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Milwaukee Dragons #2
Swagger
“Tight end,” noun: 1. a position in American football, 2. NFL star Marcus James, 3. what any hot-blooded woman can’t stop staring at every time Marcus walks by.
Bree Novak is so close to earning her Ph.D. she can taste it, but she’s supposed to be writing her dissertation, not giving lectures while her advisor slacks off. The semester gets even crazier when veteran tight end Marcus James—Bree’s celebrity crush—enrolls in her “Intro to Physics” class. The man’s even hotter in person than he looks on Sunday Night Football. So why is Bree hoping he drops out? Maybe it’s because Marcus, with his cocky smile and chiseled body, is the ultimate distraction. . . .
Drafted out of college years ago by the Milwaukee Dragons, Marcus is taking advantage of a season-ending knee injury to finish his bachelor’s degree. Plus, thanks to a required science credit, he’s also getting to know the geek goddess who teaches physics. With brains and beauty, Bree is living proof that opposites attract. She’s even kind enough to give Marcus extra help with the material, as if she didn’t have anything better to do. And the more time Marcus spends with her, the more he realizes he’s not just crushing on his teacher—he’s falling for her.
Don’t miss any of Liz Lincoln’s mouthwatering Milwaukee Dragons novels, which can be read together or separately:
ON THE LINE | SWAGGER
Bree Novak is so close to earning her Ph.D. she can taste it, but she’s supposed to be writing her dissertation, not giving lectures while her advisor slacks off. The semester gets even crazier when veteran tight end Marcus James—Bree’s celebrity crush—enrolls in her “Intro to Physics” class. The man’s even hotter in person than he looks on Sunday Night Football. So why is Bree hoping he drops out? Maybe it’s because Marcus, with his cocky smile and chiseled body, is the ultimate distraction. . . .
Drafted out of college years ago by the Milwaukee Dragons, Marcus is taking advantage of a season-ending knee injury to finish his bachelor’s degree. Plus, thanks to a required science credit, he’s also getting to know the geek goddess who teaches physics. With brains and beauty, Bree is living proof that opposites attract. She’s even kind enough to give Marcus extra help with the material, as if she didn’t have anything better to do. And the more time Marcus spends with her, the more he realizes he’s not just crushing on his teacher—he’s falling for her.
Don’t miss any of Liz Lincoln’s mouthwatering Milwaukee Dragons novels, which can be read together or separately:
ON THE LINE | SWAGGER
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 2018
19 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Liz Lincoln
14 books68 followersLiz has been concocting stories as long as she can remember, and from the beginning they involved two people falling in love.
When she's not writing, she spends her time rooting for the UW Badgers and the Green Bay Packers (or yearning for the return of football season), cross-stitching and embroidering sassy sayings or nerdy characters (Wonder Woman is her favorite), and drinking too much Diet Coke.
She lives in Milwaukee, WI, with her husband, two kids, three cats, and a turtle.
When she's not writing, she spends her time rooting for the UW Badgers and the Green Bay Packers (or yearning for the return of football season), cross-stitching and embroidering sassy sayings or nerdy characters (Wonder Woman is her favorite), and drinking too much Diet Coke.
She lives in Milwaukee, WI, with her husband, two kids, three cats, and a turtle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
September 1, 2018
4 1/2 STARS!
✦ Black NFL player (tight end). Currently out for the season due to injury
✦ She's finishing her dissertation for a PhD in physics (STEM heroine) + excellent anxiety rep (so damn real, it me)
✦ While injured, he's back at university to finish up his bachelors; she was wrangled into teaching a class . . . yep, one of his.
✦ Slow burn but then it's SUPER hot.
✦ Cake + oral (trust me -- there is NO food near the genitals! But I can tell you this: goals)
✦ Loved that all the characters are described -- be it white or Black or Indian or Latinx, etc. White is not the assumed default in this world
✦ Loved these two -- as a couple and as characters
✦ My only issue, small at that, was I wanted a stronger ending for them (and no, I don't need a wedding or baby epilogue for a strong ending, but rather I wanted to see them actually together and working things out, in their lives and in their relationship, before they cuddle into the sunset and the book ends, you know?)
✦ Excited to read more from Lincoln in the future (luckily I have book 1 still on my Kindle)
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
If you wish to look at some quotes/thoughts I highlighted, please check out my Twitter feed
✦ Black NFL player (tight end). Currently out for the season due to injury
✦ She's finishing her dissertation for a PhD in physics (STEM heroine) + excellent anxiety rep (so damn real, it me)
✦ While injured, he's back at university to finish up his bachelors; she was wrangled into teaching a class . . . yep, one of his.
✦ Slow burn but then it's SUPER hot.
✦ Cake + oral (trust me -- there is NO food near the genitals! But I can tell you this: goals)
✦ Loved that all the characters are described -- be it white or Black or Indian or Latinx, etc. White is not the assumed default in this world
✦ Loved these two -- as a couple and as characters
✦ My only issue, small at that, was I wanted a stronger ending for them (and no, I don't need a wedding or baby epilogue for a strong ending, but rather I wanted to see them actually together and working things out, in their lives and in their relationship, before they cuddle into the sunset and the book ends, you know?)
✦ Excited to read more from Lincoln in the future (luckily I have book 1 still on my Kindle)
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
If you wish to look at some quotes/thoughts I highlighted, please check out my Twitter feed
September 17, 2018
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Sports romances are among my favorites. Therefore, seeing the second Dragons book was going to feature a STEM heroine had me really excited.
• Pro: Marcus had everything I look for in a hero, and won me over immediately. I especially loved it, when he would go through his memory index to try and figure out what he did wrong, and the way he attempted to curb his hero tendencies in order to respect Bree's desires to "save" herself. And bonus! He was a closest nerd, who engaged Bree in quite the Star Wars - Star Trek debate.
• Pro: I liked the common ground that Lincoln laid down between Marcus and Bree. They were both rather successful, but not in the eyes of their families, which was really sad. At least they had each other.
• Con: The ending was ok, but I would have liked a little more for these two. I really, really liked Marcus, and he deserved more. The good news is, that this is a series, and we can always get some awesome life update on Marcus and Bree in a later book.
• Con: I was a little surprised that the couple from the first book were so far removed from this story. Usually there is more of a connection between the current and previous MCs. I think I let out an exhale, when we finally got a mention of them. I just expect more updates on past couples in companion books.
• Pro: The set up was great. Most of this sports romance took place off the field, because Marcus was recovering from an injury, but Marcus' "fragile" state worked well in the story, and made it more believable.
• Pro: Marcus and Bree were a fun coupling. The chemistry was great, and each brought out the best side of the other. I really enjoyed watching their romance blossom.
Overall: If you're in it for the romance, you will enjoy this one, because there is no doubt in my mind, Marcus will win your heart.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
Sports romances are among my favorites. Therefore, seeing the second Dragons book was going to feature a STEM heroine had me really excited.
• Pro: Marcus had everything I look for in a hero, and won me over immediately. I especially loved it, when he would go through his memory index to try and figure out what he did wrong, and the way he attempted to curb his hero tendencies in order to respect Bree's desires to "save" herself. And bonus! He was a closest nerd, who engaged Bree in quite the Star Wars - Star Trek debate.
• Pro: I liked the common ground that Lincoln laid down between Marcus and Bree. They were both rather successful, but not in the eyes of their families, which was really sad. At least they had each other.
• Con: The ending was ok, but I would have liked a little more for these two. I really, really liked Marcus, and he deserved more. The good news is, that this is a series, and we can always get some awesome life update on Marcus and Bree in a later book.
• Con: I was a little surprised that the couple from the first book were so far removed from this story. Usually there is more of a connection between the current and previous MCs. I think I let out an exhale, when we finally got a mention of them. I just expect more updates on past couples in companion books.
• Pro: The set up was great. Most of this sports romance took place off the field, because Marcus was recovering from an injury, but Marcus' "fragile" state worked well in the story, and made it more believable.
• Pro: Marcus and Bree were a fun coupling. The chemistry was great, and each brought out the best side of the other. I really enjoyed watching their romance blossom.
Overall: If you're in it for the romance, you will enjoy this one, because there is no doubt in my mind, Marcus will win your heart.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
July 7, 2019
So, I really loved the voice in this and I'm going to be checking out more of this series. My one niggle was the fight that temporarily breaks them up even though they're not officially together, because she's his teacher and that's not allowed for obvious reasons. And I get it. It was a cumulative reaction to a lifetime of women in STEM nonsense, plus her family, plus her ex, etc, but mentioning to someone that she might want a job in her field? That's what set her off??? That's just networking.
But like I said, really liked the writing and this book has a great set of diverse supporting characters. Would recommend if someone wants a new set of sports romances! (
(And if felt Wisconsiny! Which as we all know, is really my highest form of praise.)
**Read for Ripped Bodice Bingo 2019, Dragons**
(Yes, I know this is not the kind of dragons they meant. But they encourage interpretation and the team name is Dragons! So I think it definitely counts.)
