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New York Sabers Football #1

Huddle With Me Tonight

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Originally Published by Harlequin Kimani Romance – September 2010

Entertainment columnist Paige Turner is known for getting under the skin of the people whose books she reviews on her popular blog. When her criticism of NFL standout Torrian Smallwood’s cookbook/memoir goes viral, it sparks an online war between the city’s most beloved blogger and one of football’s hottest stars.

Torrian couldn’t care less what some book blogger thinks about his upcoming memoir. His main focus is on making a success of the new restaurant he’s opening for his sister. That is, until he meets the gorgeous Paige Turner face-to-face. When a local TV station invites them to bring their online battle into the kitchen in a reality TV cook-off, Torrian comes up with a new goal: making Paige his.

Will either of them be able to stand the heat, or will they succumb to the white-hot attraction that neither can deny?

Reading order:
Book 1: Huddle With Me Tonight
Book 2: I'll Catch You
Book 3: Field of Pleasure
Book 4: Pleasure Rush

265 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 24, 2010

751 people are currently reading
785 people want to read

About the author

Farrah Rochon

90 books2,506 followers
A native of south Louisiana, Farrah Rochon officially began her writing career while waiting in between classes in the student lounge at Xavier University of Louisiana. After earning her Bachelors of Science degree and a Masters of Arts from Southeastern Louisiana University, Farrah decided to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a published novelist. She was named Shades of Romance Magazine's Best New Author of 2007. Her debut novel, Deliver Me, the first in her Holmes Brothers series, garnered rave reviews, earning Farrah several SORMAG Readers' Choice Awards.

In September 2010, Farrah joined the Kimani Romance family with the launch of her new series that follows the life of the fictional New York Sabers football team.

When she is not writing in her favorite coffee shop, Farrah spends most of her time reading her favorite romance novels, hanging around on Twitter, and trying to attend as many Broadway shows as her budget will allow. An admitted sports fanatic, Farrah feeds her addiction to football by watching New Orleans Saints games on Sunday afternoons.

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5 stars
301 (32%)
4 stars
332 (35%)
3 stars
221 (23%)
2 stars
57 (6%)
1 star
12 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
Profile Image for Coffee&Books.
1,162 reviews108 followers
December 15, 2018
I don’t remember reading this before which is fine because I have now read it and it’s SO GOOD. Torian, a football player on the NY SABERS who may have to say goodbye to his career soo. and Paige, a columnist who isn’t too shy to share her opinion, are a fun, cute couple that start out as enemies and after being pushed together for publicity, become much more. This is was an entertaining intro to the Sabers series and I already have book 2 queued up! So many thanks to one of my faves for giving me something good to read during my vacation.
Profile Image for Amanda.
704 reviews
May 8, 2025
Audiobook. Library. 3.5 rounded up. I didn’t love this as much as her other series but it was sweet and fun and fairly low angst. Given the premise I wanted them to be more angsty with each other but overall it was enjoyable.
Profile Image for Briana.
368 reviews10 followers
June 13, 2024
I enjoyed it but them liking each other was too much at times.


(this is as far as I got into the review but I've read another book since them)

3.5 to 3
637 reviews
January 13, 2019
Football and romance what a combination!

Yeah my two favorite things rolled into a perfect package hot sexy football player and a beautiful love story filled with blush worthy love scenes who could ask for more. Definitely a series worth reading and as always Ms. Rochon never disappoints her fans🎉😍👍
Profile Image for Megan.
1,165 reviews71 followers
Read
July 18, 2018
Paige is a popular culture reviewer on a newspaper's blog; Torrian is a football player publishing a celebrity memoir/cookbook prior to the opening of his sister's restaurant. They clash over a negative review she writes of his book, and a local television station decides to exploit that clash by hosting the pair in an on-air cooking competition.

Huddle With Me Tonight is a buoyant, enthusiastic romance. The sex scenes include laughter, which is always a positive in my book. The characters are grown-ups who may act foolishly--namely, in the set-up, in which they get wrapped up in a battle of ill-advised Internet comments--but who realize when those actions are beneath them, and they work hard to be better and to take care of one another. The title's apt because it's once the two characters get over their initial, shallow conflict, they're super-cooperative, intent on mutual success, and are on one another's "team."

The ending was too rote for my tastes (a misunderstanding and refusal-to-communicate leads to separation leads to realizing they can't live without one another leads to groveling and reunion, etc.; a lack of motivation for a sudden antagonist), but it still gets four stars for how I kept rereading some of the scenes where the two characters are kind and caring to one another.

Fans of the earlier Julie James books might like some of the dynamics here: an assertive and professional heroine, a sweet and famous hero, a showdown between the two, and depiction of good friendships outside that relationship.
Profile Image for Julia\Glyneth.
160 reviews
May 8, 2019
I just didn't connect with this book. There was no real conflict, everything seemed to come easy, and the ending was horrible.



This would have been a 3-star book up until the end.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
359 reviews20 followers
February 8, 2021
Really enjoyed this one but the ending was a little abrupt, I wish there had been an epilogue!
Profile Image for Krishana.
113 reviews
September 19, 2023
I’m a fan of Farah Rochan’s series “The Boyfriend Project,” so when I saw this series recommended on a list of Football Book Boyfriends at the start of the football season, I knew I had to take a listen.

Paige is a columnist (book reviewer and food blogger) for a local NYC paper. She reviews the memoir of Saber’s football star Torrian, which released ahead of the opening of his new restaurant - which he purchased for his sister. Paige says the book is trash. Torrian gets Twitter fingers and comments back on the review. The two get into an all out war on the internet. It’s a classic enemies turned lovers.

My major issue with Torrian is that he talks a lot about how he’s a good guy, but idk if readers actually experience it. It’s a lot of “I don’t usually do this,” but meanwhile he keeps acting a fool and being a hot head.

The storyline was interesting. There was one pejorative about people who use and are addicted to substances, which was uncalled for and felt out of place in the storyline. The book is old and the people are just starting to understand substance abuse, so I didn’t DNF at that point, but it did piss me off.

Themes: trust, medical conditions

Rounded up to a 3/5. I’ve read better book boyfriends.
Profile Image for Missy Jane.
Author 34 books326 followers
March 10, 2021
Loved It

Hot hero meets sexy blogger. I loved the chemistry between them! This is a great love story, with very hot sex scenes, and memorable characters. It definitely made me want to read the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Timitra.
1,746 reviews10 followers
December 3, 2020
Rated 3.5 Stars

Huddle With Me Tonight was cute, sweet and sexy. I enjoyed it but I wasn't a fan of how the conflict was resolved. That said I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Profile Image for Ifáṣemílóore .
43 reviews3 followers
April 11, 2024
There’s something about her writing style that isn’t for me…

The romance was developed well but there wasn’t enough sports in the “sports” romance.
Profile Image for Crystal.
Author 75 books427 followers
February 10, 2020
I love Torrian. Like, completely love him. Paige is funny, snarky, and oh so loving and they are perfect together! I can't wait to read more from this series!
Profile Image for Shanae.
681 reviews18 followers
May 28, 2012
I think Huddle with Me Tonight is a very well-written and unique romance novel. This is my first time reading a Farrah Rochon novella and after Huddle with Me Tonight, I'm definitely interested in finding other novels by her. The book kept me entertained, I loved all the characters, and the story was quite different from your typical romance novel (this statement comes from a young woman who has read (maybe) 15 romance novels in her lifetime but fully intends to read many more -- take it with a grain of salt if you must). I give it 5 stars because the characters were like able, the story entertaining, and the writing is pretty darn good.
Profile Image for Rebekah Weatherspoon.
Author 33 books2,974 followers
March 17, 2013
this story is exactly what i needed. super sweet hero who happens to a be a hunky football player, totally lovable heroine who happens to be an entertainment columnist with a Halle Berry haircut. both had understandable issues and back stories that didn't make me want to stab my eyes out. cute sex scenes that made me giggle. likable friends and family on the side. i will definitely read the next book in the series.

also i didn't know that Harlequin even had this line. thanks Twitter.
Profile Image for Synithia.
Author 73 books706 followers
July 8, 2011
I enjoyed the story, but felt that it wrapped up to neatly at the end. It seemed as if the author was looking for a way to quickly end the story. Still it's a good read.
459 reviews8 followers
November 18, 2021
Picked this up as a Kindle deal earlier this year and finally got around to reading it. I thought I would love it for two reasons: 1) I enjoyed the other two books by Farrah Rochon that I've read, and 2) because I really enjoy football so I was excited for a sports romance. This book was only okay for me. It was a quick read but the writing wasn't really there so I wasn't drawn in, which is a shame.

Basically, I didn't feel the supposed chemistry between Paige and Torrian. I liked how they danced around one another early in the book but didn't really understand why they got together. The Act 4 breakup was trite and silly, as both characters themselves admitted.

Paige had the potential to be a total badass but, she wasn't. Like, was she totally out for her career or no? Because at the end of the day, I wished the book had been at Paige and her career, rather than a romance...

I doubt I'll be reading the others in this series, which is a shame. Instead of reading this, read The Dating Playbook by the same author.
Profile Image for Celeste .
581 reviews6 followers
December 22, 2018
Football and blogging when they collide

One thing I appreciate about Farrah 's writing and plot development is that they evoke realism. It's not all fairytales and Roses. When you read Torrian and Paige's story you can image in present context this taking place. Because we all know the entertainment industry cross sectors and hate it or love it, opinion blogs exist and keep us abreast of our favorite entertainers.

So what makes Paige so special is you can see yourself. She's determined, opinionated, strong willed. Torrain is athletic, dedicated, supportive family man who has charm for days. With the two, you smile . You just know that sparks are to come.

You'll enjoy the story simply as someone who can appreciate what new love is when career and ambition comes in the way and the need for balance is inevitable.
Profile Image for Donna.
1,416 reviews13 followers
May 17, 2023
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
Paige is a writer for Big Apple Weekly, reviewing books and restaurants and events. When she reviews NFL athlete Torrian’s new book, part memoir part cookbook, badly, he’s furious, worried about how this will affect his new restaurant. His older sister brought him up and this restaurant is being opened for her. The online rivalry causes real life sparks to fly between Paige and Torrian, generating all the heat 🔥

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
This earlier story of Farah Rochon’s is set in NYC, featuring a humble writer who suffered reading problems when she was younger, the down to earth professional athlete who is determined to win her over. Both characters are well known in their community but they are able to share their deepest feelings with each other. It’s a sweet read with a splash of spice added 🌶️

Read on Kindle
My rating 4/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Profile Image for Stephanie Bolen.
2,143 reviews28 followers
May 12, 2019
It's decent

We don't really get to know them. There is more hinting at the small details or dealing with the after effects of a meltdown than there are hits on a football field. The emotional and unique stuff are why books are better than movies. I don't want a montage of good scenes or to ignore a dramatic crying jag. I want to know that he unexpectedly laughed and beer went up his nose. I want her to laugh so hard she snorts. I want her to have a universal or individual revelation while balling her eyes out. I want to see him actually go a little crazy because he can't stop missing her. Make it real and it doesn't have to be all good. I can be utterly wrecked by a book and still love it.
Profile Image for Kinisha.
429 reviews
October 5, 2019
Honesty is the best policy ....

There is something to be said about a man who recognizes that he has found his match. These two got off to a rocky albeit honest start where she reviewed his book and he didn’t like what she had to say. Naturally things evolved and through a good hearted televised competition the tables turned. The hook was well written and flowed very well. I felt however that the ending was very abrupt as if the author just gave up. There were lots of developments we learned about in the last few pages and then boom, done.... hopefully we can find out a little more about Paige’s career choices as we read more in the series. It’s definitely a head scratcher.
Profile Image for Star.
23 reviews1 follower
November 3, 2019
I enjoyed reading this novel. Matter of fact, I am glad that it appeared as I was downloading another novel. It is a heartwarming, cheek-reddening, romance novel. A football player that is respectful of himself and to women, and a writer that tells it how it is gets into an argument from a review Paige wrote about Torian's cookbook.

The book kept me entertained. I didn't want to put it down. Though, I expected a steamy sex scene, the sex they did have didn't take away from the novel. They are a cute couple that bickered back and forth until Torian finally decided to reach out. It's just different from a lot of the romance novels I've read.

This is the first novel I've read from this author. I just downloaded the rest of the series. I am excited to see what those are aout.
263 reviews10 followers
April 15, 2021
The was a really cute enemies-to-lovers with banter and hot, sexy looks. It did something really well that I normally don’t care to read: a male character that keeps trying even when rebuffed.
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I didn’t completely love it because the third act breakup hit one of my auto-DNF-buttons: someone assumes the worst…and doesn’t give the other person even a chance to explain. There are satisfying apologies for the first part of that, but part two is left unresolved.
.
It’s a testament to how engaging the story was that I kept on going long enough to even get to the apologies; I have a long TBR and DNF frequently. If miscommunication is not a big deal for you, this is a great, great little story.
Profile Image for Sassha Reads❤️❤️.
2,044 reviews19 followers
October 24, 2019
Good Book

I like how magnetic Torrian and Paige were from the beginning and even through their word sparring match they still desired each other. I'm glad that when they hit a snag and broke up that Paige forgave Torrian and got back on track. I like how Torrian looks out for his sister Deirdre and nephew Dante since she put her life on hold to raise him when their parents died. I wonder why Deirdre wouldn't give Theo a chance. I like how close Torrian, Theo, Cedric, and Jared were as teammates and how close Paige and Angela are. I can't stand Barry Stark and I hope he gets his in one of the next books.
Profile Image for Darcy.
14.4k reviews543 followers
September 8, 2021
I have been reading this author's newer books, so wanted to check out her back list. Sadly this one didn't work for me. I liked Torrian, liked how he was trying to branch out of football, thought the cookbook restaurant was a good tie in. I didn't care for Paige, she came off as mean. I also felt like she knew she did something wrong because when she ran into him she gave him a different name. Of course Torrian did make the stupid move of making a comment on the review. At this point I realized I didn't care what everyone thought of this move or if these 2 could get past things, this one just wasn't for me.
Profile Image for Lit Shit Podcast.
946 reviews7 followers
September 22, 2021
So we all know I love a good sports romance and this one did not disappoint!

We have Paige, a book review columnist, and Torrian, an NFL football player with a new cookbook out about to open a restaurant. Paige’s career is in the up and up with her column about to be syndicated when she writes a scathing review of Torrian’s book. They start an online battle which turns into a cooking competition and of course they get together haha.

I loved their banter and their characters in general. The tension built was fabulous! I wish we had gotten more than a snippet of the cooking show though and the ending was wrapped up abruptly.

Staci McIntyre
Profile Image for Staci McIntyre.
620 reviews3 followers
September 22, 2021
So we all know I love a good sports romance and this one did not disappoint!

We have Paige, a book review columnist, and Torrian, an NFL football player with a new cookbook out about to open a restaurant. Paige’s career is in the up and up with her column about to be syndicated when she writes a scathing review of Torrian’s book. They start an online battle which turns into a cooking competition and of course they get together haha.

I loved their banter and their characters in general. The tension built was fabulous! I wish we had gotten more than a snippet of the cooking show though and the ending was wrapped up abruptly.
Profile Image for Selina Durio.
2,523 reviews12 followers
January 6, 2019
Great Read

I read one of the New York Sabers books when they were first published years ago, but never finished the series. I am glad this series has been rereleased so that I can read the remaining books. This was a wonderful story about Paige and Torrian. What made it special was how it portrayed the main characters as strong individuals that cared about family and community. It is always nice to read stories where athletes aren’t portrayed as idiots and journalists are all shown as sharks. Nice read.
Profile Image for D Call.
666 reviews29 followers
January 12, 2019
Great storyline!

I loved these characters! Their repartee was so fun!

I am left hanging with Torrian's sister and nephew, and I don't know why we even met Paige's family. I would have liked to have seen each cooking show. And I thought the big conflict and resolution were too sudden and too quick, and then were left dangling.

Still, because the characters were awesome, this is the book in using to introduce my husband to romance novels.

Contains 2 sex scenes and a few G** words.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews

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