A satisfying contemporary romance read. Gotta wonder though about the author's grasp of English and indeed that of every beta reader, editor and proofreader. These were not typos. The phrase "She brooked no argument," was used incorrectly TWICE.

When she'd told Carly that she and Owen were staying there, the relief in her friend's voice had been palpable. Worse, her friend hadn't brooked any argument.

What she meant to say was Worse her friend hadn't offered any argument. Two entirely different things. Brooked is a synonym for tolerated. So if her friend hadn't tolerated any argument then Carly wouldn't have been relieved that the heroine, Julianne, was staying somewhere else. The other occurrence was misused in the same way to indicate that the person had not argued rather than that they had not allowed any argument to sway them.

Another weird misuse of English is when Will thinks that Julianne's brother is saying that Will was not good enough for Julianne. But in fact that is not what this sentence actually says.

Will tried not to cringe. Apparently, even the duplicitous sister of a con-man senator wasn't good enough for a boy from the Seaside Vista Trailer Park.

What this sentence actually says is that she is not good enough for him. All through this book we've been told about the chip on Will's shoulder about his background and how he thinks everyone looks down on him. So I know that's what the author meant, but that's not what she said.

I don't mind the occasional typo but actual misuse of English does not get a pass from me.

So leaving aside these irritating issues, how was the book? Pretty decent and readable. Some good images of the hero's relationship with the baby. He was very young but wasn't just one of those plot device babies that sleep all the time so the hero and heroine can get it on. Some of the stuff on the football crime was interesting and well thought out. There was quite a bit of lack of communication that seemed a bit ridiculous. And did anyone else find the whole she called out another man's name during sex kind of OTT? I would have understood if she and Nicky had been lovers but as it was it seemed just something to keep them apart. The end had a bit of a deus ex machina feel to it. But all in all I enjoyed it and might try others in the series.
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This was an interesting story that explores the "secret baby" trope. Julianne had never intended to let Will know that she had had his baby. But when the baby suffers a medical emergency that can only be solved by a transfusion of parental blood and Julianne's isn't right, she has to let Will know he is a father. Will who grew up as an illegitimate child in a small town has always been determined that no child of his would suffer the same fate.

This one night stand will have life-changing consequences for both of them. These two people don't know each other but Julianne's guilt at keeping her son from his father and Will's need to make things right has them marrying with every intention of it being a temporary situation.

While they don't know each other, and Will certainly doesn't trust Julianne, the chemistry between them is evident to the people around them. And there is a strong cast of people around them. Will's mother has a strong role in the book as does Will's general manager. Julianne also has her friends Carly and Nick and her business manager Sebastian to support her. Julianne's brother the Senator also has a role in the story which adds tons of complications.

Besides the romance part of the story, Will is also dealing with accusations of collecting bounties for hitting players too hard. The coach he idolized and who got him out of his poverty-stricken background and into Yale is right in the middle of it. Will is determined to be loyal to that coach despite what it could do to his career. Julianne's brother is chairing the Senate investigation into these activities by calling them racketeering.

I enjoyed the intensity of this romance and am eager to seek out other books in the series. ( )

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Football player plus wedding designer equals a one night stand resulting in a child that needs Dad’s help to get better.

Opening Sentence: Paternity.

The Review:

There are a couple of things that have followed me around the world and back again. One of them is reading, which is how I ended up writing this review, and the other is my love for football. One of the things my Dad and I would do after Sunday lunch had been cleaned up was to sit and watch the National Football League. Those times still reside in my memory and continue to this day even when my father and I are half a world away, but the love for football remains strong. This book reminds me of those good feelings and joyful Sunday afternoons as we shouted at the referee for bad calls. I wondered what happened to the men once the game was over and the television crews went home. What sort of lives did my football heroes deal with on a day to day basis. This story is a fictionalized version of what some of them may experience and it lived up to my every expectation.

Will “William the Conqueror” Connelly is blindsided with the discovery that he may have fathered a child with a woman, Julianne Marchione, when he met her at a friend’s wedding. If that shock wasn’t big enough then the only reason he is being contacted now is because his “son” has a life-threatening blood disorder that requires that Will provide a blood transfusion because Julianne isn’t a match.

Meanwhile, Julianne has been struggling with an unexpected pregnancy then a very sick child, and her creative muse has disappeared and taken all her ability to create one of a kind bridal gowns with it. Not to mention she just wants to take her son and raise him by herself and not bother Will, but has no choice but to contact him and pray that he will help their son.

This story had me from the beginning. Initially, I thought I may get this book started today and then take a break and finish it tomorrow, but there was no way that Will and Julianne were letting me go until their story had a happily-ever-after. When a story has the ability to grasp a reader’s time, energy and good intention, then the author has written a stellar work. This book had all that and so much more. In fact, there was a minor emergency at my home, but I didn’t even know it had happened until the last word was read and I returned to the real world. (In case you are wondering, no one was harmed — just a small little incident.)

The woman characters in this novel were awesome and strong. There is always a need for woman who aren’t afraid to take charge when necessary and then be able to be approachable and sexy. Meanwhile, the only man that irritated me was Julianne’s brother, Stephen, but he may even have redeeming qualities in the end.

Foolish Games is a book that could easily have been a stand alone, but I’m thrilled that it isn’t. Don’t be afraid to dive into this book because it is just yummy, but be aware you might look up and your smoke alarm is going off. You have been duly warned.

So this is definitely a book that you need to pick up if you love a wonderful romance or love those guys in their football gear or better yet with the football gear on the floor. I believe you will truly enjoy this book and Ms. Solheim has obtained another fan. I wait for anticipation for Brody Janik’s story to be released in May.

Notable Scene:

He wasn’t sure who kissed who first, but when their lips met, something ignited within them both. She tasted of coffee and smelled of tropical flowers and he couldn’t seem to get enough of her. Their clothes melted away, giving Will’s hands and lips access to warm, soft skin. When he entered her that first time, she welcomed him, wrapping her legs around his hips and bringing him to near-perfect ecstasy.

The thunder and lightning were winding down the second time they made love, her fingers and mouth torturing his body before he found his release. The third time he took her, the storm had dissipated outside but continued to rage on between them as the electricity he’d felt in the hallway reached a fevered pitch. Will had never felt such an intense connection with any other woman.

Until she called out another man’s name while climaxing. And then the condom broke.

FTC Advisory: Berkley/Penguin provided me with a copy of Foolish Games. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. ( )