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Rampage Football #1
Game Stopper
Not yet published
Expected 22 Feb 26Being the face of a franchise should feel like a dream.
Instead, it’s a countdown.
Oliver James finally earned his spot as the Rampage’s starting running back, but hiding
a heart condition isn’t exactly a sustainable game plan. The pressure, the secrets, and
the constant fear—it’s all one hit away from disaster.
Enter Dr. Sloane Mercer.
The team’s new mental performance coach—brilliant, confident, and absolutely
untouchable. She’s here to keep players steady, not fall for one of them. Especially not
him.
Their chemistry is instant. Their connection? Impossible to ignore.
But in a world where control means everything, letting someone in could cost them both
the careers they’ve worked their whole lives for.
He’s not supposed to need her.
She’s not supposed to want him.
And if either of them slip, the fallout won’t just break the rules—it could break them both.
Instead, it’s a countdown.
Oliver James finally earned his spot as the Rampage’s starting running back, but hiding
a heart condition isn’t exactly a sustainable game plan. The pressure, the secrets, and
the constant fear—it’s all one hit away from disaster.
Enter Dr. Sloane Mercer.
The team’s new mental performance coach—brilliant, confident, and absolutely
untouchable. She’s here to keep players steady, not fall for one of them. Especially not
him.
Their chemistry is instant. Their connection? Impossible to ignore.
But in a world where control means everything, letting someone in could cost them both
the careers they’ve worked their whole lives for.
He’s not supposed to need her.
She’s not supposed to want him.
And if either of them slip, the fallout won’t just break the rules—it could break them both.
405 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 22, 2026
15 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Jaqueline Snowe
37 books1,258 followersJaqueline Snowe lives in Arizona where the "dry heat" really isn't that bad. She prefers drinking coffee all hours of the day and snacking on anything that has peanut butter or chocolate. She is the mother to two dogs who don’t realize they aren’t humans and a = mom to the sweetest boy. She is an avid reader and writer of romances and tends to write about athletes. Her husband works for an MLB team (not a player, lol) so she knows more about baseball than any human ever should.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
🏈 Sports Romance
🩺 Team Doctor / Therapist
🚫 Forbidden Romance
🤫 Secret Illness
🔥 Slow Burn
💞 Emotional Connection
🧠 Mental Health Rep
🛟 Healing & Support
👔 Professional Boundaries
🧸 Protective Hero
❤️ Vulnerable Hero
🏟️ Teammate / Team Dynamics
Star: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Game Stopper by Jacqueline Snowe kicks off the Rampage Football series with a heartfelt, emotional sports romance that balances high stakes on and off the field. This story leans into vulnerability, pressure, and the reality of what it means to chase a dream when your own body might betray you.
Oliver James has worked his entire life for this moment. Becoming the starting running back for the Rampage should be the peak of everything he sacrificed for football, but instead of celebrating he is living with constant fear. He is hiding a serious heart condition that could end his career instantly, and every play feels like a gamble he cannot afford to lose. Oliver carries the weight of expectations from the team, the fans, and himself, and the emotional toll of keeping his secret makes him one of the most sympathetic heroes. He is strong on the field but deeply human off it, and the anxiety he lives with is written in a very believable way.
Dr. Sloane Mercer enters the team’s mental performance coach and immediately changes the dynamic. She is confident, composed, and determined to maintain professional boundaries. Sloane takes her job seriously and understands exactly what is at risk if she blurs the lines with a player. What makes her stand out is that she is not there to fix Oliver but to support him, and their connection grows through honest conversations, trust, and emotional safety rather than instant physical attraction.
Their relationship is a slow burn built on vulnerability. Oliver opens up in ways he never has before, and Sloane finds herself drawn to the man behind the athlete. The forbidden aspect adds tension without overpowering the emotional core of the story. Instead of relying on drama alone, the book focuses on healing, fear, and the comfort of being seen by someone who understands you.
The football backdrop enhances the story without overwhelming it. You feel the pressure of the games, the locker room dynamics, and the constant scrutiny athletes face. At the same time, the romance remains at the center, grounded in emotional connection rather than spectacle.
Game Stopper is a softer sports romance that prioritizes character growth and emotional intimacy. Readers who enjoy protective heroes, professional boundary tension, and stories about learning to lean on someone else will find this a satisfying start to the series. It sets up the Rampage team while delivering a complete and heartfelt romance that leaves you eager to meet the rest of the players.
🩺 Team Doctor / Therapist
🚫 Forbidden Romance
🤫 Secret Illness
🔥 Slow Burn
💞 Emotional Connection
🧠 Mental Health Rep
🛟 Healing & Support
👔 Professional Boundaries
🧸 Protective Hero
❤️ Vulnerable Hero
🏟️ Teammate / Team Dynamics
Star: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75
Game Stopper by Jacqueline Snowe kicks off the Rampage Football series with a heartfelt, emotional sports romance that balances high stakes on and off the field. This story leans into vulnerability, pressure, and the reality of what it means to chase a dream when your own body might betray you.
Oliver James has worked his entire life for this moment. Becoming the starting running back for the Rampage should be the peak of everything he sacrificed for football, but instead of celebrating he is living with constant fear. He is hiding a serious heart condition that could end his career instantly, and every play feels like a gamble he cannot afford to lose. Oliver carries the weight of expectations from the team, the fans, and himself, and the emotional toll of keeping his secret makes him one of the most sympathetic heroes. He is strong on the field but deeply human off it, and the anxiety he lives with is written in a very believable way.
Dr. Sloane Mercer enters the team’s mental performance coach and immediately changes the dynamic. She is confident, composed, and determined to maintain professional boundaries. Sloane takes her job seriously and understands exactly what is at risk if she blurs the lines with a player. What makes her stand out is that she is not there to fix Oliver but to support him, and their connection grows through honest conversations, trust, and emotional safety rather than instant physical attraction.
Their relationship is a slow burn built on vulnerability. Oliver opens up in ways he never has before, and Sloane finds herself drawn to the man behind the athlete. The forbidden aspect adds tension without overpowering the emotional core of the story. Instead of relying on drama alone, the book focuses on healing, fear, and the comfort of being seen by someone who understands you.
The football backdrop enhances the story without overwhelming it. You feel the pressure of the games, the locker room dynamics, and the constant scrutiny athletes face. At the same time, the romance remains at the center, grounded in emotional connection rather than spectacle.
Game Stopper is a softer sports romance that prioritizes character growth and emotional intimacy. Readers who enjoy protective heroes, professional boundary tension, and stories about learning to lean on someone else will find this a satisfying start to the series. It sets up the Rampage team while delivering a complete and heartfelt romance that leaves you eager to meet the rest of the players.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review
4.5⭐|3🌶|11%🌶frequency
If you've read "Scoring Forever" (Central State Football 3), you might remember Oliver. Because he is the best friend of the MCs 😉 And now he got his own HEA, around 5 years after. And yes, he's still best friends with Ivy and Callum, he even works with one of them, but I'm not spoiling with whom 😎
Let me be honest, I didn't remember Oliver anymore 🙈 It's too long since I've read the other series. So I can't say if I liked him back then, but because he was (and is) best friends with the other two, I think I at least didn't hate him 🤣, and now I can say, I instantly fall for him. God, he's such a perfect man. He's definitely a golden retriever 🥰
And yes, I loved Sloane, too. I always have my eyes on the MMCs, sorry 🙈 She is a strong woman, but she also has her weaknesses she doesn't want to show. Especially because of her co-workers 🥺
This is no easy book. I mean the story. Doctor x patient is clearly forbidden. Then, the fact that they work together, another forbidden part. And Oliver's heart condition problematic... 😔 Oh, and not to forget Sloane's problems of being a woman in sports... Yeah, her male co-workers 😖
As I said, not easy. But that makes the story so good 😎
I loved that the team had a mental health doctor. I don't know how common that is in real life, but it's not just physical training athletes need; they have a lot of stress and pressure, too. So this is hopefully real!
I don't know anything about the other books in this series, but I'm excited. There are quite a few characters in the team 😁
Thanks to the author for trusting me with an ARC 🩷
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
4.5⭐|3🌶|11%🌶frequency
If you've read "Scoring Forever" (Central State Football 3), you might remember Oliver. Because he is the best friend of the MCs 😉 And now he got his own HEA, around 5 years after. And yes, he's still best friends with Ivy and Callum, he even works with one of them, but I'm not spoiling with whom 😎
Let me be honest, I didn't remember Oliver anymore 🙈 It's too long since I've read the other series. So I can't say if I liked him back then, but because he was (and is) best friends with the other two, I think I at least didn't hate him 🤣, and now I can say, I instantly fall for him. God, he's such a perfect man. He's definitely a golden retriever 🥰
And yes, I loved Sloane, too. I always have my eyes on the MMCs, sorry 🙈 She is a strong woman, but she also has her weaknesses she doesn't want to show. Especially because of her co-workers 🥺
This is no easy book. I mean the story. Doctor x patient is clearly forbidden. Then, the fact that they work together, another forbidden part. And Oliver's heart condition problematic... 😔 Oh, and not to forget Sloane's problems of being a woman in sports... Yeah, her male co-workers 😖
As I said, not easy. But that makes the story so good 😎
I loved that the team had a mental health doctor. I don't know how common that is in real life, but it's not just physical training athletes need; they have a lot of stress and pressure, too. So this is hopefully real!
I don't know anything about the other books in this series, but I'm excited. There are quite a few characters in the team 😁
Thanks to the author for trusting me with an ARC 🩷
Follow me on IG for more
https://www.instagram.com/minnie.love...
Review of advance copy
I was lucky enough to receive as an ARC 🥰
High stakes. Hidden truths. Forbidden chemistry.
Game Stopper is an emotional, heart-pounding sports romance that hits you right in the feels—and never lets up.
Oliver James is living the dream on paper: starting running back, franchise face, future star. But behind the highlight reels is a secret that could end everything—his heart condition. Every game feels like borrowed time, every hit a reminder that his career (and life) are hanging by a thread.
Then comes Dr. Sloane Mercer.
The team’s new mental performance coach. Smart, grounded, and completely off-limits.
Their connection is immediate—quiet moments charged with tension, stolen glances that say everything they’re not allowed to. Sloane is there to help him stay focused, not fall for him. Oliver is supposed to stay in control, not crave the one person who sees straight through him.
What makes this story shine is the emotional depth. Oliver isn’t just a star athlete—he’s vulnerable, terrified, and trying to outrun a reality he can’t escape. And Sloane? She’s steady, compassionate, and torn between her heart and her ethics.
The push-and-pull between duty and desire is chef’s kiss. Every moment feels risky. Every touch feels dangerous. And when they finally let themselves feel? It’s powerful, tender, and completely worth the wait.
Tropes: 🏈 Sports Romance 🚫 Forbidden Love ❤️ Hidden Illness 🧠 Therapist/Client Tension
If you love emotionally intense sports romances with forbidden tension, vulnerable heroes, and a love that feels like both a risk and a rescue—Game Stopper deserves a spot on your TBR.
High stakes. Hidden truths. Forbidden chemistry.
Game Stopper is an emotional, heart-pounding sports romance that hits you right in the feels—and never lets up.
Oliver James is living the dream on paper: starting running back, franchise face, future star. But behind the highlight reels is a secret that could end everything—his heart condition. Every game feels like borrowed time, every hit a reminder that his career (and life) are hanging by a thread.
Then comes Dr. Sloane Mercer.
The team’s new mental performance coach. Smart, grounded, and completely off-limits.
Their connection is immediate—quiet moments charged with tension, stolen glances that say everything they’re not allowed to. Sloane is there to help him stay focused, not fall for him. Oliver is supposed to stay in control, not crave the one person who sees straight through him.
What makes this story shine is the emotional depth. Oliver isn’t just a star athlete—he’s vulnerable, terrified, and trying to outrun a reality he can’t escape. And Sloane? She’s steady, compassionate, and torn between her heart and her ethics.
The push-and-pull between duty and desire is chef’s kiss. Every moment feels risky. Every touch feels dangerous. And when they finally let themselves feel? It’s powerful, tender, and completely worth the wait.
Tropes: 🏈 Sports Romance 🚫 Forbidden Love ❤️ Hidden Illness 🧠 Therapist/Client Tension
If you love emotionally intense sports romances with forbidden tension, vulnerable heroes, and a love that feels like both a risk and a rescue—Game Stopper deserves a spot on your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Game Stopper will have you all in your feels!! I went through all the emotions. But the biggest one of all was falling in love with the characters. My heart was all in on this story and I devoured it from page one to very last. A phenomenal story that will leave your heart full!
Sports Romance 🏈
Work place romance (she’s the mental health Dr/he’s a player)💘
Golden Retriever MMC
Sloane finally has her dream job. Working as a mental health Dr for the Rampage. Everything is falling into place. She struggles a little being a woman in a mostly mail dominated environment. But she holds her own! Ahhh..she does this with such professionalism and dedication. But when her feelings start to change after getting to know Oliver, things become a little bit different.
Oliver James, he’s a RB for the professional football team the Rampage. He’s finally getting his spot but things begin to change after having an episode. And when he spends time with Sloane this man starts falling fast for her. Why, because she’s the best! The way he cares for her…SWOON!
This romance books has a few storylines that will pull at your heartstrings(literally) I love how it all comes together at the end. Though we follow along through a huge rollercoaster of emotions with it. But in the end LOVE WINS!
Highly recommended.
Arc review!
Sports Romance 🏈
Work place romance (she’s the mental health Dr/he’s a player)💘
Golden Retriever MMC
Sloane finally has her dream job. Working as a mental health Dr for the Rampage. Everything is falling into place. She struggles a little being a woman in a mostly mail dominated environment. But she holds her own! Ahhh..she does this with such professionalism and dedication. But when her feelings start to change after getting to know Oliver, things become a little bit different.
Oliver James, he’s a RB for the professional football team the Rampage. He’s finally getting his spot but things begin to change after having an episode. And when he spends time with Sloane this man starts falling fast for her. Why, because she’s the best! The way he cares for her…SWOON!
This romance books has a few storylines that will pull at your heartstrings(literally) I love how it all comes together at the end. Though we follow along through a huge rollercoaster of emotions with it. But in the end LOVE WINS!
Highly recommended.
Arc review!
February 14, 2026
4.25 Stars— I LOVED the rawness of this book both Sloane and Oliver are dealing with real issues and their relationship developed so beautifully. The balance of sports inclusion with relationship focus was perfect and I can’t wait for the rest of the series.
Dr. Sloane Mercer has a lot to prove as the “mental coach” on a professional football team. She’s qualified but she’s a woman in a male dominated profession— and asking them to think of their mental health as much as their physical health. When she gets her chance to prove to the organization that her work matters, she has to fight the draw she has to Oliver.
Oliver finally has everything he wants, and his heart condition isn’t going to stop him. Until he can’t hide it anymore and he’ll stop at nothing to get back on the filled— no matter the risk to his health. When the walls he built to protect himself and his career start to crumble from getting to know Sloane, he’s faced with the idea that something could be more important than football.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Dr. Sloane Mercer has a lot to prove as the “mental coach” on a professional football team. She’s qualified but she’s a woman in a male dominated profession— and asking them to think of their mental health as much as their physical health. When she gets her chance to prove to the organization that her work matters, she has to fight the draw she has to Oliver.
Oliver finally has everything he wants, and his heart condition isn’t going to stop him. Until he can’t hide it anymore and he’ll stop at nothing to get back on the filled— no matter the risk to his health. When the walls he built to protect himself and his career start to crumble from getting to know Sloane, he’s faced with the idea that something could be more important than football.
I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
I love how Snowe took us from Central State football to the professional world! Oliver was Ivy and Callum's friend made it to the NFL by their sides while hiding some major health issues. Sloane was a doctor the team brought in to help the team with their mental health. Working together brought them into each other's orbit, but it might also be the thing that rips them apart. They had such a sweet relationship. It was fun to see negative feelings turn into more than positive ones when it came to dealing with each other. I loved them together. I also loved the side characters just as much as I have in the rest of Snowe's books. I can't wait to read more about them, and it was fun to see Ivy and Callum again.
I love how Snowe took us from Central State football to the professional world! Oliver was Ivy and Callum's friend made it to the NFL by their sides while hiding some major health issues. Sloane was a doctor the team brought in to help the team with their mental health. Working together brought them into each other's orbit, but it might also be the thing that rips them apart. They had such a sweet relationship. It was fun to see negative feelings turn into more than positive ones when it came to dealing with each other. I loved them together. I also loved the side characters just as much as I have in the rest of Snowe's books. I can't wait to read more about them, and it was fun to see Ivy and Callum again.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Really gripping. Jaqueline Snowe always writes good sports romances, and this was no different. Game Stopper had a more emotional edge than usual, and even though it twisted by the chest, it was also really moving to read.
Sloane and Oliver are both characters that you can’t help but feel empathetic towards. Their relationship felt like a quick unwinding, and the possibility of a 3rd-act breakup put everyone on their toes.
If you like:
-sports romance
-Age gap
-Forbidden romance
-workplace romance
This is for you!!
It was also so fun to see a bunch of characters from other novels!
Sloane and Oliver are both characters that you can’t help but feel empathetic towards. Their relationship felt like a quick unwinding, and the possibility of a 3rd-act breakup put everyone on their toes.
If you like:
-sports romance
-Age gap
-Forbidden romance
-workplace romance
This is for you!!
It was also so fun to see a bunch of characters from other novels!
February 16, 2026
Jaqueline Snowe does it again by bringing life to a football romance between a player and a doctor in her latest book “Game Stopper”. Reading about Oliver and Sloane’s love story has been such an enjoyable experience. Jaqueline really took initiative with doing research on medical issues as well as anxiety. I couldn’t get enough of this book since I started it. With wanting to know how Oliver and Sloane would work out there relationship, to how Oliver was going to navigate his medical secret. Every moment kept me on the edge of my seat and my nose planted firmly in this book. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves football and sport romances. I can’t wait to read more in this new series !
February 15, 2026
This was such a sweet story for Oliver and Sloane. Sloan landed her dream job with a professional football team as the Director of Mental Performance. Oliver just got his dream as starting RB for the Chicago Rampage. Only one problem, Oliver has been hiding a medical condition since college. He’s tried to manage it on his own until Sloane comes into his life and sees right through him. For him it’s instalust and lucky for him he finds out that she’s his neighbor. Oliver is the perfect golden retriever with the want to prove his worth to those in his life. Sloane is trying to prove that she can dominate in a male dominated profession. It’s the perfect start for the Chicago Rampage.
Review of advance copy received from Author
💜❤️ forbidden workplace romance, my favourite trope! This was another beautifully written story by Jaqueline Snowe! The dynamic between Sloane and Oliver was 🔥 Sloane is a strong FMC and Oliver a cinnamon roll MMC. Look forward to the rest of the series. Thanks to Jaqueline for the ARC. A 5 ⭐️ read, highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Author
i am officially obsessed with this book. i ate this book up in less than a day because i was so hooked the entire time. the characters felt so genuine and real, with rich backstories and unique interests. sloane and her shoe obsession was so fun, and oliver is just so chefs kiss 🤌
Review of advance copy received from Author
I always love Jaqueline’s FMC’s, but I REALLY loved the MMC in this book. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because I’m not a fan of dishonesty in any form (I don’t want to spoil anything).
February 10, 2026
4.5 ⭐️(s)!! Full review to follow!
February 11, 2026
cute book! I love when two people defy odds for each other☺️
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews