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Small-Town Royalty #1

Homecoming King

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The king of the gridiron is about to get sacked by a beauty queen with a grudge as big as Texas.

Cash King rolls into Ryder, Texas looking for a little TLC and an ego boost from the townspeople who call him their favorite son. But that ain’t happening. Which is just the cherry on top of the crap sundae that is his life.

His football career is hanging by a thread.

His mom isn’t speaking to him.

His hometown is out for his blood.

And Tiger Lyons, the girl he did wrong in high school, is supervising the renovation of his new home … and living in his pool house.

How’s the league’s premier quarterback supposed to rehab his battered body and regain his starting position, when the woman who still owns a piece of his heart—and now hates his ever-loving guts—is in his face 24/7?

Don’t miss Homecoming King—a hilarious enemies-to-lovers, arrogant football player with a heart of gold, sassy heroine rebuilding her life, small-town sports romcom.

362 pages, Paperback

First published July 7, 2020

1180 people are currently reading
3108 people want to read

About the author

Jami Albright

14 books1,684 followers
I'm a born and raised Texas girl and am the multiple award-winning author of The Brides on the Run series--a fun, sexy, snarky, laugh-out-loud good time. If you don’t snort with laughter, then I haven’t done my job.

I'm also a wife, mother, and an actress/comedian. I used to think I could sing until someone paid me to stop. I took their money and kept on singing.

I love my family, all things Outlander, and puppies make me stupid happy. I can be found on Sundays during football season watching my beloved Houston Texans and trying not to let them break my heart.

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5 stars
814 (41%)
4 stars
684 (34%)
3 stars
361 (18%)
2 stars
93 (4%)
1 star
33 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
Profile Image for Christina Montminy.
2,153 reviews22 followers
July 1, 2020
What a great book!!! Loved it. Author Jami Albright has such a wonderful way with words, she grabs your heart from the first page & doesn’t let go until the last. This book was a fun but emotional read, her humour is always at the ready & always in the perfect place & time. The heartbreak was strong with regret & feelings of worthlessness but there was also growth in both physical & emotional ways as well. We watch as Cash & Tiger navigate their emotional journey from the past to the present & hope for a future for them. The battle to keep from falling back into old habits is a hard fought one, with many slips along the way. I also enjoyed the added comedy from Elva the loveable, lonely senior & the 5 or 6 yr old twins or Twinkies as they like to be called. Definitely recommend to read. Thank you to author Jami Albright for gifting me with an ARC for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jenn the Readaholic.
2,171 reviews70 followers
August 15, 2020
Holy cannoli! This was my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last. Cash and Tiger have it all: embarrassing incidents that ruined any shot between them years ago, a surprise meeting years later, an attraction that just won’t quit, and pride that needs to bend a little on both parts. Sure, Cash was a typical high school jerk, but he really tries to right that wrong (many years too late). And Tiger needs to find her confidence in being HER, instead of what others perceive. Their journey together was hilarious (the description of the wrong side of the tracks in the prologue was GOLD), angsty, emotional, and hot. And then, of course, Cash lets his insecurity take the reins for a bit and screws up, but his efforts to make it right prove just how much a man can grow. Especially if he loves the person he wronged. And he definitely proves his love and respect for Tiger with his deeds after hurting her again. Both Cash and Tiger made it difficult to put this book down for some sleep, and the way they both grew over the years AND since reconnecting was a wonderful thing to witness.

I loved this book and would love to see what happens with Duke in the future.
Profile Image for Zoe.
510 reviews10 followers
June 30, 2020
Homecoming King
Jamie Albright
Cash King, Ryder Texas favourite son (or perhaps that is only in his head), NFL quarterback just headed home for a chance to breathe and regenerate his aching body. He was sure he would get som TLC.
Tiger Lyons, homecoming Queen, Miss Texas and a whole lotta intelligence and sass. Tiger left her past to build a new version of herself in the town she grew up in. She is amazing at her tough as nails job and resents the beauty queen image she can’t seem to shake.
The action starts with a flashback to the 2007 Homecoming Dance, back then The King name brought with it a reputation, it wasn’t a good one it was from the wrong side of the tracks, but Cash pinned his dreams on football and one girl who was way out of his league. Homecoming King and Queen until a lie.
I read this book in one day! It was hard to put down. I became really invested in these characters and loved the banter instantly. The story just got better and better. The characters are mature, real and interesting, it is not a coming of age story despite the title!
Friends to enemies to lovers. This book reads as a stand-alone novel with hea, but could definitely kick off a series with many fascinating side characters introduced.
I received an arc of this book.
5 glittering stars with a side of football qb
Profile Image for Laura.
441 reviews
July 1, 2020
I absolutely adored Cash and Tiger! I was completely hooked from the very first page. The prologue was amazing and really set up their story.

They were both hurt from what happened all those years ago so when Cash heads home to recuperate from another football injury away from the worlds eyes he doesn't expect to come face to face with Tiger, the one he still has feelings for!

Tiger still holds resentment for what happened at the school dance with Cash from the outside looking in you would think she led a charmed life, but looks can be disheving.

Tiger and Cash's chemistry is electric from the very first page!

This book is everything I love, small town, sports, enemies/friends to lovers romance all rolled into one.

The side characters were all fantastic too and I am really hoping Duke gets his own HEA!

I did not want to put this book down but at the same time I was trying to read slower so it would last longer! Fantastic new release from Jami!

I received an arc of this book and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
10 reviews
June 30, 2020
Fantastic! I've been waiting for Jami Albright to release another book and this one did not disappoint. If you enjoy light, fun books with charming, intelligent heroines and handsome heroes who occasionally put their foot in it, then you'll love this book.

Tiger is a former Miss Texas who is finding her strength and independence as a construction project manager when Cash, an NFL quarterback and former love interest, returns to their small town and buys the house she is currently renovating. The story line is balanced very well and the characters continue to grow together resulting in a very engaging, light-hearted read. If you're looking for a light read with an HEA then this book is it!
Profile Image for Alley Ciz.
Author 98 books2,390 followers
July 6, 2020
Wow I feel like I’ve been waiting for this book since Jami first started teasing us with the idea of it many moons ago! And oh my stars it was so worth the wait. I was hooked on Cash and Tiger from the first page and devoured this book. The wit, the banter, the swoon you get hit with!

This book wasn’t just a touchdown for me, this quarterback and beauty queen also completed the two point conversation for one hell of a happily ever after
Profile Image for Carmen Rae.
1,683 reviews187 followers
October 3, 2020
What’s a girl to do when all the authors she likes are raving madly about Homecoming King? Head over to kindle and grab it of course. And I am so glad that I did, it was on KU so there was the first win. The second win was that it was about Tiger Lyons and Cash King, seriously their names alone were enough to have me smirking. Although to be honest I didn’t find anything but the names funny, this had a lot more feels than I was expecting and I was pretty quickly invested in each of these characters.

Tiger was the embodiment of what I want my daughters to be. She was born into a family of privilege and expectations with beauty queen looks and soon realised that she wanted to be seen as more than just a pretty face so she worked her arse off to be better. She had such strength of character and determination to be seen for more than her pretty face and I loved her so much.

Cash wasn’t too bad himself. But he was so caught up in the world that he had fought tooth and nail to get to that he couldn’t see that he was more than just that. Which I could understand, he had worked so hard to achieve some really impressive goals, it’s kind of natural not to see past the next step in that plan. But he worked just as hard to make sure he made up his mistakes to Tiger and to be an amazing boyfriend. Because he gave some seriously good boyfriend.

These two were super cute together and the chemistry was pretty steamy too. I found myself pretty interested in not just them but the people around them and the things they were working on and I didn’t want to put the book down. I loved the epilogue and the conclusion of the story was sweet but I would have loved to see her ex get hit by a dumpster or something and maybe a little further in the future to some babies and weddings and such but that’s just me wanting more and not anything the book was lacking.

I’m so glad I fell for the peer pressure and grabbed this from KU and I’m off to add the next one to my TBR now :)
Profile Image for Sharon Noble.
2,185 reviews6 followers
July 8, 2020
What a story!

Loved this story, don't think I have laughed so hard, with parts of this story. If got the feel good factor & love. When things go wrong, they usually go really wrong, but for Tiger she has turned her life around till Cash comes home & she finds out he's brought her house!
Profile Image for Alaina.
7,343 reviews203 followers
July 14, 2020
Not bad not bad.

Okay so I originally dove into Homecoming King because my dear twinny, Felicia, decided it was high time to get out of her dreadful slump. So yeah, I was game to read this book in a heartbeat. Low and behold, she started it.. and I finished it lol.

Don't worry twin, I'll still wait for you to finish it.

That being said, I really enjoyed the romance in this one. These two definitely got a second chance at love and reconnecting. Yeah, they had stupid drama due to assuming shit left and right. By assuming.. I mean it was Cash being a complete dumbass. Eventually he learned how to not mess up but it did take him a long ass time to figure it all out.

Since I enjoyed this, I'm super excited to dive into Duke's book!
Profile Image for Anne OK.
4,094 reviews553 followers
July 12, 2020
In 2007 Tiger Lyons and Cash King were high school seniors. She’s the rich girl/he’s that poor boy from the other side of the tracks – and they are homecoming queen and king. And yeah, he’s that star quarterback of the football team. And they both break each other’s heart before the evening ends.

Fast forward 12 years – and now the shoe’s on the other foot! They’re now thirty years old – and he’s super rich as well as a Super Bowl winning quarterback driving a flashy red Bugatti when he returns to his home town.

She’s now divorced, poor, and steel-toed boots have replaced her red-soled heels. She’s also living in the pool house on his newly acquired property that once belonged to her family.

Let the good times roll! The sparks are going to fly. There’s lots of fun to be found in this second chance at love romp.
Profile Image for Ashleyjo.
826 reviews522 followers
October 15, 2021
A dull broken record ending on the same note as it started.

Premise is high school misunderstanding between two almost lovers causes a decade+ separation. He thinks she’s turning him down because he’s poor and she’s rich, which causes him to spread a nasty rumor about her. He leaves for football. She stays to marry her HS boyfriend. He comes back to town 12 years later a pro athlete buying his mom a house. Rich girl is the contractor, and she’s no longer rich nor married. Role reversal. Love-hate childish bickering. Insert him screwing her over multiple times, 10,000 apologies, and a HEA.

Yeah, the crux of the entire story is less than 50 pages. The rest is repetitive inner dialogue, arguments, and apologies. A side of ex and football injury. Tons of fluff like BFF phone calls to rehash every damn thing you’ve just read. It’s boring. It has no heart. There’s not a laugh or cry in sight. The story is a flatline that never speeds up.

MCs have zero chemistry. None. Sex scene finally comes in the final leg of the book, and it’s a disappointing fizzle of insert P in P.

MMC is not likable. He always does, thinks, says the wrong thing. Weak apologies. No different than the ex she complains about. Meanwhile, the FMC just goes on and on about how hot he is while bemoaning how people can’t see past her being so gorgeous. Using her when there is less than a few chapters left in the book… well that just sealed his book BF status as DUD and confirms she has been and will always be a chihuahua- all bark and no bite.

The first 80% may have been boring as hell, but the final 20% was the opposite of my notion of romance.

This is listed as a comedy. I’d love for anyone to share a paragraph, scene, or line they actually laughed over?!?! Anyone?!?

Again, he betrays her, uses her toward the END of the book. And, it’s all solved within pages via ILY and sorry. Felt like the entire ending was just pasted on as an afterthought. Snap your fingers and watch her turn to mush and him do a180 from everything he has said the entire other 95% of the book.

I guess the hardest part for me is that I saw so much potential in this book. The rich girl giving it all away to find her own path. The poor kid crossing the socioeconomic tracks. <<< Flip sides of the same coin working together to create something special. Sadly, it remained a CONCEPT, not a plot or story. Neither changed a damn thing about themselves or he would have NEVER used her, and she wouldn’t keep excusing it.

Anyhoo, my search for the four leaf clover (ie a 5 star book) continues onward. This isn’t it.



Profile Image for Marika Ray.
Author 87 books1,424 followers
July 14, 2020
Cash and Tiger were adorable in this new RomCom from one of my favorite RomCom authors!! I was cheering for our heroine and wanted to smack Cash a few times, but I loved how they finally righted some wrongs and got clarity on their history together. I loved the small town feel to this book and can't wait for the next in the series!! Homecoming King is a solid small town RomCom that will have you laughing, swooning, and staying up late to finish it. LOVED IT!!!
Profile Image for Diana R. Johnston.
Author 3 books55 followers
October 7, 2020
Adorable

This was such a great read! Just an adorable slow love story that will make you smile! I highly recommend!
Profile Image for Kristen Lewendon.
8,429 reviews63 followers
July 4, 2020
This was just so freaking adorable! And fun, and funny, and moving. To say that Cash and Tiger’s story was a bit of an emotional roller-coaster for me might be something of an understatement. I love the snark and sass between these two. And all the nosy interfering busybodies in the town around them were hilarious to watch in action. I adored seeing Cash and Tiger heal those old hurts and discover something kind of profound together. I just wish that smarmy, sneaky so-and-so had gotten a better comeuppance, but since I have a vengeful streak a mile wide, I might be the only one with that opinion.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author.
Profile Image for Lori R..
1,409 reviews71 followers
July 15, 2020
LOVED this so much!!

I’m so sorry to have to do this y’all, but I’m taking Cash King away from you... he is mine.

This story was SO GOOD! Pure RomCom perfection! I read this author’s Brides on the Run series and LOVED all four books. So I was a bit excited to read this one, because I just knew it was going to be awesome. And it was.

Back in high school, Tiger and Cash wanted each other, but because of a misunderstanding, egos were crushed, a rumor was started, feelings were hurt, and animosity surfaced.

Ten years later and Cash is back.
Let the fun begin.

Not only did this story make me smile and swoon, it also had plenty of humor and feel-good moments that made my heart happy. I laughed out loud so many times. The tomato scene...I think I actually snorted.

Hilarious defacing of billboards, squirting tomatoes, small town goodness, an intelligent former beauty queen who wants to be seen as more, and a sexy AF quarterback who does what it takes to make things right...I loved it all.

This story was adorable, it was fun, and the characters stole my heart. I loved everything about it. A perfect blend of humor, heart and steam...I never wanted it to end.

I would love to be Cash King’s Kitty Cat.
Profile Image for Brenda Brown.
Author 22 books495 followers
July 5, 2020
Funny, full of sass and swoons, and a feminist, body-positive heroine, this was fabulous. I loved Tiger and Cash, both separately and together. The secondary characters also really came alive in this story, which is one of the hallmarks of great storytelling for me.
Profile Image for Katie.
Author 3 books10 followers
July 12, 2020
What to expect reading Homecoming King?

- A former Miss Texas who isn’t afraid of getting her hands dirty.
- A former town offspring turned into a football superstar.
- A twelve year-old grudge over a bad BJ joke.
- Geriatrics going at it like old bunnies.
- A big ugly billboard.
- A tomato juice incident
- Second chances
- Laughing Out Loud
- A nice morale of the story
Profile Image for Rachel.
224 reviews
July 5, 2020
I can’t express how much I loved Homecoming King. Jami Albright has written a fantastic fast-paced second-chance romance. This book had so many feels and was full of humour, I enjoyed being along for the ride with Cash and Tiger as they finally got a real chance at a relationship 12 years after a mistake at the homecoming dance. Love the ease of Jami Albright’s writing style, it was easy to pick up the book and not want to put it down.
Profile Image for Sara Hudson.
Author 16 books808 followers
July 10, 2020
SUCH a great love story.
Albright had me at Runaway Bride and now she’s kept me with King.
I can’t wait for more!
54 reviews1 follower
June 30, 2020
WOW!!! This was amazing. I was a hooked from the first page. This was a do not want to put it down kind of book. I loved each part of Cash and Tiger's journey. Both characters were so real. They had faults as well as accomplishments. Seeing them overcome those faults to come together was so exciting to read. They were also so well matched. This was a love story that was twelve years in the making, and it simmered in all the best of ways. I would rate it more than five stars if I could. I am also more than thrilled to see what kind of trouble Duke will get in.
Profile Image for Beth.
89 reviews8 followers
June 30, 2020
Homecoming King was one of this summer’s “I can’t wait to read this books”! And oh how I LOVED it. Jami Albright, you can make me chuckle and swoon like nobody’s business! I adored Cash and Tiger’s story. It was so much more than I anticipated and I anticipated a lot! I loved the writing, so easy to read. The character development was so believable. The secondary characters were great and cute and funny. Just the whole small town feel was so charming. I loved everything about this story and can’t wait for more. 5 stars and more for me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
502 reviews5 followers
June 30, 2020
I loved loved LOVED this book!
Jami Albright hooked me from the very first page. I didn't want to put the book down... and then I did put it down because I REALLY didn't want it to end!
Both of these characters are fighting to free themselves from who others think they are and together, they can! This book made me laugh and made me cry! It was the best kind of escape from life right now. Thank you Jami Albright!
Profile Image for Ellen Anderson.
1,251 reviews
July 27, 2020
Homecoming King

I really enjoyed this book. Jami Albright is a new to me author, but definitely writes the kind of stories I look forward to. Tiger and Cash are both great characters.
16 reviews1 follower
July 13, 2020
I need more reads like this! ❤️❤️❤️

This is what I have been needing to get me out of this reading slump!!!
Friends/Enemies/Still Enemies/More than Lovers.
I loved Tiger and Cash!
Even though I wanted to smack Cash several times for being a brat, but he definitely redeemed himself. I loved the banter and the fact that the intimate scenes were very very tastefully written. Cursing was barely noticeable compared to the last few books I’ve read.
If you want to read graphic sex and vulgar language then keep scrolling past this one.
Some of us search endlessly for these types of stories.
I’m glad I stumbled upon this one!!!
Can’t wait for Duke’s story!
31 reviews
July 25, 2020
Sweet and sexy

I really enjoyed this book. A love story that emphasizes that we are all more than what we show the world. And that we can redefine who we are. Loved the characters, plenty of witty scenes, and good story plot make this book easy to recommend.
Profile Image for Terri.
897 reviews
July 8, 2020
When the football hero comes back to his home town to purchase the nicest house in town he gets more than he paid for.

Cash King grew up poor in Ryder Texas and managed to pull himself out of that poverty and bad name and become a famous quarterback for the Texas Thunder. He has it all, fame, money, and adoring fans. One too many injuries and a miss understanding can change it all and he has the beauty queen, Tiger Lyons to thank for part of it. She was the one when they were in high school and like the others she didn't think he was good enough for her and that pushed him to make something our of his football talent and he did but when he sees the beauty he is transported back and those feelings are all still there.

Tiger Lyons has always been admired for her beauty but not her brains and she finally has had enough. She takes her life back and is making her way on her own for once in her life. When the football hero shows up it throws her safe world into a tailspin.

This is such a good book about not only second chances but about digging deep and finding what really matters in life. It's not beauty and not fame but it will take both Cash and Tiger a little while to figure all that out.

I received an early copy to read and review and give my honest opinion. I loved this book and highly recommend it.
Profile Image for RateTheRomance.
1,021 reviews118 followers
February 13, 2023
I finished this book with a happy sigh. I feel like I should mention that this is NOT a High School romance. You know I'm not crazy about "young love", but fear not, Smut Squad! This is an enemies to lovers romance between two 30-somethings who went to High School together and life has thrown them back into a project in their hometown and the sparks fly! Holy hell, these two are hot.

I love Jami Albright's strong female characters and Tiger is a new favorite. She is a heroine who is smart, brave, funny, sweet, giving, and kind, but not a pushover. I love how this former beauty queen took control of her life to become a construction project manager.

Cash is a wonderfully flawed male lead with a huge heart and a propensity to make an ass out of himself when it comes to Tiger. Which is too adorable to be mad at.

These two have off-the-charts chemistry and I loved the slow burn in this story. Jami Albright sets a great pace where the burn is slow, but you get enough hot looks, almost kisses, and sexy banter to keep you engaged and wanting more. You get the emotional connection between them in layers and see them growing the relationship before sex is introduced and I love that.

Don't worry, it's not ALL meaningful conversations and mutual respect. When these two seal the deal it is hotter than hot. Smut lovers rejoice!
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠 𝗟𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗟: Rated R / 1-4 descriptive sex scenes, may have harsh language.
𝗙𝗘𝗘𝗟𝗦: 2/5 - A bit of drama, but still a pretty light read.

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

👇🏻𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗟𝗞 𝗠𝗘 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘👇🏻
INSTAGRAM | YEAR OF SMUT CHALLENGE
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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