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Seattle Steelheads Football #3
Offsides: The Originals
He's the beast, and she's the beauty of his past.
After twelve years in the league, all Zach Murphy wants is a Super Bowl ring. His focus has been on hard hits–not smooth manners; about breaking quarterbacks–not making small talk at cocktail parties. After dumping a tray of drinks on the team owner’s snooty daughter and accidentally feeling up the Governor’s wife, his tenure with his team looks perilously short.
Kelsie Carrington-Richmond knows what it's like to fall from grace. A onetime beauty pageant star and former high-school mean girl, she's now running from an abusive ex and living out of her car. With few real job skills, she focuses on starting her new business, Image Polishing for Real Men. She's thrilled to land her first clients, the Seattle Steelheads, who have hired her to polish their roughest player.
Except…it’s Zach. The same guy whose broken heart she left in her wake when she was still a mean girl. He’s just the beast she remembers—but she’s nothing like the former beauty queen.
Can they get beyond their pasts? Or will they both find themselves offsides?
Previously published as Down by Contact in 2013. This version has been updated, re-written, and re-edited.
After twelve years in the league, all Zach Murphy wants is a Super Bowl ring. His focus has been on hard hits–not smooth manners; about breaking quarterbacks–not making small talk at cocktail parties. After dumping a tray of drinks on the team owner’s snooty daughter and accidentally feeling up the Governor’s wife, his tenure with his team looks perilously short.
Kelsie Carrington-Richmond knows what it's like to fall from grace. A onetime beauty pageant star and former high-school mean girl, she's now running from an abusive ex and living out of her car. With few real job skills, she focuses on starting her new business, Image Polishing for Real Men. She's thrilled to land her first clients, the Seattle Steelheads, who have hired her to polish their roughest player.
Except…it’s Zach. The same guy whose broken heart she left in her wake when she was still a mean girl. He’s just the beast she remembers—but she’s nothing like the former beauty queen.
Can they get beyond their pasts? Or will they both find themselves offsides?
Previously published as Down by Contact in 2013. This version has been updated, re-written, and re-edited.
250 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 27, 2019
214 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
About the author
Jami Davenport
100 books1,171 followersSubscribe to my newsletter to receive a free novel and be notified of new releases, special sales, and contests: https://geni.us/JamiDavenportNews
USA Today bestselling author Jami Davenport writes sexy contemporary, new adult, and sports romances, including Gone Missing, Seattle Sockeyes, and The Scoring Series.
Jami lives on a small farm near Puget Sound with her Army Ranger-turned-plumber husband, a Newfoundland drool monster, and a prince disguised as an orange tabby cat.
Jami worked in IT for years and is also a former high school business teacher but recently achieved a life-long dream of being a full-time author. A horse lover since birth, Jami showed dressage horses for over thirty years. Now she gardens and goes glamping, along with other travelling adventures. She's a lifetime Seahawks and Mariners fan, and has season tickets to the Seattle Kraken hockey team. She still misses her SuperSonics.
An avid boater, Jami has spent countless hours in the San Juan Islands, a common setting in her books. In her opinion, it's the most beautiful place on earth.
USA Today bestselling author Jami Davenport writes sexy contemporary, new adult, and sports romances, including Gone Missing, Seattle Sockeyes, and The Scoring Series.
Jami lives on a small farm near Puget Sound with her Army Ranger-turned-plumber husband, a Newfoundland drool monster, and a prince disguised as an orange tabby cat.
Jami worked in IT for years and is also a former high school business teacher but recently achieved a life-long dream of being a full-time author. A horse lover since birth, Jami showed dressage horses for over thirty years. Now she gardens and goes glamping, along with other travelling adventures. She's a lifetime Seahawks and Mariners fan, and has season tickets to the Seattle Kraken hockey team. She still misses her SuperSonics.
An avid boater, Jami has spent countless hours in the San Juan Islands, a common setting in her books. In her opinion, it's the most beautiful place on earth.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
December 17, 2025
Offsides was a great read.I've enjoyed this enemies to lovers story and I cared a lot for these characters.
Zach and Kelsie have history.They met at school, he was considered trailer trash while she was a beauty pageant.One eventful night she broke his heart and destroyed his soul.
Now they meet again after years and their lives are so different.Zach is a football player,just traded for the Seattle team,going after his first ring.Kelsie just moved to Seattle after an ill-conceived wedding,without money to start her new career as an image consultant for men.And her first client is Zach who still has a grudge with her and the rich,conceited people who wants to change him in order to make him align with the team image.
Will they to work together to save their careers?Or Zach still isn'tready to let his grief go?
I'll never get tired of recommending this author if you like a good sports romance.
April 26, 2021
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋💋
He stirred up such troubles in the last book with Tyler, let’s see how his life is shaping up.
Zack is Moody, gruff, but a gentle giant and an awesome lover.
The Steelheads need to keep him on the straight and narrow or he’ll be traded.
Enter Kelsie what’s better than a good woman behind a man to keep him in line.
Brilliant book !
💋💋💋
He stirred up such troubles in the last book with Tyler, let’s see how his life is shaping up.
Zack is Moody, gruff, but a gentle giant and an awesome lover.
The Steelheads need to keep him on the straight and narrow or he’ll be traded.
Enter Kelsie what’s better than a good woman behind a man to keep him in line.
Brilliant book !
February 5, 2020
1.5 stars.
