Fourth Down

Game On #4

by Desiree Holt

When her relationship goes up in flames, Holly Funchess jumps straight back into the heat—by becoming a firefighter. Running as far away from her past as she can, Holly trains hard and lands a job with a small San Diego firehouse. With everything to prove, she has no problem putting her love life on the back burner. But where there’s smoke…

A former football player with a string of failed relationships behind him, Chase DeMarco has put his all into his Coast Guard career and the youth football team he coaches. He’s not about to let anyone distract him—especially Holly, the woman at his gym who seems to relish getting under his skin. But when their skirmishes turn into full-contact workouts—and they face off against the dangers of their jobs—Chase and Holly must choose between letting the clock run down or playing to win…

Genres: Romance, Sports, Military Fiction, Firefighters, Contemporary Romance

218 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2016

About the author

A multi-published, award winning, Amazon and USA Today best-selling author, Desiree Holt has produced more than 200 titles and won many awards. She has received an EPIC E-Book Award, the Holt Medallion and many others including Author After Dark’s Author of the Year. She has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning and in The Village Voice, The Daily Beast, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The London Daily Mail. She lives in Florida with her cats who insist they help her write her books, and is addicted to football.

“Get out the ice water and fan…Desiree Holt delivers smoking hot alpha heroes and red hot romances.” Lea Franczak, USA Today Happy Ever After blog


Learn more about me and read my novels here:
www.desireeholt.com
www.desiremeonly.com
www.facebook.com/desireeholtauthor
www.facebook.com/desireeholt
Twitter @desireeholt
Pinterest: desiree02holt
Google: www.desiree02holt
LinkedIn: www.LinkedIn.com/desiree01holt

To stay in touch sign up for my newsletter here:
http://desireeholt.us10.list-manage.c...

Reviews

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rosalie's review:

Chase DeMarco is a former football player and now puts everything he has into being a Coast Guard and youth football coach. He has no desire to find a woman, who has time and who wants the hassle? Until he runs into hot as hell (in and out of gear) firefighter Holly Funchess. Working out in the same gym as her, watching how she handles the machines, makes him wonder exactly how hot the two can be together.....

Having left her home after a miserably failed relationship due to her career, Holly has no desire to even try again. All men will HAVE to have a problem with her being a tough firefighter, just like her ex, so why even set yourself up for heartache. When she meets Chase, however, he doesn't seem to mind that she has a very demanding and "manly" type of career. She feels that all he really sees her for are her best assets,,,,ahem, focus on the ass here.

This was a great read that made me feel like I was part of the book myself. I felt like Holly and like I was going to "battle" with sexy as hell Chase. I didn't want this one to end, although the ending was a good one...just bittersweet because it was over. If you love romance and sports combined, with a little bit of woman power, this is totally the read for you!

Review copy provided with no expectations.

[Heather 123 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book wasn't nearly as good as it could have been. I found it to be very predictable, right down to the ending.

The basis of the story is two individuals who have been burned in the past by love, agree to "pretend" date to get their friends off their backs. Of course, during the course of "pretending" they admit their attraction to one another and decide to give it a go for real.

It wasn't a horrible book, but it was great either. For me, it was just okay. I wanted more from the author and from the story but was left feeling disappointed at the end of the book.

** ARC received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review **

[Sheryl C. Nash · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC courtesy of Netgalley and Kensington Publishing*

[Connie N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

#4 in the Game On romance series

Thanks to NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a new-to-me author, and I enjoyed it very much. She created wonderful characters that I would really love to hang around with. Yet they are realistic and approachable, with real problems and strong characters. Chase and Holly are both annoyed that their friends keep trying to fix them up with other people, and they want to get them off their backs. So they decide to pretend to date each other while really staying in the friend zone. The sparks they feel for each other, however, are leading them in a different direction, much to their dismay. A bonus: I very much enjoyed learning about the Coast Guard (Chase's career) and the fire department (Holly's career) and am very appreciative of the difficult work they do to protect us. It was interesting to learn a bit more about both fields, and the action scenes were exciting. Holt can also write a hot romantic scene, and the whole book was a pleasant and enjoyable read. I plan to go back and read the first three books in this series so I can catch up.

[Rhonda Ziglar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fourth Down by Desiree Holt.....This is a great entertaining story, it is a page turner. I liked Holly and Chase a lot both have had bad relationships in the past, will they be able to let their pasts go to have a relationship again. Desiree Holt is an amazing storyteller and does a great job with Holly and Chase's story. I highly recommend this book, it was so good. I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy from publisher via NetGalley.

[Taz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A female firefighter and a captain in the Coast Guard are a recipe for hotness. Holly has a huge chip towards man in general after being hurt by those who claim to love her. Chase has always been left behind and is not looking to make a commitment to anyone. There is just something about Holly that gets to Chase and vice verse. Can two people who feel love is a sham make find love together?

[Janis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another awesome book

Really hot and sexy football romance. Holly is a San Diego firefighter and Chase is a Commander in the coast guard. They both have painful pasts but they work thru and in the end they score a touchdown together

[Ayekah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, where to start. I liked Holly and Chase. I didn't like her obnoxious as hell best(???) friend Adara. If she's a best friend.... yeah well. Holly's brother Will? Seriously? What kind of relationship was that, the man is a successful lawyer and he's calling his sister at least once a week to check on her, like he's in high school? No, did not work for me. At all. I liked Chase's friend John, there was a limit on that one too... but at least some of his intent was reasonable. These two both had serious baggage.
When the rubber hit the road in the book, John came through. I also liked Cliff and his wife who was Holly's co worker and mentor at the engine company she was assigned to.
The gist of the story is Holly leaves North Carolina after a nasty break up with a jerk of a boyfriend who left her with zero self esteem. It was her dream to always become a firefighter and that she did. And she moves as far away as she can, to San Diego. Chase is the high school football hero, goes to Coast Guard academy and football there and has been in the Coast Guard for 10 years. Because it's safe. The Coast Guard can never leave you or hurt you like the previous women in his life. He's had a few dates here and there, but nothing major and rivals Holly in the fortress department they've built around themselves. Since Cliff's son plays Pop Warner football, he invites Holly to a game and she agrees to go, surprise, the coach is Chase. This after she has a nasty run in with him at her gym the day before. They're edgy around each other. Chase decides to ask Holly out for coffee "it's a non-date" and they decide maybe trying to be friends might be okay and take some of the heat they both get from their friends off of them if they thought they were together. And so the relationship deepens and yep, there's the sex. Which was mighty steamy I might add. These two come to get honest with each other. They have a weekend off together, there's a pivotal scene where Chase loses his sh** and leaves her. No response, no explanation. Not a word. Meanwhile Holly and her engine company get called out to battle a wildfire and there's a moment there. Chase takes extra duty to keep his mind off his anger and there'a moment there. I will pat John on the back for sticking his foot (boot) up Chase's backside.
I'm not sure what to make of this story.... it could have been much better. Leaving out the seriously obnoxious friend and brother, the story was still intact and wouldn't take up so much space. I know Ms Holt writes really well and has many really great books out there. I just feel this wasn't up to her standard.

**arc from NetGalley and publisher** in exchange for an honest review

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Holly Funchess is a woman doing a mans job. Or at least, that's what her family and ex-boyfriend think. As a female fire fighter, Holly has to prove that she's not only tough enough to play with the big boys, but can also act like a woman when warranted. Which is why Holly has sworn off men. Most are intimidated by her job, and the rest treat her too much like one of the guys.
So when she literally bumps in to Coast Guard Chase DeMarco at the gym, Holly has an attitude.
Chase has been burned one too many times by women and is done with them. First, his mom leaves him when he's 10. Then both his high school girlfriend and his ex-fiancé cheat on him. So when Chase meets Holly, despite the spark of attraction, Chase wants nothing to do with her.
But both Chase and Holly's friends have other ideas. Everyone thinks that Chase and Holly need to get over their respective pasts and move on. So when Chase and Holly keep bumping into each other, they decide to fake a relationship to get their friends off of their backs.
Seemed simple enough. Hanging out with a new friend without sex is easy. Until their chemistry skyrockets. Then they figure adding sex into the mix won't hurt. But then trust comes into play. Two damaged people, great sex and a misunderstanding can all end in a happily ever after, right?
This is the fourth book in the Game On series, and while the characters had great chemistry, I did not like this book. Both characters had such major inner dialogue that it got annoying. Their friends needed muzzles, or to be smacked down, they were that annoying and meddling. Holly's big secret of why she didn't trust men was constantly hinted at, but there was never a big reveal moment.
This book dragged on, and at 210 pages, it should have read faster. I'm disappointed because this series, at least the first two books, is great.

[Karen Roma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Desiree Holt and her wonderfully erotic and captivating stories have long been a favourite of mine; unfortunately this story was profoundly disappointing. I’ve followed the Game On series since book one, but was left exhausted by the time I pushed my way through this forth instalment in what has been an entertaining series.

Holly is a firefighter with an abrasive attitude and a huge chip on her shoulder thanks to unsupportive parents and a pompous, ridiculing, self-absorbed ex, and hell bent on her career and a life devoid of romantic entanglements. Chase is a sexy, likable and well respected Coast Guard commander, burned one too many times by the woman in his past and determined not to ever let it happen again.

While all romance readers love watching these types of couples inevitably succumb to combustible chemistry, drawing them closer to the flame, this story was fraught with so much inner dialogue from both parties that I started to feel beat over the head with their lack of trust and annoying insecurities. Telling readers two or three times about the reasons for their wariness is acceptable, but droning on for 60% of the book, really starts to take its toll.

Basically, Fourth Down should have been 35% shorter and it would have been an enjoyable story; in its current format, it was a dragged out monotonous read. The near relationship ending catalyst was predictable, however the last few chapters were actually really good.

I am always loath to write a negative review, but this book was a let down.

[Melissa King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourth Down is the fourth book in the Game On series by Desiree Holt. This book can be read as a standalone book without reading the previous books first.

Chase DeMarco is a hot, sexy, easy to talk to healthy thirty-two-year-old commander in the United States Coast Guard. Chase has been trying to leave his failed relationships in the past by putting all his focus on his Coast Guard career and coaching the youth football team.
When he meets Holly he isn’t planning on getting distracted by her sexy, bright and self-assured attitude.

Holly Funchess might be full-of-life and easy on the eyes but her long-term relationship just went up in flames because Holly wants to a firefighter. With everything to prove she moves to San Diego, where she lands a job and trains hard. It appears that some men can't except a women as being a firefighter. She hears remarks a lot from other guys but Chase doesn't appear to have a problem with it.

Can Grant and Holly let love in their hearts again and heal from the past?

This was the first time I read one of Desiree Holt's books. I enjoyed the sexual attraction and how parts of this book felt like it was playing out in real life.

HEA Fanatics received a complimentary copy of this ebook for Melissa K to volunteer read in exchange for a honest review by NetGalley.

[Danielle Gypsy Soul · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. It's always fun when you have two characters who have great chemistry but are antagonistic towards one another. However, this book suffers GREATLY from tell me not show me. The inner dialogue was so repetitive I felt like the author must think I'm a moron since I didn't get what she was saying the first ten times she told me. Both characters went on and on and on and on about their reasons for not wanting a relationship and how much they didn't trust the opposite sex in their inner monologues. Holly was hard to like in the beginning of this book. She had a very caustic attitude and a chip on her shoulder and while I understood she had some reasons for this behavior it was a bit OTT and she came across as abrasive even to her friends. The drama towards the end was obvious and although I enjoyed the last few chapters by that point it was too late to save this book. Great potential but I wish the author would have just given me the backstory once and then shown me through their actions vs repeating the issues until I wanted to through my kindle across the room.

Thanks to Net Galley and the Publisher for giving me a copy of this book.

[Jennifer Dicenzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. While I can admit that Holly did get on my nerves a bit, I get where she is coming from and why she has that chip on her shoulder. She has been burned by her parents and boyfriend when she decides she really wants to pursue her dream of becoming a firefighter. Chase has been burned by infidelity so he concentrates on his Coast Guard career and keeps women from getting too close. These two run into each other at the gym and while there might be an under current of attraction, they rub each other the wrong way. But when they keep coming in contact with each other, they eventually decide to be friends that pretend they are a couple to stop their friends from pushing them about dating. What happens when feelings that weren't supposed to be an issue start entering the picture.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Raine · Rating 3 out of 5]

****ARC provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.****

I usually love Desiree Holt books. I've read her stuff for years and had always enjoyed her books. And it's not that I'm reading this book without reading the first 3 in the series. Actually this book could be read as a standalone.

