I really messed up the whole first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby carriage. Here's my version. First comes the blind date with an incredibly sexy football coach. Then comes the friends with benefits that you know is so wrong but you don’t care because it feels so right. Then comes the unexpected baby carriage. Emphasis on unexpected. Except Davis doesn’t want the same things I do. I want to fall in love. He says love isn’t for him. I want a family. He has made it clear that a family is not on his agenda. But babies don’t care about your plans. They come when they are ready. Even if you aren’t. The same can be said about falling in love.
Off Track is Book 2 in the Nashville Fury series. It can be read as a complete standalone. It features:
Pro football coach Southern belle Accidental pregnancy Blind date Will they or won't they No third act breakup Low angst
Known for her witty sense of humor, Chelle Sloan is a former sports reporter who recently completed her master's degree in journalism, and is now putting that to good use — one happily ever after at a time.
An Ohio native, she’s fiercely loyal to Cleveland sports, is the owner of way too many — yet not enough — tumblers and will be a New Kids on the Block fan until the day she dies. She does her best writing at Panera, or any place that's not her office. Oh, and yes, you probably saw her on TikTok.
As for her own happily every after? Maybe one day...
Nothing new about this author. Her writing is addicting.
Ill start off by saying, your girl is not a surprise baby type of reader. But because I have loved everything Chelle has put out, I decided to give it a go. And I am so glad I did. The story was so fun and entertaining. I loved the two main characters. While flawed, the two were pretty explosive when they came together.
Davis and Bethany were such a fun couple to learn about. I loved Davis's determination, family values, charm, and heart. Bethay was a sweet, caring, and fun character that I enjoyed in Off the Record and loved as I learned her story in Off Track. I enjoyed the pop culture references and throwback situations from some of my favorite movies.
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I’m usually hesitant when I see surprise pregnancy mentioned in a synopsis—It’s not my favourite trope in romance. But after loving Off the Record, I had to take a chance on this one. I’m so glad I did.
Despite the brewing emotions underneath their friends-with-benefits situation, Bethany and Davis want different things in life. Dreaming of a picturesque family for herself, the hopeless romantic Bethany wants the happily-ever-after. Davis, completely against relationships, believes his focus needs to be primarily placed on providing for his mother and sisters.
When an unexpected pregnancy riffles their plans, I loved the maturity they both faced the scenario with. Of course, having a relationship unintentionally go from zero to sixty is bound to have its conflicts—the insecurities Bethany and Davis are faced with were so touching.
Much like Off the Record, there is a lot of laughs blended in. And I loved seeing how involved and compassionate Davis is as a coach. I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series.
This was a cute story featuring Bethany and Davis and their journey to find their happily-ever-after with each other and their plus one. Davis' character was developed nicely as going from the "never will be in a relationship" to stepping up to the plate.
He treats her like shit, throws back things in her face, ignores their child, and basically behaves like a shitty dude and shitty partner and all he does to win her back is promise to change the baby’s diaper occasionally!!??? This is one of my favorite tropes but this is for sure one where she 100% should have left him.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
If you love sports romance, Chelle Sloan's Nashville Fury series is a must read! It's a true sports romance.
Off Track is the second book in the series and it features R. Davis (we don't find out his first name until later in the story) who is the offensive coordinator for the Nashville Fury and Bethany, Sadie's stepsister. We got a taste of them at the end of Hunter and Sadie's story, but I was not prepared for the story Sloan delivered!
This book is fun, feisty and angsty - and that's just the first half! What I wasn’t expecting was the onslaught of tears! Once the waterworks started, I couldn't turn them off!
I loved Hunter and Davis together. They were almost as good as Davis and Bethany together. These two are one of my favorite bromance couples!
This is one of those feel good books that is just easy to read from the very first chapter. Chelle Sloan infused the emotional or more serious parts of the story with humor.
I can't wait to see what she does with Bryce, the quarterback from the university that shall not be named.
Wow! I read this book in less than 24 hours. Not because it was short or because it was easy reading, but because it was ... That! Damn! Good! Chelle did an amazing job yet again. The chemistry between Bethany and Davis was off the charts! The banter; the flirting; everything about these two was superb. I laughed (a lot) and even cried a few times. This story sucked me in like few others have done. The character development was great and the interactions between everyone in the entire book was very easy to believe. Ruthie could have been my own grandma. Sadie could easily be my best friend... the book and the entire storline was very relatable. I cannot wait to see whose story comes next.
Well, that was unexpected. I knew from Off the Record that Davis and Bethany needed their own story, but wow! Totally unexpected. I loved it! I'm not going to put any spoilers in here. I loved the characters, how they bonded and had more in common than they realized. This book gave me cravings, made me laugh, made me cry and had me seriously ticked off at some people. Everything happens for a reason. Can't wait for the next book in this series. Another job well done Chelle! I did receive a free copy of this book and I am leaving this review voluntarily. (I already had it pre-ordered when I got my free copy.)
Off Track is a romance that runs the gamete. A fling to friends with benefits to all the emotions of a relationship. Bethany and Davis’ have an instant connection between them. Davis does not want to catch feelings. Bethany is in search of her happily ever after. This is a story of chances. Taking a chance on love, taking a chance, and depending on someone else. A story of expectations in yourself and in others. It is about knowing that when you find your One True Love all things become possible. Each of these characters come with baggage from their past.
(ARC Review) I loved this sweet surprise pregnancy romance. This trope doesn’t always work for me, but I think it was really well done here.
Bethany and Davis have a super steamy friends with benefits situation, but Bethany calls it off when she starts to catch feelings. She wants the whole shebang- husband, white picket fence, babies. Davis knows he can’t be that man for her due to his familial obligations and his demanding job that keeps him out on the road for a good chunk of the year. They have one last drunken night together and agree to go their separate ways. Several weeks later, surprise! Bethany realizes she’s pregnant. Bethany and Davis have to reconsider their entire relationship and decide what’s really important to them.
They both have incredible character growth throughout the book, especially Davis. He is the ultimate protector, he’s generous and selfless to a fault when it comes to his family. The news that he’s going to be a father just expands that big old heart of his and it made me swoon. Bethany is a sweet but strong southern belle who’s not afraid to stand up for herself when she needs to. I loved watching them realize they were actually in love and figure out how they wanted to live their lives.
Overall it was a very enjoyable friends to lovers, surprise pregnancy romance!
Chelle did it again with another sweet story that hooked me and pulled me in right from the start!!!
This surprise pregnancy story brought two polar opposite people together and forced them to grow in ways they never imagined they would have to. It has the perfect amount all emotions you would expect two people in this kind of situation to have and the flow of the story was spot on. I truly loved to see how Davis and Bethany grew both separately as together.
It had moments where I was laughing, crying, grasping at my chest because it was so sweet. I loved that it Sadie and Hunter from book one of the series as well. I am very much looking forward to book three and four!
I read this on KU but will be buying myself a paper copy to read again!
“This woman. She bewitched me from the first moment I laid eyes on her. I remember feeling a jolt of energy the first time we touched. I thought it was strange, but I never thought anything of it. Now, I know what it was. It was the universe telling me that I was done for.”
1.5 rounded up. Nothing to write home about honestly. It was just okay. Not good but not really that bad either.
Bethany was fine, but I didn’t like that she just kept believing Davis. Every time he said he’d do something, she believed him - which seemed kind of immature of her given the context of his past and how he literally never wanted a family. It pissed me off SO MUCH how easily she forgave him after he treated her so horribly her first week postpartum. I would have made this man GROVEL and she just let him say sorry once and moved on. Nope. Not after what he said and how he acted.
I think a big part of this was that they truly didn’t know one another. This was supposed to be part of the romantic development, oopsie baby and then get to know each other and figure things out. But readers never saw any of this. We never found out anything deep about the characters. I couldn’t tell you five things about Bethany or Davis.
The final thing that really annoyed me was Davis’ refusal to share his name. I really just didn’t get it. It’s just a name dude, and it’s very common and normal. Move on 🙄
Off Track by Chelle Sloan is an enjoyable, well-told, surprise pregnancy romance with all the feels. Bethany and Davis turn a one night stand into friends with benefits, but Bethany dreams of more and Davis can't commit. These two can't seem to stay away from each other though and when Bethany realizes that she's pregnant, both of their plans for what the future looks like suddenly take a huge turn.
This story really emphasizes the importance of family. Davis is the responsible caregiver, always sacrificing his wants to care for his family. Both he and Bethany grow a lot throughout this story as they deal with life's twists and turns (and surprises).
This is a heartfelt story with great characters. It was actually refreshing to see that there wasn't a lot of angst in this story as comes with some surprise pregnancy romances. This was an easy read with plenty of steam and I give it 4-stars!
This story! HOLY CRAP!!! I definitely had to put this down because there were some events that happen that have happened to me recently and I just needed time to process what I was feeling and what the story was evoking in me. And then I had to just process the story of Davis and Bethany. But mark my words, the true mark of a great story is how it can make you feel and OH did this story make me feel!
Bethany is looking for her HEA and approaches every date that way. And then she meets Davis, who she is WILDLY attracted to, even though he is not a relationship guy. Davis has his reasons for avoiding relationships, and I get it, but Bethany is definitely his reason for breaking his rules.
I absolutely loved reading this story! It was so well thought out, outlined and jam-packed with all the feels! I do hope that Bryce's story is next. I need to know what's going on with him...
Is give this book 10 stars if I could. David and Bethany are a whirlwind. They did everything backwards from the moment they met. I loved Bethany's southern manners and sassiness. This author has book me away with this book.
Five thousand stars. More detailed review to come later but this entire book was ::chefs kiss:: and I'm legit obsessed with Davis and Bethany. Chelle has outdone herself with every last inch of this book.
Chelle Sloan has done it again and is winning me over with her amazing writing and storytelling. I love a good sports romance and this one had every thing I love. The characters had combustible chemistry and off the charts sexiness. Chelle weaved a story that pulls on the heartstrings while making you laugh and heart full. There was witty banter, sexy times and romance.
This was a fun second book in Chelle Sloan's Nashville Fury series!
Bethany and Davis, sister and best friend of the main characters in the first book, start out thinking they have the perfect friends with benefits arrangement. Bethany is wants to find her happily ever after, but she's willing to put that aside for now to have a little fun. Davis is so wrapped up with taking care of his mother and sisters that he won't even commit to a date, let alone a relationship.
Things are going along swimmingly until they each realize they may be feeling a bit more than friends should, and agree to end it. It was a secret anyway, so no harm, no foul, right? Until Bethany discovers she's pregnant, and everything gets turned upside down.
I like this series, though Davis's pig-headedness was pretty frustrating at times. I plan to pick up the 3rd book in the series soon!
- I enjoyed this book quite a lot, until the end when the MMC went off the deepend. - I thought the FMC and MMCs relationship was well done and I really enjoyed how they both reacted and dealt with the accidental pregnancy. It felt like they were building a solid relationship for the future, even though they both had their own hangups (as they worked through them). - However, the MMC's behaviour after the baby was born was a genuine red flag and made me scared for the FMC. Him going radio silent, refusing to parent and getting aggressive with her immediately after giving birth was the beginning of a domestic abuse scenario and imo, there is nothing he could do after that to gain her trust back. - As it was, he gave a single apology and then they were back to 'normal'. The FMC shouldn't have taken him back.
Yes, Chelle! Thank you! THIS is the feel-good book I've been wanting...craving...to read! All the right feels are in this book and mixed together for an enjoyable read. The moments of laughing, gasping, sighing, wondering, and hoping came through nicely.
What I love most about Chelle's writing is how it feels natural. There is an ease with words that a lot of authors don't have, and thankfully this author has it. She's been paying attention to genuine reactions, tender moments, and the building of relationships so she can capture them and put them into words/phrases/paragraphs/chapters/stories that make sense and feel organic. The ability to do this is what makes her books great reads.
I love that this book takes place chronologically after Off the Record. The storyline picks up right where it should with Davis and Bethany. Very little time has passed (if you don't count the epilogue). Readers get to see Sadie and Hunter and how they play an important role in this new relationship. Chelle sticks to her roots with a sports-based story, which makes sense. Thank goodness Bethany is a strong character because she has some major situations to tackle. Davis's storyline is not only believable, it's heartwarming. I loved that his outer exterior intentionally and purposely doesn't match his true self.
My favorite line in the book is, "Crazy how one event can trigger so many things." Absolutely! And this is the perfect premise to wrap a story around. Most everyone can relate to that line and have a compelling story to tell. Bethany and Davis's story is perhaps not unique, but the characters and how they find love is.
Dear Lord Jesus and Queen Dolly, give me the strength to resist.
Bethany is a hairdresser, Sadie’s sister and lover of Steel Magnolias and Dolly Parton. All she wants is her happily ever after. Bethany even has it all planned out in her head. So when she is set up in a blind date with Davis, she promises herself to stay in the moment and not dream of what could be. The moment they meet, it’s instant sparks and chemistry. But what happens when you develop feelings for someone who never wants a relationship? How do you give him life altering news?
Davis is Hunter’s best friend and fellow coach. He confident, charming and sexy and never wants to settle down. He has too many people depending on him. When he meets Bethany he feels an instant connection to her. Although, she is the first to break down his defenses will it be enough to commit? But what happens when she tells him his life will forever change?
5 Steel Magnolia stars!! Chelle Sloan slayed this book. The chemistry between Bethany and Davis is spot on. Davis is a protector, and I loved this about him. Bethany is the poster child for a sweet as pie southern woman. I love the banter, and the guessing game (you’ll see!). Can’t wait for more books in this series.
I now understand the line from Steel Magnolias about wanting thirty minutes of wonderful rather than a lifetime of nothing special.
I loved my first read by Chelle Sloan! Humor, angst, witty banter and some good romance made this book hard to put down. I finished it in a day.
I really admired Bethany's strength. At first, I wondered how she was going to handle everything on her plate, but she rallied strong. She was only looking for Mr. Right, but she managed to fall for Mr. Right for Just One Night Davis. Just when she thought she was ready to properly pretend that what she felt for him was only lust, life throws all her plans out the window.
Davis' carefree veneer hides a man who is haunted by a promise he made in childhood. A promise that served him well until he was set up on a blind date with Bethany. She truly made him long for all the things he swore off, but he believes that he'd only disappoint her so he tries to push her away. I really liked Davis. Except when he was being stupid, he was an awesome caretaker to the persons in his life. He and Bethany's chemistry was explosive, and the way that he tried to be her everything was sweet.
"Who would have thought that two people who were so different and wanted such different things could be so happy?"
This book is a really good one. It reminds us that life doesn't always go the way we plan, throwing us off track. One event or thing happening can change our lives in extreme but great ways, too. This series seems like it would be a really good one. I can't wait to read book 1 as well as the rest of the stories that we're promised.
I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book.
Bethany is in love with love and is always looking for her forever. When her best friend finds her forever she harasses her to set her up with one of boy friend's friends so she can find her forever. When Bethany's best friend finally caves and sets her up with Davis, Bethany immediately knows that he is not a forever kind of guy but she is more than willing to ride him out until they have both scratched their itch. But that doesn't happen, they both catch feelings they didn't want so they say their benefits are over only for Bethany to find out later that their benefits left her with something a little be more lasting . . . like a bun in the oven.
Sports romance and a surprise baby? Sign me up! I liked this story, it was fun, the characters were likeable, the pacing was good and I liked the journey that they went on. But how he flipped an immediate switch when she said she was pregnant was weird, I didn't really feel like that was organic and real; then when the conflict hit I wanted to throat punch him but he pulled his head out of his butt pretty quickly. Overall this was a fun, light, sweet and sexy read. Despite my issues I would recommend this story.
Bethany loves romance, Davis loves his family & football. Their lust (and chemistry) leads to so much more than either expected. Like nine months of unexpected. When I was given the chance to get an ARC copy of Off Track I jumped at the chance. I loved Chelle Sloan's two other novels and as suspected I would love this one too. Off Track did not let me down. I love how the characters intertwine, like Sadie and Hunter and we get to see their story evolve as well. I really don't want to give too much away, but this novel is great in the way Chelle wrote it. You are expecting the traditional love story - couple meets & hooks up - secretly attract to each other - fall in love -fight and finally live happily ever after. With Off Track the plot takes a surprising turn that kept me intrigued to the point where I could not put it down, I had to know. So worth the read! Thanks Chelle for the advanced screening. I am just waiting to see which one of those boys you have for us next - will it be the QB or the lineman - we will just have to wait and see.