Stick a fork in my eye. I'm too old for this inane shit. The plot follows an overused trope for sports-themed romance and frankly, I've seen it done better. Adding to the irritation factor is the all-too-common-to-romance Deadly Sin of Repetitiveness. I'm being generous with my star rating because of general readability and lack of typo and editing errors.
He needed to be ready. Filter out all the distractions and focus single-mindedly on football, like he used to be able to do. Before Harris. Before this stupid gala. And before Kelsie in her current incarnation as a nice girl.
Stick a fork in my eye. I'm too old for this inane shit. The plot follows an overused trope for sports-themed romance and frankly, I've seen it done better. Adding to the irritation factor is the all-too-common-to-romance Deadly Sin of Repetitiveness. I'm being generous with my star rating because of general readability and lack of typo and editing errors.
He needed to be ready. Filter out all the distractions and focus single-mindedly on football, like he used to be able to do. Before Harris. Before this stupid gala. And before Kelsie in her current incarnation as a nice girl.
Read
January 23, 2020Years ago, I wrote and published several football romances in the Seattle Lumberjacks series. Due to contractual restrictions, I was unable to use the Lumberjacks as my series name when the rights to the books reverted to me. The Lumberjacks books are being rewritten and rolled into my Steelheads series with the subtitle of “The Originals” to differentiate them from the newer books in the series.
The books in this series were the books of my heart. It is with great pleasure that I am able to update and edit them as they revert to me from my publisher and re-release them as part of my Seattle Steelheads series.
The current true chronological order is:
1—Kickoff
2—Snap Decision
3—Offsides
4—Draw Play (Spring 2020)
5—Hot Read (Summer 2020)
6—Comeback Route (Fall 2020)
The Steelheads several years later:
7—Blindsided
8—Game Changer
9—Fumble Recovery
The books in this series were the books of my heart. It is with great pleasure that I am able to update and edit them as they revert to me from my publisher and re-release them as part of my Seattle Steelheads series.
The current true chronological order is:
1—Kickoff
2—Snap Decision
3—Offsides
4—Draw Play (Spring 2020)
5—Hot Read (Summer 2020)
6—Comeback Route (Fall 2020)
The Steelheads several years later:
7—Blindsided
8—Game Changer
9—Fumble Recovery
June 24, 2019
5 star Review Offisdes : The Originals (Seattle Steelheads #3) by Jami Davenport
I love Jami Davenport’s style of writing; her books are always interesting and she has never failed to deliver for me. This is an enemies to lovers story that drew me in and kept me riveted throughout. Zach Murphy and Kelsie Carrington-Richmond knew each other in high school; he was the poor kid and she was a “mean girl”. Fast forward 12 years and now they could not be more different.
Zach is focused on winning a Super Bowl ring and just when it is within reach, he falls short. Kelsie is on the run from an abusive ex and is struggling to make ends meet. When she is hired by the Seattle Steelheads as an image consultant she leaps at the chance, that is until she realizes that the man she has to assist is Zach, the man whose heart she broke.
When they meet again, it is with resentment and regret. Can they overcome their tumultuous past and focus on the job at hand, or is the past destined to destroy their present and possibly their future?
This was at times an emotional roller coaster of a read, particularly as the details of Zach’s past unfolded. Can Zach and Kelsie learn to trust themselves and one another? Offsides is a second chance at love story about digging deep, facing your past and moving forward. It was well written and a story you can really dig your teeth into.
I love Jami Davenport’s style of writing; her books are always interesting and she has never failed to deliver for me. This is an enemies to lovers story that drew me in and kept me riveted throughout. Zach Murphy and Kelsie Carrington-Richmond knew each other in high school; he was the poor kid and she was a “mean girl”. Fast forward 12 years and now they could not be more different.
Zach is focused on winning a Super Bowl ring and just when it is within reach, he falls short. Kelsie is on the run from an abusive ex and is struggling to make ends meet. When she is hired by the Seattle Steelheads as an image consultant she leaps at the chance, that is until she realizes that the man she has to assist is Zach, the man whose heart she broke.
When they meet again, it is with resentment and regret. Can they overcome their tumultuous past and focus on the job at hand, or is the past destined to destroy their present and possibly their future?
This was at times an emotional roller coaster of a read, particularly as the details of Zach’s past unfolded. Can Zach and Kelsie learn to trust themselves and one another? Offsides is a second chance at love story about digging deep, facing your past and moving forward. It was well written and a story you can really dig your teeth into.
June 27, 2019
Kelsie was raised in a privileged background where she felt she was better than everyone else and her parents only aspiration for her was to marry well. Twelve years later her life couldn’t be any more different as her Prince Charming showed himself to be a frog and she is picking up the pieces of her life. She has started her own company where she will help high profile men improve their image and reputation, but it could all come crashing down when she meets her first client, Zach.
Zach has overcome his less than ideal childhood and is a very skilled professional football player but off the field his demeanor and manners need an upgrade. The last thing he needs is someone telling him what to do and what to wear especially when it the girl who made sure his high school experience was something he never wanted to repeat.
Zach and Kelsie must work together if they don’t want their careers to explode but will they realize that they are no longer the people they once were and be able to move past the mistakes of the past?
This is an emotional enemies to lovers stories filled with emotion, humorous banter and heat.
Zach has overcome his less than ideal childhood and is a very skilled professional football player but off the field his demeanor and manners need an upgrade. The last thing he needs is someone telling him what to do and what to wear especially when it the girl who made sure his high school experience was something he never wanted to repeat.
Zach and Kelsie must work together if they don’t want their careers to explode but will they realize that they are no longer the people they once were and be able to move past the mistakes of the past?
This is an emotional enemies to lovers stories filled with emotion, humorous banter and heat.
February 7, 2020
Zach doesn’t know what hit him!
Football player Zach Murphy had played for teams at the bottom of the division his whole career but when he signed with the Seattle Steelheads, he thought he finally had his chance for a Super Bowl ring before he retired. Zach planned to coach at Tyee University after he retired. His plans all went into the toilet when he ran into one of the mean girls from high school.
Kelsie Carrington-Richmond was trying to get her life back together to earn some money after her divorce left her flat broke and teach classes on manners and Zach is her first client.
I’ve read the book when it was titled as Down by Contact and I enjoyed as much this time as when I read the first time.
Football player Zach Murphy had played for teams at the bottom of the division his whole career but when he signed with the Seattle Steelheads, he thought he finally had his chance for a Super Bowl ring before he retired. Zach planned to coach at Tyee University after he retired. His plans all went into the toilet when he ran into one of the mean girls from high school.
Kelsie Carrington-Richmond was trying to get her life back together to earn some money after her divorce left her flat broke and teach classes on manners and Zach is her first client.
I’ve read the book when it was titled as Down by Contact and I enjoyed as much this time as when I read the first time.
January 29, 2020
Good and yet
Had more potential to be a much better book. I enjoyed it and loved the surliness of Zack however Kelsie was a struggle. Lots of miscommunication and secrets which never fully get addressed. Their attraction is built up nicely but having read other books by this author it doesn’t stand up so well. Still a good read but with limitations.
Had more potential to be a much better book. I enjoyed it and loved the surliness of Zack however Kelsie was a struggle. Lots of miscommunication and secrets which never fully get addressed. Their attraction is built up nicely but having read other books by this author it doesn’t stand up so well. Still a good read but with limitations.
January 25, 2020
Delightful
Great book. Who doesn't like a talented jock! Fate was certainly working to bring Zack and Kelsey together she was a mean to him in high school - can be get over this time and forgive and trust her?
Great book. Who doesn't like a talented jock! Fate was certainly working to bring Zack and Kelsey together she was a mean to him in high school - can be get over this time and forgive and trust her?
August 18, 2024
DNF @24%
Listen, this is not a bad book. But it’s kinda boring and I don’t feel even the slightest chemistry between the characters. It makes reading it feel like a chore. So while I wasn’t written badly, it just wasn’t really exciting.
Listen, this is not a bad book. But it’s kinda boring and I don’t feel even the slightest chemistry between the characters. It makes reading it feel like a chore. So while I wasn’t written badly, it just wasn’t really exciting.
December 21, 2025
Good Read
Highly recommend if you’re looking for something light and entertaining. Well written and the characters were well developed. The ups and downs to get to the predictable happily ever after were believable and not all sunshine and roses.
Highly recommend if you’re looking for something light and entertaining. Well written and the characters were well developed. The ups and downs to get to the predictable happily ever after were believable and not all sunshine and roses.
June 28, 2024
Pretty good, read pretty fast. Honestly I did like the troupe of ex queen bee but was a bit deep.
July 5, 2025
Gorgeous FMC. Gorgeous MMC. Gorgeous writing. A solid read overall.
I felt deeply for both of them, which ofcourse, is the genius of the author.
I felt deeply for both of them, which ofcourse, is the genius of the author.
December 18, 2025
Drama queen.....?????
The book has a good story line from beginning to end..loved the funny parts too. Forgiveness at the end was worth the wait.
The book has a good story line from beginning to end..loved the funny parts too. Forgiveness at the end was worth the wait.
December 21, 2025
Love her books great reads and great rereads and great recommendation
December 22, 2025
Enjoyable plot with lots of relationship issues.
June 23, 2019
Zach Murphy was new to the Seattle Steelheads football team and it wasn’t going well. All he had in his mind was winning the Super Bowl after 12 years and getting that ring finally. The Steelheads were a different team though, they expected their players to get along, be more involved in the community and be at all black tie affairs. It was not what he was used to at all growing up being considered white trash. So when he was at a team event and saw the high school girl that not only broke his heart but embarrassed him completely, his reaction may not have been the best one. Plus it may have gotten him into a situation he was least expecting and definitely did not want to be in.
Kelsie Carrington-Richmond, her name was the first clue that she didn’t grow up in poor society. She was the girl whose parents mapped out her life from attending child beauty pageants, dating and then marrying the boy they chose and then ran away and left her in the poor house when it all came crashing down. She moved to Seattle for a new job and a new life but when the job worked out to being for a boss that wanted benefits she decided living in her car and being a waitress was way better. She never imagined it would mean she would be serving at a party with the man she embarrassed and deeply regretted in high school, was a guest at.
Image Consulting for Real Men was Kelsie’s company and the team hired her to clean up the image Zach was portraying and help him set up his ramshackle house perfectly for the fundraising event he was now required to do to stay on the Steelheads
There is no questioning the spark that these two have for each other, but the question is can they get rid of all their ghosts and make this relationship happen? Because if they do then as a couple they can be a force to be reckoned with on and off the field.
The plot is the similar and the name of the team/book is different (Lumberjacks and Down by Contact) but both make it so much better now and definitely one to add to your shelf as it is a classic by Jami Davenport. She never disappoints with her writing romance and I can’t wait for the next one to come out.
