Chasing Trust

by Alexis Noelle

He spent his life learning how to take the hit.
She taught him that trusting someone with his heart was the hardest play of all.Blake

Football has always been simple.

Catch the ball. Take the hit. Get back up.

Feelings? Those are a different story.

The spotlight has spent years turning me into someone the world thinks it knows, a cocky NFL star with an ego to match. Letting people believe the image was easier than letting them see the man underneath it.

Then Payson walked into my life and saw straight through every wall I'd built.

Now she's become the one thing I can't afford to lose.

Payson

Falling for Blake was never part of the plan.

Neither was discovering that the man behind the headlines is fiercely loyal, endlessly protective, and capable of loving with his whole heart. But loving someone whose life belongs to millions of fans isn't easy.

Fame has a way of testing even the strongest foundations, and just when we begin believing we've found something real, life reminds us how quickly everything can change.

Now we're both faced with a choice.

Run from the fear...

Or trust that what we've built together is strong enough to survive anything.

Because some promises are made in the quiet moments.

And some loves are worth fighting for long after the final whistle blows.

🏈 Tropes

❤️ First-Person Dual POV

🏈 NFL Tight End Hero

🎓 College Student Heroine

💛 Protective Alpha Hero

✨ He Falls First

📸 Fame & Media Pressure

🤕 Injury & Recovery

🩺 Sports Medicine Internship

💕 Hurt/Comfort

🛡️ Touch Her and Regret It

💍 He Falls Hard

❤️ Happily Ever After

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 15, 2026

About the author

Alexis Noelle lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with her husband, and kids. She loves spending time with her kids, although she has to hide the computer from them when she is writing! She love being active and being outdoors, especially if it involves any kind of shopping.
She has always been passionate about writing. She loves to read romance books and feels like being able to lose yourself in a book is one of the more exciting aspects. The books she loves to read and write will be ones that make you feel for the characters. Alexis believes that you should have an opinion on every character in a book whether you love them, hate them, or think they are up to something.
She also believes that the most important critic is your reader, so she loves to hear from the readers. She want her fans to be open & talk to her about what they want for the characters in the story, and what they would like to see happen.

Reviews

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75🌟 | 2🌶️

There’s something so fun about a sports romance where both characters understand the game from different sides.

I’m still loving the close bond between all the guys, and seeing another sport and its unique challenges kept this installment fresh.

Blake and Payson had a great dynamic. I liked watching his cocky playboy persona slowly give way to the loyal, guarded man underneath, especially with Payson seeing right through him. Their different connections to sports added another fun layer to their relationship.

I’m really enjoying how each book brings a new couple and sport while keeping that strong sense of connection throughout the series.

Another fun and solid romance that made me excited to keep reading.

~~~~

A sincere thank you to Alexis Noelle for the ARC! 🥰📚

I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨

[Virginia Danyow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noelle scores again with another hit sports romance!

The story of Blake and Payson has passion, banter, spice, and humor. The two meet under some interesting circumstances that have her wanting nothing to do with the man. She sees him as a player with no emotional depth. The fact that she is so against being near him is exactly what has him drawn to her. Watching their relationship grow into something bigger was exciting to read. The physical and emotional growth and support is well written and has just the right amount of heat and drama.

I received a copy of this book and I am leaving my honest review.

[Emily Lauterbach]

Chasing Trust follows Blake, a high-profile NFL tight end whose cocky, larger-than-life media persona shields a fiercely loyal and guarded man underneath. Enter Payson, a grounded college student working in sports medicine who isn't fazed by Blake's fame or athletic status.

When Payson sees directly past Blake's emotional walls, their instant chemistry shifts into a deeply personal connection. However, navigating a relationship in the public eye—complete with relentless media scrutiny, injury set-backs, and external pressure—forces both to confront their deepest insecurities and decide if trust is enough to survive the noise.

[Ashley O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the Dedication in this book:
For the ones who have spent their lives being the strong one.

This was the first book I read in this series but I didn’t feel like I was missing anything from not reading book 1.
I got entangled with the story from chapter 1. I really loved both Blake and Payson. Their dynamic and relationship felt real and well developed. I really enjoyed their story.
Another fantastic read from Alexis.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series so far I love the close bond with all the guys. I liked Blake and Peyton's story. I like how blake is the playboy until enters Payton and how they understand the game on each different level. Him the player and her brought up in sports. I like how the series focuses on a different sport and the realistic challenges for each couple. Amazing read.

[Casey Long · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexis does it again! The growth in her characters is always awesome. Payson and Blake meet under interesting circumstances. He’s the playboy and she’s the one he shouldn’t want. Their connection was immediate. If you love a good sports romance this should be on your list! I can’t wait for the next book!

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought this was cute. There were some repetitive things throughout that bothered me, and it still had that theme of belonging being mentioned way too many times.

Maybe the author's writing style just isn't for me, but the third book was improved, so I want to see it through.