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Gridiron Love
Zone Defense
Falling in love was easy. Following my heart seemed impossible.
When I left for college, I thought I was finally free from my father’s tyranny. I fell head over heels for the school’s star quarterback, Landon Jacobs, but when he got drafted by a team a thousand miles away, I was too scared to follow him.
Two years later, I was forced to move back home, and my father made it clear that the consequences would be brutal if I “defiled myself” with any of the players he coached.
I thought obeying him would be easy…until I walked right into Landon on the first day of training camp.
I knew I should keep my distance – for both our sakes. But how was I supposed to do that when Landon’s arms were the only place I’d ever truly felt safe?
When I left for college, I thought I was finally free from my father’s tyranny. I fell head over heels for the school’s star quarterback, Landon Jacobs, but when he got drafted by a team a thousand miles away, I was too scared to follow him.
Two years later, I was forced to move back home, and my father made it clear that the consequences would be brutal if I “defiled myself” with any of the players he coached.
I thought obeying him would be easy…until I walked right into Landon on the first day of training camp.
I knew I should keep my distance – for both our sakes. But how was I supposed to do that when Landon’s arms were the only place I’d ever truly felt safe?
- GenresSports
86 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2022
15 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Carmen Richter
30 books287 followersCarmen Richter is an old soul. Her words are like theater, masterfully spun to bring all the feels, interspersed with music that makes your heart soar. She needs her coffee to make the words flow, and some of her best writing is done in a caffeine-induced haze at one in the morning with a soundtrack that ranges from jazz standards to rock to show tunes and everything in between. When she's not writing, she loves going to live concerts and especially live theater, or just staying in and binging Criminal Minds or Law and Order: SVU for the zillionth time.
Carmen lives in Kansas City with her boyfriend, Brett, and their two fur babies, a bunny named Marty and a cat named Mal. In addition to writing, she also has two branches of a business that aims to provide quality services to independent authors at a reasonable price. CPR Editing deals with everything inside your book: editing, proofreading, and interior formatting. CPR Designs deals with, well, design: logos and branding, social media graphics, covers, and teasers.
Carmen loves interacting with her fans and will happily respond to all messages personally until she gets uber famous and gets a ton of them. Hey, a girl can dream, right?
Carmen lives in Kansas City with her boyfriend, Brett, and their two fur babies, a bunny named Marty and a cat named Mal. In addition to writing, she also has two branches of a business that aims to provide quality services to independent authors at a reasonable price. CPR Editing deals with everything inside your book: editing, proofreading, and interior formatting. CPR Designs deals with, well, design: logos and branding, social media graphics, covers, and teasers.
Carmen loves interacting with her fans and will happily respond to all messages personally until she gets uber famous and gets a ton of them. Hey, a girl can dream, right?
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 15, 2023
Trigger warning at the beginning of book, emotional and physical abuse, privacy and unlawful surveillance, and secondly charters past childhood sexual abuse!!!
This is a wonderful, short story, I wanted to know what happened to the abuser and if the charters got their HEA! I was hoping the sister would get her HEA but nothing was mentioned of it.