Kelsie Carrington-Richmond, her name was the first clue that she didn’t grow up in poor society. She was the girl whose parents mapped out her life from attending child beauty pageants, dating and then marrying the boy they chose and then ran away and left her in the poor house when it all came crashing down. She moved to Seattle for a new job and a new life but when the job worked out to being for a boss that wanted benefits she decided living in her car and being a waitress was way better. She never imagined it would mean she would be serving at a party with the man she embarrassed and deeply regretted in high school, was a guest at.
Image Consulting for Real Men was Kelsie’s company and the team hired her to clean up the image Zach was portraying and help him set up his ramshackle house perfectly for the fundraising event he was now required to do to stay on the Steelheads
There is no questioning the spark that these two have for each other, but the question is can they get rid of all their ghosts and make this relationship happen? Because if they do then as a couple they can be a force to be reckoned with on and off the field.
The plot is the similar and the name of the team/book is different (Lumberjacks and Down by Contact) but both make it so much better now and definitely one to add to your shelf as it is a classic by Jami Davenport. She never disappoints with her writing romance and I can’t wait for the next one to come out.
June 27, 2019
🔥🔥🔥 Sport Star Romance at it’s best. 🔥🔥🔥
If anything was going to entice me to watch American Football and think of hot and sweaty sexy sport stars, then Jami Davenport’s Seattle Steelheads books series are just the thing to do it. To me they carry enough of a game description to fulfil my vivid imagination of on-field game action, and so much swoony chemistry between two adversarial characters to satisfy my romantic heart.
Since High School, fortunes have reversed for Zach Murphy, now Middle Line-backer for the Steelheads, from the poor and violent household that he grew up in, to a 12 year career in the NFL, and likewise for the rich mean girl, Kelsie Carrington-Richmond, who is now close to homeless. There is so much in their past that they have to overcome, but it soon becomes apparent that their values are more aligned that they ever realised, especially since Kelsie has the courage to own her mistakes. Now it is up to Zach to step up and put the past behind him.
Kelsie was a very redeemable character, especially as we found out more about her family background. Life was not all glitter and gold, and she showed her strength in the tasks that she undertook and didn’t give up on. I really admired her. When Kelsie’s new career put her back in the forefront of Zach’s life to teach him the required social etiquette, she gave her absolute best, and took all of his initial animosity on the chin because she knew how badly her actions had affected him back in high school. Oh to have more people own their actions like she did.
The chemistry was heavy, romantic and oh, so deep. Zach was a brilliant character in that he was happy in his own skin. But, he had to realise that being a team player wasn’t just about synchronised moves in the field, it also included presenting the right look and behaviour in the social sphere as well. There was everything to love about this story, from the witty repartee between characters, to the heat and romance, which is why I read these books. 4.5 Stars.
If anything was going to entice me to watch American Football and think of hot and sweaty sexy sport stars, then Jami Davenport’s Seattle Steelheads books series are just the thing to do it. To me they carry enough of a game description to fulfil my vivid imagination of on-field game action, and so much swoony chemistry between two adversarial characters to satisfy my romantic heart.
Since High School, fortunes have reversed for Zach Murphy, now Middle Line-backer for the Steelheads, from the poor and violent household that he grew up in, to a 12 year career in the NFL, and likewise for the rich mean girl, Kelsie Carrington-Richmond, who is now close to homeless. There is so much in their past that they have to overcome, but it soon becomes apparent that their values are more aligned that they ever realised, especially since Kelsie has the courage to own her mistakes. Now it is up to Zach to step up and put the past behind him.
Kelsie was a very redeemable character, especially as we found out more about her family background. Life was not all glitter and gold, and she showed her strength in the tasks that she undertook and didn’t give up on. I really admired her. When Kelsie’s new career put her back in the forefront of Zach’s life to teach him the required social etiquette, she gave her absolute best, and took all of his initial animosity on the chin because she knew how badly her actions had affected him back in high school. Oh to have more people own their actions like she did.
The chemistry was heavy, romantic and oh, so deep. Zach was a brilliant character in that he was happy in his own skin. But, he had to realise that being a team player wasn’t just about synchronised moves in the field, it also included presenting the right look and behaviour in the social sphere as well. There was everything to love about this story, from the witty repartee between characters, to the heat and romance, which is why I read these books. 4.5 Stars.
June 27, 2019
Zach Murphy is coming up on the end of his football career, and there's one thing missing, a Super Bowl ring. So, he took a pay cut in order to be traded to a championship team so he could actually achieve that goal before he hangs his cleats up. He's set in his ways, and has never let the money go to his head, so right off the bat with his new team, he's coming off not looking great. He's got beef with the QB, and at a charity event, he sees the woman who ruined him in High School, so he ends up getting her fired after dumping her tray of drinks over important society people which led him to feeling up the Govenor's wife. Kelsie Carrington-Richmond used to not have to worry about where her next meal was coming from, but she now know what it means to fall from grace. From the rich mean girl in High School to now living out of her car on the run from an abusive ex-husband, life isn't great. She finally gets a break to be hired by the Seattle Steelheads to polish their roughest player, but then it ends up being a man that she bullied during her mean girl days. Oh, how the tables have turned, especially since he's never forgiven her. This story was so emotional because I went back & forth on how I felt about each of them throughout. See, when I finally understood the full implications of what happened to Zach back in the day, I could understand where he was coming from, but then Kelsie had a side as well, so what Zach put her through made it hard to like him in the present. See, I felt like karma punished her for her part in all of it, so Zach didn't need to add anymore to it, but boy, he just couldn't let things go. Even with all the chemistry flying around, and the sexy times finally setting the sheets on fire, he still couldn't let things go. I promise, Jami Davenport did a fantastic job in having both of them growing up, as they had issues that were realistic in the telling. Anyway, if you want to see how it all pans out, then you'll have to one click it for yourselves, and it's totally worth it! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
June 22, 2019
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**
Offsides is a enemies-to-lovers romance in Jami Davenport's Seattle Steelheads series and there is nothing that gives you all the feels more than a romance like this.
Zach Murphy has been playing professional football for the last twelve years. During that time, he's worked to get to where he is after overcoming a not so wonderful childhood and some high school experiences he would rather forget ever happened. During this time, the one thing that Zach seemed to lose were his manners and his sense of judgement, which has put him in precarious positions many times. Now he finds himself in trouble with team management and a makeover of his image is the only thing that is going to keep him on the team.
Kelsie Carrington-Richmond is trying to start over. After escaping an abusive marriage, she's moved to Seattle to try to start a new life. One of the things she's trying to get off the ground is her business where she helps rehabilitate images. She ends up connecting with Steelheads management and is given her first client, which happens to be Zach. What management doesn't know, is that these two have quite a history.
When Zach and Kelsie realize they will be working together, there is no love lost on either side. Both of them harbor resentment from high school and neither is happy that their livelihoods are dependent on one another. The question is, as they spend more time together will the ice between them melt or will those walls continue to stay sky high?
There was quite a bit of angst and drama in this book as these two make their way. Their history made them each defensive from the get-go. Kelsie was the person that had broken Zach's heart and she isn't ready to deal with how her actions years before affected many things in Zach's life. Overall, this is a romance that has a bit of everything and should be enjoyed by all.
Offsides is a enemies-to-lovers romance in Jami Davenport's Seattle Steelheads series and there is nothing that gives you all the feels more than a romance like this.
Zach Murphy has been playing professional football for the last twelve years. During that time, he's worked to get to where he is after overcoming a not so wonderful childhood and some high school experiences he would rather forget ever happened. During this time, the one thing that Zach seemed to lose were his manners and his sense of judgement, which has put him in precarious positions many times. Now he finds himself in trouble with team management and a makeover of his image is the only thing that is going to keep him on the team.
Kelsie Carrington-Richmond is trying to start over. After escaping an abusive marriage, she's moved to Seattle to try to start a new life. One of the things she's trying to get off the ground is her business where she helps rehabilitate images. She ends up connecting with Steelheads management and is given her first client, which happens to be Zach. What management doesn't know, is that these two have quite a history.
When Zach and Kelsie realize they will be working together, there is no love lost on either side. Both of them harbor resentment from high school and neither is happy that their livelihoods are dependent on one another. The question is, as they spend more time together will the ice between them melt or will those walls continue to stay sky high?
There was quite a bit of angst and drama in this book as these two make their way. Their history made them each defensive from the get-go. Kelsie was the person that had broken Zach's heart and she isn't ready to deal with how her actions years before affected many things in Zach's life. Overall, this is a romance that has a bit of everything and should be enjoyed by all.
June 21, 2019
For the last twelve years Zach Murphy has been so wrapped up in winning a Super Bowl that he has let it cloud his better judgement, and let his manners slip. Which in turn has created a lot of uncomfortable situations... ones that are coming back to bite him now. His antics have caused management to question whether they want him on the team, so they issue an ultimatum clean up your image, or your gone.
He wants that Superbowl ring, wants to keep his spot on the team, and he's desperate to prove his worth to the team owner... he will do whatever it takes to redeem himself in their eyes. Even if it means re-connecting with a woman that crushed him years ago, and putting his livelihood in her hands!
Offsides is a dramatic and angst ridden enemies-to-lovers tale that'll have you smothered in feels from beginning to end. These two had history, the painful kind, the kind that had them both come out swinging the moment they were thrown back into one another's lives. With defenses high, painful memories resurfacing, it made it hard for them to focus on what was important... their futures. Zach wasn't prepared to see the woman who broke his heart, and Kelsie wasn't ready to deal with the fallout from her past actions, but what choice did they have? These two brought serious torture to the pages, their demons fought them at every turn, and their distaste for one another clouded their judgement at times, I had my doubts that they would every be able to find happiness. But they eventually did, they just had to wreck my heart before they did it! I loved every word of this one, it was engaging, heartfelt, emotional, and steamy... everything you could possibly want in a romance!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
He wants that Superbowl ring, wants to keep his spot on the team, and he's desperate to prove his worth to the team owner... he will do whatever it takes to redeem himself in their eyes. Even if it means re-connecting with a woman that crushed him years ago, and putting his livelihood in her hands!
Offsides is a dramatic and angst ridden enemies-to-lovers tale that'll have you smothered in feels from beginning to end. These two had history, the painful kind, the kind that had them both come out swinging the moment they were thrown back into one another's lives. With defenses high, painful memories resurfacing, it made it hard for them to focus on what was important... their futures. Zach wasn't prepared to see the woman who broke his heart, and Kelsie wasn't ready to deal with the fallout from her past actions, but what choice did they have? These two brought serious torture to the pages, their demons fought them at every turn, and their distaste for one another clouded their judgement at times, I had my doubts that they would every be able to find happiness. But they eventually did, they just had to wreck my heart before they did it! I loved every word of this one, it was engaging, heartfelt, emotional, and steamy... everything you could possibly want in a romance!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
June 21, 2019
Jami Davenport is one of my go to authors. I love her books and this one did not disappoint. This is an enemies to lovers book that has you wondering what will happen next and thinking I did not see that coming. Zach and Kelsi knew each other in high school. Zach was from the wrong side of the tracks and had a major crush on Kelsi. Kelsi was the beauty queen who had everything and was the typical mean girl.
They started out as friends but things turned when the mean girl came out of Kelsi and she did things that Zach could never forget or forgive. Karma has a way of coming back to bite you tho even years later.
Zach finds himself playing in the NFL trying to get the coveted championship ring. He has money, a big Victorian house and his dream job. Kelsi is newly divorced and broke. She gets offered a job from one of her ex's friends and finds out that not all she was told it would be. Alone in a new city with no money or a place to stay she decides to pitch her talents to an NFL team to try and refine players who are a little rough around the edges.
The Steelheads decide Kelsi's first client will be Zach. As awkward as it is for both Kelsi just wants to do her job and help Zach get his ring. She tries to apologize to Zach for what she did in high school but he does not want to hear it or believe that she has changed. Things change however when she tells him about her childhood which was not at all as he had pictured. He begins to see that maybe she isn't the same girl that she was in high school.
This book is full of emotion. I cried at parts and laughed at others. I didn't see things going the way that they did but that is not a bad thing. I can't wait for more of the Steelheads.
They started out as friends but things turned when the mean girl came out of Kelsi and she did things that Zach could never forget or forgive. Karma has a way of coming back to bite you tho even years later.
Zach finds himself playing in the NFL trying to get the coveted championship ring. He has money, a big Victorian house and his dream job. Kelsi is newly divorced and broke. She gets offered a job from one of her ex's friends and finds out that not all she was told it would be. Alone in a new city with no money or a place to stay she decides to pitch her talents to an NFL team to try and refine players who are a little rough around the edges.
The Steelheads decide Kelsi's first client will be Zach. As awkward as it is for both Kelsi just wants to do her job and help Zach get his ring. She tries to apologize to Zach for what she did in high school but he does not want to hear it or believe that she has changed. Things change however when she tells him about her childhood which was not at all as he had pictured. He begins to see that maybe she isn't the same girl that she was in high school.
This book is full of emotion. I cried at parts and laughed at others. I didn't see things going the way that they did but that is not a bad thing. I can't wait for more of the Steelheads.
June 23, 2019
***4.5*** ***ARC Copy***
Well this is my first Jami Davenport read and I was pleasantly surprised.
While it is book three in a series I didn't really feel like I was missing anything. If anything I kinda want to know about the other characters and their stories. She did a good job of making sure it was a standalone in that I wasn't scrambling to put things together or feeling lost because I haven't read the prior books in the series.
I was worried how Zach would ever forgive Kelsie for the past that they shared because honestly I don't think I could. The only problem I had with this book was that there were so many characters that just seemed to look down on poor Zach and lumped him in the "not good enough" or lacking in some way category that I couldn't really stand them. Maybe because I myself am a football loving girl from Texas who has a pet peeve of anyone thinking they are better than anyone else that I felt a kinship to Zach and therefore a little protective of him. However Kelsie has grown up and is dealing with her own demons that Karen has thrown her way I found myself rooting for the two to get together.
As much as I wanted to tell off the characters that gave Zach more of a hard time than he deserved some were redeemed to where I want to get to know them better. Both Zach and Kelsie were able to see past their preconceived notions of each other and while I wanted some things explained more and some characters put in their place more, it was a solid read that I enjoyed and I wouldn't mind reading another book by the author and in this series.
Well this is my first Jami Davenport read and I was pleasantly surprised.
While it is book three in a series I didn't really feel like I was missing anything. If anything I kinda want to know about the other characters and their stories. She did a good job of making sure it was a standalone in that I wasn't scrambling to put things together or feeling lost because I haven't read the prior books in the series.
I was worried how Zach would ever forgive Kelsie for the past that they shared because honestly I don't think I could. The only problem I had with this book was that there were so many characters that just seemed to look down on poor Zach and lumped him in the "not good enough" or lacking in some way category that I couldn't really stand them. Maybe because I myself am a football loving girl from Texas who has a pet peeve of anyone thinking they are better than anyone else that I felt a kinship to Zach and therefore a little protective of him. However Kelsie has grown up and is dealing with her own demons that Karen has thrown her way I found myself rooting for the two to get together.
As much as I wanted to tell off the characters that gave Zach more of a hard time than he deserved some were redeemed to where I want to get to know them better. Both Zach and Kelsie were able to see past their preconceived notions of each other and while I wanted some things explained more and some characters put in their place more, it was a solid read that I enjoyed and I wouldn't mind reading another book by the author and in this series.
June 24, 2019
Reviewed on behalf of 3 Degrees of Fiction blog
I love Jami Davenport books. A lot. I like the setting, I like the writing style and most of the times, I like all of the characters. Signing up for this one was a no brainer and I’m really glad that I read it. This book had me laughing and crying and all the feels in between. It started innocently and then peeled back layers upon layers of regret, anger, fear, resentment and guilt. I cried so hard at one particular scene, that I needed a moment to get myself together again.
The two main characters were brilliant. I loved how they slowly fell in love with each other (again) and fought it so hard. I liked that it was not instantly good for them, but they had to conquer their pasts to build a future together. I loved to see, how both changed for the better, developed to be the best persons they could be. And I adored how they made peace with each other and themselves. How they were finally able to let loose the guilt that accompanied them for so long.
The writing style was good as usual and easy enough to follow while still giving me a lot to think about. I liked to see a lot more football scenes than in other books by this author. What I did not like was how easy it was, to get rid of the ex-husband. He kind of just vanished which was a bit surprising, after what he said and did to Kelsie.
All in all it was a nice and easy read in typical Jami Davenport style. I recommend it to lovers of sports romance, enemies to lovers and overall to people who like their books to be just complete.
I love Jami Davenport books. A lot. I like the setting, I like the writing style and most of the times, I like all of the characters. Signing up for this one was a no brainer and I’m really glad that I read it. This book had me laughing and crying and all the feels in between. It started innocently and then peeled back layers upon layers of regret, anger, fear, resentment and guilt. I cried so hard at one particular scene, that I needed a moment to get myself together again.
The two main characters were brilliant. I loved how they slowly fell in love with each other (again) and fought it so hard. I liked that it was not instantly good for them, but they had to conquer their pasts to build a future together. I loved to see, how both changed for the better, developed to be the best persons they could be. And I adored how they made peace with each other and themselves. How they were finally able to let loose the guilt that accompanied them for so long.
The writing style was good as usual and easy enough to follow while still giving me a lot to think about. I liked to see a lot more football scenes than in other books by this author. What I did not like was how easy it was, to get rid of the ex-husband. He kind of just vanished which was a bit surprising, after what he said and did to Kelsie.
All in all it was a nice and easy read in typical Jami Davenport style. I recommend it to lovers of sports romance, enemies to lovers and overall to people who like their books to be just complete.
July 2, 2019
I was really looking forward to reading this one!
Jami Davenport just has such a way with words that it's such an effortless read and so easy to lose yourself in the plot and the characters.
Zack is so caught up in winning a Super Bowl that is becomes an easy means to forget about a past filled with tragedy and heartache!
At a loss on how to act around his team mates or more without a care of what anyone thinks, he has erected this massive wall between himself and everyone else around him.
Kelsie has always lived her live the way others have wanted her to. Done whats she's told. Conformed to her mothers high expectations. Crumbled under the weight of social standings and peer pressure that she eventually lost sight of what was important.
With a shared history that has both haunted and shaped these two people it was inevitable that their paths were destined to cross again.
She was the pageant queen who sold herself for popularity and he was the social outcast who adored her from afar.
What an angst filled tale about how these two beautiful people needed each other more than either were willing to admit.
Heartbreak played such a large hand in shaping them into the people they are today so when their worlds collide there are bound to be fireworks, misunderstands and a chemistry that is off the charts hot!
Offsides was full to the brim of painful memories and emotional connections with the perfect amount of steam added into the mix!
I love me a good sports romance and Jami Davenport never fails to deliver!!!!!
Jami Davenport just has such a way with words that it's such an effortless read and so easy to lose yourself in the plot and the characters.
Zack is so caught up in winning a Super Bowl that is becomes an easy means to forget about a past filled with tragedy and heartache!
At a loss on how to act around his team mates or more without a care of what anyone thinks, he has erected this massive wall between himself and everyone else around him.
Kelsie has always lived her live the way others have wanted her to. Done whats she's told. Conformed to her mothers high expectations. Crumbled under the weight of social standings and peer pressure that she eventually lost sight of what was important.
With a shared history that has both haunted and shaped these two people it was inevitable that their paths were destined to cross again.
She was the pageant queen who sold herself for popularity and he was the social outcast who adored her from afar.
What an angst filled tale about how these two beautiful people needed each other more than either were willing to admit.
Heartbreak played such a large hand in shaping them into the people they are today so when their worlds collide there are bound to be fireworks, misunderstands and a chemistry that is off the charts hot!
Offsides was full to the brim of painful memories and emotional connections with the perfect amount of steam added into the mix!
I love me a good sports romance and Jami Davenport never fails to deliver!!!!!
June 26, 2019
I freaking adored this book and give it a 4 outta 5! What happens when your HS crush that was a HUGE mean girl and wrecked your entire life is thrown back into your life over a decade later? Offsides tells just that story.
Zach is a bit of an enigma. He is untamed and unapologetic about it while keeping people far, far away from being able to get to know him. Problem is he is only 1 season away from retirement and all he wants is a Super Bowl ring, too bad his QB is a pretty boy not giving it his all and the higher ups want to change him.
Kelsie has had her fall from grace. She was once on the top of the world and now she is definitely something different. When she gets the opportunity of the lifetime to start her new business, a refinery class, she is shocked that Zach the boy she was awful to back in HS is her first client.
Can these two put their differences aside to help each other? All I know is that I loved delving into this world and their lives and getting to know these characters. They are real, they are deep, and their emotions are beautiful to read about. Not to mention, these two have CRAZY hot chemistry, like really freaking hot!
If you like your books more on the gritty side, I definitely recommend checking this one out!
PS: I Received this book as an ARC but am honestly reviewing it!
Zach is a bit of an enigma. He is untamed and unapologetic about it while keeping people far, far away from being able to get to know him. Problem is he is only 1 season away from retirement and all he wants is a Super Bowl ring, too bad his QB is a pretty boy not giving it his all and the higher ups want to change him.
Kelsie has had her fall from grace. She was once on the top of the world and now she is definitely something different. When she gets the opportunity of the lifetime to start her new business, a refinery class, she is shocked that Zach the boy she was awful to back in HS is her first client.
Can these two put their differences aside to help each other? All I know is that I loved delving into this world and their lives and getting to know these characters. They are real, they are deep, and their emotions are beautiful to read about. Not to mention, these two have CRAZY hot chemistry, like really freaking hot!
If you like your books more on the gritty side, I definitely recommend checking this one out!
PS: I Received this book as an ARC but am honestly reviewing it!
June 27, 2019
I received an ARC to voluntarily and honestly review this book.
I love Jami's writing style and highly recommend her books. Offsides is an enemies to lovers, second chance romance all in one. This was at times an emotional roller coaster of a read, particularly as the details of Zach’s past unfolded. Offsides is a story about digging deep, facing your past and moving forward. It was well written and a story you can really captures your attention and lets you dig in.
Zach Murphy was the poor kid and considerd trailer trash in high school. Kelsie Carrington-Richmond was the proverbial “mean girl” who broke his heart and soul. Fast forward 12 years and now they could not be more different.
Zach is focused on winning a Super Bowl ring and just when it is within reach, he falls short. Kelsie is on the run from an abusive ex and is struggling to make ends meet. When she is hired by the Seattle Steelheads as an image consultant she leaps at the chance, that is until she realizes that the man she has to assist is Zach, the man whose heart she broke.
When they meet again, it is with resentment (him) and regret (her). Can they overcome their tumultuous past and focus on the job at hand, or is the past destined to destroy their present and possibly their future? Can Zach and Kelsie learn to trust themselves and one another?
I love Jami's writing style and highly recommend her books. Offsides is an enemies to lovers, second chance romance all in one. This was at times an emotional roller coaster of a read, particularly as the details of Zach’s past unfolded. Offsides is a story about digging deep, facing your past and moving forward. It was well written and a story you can really captures your attention and lets you dig in.
Zach Murphy was the poor kid and considerd trailer trash in high school. Kelsie Carrington-Richmond was the proverbial “mean girl” who broke his heart and soul. Fast forward 12 years and now they could not be more different.
Zach is focused on winning a Super Bowl ring and just when it is within reach, he falls short. Kelsie is on the run from an abusive ex and is struggling to make ends meet. When she is hired by the Seattle Steelheads as an image consultant she leaps at the chance, that is until she realizes that the man she has to assist is Zach, the man whose heart she broke.
When they meet again, it is with resentment (him) and regret (her). Can they overcome their tumultuous past and focus on the job at hand, or is the past destined to destroy their present and possibly their future? Can Zach and Kelsie learn to trust themselves and one another?
July 14, 2019
Offsides; The Originals is book 3 in the Seattle Steelheads it I believe you could still read and enjoy this as a stand-alone. Jami Davenport is one of my favourite authors and her sports romance’s are alway interesting and well written and this book is a great addition to this series.
Zach and Kelsie met in high school but they came from different sides of the track and she broke his heart and destroyed him emotionally. Move forward a few years and they both have very different life’s, Zack is now a successful football player and Kelsie needs him to kick star her new image consultant business but will the past be to painful for this couple to move forward with the future.
I loved this book, I loved the plot, the writing, the characters and if you are looking for a great sports romance look no further than Offsides. Great read and great addition to the series
Zach and Kelsie met in high school but they came from different sides of the track and she broke his heart and destroyed him emotionally. Move forward a few years and they both have very different life’s, Zack is now a successful football player and Kelsie needs him to kick star her new image consultant business but will the past be to painful for this couple to move forward with the future.
I loved this book, I loved the plot, the writing, the characters and if you are looking for a great sports romance look no further than Offsides. Great read and great addition to the series
June 22, 2019
Kelsie and Zach met in high school where Kelsie was the mean girl and Zach had a traumatic childhood. Years later, Zach has turned his life into success while Kelsie has now become down on her luck. When the two meet again, the resentment is great for Zach while the regret is great for Kelsie. When the two are somehow paired to work together, Zach is determined to make it as hard as possible for her, while Kelsie is determined to make it work to get her life back on the right track. When the past and the time in between come to light, the question of if the two continue the relationship they’ve built will continue. I was so happy to find that you didn’t have to read the previous books to understand this one! I love that while this is part of a series it can be read as a standalone. I really felt the emotion off the pages in regards to Zach’s past and it made me really feel for him. As for the storyline, it was pretty straightforward and for the most part knew what to expect. I’ve read a few of Jami’s books in the past and enjoy her style of writing, so I can’t wait to continue this series!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
June 22, 2019
Forgetting is hard, forgiveness even harder. When Zach's past barrels through the doors as a waitress in an event, that is so outside of his element, well let's just say that forgetting will be harder than he ever thought possible. She broke him in the worst way a man can be broken, and he fears she will do it again.
Fallen from the grace she pretended to hold back in high school, Kelsey is now trying to make it in a world she used to sneer at. With her head held high and her nerves holding her even tighter she panics when the face of her past shows that he has never forgotten her cruelty.
Can the past be forgotten? This book is a testament to second chances and determination. With tentative hearts and even tougher outer shells, they have to learn how to trust not only one another but themselves as well. Passion both on the field and off you get a mix of laughable banter, heated passion and Tender moments that will melt even the iciest of hearts.
Fallen from the grace she pretended to hold back in high school, Kelsey is now trying to make it in a world she used to sneer at. With her head held high and her nerves holding her even tighter she panics when the face of her past shows that he has never forgotten her cruelty.
Can the past be forgotten? This book is a testament to second chances and determination. With tentative hearts and even tougher outer shells, they have to learn how to trust not only one another but themselves as well. Passion both on the field and off you get a mix of laughable banter, heated passion and Tender moments that will melt even the iciest of hearts.
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