In only their first season of play, the Atlanta Rising are off to a winning start. Sports reporter Theodosia "Theo" Kappas has made every effort to gain access to the team for her popular syndicated TV show, but so far, the team's notoriously media shy technical director, Britt "Cowboy" Callahan, has ignored her. She finally decides to get creative by bidding on a date with Cowboy at the team's charity auction, but Cowboy puts her off after she wins. Aside from his general dislike of the media and wish to protect his players from intrusive questions, he's not ready to confront his inconvenient attraction to Theo. Unfortunately, he can't put the date off forever, and it goes exactly as badly as he'd feared; when he learns that Theo wants exclusive access to the team as they prepare for the upcoming Fremont Cup tournament in Las Vegas, Cowboy refuses and walks out on her. After team owner Felicity overrules Cowboy's decision, he's not only forced to apologize to Theo, he's stuck working closely with her. As he gradually realizes that Theo is nothing like the reporters he's known in the past, will Cowboy be able to resist his growing feelings for her?
My favorite thing about the Atlanta Rising series so far is that it hasn't focused only on the players, but on the organization as a whole. While professional athletes are hot and I love reading romances about them, this series has presented a different, equally compelling perspective on sports and sports romance that is truly refreshing. I've enjoyed getting a glimpse of what goes on behind the scenes and how things work on the business side of sports, not just what happens on the field. That was especially true in "Offsides," in which male protagonist Cowboy, a retired player himself, served as the team's technical director and made it his mission to look out for the players he supervised.
I loved Cowboy's opposites attract romance with Theo. Aside from his stance on reporters (for which he had very good, and honestly heartbreaking, reasons), he was a pretty laid-back, fun-loving guy. By contrast, Theo was a rule follower who prioritized her career above all else, and Cowboy made it his mission to show her how much fun life outside of work could be. I truly enjoyed their flirty banter, which was a perfect complement to their steamy chemistry. Further, I thought their relationship developed at a perfect pace given their respective trust issues.
Overall, "Offsides" was my favorite book of the series so far, and I highly recommend it for all fans of contemporary/sports romance. I can't wait for the next book in the series. (Fortunately, I won't be waiting long; "Assist" comes out next week!)
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
About "Offsides"
Giving her exclusive access was just to the team...not to his heart...
Britt "Cowboy" Callahan's favorite response for the media? No comment. He's seen how they can ruin lives and tear families apart. All for "the truth." Too bad the stunning brunette stealing his attention at press conferences is one of them. And her quest for the truth just landed him on a date, with no way out. But the more he gets to know her, the more he starts to wonder if he wants one.
Theo Kappas is smart, tenacious, and doesn't let Britt's prickly demeanor or continued no's keep her from what she wants. And what she wants is exclusive access to the team that everyone is talking about. The Atlanta Rising Football Club. The fact that she has to outwit her long-term crush is irrelevant, even if it does make her heart beat faster. She's determined to not let her attraction get in the way—she's a reporter first, a woman second.
After Cowboy reluctantly gives Theo the access she wants, the two are forced to work side by side and realize there’s more to the other than they thought. But can a reporter and a man who hates them be on the same team?
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