Defensive Mindset

by Wendy Temple

Star footballer and successful businesswoman Jessie Grainger has her life set, and doesn’t need anything getting in the way. That includes rebellious rival player Fran Docherty, a burnt-out barmaid with a past as messed up as her attitude. So when the clashing pair find themselves on the same Edinburgh women’s football team, how will they survive each other, let alone play to win?

Genres: Romance, Sports, Lesbian, Queer, LGBT, Lesbian Fiction, Contemporary

298 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 19, 2017

About the author

Writer of Scottish lesbian romance. A passionate Scot, Wendy grew up in East Edinburgh. As a child it was her dream to live on the historic Royal Mile, which she did for a number of years before returning to the seaside a few years ago.

With an academic background in Community Education; Healthcare & Physical Education, she has held numerous jobs in these fields and is a passionate advocate of keeping access to further education & healthcare free for all and lessons in physical education available to all schoolchildren.

A sports fanatic, Wendy played hockey & volleyball competitively & five-a-side football for leisure. Her hobbies include watching lots of sport, reading & writing; genealogy & history.

Wendy started writing fanfiction in 2005 to impress a woman…

Find more at Weebod

Reviews

[Tiff · Rating 2 out of 5]

You may go into this one thinking that this is a sports book, from the description and the cover that was where I thought this was going. Sports with a romance, right? Well, technically those boxes were checked but this story has a darker grittier feel to it. Let me explain, then you can decide for yourself.

Jessie Grainger is former Scottish national team soccer player. She is an amazing athlete whose sole focus is on being the best in her sport. She has had big offers to play for other European clubs that have better teams and are better funded but she chooses to stay with Lothian Thistle FC because she can live and play in her Scottish hometown. Jessie is focused, hardworking and a woman that exudes honor and dignity both on and off the pitch. Her life is thrown off a bit when her team picks up Fran Docherty, a defender when questionable on the field tactics.

Fran Docherty is a hard character to like, in my opinion. Fran comes onto the team as a tough defensive player that speaks very little and basically plays the game for the paycheck. That basically sums up the sports part of this book. Fran is coping with a drug and alcohol addiction. She manages her desperation for a fix by using cigarettes and anonymous sex as a distraction. This is one part of the story that just killed me. First off Fran probably smokes eleventy billion cancer sticks through the course of the book. Every paragraph is Fran reaches for a cigarette, Fran smokes a cigarette, cigarette, cigarette...OMG!!!, I get it she loves her damn cigarettes. How in the world does she play soccer at this level? This degree of smoking is not conducive to the fitness needed. Add on to it that she just got out of a two-year stint in jail and is recovering from years of using hard drugs, like heroin. She is not capable of playing in a competitive recreation league much less a team, trying to break into the Women's Champions League. I call bs, that just doesn't make sense!

Secondly, this character doesn’t speak. Now, I love a strong silent type as much as the next romance lover, but Fran basically grunts, smokes and sleeps through most of the novel. I literally cannot figure out how in the world Jessie became attracted to someone who has zero redeeming factors. She isn’t very nice, she doesn’t communicate, there just wasn’t any depth to Fran. There is a lot of telling in regards to Fran rather that showing me the woman that she really is. She has a lot going on, she is taking care of her elderly grandfather by paying for his retirement home, she runs his bar, plays soccer, is besties with a punk rock legend, plays the guitar like a badass, coping with addiction...but that’s the problem you have so many moving pieces but no real character development and no dialogue between the two mains. It was very frustrating.

Basically, I could not cheer for Jessie and Fran to become a couple. Jessie needs to run the other direction and Fran needs counseling for a variety of serious issues. The book needs more showing, less telling. There was so much going on with sub-plots, it missed making good characters and a cohesive story. It also needs more dialogue between the two mains, so much more dialogue! 2 stars.

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars. I've always really enjoy sports books, so I was looking forward to reading this. While, I'm not a huge soccer fan, I do enjoy watching the Women's World Cup and Women's Olympic Soccer. Due to me being a little behind in my ARC reading this month, a lot of reviews for this book were already out. They seem to be very mixed, so I was unsure where I would fall in my feelings for this book. While I did have a few issues, overall I enjoyed this read as much as I was hoping for.

The story is about Jessie, who plays soccer for Scotland. She loves playing and puts everything she has into it. During a game that becomes physical, she actually slaps a women who purposely grouped her breasts on the pitch. The slap got her a red card and suspended for 3 games. She is furious with the women and hopes to never sees her again. After a little time, the new season starts. While the new players are being introduced to the team, Jessie is shocked that a new women Fran, is the same women that caused her 3 game suspension. While Jessie wants to stay away from Fran, fate keeps putting the two together. When feelings start to form, do they have a chance at a real relationship, or are the demons from Fran's past, too strong to handle?

One of the main issues I had with the book, is it seemed like it was two great ideas, for two books, squashed together to make one book. It almost seemed like the two storylines did not fit together, and Temple should have made it into two separate books. A women with a very troubled past of drug addiction and jail, who's trying to get her life together(story one). Women who play soccer for Scotland (story two). I just could not find it realistic that Fran who was out of shape, and described as thin and sometimes sickly looking, an ex heroine and every other drug under the sun addict, and current heavy smoker, could play professional soccer. So for me, I had to suspend disbelief a bit, than I was able to enjoy the book more.