Chloe meets Landon when she goes away for four years of college. She made a great group of people while in college but is forced to move back home with her abusive father. Her father hits her because he doesn’t want her to come anywhere near the training camp. After he leave he forgets his playbooks so he calls Chloe and tells her to bring it straight to him and then leave. When she get to the campus she runs right into her boyfriend who she left two years ago when he went to start his career in Florida in the NFL. He father catches her talking to him and then he smacks her across the face once again. He tells her she disobeyed him and she will do as he says as long as she’s under his roof. When she leave Landon catches sight of her and realizes her father hit her again. Coach Hoyt comes out and tell Landon he seen him put his hands on his daughter and pushed him into the wall. He tells him she can end his career, making sure he never plays again. The other guys at practice notice Coach Hoyt is riding Landon pretty hard and want to know if he’s alright. He tells them he seen Chloe today and they been with him in college and know who she is. He tells them he needs to get Chloe away from her father. Chloe goes to her sister’s to help her with her four year old niece Faith, her sister is pregnant. When Chloe’s phone buzzes she sees she has a message from Landon he wants to meet and talk. Her sister comes and she sees Chloe white as a ghost so she tells her they need to talk. She tells her sister about running into Landon and him now wanting to talk, but she know what will happen if she does, and her sister does too. Her sister tells her what really happened and why she married Phil. She tells Chloe to use her phone to call Landon, so she does and they meet at a park nearby. She gets into his truck and he tells her he wants to hold her. So she climbs into his lap, he tells her she doesn’t have to say anything to him. She tells him she is sorry. She tells him she never told him who her father was because he was going pro and didn’t want to chance he end up in a situation like he’s in. She tells him he doesn’t know what her father is capable of doing and she loves him to much to let him get hurt. He tell her he loves her too, too much to let her father hurt her anymore. He tells her he never stopped loving her. She tells him she never did either and spend everyday for the last two year wishing she was stronger, to follow her heart and never look back. They kiss, she climbs into his lap and straddles him, then he runs his fingers down and under her shirt. They get tangled up in kisses, then she presses herself down against him rocking back and forth. He feels her damp panties and she tells him she needs more. She tells him she wants him, then he slips his hand pressing into her clit and rubs circles over it. He tells her if they do this she can’t run off again, and she promises she won’t. He moves his fingers inside her, pressing harder against her. He arches his hips and tugs his sweat down, then positions himself at her entrance in one deep thrust he is home. They both moan as she settles herself on his lap and they rock back and forth. She tells him she loves him and he tells her he loves her too. He tells her to come home with him, he tells her he is leasing a house ten minutes from here. She asks him if he suppose to be staying at the dorms during training camp. He tells her he’ll sneak back in before anyone knows he is missing. They go back to his home and he takes her to his hot tub. She starts to think of the consequences she’ll be facing but he pulls her out of it. He asks her how she wants to come he wants to explore her. She tells him with is mouth and he tell her to get up on the ledge and spread her legs. He pleasures her once again, and she tells him to make love to her. The get out of the hot tub and he takes her up to grab a shower and finds her some clothes. He tells her to stay with him and not to go back to her father’s house. She tells him yes after he convinces her. After they make love, snuggle up to one another and fall asleep. Landon’s alarm goes off the next morning for him to head back to the dorms for training camp. He tells her to go back to sleep and not to go anywhere. When he gets to his dorm he heads down for breakfast, he finds out Coach Hoyt isn’t here and the other coaches can’t reach him. He gets a call from his security his security alarm was activated and the police are on their way to his house. He ends the call and head out getting there before the police arrive. Chloe’s father comes pounding on the door, he breaks a window to enter the home. He tells her he knew she would make herself unclean the first chance she got. He tells her adulterers and fornicators should be put to death. He pulls off his belt and tells her he heard her defiling herself. He hits her with his belt and plays a message from his phone. It’s of her and Landon’s private moments in the hot tub. He hits her as he plays back the recording. She yells at him to turn it off but he tells her the lord commands adulteress and the men they defile will be put to death. She then realizes her father is prepared to kill her. She hears someone yell to get away from her as her father is pulled away. A familiar voice tells her to stay with him and to open her eyes. Then she hears someone tell Landon that’s enough and to take care of Chloe. They hear the Police coming in and her father tells them Landon kidnapped his daughter, beat her and then beat him. Chloe tells them no, that Landon is her boyfriend, that her father tried to kill her because he doesn’t want them together. Her father tells them she doesn’t know what she is talking about. The police tell her father they have a report from a concerned neighbor and he’s under arrest. Her father in prison he took a plea deal, it’s going to take time for Chloe to heal and Landon know this. They invite a few people over, including her sister and niece Faith. Landon tells Chloe she hopes it’s alright he invited Ky over so they could talk. Ky tells her you never get over it you just have to deal with it. Chloe realizes now that he father is in jail she is free to make her own decisions, free to be anything she wants to be. After everyone leaves Landon asks her if she had a good time. She tells him she did, but now she wants to replace memories he tainted with new ones, ones he can’t take away. Six weeks later, she pleasure him for a wake up call, and he asks her what he did he do to deserve that. She tells him he’s the star quarterback she needs to make him happy before his first home game. He tells her to come sit on his face. Afterwards they cuddle close and he sees something is wrong, he asks her about it. Chloe rows over and opens the top drawer and pulls something out. She hand him a plastic stick, he doesn’t have to look at it to know what it is. He tells her he loves her and wants to marry her. She tells him she loves him too but she is still working through a lot of stuff and want to be in a better place mentally before they take that step. He tells her okay but he will put a ring on her finger someday.
This is a wonderful, short story, I wanted to know what happened to the abuser and if the charters got their HEA! I was hoping the sister would get her HEA but nothing was mentioned of it.
Chloe meets Landon when she goes away for four years of college. She made a great group of people while in college but is forced to move back home with her abusive father. Her father hits her because he doesn’t want her to come anywhere near the training camp. After he leave he forgets his playbooks so he calls Chloe and tells her to bring it straight to him and then leave. When she get to the campus she runs right into her boyfriend who she left two years ago when he went to start his career in Florida in the NFL. He father catches her talking to him and then he smacks her across the face once again. He tells her she disobeyed him and she will do as he says as long as she’s under his roof. When she leave Landon catches sight of her and realizes her father hit her again. Coach Hoyt comes out and tell Landon he seen him put his hands on his daughter and pushed him into the wall. He tells him she can end his career, making sure he never plays again. The other guys at practice notice Coach Hoyt is riding Landon pretty hard and want to know if he’s alright. He tells them he seen Chloe today and they been with him in college and know who she is. He tells them he needs to get Chloe away from her father. Chloe goes to her sister’s to help her with her four year old niece Faith, her sister is pregnant. When Chloe’s phone buzzes she sees she has a message from Landon he wants to meet and talk. Her sister comes and she sees Chloe white as a ghost so she tells her they need to talk. She tells her sister about running into Landon and him now wanting to talk, but she know what will happen if she does, and her sister does too. Her sister tells her what really happened and why she married Phil. She tells Chloe to use her phone to call Landon, so she does and they meet at a park nearby. She gets into his truck and he tells her he wants to hold her. So she climbs into his lap, he tells her she doesn’t have to say anything to him. She tells him she is sorry. She tells him she never told him who her father was because he was going pro and didn’t want to chance he end up in a situation like he’s in. She tells him he doesn’t know what her father is capable of doing and she loves him to much to let him get hurt. He tell her he loves her too, too much to let her father hurt her anymore. He tells her he never stopped loving her. She tells him she never did either and spend everyday for the last two year wishing she was stronger, to follow her heart and never look back. They kiss, she climbs into his lap and straddles him, then he runs his fingers down and under her shirt. They get tangled up in kisses, then she presses herself down against him rocking back and forth. He feels her damp panties and she tells him she needs more. She tells him she wants him, then he slips his hand pressing into her clit and rubs circles over it. He tells her if they do this she can’t run off again, and she promises she won’t. He moves his fingers inside her, pressing harder against her. He arches his hips and tugs his sweat down, then positions himself at her entrance in one deep thrust he is home. They both moan as she settles herself on his lap and they rock back and forth. She tells him she loves him and he tells her he loves her too. He tells her to come home with him, he tells her he is leasing a house ten minutes from here. She asks him if he suppose to be staying at the dorms during training camp. He tells her he’ll sneak back in before anyone knows he is missing. They go back to his home and he takes her to his hot tub. She starts to think of the consequences she’ll be facing but he pulls her out of it. He asks her how she wants to come he wants to explore her. She tells him with is mouth and he tell her to get up on the ledge and spread her legs. He pleasures her once again, and she tells him to make love to her. The get out of the hot tub and he takes her up to grab a shower and finds her some clothes. He tells her to stay with him and not to go back to her father’s house. She tells him yes after he convinces her. After they make love, snuggle up to one another and fall asleep. Landon’s alarm goes off the next morning for him to head back to the dorms for training camp. He tells her to go back to sleep and not to go anywhere. When he gets to his dorm he heads down for breakfast, he finds out Coach Hoyt isn’t here and the other coaches can’t reach him. He gets a call from his security his security alarm was activated and the police are on their way to his house. He ends the call and head out getting there before the police arrive. Chloe’s father comes pounding on the door, he breaks a window to enter the home. He tells her he knew she would make herself unclean the first chance she got. He tells her adulterers and fornicators should be put to death. He pulls off his belt and tells her he heard her defiling herself. He hits her with his belt and plays a message from his phone. It’s of her and Landon’s private moments in the hot tub. He hits her as he plays back the recording. She yells at him to turn it off but he tells her the lord commands adulteress and the men they defile will be put to death. She then realizes her father is prepared to kill her. She hears someone yell to get away from her as her father is pulled away. A familiar voice tells her to stay with him and to open her eyes. Then she hears someone tell Landon that’s enough and to take care of Chloe. They hear the Police coming in and her father tells them Landon kidnapped his daughter, beat her and then beat him. Chloe tells them no, that Landon is her boyfriend, that her father tried to kill her because he doesn’t want them together. Her father tells them she doesn’t know what she is talking about. The police tell her father they have a report from a concerned neighbor and he’s under arrest. Her father in prison he took a plea deal, it’s going to take time for Chloe to heal and Landon know this. They invite a few people over, including her sister and niece Faith. Landon tells Chloe she hopes it’s alright he invited Ky over so they could talk. Ky tells her you never get over it you just have to deal with it. Chloe realizes now that he father is in jail she is free to make her own decisions, free to be anything she wants to be. After everyone leaves Landon asks her if she had a good time. She tells him she did, but now she wants to replace memories he tainted with new ones, ones he can’t take away. Six weeks later, she pleasure him for a wake up call, and he asks her what he did he do to deserve that. She tells him he’s the star quarterback she needs to make him happy before his first home game. He tells her to come sit on his face. Afterwards they cuddle close and he sees something is wrong, he asks her about it. Chloe rows over and opens the top drawer and pulls something out. She hand him a plastic stick, he doesn’t have to look at it to know what it is. He tells her he loves her and wants to marry her. She tells him she loves him too but she is still working through a lot of stuff and want to be in a better place mentally before they take that step. He tells her okay but he will put a ring on her finger someday.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2023
Wow!
This story covered some really intense storylines. It was a lot to take in, but the author told a great story. I love their love for each other and I'm so happy they were able to come back together.
This story covered some really intense storylines. It was a lot to take in, but the author told a great story. I love their love for each other and I'm so happy they were able to come back together.
September 29, 2023
Hopeless Romantic
This book story line tackles some very Serious topics. The story line talks about rape and child’s abuse it is written very well. It’s so sad at times. But these stories end well not all these situation’s do.
This book story line tackles some very Serious topics. The story line talks about rape and child’s abuse it is written very well. It’s so sad at times. But these stories end well not all these situation’s do.
December 29, 2025
I read this to fulfill the book that begins with “Z” for my A-Z challenge, I’m glad I did. It was a quick whirlwind read. I wanted to kill her MF dad, that kind of abuse is hard for me to endure because it enrages me so much otherwise I would have given 5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2022
I love Landon and Chloe together! Such a powerful and beautiful healing love story! I absolutly loved it soo soo much! 🥰🔥❤😍
January 23, 2023
Nice short story with a happy ending. There is a lot of abuse from her farther and talks about her sister rape so not a book for everyone.
December 30, 2025
I read this for my 2025 A-Z challenge. The story was a complete roller coaster. It was a quick read and I appreciated that both MCs were celibate when they were apart
January 27, 2023
Too short!!!
Even with short stories the author managed to make my eyes all watery and sh¡t!!
I love that Chloe and Landon got their HEA but all I’m thinking is ‘Wait, Kim needs a HEA too’. Please tell me is happening….. someday?
The author knows the love that I have for Ian & Kyles’ characters and to see them again in here was just extra cherries on top!! And I definitely want more of Braden, can’t wait for his story in Under My Skin.
Even with short stories the author managed to make my eyes all watery and sh¡t!!
I love that Chloe and Landon got their HEA but all I’m thinking is ‘Wait, Kim needs a HEA too’. Please tell me is happening….. someday?
The author knows the love that I have for Ian & Kyles’ characters and to see them again in here was just extra cherries on top!! And I definitely want more of Braden, can’t wait for his story in Under My Skin.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews