After learning that Marley, the woman who's been like a grandmother to her, is facing a terminal diagnosis, veterinary technician Eden Barclay knows that the time has come to return to the small town of Marysville, Tennessee. She hasn't been back since the summer after her high school graduation, when her friend and classmate Hilary was killed in a tragic accident. Blaming herself for Hilary's death, Eden fled town and cut off contact with everyone but Marley - including Hilary's former boyfriend, Cole Buchanan, who'd secretly been in love with Eden since she moved to Marysville at the start of senior year. Cole is now a professional football player for the Nashville Steel and single father to 5-year-old Jasper. Even though it's been seven years since he last saw Eden, he still hasn't gotten over her, and seeing her again reminds him of all the dreams they once shared. Can they work through the baggage of their past to build a future together?
To me, this story had a slightly different feel and tone than the author's last few books, but I think that's one of the things I liked best about it. Even though sports played an important role in the story, it felt more like a small town romance. It was really the best of both worlds, and I thoroughly enjoyed the combination. The truth of what happened between Cole, Eden, and Hilary seven years ago took some time to be revealed, and to be honest, it was a little frustrating at times until it all came together. When it did, however, my heart broke for all of them and I completely understood why Eden felt she had to leave. I really appreciated that she and Cole took the time to work through everything that had happened back then before officially moving forward with their relationship, and the slow burn chemistry as they did so was totally worth the wait.
Overall, "Sneak Attack" was an emotional roller-coaster but I loved it anyway. I highly recommend it for all fans of angsty/emotional contemporary romance and look forward to finding out where the series goes from here. I'm sure we'll see more of Cole's teammates, but I'd love to read stories about several of the secondary characters from Marysville too (especially veterinarian Nora and Hilary's brother Nate).
*Review copy provided by the author via Valentine PR. All opinions expressed are my own.
CW: Cancer/Brain Tumor; Car Accident
About "Sneak Attack"
A sneak attack by the girl who broke my heart, reminds me what could have been...
I might have made it as an NFL quarterback, but I was still me—still living in my hometown north of Nashville and tackling being a single dad. The media assumed I wore a halo beneath my helmet, but they didn't know my tragic past. I was no angel.
Because the only woman I ever truly loved was the girl who stole my heart when it was committed to another, and I never recovered from the mess we created.
Seven years is a long time to wait for a second chance. I tried to move on and live without her. Now, Eden's returned home to haunt me all over again, making me feel all the things I can't deny when she's near.
She might have her running shoes strapped on tight, but I'm desperate for her to stay this time. In order to do that, I need to find a way for us to put the past where it truly belongs, buried six feet deep with the person whose death still stands between us.
I didn't become one of the best in the league by playing it safe. Eden's always been mine, and it's time she finally learns it, too.
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