But like I said, really liked the writing and this book has a great set of diverse supporting characters. Would recommend if someone wants a new set of sports romances! (
(And if felt Wisconsiny! Which as we all know, is really my highest form of praise.)
**Read for Ripped Bodice Bingo 2019, Dragons**
(Yes, I know this is not the kind of dragons they meant. But they encourage interpretation and the team name is Dragons! So I think it definitely counts.)
March 3, 2019
Wisconsin + romance between a physicist and a pro football player = AMAZING ❤️ loved it so much! 2nd in a series but can be read on its own.
no
July 17, 2018I stopped reading it at 30%. Six chapters were enough to bore me out of my mind.
Maybe it was the third person writing, the sporadic dialogues and the fact that nothing really happens!!!
Here's what I got so far: he's an NFL player, currently injured and trying to finish his education. He's equally nerd and jock. She's a physics TA and he's her student, of course. They meet on campus, she's a huge fan of his, their attraction for each other is obvious, but when I was finally ready for them to kiss at least, she says "we can't. you're my student." :insert eye roll:
So, my kindle says I need another three hours to finish reading it and I simply can't. I'm sure it's not the book's fault, so I would highly recommend you to give it a chance. I didn't click with it. It didn't suck me in, but maybe it won't be the same for you.
"ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review."
Maybe it was the third person writing, the sporadic dialogues and the fact that nothing really happens!!!
Here's what I got so far: he's an NFL player, currently injured and trying to finish his education. He's equally nerd and jock. She's a physics TA and he's her student, of course. They meet on campus, she's a huge fan of his, their attraction for each other is obvious, but when I was finally ready for them to kiss at least, she says "we can't. you're my student." :insert eye roll:
So, my kindle says I need another three hours to finish reading it and I simply can't. I'm sure it's not the book's fault, so I would highly recommend you to give it a chance. I didn't click with it. It didn't suck me in, but maybe it won't be the same for you.
"ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review."
July 16, 2019
Coming at a timely juncture, Liz Lincoln’s new contemporary sports romance Swagger, book two in the Milwaukee Dragons series, covers a lot of territory. Just like in real life, in this story about a football player and a PhD student, football and college are both in full swing for fall and the novel combines both aspects in a thoroughly enjoyable romance with a hint of the forbidden teacher/student trope. It also doesn’t shy away from some serious topics, dealing with them in an authentic and believable fashion.
Marcus James is on the injury list with a damaged knee and in physiotherapy rehab while the Milwaukee Dragons starts their season. Instead of pining on the sidelines (well, there might be some of that, too) he decides to finish up some college credits needed towards his degree. Physics is not his forte, but the bright and engaging teacher definitely makes it a smart choice. His parents are both medical professionals and are thrilled that he’s gone back to school. They hope it’s a sign that he’s going to quit football, especially on the part of his mother, who messages him weekly with new research on traumatic brain injuries. But Marcus isn’t looking to end his football career anytime soon – this is just an injury time out until he can get back on the field.
Bree Novak is in the final weeks leading up to her dissertation and hopefully her PhD in physics. She’s got a lame duck adviser, an older man who doesn’t think much of women in the workplace, never mind in a scientific field. He’s stuck her with teaching a class, one that turns out to be an admittedly bright spot in her day when her celebrity crush, Marcus, turns up as a student. From the first time they chat after class, to the tutoring sessions he’s sorely in need of, they have a connection; one that becomes a fast friendship and then something more.
Bree is cautious, not wanting to give her adviser any reason to derail her PhD by finding out she’s become involved with a student. Besides, the odds of Marcus wanting to actually be in a long term relationship are remote, or so her clinical anxiety likes to tell her. She doesn’t know where she’ll end up after she gets her degree, having looked at employment opportunities out of state. Are she and Marcus headed for the real thing or will their diverging futures leave a relationship in the dust?
There’s a lot to unpack in this solidly written and engaging story so let’s start at the top. Firstly, the teacher/student relationship isn’t one of particular concern with respect to their ages as they are both in their late twenties and Marcus is a few years older than Bree. Their friendship is out in the open (they have lunch together several times) and Marcus is seeing Bree for tutoring so it’s not surprising that they are spending time together. Whether someone finding out that they are moving towards a more intimate relationship could damage Bree’s graduate studies is a source of tension in the story but not an overwhelming one.
The environment the author creates for Bree as a grad student is (hopefully) familiar to anyone who has gone to college, realistically portraying the diversity of cultures and ethnic groups that study together. (At least, that is my personal experience so I was delighted with its portrayal here). Marcus is black and it’s great to see the book cover reflecting this. Bree’s best friend, fellow student and housemate Reina is Latinx, and uses a wheelchair in her daily life, and the author does a great job of incorporating all the details that can’t be overlooked when accessibility is an issue. Marcus and some of his football buddies own a nightclub and since one has a family member in a wheelchair, they’d made sure to include a ramp. That Marcus is not only a talented football player, a serious student, and thoughtful, to boot, is another kink in Bree’s original plan to keep him at arm’s length.
Though it’s becoming more common, it’s still not the norm to discuss CTE – chronic traumatic encephalopathy – in a romance, though it’s getting better as more is known about the dangers of concussions in impact sports. Anyone playing football is aware of the issue and Marcus more than most, with his neurologist mother having bemoaned his career decision from the start and now never missing an opportunity to try to get him to quit playing ball. Marcus loves football and has weighed the risks for himself, with plans to continue for at least a couple more seasons once his knee injury is healed. I appreciate that the author brings this up as an everyday topic the guys on the team discuss and debate.
You also don’t commonly see characters who deal with anxiety and depression in romantic novels, though it is becoming more prevalent in contemporary romances. It may seem odd to want to include story arcs that don’t automatically make you think of a happy ever after, but it reflects a growing trend in modern society and romance is nothing if not a reflection of trends and social norms. Bree’s anxiety will show up whenever it’s not wanted (of course) and the stress of dealing with a misogynistic professor who could derail her research efforts and her degree definitely doesn’t help. When Bree shares her mental health issues with Marcus, he’s understanding and offers help to her in whatever way she needs, having had a family member with a similar diagnosis. Marcus’s support helps her to regain her mental balance more quickly in tense times.
But what about the romance? Well, it’s exciting and sexy! It’s a slow burn at the start, since the reasons for the couple to avoid getting involved are pretty clear. But hanging out together, and meeting each other’s circle of friends, as well as Marcus’ genuine friendliness and good nature make their mutual attraction difficult to resist. The resulting love scenes are sexy and emotional. The sharing of confidences and the challenges they both face from not always supportive family environments provide another link to make the end of the school term not come quickly enough. Naturally there is a conflict that requires soul searching and compromise to resolve, but it all adds up to a genuine belief that this couple will have a fun and long-lasting future. Swagger takes football romance to the next level with a story that seamlessly blends important topics into a fun and engaging romance.
This review also appears at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
https://allaboutromance.com/the-best-...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
Marcus James is on the injury list with a damaged knee and in physiotherapy rehab while the Milwaukee Dragons starts their season. Instead of pining on the sidelines (well, there might be some of that, too) he decides to finish up some college credits needed towards his degree. Physics is not his forte, but the bright and engaging teacher definitely makes it a smart choice. His parents are both medical professionals and are thrilled that he’s gone back to school. They hope it’s a sign that he’s going to quit football, especially on the part of his mother, who messages him weekly with new research on traumatic brain injuries. But Marcus isn’t looking to end his football career anytime soon – this is just an injury time out until he can get back on the field.
Bree Novak is in the final weeks leading up to her dissertation and hopefully her PhD in physics. She’s got a lame duck adviser, an older man who doesn’t think much of women in the workplace, never mind in a scientific field. He’s stuck her with teaching a class, one that turns out to be an admittedly bright spot in her day when her celebrity crush, Marcus, turns up as a student. From the first time they chat after class, to the tutoring sessions he’s sorely in need of, they have a connection; one that becomes a fast friendship and then something more.
Bree is cautious, not wanting to give her adviser any reason to derail her PhD by finding out she’s become involved with a student. Besides, the odds of Marcus wanting to actually be in a long term relationship are remote, or so her clinical anxiety likes to tell her. She doesn’t know where she’ll end up after she gets her degree, having looked at employment opportunities out of state. Are she and Marcus headed for the real thing or will their diverging futures leave a relationship in the dust?
There’s a lot to unpack in this solidly written and engaging story so let’s start at the top. Firstly, the teacher/student relationship isn’t one of particular concern with respect to their ages as they are both in their late twenties and Marcus is a few years older than Bree. Their friendship is out in the open (they have lunch together several times) and Marcus is seeing Bree for tutoring so it’s not surprising that they are spending time together. Whether someone finding out that they are moving towards a more intimate relationship could damage Bree’s graduate studies is a source of tension in the story but not an overwhelming one.
The environment the author creates for Bree as a grad student is (hopefully) familiar to anyone who has gone to college, realistically portraying the diversity of cultures and ethnic groups that study together. (At least, that is my personal experience so I was delighted with its portrayal here). Marcus is black and it’s great to see the book cover reflecting this. Bree’s best friend, fellow student and housemate Reina is Latinx, and uses a wheelchair in her daily life, and the author does a great job of incorporating all the details that can’t be overlooked when accessibility is an issue. Marcus and some of his football buddies own a nightclub and since one has a family member in a wheelchair, they’d made sure to include a ramp. That Marcus is not only a talented football player, a serious student, and thoughtful, to boot, is another kink in Bree’s original plan to keep him at arm’s length.
Though it’s becoming more common, it’s still not the norm to discuss CTE – chronic traumatic encephalopathy – in a romance, though it’s getting better as more is known about the dangers of concussions in impact sports. Anyone playing football is aware of the issue and Marcus more than most, with his neurologist mother having bemoaned his career decision from the start and now never missing an opportunity to try to get him to quit playing ball. Marcus loves football and has weighed the risks for himself, with plans to continue for at least a couple more seasons once his knee injury is healed. I appreciate that the author brings this up as an everyday topic the guys on the team discuss and debate.
You also don’t commonly see characters who deal with anxiety and depression in romantic novels, though it is becoming more prevalent in contemporary romances. It may seem odd to want to include story arcs that don’t automatically make you think of a happy ever after, but it reflects a growing trend in modern society and romance is nothing if not a reflection of trends and social norms. Bree’s anxiety will show up whenever it’s not wanted (of course) and the stress of dealing with a misogynistic professor who could derail her research efforts and her degree definitely doesn’t help. When Bree shares her mental health issues with Marcus, he’s understanding and offers help to her in whatever way she needs, having had a family member with a similar diagnosis. Marcus’s support helps her to regain her mental balance more quickly in tense times.
But what about the romance? Well, it’s exciting and sexy! It’s a slow burn at the start, since the reasons for the couple to avoid getting involved are pretty clear. But hanging out together, and meeting each other’s circle of friends, as well as Marcus’ genuine friendliness and good nature make their mutual attraction difficult to resist. The resulting love scenes are sexy and emotional. The sharing of confidences and the challenges they both face from not always supportive family environments provide another link to make the end of the school term not come quickly enough. Naturally there is a conflict that requires soul searching and compromise to resolve, but it all adds up to a genuine belief that this couple will have a fun and long-lasting future. Swagger takes football romance to the next level with a story that seamlessly blends important topics into a fun and engaging romance.
This review also appears at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-revi...
https://allaboutromance.com/the-best-...
A copy of this story was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for review.
September 18, 2018
This was an enjoyable read. It has nice writing, a good flow and well developed interesting characters. Everything you look for in a good book. Nothing wow about the story but it is a nice romance. I enjoyed the maturity of the characters. No back and forth about their feelings, they handled situations the way would expect adults to handle them, and they actually talked about any issues that came up. Just a note while this is a "sports romance" there isn't much in the way of sports in this book. Overall I really liked this one and I think you will too. I recommend it.
September 8, 2018
~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~
This is the second book in the series, and a really good read. It is undoubtedly a sports romance, although Marcus is currently on the bench due to an injury, so he is taking the opportunity to catch up on some studying. This leads him to meet PhD student teacher, Bree, as she is teaching his Physics module. So as well as sports romance, we get the student / teacher dynamic, and hey, it's physics, so there is a lot of fun geekiness thrown in. Give them both parents who can't help but know best and a couple of feline companions, and this really ticks every box - and I must add - in a really good way. In fact all my plans for my Saturday morning have been shelved as I had to finish this first!
Bree suffers from anxiety, and it is at an all time high as she gets close to completing her PhD. Throw in a truly awful replacement supervisor, who is the ultimate misogynist, and a bully to boot, and coping is becoming even more difficult. So meeting her longtime crush, tight end Marcus James is surely going to tip her over the edge. Instead, she finds a really good guy, who is patient, kind and weirdly seems to really like her back. It is really fun being along for the ride as she starts to realise this, and even more fun when she breaks some rules and turns rather unexpectedly into quite a sex kitten.
Marcus is not happy about missing a whole season, and Bree certainly helps distract him, but he has a feeling this is a little more important that just a way to pass the time. How it can possibly work with him being her student, and then Bree likely to leave for another job leads him to ask a favour of a friend... what ensues is complicated, but makes for a really good twist in the story.
Another really good installment, with some great humour, as well as some serious issues being considered, and the romance and passion was both engaging and believable. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
This is the second book in the series, and a really good read. It is undoubtedly a sports romance, although Marcus is currently on the bench due to an injury, so he is taking the opportunity to catch up on some studying. This leads him to meet PhD student teacher, Bree, as she is teaching his Physics module. So as well as sports romance, we get the student / teacher dynamic, and hey, it's physics, so there is a lot of fun geekiness thrown in. Give them both parents who can't help but know best and a couple of feline companions, and this really ticks every box - and I must add - in a really good way. In fact all my plans for my Saturday morning have been shelved as I had to finish this first!
Bree suffers from anxiety, and it is at an all time high as she gets close to completing her PhD. Throw in a truly awful replacement supervisor, who is the ultimate misogynist, and a bully to boot, and coping is becoming even more difficult. So meeting her longtime crush, tight end Marcus James is surely going to tip her over the edge. Instead, she finds a really good guy, who is patient, kind and weirdly seems to really like her back. It is really fun being along for the ride as she starts to realise this, and even more fun when she breaks some rules and turns rather unexpectedly into quite a sex kitten.
Marcus is not happy about missing a whole season, and Bree certainly helps distract him, but he has a feeling this is a little more important that just a way to pass the time. How it can possibly work with him being her student, and then Bree likely to leave for another job leads him to ask a favour of a friend... what ensues is complicated, but makes for a really good twist in the story.
Another really good installment, with some great humour, as well as some serious issues being considered, and the romance and passion was both engaging and believable. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
Read
September 20, 2018Review to come.
Content Warnings:
Content Warnings:
September 11, 2018
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Bree and Marcus' relationship starts off slow, which I adore. They took time to get to know each other, their likes and dislikes, and became lovers. Marcus is the dream boyfriend: smart, good looking and a great listener. Downside: the reacts before he thinks and doesn't always hear what Bree is telling him.
Bree is a working on a doctorate in a male dominated field and often has to put up with the 'old boys club' that still exists in the area of physics. Her own doctoral adviser seems to the founding father of this particular faction. She's holding her head up, working on her dissertation and doing her level best to succeed where it seems that everyone wants her to fail. Including her own family.
Being friends with Marcus is something new, he's supportive of her work, her dreams and wants to help. However, the chip on her shoulder about people "knowing" what's best for her could derail their relationship before it gets off the ground.
Marcus also has some issues with his family not being supportive. His highly successful parents are both doctors as are his sisters. He's the only one in his family who's under-achieving. His success on the football field is nothing of note to his family. Their major concern is that he not end up with brain damage before he gives up the game. His season ending injury on solidified his parents belief that he needs to do something more meaningful with his life.
Bree and Marcus are good for each other in that they believe in each other and only to build the other up, rather than tearing them down. Marcus has to realize that Bree's independence is an innate part of her just as it is in him.
~~Wicked Reads Review Team~~
Bree and Marcus' relationship starts off slow, which I adore. They took time to get to know each other, their likes and dislikes, and became lovers. Marcus is the dream boyfriend: smart, good looking and a great listener. Downside: the reacts before he thinks and doesn't always hear what Bree is telling him.
Bree is a working on a doctorate in a male dominated field and often has to put up with the 'old boys club' that still exists in the area of physics. Her own doctoral adviser seems to the founding father of this particular faction. She's holding her head up, working on her dissertation and doing her level best to succeed where it seems that everyone wants her to fail. Including her own family.
Being friends with Marcus is something new, he's supportive of her work, her dreams and wants to help. However, the chip on her shoulder about people "knowing" what's best for her could derail their relationship before it gets off the ground.
Marcus also has some issues with his family not being supportive. His highly successful parents are both doctors as are his sisters. He's the only one in his family who's under-achieving. His success on the football field is nothing of note to his family. Their major concern is that he not end up with brain damage before he gives up the game. His season ending injury on solidified his parents belief that he needs to do something more meaningful with his life.
Bree and Marcus are good for each other in that they believe in each other and only to build the other up, rather than tearing them down. Marcus has to realize that Bree's independence is an innate part of her just as it is in him.
~~Wicked Reads Review Team~~
May 3, 2019
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley for my honest review.
Marcus James is a tight end for the Milwaukee Dragons NFL team. He injured his ACL and is out for the season. He has decided to go back two college to finish up the last two classes he needs to finish his degree. One of these classes is intro to Physics, taught by grad student Bree Novak. Bree is finishing up her doctorate in Physics. She is having to deal with crippling panic attacks and a sexist advisor, who doesn’t believe women belong in the Physics. She is a huge fan of the Dragons and Marcus in particular. This sets up the hot-for-teacher, forbidden romance between the two of them. I liked this story, but I didn’t love it. What I loved about this story, Marcus. He is the perfect guy, an athlete, loves smart women, patient. I also liked that they had the female love interest as an academic in the STEM area. What drove me crazy about this story, Bree. When the inevitable breakup happens (this is not a spoiler as every romance does this), it was due to Bree being irrational. But of course the story put the blame on Marcus. Sometimes women are jerks too and they need to put on their big girl panties and do the apologizing. If you liked the first book in this series, you will enjoy this book.
Marcus James is a tight end for the Milwaukee Dragons NFL team. He injured his ACL and is out for the season. He has decided to go back two college to finish up the last two classes he needs to finish his degree. One of these classes is intro to Physics, taught by grad student Bree Novak. Bree is finishing up her doctorate in Physics. She is having to deal with crippling panic attacks and a sexist advisor, who doesn’t believe women belong in the Physics. She is a huge fan of the Dragons and Marcus in particular. This sets up the hot-for-teacher, forbidden romance between the two of them. I liked this story, but I didn’t love it. What I loved about this story, Marcus. He is the perfect guy, an athlete, loves smart women, patient. I also liked that they had the female love interest as an academic in the STEM area. What drove me crazy about this story, Bree. When the inevitable breakup happens (this is not a spoiler as every romance does this), it was due to Bree being irrational. But of course the story put the blame on Marcus. Sometimes women are jerks too and they need to put on their big girl panties and do the apologizing. If you liked the first book in this series, you will enjoy this book.
September 14, 2018
This was just an okay read for me. The storyline progress is slow and I did a lot of skimming towards the middle. The main character, Bree, has had a crush on her favorite football player, Marcus James, forever. Marcus is injured and taking a physics class that Bree is TA’ing. Though the attraction is immediate there is a ton of build up to a kiss that she immediately stops because she’s his teacher. Then we have a another few chapters before any more progress is made on the relationship front. I did like Bree’s character a lot, she’s a strong independent woman who is trying to get out from under her controlling family’s thumb – and doing a bang up job of it by getting ready to graduate with her Ph.D. I was a bit less impressed with Marcus’s character but really it’s because I just wanted him to grab Bree and claim her LOL.
This one didn’t leave me wanting more which was disappointing. Unfortunately, I probably won’t be continuing with this series but I will most likely check out some of this authors other work as I really enjoyed book 1 from this series.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
This one didn’t leave me wanting more which was disappointing. Unfortunately, I probably won’t be continuing with this series but I will most likely check out some of this authors other work as I really enjoyed book 1 from this series.
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
September 10, 2018
This is not what I have come to expect from a sports romance.
The male protagonist is surprisingly sweet, and whilst I don't have an issue with that, it didn't really fit the character I expected, given his role on the field and his interactions with his parents.
Bree is a complete contradiction within her own body. One one hand, she is strong willed and knows her own mind. On the other, she has issues dealing with a mysoginistic dinosaur of a professor.
That said, this was a perfectly enjoyable, light read. Ideal material for it you just want to while away some time in romance-land.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
The male protagonist is surprisingly sweet, and whilst I don't have an issue with that, it didn't really fit the character I expected, given his role on the field and his interactions with his parents.
Bree is a complete contradiction within her own body. One one hand, she is strong willed and knows her own mind. On the other, she has issues dealing with a mysoginistic dinosaur of a professor.
That said, this was a perfectly enjoyable, light read. Ideal material for it you just want to while away some time in romance-land.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.
July 22, 2018
When an injury leaves tight end Marcus James sidelined for the season, he finds himself struggling with how to spend all the new free time he has on his hands, everything in his life revolves around the game, and if he doesn't that have that what does he have? He decides his time might best be used to finish the classes he needs in order to obtain his degree, which means he must take a physics class, and he instantly has reservations about it, that is until he meets his teacher!
Bree Novak is beyond gorgeous, funny, smart, and he has a feeling she is going to be an excellent teacher, but he wouldn't mind being more than just her student. But that would be crossing the line into dangerous territory...
Swagger is an absorbing little page-turner that joins the football world with the science world together, and boy what a entertaining duo they make! I really enjoyed this newest installment in the Milwaukee Dragons series, it drew me almost immediately, and kept me entertained the whole way through, who knew science could be so hot! The chemistry between these two burned brightly from start to finish, and every encounter they had was filled with so much heated passion and intensity that I found myself in need of a fan more than a few times! As a sports romance fan I have to say this one brought some serious game, the characters were great, the words were engaging, it was a win-win!! Highly recommend!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
Bree Novak is beyond gorgeous, funny, smart, and he has a feeling she is going to be an excellent teacher, but he wouldn't mind being more than just her student. But that would be crossing the line into dangerous territory...
Swagger is an absorbing little page-turner that joins the football world with the science world together, and boy what a entertaining duo they make! I really enjoyed this newest installment in the Milwaukee Dragons series, it drew me almost immediately, and kept me entertained the whole way through, who knew science could be so hot! The chemistry between these two burned brightly from start to finish, and every encounter they had was filled with so much heated passion and intensity that I found myself in need of a fan more than a few times! As a sports romance fan I have to say this one brought some serious game, the characters were great, the words were engaging, it was a win-win!! Highly recommend!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from NetGalley, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
October 10, 2023
For the most part, I liked this book. Besides the occasional cringy line or uncomfortable parts, it was overall enjoyable. However towards the end, the book and the characters conflicts became shallow and it got annoying.
September 5, 2018
The second book in this series belongs to Marcus James, the team's tight end who is rehabbing from a season ending injury. While laid up, he is taking a few classes to finish his college degree. He meets Bree who is finishing up her PhD and there is instant attraction, but Bree can't date him since he is her student. This goes on for a while until one night they give in to temptation. They start to date secretly until Marcus tries to help Bree one too many times and she gets mad and leaves him. Both are miserable and end up getting back together. This book left me a little cold. I didn't feel like there was much in terms of falling in love. I felt they were attracted to each other, but the spark wasn't there. I also had a hard time relating to Bree. The whole anxiety thing got old after a while and all the whining! I feel like this one is a HFN not a HEA.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2018
I've been meaning to try Liz Lincoln's Milwaukee Dragons series ever since it was announced but based on how much I enjoyed this second book, I'll be catching up on the first book very shortly. The story really leans into the tension of "we really like each other but you're my professor/student so we can't do anything." This was a really fun read but it also made me surprisingly emotional in places.
Bree is finishing up her PhD in physics, which impressed me in and of itself. Her dedication to and passion for her career was admirable and I'm pretty sure if I'd ever had her as my teacher, I'd have had an entirely different experience with my science classes. I really appreciated learning more about what life is like for someone who is writing their dissertation, as well as the specific roadblocks women in the STEM field can face. Her advisor was the literal WORST and I wanted to throttle him any time he was in a scene. It was enraging to watch Bree experience sexism and misogyny and see the very real way it could and did negatively affect her career.
Marcus is an absolute dreamboat. He's such a good guy and he was always making me smile. It was so interesting to read a sports romance in which the athlete hero/heroine is sidelined by an injury. It's a real threat for any athlete but I can't think of many romances than address it head on like Swagger. In this instance, Marcus has to sit out a whole season while he heals from his knee injury. He and his teammates have a really honest discussion about how many years they think they'll still be able to play and what will come next after their football careers are over. The book also focuses on CTE and the research being done, which is such a great thing to highlight. Plus: great diversity representation for an NFL team! Just like real life!
Bree and Marcus are friends first and foremost. They have a good amount in common and I loved watching them get to know each other. I also liked how they could support each other in various capacities but especially the way they both had unsupportive families. It was frustrating to see how their respective families treated them and I was really glad they both had found families who were in their corners.
They have excellent chemistry and because of the teacher/student dynamic, their interactions were fraught. I had no idea if they would make it through the semester!
I really liked how Marcus tried to take care of Bree but also how this impacted her insistence on independence. I could see both points of view so clearly and it was interesting to watch this play out in their relationship. There were just so many interesting threads in the story! I'm definitely looking forward to more from this author.
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from Loveswept in exchange for an honest review.
Bree is finishing up her PhD in physics, which impressed me in and of itself. Her dedication to and passion for her career was admirable and I'm pretty sure if I'd ever had her as my teacher, I'd have had an entirely different experience with my science classes. I really appreciated learning more about what life is like for someone who is writing their dissertation, as well as the specific roadblocks women in the STEM field can face. Her advisor was the literal WORST and I wanted to throttle him any time he was in a scene. It was enraging to watch Bree experience sexism and misogyny and see the very real way it could and did negatively affect her career.
Marcus is an absolute dreamboat. He's such a good guy and he was always making me smile. It was so interesting to read a sports romance in which the athlete hero/heroine is sidelined by an injury. It's a real threat for any athlete but I can't think of many romances than address it head on like Swagger. In this instance, Marcus has to sit out a whole season while he heals from his knee injury. He and his teammates have a really honest discussion about how many years they think they'll still be able to play and what will come next after their football careers are over. The book also focuses on CTE and the research being done, which is such a great thing to highlight. Plus: great diversity representation for an NFL team! Just like real life!
Bree and Marcus are friends first and foremost. They have a good amount in common and I loved watching them get to know each other. I also liked how they could support each other in various capacities but especially the way they both had unsupportive families. It was frustrating to see how their respective families treated them and I was really glad they both had found families who were in their corners.
They have excellent chemistry and because of the teacher/student dynamic, their interactions were fraught. I had no idea if they would make it through the semester!
I really liked how Marcus tried to take care of Bree but also how this impacted her insistence on independence. I could see both points of view so clearly and it was interesting to watch this play out in their relationship. There were just so many interesting threads in the story! I'm definitely looking forward to more from this author.
Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from Loveswept in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2018
ARC from Netgalley
I've not read anything by this author before but her tagline ("funny, nerdy, sexy romance novels") made me curious when I came across this second book in her Milwaukee Dragons football series. As did the STEM-girl heroine. But I was less impressed than I was hoping to be.
Bree Novak is months away from finishing her Ph.D. in physics, a task made more difficult by her anxiety disorder and by having her advisor leave for another job. Being stuck with a misogynistic old boy prof for a replacement is the pits, especially when he forces her to teach an intro level course when he's short of funding. Discovering that her celebrity crush, Marcus James, tight end for Milwaukee's professional football team, will be enrolling in said class, is just another nerve-wracking addition to Bree's stress. Especially when she and Marcus start to hit it off.
(Bree is white, Marcus is black, but race issues are not the focus of the story in any way.)
Character development is pretty thin here. Bree doesn't read at all like a science nerd, except for a few external descriptive details (she paints her nails blue and has a blue streak in her hair; she plays poker); it's more like "let's call her a STEM heroine because that's cool and relevant" than any real depiction of what it's like to think like a scientist. We don't hear anything specific about Bree's research, or why she digs science so. For his part, Marcus is your perfect-except-for-one-small-detail dream guy, a detail that leads to their short breakup but which is easily overcome with some personal insight and apologizing.
The story was rather flat in regards to the romance, too. The two bond a bit over having overbearing parents, but the bonding doesn't go much beyond "yeah, me too!" Lincoln doesn't show us much of Bree and Marcus's personal interactions, or falling for one another; more time is spent with each character's group of friends during the first part of the book than with the two spending time alone.
Largely in part because A PROFESSOR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO DATE A STUDENT. As a former academic, I have a problem with characters who don't take this ban seriously. Other readers may not find it as problematic as I did when Bree first asks Marcus out to lunch with other people, then starts seeing him for solo lunches, then accompanies him to a charity event as a "not date." But such attention to a current student is not something I would recommend any professor showing. Never mind falling into bed with said student. If you're going to cross that line, then do something to address the resulting power problem. Ask Marcus to drop your class. Or have him change to a different section. Or inform your department chair that you're interested in him, and ask that someone else be in charge of grading his work. Don't just have sex and keep it a secret. I lost a lot of respect for Bree when she crossed all those lines.
The book picked up in the second half, but the Black Moment felt like more of an overreaction by Bree than a real painful difference between the two.
I've not read anything by this author before but her tagline ("funny, nerdy, sexy romance novels") made me curious when I came across this second book in her Milwaukee Dragons football series. As did the STEM-girl heroine. But I was less impressed than I was hoping to be.
Bree Novak is months away from finishing her Ph.D. in physics, a task made more difficult by her anxiety disorder and by having her advisor leave for another job. Being stuck with a misogynistic old boy prof for a replacement is the pits, especially when he forces her to teach an intro level course when he's short of funding. Discovering that her celebrity crush, Marcus James, tight end for Milwaukee's professional football team, will be enrolling in said class, is just another nerve-wracking addition to Bree's stress. Especially when she and Marcus start to hit it off.
(Bree is white, Marcus is black, but race issues are not the focus of the story in any way.)
Character development is pretty thin here. Bree doesn't read at all like a science nerd, except for a few external descriptive details (she paints her nails blue and has a blue streak in her hair; she plays poker); it's more like "let's call her a STEM heroine because that's cool and relevant" than any real depiction of what it's like to think like a scientist. We don't hear anything specific about Bree's research, or why she digs science so. For his part, Marcus is your perfect-except-for-one-small-detail dream guy, a detail that leads to their short breakup but which is easily overcome with some personal insight and apologizing.
The story was rather flat in regards to the romance, too. The two bond a bit over having overbearing parents, but the bonding doesn't go much beyond "yeah, me too!" Lincoln doesn't show us much of Bree and Marcus's personal interactions, or falling for one another; more time is spent with each character's group of friends during the first part of the book than with the two spending time alone.
Largely in part because A PROFESSOR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO DATE A STUDENT. As a former academic, I have a problem with characters who don't take this ban seriously. Other readers may not find it as problematic as I did when Bree first asks Marcus out to lunch with other people, then starts seeing him for solo lunches, then accompanies him to a charity event as a "not date." But such attention to a current student is not something I would recommend any professor showing. Never mind falling into bed with said student. If you're going to cross that line, then do something to address the resulting power problem. Ask Marcus to drop your class. Or have him change to a different section. Or inform your department chair that you're interested in him, and ask that someone else be in charge of grading his work. Don't just have sex and keep it a secret. I lost a lot of respect for Bree when she crossed all those lines.
The book picked up in the second half, but the Black Moment felt like more of an overreaction by Bree than a real painful difference between the two.
August 7, 2021
I started reading SWAGGER and never wanted to put it down because it was so good; I enjoyed the first in the series, but Liz Lincoln outdid herself with this sequel. From the very beginning I was invested in Marcus and Bree's story and their developing friendship turned into romance. Both our hero and heroine come from families that have expectations about success and they're each constantly trying to prove themselves. This, along with a love of football and nerdy culture, created common ground for them to grow from. I really enjoyed the friendship that's built first and it made the transition into a relationship so much stronger. Because of the student/teacher dynamic there's a lot of tension as Marcus and Bree try to resist each other and, all things considered, they don't do a very good job staying away but that just means more tension and sexiness for the reader.
Lincoln creates some great characters in SWAGGER and I felt each was uniquely developed with great representation across genders, races, and disabilities while still making it feel natural and not like she was trying too hard. Bree is one smart woman and she refuses to give up no matter how much resistance she gets from her family or her advisor. She's unfortunately confronted with the sad truth that some fields are still an "old boys" club and I admired her restraint in the face of her advisor's terrible treatment. Bree is also incredibly independent though I felt like that causes some problems as she navigates a new relationship with Marcus. But the nice thing is that for the most part, Bree and Marcus discuss their problems, desires, and expectations like adults and this was so refreshing! I also loved that while Marcus might be a celebrity athlete he's also very humble and down to earth. He loves that he can be himself with Bree but it also seems like he's just naturally an easy going guy. He looks out for his team, works hard, and is dedicated to having the life he wants. Marcus is definitely on my book boyfriend list!
I only have one complaint about the book and it centers around an argument over Bree not wanting others to interfere and try to control her life. She's had that from her family and an ex-boyfriend and she's tired of it, justifiably. However, I felt like what Marcus did was nowhere near trying to control anything and was in fact just helping Bree to make a connection. I felt that Bree completely overreacted and while she had good reasons for it, I expected more of an apology from Bree. Instead, the "blame" is placed completely on Marcus and I honestly felt like he didn't do anything wrong. Other than that small complaint, this book was pure magic for me!
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Lincoln creates some great characters in SWAGGER and I felt each was uniquely developed with great representation across genders, races, and disabilities while still making it feel natural and not like she was trying too hard. Bree is one smart woman and she refuses to give up no matter how much resistance she gets from her family or her advisor. She's unfortunately confronted with the sad truth that some fields are still an "old boys" club and I admired her restraint in the face of her advisor's terrible treatment. Bree is also incredibly independent though I felt like that causes some problems as she navigates a new relationship with Marcus. But the nice thing is that for the most part, Bree and Marcus discuss their problems, desires, and expectations like adults and this was so refreshing! I also loved that while Marcus might be a celebrity athlete he's also very humble and down to earth. He loves that he can be himself with Bree but it also seems like he's just naturally an easy going guy. He looks out for his team, works hard, and is dedicated to having the life he wants. Marcus is definitely on my book boyfriend list!
I only have one complaint about the book and it centers around an argument over Bree not wanting others to interfere and try to control her life. She's had that from her family and an ex-boyfriend and she's tired of it, justifiably. However, I felt like what Marcus did was nowhere near trying to control anything and was in fact just helping Bree to make a connection. I felt that Bree completely overreacted and while she had good reasons for it, I expected more of an apology from Bree. Instead, the "blame" is placed completely on Marcus and I honestly felt like he didn't do anything wrong. Other than that small complaint, this book was pure magic for me!
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
July 20, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this book. I realized it was the second in a series but you didn’t have to read the first to truly enjoy Swagger.
The characters were interesting and found them to be a perfect fit for the other.
It did get a little relative at times and I would have loved another chapter or two but overall I would recommend this cute sports romance
The characters were interesting and found them to be a perfect fit for the other.
It did get a little relative at times and I would have loved another chapter or two but overall I would recommend this cute sports romance
August 10, 2018
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
I read the first book in the Milwaukee Dragons series a few months back and enjoyed it for the most part so I was hoping that the sequel would be just as good, maybe even better. But "second book syndrome" came through strong with this book and I was fairly disappointed by the end.
After a knee injury leaves tight end Marcus James off the field for the rest of the season, he decides to go back to school so he can finish up getting his bachelor's degree. There he meets Bree Novak, a doctoral candidate who is working on finishing up her dissertation in physics and who also happens to be Marcus' professor. Bree has had a long time crush on Marcus and though getting involved with a student should be the last thing on her mind, Bree can't resist Marcus' charm and it's only a matter of time until these two take things to the next level.
I'm just going to cut to the chase with this book and say what didn't work for me. I had a bit of an issue with the writing. I think this is the first book I've ever read where every single character's race or ethnicity was stated. And I do mean every single character, even the one's with no names that showed up for two seconds on the page. Now, I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but to me the diversity in this book felt very tokenized and it rubbed me the wrong way. If the author had done the same thing in the previous book, I would've probably let it slide, but she didn't and it just didn't feel authentic. Listen, I'm not about to hand out cookies because an author wants to be more inclusive in their writing—authors should be making the conscious effort to be more inclusive just because—but when I see things like this in books, it makes me do a double-take. That's all I have to say about that matter. Moving on to the characters, I liked Marcus a lot. Marcus is such a charmer who loves playing football, but he struggles with trying to find the balance between pleasing his parents who don't approve of his career while still holding on to his dreams. I thought Bree's character was okay, but I didn't quite connect with her. I felt like there were instances where Bree overreacted to things that Marcus did and instead of jumping the gun, I wish she would've taken the time to see that Marcus had good intentions and talked things out with him. Overall, Swagger ended up being an okay read for me, but I don't think I will be continuing with this series. I'll still recommend giving the series a chance though and maybe other readers will have better luck with it than I did!
I read the first book in the Milwaukee Dragons series a few months back and enjoyed it for the most part so I was hoping that the sequel would be just as good, maybe even better. But "second book syndrome" came through strong with this book and I was fairly disappointed by the end.
After a knee injury leaves tight end Marcus James off the field for the rest of the season, he decides to go back to school so he can finish up getting his bachelor's degree. There he meets Bree Novak, a doctoral candidate who is working on finishing up her dissertation in physics and who also happens to be Marcus' professor. Bree has had a long time crush on Marcus and though getting involved with a student should be the last thing on her mind, Bree can't resist Marcus' charm and it's only a matter of time until these two take things to the next level.
I'm just going to cut to the chase with this book and say what didn't work for me. I had a bit of an issue with the writing. I think this is the first book I've ever read where every single character's race or ethnicity was stated. And I do mean every single character, even the one's with no names that showed up for two seconds on the page. Now, I don't think there's anything wrong with that, but to me the diversity in this book felt very tokenized and it rubbed me the wrong way. If the author had done the same thing in the previous book, I would've probably let it slide, but she didn't and it just didn't feel authentic. Listen, I'm not about to hand out cookies because an author wants to be more inclusive in their writing—authors should be making the conscious effort to be more inclusive just because—but when I see things like this in books, it makes me do a double-take. That's all I have to say about that matter. Moving on to the characters, I liked Marcus a lot. Marcus is such a charmer who loves playing football, but he struggles with trying to find the balance between pleasing his parents who don't approve of his career while still holding on to his dreams. I thought Bree's character was okay, but I didn't quite connect with her. I felt like there were instances where Bree overreacted to things that Marcus did and instead of jumping the gun, I wish she would've taken the time to see that Marcus had good intentions and talked things out with him. Overall, Swagger ended up being an okay read for me, but I don't think I will be continuing with this series. I'll still recommend giving the series a chance though and maybe other readers will have better luck with it than I did!
September 18, 2018
4.5 stars
As much as I’m loving this series, I’m really not a fan of the covers. The bodies of the men used are amazing, but the poses just seem awkward and unnatural. So as with On the Line, the first book in the Milwaukee Dragons series, don’t judge a book by its cover.
Liz Lincoln really has her meet cute moments down. The clumsy embarrassment and instant attraction. I love it! I really cannot wait to read more by this author.
Bree is such a relatable character. I’m sure most of us haven’t gotten our PhD in physics, but her emotions and anxieties and self-doubts…all those things make her so down to earth. On the other hand, Marcus is a high paid, highly recognized, professional athlete. Yet the author made him very relatable, too. He has the same doubts as us “normal folks” and the same issues with his parents as a lot of people have. Marcus is really quite down to earth. Although Bree could see that pretty quickly, she still had a hard time thinking she was anything special to Marcus. How could she be when he could have anyone he wanted and she’s a mess? But Marcus NEVER did anything to make her feel that way, Bree did that all on her own.
The issues Bree has to deal with at the university with her adviser are all issues that are so in the spotlight these days. The author handled them really well without turning the story into a lecture. She had her characters explain to the guys in their lives why their “trying to help” wasn’t always the best thing and that, in itself, is sexist. It was great to see the give and take Bree had with her friends and their willingness to be open to what their women friends had to say.
I’m excited to see who will get the next story in this series. As I said before, I’m loving this author and this series. The connections her characters have (both romantic and friends) are amazing. The emotions I experience when both Bree and Marcus speak to their parents is a testament to the author’s skill. I was so invested in those relationships and conversations.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
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As much as I’m loving this series, I’m really not a fan of the covers. The bodies of the men used are amazing, but the poses just seem awkward and unnatural. So as with On the Line, the first book in the Milwaukee Dragons series, don’t judge a book by its cover.
Liz Lincoln really has her meet cute moments down. The clumsy embarrassment and instant attraction. I love it! I really cannot wait to read more by this author.
Bree is such a relatable character. I’m sure most of us haven’t gotten our PhD in physics, but her emotions and anxieties and self-doubts…all those things make her so down to earth. On the other hand, Marcus is a high paid, highly recognized, professional athlete. Yet the author made him very relatable, too. He has the same doubts as us “normal folks” and the same issues with his parents as a lot of people have. Marcus is really quite down to earth. Although Bree could see that pretty quickly, she still had a hard time thinking she was anything special to Marcus. How could she be when he could have anyone he wanted and she’s a mess? But Marcus NEVER did anything to make her feel that way, Bree did that all on her own.
The issues Bree has to deal with at the university with her adviser are all issues that are so in the spotlight these days. The author handled them really well without turning the story into a lecture. She had her characters explain to the guys in their lives why their “trying to help” wasn’t always the best thing and that, in itself, is sexist. It was great to see the give and take Bree had with her friends and their willingness to be open to what their women friends had to say.
I’m excited to see who will get the next story in this series. As I said before, I’m loving this author and this series. The connections her characters have (both romantic and friends) are amazing. The emotions I experience when both Bree and Marcus speak to their parents is a testament to the author’s skill. I was so invested in those relationships and conversations.
**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**
https://allingoodtimeblog.wordpress.c...
December 11, 2021
#2 in the Milwaukee Dragons sports romance series
I feel kind of guilty for giving this a 2-star rating, but then I remember how annoying Bree was for the entire book and I don't feel so bad after all. Bree is a struggling Physics PhD student who is teaching a class. When Marcus James (famous tight end for the local pro team) joins her class, she's thrilled and totally attracted to him. They hit it off and, despite her legitimate concern about him being her student, they hook up and begin a relationship. Sweet, could have been nice, but Bree is a total mess. She has anxiety about everything (!), she's stressed about money, about finding a post-doc job, about finalizing her degree. Of course, she has the world's worst advisor who is a misogynist who can't say a single nice word to her or give her a word of advice. And she has a definite chip on her shoulder about people helping her. Even when they're trying to be nice, she gets all pissy about anyone paying for anything or speaking up for her or even trying to help her. She insists that they need to speak to her first to get her approval. And, boy, did we ever get that message since she mentioned it about a million times. Marcus made the mistake of mentioning her to a potential job location, and she broke up with him about it. Really? I just couldn't understand her aversion to any help at all. Even her explanation seemed lame, so it felt like she was just making up problems to trigger her anxiety. Marcus was nice, but I couldn't hack when he practically crawled to her because of his alleged screw-up. And he kept harping on the fact that his parents didn't understand him and couldn't appreciate his success. Both of them just seemed like whiners. It's probably because the plot was good, but there just wasn't enough going on to keep things moving, so Lincoln spent way too much time on those two particular points and not enough developing other areas. All in all, it took forever to finish this. The narration of Ava Erickson and Jackobi Diem was fine, but the story just couldn't hold my interest. All that being said, I will continue with this series because I enjoyed the first book in the series and think this one was just a fluke.
I feel kind of guilty for giving this a 2-star rating, but then I remember how annoying Bree was for the entire book and I don't feel so bad after all. Bree is a struggling Physics PhD student who is teaching a class. When Marcus James (famous tight end for the local pro team) joins her class, she's thrilled and totally attracted to him. They hit it off and, despite her legitimate concern about him being her student, they hook up and begin a relationship. Sweet, could have been nice, but Bree is a total mess. She has anxiety about everything (!), she's stressed about money, about finding a post-doc job, about finalizing her degree. Of course, she has the world's worst advisor who is a misogynist who can't say a single nice word to her or give her a word of advice. And she has a definite chip on her shoulder about people helping her. Even when they're trying to be nice, she gets all pissy about anyone paying for anything or speaking up for her or even trying to help her. She insists that they need to speak to her first to get her approval. And, boy, did we ever get that message since she mentioned it about a million times. Marcus made the mistake of mentioning her to a potential job location, and she broke up with him about it. Really? I just couldn't understand her aversion to any help at all. Even her explanation seemed lame, so it felt like she was just making up problems to trigger her anxiety. Marcus was nice, but I couldn't hack when he practically crawled to her because of his alleged screw-up. And he kept harping on the fact that his parents didn't understand him and couldn't appreciate his success. Both of them just seemed like whiners. It's probably because the plot was good, but there just wasn't enough going on to keep things moving, so Lincoln spent way too much time on those two particular points and not enough developing other areas. All in all, it took forever to finish this. The narration of Ava Erickson and Jackobi Diem was fine, but the story just couldn't hold my interest. All that being said, I will continue with this series because I enjoyed the first book in the series and think this one was just a fluke.
August 19, 2018
Swagger is the love story of an injured foootball player, Marcus, and his hot physics teacher Bree. I love football love stories especially those where the female lead is intellectual and just a little nerdy. So after reading the synopsis, I had pretty high expectations for this book. I'll start with what I liked then tell you why this book fell flat at the end for me.
Bree and Marcus had a really cute, realistic love story. The kind of story that makes intelligent girls swoon over the possibility of find a hot football player to fall in love with. I also loved that their love was not rushed and instead grew slowly over the course of the book. Plus I'm drooling over Marcus, he was everything I hoped for and more. It's been a while since I loved a male lead that much.
Now, I wish I had loved Bree just as much. I found her character to be whiny, weak, and flawed without much redemption. As a strong feminist myself, I love female characters that take charge of their own lives and destinies but I've also learned that you can't let that drive become self-righteous. And unfortunately, that's what happens to Bree. I also hated the conversation between her and Celia and the things Celia said about an all female team. If that conversation had been had between two male characters every reviewer would have been screaming mad! Equal treatment regardless of sex is the true meaning of feminism. Lastly, the fact that Bree was not strong enough to admit she overreacted during her break up with Marcus and made him grovel unnecessarily was almost enough for me not to finish with only two chapters to go. Finally, when Bree and Marcus do reconcile their resolution was rushed and their love story incomplete. For example, why would she not bringing home of she's so in love with him? This book definitely needed at least another chapter.
Overall, Swagger was a cute love story. I just had a hard time to connecting to the female lead specially in the last few chapters. I still give it 3 chilli peppers of hotness so give it a shot and see if you agree with me or not.
Thanks Loveswept and NetGalley for the ARC!!
Bree and Marcus had a really cute, realistic love story. The kind of story that makes intelligent girls swoon over the possibility of find a hot football player to fall in love with. I also loved that their love was not rushed and instead grew slowly over the course of the book. Plus I'm drooling over Marcus, he was everything I hoped for and more. It's been a while since I loved a male lead that much.
Now, I wish I had loved Bree just as much. I found her character to be whiny, weak, and flawed without much redemption. As a strong feminist myself, I love female characters that take charge of their own lives and destinies but I've also learned that you can't let that drive become self-righteous. And unfortunately, that's what happens to Bree. I also hated the conversation between her and Celia and the things Celia said about an all female team. If that conversation had been had between two male characters every reviewer would have been screaming mad! Equal treatment regardless of sex is the true meaning of feminism. Lastly, the fact that Bree was not strong enough to admit she overreacted during her break up with Marcus and made him grovel unnecessarily was almost enough for me not to finish with only two chapters to go. Finally, when Bree and Marcus do reconcile their resolution was rushed and their love story incomplete. For example, why would she not bringing home of she's so in love with him? This book definitely needed at least another chapter.
Overall, Swagger was a cute love story. I just had a hard time to connecting to the female lead specially in the last few chapters. I still give it 3 chilli peppers of hotness so give it a shot and see if you agree with me or not.
Thanks Loveswept and NetGalley for the ARC!!
September 17, 2018
I picked up this book mainly because of the cover, something that I rarely do, but in this case, wowza, I could not resist. I also love football and I'm all about football romances that are realistic about the racial makeup of an actual football team. As such, I couldn't resist Swagger. Plus, as an added bonus, the heroine, Bree, is a STEM grad student completing her PhD in Physics, and she's a total nerd who loves her field and is looking forward to starting her career. She's also a total football fangirl, so when she (literally) runs into Marcus on campus, she immediately recognizes him although she tries hard to play it cool. She's very attracted to him, but then is dismayed to discover that he's a student in the Intro to Physics class that she is teaching since that means she needs to maintain a distance from him. She is will be defending her thesis at the end of the semester and is dealing with a nasty, sexist advisor who would like nothing better than to see her fail so she can't afford any appearance of impropriety.
Since Marcus is a good guy, he doesn't want to cause problems for Bree, although he can't resist becoming friends with her. Consequently, their relationship progresses more slowly than is typical in romances, but I liked the slower pace and felt that there was a good connection between them. In the end, the conflict seemed a bit manufactured, as I felt Bree took offense to something Marcus did that was clearly just him trying to help her out professionally as any friend would, but that was a minor niggle. Overall, I felt their relationship was very positive as was the depiction of Bree's (and her friends') love of science.
Liz Lincoln is a new-to-me author and I'm glad I took a chance on her. I did not read the first book in this series and don't feel that it's necessary to do so, but I do plan on reading it. I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Since Marcus is a good guy, he doesn't want to cause problems for Bree, although he can't resist becoming friends with her. Consequently, their relationship progresses more slowly than is typical in romances, but I liked the slower pace and felt that there was a good connection between them. In the end, the conflict seemed a bit manufactured, as I felt Bree took offense to something Marcus did that was clearly just him trying to help her out professionally as any friend would, but that was a minor niggle. Overall, I felt their relationship was very positive as was the depiction of Bree's (and her friends') love of science.
Liz Lincoln is a new-to-me author and I'm glad I took a chance on her. I did not read the first book in this series and don't feel that it's necessary to do so, but I do plan on reading it. I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2018
Great story and great characters! Bree is a PhD doctoral student, finishing her dissertation and about to defend her thesis. While she’s working on finishing that, she’s teaching her thesis advisors’s physics class. She has a very famous student in her class, Marcus James, tight end of the Milwaukee Dragons. He’s a great specimen of a football player, black and fabulous, and needs help with the class.
They start sharing lunch time, right after the class. The way their relation progresses is very slow and sweet, with a lot of caution because Bree’s reputation and grade depend on not being caught with a student.
Both have problems with their families, and are dealing with the disapproval of their parents regarding their choice of career. Bree is very sensitive on this subject, and is prone to anger when she faces a man being too protective and too intent on helping her without being asked.
I enjoyed reading their story and watching as their love starts and develops. They have great chemistry and their banter is sweet. I got a kick from the female character being a physicist. She’s a nerd who landed a football player. He was very much attracted to her intelligence as much as her personality. There was nothing to dislike in Marcus, he was a total gentleman, very considerate and hot in bed. Bree was sometimes too defensive, because she had faced prejudice on her chosen career. Every time she faced a stressful moment, she got an anxiety attack.
The book would have been much more enjoyable if the writing had flowed more smoothly. I found that the characters were too much in their heads, and several of their issues were repeated too many times. There was so much filler in the story that I felt it moved slowly, it stalled several times, and got a little boring. Once I skimmed over those parts, the story flowed and was a lovely read.
They start sharing lunch time, right after the class. The way their relation progresses is very slow and sweet, with a lot of caution because Bree’s reputation and grade depend on not being caught with a student.
Both have problems with their families, and are dealing with the disapproval of their parents regarding their choice of career. Bree is very sensitive on this subject, and is prone to anger when she faces a man being too protective and too intent on helping her without being asked.
I enjoyed reading their story and watching as their love starts and develops. They have great chemistry and their banter is sweet. I got a kick from the female character being a physicist. She’s a nerd who landed a football player. He was very much attracted to her intelligence as much as her personality. There was nothing to dislike in Marcus, he was a total gentleman, very considerate and hot in bed. Bree was sometimes too defensive, because she had faced prejudice on her chosen career. Every time she faced a stressful moment, she got an anxiety attack.
The book would have been much more enjoyable if the writing had flowed more smoothly. I found that the characters were too much in their heads, and several of their issues were repeated too many times. There was so much filler in the story that I felt it moved slowly, it stalled several times, and got a little boring. Once I skimmed over those parts, the story flowed and was a lovely read.
January 25, 2022
I used to be ashamed of how often I read romance books and was afraid to share publicly how much I love them. I think they have a reputation as being seedy, whether it’s warranted or not.
But y’all, I read for pleasure. Sure I sometimes read to learn something or to see a new perspective or any number of other reasons. But I mostly just read because I enjoy it. (Plus there’s no way I would read 150ish books a year if they were all literary sagas.)
I discovered this series because Liz lives in the neighborhood where I used to live in Milwaukee. And I’m so glad I found her. She writes about everything I look for in a good romance series.
Women who exist as complex characters not just vessels to get laid ✅
Hot men and steamy sex scenes ✅
Football (especially after that painful loss Saturday night) ✅
Legit, this series could stand next to any of the other, more well-known ones I’ve read. Are they cheesy? Sure. Is every book a little predictable? Obviously. But they’re well-written and so much fun. And I’m not just saying that because I sort of know the author.
I discovered this was available immediate download from the library at 9pm last night. I finished it before going to sleep.
Yes. I read it in one sitting.
I wasn’t even drinking wine but I still have the perfect pairing recommendation for you.
Find yourself an easy-drinking, fruit-forward but still dry rose. Something that you can sip on all night. (The Palms by Whispering Angel is perfect.)
Put in your favorite pajamas.
Download any of the Milwaukee Dragon books from the library or buy them on Amazon.
Climb into bed.
And get comfy because you’re going to be up for a few hours hanging on to every word.
All the better if you can recreate this scenario like I did, while the husband was out of town. 😉
But y’all, I read for pleasure. Sure I sometimes read to learn something or to see a new perspective or any number of other reasons. But I mostly just read because I enjoy it. (Plus there’s no way I would read 150ish books a year if they were all literary sagas.)
I discovered this series because Liz lives in the neighborhood where I used to live in Milwaukee. And I’m so glad I found her. She writes about everything I look for in a good romance series.
Women who exist as complex characters not just vessels to get laid ✅
Hot men and steamy sex scenes ✅
Football (especially after that painful loss Saturday night) ✅
Legit, this series could stand next to any of the other, more well-known ones I’ve read. Are they cheesy? Sure. Is every book a little predictable? Obviously. But they’re well-written and so much fun. And I’m not just saying that because I sort of know the author.
I discovered this was available immediate download from the library at 9pm last night. I finished it before going to sleep.
Yes. I read it in one sitting.
I wasn’t even drinking wine but I still have the perfect pairing recommendation for you.
Find yourself an easy-drinking, fruit-forward but still dry rose. Something that you can sip on all night. (The Palms by Whispering Angel is perfect.)
Put in your favorite pajamas.
Download any of the Milwaukee Dragon books from the library or buy them on Amazon.
Climb into bed.
And get comfy because you’re going to be up for a few hours hanging on to every word.
All the better if you can recreate this scenario like I did, while the husband was out of town. 😉
September 18, 2018
Where to start with the love for this book?
Smart, empowered female lead - check
Swoony, smart, sweet male lead - check
Diverse cast (on multiple levels) - check
Entertaining secondary cast - check
This is the second book in Ms Lincoln's Dragon series and my second read by her. I enjoyed the first book, but think this one might have been even better. Bree, the female lead for this story, is a physics grad student on the cusp of getting her PhD. I loved the premise of how she connected with Marcus (who just happens to be her favorite player on the Dragons). From their meet cute, to the interactions that lead to friendship to more, this was a couple that I enjoyed spending time with.
One of my favorite things about this book is that Ms Lincoln avoided the stereotypes for both athletes and physicist, maybe not completely, but for the most part. We saw Marcus striving to complete his degree and Bree having a social life and enjoying other pursuits besides just school. We also got to see that for both characters there are challenges that maybe wouldn't be expected.
What helped seal this has a 4 star read for me was the fact that Ms Lincoln also avoided what could have been considered an obvious conflict (or two) and instead focused on making sure that her lead characters could see just how much they valued each other as people/friends/lovers.
I was encouraged after reading the first Dragon's book, but after reading this book, this is a series I am very excited to see move forward.
Smart, empowered female lead - check
Swoony, smart, sweet male lead - check
Diverse cast (on multiple levels) - check
Entertaining secondary cast - check
This is the second book in Ms Lincoln's Dragon series and my second read by her. I enjoyed the first book, but think this one might have been even better. Bree, the female lead for this story, is a physics grad student on the cusp of getting her PhD. I loved the premise of how she connected with Marcus (who just happens to be her favorite player on the Dragons). From their meet cute, to the interactions that lead to friendship to more, this was a couple that I enjoyed spending time with.
One of my favorite things about this book is that Ms Lincoln avoided the stereotypes for both athletes and physicist, maybe not completely, but for the most part. We saw Marcus striving to complete his degree and Bree having a social life and enjoying other pursuits besides just school. We also got to see that for both characters there are challenges that maybe wouldn't be expected.
What helped seal this has a 4 star read for me was the fact that Ms Lincoln also avoided what could have been considered an obvious conflict (or two) and instead focused on making sure that her lead characters could see just how much they valued each other as people/friends/lovers.
I was encouraged after reading the first Dragon's book, but after reading this book, this is a series I am very excited to see move forward.
September 20, 2018
I started reading this one on a Sunday morning as I was waiting for my beloved Packers to start playing. The author is a Wisconsin girl (me too!) and she does Milwaukee proud with all the reference to local places. This is the second book in the series about the Milwaukee Dragons professional football team.
Marcus is an injured player and decides to use his time recovering to try and finish up his degree. Bree is an avid Dragon's fan and the Phd candidate teaching his class. the tension between these two is off the charts from the start.
So all the good things: student/teacher taboo--although, really? , slow burn with friendship first, positive character with a disability, pro women's rights, just the right amount of football to keep things interesting, great humor, awesome geeks.
My only thing that just hit me wrong was the need to identify the players by the color of their skin. It went no where in the story line. If it would have become an issue of Bree being white and Marcus being black and their family/friends/community being upset by that then maybe there was a need to mention it. It's helpful as a reader to have the main characters described so I get a picture in my head of what they might look like. I just wasn't sure what the author's intent was in identifying everyone by race.
Really enjoyed the bulk of the story. LOVED the setting in my back yard practically. Looking forward to reading more about this team.
*Complimentary copy provided via Netgalley for an honest review
Marcus is an injured player and decides to use his time recovering to try and finish up his degree. Bree is an avid Dragon's fan and the Phd candidate teaching his class. the tension between these two is off the charts from the start.
So all the good things: student/teacher taboo--although, really? , slow burn with friendship first, positive character with a disability, pro women's rights, just the right amount of football to keep things interesting, great humor, awesome geeks.
My only thing that just hit me wrong was the need to identify the players by the color of their skin. It went no where in the story line. If it would have become an issue of Bree being white and Marcus being black and their family/friends/community being upset by that then maybe there was a need to mention it. It's helpful as a reader to have the main characters described so I get a picture in my head of what they might look like. I just wasn't sure what the author's intent was in identifying everyone by race.
Really enjoyed the bulk of the story. LOVED the setting in my back yard practically. Looking forward to reading more about this team.
*Complimentary copy provided via Netgalley for an honest review
August 17, 2018
Holy hotness, look at that cover! Is it getting hot in here? Simple answer, yes; Swagger is as hot as it's cover model. A cold shower was needed after reading it.
Marcus James is a tight end for the Milwaukee Dragons who injured his knee right before the football season started. Now he's out for the whole season and while he's bummed not to be playing, he's taking advantage of his time off to finish his college degree. He literally gets swept off his feet by his new physics professor, Bree Novak.
Bree is in the final stages of completing her PHD. A wrench was thrown into the process when her advisor moved to France and now she's stuck with Dr. Bryant as her advisor. Dr. Bryant is a sexist jerkwad of a human being and he's making Bree miserable. He's also making her teach his physics class, where one of her students is Marcus, who just happens to be her favorite football player. She might have a huge crush on Marcus, but since she's his teacher, she definitely feels like that's a line she can't cross.
Marcus and Bree have a great story. They don't fall in insta-love, which as a reader I appreciate. There's an excellent Star Trek vs. Star Wars debate, which made me laugh. Liz Lincoln is a good writer who writes solid, layered characters. I'd definitely read another book by this author and recommend Swagger.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Marcus James is a tight end for the Milwaukee Dragons who injured his knee right before the football season started. Now he's out for the whole season and while he's bummed not to be playing, he's taking advantage of his time off to finish his college degree. He literally gets swept off his feet by his new physics professor, Bree Novak.
Bree is in the final stages of completing her PHD. A wrench was thrown into the process when her advisor moved to France and now she's stuck with Dr. Bryant as her advisor. Dr. Bryant is a sexist jerkwad of a human being and he's making Bree miserable. He's also making her teach his physics class, where one of her students is Marcus, who just happens to be her favorite football player. She might have a huge crush on Marcus, but since she's his teacher, she definitely feels like that's a line she can't cross.
Marcus and Bree have a great story. They don't fall in insta-love, which as a reader I appreciate. There's an excellent Star Trek vs. Star Wars debate, which made me laugh. Liz Lincoln is a good writer who writes solid, layered characters. I'd definitely read another book by this author and recommend Swagger.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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