What I liked about the book was the time on the pitch, and when the teammates were together. In fact, I would have loved even more soccer. I enjoyed Jessie as a character and wanted her to find a HEA. Fran was a hard character to like. I have always been a fan of flawed characters, so my issue with Fran was not her colorful past, but her refusal to talk. Not just talk about her past, but just talk in general. I think she may have spoken the least amount of words of any main character I can remember. So while I didn't care for her as much, and did not always see why or how Jessie was attracted to her...I wanted Jessie to be happy, so I wanted the relationship to work.

In closing, yes I had a few issues with this book. I really think Temple should have made this into two separate books, but I still enjoyed the read. The book hooked me in, and I read it in one setting. It is far from perfect, but it entertained me and I'm glad I read it. I will read Temple's books in the future.

An ARC was given to me from YLVA, for a honest review.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book wasn't really a sports romance. It was more of a romance than sports. I really liked the first half but the second half was packed with way too much. Fran personal life was given a huge spotlight. I didn't like Fran at all so I wasn't the least bit invested.

[Lexxi Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book from the publisher, in return for a fair review.*

This is the second full length novel that I’ve read by this author. A strange sentence, I’m sure, to anyone who happened to glance at the author’s page on GoodReads before reading my review (or, you know, ever looked at it . . . or something). Listed is this book here and a short story collection with many different authors included in it. So, second full length novel that I’ve read? Well, the other one I read was a book about an undercover police officer in Scotland that got released sometime around 2009, or thereabouts, titled Innocent Catch, and released under the author byline of ‘Weebod’.

Mind you, I did not know of the connection between this author and that author until I reached the very last page of this book and saw that ‘contact the author at’ and then an email address. This is the same email address for Weebod. Interesting little jolt of recognition to hit me unexpectedly. Don’t usually read something by a brand new to me author only to suddenly realize I’d read them before.

Right, so, this specific novel itself.

This novel stars two football/soccer players in Edinburgh. One is the straitlaced, ‘doesn’t like to drink’ rule follower type, who just loves – passionately loves – football, that’d be Jessie Grainger. The other is the exact opposite – Fran Doherty (so glad that the author didn’t go with a first name of Shannon there) dislikes rules, loves drinking/drugs/breaking rules, or at least that was Fran. She’s been clean and sober for 2 years now, ever since getting out of jail, but there’s a very strong draw to fall back into her addictions – because that is what she suffers – massive addictions. Oh, and to further the ‘opposites’ part – unlike Jessie, Fran plays football for the paycheck, not out of love for the game.

I know I’ve read others who have had issues with this book. Not sure yet what they were since I’ve attempted to not read any reviews before I read the book and wrote my own review, but I did happen to notice a few negative ratings. Hmm . . . since I don’t know specifically what the negatives they saw were, I can’t say whether or not I saw them too or . . well, mmphs, this is a stupid paragraph here.

Right, so. Book opens with Jessie playing in the final games of a football season, meaningless games because her team is already out of the running for the league title, though they are currently in second place. On the opposite side of the pitch, playing for the other team is Fran – and they meet constantly during the game, literally, physically. With a bunch of sliding tackles, close touches, and outright groping (yes, literally, while lined up for a penalty kick, Fran had her hands on Jessie’s breasts and basically groped her – which is apparently okay in football). Well, naturally, Jessie being such a rule follower . . . had enough of it and slapped Fran in the face, hard. Got a red card for that – will start the next season missing three matches.

Story then skips forward to the next season (which, apparently, was something like a week or 8 weeks after the end of the last season – that’s one of my problems with this book, I really had no idea of the time scale here, it really seemed like things occurred right after each other, and, in fairness, for all I know they do. I do not know enough about football to know if it is odd for one season to start something like 3 weeks after the last one ended; only thing I do know is that they don’t play in the summer . . . apparently. Maybe they only have three weeks of summer in Scotland). Jessie is excited to start a new year, annoyed that she’s benched for three matches, but excited. The coach, Tom, keeps bouncing in and out of the room. Teammates are getting ready for training. Tom bounces in and out again. Finally he announces the new additions to the team which includes a player to help with some defensive liabilities – one Fran Doherty. Naturally Jessie’s kind of annoyed by this issue.

And so, before I recap the entire book in my review, I move on. Two Point of Views – Fran Doherty – ‘burnt-out barmaid with a past as messed up as her attitude’ (as the book description puts it – she’s not a barmaid though, she’s the person running the property for her grandfather Harry who had a stroke – hotel and bar, though she’s only operating the bar until, well – not going to spoil everything); and Jessie Grainger . . . who doesn’t have a good little description I can lift from the book description. Well, as noted, Jessie is a star footballer (played for the UK in the Olympics, and for Scotland in . . . um, book didn’t say, assume it’s something like World Cup or something), and, because female football players aren’t exactly paid massive wads of cash, she is also a ‘businesswoman’ (something to do with real estate, I believe, handling the Edinburgh office for her father’s company (which had been founded by that father’s father)).

Fran and Jessie clash. Action on and off the pitch occurs. Questions are raised and never answered, well some (like, well maybe it got answered and I missed it, but I’ve no real idea how old the people in this book are. I know the coach is something like 30, he was injured at 28, began coaching, and it’s two years later; Nikki, Fran’s godmother, ‘looks like she’s in her mid-fifties’, as one character put it – and if I followed the clues: 1) Fran’s mother had Fran when she was 18, dead at 22; 2) Nikki was friends of the mother and conceivably roughly the same age as the mother; 3) Nikki, recall, looks mid-fifties; 4) 55-18=37, Fran can be no younger than 37 (or she's, you know, 32). Jessie? No idea. Not even anything like ‘she’s the same age as Fran; younger; older; etc.’ except for the part where she had played at the highest level at the Olympics for UK, and for something for Scotland, and my limited understanding is that youngsters don’t normally compete at that level, and that was in the past so . . . um . . still no clue to Jessie’s age (26)).

I rather liked the characterization level given here. And I lied, I do know one of the negatives at least one person saw – Fran plain doesn’t talk . . . much at all. And I can see that. Personally I was looking at it the other way around – Jessie doesn’t shut up. She’s always babbling, can’t stand silence. Babble. Babble. Babble. Personally I’m much more like Fran communication wise (too much information and all that – it sometimes literally physically pains me to get words out). And no, I do not actually see myself as Fran. For many reasons. But I’m probably a lot more like her than Jessie, though that’s mostly due to communication since, while I have an addictive kind of personality, I always knew that so I didn’t fall into the same traps Fran did (it was interesting to see a recovering addict who, for all the world looked like they’d say something like ‘I did it to escape my life’, but instead said ‘I did it because drugs – there’re great! Mess up my fucking life, but while on them, feels great’).

While reading I was thinking of some things I could mention. I thought of ‘so much angst that the puppy has drowned and the kitten is in trouble’, but that’s kind of gross. Lots of angst though. From both sides, Jessie has issues of her own though has mostly had a ‘perfect’ kind of life. Oh, another thought I had while reading – I kind of dislike many of the players on Jessie’s team, which, in its way, indicates that they had enough ‘there’ for me to dislike them.

There are certain clichés, tropes, etc., that pop up in romances (and yes, this is a romance) – one of which involves attempts to come together, remain together, splitting apart, etc. Well, this one certainly had a unique twist on a part of that dynamic (the split the two apart part - one literally turned to the other and said something along the lines of, or more accurately, vaguely similar to ‘I didn’t think we were in a relationship, I’m a free kind of person’ and . . boom, apart they go).

Ah, this book. Jessie was kind of like a hyperactive kitten that occasionally had people toss water onto, every once in a while got tied up and um . . no, let’s not go this direction as it’s misleading (no bondage occurs in this book at one point her teammates ‘kidnap her’ and force her to drink alcohol because . . . they are assholes). While Fran’s off to the side like a wounded three legged pit-bull who has been through the fights and barely grunts any longer. And for some reason both, the kitten and the pit-bull, are weirdly drawn to the other. The lust is huge. The power imbalance is also noticeably massive (seriously, Fran ends up with massive amounts of ‘power’ in this relationship).

Overall a satisfying and occasionally riveting look into a Scottish . . . um . . . scene/romance/sport.

Side note: two characters in this book previously appeared as main characters in another book - Iicit Cusp (and a third side character in this book appeared as a side character in that book).

Side note 2: seasons:
There are 235 days between NCAA Football seasons. (2014)
There are 222 days between NCAA Basketball seasons. (2014)
There are 215 days between National Football League seasons (percent of year active: 41%). (2014)
There are 206 days between WNBA Basketball seasons (percent of year active: 44%). (2017)
There are 189 days between National Women's Soccer League seasons (percent of year active: 48%). (2017)
There are 152 days between Major League Baseball seasons (percent of year active: 58%). (2014)
There are 136 days between National Basketball Association seasons (percent of year active: 63%). (2014)
There are 136 days between Major League Soccer seasons (percent of year active: 63%). (2017)
There are 118 days between National Hockey League seasons (percent of year active: 68%). (2014)
There are 95 days between NASCAR (auto racing) seasons (percent of year active: 75%). (2014)
There are 56 days between UK Football 'seasons' (percent of year active: 85%). (2017)
There are 26 days between PGA (men's golf) 'seasons' (percent of year active: 93%). (2014)
The above is based on a 2014 article and could very well be out of date as of this review date. Plus a few additions.

Rating: 4.00

April 6 2017 & April 10 2017

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first saw this book’s cover, I thought it was going to be a romance that is wrapped around sports. It is true that it is a romance novel with some soccer running throughout the book. The book, however, was focused on one of the main character’s history and her current state of mind.

The two main characters are Jessie Grainger and Fran Doherty. Jessie is a star soccer player who is driven by the love of competition. She has been involved in soccer most of her life. She comes from a very nice family and is currently working in the family’s real estate company. Jessie enjoys order and has difficulty with situations which require flexibility. Fran, on the other hand, has had a very hard life. She doesn’t do well with rules. She was raised in an environment where drugs and alcohol were the norm. She was successful in the music industry until she ended up in jail. After serving her time, she returns to her home town and tries to repay her grandfather for all that he has done for her.

I found the story to be rather slow. In addition, Ms. Temple used many soccer terms. It was necessary to find definitions of them in order to understand what was taking place. This checking of the soccer terms added to the slow pace in sections.

I rate this book as 3 stars out of 5.

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Starsandsun18 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where do I start? Hmmmm. Actually, this book got potential. Although For me this is not really a sports romance book so don't expect too much. They're rivals at first then became team members, enemies to friends.
Sports thing is just 25% of the book and the 50% Fran's dark life, 15% of Jessie, and 10% supporting characters.
Fran is really complicated and I agree with lot of reviewers here, why the hell is she a soccer player? How the hell did she get away with it? Considering her past? And too soon? I'm not really familiar with all the test or whatsoever for you to be able to be accepted on a professional soccer team. Maybe she's just really great on everything she do? She's a great musician, a great soccer player, even a model? A manager? What else?
I hope Fran remained a musician and left the soccer world to Jessie.


Jessie -- she's Ms. perfect. She's a health conscious, a former olympian, girl by the rules, a no bullsh*t girl.
Jessie is too good for Fran. Like way too good for her.
So I don't really get it? From start to almost the end she's always the one who runs after Fran.
She always helps her in like everything! Even if Fran is always ignoring her.
I feel bad for Jessie.


Whew! 3.5
Still, I'm looking forward to the author's next book.

[Emmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Ylva Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

This story has a lot going on. The main love interest, Fran, is super hot and ridiculously talented. Unfortunately, her superstar-quality football/soccer skills and singer/songwriter/ musician talents are considerably dampened by her not so distant past as a hardcore heroin addict with major family issues.
Jessie, the leading lady opposite Fran, is almost comically straight-laced and traditional apart from being an Olympic football player and a lesbian. In many ways it is a classic good girl falls for bad guy tale. Fran's reticence to communicate makes the development of the story slow in parts and a bit frustrating, but I thought the author pulled off the ending well- it was sweet and sexy with a necessary nod towards how realistically difficult a relationship with a partner as troubled as Fran surely must be. The descriptions of drug addiction and its' attendant woes are heavy. The lack of centrality of the sports theme was a little disappointing as that is what the cover suggested, but it turns out the title is a clever double entendre. I enjoyed this book, and I recommend it.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

My excitement for this book can be summed up easily with this GIF:



Weirdly enough, safe for maybe 15% or so of the book devoted to actual game time, this romance isn't much about sports at all. That's okay, though, since it ended up being a really emotional story about overcoming addiction and opening yourself up to love, even when it's scary.

Jessie, a Type A real estate agent, plays for a Scotland football club that has just signed Fran Docherty, a wild-card wild-child who totally dominated Jessie on the field in a prior game. Jessie expects they will butt heads, but Fran seems to keep her distance, driving Jessie mad with her mysterious ways (and amazing body).

Fran is the kind of love interest we don't see a lot of in lesbian romance. Our favorite broody, dark, quiet ladies are usually cops, docs, or spies--women whose lives revolve around keeping it on the DL. But Fran is just a woman trying to carve a new life out of a dark past, and even when she does finally reveal her history of addiction and self destruction to Jessie, she doesn't turn into a Chatty Cathy. She's a spare, carefully-rendered character who we immediately become enamored with just as much as Jessie does. Male characters are always allowed to be like this, but women rarely are, so I tend to savor them.

Jessie and Fran's first romantic encounter is so explosive. It has been awhile since I've read lesfic with such a gorgeous, intimate, erotic first time between two very different women. I fell hard for both of them and it was exhilarating to see them come together.

The wonderful romantic plot is supported by great minor characters like the girls on the soccer club, Jessie's parents, and Fran's grandfather. None of them feel like corny stock characters or cardboard cut-outs of friends and family. This is also the first lesbian romance I've read that takes place in Scotland, and the cool, windblown setting of the Beachcomber Inn was written beautifully. It felt real and romantic the whole way through and it matched Fran's personality perfectly.

There's not a lot I didn't like about this book, but I did feel it could've been narrowed in a bit. Two books could've easily come out of all the plot, especially regarding Fran's family history,
her relationships with Kenny and Nikki, and her father's identity. I enjoyed it and it made for great angst, but for the middle third of the book, I nearly forgot this was supposed to be based around a soccer club. I didn't miss the game too much until their final match of the season played out on the page and was so well-done that I wondered why Temple didn't include more of it. The book just felt a little disjointed at times with too much rolled into one book, which prevented the 5-star rating it would've gotten for character development, romance, and overall writing quality.

(And wow, do I indeed love girls who play sports).

[Romana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the beginning, but the more this went on, the more frustrating it got. Fran is so stubbornly taciturn, and pushes away Jessie so consistently that I was wondering why Jessie was so taken with her. She was unpleasant to the point that they barely spoke for the vast majority of the book. Fran often thought Jessie was too good for her, and Fran didn't deserve her, she was right.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed views on this book. The story centres around straight laced Jessie and lots of baggage Fran. They both play football, but that is a minor side story, with the main part focusing on their romance.

There was something about the characters that I just could not connect with. I did not buy into their attraction and thus as a couple felt it lacked fizz. This was not helped that Fran did not communicate apart from one word answers. Personally I prefer more character building in stories. With Fran, we do later find out more about her chequered past, but with Jessie it was lacking in details and backstory.

There were moments you have to suspend disbelief with Fran being an ex user of hard drugs and alcohol, and still a heavy smoker being match fit to paly excellent football. This just did not ring true to me.

The background to the addiction is gritty, but well done and conveys the ongoing difficulties to stay clean and impact on relationships.

I thought the idea of the story was a good one, with lots of potential. I found that there was far too much narrative ie telling as opposed to showing, which did not show the full potential of the story. Personally I prefer action in stories, with the story unfolding with lots of dialogue so I can connect emotionally and visualize the scenes.

Overall its an interesting story, one that I remember after I have read it, but the writing and editing style is not to my personal taste.

2.5 stars

Arc received from Ylva for an honest review.

[Sascha Broich · Rating 4 out of 5]

*ARC from Ylva for review*

Besides volleyball and softball, football/soccer is the to-go team-sport for lesbians, it seems.
While Jessie is an accomplished and enthusisastic football player, beeing in the Olympic's team and on the Scottish national team, Fran just plays to get money - and some structure in her life.
Clearly they are opposites - even adversaries, initially.
But forced together on the same football team and living near enough to commute together too, they start a reluctant friendship.
Jessie seems to have it all: a good job in her father's company and a good football career, beeing friendly and socially accepted. Fran on the other hand is reclusive, does good on the football field but otherwise nothing socially, has a lot of tattoos and piercings and is quiet. Oil and water, so to speak of. But opposites attracts.
The first half of the book shows us Jessie's perspective, how she slowly scrapes at Fran's walls until there is a breach. In the second half we learn of the demons that haunt Fran. From there it is mostly Fran who struggles to let Jessie into her life.
The book gives a glimpse of the problems so called "free spirits" cause for all the other people around them.
It's not a light read, but the book is by no means dark. The author shows Fran's demons, but mostly as shadows than flesh. And let's one hope that even if you were in the gutter, with a strong enough will and some help you can pull yourself out of it.

[Jane Clements · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I’m not a big sports fan but I grew up in England and I enjoy and understand football (soccer) more than other sports. Don’t be put off reading the book if you don’t like football, though, as it plays a secondary role in the story. Really, it could be any team sport.

The story is grittier and perhaps more realistic than most romance novels. The cover does not reflect the tone of the novel at all. Jessie and Fran seem to be polar opposites (and not just because of the tired old blonde/brunette pairing). Fran is surly and doesn’t appear to have any passion for football in spite of her prodigious talent. Jessie, while similarly talented, loves the game. She takes each match seriously and it bothers her that Fran doesn’t seem to care. Jessie is a golden girl who comes from a loving family and she works in the family business. By contrast, Fran has not had an easy life.

Fran’s “messed up” past is alluded to in the blurb of the book, but I can’t really explain why this is such a good book without revealing details of Fran’s past. So, spoiler alert: if you don’t want any more details and are happy to just accept that I think this is a good book, stop reading here!

Fran is a recently recovering alcoholic and heroin addict. Temple does not gloss over what this means and just how hard it is to give up these addictions. A recovering from addiction is never completed. It’s done every minute of every day and there is no simple cure. Relapsing may occur, but it does not necessarily signal failure. It does make carrying on with recovery that much harder though. Temple understands this and we can see it reflected in Fran’s struggle. What I was really impressed with though, was Temple’s willingness to have Fran describe the seductive allure of the drugs – how they made her feel. After all, if everything about drugs is negative, why would anyone ever be drawn to them? Jessie is fearful of Fran’s almost yearning reminiscence of the highs accompanied by the sense of peace and confidence that heroin delivered, and her fear is understandable. But rejecting the realities of drug addiction does not help in understanding or overcoming it.

Given Fran’s past, any relationship they might enter into will never be easy. Is it worth acting on their mutual attraction? Are their differences just too great? Unusually for a romance novel, these are genuine questions in their case. Add in the sub-plot of trying to win their football league and we have an interesting, thought-provoking and exciting romance novel. I very much enjoyed it.

Note: I received a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Manon the Malicious · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was provided a Reviewer Copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jessie is a football player, she’s extremely friendly, almost annoyingly so. The best way to describe her would be prim and proper. Fran is her opposite. She’s got tattoos and piercings everywhere. She’s an addict and an alcoholic. Fran’s also very closed off and barely speaks.
When the two first meet on the field, on the last game of the season, they don’t exactly get along. Fran gets handsy while defending and Jessie gets pissed and slaps her.
Jessie takes an immediate dislike to her but then tries to sort it out when Fran gets signed by her club. Shit then gets complicated.

The book started out ok, a bit conventional, maybe. It felt like another love story I’ve read times and times before but it was still entertaining. I was mostly enjoying it. But as things escalated, the connection between the two main characters didn’t feel genuine anymore. For example, Jessie first mentions she’s in love with Fran to a third party but the two of them haven’t even had a real conversation yet… How can you be in love with someone you barely know?
At some point in the book, some of the dialogues seemed weird to me, they didn’t seem like what anyone would actually say. Idk... It’s just that for a big part of the book, I found myself rolling my eyes a lot and I had a hard time getting back into the story afterwards.
It didn’t help that I didn’t really connect with the two main characters. They were fine I guess but, sadly, I didn’t fall for either of them….
Honestly, this would have usually been a lower rating than 3 stars but I rounded up because it’s set in Edinburgh and Edinburgh is the best city in the world and everything set there deserves a chance.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the story of Jessie and Fran.
On the first sight, the two women are as apposed as possible. Jessie the strong willed and clear structured soccer player, who plays in the national team and works hard for her goals in sport as well as in her job as a real estate broker. On the other side Fran, with a dark past, who’s messed up bigtime her predicted career as model and musician. Who couldn’t handle the beginning success and fame.

The first time they met, as opponent on the field, was a disaster for Jessie. But the second time was even worse, now she has to play with Fran on the same team. She’s sure, Fran will be trouble. But she has no idea what kind of trouble she‘s getting in with Fran.

Fran would like to forget her past, but that’s not possible, every day she has to fight, has to be strong. This time she will not only survive, she will make something good for the people she’s let down. She has no time for more than sex, and she doesn’t deserve happiness. But somehow, Jessie is sneaking in in her heart.

As time goes on, the two player slowly bond with each other. It’s a tough road the two of them has to take, but maybe in the end, they will able to find a way to make it work. Wendy made a fantastic job, I could feel with the two women, what they were thinking and feeling.

The only thing that doesn’t fit well was the time schedule of the championship, they didn’t had a real off season, this time in the book was too short.

Despite other readers, who can’t imagen that people with Fran’s past can play soccer on this level, they are wrong, this is possible. I know some players myself with similar past’s who could play on this level. And there are some people with drug and alcohol issues during their time as pro players.
4 stars for Defensive Mindset. I’m looking forward to the next book from Wendy Temple.

Thanks to Ylva for receiving an ARC for an honest review.
Sorry for my bad English, my native language is Swiss German.

[Natasha]

no thanks. Fran apparently GROPED Jessie in a previous match. It's called out as sexual assault by Jessie but that's still not okay imho.

[Aj Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ignore the hideous cover (that made me initially think this would be a cheesy/smutty shitty romance) and move swiftly on to the beautiful and thought provoking prose of Ms Temple.

While there are some passages that deal specifically with soccer, you don't really need to know, or care much about the game to read the book; the sport is merely a convenient plot device and the real action happens in the quieter moments. Having said that, the author does know her stuff so soccer fans and players will not be disappointed by glaring errors.

On one level this is a love story; detailing the romance between the two leading ladies, as well the author's love for Edinburgh, but it also deals with much deeper themes such as the nature of addiction and the loss of identity.

Both Fran and Jessie have seen their lives take unexpected turns and are struggling to right themselves again, all the while attempting to convince the rest of the world that everything is just perfect. Their methods of dealing with life's challenges are quite different and the novel opens with a comical showdown between the pair, (despite its darker elements this is actually quite a funny book.) and this fractious relationship continues for quite some time.

Highly recommended if you like any or all of: good writing, lesbians, sport, music.

PS if you check out http://xenafiction.net/styles/athenae... you might just notice some similarities in the style of the writer!

[Jane Shambler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author and I'll happily admit that I was blown away. I really enjoyed it. Firstly, I liked the fact it was set in the UK. At last it was places I knew and could relate too and not try to imagine. Secondly, it covers a subject that is handled very well with sensitivity and compassion. Thirdly, women's football who isn't interested. (sorry, soccer to our american cousins).

It's set over a year or more notably a football season. It's an opposites attract book. but saying that I am inclined to slightly disagree with myself. I know confusing. The two main characters are very complex, but for different reasons.It is a very well written book, and a book that you can not put down but even more than that it is a book you do not want to put down.

As I said my first by this author but most definately not the last. I really enjoyed it. I can't wait for more and maybe even a sequel as there is plently of scope for more. Read - you'll enjoy.

[Willow · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have been delaying this review for a few month now, because i wanted to give de book another go. See if it wasn't that bad but i just wasn't in the right mood. But nop. Nop.

This book is about footballer star, Jessie, and a ex-convint/footballer Fran. You may think it's about football, but not at all. That's just the means to the story, that is the love story between this two.

For me, the no go was just the lack of credibility i read through the book. I'm a football fan, so if you're gonna write about that, please do it right. And i could understand why Jessie see in Fran and why she fell for her. I couldn't.

*An ARC was given to me from YLVA for a honest review.

[Kexx · Rating 3 out of 5]

Desperately disappointed - 1st 30% brilliant, loved it, football to the fore, then it got a little weird, can live with that but by 50% the book had changed: no longer sport, but rather a woman finding herself in a destructive & hurtful way. It was no longer the book as advertised - I skipped the last 50% & read the last chapter - but I feel cheated, bereft (it could have been brilliant) and all I can do is open a bottle of wine and mutter.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting seeing Shona and Toni again from Licit Cusp by Weebod. Fair to say I liked the book. I figured it would have been mostly about sport, but nope, not really. I found Fran a difficult character to like. But all and all it was pretty good.

[Tiffany Shamaly · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this book wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but it wasn't bad because of that. I guess I just didn't get into it like I do other books. I enjoyed the beginning as I was prepared for a good sports romance, but it became something else, but again, as I say it wasn't bad, just different than expected. Jessie is a successful football player with Lothian Thistle. Things change for her when she meets Fran a somewhat dirty player from the other team. However, she soon become a teammate and as a leader of the team Jessie tries her hardest to get along with the woman that caused her a three game suspension. Throughout the book you lean a lot more about Fran and why she is the way she is, tough, aloof and mysterious. By the end you have hope for both Fran and Jessie, but can tell there will still be a rocky road ahead. As I said, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I did enjoy it non-the-less.

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

By the cover and the jacket blurb, I had been expecting a slightly more sports-focused story. Other than a few very brief game scenes and practice sessions spoken of rather than actually seen, there is very little actual soccer in this book. Instead, the perspective bounces back and forth between Jessie, the "good girl", and Fran the recovering addict and follows their relationship from antagonistic adversaries to team mates. Granted things aren't as focused as that and there are a plethora of side characters and scenes that don't help move the plot along. However again I find myself reading a lesbian romance book that does not manage to show two people falling for each other and once again just forces it by telling the reader how they feel. Not to mention that there are very few, if any, redeeming qualities in Fran that would make anyone want to root for her much less pursue her. She takes being monosyllabic to a whole new level, insists upon silence and sleeps when Jessie drives her around to their training and games, and is constantly smoking. I cannot fathom why Jessie is drawn to her, unless she just enjoys being treated like garbage. There's even this troubling line of hers around half way through the book that was essentially saying that the worse Fran treated her, the more Jessie wanted her. Nice. I wish one of these other team mates would have staged an intervention at some point because both of these characters needed help, and not in the arms of each other.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

[Sarah Kerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is very busy and has a lot crammed into it. I enjoyed the story ok, but I did find it to be a little unbelievable where Fran was concerned...she is an addict (now clean) who is described as out of shape and a very heavy smoker etc. If this is the case then how on earth did she make it as a professional football player? I just couldn't get my mind around that.

I really liked Jessie as a character and was rooting for her to succeed and get everything she wanted. She is passionate and really easy to like. But I thought she deserved better than Fran. Not because of the addictions but because she was just so frustrating. I just couldn't see Jessie and Fran as a couple or even see their attraction to be honest.

I don't like to read about the 'perfect' character with the 'perfect' life, I enjoy reading about flawed characters who are believable. And I like reading about characters who have to overcome issues etc. It's part of the journey. But I found myself getting really frustrated with Fran and I just wanted to shout at her, so much so that I ended up putting the book down and walking away. She just refused to talk (the one worded answers drove me crazy), I honestly found it hard to like her at all. I honestly don't think I've ever read a main character like her or one that I couldn't connect with or like much.

I also had a little trouble with the timeline and knowing when things happened. Oh and I didn't think the ages of the characters were very clear. So it was kind of hard to picture them.

I would still say read it for yourself, we all have different tastes and enjoy different things about stories. I will read more from this author in the future as she has potential.

[Della B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Defensive Mindset is a beautifully written novel about life's tragedies, struggles and triumphs both on the soccer pitch and in life. Fran and Jessie's lives could not be more different when they meet as opponents. This is where the novel leaves the path of what you would expect to happen in a story concerning sports, lesbians and conflict. Ms Temple weaves layers of insight into the human psyche while gradually telling her story. The storyline gently takes you through the human drama revealing small truths about fragility and the struggle to be a better person. It has been a very long time since a novel has stood out and above its genre. This is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it. Take your time with it and enjoy the language and the descriptive narrative which brings you into the world Ms Temple creates for you.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely surprise. I must admit I am guilty of judging a book by its cover now and then with this being one of those times. I was expecting a light, easy read with a touch of sports which is like candy to me. What I got was a strong tale with depth, tragedy and light.
Wendy Temple has created an environment I never expected but very much appreciated. Well worth a read.
---
I received an ARC for an honest review

[abi · Rating 4 out of 5]

probably a 3-star read in reality but it's the best adult f/f football romance I've read so 4 stars it is

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

*I received this book from the publisher, in return for a fair review.*

At first I was excited about this book because I like soccer and the prospect of sports and romance seemed to just work but not in this book.
I liked the character of Jessie but I just couldn't handle Fran. There were just many points in the book about Fran that I just can't see happening - like she is a (ex) heroin addict, was in jail and so on and I just can't imagine that someone like that would have a shoot at the Women's Champions League.
The other point is she smokes like all the time throughout the book and soccer requires a lot of running - how is that fit with constantly smoking and drinking and it doesn't seem like she is that into soccer either - she says on many account she just does it for the paycheck... how can she make it to this league?
The romance part is also a bit unbelievable for me - Fran doesn't talk at all, it doesn't seem because she is shy or something - she doesn't talk a lot and just shows attitude towards everybody. I just can't see how Jessie would fall for her.
The whole book has a lot of things in it that seem kind of unbelievable and unreasonable to me.

[Rach · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started off great, then it got a bit shit, and then it picked back up again thank god

[Brooke Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trigger Warning: Rape, Grief, Addiction

FYI:
--Hate to Love trope
--“Exoctic” sexy, brown skinned women as background characters
--The word “lover” is used and I know some people hate the word
--A+ Punk Rock History & Music.
--Yes, Sex Pistols Credit Cards are a real thing.
--It starts with a groping on the soccer/football park during a game
--I seriously love how well the title works on different levels
--Yes, I knew from the cover going in it was about soccer/football. Do I know anything about soccer? No. Do I care about soccer? While reading Defensive Mindset I did. It was rocky getting into it given how foreign sports are to me, but I love how it doesn’t try to define the terms and dumb it down. Context clues and paying attention is enough to get it, and once you’ve got it, you’re golden.

The games were exciting, the strategy fascinating, and the pep talks got me pumped.

Jessie is the Good Girl. I understand her inhibitions and always cheer for characters scoping out exits with a social clock ticking down. What I’m about to say next is probably backwards for most people but…She was so frustrating! She’s naive, sheltered and wholesome. I mean, her childhood and her success is what every parent asks for yet I kept thinking how fucking dull and judgmental she is and hating it.

“Seriously, that white shirt of yours saw more action in the thirty minutes Fran wore it than in a lifetime with you.”

The best moment of realization isn’t acknowledged verbally and I hope most people pick up on it. Jessie complained and whined how it wasn’t fair that Fran was treated differently. In the beginning. Once she got over herself, her prejudices, and knew more about Fran, Jessie was defending her. Pointing how hard she had to work just to be functional like most people.

“Life was shocking. The truth was shocking. And Jessie needed to hear it in all its gutter glory.”

Fran’s destructive thoughts and the relief from smoking is so spot on. I know smoking is terrible, I’ve smoked for 8 years and have gone 72 days without a cig. Everyone asked why I smoked but none of them understood when I tried to explain. I have anxiety, depression, and an abusive past to deal with. I’ve been on medication for the past year and couldn’t have even considered quitting smoking without that and the other progress I’ve made.

“The first drag burned the back of her throat before leaving a soothing sensation that radiated from her lungs throughout her body as she exhaled.”

While Jessie is uncomfortable with Fran’s smoking and how she describes her addiction to drugs, everything is truthful and the overall picture is one of caution.

“She fucking left me with a lifetime of chasing shadows and highs.”

I was pleasantly surprised to find there was still a third of the book left at the point most romance novels would’ve wrapped it up.

I find it frustrating when authors build up so much and finish with a shallow hollow ending. If you convince me for SO many pages how they’re relationship will never work, why the hell would I change my mind quickly?

Thankfully, Defensive Mindset portrays Fran as a whole person with real issues that cannot be shaken off with a good fuck. Only gimmicks and games work like that. When faced with the future and commitment and being open, Fran’s reaction is realistic. Making her accept that escalation after the Big Moment between would be fake.

Instead, Fran and Jessie are allowed to maneuver freely and make further progress. At the end, I KNOW how much I love them and can root for them, how assured their relationship is. I can’t describe it better without major spoilers but Wendy Temple has gained a huge fan with this turn of events.


It doesn’t matter if you don’t know jack about soccer, or that you call it soccer. Want a grown-ass romance between two adult women from different sides of the field and want Hate to Love? Get Defensive Mindset.

Another win for Ylva Publishing! You can check out more of their books here. I’ve read and loved all the books by Emily O’Beirne, which are YA Contemporary in Australia.


Don’t forget to come back next Tuesday, the 30th for my review of Under Parr by Andrea Bramhall, another W/W romance published by Ylva.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jessie can't believe that her coach hired Fran. Of all players that annoyed her on the field, he has to pick the one who managed to get on her nerves so badly, that Jessie lost her temper on the field and was suspended. And even now, when they are on the same team, Jessie is not sure if she can stand Fran.

Jessie is a hardworking woman, who wants to excel in football and in her personal life. Her opinion about romance is shattered, when her parents split up after nearly 30 years or marriage. And whatever weird thing she has going on with Fran makes everything even more complicated.

Fran is the silent type. She smokes and she sleeps and she deals with her past addiction as well as struggling to keep her grandfather's bar up and running. Most of the time she's distant and silent, but she also has her softer moments.

Jessie was pretty easy to love most of the time. Personally, I thought she overreacted a lot to the news of her parent's divorce, she's a grown up after all and doesn't depend on them and I found it really weird to read about her going on and on how it was the worst thing to happen to her. I can't imagine that it would change that much for a grown up child whose not living with their parents anymore.

I had a few problems with Fran. I really wanted to like her and I normally do like the Troubled Girl, but she lacked Depth. Now she has a tragic backstory and she has a lot of stuff going on in her life, but I never really felt like I could connect with her. She has all these things going on, but she kind of lacks the emotional depth. I also have a hard time imagining how a hard-core smoker and a generally not very healthy lifestyle, is supposed to have the condition to become a top-notch football player.

Generally, there was a lot of telling in this book and very little showing, so I already had a hard time connection to most of the characters and sadly this didn't change throughout the book.

I did however really enjoy the parts where Fran talked about her addiction. I can't say how truthful it was, but it felt very heartbreaking. Some of her descriptions were hard to read, but it was definitely a very interesting point of view that she had.

All in all, I have to say I liked this book, but it was not groundbreaking, and I still have some problems with it as detailed above. But it was still a nice read.