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Veena’s review of Loving Him Off The Field (Santa Fe Bobcats, Book 2) by Jeanette Murray
Contemporary Romance published by InterMix Group 21 Oct 14

Ms. Murray is two for two with her second book in the Santa Fe Bobcats series.  I am not a football fan. I apologize to all the  die-hard fans out there, but I just don’t get running around the field with a ball wearing tights. Fortunately, the hero in this book is definitely not running around the field. He’s a secret weapon who’s brought out when the team needs his golden foot to kick it over the goal post.  Even more fortunately, you don’t need to know football to enjoy the book. 

Killian, for all his angst and unhappiness, seems to be a real person buried under his problems, fully cognizant of what it takes to be a member of an NFL team and yet resisting the friendship of his teammates in fear of what they’ll think about him if his past is revealed.  I feel equal parts sorry and exasperated with him for his defeatist attitude.

Aileen is a reporter.  He knows from day one that she wants a story, and yet with everything he has to hide, he’s unable to resist her as she skirts around him with her fluff pieces, waiting to get the juicy bone that’s going to launch her career as a sports writer. I thought it so endearing that it’s her integrity that wins her the limelight she needs when she suppresses the personal juicy tidbit that lands in her lap.

I thoroughly enjoy their flirting and repartee as they skirt around each other, both intent on their own end goals and yet he watches her bowl and even takes up bowling while she, of course, watches him play ball as she makes friends with his fellow teammates. I like how Killian emerges from the shadows and comes clean to his team about his past. The details of it shocked me a bit as well, despite all the buildup. It is so easy to get caught up in something which has far-reaching consequences as happened with Killian. As his teammates give him their unconditional support, it is heartening to see why players refer to their teams as family.

All in all another cute story. I can’t wait to see some of the other Bobcats get their own books.

Grade: B

Summary:

Sometimes the best defense is a good offense…

Aileen is a sports reporter trying to make a name for herself without relying on her looks, And what better way to do that than to break a scandal about one of the fastest rising stars on the Santa Fe Bobcats? Killian seems too good to be true, so she knows he must be hiding something…

It’s hard enough breaking into the NFL—even more so when you’re a single dad. Killian isn’t proud that he’s keeping his son a secret, but his ex has a reputation that could tarnish his squeaky clean image for good. So when Aileen starts sniffing around, Killian decides to distract her by any means necessary.

But Aileen is more than capable of giving as good as she gets…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series:
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