tender.
There, for me, is some silliness in the end which isn't needed if they would talk to each other sooner and then we would get more after time as a couple that would make the book better but very good fun and love overall.
I recommend!
The love story deals with addiction in a thoughtful caring way. It is a great sports romance. And the friends to lovers theme is well done.
Stephan is a wonderful hero with none of the alpha male man ho issues I dislike. He talks about his feelings. He has to as part of his recovery and has friends.
Mags is a wonderful working class heroine with her own support network and dreams. She is great.
Their relationship is honest and tender.
There, for me, is some silliness in the end which isn't needed if they would talk to each other sooner and then we would get more after time as a couple that would make the book better but very good fun and love overall.
I recommend!
May 18, 2020
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I wanted to read Stephen's story since he first appeared in the first book. He was a character that started evolving during the previous two books, ending with him in rehab after aknowledgeing he had a drinking problem.
So I was really looking forward this story and truth be told, I actually enjoyed it a lot. But. But... There was something missing. Lacking.
That's chemistry.
This is something that didn't happen with the first two books. I liked Cassie's and Trey's story, and also Aileen's and Killian's, but above all, I loved them together. While I like Stephen as a character the same way I liked Mags... They just didn't totally clock as a couple.
The beginning of their story was pretty good. With Stephen out of rehab and the coaches asking him to look for a life coach he doesn't want, Stephen ends in a fake relationship with his maid: Margaret. The best part is both of them knowing each other beforehand, not so much as to be considered friends (just employer and employee) but enough to feel comfortable together and not to get into a slow beginning.
Things go on nice and smooth, and although it's entertain to read I just didn't feel they were meant to be together. I kind of missed the turning point where both of them fall in love, or just that it seemed so unimportant that I missed it. And this is the issue I have with this third book: it's a good story, it has nice characters and and interesting story, but something doesn't work in the mix and the result even if edible, it is not mindblowing.
I don't need to check to know Josiah and Anya will be the next mains. It looks like there's some story in here we still haven't discovered and I'm intrigued by it, but I must confess Anya is not a character that attracts me... I'm probably wrong with her and will end up loving her as soon as I start the fourth book, but as now, I'm just not that appealed. That won't stop me from continuing this series, I'm liking it so far and I bet it will keep up.
I wanted to read Stephen's story since he first appeared in the first book. He was a character that started evolving during the previous two books, ending with him in rehab after aknowledgeing he had a drinking problem.
So I was really looking forward this story and truth be told, I actually enjoyed it a lot. But. But... There was something missing. Lacking.
That's chemistry.
This is something that didn't happen with the first two books. I liked Cassie's and Trey's story, and also Aileen's and Killian's, but above all, I loved them together. While I like Stephen as a character the same way I liked Mags... They just didn't totally clock as a couple.
The beginning of their story was pretty good. With Stephen out of rehab and the coaches asking him to look for a life coach he doesn't want, Stephen ends in a fake relationship with his maid: Margaret. The best part is both of them knowing each other beforehand, not so much as to be considered friends (just employer and employee) but enough to feel comfortable together and not to get into a slow beginning.
Things go on nice and smooth, and although it's entertain to read I just didn't feel they were meant to be together. I kind of missed the turning point where both of them fall in love, or just that it seemed so unimportant that I missed it. And this is the issue I have with this third book: it's a good story, it has nice characters and and interesting story, but something doesn't work in the mix and the result even if edible, it is not mindblowing.
I don't need to check to know Josiah and Anya will be the next mains. It looks like there's some story in here we still haven't discovered and I'm intrigued by it, but I must confess Anya is not a character that attracts me... I'm probably wrong with her and will end up loving her as soon as I start the fourth book, but as now, I'm just not that appealed. That won't stop me from continuing this series, I'm liking it so far and I bet it will keep up.
April 7, 2021
3.5 Stars
Grade=B-
Enjoyable, but the characters inability to have a proper conversation about their relationship got annoying
Grade=B-
Enjoyable, but the characters inability to have a proper conversation about their relationship got annoying
May 25, 2016
TAKES TWO TO TACKLE by Jeanette Murray: Keeping it Real
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
In this story, I really admire how Murray deals with alcoholism and its effects on friends, family, job, and relationships. I have, like many, had some experience with the recovery lifestyle. I thought she kept the internal aspect, and the effects aspect of Stephen’s sobriety very real.
Unlike the TV show ELEMENTARY, a modern mash up of Sherlock Holmes, Stephen’s choice of and relationship to his housekeeper/sober companion is not antagonistic. Margaret is the perfect choice for Stephen: she is discreet, sassy, and already friendly and devoted.
What happens is the fake relationship (two of the three books in this series faking some aspect of relationship is central to the plot). Is fake to real the big trope this year? As in the last book the play acting is due to a threat from the coach. The guy is obviously a douche, but seems to be learning something from changes in his personal life.
Oddly, in my entire dating career no one, rich or poor, ever suggested I be his fake girlfriend, fiancee or wife. Is it as easy NOT to fall in love with a rich man as it a poor one? Nor has that been the case for anyone I know.
When the idea starts off it is a straight up business proposition with no fakes-lover-with-benefits in the agreement. So, when things heat up, why can’t these tow talk about it? As it too often is, it is all about poor communication. Strange for someone who just got out of rehab.
Would you ever engage in a fake relationship for money? Well, I didn’t even think it was a ton of money?
I liked how his internal struggles with alcoholism were handled and how his friends helped him, but I thought it was recommended that people don’t start new relationships in the time right after rehab. Although the reasoning is diverse, websites I checked said this over and over. So, it seems strange that a new relationship would be okay with the coach, or that he would meet with a player about it without the team shrink present (since they had one).
“Oh, Stephanie” you might be thinking, “It’s just a romance novel!”
Okay, it is, but it is a romance novel that takes on a weighty issue so I am picky about it.
I was a little concerned about the rapid weight loss that is a big problem in Stephen’s career and the rapid gain back. It is hard to gain back as much as is implied on what seems to be a low-carb, high fiber, low-fat diet. And he lost 50 pounds in a month at rehab? I read that is unlikely unless he was over 250. Of course, not drinking multiple six-packs a day, and losing a ton of water could cause a lot of weight loss, but medically that could even be risky. I liked that he was concerned about his body image, not so much that he was damaged over it but that guys have similar issues to women that way.
Since the weight thing came up again and again through out the story it was an issue for me. As a former popular weight-loss program teacher, I know we had a problem if people lost over a certain amount each week, but attempts to find any actually decent medical information about it online was not possible. You can decide for yourself whether that is a problem for you.
Although there was room for improvement, I enjoyed the story. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of other story lines.
One nice aspect of the series is that the women involved with the players are friendly with each other and welcoming. That’s a big help to a newbie.
I have explained my verisimilitude issues and that I had was that I have seen too much fake to real relationship trope in stories lately and that poor communication masked real issues. I liked that house cleaning was seen as a profession and not something low that only desperate people do.
Despite my issues, the story was a go for me. It dealt with some very real issues and emotions, and in those it was touching.
http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
In this story, I really admire how Murray deals with alcoholism and its effects on friends, family, job, and relationships. I have, like many, had some experience with the recovery lifestyle. I thought she kept the internal aspect, and the effects aspect of Stephen’s sobriety very real.
Unlike the TV show ELEMENTARY, a modern mash up of Sherlock Holmes, Stephen’s choice of and relationship to his housekeeper/sober companion is not antagonistic. Margaret is the perfect choice for Stephen: she is discreet, sassy, and already friendly and devoted.
What happens is the fake relationship (two of the three books in this series faking some aspect of relationship is central to the plot). Is fake to real the big trope this year? As in the last book the play acting is due to a threat from the coach. The guy is obviously a douche, but seems to be learning something from changes in his personal life.
Oddly, in my entire dating career no one, rich or poor, ever suggested I be his fake girlfriend, fiancee or wife. Is it as easy NOT to fall in love with a rich man as it a poor one? Nor has that been the case for anyone I know.
When the idea starts off it is a straight up business proposition with no fakes-lover-with-benefits in the agreement. So, when things heat up, why can’t these tow talk about it? As it too often is, it is all about poor communication. Strange for someone who just got out of rehab.
Would you ever engage in a fake relationship for money? Well, I didn’t even think it was a ton of money?
I liked how his internal struggles with alcoholism were handled and how his friends helped him, but I thought it was recommended that people don’t start new relationships in the time right after rehab. Although the reasoning is diverse, websites I checked said this over and over. So, it seems strange that a new relationship would be okay with the coach, or that he would meet with a player about it without the team shrink present (since they had one).
“Oh, Stephanie” you might be thinking, “It’s just a romance novel!”
Okay, it is, but it is a romance novel that takes on a weighty issue so I am picky about it.
I was a little concerned about the rapid weight loss that is a big problem in Stephen’s career and the rapid gain back. It is hard to gain back as much as is implied on what seems to be a low-carb, high fiber, low-fat diet. And he lost 50 pounds in a month at rehab? I read that is unlikely unless he was over 250. Of course, not drinking multiple six-packs a day, and losing a ton of water could cause a lot of weight loss, but medically that could even be risky. I liked that he was concerned about his body image, not so much that he was damaged over it but that guys have similar issues to women that way.
Since the weight thing came up again and again through out the story it was an issue for me. As a former popular weight-loss program teacher, I know we had a problem if people lost over a certain amount each week, but attempts to find any actually decent medical information about it online was not possible. You can decide for yourself whether that is a problem for you.
Although there was room for improvement, I enjoyed the story. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of other story lines.
One nice aspect of the series is that the women involved with the players are friendly with each other and welcoming. That’s a big help to a newbie.
I have explained my verisimilitude issues and that I had was that I have seen too much fake to real relationship trope in stories lately and that poor communication masked real issues. I liked that house cleaning was seen as a profession and not something low that only desperate people do.
Despite my issues, the story was a go for me. It dealt with some very real issues and emotions, and in those it was touching.
September 18, 2015
My Review:
It's no huge surprise that I liked this one when I've liked the entire series. But this book was great just in the fact that Mags and Stephen feel so normal. Even though he's an NFL player, they both seem like people you would meet in the grocery store and strike up a conversation with.
We've seen Stephen's downward spiral in the other books in the series. He's a good guy. He just has a problem limiting his alcohol. He's an alcoholic, but when the book begins, he's just come out of rehab, 50 lbs lighter, and in a much healthier state. I like this Stephen, but now everything is up in the air. He's back in his house, in his daily life, and is terrified that he'll go back to drinking and being unhealthy. The first person to talk to him straight is his housekeeper Mags, and he really likes that about her. He also really likes that she kept up taking care of his house, even though he stopped paying her when he went to rehab. She's just really conscientious that way and he respects that.
But with his new recovering status, the team isn't so sure they can trust him to stay sober. Also, he was an offensive lineman (I think...he plays the position that keeps the QB safe), but now that he's lost so much weight, no one is sure he'll even be able to keep doing that...even if he does manage to stay sober. And I really liked how honest he is with just how hard this all is. I've read quite a few recovery stories and I think this is the most honest that a character has ever felt... with himself and with those around him.
I also really liked how self conscious he is about his body. This is a guy who's an elite level athlete, but was a bit flabby before rehab...he was supposed to be the "wall" guarding the QB, so that flab made sense and his coaches aren't happy that it's gone now. That self-consciousness hasn't gone away since he lost the weight. If anything he's even more aware of it now because he's not going through life "numb" anymore. In fact, he's a lot more aware of a lot of things now.
Seriously, this guy is such a nice guy... I picture him like a huge teddy bear, because even though he's lost the flab, he's still a big guy. But he's one of the good ones and Mags sees that.
And that brings us to Mags. I loved her and her compulsive organizing. She kept me smiling. Like Stephen, she's just a good person who deserves a break in life. And because both these characters are just such good, likable people, as a reader, I LOVED them getting together. At first it is an act, but their attraction never is...that's there from the very beginning which I find kind of humorous since Mags worked for him for 2 years before this. They just never noticed one another in that way before.
I loved the two of them together and really loved reading their story. This is a great NFL/sports story simply because it feels so authentic. These are all real-feeling people...not the perfect picture (or in some cases, REALLY, REALLY imperfect) the media puts out. The story was great and felt honest and real. I was totally caught up in their romance and drama and enjoyed reading the latest installment to this great series.
I liked it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
It's no huge surprise that I liked this one when I've liked the entire series. But this book was great just in the fact that Mags and Stephen feel so normal. Even though he's an NFL player, they both seem like people you would meet in the grocery store and strike up a conversation with.
We've seen Stephen's downward spiral in the other books in the series. He's a good guy. He just has a problem limiting his alcohol. He's an alcoholic, but when the book begins, he's just come out of rehab, 50 lbs lighter, and in a much healthier state. I like this Stephen, but now everything is up in the air. He's back in his house, in his daily life, and is terrified that he'll go back to drinking and being unhealthy. The first person to talk to him straight is his housekeeper Mags, and he really likes that about her. He also really likes that she kept up taking care of his house, even though he stopped paying her when he went to rehab. She's just really conscientious that way and he respects that.
But with his new recovering status, the team isn't so sure they can trust him to stay sober. Also, he was an offensive lineman (I think...he plays the position that keeps the QB safe), but now that he's lost so much weight, no one is sure he'll even be able to keep doing that...even if he does manage to stay sober. And I really liked how honest he is with just how hard this all is. I've read quite a few recovery stories and I think this is the most honest that a character has ever felt... with himself and with those around him.
I also really liked how self conscious he is about his body. This is a guy who's an elite level athlete, but was a bit flabby before rehab...he was supposed to be the "wall" guarding the QB, so that flab made sense and his coaches aren't happy that it's gone now. That self-consciousness hasn't gone away since he lost the weight. If anything he's even more aware of it now because he's not going through life "numb" anymore. In fact, he's a lot more aware of a lot of things now.
Seriously, this guy is such a nice guy... I picture him like a huge teddy bear, because even though he's lost the flab, he's still a big guy. But he's one of the good ones and Mags sees that.
And that brings us to Mags. I loved her and her compulsive organizing. She kept me smiling. Like Stephen, she's just a good person who deserves a break in life. And because both these characters are just such good, likable people, as a reader, I LOVED them getting together. At first it is an act, but their attraction never is...that's there from the very beginning which I find kind of humorous since Mags worked for him for 2 years before this. They just never noticed one another in that way before.
I loved the two of them together and really loved reading their story. This is a great NFL/sports story simply because it feels so authentic. These are all real-feeling people...not the perfect picture (or in some cases, REALLY, REALLY imperfect) the media puts out. The story was great and felt honest and real. I was totally caught up in their romance and drama and enjoyed reading the latest installment to this great series.
I liked it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.
August 29, 2015
When Stephen Harrison returns home from rehab, he finds himself a bit lost and in need of some supervision and guidance. And when a life coach is mandated by his team, he grasps at what he thinks is him most comfortable option. Margaret Logan has been cleaning Stephen's house for a couple of years, but now she can't resist this new opportunity. Even if it means uprooting her life for awhile to move in with him. She hopes the money will help her fulfill her other dreams. She just has to pretend to be his new girlfriend....and keep her own feelings in check.
She doesn't take his crap and keeps him in line. She's sassy, sweet, and organized. They find companionable rapport and routine that starts to get a bit too comfortable and tempting. They find themselves living a lie and in a precarious situation making it difficult to maintain their new status quo, but also hard to move forward. You can lie to others, but it is harder to lie to yourself or the one you are falling for.
I loved Stephen. He has always been the good friend, but it was obvious he has his own issues and demons. He always hid behind a facade with humor and used alcohol to cope. It is hard to see him struggle. He knows he has issues, limits, and needs support. But His vulnerability, fear, and real emotion is a good balance to his manly, tough football persona. He is at a point in his life where he is trying to get back on track, find motivation, and figure out what he needs to be fulfilled.
And Mags is a great heroine with backbone, tenacity, and a giving nature. She's real, a bit insecure, but independent minded and has her own goals. Most importantly she believes in Stephen and is willing to support his recovery.
I really liked them together. They have a good rapport and chemistry. But their communication skills did need help. They both have such fears and insecurities that it becomes a big jumbled mess of secrets, lies, hidden feelings, and misconceptions. There were so many parts in this book that I wanted to lock them in a room and force them to talk about what they were really feeling.
This is the third Santa Fe Bobcats book and both the couples from the previous books are featured in this one. I enjoyed getting more time with Trey and Cassie (One Night with a Quarterback) and Killian and Aileen (Loving Him Off the Field). Cassie's friend Anya, and her sisters Irene and Mellie are also back along with the guys' team mate and friend, Tobias who is always there to lend a hand. I am looking forward to Tobias' book Romancing the Running Back.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
She doesn't take his crap and keeps him in line. She's sassy, sweet, and organized. They find companionable rapport and routine that starts to get a bit too comfortable and tempting. They find themselves living a lie and in a precarious situation making it difficult to maintain their new status quo, but also hard to move forward. You can lie to others, but it is harder to lie to yourself or the one you are falling for.
I loved Stephen. He has always been the good friend, but it was obvious he has his own issues and demons. He always hid behind a facade with humor and used alcohol to cope. It is hard to see him struggle. He knows he has issues, limits, and needs support. But His vulnerability, fear, and real emotion is a good balance to his manly, tough football persona. He is at a point in his life where he is trying to get back on track, find motivation, and figure out what he needs to be fulfilled.
And Mags is a great heroine with backbone, tenacity, and a giving nature. She's real, a bit insecure, but independent minded and has her own goals. Most importantly she believes in Stephen and is willing to support his recovery.
I really liked them together. They have a good rapport and chemistry. But their communication skills did need help. They both have such fears and insecurities that it becomes a big jumbled mess of secrets, lies, hidden feelings, and misconceptions. There were so many parts in this book that I wanted to lock them in a room and force them to talk about what they were really feeling.
This is the third Santa Fe Bobcats book and both the couples from the previous books are featured in this one. I enjoyed getting more time with Trey and Cassie (One Night with a Quarterback) and Killian and Aileen (Loving Him Off the Field). Cassie's friend Anya, and her sisters Irene and Mellie are also back along with the guys' team mate and friend, Tobias who is always there to lend a hand. I am looking forward to Tobias' book Romancing the Running Back.
I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 27, 2016
5 "Gentle Giant' stars!
Cute, funny, sweet with a cool couple :)
Cute, funny, sweet with a cool couple :)
August 25, 2015
Ah the wait is over and finally we get Stephens book! I absolutely fell in love with this series and waiting for Stephen to fall in love was a long wait.
This book could be read as a standalone but I highly suggest getting to know Stephen and the challenges he faces from the beginning.
In this new read by Murray, Stephen is freshly out of rehab and his team is worried he will fall off the wagon. They suggest he gets a live in life coach since his family isn't around and he is a single guy. He ends up telling them that he does have a girlfriend to help with the recovery.
Stephen ends up asking his housekeeper Mags to move in and basically be his life coach to help him out. Mags works for an agency so when Stephen comes to her for help she will have to quit her job and move in. Mags has plans to open her own business one day and with the money Stephen is paying her she will be able to do it.
Neither of these two planned to fall for one another which was sweet and I love all the time they spent together and getting to know one another. Although Mags has worked for him for 2 years it was always professional and friendly.
This book had some humorous moments and I loved the banter with the players. Plus this football book has football scenes!! I enjoyed the attraction between these two characters and the suspense of when they would finally get together. It doesn't happen right away but the build up was well executed.
I recommend this book and this series. I hope this series will continue and we get more of the happily ever afters. Murray did an excellent job on the characters and their personalities. The plot was enjoyable and the ending was sweet with the whole check thing *dreamy sigh*
This book could be read as a standalone but I highly suggest getting to know Stephen and the challenges he faces from the beginning.
In this new read by Murray, Stephen is freshly out of rehab and his team is worried he will fall off the wagon. They suggest he gets a live in life coach since his family isn't around and he is a single guy. He ends up telling them that he does have a girlfriend to help with the recovery.
Stephen ends up asking his housekeeper Mags to move in and basically be his life coach to help him out. Mags works for an agency so when Stephen comes to her for help she will have to quit her job and move in. Mags has plans to open her own business one day and with the money Stephen is paying her she will be able to do it.
Neither of these two planned to fall for one another which was sweet and I love all the time they spent together and getting to know one another. Although Mags has worked for him for 2 years it was always professional and friendly.
This book had some humorous moments and I loved the banter with the players. Plus this football book has football scenes!! I enjoyed the attraction between these two characters and the suspense of when they would finally get together. It doesn't happen right away but the build up was well executed.
I recommend this book and this series. I hope this series will continue and we get more of the happily ever afters. Murray did an excellent job on the characters and their personalities. The plot was enjoyable and the ending was sweet with the whole check thing *dreamy sigh*
January 16, 2016
I really enjoyed this one. Stephen Harrison, linesman for the Santa Fe Bobcats football team has just returned from rehab for an addiction to alcohol. His career doesn't look good, he's lost 50lb in weight, and his coach says he needs a live-in accountability partner to make sure he stays in line. He tells them he has a girlfriend who will help him...which is a bit of a lie, well a big lie really.
Margaret has been Stephen's housekeeper for two years, and is surprised when he suddenly returns from rehab and then asks her to be his pretend girlfriend and his accountability partner and he will pay her so she can start her own cleaning company.
She agrees, but life without the bottle for Stephen is not an easy task.
The relationship between Mags and Stephen begins more as a friendship as she works to build Stephen up mentally and physically, I loved her determination and strength. Stephen was very nervous at times and needed his confidence building, he needed to be told he could do it and Mags was always there to tell him. Their feelings slowly became stronger and they became the perfect couple.
A very entertaining love story with great secondary character's and a wonderful storyline. I highly recommend this book. 5/5
Margaret has been Stephen's housekeeper for two years, and is surprised when he suddenly returns from rehab and then asks her to be his pretend girlfriend and his accountability partner and he will pay her so she can start her own cleaning company.
She agrees, but life without the bottle for Stephen is not an easy task.
The relationship between Mags and Stephen begins more as a friendship as she works to build Stephen up mentally and physically, I loved her determination and strength. Stephen was very nervous at times and needed his confidence building, he needed to be told he could do it and Mags was always there to tell him. Their feelings slowly became stronger and they became the perfect couple.
A very entertaining love story with great secondary character's and a wonderful storyline. I highly recommend this book. 5/5
August 24, 2015
Stephen's time very valuable, time with his woman is extremely valuable, "his phone rang on the coffee table, and he cursed . What the hell . . . Who the hell would dare interrupt him now?" At least Stephen knows he's built, he has no problem flaunting that fact, “I’d look pretty ridiculous with a smaller ***k, don’t you think? Big guy like me, walking around with a mini– hot dog for a p***s?” There are thing Stephen is clueless at like giving a girl proper time to arrange for things for special events, “I have two days to pick out a dress and heels and jewelry and find a place to get my hair done— and cut,” she added, picking up the end of her ponytail and staring at it like it had suddenly announced itself as her mortal enemy. “You can’t just spring this junk on me at the last minute!” I liked this book there was never a shortage of entertainment.
September 3, 2015
Awesome read from this new to me author! And yeah, I'm going back and reading more from her!! In this book we have Stephen Harrison out of rehab, out of shape, and fifty pounds lighter. Team management is glad to have him back but they are worried about him. Living alone, who is going to keep him on the straight and narrow?? To avoid having to deal with a team appointed "Life Coach", he tells the coach he has a girlfriend. Now where can he find one of those??? Margaret (Mags) has worked for Stephen for a while keeping his house orderly and clean. Working toward her goal of owning her own company soon. When Stephen makes her an offer to pretend to be his girlfriend, how can she refuse??
This was such a cute story. Loved these two characters as well as some of the other players on the team. I would definitely recommend this book!
This was such a cute story. Loved these two characters as well as some of the other players on the team. I would definitely recommend this book!
December 19, 2015
Great romance, and great *football* romance. One of the few where you think "okay yes, the hero actually does play football, and this is realistic."
I loved the heroine - she's so real, and earnest, and it's good.
Our hero is a good guy too, and it's always interesting to see a guy with body image issues ... and then the recovering aspect.
I don't know the 12 step program, but I found the story realistic, yet still a sweet and fulfilling romance, and quite enjoyable.
I think it was my first book by Jeanette Murray and it totally made me want to read more. (So then I read her boxing book(s) because I liked those blurbs.)
B+
I loved the heroine - she's so real, and earnest, and it's good.
Our hero is a good guy too, and it's always interesting to see a guy with body image issues ... and then the recovering aspect.
I don't know the 12 step program, but I found the story realistic, yet still a sweet and fulfilling romance, and quite enjoyable.
I think it was my first book by Jeanette Murray and it totally made me want to read more. (So then I read her boxing book(s) because I liked those blurbs.)
B+
December 3, 2015
So this is probably more like 3.5. I really liked the plot and the romance, but I found the writing somewhat lacking. Not even the prose itself, which was perfectly passable tbh, but something about the style. It felt rushed, in that things that probably needed more page time were handled in a few paragraphs.
This was a fast read and a perfectly enjoyable romance. It could have been a little bit more, but still, pretty good company for me during my fun night of insomnia.
This was a fast read and a perfectly enjoyable romance. It could have been a little bit more, but still, pretty good company for me during my fun night of insomnia.
September 20, 2015
3.5 to 3.75
August 19, 2015
*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Berkley*
September 20, 2015
3.5 Stephen Loving Stars!
Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Intermix | Penguin Group
It has felt like forever since we have had a Santa Fe Bobcats book to read and I've always wondered how Stephen was going to fair in rehab.
Oh! Poor Stephen. His life is about to change big time, if he can keep sober. Now that he's out of rehab, everything has to change or he'll be off the team. Not wanting to use a life coach as an accountability partner he convinces his feisty housekeeper to take on that role as well as be his fake girlfriend.
You know whenever there's the role of fake girlfriend and fake boyfriend that they're going to run into trouble, if any feelings get involved. And these two fell victim to this exact problem. (Like we didn't see that coming. )
Even when drunk, I have loved Stephen throughout the series, so now that he's sober, he's ten times better. You feel his struggles and tribulations. You also get to see that he's a huge sweetheart behind his jock ways.
When he needed a fake girlfriend, he knew exactly who he wanted as Margaret (Mags) has always intrigued him. Mags, needs the money so she jumps at this opportunity even though she's a bit worried that her crush on Stephen might get in the way.
These two were adorable together, but once again another couple who falls victim the miscommunication mishap that's very prevalent in the romance genre.
Mags quickly falls for Stephen and continuously jumps to the wrong conclusion, with ever action Stephen makes. Instead of actually talking to him, or risking her feelings, she constantly takes the coward way out. Thankfully Stephen is bullhead enough to fight for what he wants otherwise, Mags would have dug herself a big lonely hole.
Takes Two to Tackle is part of a series but could be read as a standalone. However, I do recommend reading it as a series as Stephen's such a huge part that you can't but love him more by knowing him from the last two books.
Did I Love this book? No, but I did quite adore it. How can you now with a sweetheart like Stephen. Sure, he made his own assumptions and mistakes, but he owned them and dealt with them promptly. Did Mags annoy me like other heroines as of late? Not as much no. Sure, she has some slightly annoying moments but her quick turnaround helped lessen the annoying effect. Since sports romance is one of my guilty pleasures, did this book hit the spot? Yes, it did. It was cute & sweet.
Now that his book is done and we got to see more of Josiah and Anya in it, whom are two completely opposite people with completely opposite philosophies. I can't wait for their story, Romancing the Running Back, which comes out Jan. 19/16/
July 24, 2018
I enjoyed this one more than Book #2. Mags was pure joy, and the way she sort of blurts out things was a refreshing change from more "together" characters. The way she cares about others really speaks to the sort of person she is.
Stephen seemed a lot more clueless than someone with two sisters should be, but maybe that's because they're younger? (What was up with the large age gap, btw? That was never explained.) I liked how he sought out advice from the other guys, with very little griping about losing his imaginary "man card".
What I didn't like so much was how long it took for them to admit their feelings to each other. To themselves actually, although I'm not sure Stephen ever does more than admit to himself that he wants her around permanently. (Trey, btw, is totally right here. AA recommends you wait at least a year before starting a new romantic relationship.)
Still, all in all a more satisfying book than #2. Looking forward to Josiah's story!
Stephen seemed a lot more clueless than someone with two sisters should be, but maybe that's because they're younger? (What was up with the large age gap, btw? That was never explained.) I liked how he sought out advice from the other guys, with very little griping about losing his imaginary "man card".
What I didn't like so much was how long it took for them to admit their feelings to each other. To themselves actually, although I'm not sure Stephen ever does more than admit to himself that he wants her around permanently. (Trey, btw, is totally right here. AA recommends you wait at least a year before starting a new romantic relationship.)
Still, all in all a more satisfying book than #2. Looking forward to Josiah's story!
November 24, 2019
3.75- ish stars
TTTT is definitely my favorite of the series so far. Everything between Stephen and Margaret flows easily and their story is enjoyable. Stephen straight out of rehab is told if he wants to keep his spot on the team that he needs a life coach. Instead of letting them appoint him one, he tells them his “imaginary” girlfriend will keep him on the straight and narrow. Now he just has to convince Mags to go a long with his plan. While I did like this more than the previous two books, I still wanted something more from the story. Not something I can put my finger on. Maybe a bit more conflict could’ve really pushed it past the strong 4 star rating.
TTTT is definitely my favorite of the series so far. Everything between Stephen and Margaret flows easily and their story is enjoyable. Stephen straight out of rehab is told if he wants to keep his spot on the team that he needs a life coach. Instead of letting them appoint him one, he tells them his “imaginary” girlfriend will keep him on the straight and narrow. Now he just has to convince Mags to go a long with his plan. While I did like this more than the previous two books, I still wanted something more from the story. Not something I can put my finger on. Maybe a bit more conflict could’ve really pushed it past the strong 4 star rating.
August 30, 2024
The relationship between Stephen and Mags was pretty cute. I liked reading it go from friendship to love. The support Mags and his friends gave Stephen was great. I wouldn't say that the fake dating aspect was great, it was used more for drama later in the book but I would say the fake dating was actually minimal. I found the idea of dating the second Stephen's out of rehab a bit iffy though. I think I would have preferred him a bit more stable in his own sobriety without her, but I suppose that would require a different plot.
I considered reading further into the series, but I'm not crazy about Anya and the remaining books don't really appeal to me.
I considered reading further into the series, but I'm not crazy about Anya and the remaining books don't really appeal to me.
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