I just thought that the book, though it had so much potential with him being in the Coast Guard and her a firefighter, would be so much more interesting when in fact for most of the book it was boring. And the revelation at the end when they realize they love each other was a bit too forced.

This book won't prevent me from reading more books from Ms. Holt, but I'm hoping this book was just a fluke and she still has the magic touch.

[Bette Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one. I found both Chase and Holly very likeable. Some of the secondary characters not so much. Since the main focus of the story is Chase and Holly I could overlook the annoying brother and best friend. The writing was excellent and the story had a nice pace so overall a very enjoyable read.

Chase is a guy with a string of bad relationships behind him. Now he's looking to focus on his career and enjoy the peewee football team he coaches during his down time. No way does he want to get distracted by the incredibly sexy firefighter Holly Funchess. Holly herself has had it with relationships. It seems that her chosen career is too much for any man to handle. Except Chase doesn't seem to have a problem with it. Would he be worth risking her heart again?

This is definitely a recommended read.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest reivew.

Chase and Holly both have issues. Chase doesn't do relationships thanks to infidelity in the past and Holly was screwed over when she wanted to follow her dreams. I'm not gonna lie. Holly can be really irritating. I mean it's understandable, but sometimes I just seriously wish I could slap her.

Two people who keep running into each other, and who's friends are well meaning, force these two to pretend to be dating but being friends. Well when feelings start to come about when they are not suppose to will give these two quite the run for their money.

[Terry Hammoutene · Rating 3 out of 5]

All Holly wanted to be was a firefighter, after a breakup without her families support she went for what he wanted.

Chase is a former football player who is now in the Coast Guard, not wanting to leave his past behind he still coaches peewee ball.

Running in the same circles it is inevitable they meet. In order to get people off the matchmaking rail they will need to make a decision on how to handle their friendship. Two people with similar relationship backgrounds trying to hide their attraction to each other. The fight ensues until a close call in both their careers makes them realize what they would lose.
I liked this book I couldn't help hoping for the HEA in this book.

[Christina Montminy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an ARC from Net Galley for an honest review. I enjoyed Chase & Holly's story. I found it took a little too long to get them together but when they did it didn't disappoint me. The drama was high in this book because of the career choices of these two. Chase a commander in the U.S. Coast Guard & Holly is a firefighter. Both have a painful past with experiences shaping who they are today, but with the slow friendship they start to stop their friends from hounding them to get back into the dating scene, they are on a collision course with change. Only question is, can they make it through this? Definitely recommend.

[Erin OBrien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holly and Chase both have their reasons for not trusting the opposite sex. They decide to start "dating" each other to keep their friends off their backs but they don't realize their fake dating could turn into more.
I felt like, as much as Holly and Chase are in their own heads with doubts, that Holly would pull away so suddenly was strange.
It was also strange that their friends would be bugging them nonstop to get out and date but then, once they start dating, everyone is telling them to be cautious. To much indecision.
I could really feel the characters emotion but thought the story dragged a little.
I gave it 4 stars.

[Rebecca A. Bamford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet, romantic, and sexy

I loved this story about Holly the the firefighter, and Chase, the former football player who now works for the coast guard. Both driven in their chosen careers. And both carrying a ton of emotional baggage with huge trust issues. They start out as "friends" in order to fool everyone around them from trying to get them out there to date. But that plan backfires when they find they can't fight their growing attraction to each other. It's a sweet story that shows no mater what, you can't give up on happiness. I was totally engrossed in the characters and story line. I highly recommend this story or anything by this author. A+!

[Becky Burciaga · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique story about forgiveness and trust that engages you from the beginning and holds your interest throughout the story. The passion between Chase and Holly lights up the pages, with plenty of spark (no pun intended towards Holly the Firefighter) and sexual tension to keep things lively. In the style that is true to Ms Holt's writing, the characters are multidimensional with plenty of chemistry all around.

This book was provided by the Publisher and Netgalley for my honest review.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting for the installment of the series. Thought we'd have more football going on. But the book didn't disappoint. We take two career minded hero type job, relationship gun shy people and put them together. What could happen by sparks flying (pun intended).

[Tracie R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved reading Fourth Down. The story was well written and I found the dynamic between Holly and Chase quite enjoyable.

Book generously provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

[C bond · Rating 4 out of 5]

via netgalley

enjoyed the book. one of my favorite authors

[Irene · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars