Grace Reilly

First Down

Tutoring the new star quarterback in exchange for a few fake dates won’t lead to anything more… right?

James
Football is my everything. I live, eat, breathe the sport. But when I transfer to McKee University to escape the distractions that nearly cost me my future in the NFL, I’m faced with another consequence: retake and pass the writing class I failed at my last college, or lose any chance I have at making it big. That’s where fellow senior Beckett Wood—gorgeous, stubborn, and just my type—comes in. She’s the key to my success in this class… but the price of her help is a fake relationship, and I never do things halfway.

Bex
I don't mess around with athletes, and at first glance, handsome, self-assured James Callahan is no exception. He wants me to help him pass the writing class we’re both stuck taking, but I'm too busy to take on yet another responsibility. But when his teammate--my cheating ex--won’t leave me alone, I realize I need to convince him I’ve moved on… and what better way than by pretending to be with James, who wants nothing to do with a real relationship?

Yet with every fake kiss, James pulls me deeper into a place that thrills and terrifies me.

Why does he make me feel alive like no one else has?

And why don’t I want it to end?

First Down is a spicy new adult sports romance with fake dating, dual POV, and a guaranteed HEA. It is the first in a series of linked, yet standalone, novels in the Beyond the Play series.

Beyond the Play Book #1 : A Fake Dating College Sports Romance

RacquelElizabeth

"Walk me to the door?" "Like you have to ask."

nanafark

I didn’t know who the hell she was. I still don’t, really, just that her name is Beckett, she’s drop-dead gorgeous, and she kisses like the world is burning down around her.

When I’m about a foot from her, I freeze. That’s her. Little Miss Angel. Fucking kissed me better than anyone in my life and then left like we hadn’t just sparked like lightning.

“Maybe neither of us are special, but that’s not the point. The point is you’re the best person I’ve ever met, and I wish more than anything that that’s how you saw yourself too.”

She rises from her chair and comes around the table to pat my cheek. “I never said it was easy. Just that you can do it.”

“But how? He always seemed to be able to put everything else out of his mind, and I can’t do that.”

“A lot of trust.” She rubs her finger over her wedding ring. “He knew that I supported him, and I expected him to put his work first when he needed to. When he was at work, he gave it his all, and when he was home, he gave that his all. You’re not going to be able to do everything, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner you’ll be able to sort out what’s important. You 

 focus on both. It’s not about one or the other, it’s about prioritizing.”

taci

Ana Luiza

Vergonha nenhuma de dizer que fui atras desse livre depois das noticias da Taylor estar namorando um jogador de futebol kkkkkk me deu uma vontade absurdaaa de ler esse tipo de romance de novo, e eu tava com saudade! Me diverti muito. Foi uma leitura rapida e muito gostosa de ser feita. O mocinho é um anjo :)

Love the chemistry between the two main characters. The story is super interesting and draws you in. Very sweet all round, but still spicy

Alyssa deRaad

I love her books. Such fun, cute romances. I’m sad it was so short. 

Emma Kamer

Lisette Haasnoot

Samantha 

Fluff and smut, no depth

James is the walking definition of a simp, in a very original way. The book is so hopeful and warm, but also easily described as cheesy. While touching on serious themes, some of the writing still came off very cliche and it severely affected its readability. All in all, while I enjoyed it, I was left wanting just as much depth as In the smut applied to the rest of the book. 

If you are the kind of reader that wants All fluff and smut, this book may very well be your five star, but I don't recommend for readers who need substantial plot to connect to, and fully enjoy, the spicy bits

Paula Najar Santamaria

This was so cute and fun. It's your typical fake dating, college sports romance but different enough to love. The family drama on both sides were an interesting touch too.  AND the mouth on James was quite unexpected. I loved it :) I definitely recommend if you want a quick and fun read.

although it was a nice story, it took me more than half of the book to get invested. 

James was such a perfect little gentleman and i truly loved how he treated Bex. 

i’m left with the feeling of a medium impression, i can’t exactly specify why, though. 

a light read to spend an evening of yours!

although it was a nice story, it took me more than half of the book to get invested. 

James was such a perfect little gentleman and i truly loved how he treated Bex. 

i’m left with the feeling of a medium impression, i can’t exactly specify why, though. 

a light read to spend an evening of yours!

I didn’t like the princess nickname also why didn’t she just block Daryll but other than that I loved James but I don’t agree with what he did with the football game 

Kiera smith

the fake dating trope does it again for me 🫶🏽 james & bex outdid themselves. though the angst was super frustrating, I wanted to smack darryl and I was so bugged by the parents with james and bex’s relationship lmao. but james treats bex like such a queen and my whole heart 😭 they really fell deep and I was so entranced. such a quick & easy read too!

First Down

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