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13 days and 05:13:37
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Football and Feels #2
Chasing the Rush
Win a free print copy of this book!
13 days and 05:13:37
25 copies available
U.S. only
Rudy
meets
Moneyball
in a sexy yet warm-hearted, second-chance football romance for fans of Sarah Adams, Tessa Bailey, Monica Murphy, Kristen Callihan, and Lucy Score, as the analytical, math-nerd, type-A daughter of a tough love coach is assigned to babysit the team’s adrenaline junkie pass rusher.
Chelsea Parker, 26, knows football, thanks to growing up with a football coach for a father and two linebackers for brothers. But Chelsea’s true passion has always been crunching numbers to predict statistical outcomes for everything from football to stocks to romance. Chelsea dreams of merging her two passions to become the first female head of analytics for an NFL team. But for now, she’s got to convince the powers-that-be at her father’s new team, the Mastodons, the worst in the NFL, to give her that entry-level position in the front office.
Luca Maguire, 26, a pass rusher and adrenaline junkie with a famous last name, knows this upcoming training camp with his new team, the Mastodons, will likely be his last, if he can’t get out of his own way long enough to make the cut. The dire nature of his circumstances is the only reason Luca didn’t quit on the spot when Coach Parker assigned his daughter, Chelsea, a statistics-loving, spreadsheet-making math nerd, as Luca’s “personal coach” for the duration of camp. More like his babysitter, if you ask Luca.
Well, okay, Luca didn’t quit for that reason and another the thing that happened seven years ago between Luca and Chelsea as strangers, when Luca’s college football team stayed at the same hotel as Chelsea’s mathletes squad. Luca would never admit this to Chelsea, especially not with her being Coach’s daughter and the newly assigned bane of his existence, but the truth is Luca hasn’t stopped thinking about that cute little mathlete who ditched his ass seven years ago, right before their clothes came off, ever since.
Chelsea Parker, 26, knows football, thanks to growing up with a football coach for a father and two linebackers for brothers. But Chelsea’s true passion has always been crunching numbers to predict statistical outcomes for everything from football to stocks to romance. Chelsea dreams of merging her two passions to become the first female head of analytics for an NFL team. But for now, she’s got to convince the powers-that-be at her father’s new team, the Mastodons, the worst in the NFL, to give her that entry-level position in the front office.
Luca Maguire, 26, a pass rusher and adrenaline junkie with a famous last name, knows this upcoming training camp with his new team, the Mastodons, will likely be his last, if he can’t get out of his own way long enough to make the cut. The dire nature of his circumstances is the only reason Luca didn’t quit on the spot when Coach Parker assigned his daughter, Chelsea, a statistics-loving, spreadsheet-making math nerd, as Luca’s “personal coach” for the duration of camp. More like his babysitter, if you ask Luca.
Well, okay, Luca didn’t quit for that reason and another the thing that happened seven years ago between Luca and Chelsea as strangers, when Luca’s college football team stayed at the same hotel as Chelsea’s mathletes squad. Luca would never admit this to Chelsea, especially not with her being Coach’s daughter and the newly assigned bane of his existence, but the truth is Luca hasn’t stopped thinking about that cute little mathlete who ditched his ass seven years ago, right before their clothes came off, ever since.
Audible Audio
Published July 28, 2026
About the author
Lauren Rowe
66 books6,216 followersUSA Today and internationally bestselling author Lauren Rowe lives in San Diego, California, where, in addition to writing books, she performs with her dance/party band at events all over Southern California, writes songs, walks her dogs, and spends time with her family and friends.
Much to Lauren’s thrill, her books have been translated all over the world in multiple languages and hit multiple domestic and international bestseller lists. To find out about Lauren’s upcoming releases and giveaways, and to check out loads of bonus material, sign up for Lauren’s emails at www.LaurenRoweBooks.com.
Lauren loves to hear from readers! Send Lauren an email from her website, say hi on Instagram @laurenrowebooks, and/or come by her Facebook page by searching Facebook for “Lauren Rowe Author.”
Much to Lauren’s thrill, her books have been translated all over the world in multiple languages and hit multiple domestic and international bestseller lists. To find out about Lauren’s upcoming releases and giveaways, and to check out loads of bonus material, sign up for Lauren’s emails at www.LaurenRoweBooks.com.
Lauren loves to hear from readers! Send Lauren an email from her website, say hi on Instagram @laurenrowebooks, and/or come by her Facebook page by searching Facebook for “Lauren Rowe Author.”
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July 28, 2026
Chasing the Rush by Lauren Rowe
Football and Feels series #2. Contemporary sports romance. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Chelsea Parker knows football. It’s always been a part of her life. With her goal of becoming an analyst for an NFL team, she accepts an assistant job for the Mastodons under her father as head coach. With no official coaching experience in the NFL, but plenty of background in the field, she’s assigned to individually coach a new team member. He showed great possibilities in his college but has missed the mark in the professional level. This is pretty much his last chance. Chelsea would have done anything to avoid this particular player but if she can prove her skill and knowledge of the game, she might be able to win a job on the inside.
Chelsea and Luca Maguire met once before, seven years ago. Both her college math team and his college football team were staying at the same hotel one weekend. Sparks flew. Chelsea recognized him from his famous pro football playing brothers and because of city rivalry, didn’t tell him the truth about what school she was at. They had a (mostly innocent) beautiful evening together and that was it.
He never got over her.
Now she’s coaching him for a last chance at an NFL career. He’s not letting her get away this time.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook. The narrators are Andi Arndt and Corvin King in a DUET performance which is my favorite. The chapters alternate in POV for the two MC’s and any conversations between the two include both narrators. Listening to the story, it’s like watching the romance bloom in person. Both narrators have performed hundreds of stories and can create emotions and multiple character voices easily. They make this romance compelling and absolutely delightful with the banter and flirting. A wonderful way to experience this sports romance.
A STEM female and a he falls first troupe with low angst. He will do his best and wants the best for her.
He’s brothers teasing him about the unforgettable “Chelsea” was adorable.
Charming, swoony and smart, this romance is the perfect escape.
I received a copy of this NetGalley and RBMedia.
Football and Feels series #2. Contemporary sports romance. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Chelsea Parker knows football. It’s always been a part of her life. With her goal of becoming an analyst for an NFL team, she accepts an assistant job for the Mastodons under her father as head coach. With no official coaching experience in the NFL, but plenty of background in the field, she’s assigned to individually coach a new team member. He showed great possibilities in his college but has missed the mark in the professional level. This is pretty much his last chance. Chelsea would have done anything to avoid this particular player but if she can prove her skill and knowledge of the game, she might be able to win a job on the inside.
Chelsea and Luca Maguire met once before, seven years ago. Both her college math team and his college football team were staying at the same hotel one weekend. Sparks flew. Chelsea recognized him from his famous pro football playing brothers and because of city rivalry, didn’t tell him the truth about what school she was at. They had a (mostly innocent) beautiful evening together and that was it.
He never got over her.
Now she’s coaching him for a last chance at an NFL career. He’s not letting her get away this time.
🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook. The narrators are Andi Arndt and Corvin King in a DUET performance which is my favorite. The chapters alternate in POV for the two MC’s and any conversations between the two include both narrators. Listening to the story, it’s like watching the romance bloom in person. Both narrators have performed hundreds of stories and can create emotions and multiple character voices easily. They make this romance compelling and absolutely delightful with the banter and flirting. A wonderful way to experience this sports romance.
A STEM female and a he falls first troupe with low angst. He will do his best and wants the best for her.
He’s brothers teasing him about the unforgettable “Chelsea” was adorable.
Charming, swoony and smart, this romance is the perfect escape.
I received a copy of this NetGalley and RBMedia.
August 5, 2026
4.0 ⭐️
[4:36pm — 04/10/2026]
𐙚⋆°♾️⋆♡ 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
⤷ second chance
⤷ sports romance
⤷ forced proximity
⤷ coach’s daughter
𐙚⋆°♾️⋆♡ 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸
❛❛𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞, 𝐞𝐜𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲.❜❜
⤷ 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 by 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗻𝗱
-`♡´- 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 -`♡´-
First of all, thank you to Hambright PR & Netgalley for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review. This review discusses different areas of the book in detail, which may be perceived as a spoiler for some, so read at your own risk! <3
Let’s start off with Chelsea, our female lead. I really enjoyed her character. She was put in a difficult position with her past colliding with present, and in the worst possible way, in her field of work. I think it’s important that authors continue to write women in male dominated fields, especially in sports.
Chelsea’s character was portrayed in such a manner that I found inspiring. This was still a romcom, but I loved the focus on her character in the sports field. One thing however I didn’t like is how Chelsea got repetitive and boring, despite her character having so much power, a little more could’ve been better.
Moving on to Luca. I really had fun reading his character. The flashback scenes with Chelsea were so sweet, I nearly melted like the ice cream. He was put in an unfortunate predicament with his American Football career, but I’m a firm believer in everything happens for a reason.
I’d also like to point out Luca’s character development. In the beginning, I wasn’t a fan of him (after the flashbacks). It took a while to like him again because he was just being odd around Chelsea. I wish he wasn’t possessive, but it tied up the story so it’s fine.
As for the plot. It was fun. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t entirely hooked. It took me a moment to get there, and thankfully I did have the patience to continue reading this book, because I adore anything sports romance (and I was in a good mood). Though others may struggle reading this. What hooked me straight up was the flashback scenes, if you’d call it that?
The story starts off with the leads in college, so a prequel. If you know me, you know how much I adore flashback scenes, and I loved it. However, it had its flaws. I personally think it was too long, and kind of wished some parts stayed out so we could get those specific flashbacks between present chapters.
Additional characters. They were fun and exciting to read, however, personally, they weren’t too memorable except for Chelsea’s dad and Luca’s brother. The whole rivalry concept was so funny to me and I love these kind of sub plots, it adds to the comedy part of it. It was hilarious, and I genuinely enjoyed it. Did I think some parts were corny? Kind of, yes. But, overall, it was still lovely having them carrying the comedic subplot.
Overall, I think this book is definitely worth a read if you’re interested in sports romance and lots of banter. Genuinely recommend it if you’re into the tropes listed above :)
Chelsea and Luca? I love you weirdos, dearly <3
[5:06pm — 04/10/2026]
[4:36pm — 04/10/2026]
𐙚⋆°♾️⋆♡ 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀
⤷ second chance
⤷ sports romance
⤷ forced proximity
⤷ coach’s daughter
𐙚⋆°♾️⋆♡ 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸
❛❛𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐞, 𝐞𝐜𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐲.❜❜
⤷ 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒃𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒌 𝒎𝒚 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 by 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗻𝗱
-`♡´- 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 -`♡´-
First of all, thank you to Hambright PR & Netgalley for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review. This review discusses different areas of the book in detail, which may be perceived as a spoiler for some, so read at your own risk! <3
Let’s start off with Chelsea, our female lead. I really enjoyed her character. She was put in a difficult position with her past colliding with present, and in the worst possible way, in her field of work. I think it’s important that authors continue to write women in male dominated fields, especially in sports.
Chelsea’s character was portrayed in such a manner that I found inspiring. This was still a romcom, but I loved the focus on her character in the sports field. One thing however I didn’t like is how Chelsea got repetitive and boring, despite her character having so much power, a little more could’ve been better.
Moving on to Luca. I really had fun reading his character. The flashback scenes with Chelsea were so sweet, I nearly melted like the ice cream. He was put in an unfortunate predicament with his American Football career, but I’m a firm believer in everything happens for a reason.
I’d also like to point out Luca’s character development. In the beginning, I wasn’t a fan of him (after the flashbacks). It took a while to like him again because he was just being odd around Chelsea. I wish he wasn’t possessive, but it tied up the story so it’s fine.
As for the plot. It was fun. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t entirely hooked. It took me a moment to get there, and thankfully I did have the patience to continue reading this book, because I adore anything sports romance (and I was in a good mood). Though others may struggle reading this. What hooked me straight up was the flashback scenes, if you’d call it that?
The story starts off with the leads in college, so a prequel. If you know me, you know how much I adore flashback scenes, and I loved it. However, it had its flaws. I personally think it was too long, and kind of wished some parts stayed out so we could get those specific flashbacks between present chapters.
Additional characters. They were fun and exciting to read, however, personally, they weren’t too memorable except for Chelsea’s dad and Luca’s brother. The whole rivalry concept was so funny to me and I love these kind of sub plots, it adds to the comedy part of it. It was hilarious, and I genuinely enjoyed it. Did I think some parts were corny? Kind of, yes. But, overall, it was still lovely having them carrying the comedic subplot.
Overall, I think this book is definitely worth a read if you’re interested in sports romance and lots of banter. Genuinely recommend it if you’re into the tropes listed above :)
Chelsea and Luca? I love you weirdos, dearly <3
[5:06pm — 04/10/2026]
August 3, 2026
Thank you to RB Media and author Lauren Rowe, for providing me with the ALC of “Chasing The Rush”.
💭My Thoughts
Corbin and Andi did a wonderful job narrating this story. I love both these narrators so it’s always an easy yes when they are on the list.
I loved that this book didn’t gloss over how hard it is to be a female in professional sports. Especially when your dad is the one who got you a job. Chelsea really put in the work to show why she should be taken more seriously.
Luca is just all green flags. His only fault being he acts before he think… And sometimes that makes you want to shake him. But it’s also a reason to love him more.
❣️Tropes❣️
Football Romance
Coach's Daughter
Forbidden Romance
He Falls First
Opposites Attract
Second Chance
FMC in STEM
🩵RATING🩵
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Level: 🌶️
Length: 320 Pages
🎧Single Narration 11h 55m at 2x
🎙️Andi Arndt and Corbin King
Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publisher: RB Media
💭My Thoughts
Corbin and Andi did a wonderful job narrating this story. I love both these narrators so it’s always an easy yes when they are on the list.
I loved that this book didn’t gloss over how hard it is to be a female in professional sports. Especially when your dad is the one who got you a job. Chelsea really put in the work to show why she should be taken more seriously.
Luca is just all green flags. His only fault being he acts before he think… And sometimes that makes you want to shake him. But it’s also a reason to love him more.
❣️Tropes❣️
Football Romance
Coach's Daughter
Forbidden Romance
He Falls First
Opposites Attract
Second Chance
FMC in STEM
🩵RATING🩵
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice Level: 🌶️
Length: 320 Pages
🎧Single Narration 11h 55m at 2x
🎙️Andi Arndt and Corbin King
Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publisher: RB Media
July 28, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This book was so cute and swooning well more specifically Luca was so cute and swooning. I love when the MCs meet early in their life and form some type of relationships to later being separated gah my favorite!!
The second chance romance takes the spotlight in this story. Ever thought their meeting was brief Luca and Chelsie never forgot each other. Always chasing that feeling they experienced on their short encounter. So of course when they meet again Lucas is determined to never let her go again.
He was the cutest always sneaking out climbing walls to see her and Chelsie always giving him a good run for his money 😆 thought of course she couldn’t resist him!! This was a perfect he fell first and at first sight😍
Both characters in this story were green flags always looking out for each other. Both had an amazing character growth and I was happy to see them both accomplish their dream together side by side.
💕Thanks to Kensington Books for the gifted ARC
This book was so cute and swooning well more specifically Luca was so cute and swooning. I love when the MCs meet early in their life and form some type of relationships to later being separated gah my favorite!!
The second chance romance takes the spotlight in this story. Ever thought their meeting was brief Luca and Chelsie never forgot each other. Always chasing that feeling they experienced on their short encounter. So of course when they meet again Lucas is determined to never let her go again.
He was the cutest always sneaking out climbing walls to see her and Chelsie always giving him a good run for his money 😆 thought of course she couldn’t resist him!! This was a perfect he fell first and at first sight😍
Both characters in this story were green flags always looking out for each other. Both had an amazing character growth and I was happy to see them both accomplish their dream together side by side.
💕Thanks to Kensington Books for the gifted ARC
July 29, 2026
This was a fun second book to this series and could also be read as a standalone. I loved the classic math nerd x football player trope and these two were fun together. They had good banter and Luca's constant flirting and determination to win Parker over was funny. Luca is the biggest golden retriever. The "she coaches him" trope was a fun addition and really made sense for the story. I loved Parker's determination to prove herself and her role in the male dominated world of football. She had goals and aspirations and she was going to make them happen for herself. Overall, a a cute and enjoyable audiobook listen.
August 3, 2026
4.25🌟, 3🌶️
This had so many of my favorite things packed into one story.
I was especially excited for this one because Chelsea is a heroine in STEM, and I absolutely loved that about her. As a fellow math nerd, it was so refreshing to read about a woman who was unapologetically intelligent and passionate about her career. It took me a few chapters to fully settle into the story, but once Luca and Chelsea reunited, I was happily along for the ride.
Luca was such an easy hero to love. He fell first, never really moved on, and his quiet devotion to Chelsea made every interaction between them so sweet. Their chemistry felt natural, and I loved how the football world, workplace dynamic, and second chance romance all came together without taking the focus away from their relationship. The football elements also added a level of authenticity that made the story even more enjoyable.
This was a fun, heartwarming sports romance with plenty of charm, banter, and lovable characters. More than anything, Chelsea made this one stand out for me, and I really hope we get more heroines like her.
If you enjoy second chance romances, cinnamon roll heroes, and women in STEM, this is definitely worth picking up.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Lauren Rowe, Hambright PR, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
This had so many of my favorite things packed into one story.
I was especially excited for this one because Chelsea is a heroine in STEM, and I absolutely loved that about her. As a fellow math nerd, it was so refreshing to read about a woman who was unapologetically intelligent and passionate about her career. It took me a few chapters to fully settle into the story, but once Luca and Chelsea reunited, I was happily along for the ride.
Luca was such an easy hero to love. He fell first, never really moved on, and his quiet devotion to Chelsea made every interaction between them so sweet. Their chemistry felt natural, and I loved how the football world, workplace dynamic, and second chance romance all came together without taking the focus away from their relationship. The football elements also added a level of authenticity that made the story even more enjoyable.
This was a fun, heartwarming sports romance with plenty of charm, banter, and lovable characters. More than anything, Chelsea made this one stand out for me, and I really hope we get more heroines like her.
If you enjoy second chance romances, cinnamon roll heroes, and women in STEM, this is definitely worth picking up.
~~~~
Huge thank you to Lauren Rowe, Hambright PR, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
July 31, 2026
4,5⭐️
First of all, thank you so much to Hambright PR for providing me with an eARC of this book! 🩷
I enjoyed this one so much! It took me a little while to get into the story, but once I was hooked, I became completely obsessed. This was my first Lauren Rowe book and it definitely made me want to go back and read the first book in the series🥰
Luca and Chelsea’s first meet-cute was absolutely adorable and I loved seeing them reconnect a few years later🥹 Luca is such a green flag! Sweet, goofy and caring, while also knowing when to be serious. Chelsea is such a strong, determined woman who knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. I really loved her character! I do think the rivalry and all the hate surrounding the Maguire name was a little over the top, but I guess that’s sports for you😂
The progression of their relationship felt so natural and genuine. Watching them slowly fall for each other was beautiful and I was rooting for them the entire time🤭
I also really enjoyed the coaching aspect of the story! Luckily, I already knew a little about the NFL thanks to my boyfriend, which definitely helped me follow along. Even so, I thought it added a fun and unique element to the romance.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this one! It’s a second-chance romance done right: sweet, heartwarming and just an all-around fun read💕
First of all, thank you so much to Hambright PR for providing me with an eARC of this book! 🩷
I enjoyed this one so much! It took me a little while to get into the story, but once I was hooked, I became completely obsessed. This was my first Lauren Rowe book and it definitely made me want to go back and read the first book in the series🥰
Luca and Chelsea’s first meet-cute was absolutely adorable and I loved seeing them reconnect a few years later🥹 Luca is such a green flag! Sweet, goofy and caring, while also knowing when to be serious. Chelsea is such a strong, determined woman who knows exactly what she wants and isn’t afraid to go after it. I really loved her character! I do think the rivalry and all the hate surrounding the Maguire name was a little over the top, but I guess that’s sports for you😂
The progression of their relationship felt so natural and genuine. Watching them slowly fall for each other was beautiful and I was rooting for them the entire time🤭
I also really enjoyed the coaching aspect of the story! Luckily, I already knew a little about the NFL thanks to my boyfriend, which definitely helped me follow along. Even so, I thought it added a fun and unique element to the romance.
Overall, I would definitely recommend this one! It’s a second-chance romance done right: sweet, heartwarming and just an all-around fun read💕
July 31, 2026
4.75⭐
"How you do anything is how you do everything." – Chelsea
Dang, this is one of the sweetest love stories I’ve read in a while. The book ended and I’m still grinning like a fool. Chelsea and Luca’s chemistry was instant and electric. I loved Chelsea’s nerdy, analytical nature paired with Luca’s kind‑hearted, class‑clown energy. Watching them grow and meet in the middle was so perfect.
The forbidden edge of their relationship added the perfect mix of tension and spice. I kept waiting for a dramatic blow‑up, but Lauren Rowe kept the story light and heartwarming. I especially loved that Chelsea was just as immersed in the football world as Luca. Seeing a female lead take charge in a male‑dominated space and absolutely shine was everything.
This was duel pov with a duet narration performance. As usual the duet performance always makes the story feel more immersive and is my preference. Corvin King and Andi Arndt brought their A-game as usual. I basically love any of their work and this is no exception. Their voices were perfect for the characters! You could hear the smile in their words and they brought the story to life.
If you’re craving a sweet, low‑angst forbidden romance wrapped in football, this audiobook is a must. The author, narration, and characters are pure perfection. I’m already waiting to dive into the next Lauren Rowe story!
A big thanks to NetGalley, RB Media, and Lauren Rowe for this ALC!
"How you do anything is how you do everything." – Chelsea
Dang, this is one of the sweetest love stories I’ve read in a while. The book ended and I’m still grinning like a fool. Chelsea and Luca’s chemistry was instant and electric. I loved Chelsea’s nerdy, analytical nature paired with Luca’s kind‑hearted, class‑clown energy. Watching them grow and meet in the middle was so perfect.
The forbidden edge of their relationship added the perfect mix of tension and spice. I kept waiting for a dramatic blow‑up, but Lauren Rowe kept the story light and heartwarming. I especially loved that Chelsea was just as immersed in the football world as Luca. Seeing a female lead take charge in a male‑dominated space and absolutely shine was everything.
This was duel pov with a duet narration performance. As usual the duet performance always makes the story feel more immersive and is my preference. Corvin King and Andi Arndt brought their A-game as usual. I basically love any of their work and this is no exception. Their voices were perfect for the characters! You could hear the smile in their words and they brought the story to life.
If you’re craving a sweet, low‑angst forbidden romance wrapped in football, this audiobook is a must. The author, narration, and characters are pure perfection. I’m already waiting to dive into the next Lauren Rowe story!
A big thanks to NetGalley, RB Media, and Lauren Rowe for this ALC!
July 30, 2026
Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and Hambright PR for the gifted e-copy.
“But what I do remember vividly is thinking at one point, Christ almighty, this mathlete’s going to ruin me for anyone else.”
Vibes: past meet cute then fast forward
I liked the first book but I loved this second book. I’m not sure what resonated more the couple themselves or her being a huge nerd and sports lover. I love how he called her mathlete when they met again later in life.
Tropes:
Football
FMC in STEM
Coach’s Daughter
Forced Proximity
Opposites Attract
Second Chance
“But what I do remember vividly is thinking at one point, Christ almighty, this mathlete’s going to ruin me for anyone else.”
Vibes: past meet cute then fast forward
I liked the first book but I loved this second book. I’m not sure what resonated more the couple themselves or her being a huge nerd and sports lover. I love how he called her mathlete when they met again later in life.
Tropes:
Football
FMC in STEM
Coach’s Daughter
Forced Proximity
Opposites Attract
Second Chance
July 27, 2026
It took me a few chapters to settle into the story, but once I did, I was completely invested in these two. I’m such a sucker for a “he falls first” romance and this one definitely had me smiling. Add in the forced proximity and all the history between them, and I couldn’t help but root for them to figure things out.
I also liked that the football side of the story added to the plot without taking over. At its core, this was really about two people finding their way back to each other, and I thought Lauren did a great job making that journey feel believable.
Thank you to Hambright PR and Kensington for the ARC!
I also liked that the football side of the story added to the plot without taking over. At its core, this was really about two people finding their way back to each other, and I thought Lauren did a great job making that journey feel believable.
Thank you to Hambright PR and Kensington for the ARC!
August 2, 2026
4.5⭐️
2.5🌶️
🏈Mathlete / Football Player
🧡Opposites Attract
🏈Second Chance
🧡He falls First & Hard
🏈Workplace
🧡Coach’s Daughter
🏈She Coach’s Him
🧡Forced Proximity
🏈FMC in StEM
🧡Dual First Person POV
Chelsea & Luca first meet as freshmen in college. She’s there for a mathlete competition & he’s there for football. This is a perfect case of he falls first & hard. Luca spots Chelsea across the hotel dining room & decides to sit down. Their connection is immediate. Chelsea recognizes his last name because his brother destroyed her home team. However short their time together, they both still remember that night years later. Chelsea dreams of becoming the first female head of analytics for an NFL team. When her dad is hired by an NFL team, he brings her along to help get her foot in the door. Things get complicated when Luca shows up last minute for training camp. This is likely Luca’s last shot at a career in the NFL. When he spots Chelsea at training camp he is shocked she’s there & that she’s the coach’s daughter. Her father assigns her as his babysitter. She uses this as an opportunity to coach him to show what she can do. With so much on the line for both of them, they attempt to keep things professional. Except, it was a perfect storm of forced proximity, their history, & Luca’s unwavering determination to maker her his. I mean, the man literally climbed walls so he could see her. Their chemistry & connection was effortless. Chelsea is strong, determined, & unapologetically herself. Luca is swoony & hilarious golden retriever mmc, but underneath he’s struggling with the pressure of his last name & the fear of failure. I loved the balance of humor, emotional vulnerability, & sizzling chemistry. The laugh out loud banter was sharp & entertaining. Luca’s flirtation is next level golden retriever fun. With Chelsea’s coaching & encouragement Luca learned to put his head down, do the work, and not rely on his innate talent. I loved the contrast between the analytical mathlete & the high energy football player. Football wasn’t just the back drop to their story, it was a fun integral part of the their identities & ambitions. Although the beginning was a little slow, once they were back in each other’s lives it picked up speed fast. They’ve both been unintentionally chasing the rush of the connnection they’d felt during their first meeting. Now that they found each other again, they’re chasing the rush of success together. This was an all around fun romance that was sweet & spicy.
🚩Be sure to read the author’s note and content warnings before reading.
Plot: 4.5
Engaging: 5
Character: 4.5
Thank you Lauren Rowe, Kensington, and Netgalley for the gifted advanced copy.
📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads🐦🔥
A Few Favorite Quotes:
“$h!t. My promise not to flirt with Chelsea was an earnest one, but it’s suddenly clear it’s going to be tough to keep.”
“There’s no coming back from this moment for me. I’m a goner. Suddenly, I don’t care about the risks associated with going after the head coach’s daughter. I want Chelsea Parker, and I want her now.”
“Don’t worry about me. Now that I know your hopes and dreams are riding on mine, there’s no way in hell I’ll let either of us down.”
“If I pull off a sack tomorrow in whatever paltry minutes of playing time they give me, then promise you’ll jump my bones in celebration afterward.”
“Because meeting you was a once-in-a-lifetime rush for me, a feeling I’d never had before. And one I never had again, until I saw you again at training camp.”
2.5🌶️
🏈Mathlete / Football Player
🧡Opposites Attract
🏈Second Chance
🧡He falls First & Hard
🏈Workplace
🧡Coach’s Daughter
🏈She Coach’s Him
🧡Forced Proximity
🏈FMC in StEM
🧡Dual First Person POV
Chelsea & Luca first meet as freshmen in college. She’s there for a mathlete competition & he’s there for football. This is a perfect case of he falls first & hard. Luca spots Chelsea across the hotel dining room & decides to sit down. Their connection is immediate. Chelsea recognizes his last name because his brother destroyed her home team. However short their time together, they both still remember that night years later. Chelsea dreams of becoming the first female head of analytics for an NFL team. When her dad is hired by an NFL team, he brings her along to help get her foot in the door. Things get complicated when Luca shows up last minute for training camp. This is likely Luca’s last shot at a career in the NFL. When he spots Chelsea at training camp he is shocked she’s there & that she’s the coach’s daughter. Her father assigns her as his babysitter. She uses this as an opportunity to coach him to show what she can do. With so much on the line for both of them, they attempt to keep things professional. Except, it was a perfect storm of forced proximity, their history, & Luca’s unwavering determination to maker her his. I mean, the man literally climbed walls so he could see her. Their chemistry & connection was effortless. Chelsea is strong, determined, & unapologetically herself. Luca is swoony & hilarious golden retriever mmc, but underneath he’s struggling with the pressure of his last name & the fear of failure. I loved the balance of humor, emotional vulnerability, & sizzling chemistry. The laugh out loud banter was sharp & entertaining. Luca’s flirtation is next level golden retriever fun. With Chelsea’s coaching & encouragement Luca learned to put his head down, do the work, and not rely on his innate talent. I loved the contrast between the analytical mathlete & the high energy football player. Football wasn’t just the back drop to their story, it was a fun integral part of the their identities & ambitions. Although the beginning was a little slow, once they were back in each other’s lives it picked up speed fast. They’ve both been unintentionally chasing the rush of the connnection they’d felt during their first meeting. Now that they found each other again, they’re chasing the rush of success together. This was an all around fun romance that was sweet & spicy.
🚩Be sure to read the author’s note and content warnings before reading.
Plot: 4.5
Engaging: 5
Character: 4.5
Thank you Lauren Rowe, Kensington, and Netgalley for the gifted advanced copy.
📚All thoughts and opinions are my own📚
🐦🔥Follow me on socials @myrisingphoenixera.reads🐦🔥
A Few Favorite Quotes:
“$h!t. My promise not to flirt with Chelsea was an earnest one, but it’s suddenly clear it’s going to be tough to keep.”
“There’s no coming back from this moment for me. I’m a goner. Suddenly, I don’t care about the risks associated with going after the head coach’s daughter. I want Chelsea Parker, and I want her now.”
“Don’t worry about me. Now that I know your hopes and dreams are riding on mine, there’s no way in hell I’ll let either of us down.”
“If I pull off a sack tomorrow in whatever paltry minutes of playing time they give me, then promise you’ll jump my bones in celebration afterward.”
“Because meeting you was a once-in-a-lifetime rush for me, a feeling I’d never had before. And one I never had again, until I saw you again at training camp.”
August 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 rounded up to 5)
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Lauren Rowe for the physical ARC! 🩷
I absolutely loved this one! The tropes were right up my alley : a nerdy FMC, a football player, and a second chance romance? Say less. 🥹🏈
The MMC (Luca) completely stole the show for me. He's the class clown, always pulling ridiculous stunts to make his teammates laugh and never taking himself too seriously... except when it comes to her. He was giving major "if Ridoc was the MMC" energy, and I was absolutely here for it. 🤭❤️
The banter was top-tier, the chemistry was undeniable, and I had such a fun time reading this from start to finish.
This is the second book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. If you're looking for a fun sports romance with great characters, plenty of laughs, and a hero with serious Ridoc vibes, I highly recommend picking this one up!
Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Lauren Rowe for the physical ARC! 🩷
I absolutely loved this one! The tropes were right up my alley : a nerdy FMC, a football player, and a second chance romance? Say less. 🥹🏈
The MMC (Luca) completely stole the show for me. He's the class clown, always pulling ridiculous stunts to make his teammates laugh and never taking himself too seriously... except when it comes to her. He was giving major "if Ridoc was the MMC" energy, and I was absolutely here for it. 🤭❤️
The banter was top-tier, the chemistry was undeniable, and I had such a fun time reading this from start to finish.
This is the second book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. If you're looking for a fun sports romance with great characters, plenty of laughs, and a hero with serious Ridoc vibes, I highly recommend picking this one up!
July 25, 2026
Thank you RBMedia and NetGalley for the audio ARC
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chasing the Rush was another fantastic addition to this series! I absolutely loved the first book, and this one definitely kept the momentum going.
Chelsea and Luca were such a fun pair. I loved the mix of football, analytics, second chances, and all the banter between the numbers-loving heroine and the adrenaline-junkie football player. Their chemistry was effortless, and I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.
The audiobook was so enjoyable! I’m always a fan of dual narration, and it really brought these characters to life. Andi Arndt was, as always, phenomenal. She’s one of those narrators who makes every emotion feel authentic, and she completely elevated Chelsea’s character.
Lauren Rowe has created another addictive sports romance with plenty of laughs, heart, and swoony moments. If you enjoyed the first book in the series, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up. I’m already looking forward to seeing where this series goes next!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Chasing the Rush was another fantastic addition to this series! I absolutely loved the first book, and this one definitely kept the momentum going.
Chelsea and Luca were such a fun pair. I loved the mix of football, analytics, second chances, and all the banter between the numbers-loving heroine and the adrenaline-junkie football player. Their chemistry was effortless, and I found myself rooting for them from the very beginning.
The audiobook was so enjoyable! I’m always a fan of dual narration, and it really brought these characters to life. Andi Arndt was, as always, phenomenal. She’s one of those narrators who makes every emotion feel authentic, and she completely elevated Chelsea’s character.
Lauren Rowe has created another addictive sports romance with plenty of laughs, heart, and swoony moments. If you enjoyed the first book in the series, you’ll definitely want to pick this one up. I’m already looking forward to seeing where this series goes next!
July 28, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this audiobook.
This was a mostly fun time with a kick ass girlie I’m STEM, hilarious side characters and a fun setting. The football setting was fun, especially for someone who doesn’t know much about football as it was a big enough part of the plot where I learnt something without it overshadowing the romance.
It definitely felt more young adult than adult to me as the conflict was a bit juvenile and where Luca got his ridiculous audacity is beyond me. Dude seriously needed to get off his high horse of martyrdom, especially during the last third of the book. I found him to be a frustrating, surface level character whose own brother had more chemistry with the FMC. Their families and friends were fun additions to the plot providing some light hearted relief from the MMC’s ridiculous intensity. He gave me the vibe of the type of dude who gets flustered and embarrassed at being in the tampon aisle at the supermarket and would have watched TV while the FMC did all the housework. She wasn’t perfect either but Chelsea deserved better.
I enjoyed the FMC’s narrator but have always struggled with the MMC’s narrator as his voice is very breathy and I find it difficult to take seriously in intimate or serious scenes.
Overall it was fine but the banter was cringey and I would have run very far in the opposite direction from any man like the MMC.
This was a mostly fun time with a kick ass girlie I’m STEM, hilarious side characters and a fun setting. The football setting was fun, especially for someone who doesn’t know much about football as it was a big enough part of the plot where I learnt something without it overshadowing the romance.
It definitely felt more young adult than adult to me as the conflict was a bit juvenile and where Luca got his ridiculous audacity is beyond me. Dude seriously needed to get off his high horse of martyrdom, especially during the last third of the book. I found him to be a frustrating, surface level character whose own brother had more chemistry with the FMC. Their families and friends were fun additions to the plot providing some light hearted relief from the MMC’s ridiculous intensity. He gave me the vibe of the type of dude who gets flustered and embarrassed at being in the tampon aisle at the supermarket and would have watched TV while the FMC did all the housework. She wasn’t perfect either but Chelsea deserved better.
I enjoyed the FMC’s narrator but have always struggled with the MMC’s narrator as his voice is very breathy and I find it difficult to take seriously in intimate or serious scenes.
Overall it was fine but the banter was cringey and I would have run very far in the opposite direction from any man like the MMC.
July 31, 2026
For me, this audiobook made the book much more enjoyable! I nearly DNF'd the physical book 50 pages in, but given the chance to listen to the audio to immersively read it, I gave it another try. I'm so glad I did!
This sports romance was heavy on the sports, and banter! The banter and rival families/ hidden identity are what really sucked me in. The heavy sports aspects are what pulled me away from the story. But the audiobook made it so much better that I ended up really enjoying this story!
This sports romance was heavy on the sports, and banter! The banter and rival families/ hidden identity are what really sucked me in. The heavy sports aspects are what pulled me away from the story. But the audiobook made it so much better that I ended up really enjoying this story!
July 31, 2026
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, and RBmedia in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Chasing the Rush by Lauren Rowe was a fun continuation of the series, and there is no denying that the McGuire family is out here stealing hearts. Coming off of how much I absolutely loved book one, I went into this with incredibly high hopes and expectations. Sadly, while it had its moments and I couldn't put it down once I pushed past the awkwardness, it ultimately didn't live up to its full potential, landing at 3 stars for me.
There were definitely things I enjoyed, particularly getting a heroine in STEM. I always want more women who are unapologetically smart, and Chelsea delivered. I also didn't expect the football side of the story to work so well for me, but it did; it provided just enough to make the world feel authentic without ever overshadowing the romance. The first 75% of the book was pretty great, and seeing Luca and Chelsea work together and connect on a deeper level than they ever had with past partners was really sweet. I was genuinely rooting for them to get their HEA.
However, this book was heavily skewed toward New Adult, and much of the writing and conflict felt incredibly immature and juvenile. My absolute biggest complaint was Chelsea's over-the-top, zealous hostility toward Luca’s brother, Roman, all because of her family’s sports rivalry. Honestly, some of the stuff she said and did in "support" of her team was borderline unacceptable. Calling Roman "Satan" and being continuously hostile to him rubbed me entirely the wrong way. Girl, you are 25 years old, trying to be a professional—grow up! This exact sports rivalry was apparently the whole reason she "couldn't be with Luca" seven years ago because “what would her family think about consorting with the enemy?!” This star-crossed lovers bit got tired after the first 25%, and it knocked a full star off the book for me. I wanted to yell in frustration every single time it came up.
Similarly, Luca needed to chill. This is a dual POV book, so I would have loved to see some actual yearning and pining from him. Instead, the moment he sees Chelsea, eight years after a one-time make-out session, he immediately starts demanding answers in the middle of a team meeting. Dude, it has been nearly a decade. You met her once. Calm down.
The last quarter of the book is where it really lost me. The third-act conflict was predictable and childish, with Luca pushing her away after making a mistake to "set her free" because he sees himself as a "defective scrub." While I hated the trope, I could almost forgive it because the boy was clearly depressed and didn't want to drag her down, but the resolution was a massive stretch. Chelsea magically has an epiphany about why he broke up with her based on a random comment from Moriarty that didn't even make sense in context.
Combined with a sickly-sweet ending, I just wasn't feeling it by the time the pages stopped turning.
It was a fun time, but the cringy banter and juvenile conflict kept it at a flat 3 stars.
update 7/31/26
I received an ALC of the audiobook, which features duet narration by Andi Arndt and Corvin King. As a format, duet narration is fantastic. It definitely heightened the banter and gave those conversations a lot more energy.
Andi Arndt was absolutely great as Chelsea. Her voice is smooth, easy, and pleasant to listen to for hours on end, and her ability to cross ages and bring variety to different characters was excellent. A huge plus for a large extended cast like this book.
Corvin King was a bit of a mismatch for me. He’s a talented narrator, but Luca’s character felt far too silly and immature for the natural seriousness of King's voice. For the most part, he was fine, but as Luca’s actions became more and more ridiculous, the gravity of King's delivery felt completely incongruous with what was actually happening on the page.
Vocal performance was great, but not enough for me to raise my rating.
Chasing the Rush by Lauren Rowe was a fun continuation of the series, and there is no denying that the McGuire family is out here stealing hearts. Coming off of how much I absolutely loved book one, I went into this with incredibly high hopes and expectations. Sadly, while it had its moments and I couldn't put it down once I pushed past the awkwardness, it ultimately didn't live up to its full potential, landing at 3 stars for me.
There were definitely things I enjoyed, particularly getting a heroine in STEM. I always want more women who are unapologetically smart, and Chelsea delivered. I also didn't expect the football side of the story to work so well for me, but it did; it provided just enough to make the world feel authentic without ever overshadowing the romance. The first 75% of the book was pretty great, and seeing Luca and Chelsea work together and connect on a deeper level than they ever had with past partners was really sweet. I was genuinely rooting for them to get their HEA.
However, this book was heavily skewed toward New Adult, and much of the writing and conflict felt incredibly immature and juvenile. My absolute biggest complaint was Chelsea's over-the-top, zealous hostility toward Luca’s brother, Roman, all because of her family’s sports rivalry. Honestly, some of the stuff she said and did in "support" of her team was borderline unacceptable. Calling Roman "Satan" and being continuously hostile to him rubbed me entirely the wrong way. Girl, you are 25 years old, trying to be a professional—grow up! This exact sports rivalry was apparently the whole reason she "couldn't be with Luca" seven years ago because “what would her family think about consorting with the enemy?!” This star-crossed lovers bit got tired after the first 25%, and it knocked a full star off the book for me. I wanted to yell in frustration every single time it came up.
Similarly, Luca needed to chill. This is a dual POV book, so I would have loved to see some actual yearning and pining from him. Instead, the moment he sees Chelsea, eight years after a one-time make-out session, he immediately starts demanding answers in the middle of a team meeting. Dude, it has been nearly a decade. You met her once. Calm down.
The last quarter of the book is where it really lost me. The third-act conflict was predictable and childish, with Luca pushing her away after making a mistake to "set her free" because he sees himself as a "defective scrub." While I hated the trope, I could almost forgive it because the boy was clearly depressed and didn't want to drag her down, but the resolution was a massive stretch. Chelsea magically has an epiphany about why he broke up with her based on a random comment from Moriarty that didn't even make sense in context.
Combined with a sickly-sweet ending, I just wasn't feeling it by the time the pages stopped turning.
It was a fun time, but the cringy banter and juvenile conflict kept it at a flat 3 stars.
update 7/31/26
I received an ALC of the audiobook, which features duet narration by Andi Arndt and Corvin King. As a format, duet narration is fantastic. It definitely heightened the banter and gave those conversations a lot more energy.
Andi Arndt was absolutely great as Chelsea. Her voice is smooth, easy, and pleasant to listen to for hours on end, and her ability to cross ages and bring variety to different characters was excellent. A huge plus for a large extended cast like this book.
Corvin King was a bit of a mismatch for me. He’s a talented narrator, but Luca’s character felt far too silly and immature for the natural seriousness of King's voice. For the most part, he was fine, but as Luca’s actions became more and more ridiculous, the gravity of King's delivery felt completely incongruous with what was actually happening on the page.
Vocal performance was great, but not enough for me to raise my rating.
July 24, 2026
Our story begins seven years ago, when then 19 year old Chelsea Parker was away at a math competition, Chelsea is focused on one thing and one thing only: helping her team secure the win, she didn’t take into account that Luca Maguire a football legend in the making who’s college team happens to be staying at her hotel would flirt her socks off, after figuring out who Luca is she realizes her dad who’s a renown football coach has held a grudge against Luca’s two older brother’s since they have kept his team from winning on multiple occasions, that’s a huge red flag in Chelsea’s book since everyone in her family, herself included are diehard football fans and therefore despise the Maguires legacy. That’s why after the best kiss of her life she leaves Luca without an explanation.
Now 26 year old Chelsea dreams of becoming the first female head of analytics for an NFL team, so after her dad gets hired as the Mastodons (currently the worst team in the NFL) new coach she jumps at the opportunity to work with him and hopefully get a step closer to her ultimate goal, as only fate would have it none other than Luca Maguire gets traded to the team and let me tell you, his reputation precedes him, he’s now know as an adrenaline junkie who doesn’t take anything seriously and who also carries a famous last name that signifies a huge football legacy, since this could very well be his last shot at staying at the NFL Chelsea gets assigned as his “personal coach” for the duration of the training camp. After they immediately realize that they’ve met before and haven’t been able to stop thinking about each other for the past 7 years things are about to get messy, they both have a lot on the line and could lose everything, after all of this time their chemistry has not faded at all but it’s even stronger now, trying to navigate their personal and professional feelings just got way more complicated.
Let me start by saying I truly enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and the alternating timelines hooked me from the very start, I wanted to know how Chelsea and Luca’s paths would intertwine again plus I felt like I had front row seats to a defining moment that forever changed their story. I also loved that Chelsea was such a strong and determined FMC who was always unapologetically herself and refused to give up on her dreams of making it in a typically male dominated field. I truly enjoyed the banter and sizzling chemistry between our MMC and FMC, and found myself learning more about football than I ever thought possible!
This was my first Lauren Rowe book and it won’t be my last, I can’t wait to continue this series and see what book 3 will bring us, if you like second-chance football romances, math nerd FMCs, reckless MMCs and incredible banter then this is the book for you! Thank you so much to Lauren Rowe, Hambright PR and to NetGalley for the amazing story!
Now 26 year old Chelsea dreams of becoming the first female head of analytics for an NFL team, so after her dad gets hired as the Mastodons (currently the worst team in the NFL) new coach she jumps at the opportunity to work with him and hopefully get a step closer to her ultimate goal, as only fate would have it none other than Luca Maguire gets traded to the team and let me tell you, his reputation precedes him, he’s now know as an adrenaline junkie who doesn’t take anything seriously and who also carries a famous last name that signifies a huge football legacy, since this could very well be his last shot at staying at the NFL Chelsea gets assigned as his “personal coach” for the duration of the training camp. After they immediately realize that they’ve met before and haven’t been able to stop thinking about each other for the past 7 years things are about to get messy, they both have a lot on the line and could lose everything, after all of this time their chemistry has not faded at all but it’s even stronger now, trying to navigate their personal and professional feelings just got way more complicated.
Let me start by saying I truly enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and the alternating timelines hooked me from the very start, I wanted to know how Chelsea and Luca’s paths would intertwine again plus I felt like I had front row seats to a defining moment that forever changed their story. I also loved that Chelsea was such a strong and determined FMC who was always unapologetically herself and refused to give up on her dreams of making it in a typically male dominated field. I truly enjoyed the banter and sizzling chemistry between our MMC and FMC, and found myself learning more about football than I ever thought possible!
This was my first Lauren Rowe book and it won’t be my last, I can’t wait to continue this series and see what book 3 will bring us, if you like second-chance football romances, math nerd FMCs, reckless MMCs and incredible banter then this is the book for you! Thank you so much to Lauren Rowe, Hambright PR and to NetGalley for the amazing story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 30, 2026
⭐️3
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this ALC in exchange for an honest review. 🧡
I have to say I love a duet audiobook, and this one was so good. Both narrators brought so much personality to Chelsea and Luca, and it made it so easy to listen to the story. Even though I had some issues with the book itself, I would still recommend the audiobook because it made my reading experience more enjoyable.
When I started reading, the premise immediately intrigued me. I’m a huge fan of sports rivalries and any sort of forbidden romance. From the very first interaction between Luca and Chelsea, the chemistry was so obvious, and I couldn’t wait to see how their relationship would develop.
Unfortunately, as the story went on, it started to drag, and it was hard to stay invested. My biggest issue was with Luca. I understood that he is being put in a position where he needs to prove himself, but he came across as so immature and instead of coming off as charming it was really bothering.
Chelsea also tested my patience at times. I understood the rivalry she had, but she dragged it out too much. The fact that she was still letting a rivalry dictate her relationship with Luca and they had already been separated for seven years due to the rivalry made it just become exhausting and really repetitive.
Also, the repeated back and forth between Luca and Chelsea also became frustrating. They finally got to a point where they were making progress, and instead of communicating, they kept avoiding each other, especially when the third act break-up happened, I was so annoyed. Luca and Chelsea already spent so many years apart, so adding another separation just felt so unnecessary, and I feel like if they had just communicated, all of that could have been avoided
I enjoyed the ending, it was nice to finally see them get their happy ending, but I was still annoyed about everything that happened before.
Overall, I had a good time in the beginning, but this book wasn’t really memorable for me. However, I would definitely recommend the audiobook if you plan on reading this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this ALC in exchange for an honest review. 🧡
I have to say I love a duet audiobook, and this one was so good. Both narrators brought so much personality to Chelsea and Luca, and it made it so easy to listen to the story. Even though I had some issues with the book itself, I would still recommend the audiobook because it made my reading experience more enjoyable.
When I started reading, the premise immediately intrigued me. I’m a huge fan of sports rivalries and any sort of forbidden romance. From the very first interaction between Luca and Chelsea, the chemistry was so obvious, and I couldn’t wait to see how their relationship would develop.
Unfortunately, as the story went on, it started to drag, and it was hard to stay invested. My biggest issue was with Luca. I understood that he is being put in a position where he needs to prove himself, but he came across as so immature and instead of coming off as charming it was really bothering.
Chelsea also tested my patience at times. I understood the rivalry she had, but she dragged it out too much. The fact that she was still letting a rivalry dictate her relationship with Luca and they had already been separated for seven years due to the rivalry made it just become exhausting and really repetitive.
Also, the repeated back and forth between Luca and Chelsea also became frustrating. They finally got to a point where they were making progress, and instead of communicating, they kept avoiding each other, especially when the third act break-up happened, I was so annoyed. Luca and Chelsea already spent so many years apart, so adding another separation just felt so unnecessary, and I feel like if they had just communicated, all of that could have been avoided
I enjoyed the ending, it was nice to finally see them get their happy ending, but I was still annoyed about everything that happened before.
Overall, I had a good time in the beginning, but this book wasn’t really memorable for me. However, I would definitely recommend the audiobook if you plan on reading this book.
August 4, 2026
🏈 Tropes:
• Sports romance (football)
• Second chance romance
• Forced proximity
• Opposites attract
• Coach's daughter
• Workplace romance
• Math nerd FMC
• Golden retriever/playboy athlete MMC
• Small-town feel
• Dual POV.... And look at them edges🔥
I am so happy I stumbled across Lauren Rowe this year because she has quickly become one of my auto-read authors. Every book I've picked up has reminded me why I love sports romance, and Chasing the Rush was no exception.
Maybe it's just me, but why do books set in your hometown hit so much harder? 😂 Seeing Bloomington, Indiana woven into the story made everything feel more familiar and immersive. As someone originally from Indiana, I couldn't help smiling every time it came up. Does anyone else automatically love a book more when it's set somewhere that feels like home?
The chemistry between Chelsea and Luca was so much fun. I loved watching the analytical, numbers obsessed heroine clash with the cocky football star, and their history together made the tension even better. The banter, emotional moments, and football setting 🖤.
🎧 Narration: Andi Arndt & Corvin King absolutely delivered in every aspect. Listened at x1.25 speed.
Lauren Rowe continues to impress me, and I already can't wait to dive into more of her backlist.
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
• Sports romance (football)
• Second chance romance
• Forced proximity
• Opposites attract
• Coach's daughter
• Workplace romance
• Math nerd FMC
• Golden retriever/playboy athlete MMC
• Small-town feel
• Dual POV.... And look at them edges🔥
I am so happy I stumbled across Lauren Rowe this year because she has quickly become one of my auto-read authors. Every book I've picked up has reminded me why I love sports romance, and Chasing the Rush was no exception.
Maybe it's just me, but why do books set in your hometown hit so much harder? 😂 Seeing Bloomington, Indiana woven into the story made everything feel more familiar and immersive. As someone originally from Indiana, I couldn't help smiling every time it came up. Does anyone else automatically love a book more when it's set somewhere that feels like home?
The chemistry between Chelsea and Luca was so much fun. I loved watching the analytical, numbers obsessed heroine clash with the cocky football star, and their history together made the tension even better. The banter, emotional moments, and football setting 🖤.
🎧 Narration: Andi Arndt & Corvin King absolutely delivered in every aspect. Listened at x1.25 speed.
Lauren Rowe continues to impress me, and I already can't wait to dive into more of her backlist.
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the advance listening copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 8, 2026
I knew I was going to have a good time with this one the second I realized the FMC was a math nerd. As a fellow math nerd, I absolutely loved seeing a heroine in STEM. We get so many quirky girls in romance, but I want more women who are unapologetically smart, and Chelsea was exactly that.
I honestly didn’t expect the football side of the story to work so well for me, but it did. It was enough to make the world feel authentic without ever taking over the romance.
This definitely has more of a New Adult feel, but I didn’t mind that at all. Luca and Chelsea had great chemistry, and I had a lot of fun watching them find their way back to each other.
More than anything, though, Chelsea is what made this book stand out for me. Give me smart women, women in STEM, women who are passionate about something outside the romance, and I’ll happily read every single one
I honestly didn’t expect the football side of the story to work so well for me, but it did. It was enough to make the world feel authentic without ever taking over the romance.
This definitely has more of a New Adult feel, but I didn’t mind that at all. Luca and Chelsea had great chemistry, and I had a lot of fun watching them find their way back to each other.
More than anything, though, Chelsea is what made this book stand out for me. Give me smart women, women in STEM, women who are passionate about something outside the romance, and I’ll happily read every single one
July 29, 2026
Audiobook read/ALC
Overall: 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Ending: 3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨💫
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Narration: 4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (duet)
Sports rom-com that has the chemistry, the banter, and the he falls first and hard trope that will have you entertained. Luca and Chelsea were cute. Their attraction was undeniable, and their attempts at ignoring said attraction was fun to listen to. Loved that Chelsea was a fierce FMC.
The duet narration was a great way to experience this story. The plot moved swiftly, and you might find it easy to finish this in one setting.
Reminded me of the Windy City Series by Liz Tomforde. This was my first book by Lauren Rowe, but I would definitely pick up another one of her titles.
Overall, super cute sports romance that’s worth the listen.
Thanks NetGalley and Recorded Books for the ALC.
Overall: 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: 4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Ending: 3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨💫
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Narration: 4.25 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (duet)
Sports rom-com that has the chemistry, the banter, and the he falls first and hard trope that will have you entertained. Luca and Chelsea were cute. Their attraction was undeniable, and their attempts at ignoring said attraction was fun to listen to. Loved that Chelsea was a fierce FMC.
The duet narration was a great way to experience this story. The plot moved swiftly, and you might find it easy to finish this in one setting.
Reminded me of the Windy City Series by Liz Tomforde. This was my first book by Lauren Rowe, but I would definitely pick up another one of her titles.
Overall, super cute sports romance that’s worth the listen.
Thanks NetGalley and Recorded Books for the ALC.
July 16, 2026
Chasing The Rush was a super cute, super swoony, exciting, hilarious read that was perfect for summer! If you’re looking for something easy, steamy, and fun these two will give you all of that and more!
Luca and Chelsea have absolutely beautiful chemistry and quite literally cannot keep their minds off one another since the day they met (7 years ago!)
The one that got away, the coaches daughter, and now your coworker, this book has it all! I really enjoyed this one and Lauren knows just how to set a scene! It was my first but definitely won’t be my last by this author.
Thank you so much to Kensington for the ARC copy of this book!
🏈 Mathlete / Football Player
🧡 Second Chance
🏈 Forced Proximity
🧡 Coaches Daughter
🏈 She Coaches Him
🧡 Workplace Romance
🏈 He Falls First & Hard
Luca and Chelsea have absolutely beautiful chemistry and quite literally cannot keep their minds off one another since the day they met (7 years ago!)
The one that got away, the coaches daughter, and now your coworker, this book has it all! I really enjoyed this one and Lauren knows just how to set a scene! It was my first but definitely won’t be my last by this author.
Thank you so much to Kensington for the ARC copy of this book!
🏈 Mathlete / Football Player
🧡 Second Chance
🏈 Forced Proximity
🧡 Coaches Daughter
🏈 She Coaches Him
🧡 Workplace Romance
🏈 He Falls First & Hard
July 30, 2026
OMG this book is so cute! First, the duel narration is amazing - props to both narrators! I love Luca - he's such a sweetie and a goofball. I also love the football x statistics vibes. The writing is quality and the pacing is excellent. Maybe 3/5 on the spice scale 🌶. Read this book if you like the following romance tropes:
🔥Forced proximity
🏈Second chance
🌟Off-limits (coaches daughter, opposing teams)
Minor spoilers with my qualms below:
The big cons for me were (1) the FMC's bff Dasiy. The dialog with her was sooo cringey; (2) the near constant use of the name "satan" to describe an opposing football player. Like get over it, he's just a person doing his job and you're an adult; and (3) how perfect the ending was... you got your dream job after 1 season?? So unrealistic.
Thank you NetGalley for this early release audiobook. :)
🔥Forced proximity
🏈Second chance
🌟Off-limits (coaches daughter, opposing teams)
Minor spoilers with my qualms below:
The big cons for me were (1) the FMC's bff Dasiy. The dialog with her was sooo cringey; (2) the near constant use of the name "satan" to describe an opposing football player. Like get over it, he's just a person doing his job and you're an adult; and (3) how perfect the ending was... you got your dream job after 1 season?? So unrealistic.
Thank you NetGalley for this early release audiobook. :)
July 29, 2026
I really liked this book! I finished it quickly and was very drawn into the characters and the story. This is a second chance love story built into a second chance for our MMC to prove himself in the football field. Luca was a college star but has fumbled in the professional league while Chelsea is the mathlete who is now working for her dad’s team, trying to break into the analytical side of sports. Their banter was so good - from teenagers to adults - I loved their interactions. As a math nerd myself - loved seeing Chelsea demonstrate her smarts throughout the book. Their love story was great and Lucas come back to sports was fantastic. Definitely recommend this!
Did Not Finish
July 24, 2026Unfortunately, I was not able to fully connect with this one. I really wanted to love Luca and Chelsea’s story, especially after enjoying Luca’s brother Rowan’s book. Their initial meeting was cute, but after the time jump and seeing them reunite years later, I didn’t feel the same chemistry or banter that I loved.
I think their connection felt a little rushed after years of them living separate lives, especially during college, a critical time for individual growth. I wanted more time to see them rebuild that relationship and understand why they were drawn back to each other.
Maybe I need a small break from sports romances, but unfortunately this one wasn’t for me at the moment. DNF @ 40%
I think their connection felt a little rushed after years of them living separate lives, especially during college, a critical time for individual growth. I wanted more time to see them rebuild that relationship and understand why they were drawn back to each other.
Maybe I need a small break from sports romances, but unfortunately this one wasn’t for me at the moment. DNF @ 40%
July 22, 2026
Thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC of this title. I loved the first book in this series and this is not the exception. I loved the banter, the slow burn and I was giggling and kicking my feet while reading it. I can’t wait for everyone to experience this book! Also, one of the best football romances I have read. It was SO accurate and I feel like I have a better grasp of the sport itself.
July 28, 2026
SO. DARN. CUTE!!!!!
As a math and statistics major who was indeed on my high school’s math team, this prologue was made for me. Mathletes forever ♾️ plus I loved all the Mean Girls references!
I loved Chelsea and her analytical mind. She reminded me of myself. I hate that she kept getting overlooked for the sports analytics job she deserved, due to being a woman and being the coach’s daughter. Luca is such a cinnamon roll and I couldn’t get enough of him! Plus the cameos of Roman and Iris were great. I loved how kind Roman was to Chelsea.
Definitely check this one out if you love…..
🏈 sports romance
💚 coach’s daughter (off limits!!)
🏈 second chance
💚 secret dating
🏈 family rivalry
As a math and statistics major who was indeed on my high school’s math team, this prologue was made for me. Mathletes forever ♾️ plus I loved all the Mean Girls references!
I loved Chelsea and her analytical mind. She reminded me of myself. I hate that she kept getting overlooked for the sports analytics job she deserved, due to being a woman and being the coach’s daughter. Luca is such a cinnamon roll and I couldn’t get enough of him! Plus the cameos of Roman and Iris were great. I loved how kind Roman was to Chelsea.
Definitely check this one out if you love…..
🏈 sports romance
💚 coach’s daughter (off limits!!)
🏈 second chance
💚 secret dating
🏈 family rivalry
July 31, 2026
⭐⭐⭐ 3 Star Review | 🌶️ Spice
🎧 Audiobook Information
Title: Chasing the Rush (Football and Feels #2)
Author: Lauren Rowe
Narrators: Andi Arndt & Corvin King
Format: Audiobook
ALC: Thank you to NetGalley for the advance listening copy. All thoughts are my own.
I was really excited going into this because the premise sounded right up my alley. We follow Chelsea, a football coach’s daughter who is a statistics-loving math nerd with dreams of bringing analytics to the NFL, and Luca, a talented pass rusher whose once-promising career is hanging by a thread. When Chelsea is assigned to help him during training camp, old feelings from a chance meeting six years earlier resurface.
Unfortunately…this one just didn’t work for me.
My biggest disappointment was Chelsea herself. The blurb sold me on a heroine who wanted to revolutionize football through analytics and statistics. I was expecting spreadsheets, data analysis, and a true Moneyball-style storyline. Instead, Chelsea spends most of the book acting as more of an assistant coach than someone using math to change the game. That entire analytical angle the thing that made me pick up the book in the first place—barely played a role, and I kept waiting for it to show up.
I also struggled with the central conflict. Chelsea lets the rivalry between her father’s football legacy and Luca’s famous football family dictate nearly every decision she makes. While I understood where the tension came from, it felt like the rivalry existed far more in her own head than in reality. It became the reason they couldn’t move forward together, but I never fully bought into why it had such a hold on her six years later.
Luca also wasn’t quite what I expected. He’s described as an adrenaline junkie, but he never really came across that way to me. Instead, he felt immature, impulsive, and a little spoiled. I had a hard time connecting with his character because his actions didn’t really match the way he was marketed.
The resolution was another weak point for me. After a major conflict that leaves them apart for weeks, everything is wrapped up incredibly quickly with one apology, and it just didn’t feel earned. I wanted more communication, more growth, and more emotional payoff after everything they’d been through.
The one thing that absolutely kept me listening was the narration. Corvin King once again proves he can elevate just about any story with his performance, and Andi Arndt was equally solid. Together they made the audiobook engaging even when the story itself wasn’t landing.
This was my first Lauren Rowe book, and while this one was a miss, I’m not ready to write the author off completely. I can see why readers enjoy her work, but the writing style leaned younger than I prefer, and the execution never lived up to the fantastic premise.
July 28, 2026
Quick Summary: A "so pure, so needy" sports romance
My Review: Chasing the Rush by Lauren Rowe is book #2 in the Football and Feels series. It is categorized as "General Fiction (Adult) | Romance." The novel was released on 7/28/26.
About the Book: "...the analytical, math-nerd, type-A daughter of a tough love coach is assigned to babysit the team’s adrenaline junkie pass rusher."
In My Own Words: A pro baller and a sports analyst from two football dynasties meet as teenagers only to separate and reunite years later. Can what they once shared be rekindled or will there be a fumble on the new play?
My Favorites (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):
🧮 - Mathlete Love
🍦🥇- Ice cream Treats & Gold Medals
🏹 - He Falls First/She Falls First
🌹💔 - Romeo, oh Romeo
🏈 - Football Rivalry for Days
💜✨- Hiding in Plain Sight
♾️- Everything, Anything
❤️❤️- The Confession
👑 - Don't Call It a Comeback
🧬🫶- Family Ties
💼 - Boss Energy
⏳💗- Beginning to End
About the Audiobook: Chasing the Rush was narrated by Andi Arndt and Corvin King. This duet team did not disappoint. They put their professional stamp on it flawlessly. I enjoyed the listening experience immensely and have already planned a replay. (See what I did there? Tehehe)
My Final Say: This sports romance scored a major touchdown in my eyes. I absolutely loved it! Chelsea and Luca were a dream couple who received big points with the way their story pulled on my heartstrings. The supporting characters were interesting enough that I wanted to know more about them. The conflict was realistic and believable. The resolution and epilogue were satisfyingly sweet. It was lighthearted and entertaining.
Other: Readers who are looking for an easy sports-related romance to get into during the crazy summer heat, this is the one.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Level: 🌶️🌶️
Format: 🎧
Narration: +
Series: Yes
Cover: +
Title: +
Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (RBmedia | Recorded Books), and to NetGalley. Thank you so very much for providing access to an ALC of this work of fiction in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to read. I am grateful for the opportunity.
My Review: Chasing the Rush by Lauren Rowe is book #2 in the Football and Feels series. It is categorized as "General Fiction (Adult) | Romance." The novel was released on 7/28/26.
About the Book: "...the analytical, math-nerd, type-A daughter of a tough love coach is assigned to babysit the team’s adrenaline junkie pass rusher."
In My Own Words: A pro baller and a sports analyst from two football dynasties meet as teenagers only to separate and reunite years later. Can what they once shared be rekindled or will there be a fumble on the new play?
My Favorites (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):
🧮 - Mathlete Love
🍦🥇- Ice cream Treats & Gold Medals
🏹 - He Falls First/She Falls First
🌹💔 - Romeo, oh Romeo
🏈 - Football Rivalry for Days
💜✨- Hiding in Plain Sight
♾️- Everything, Anything
❤️❤️- The Confession
👑 - Don't Call It a Comeback
🧬🫶- Family Ties
💼 - Boss Energy
⏳💗- Beginning to End
About the Audiobook: Chasing the Rush was narrated by Andi Arndt and Corvin King. This duet team did not disappoint. They put their professional stamp on it flawlessly. I enjoyed the listening experience immensely and have already planned a replay. (See what I did there? Tehehe)
My Final Say: This sports romance scored a major touchdown in my eyes. I absolutely loved it! Chelsea and Luca were a dream couple who received big points with the way their story pulled on my heartstrings. The supporting characters were interesting enough that I wanted to know more about them. The conflict was realistic and believable. The resolution and epilogue were satisfyingly sweet. It was lighthearted and entertaining.
Other: Readers who are looking for an easy sports-related romance to get into during the crazy summer heat, this is the one.
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Re-read: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Status: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Level: 🌶️🌶️
Format: 🎧
Narration: +
Series: Yes
Cover: +
Title: +
Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (RBmedia | Recorded Books), and to NetGalley. Thank you so very much for providing access to an ALC of this work of fiction in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to read. I am grateful for the opportunity.
July 28, 2026
✨️ Thanks to @laurenrowebooks and @hambright_pr for the ARC
🔥 “It’s a tale as old as time, baby. Boys like showing off for pretty girls.”
🔥 “You’re my secret weapon baby. As long as I’ve got you, I can do anything.”
🔥”I’m losing my mind over Chelsea. My
mathlete. My Juliet.”
🔥 “All my dreams will be extra sweet because they’ll be sex dreams about you.”
With her father as a football coach and two brothers in the NFL, Chelsea Parker has a deep love for the sport. Her ultimate goal is to land a career that merges her two passions - math and football. To make her dream a reality, she must prove her skills by starting at the very bottom - as her father's assistant. Luca Maguire is struggling to find his footing in the NFL as his brothers’ success casts a shadow over him. His antics on the first day of training camp lands him with a personal coach - aka a babysitter - to help keep him in line. Luca soon realizes there is a bright side to his punishment - his new coach is the girl he has been pining over for the past seven years. Can they maintain professional boundaries or will they risk their careers for a chance at happily ever after?
As a fellow nerdy girl, I freaking loved Chelsea! It was so nice to see how she and Luca blended so well together - especially through their mutual love of football - and how they support each other's passions. Now let's talk about Luca. You gotta love how this manly and goofy guy is a complete and utter sucker for Chelsea. My heart absolutely melted to see how he was obsessed with her from the first time they met seven years prior. I must admit the conflict devastated me but their journey back to each other made it worth it. There was more technical discussions on the sport but I surprisingly really enjoyed this aspect. They both have really great families and it was a joy to see all of those characters interact.
✨️ TROPES:
🧡 Coach's Daughter
🏈 Sports Romance
🧡 Second Chance
🏈 Forced Proximity
🧡 Forbidden Love
🏈 Opposites Attract
🧡 He Falls First
🔥 “It’s a tale as old as time, baby. Boys like showing off for pretty girls.”
🔥 “You’re my secret weapon baby. As long as I’ve got you, I can do anything.”
🔥”I’m losing my mind over Chelsea. My
mathlete. My Juliet.”
🔥 “All my dreams will be extra sweet because they’ll be sex dreams about you.”
With her father as a football coach and two brothers in the NFL, Chelsea Parker has a deep love for the sport. Her ultimate goal is to land a career that merges her two passions - math and football. To make her dream a reality, she must prove her skills by starting at the very bottom - as her father's assistant. Luca Maguire is struggling to find his footing in the NFL as his brothers’ success casts a shadow over him. His antics on the first day of training camp lands him with a personal coach - aka a babysitter - to help keep him in line. Luca soon realizes there is a bright side to his punishment - his new coach is the girl he has been pining over for the past seven years. Can they maintain professional boundaries or will they risk their careers for a chance at happily ever after?
As a fellow nerdy girl, I freaking loved Chelsea! It was so nice to see how she and Luca blended so well together - especially through their mutual love of football - and how they support each other's passions. Now let's talk about Luca. You gotta love how this manly and goofy guy is a complete and utter sucker for Chelsea. My heart absolutely melted to see how he was obsessed with her from the first time they met seven years prior. I must admit the conflict devastated me but their journey back to each other made it worth it. There was more technical discussions on the sport but I surprisingly really enjoyed this aspect. They both have really great families and it was a joy to see all of those characters interact.
✨️ TROPES:
🧡 Coach's Daughter
🏈 Sports Romance
🧡 Second Chance
🏈 Forced Proximity
🧡 Forbidden Love
🏈 Opposites Attract
🧡 He Falls First
Displaying 1 - 30 of 409 reviews