The Forever Game

Meet Cute Book Club #3

by A.M. Williams

Daphne

Being born as a creative with zero athletic ability into a family of athletes means only one thing - I’m the family outcast.

The one who no matter how successful I am, will never fit in.

That’s okay. I’m happy with my life. I’ve got my friends, good books to read, and my very own tattoo studio where I get to live my own dreams.

Things are going just fine for me.

Then he shows up. The definition of tall, dark, and handsome. I don’t think I’ve ever been this wildly attracted to someone at first glance.

There are a million reasons why things between the two of us would never work out.

But, the universe keeps throwing us together and Jameson seems hell-bent on proving me wrong.

Jameson

I’m in town for one reason and one reason only: recover in the off season so I can go back next year ready to dominate on the field.

After a brutal divorce and an even worse football season, I need to recoup and get my head in the game.

What I don’t need is distractions.

That’s exactly what she is. She’s gorgeous, funny, and has curves in all the right places.

There’s just two small problems. I’m on the rebound and she’s the daughter of my mentor. Who would even want to go there?

But, somehow we keep crossing paths and there’s something tempting about breaking through all those stereotypes she has about guys like me.

Can we find a way to give in to what our hearts want and finally win the forever game?

The Forever Game is a standalone, sports romance that is part of the multi-author series, Meet Cute Book Club series. Escape with this swoon-worthy collection of romances where meet-cutes don't only happen between the pages of romance novels and members find their own happily ever afters.

Genres: Sports Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Sports, Ebooks

190 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 2022

About the author

A.M. Williams is just a simple girl from the south that found herself living abroad. When she’s not annoying her cat or reading, she’s spending time with her husband and traveling as much as possible. She has a serious case of wanderlust and wants to go as many places as possible while she can. She loves Cheerwine, sweet tea, and North Carolina (eastern style) BBQ as well as those crystal clear waters on the North Carolina coast.

Reviews

[TMR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

No trigger warnings eh, what a shock haha. Is this book even worth reading without those hah?

But no seriously, I loved this book, I mean it was totally what I was looking for after a painful read before.

I mean she's an artist, she's a tattooist, she's an outcast and she's always somehow caught up in family drama. She's the kinda girl I wanna be friends with for real. Hip Hip Hip for Daphne!

Meanwhile he's the charmer, a divorcee, a sports guy (football hero) and has some wounds to lick. Mm, I mean...I've got some first aid kit to help him out eh hehe, if he wants. *winks* Buckle up Jameson!

But I mean the point is - they both have their problems, their demons, and endless unnecessary people at their backs. You can see why they both would be hardasses to life.

Despite all that though, there's something about these two that makes me wanna root for them, and champion them to fight against obstacles, or intrusive match-making, and expectations set by others.

I mean they're brilliant when they're together - and clearly the author knows how to do it well with fab (straightforward writing) hilarious shenanigans, fun friends, bonkers family, and some plenty of hot romantic times eh.

I was so here for it, and loved it every second when I was.

And I also loved she promoted her book eh (about a hunky baseball player - the fans know who I am talkin about eh), which made me wanna read it even more - now that I loved having a first taste of A.M's writing.

I definitely look forward to more of her books now. So, A.M keep writing please! Otherwise IDK how my sanity will live.

ALSO: The Right Guy is right around the block (yes you heard it) the meet cute book club fam is gonna bring you your next favorite delight, soon soon to your favorite retailers and kindles too haha! So buckle up for another fun ride, comin real soon!

Till the next read,

-TMR

[Susan (susayq ~) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my! I really liked this! It was light and fluffy and sweet and has me rambling with a silly grin on my face. Daphne and Jameson were just wonderful together even though neither wanted a relationship to start with. This reminded me why I like A.M. Williams writing so much.

[Sehrish Aamir · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review:

This book is my first read from this author and I loved it. It had all the right elements to make it a great book.

Things I Loved:
* Jameson Cutler. He was so swoon worthy. How thoughtful he was.
* How strong was Daphne despite al her family problems.
* Jameson's fear of needles. 😂
* The spice. Although it was lesser than i want in my novels,, i loved the spice.
* Daphne's parents.
* Carter 🥰🥰 I hope he s getting his own book.

Things I didn't like:
* DAKOTA 🤐😤
* Daphne's self-doubts. 😪😥

I will be recommending this book.

Thanks,
BookHookedSehrish

Instagram Handle : @bookhookedsehrish_.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read and enjoyed this author before, so this was one I was definitely excited to read from this series. And it is probably my favorite so far! The family dynamic was fun, and I kind of figured out her sister’s issue early, but not the exact reasons. The way that whole thing played out was very good in how it kept the tension up in several ways. I liked the connection between the two main characters, and loved both of their personalities. The tattoo shop aspect of Daphne’s life was great, made me want to go back and read the Marked Men series by Jay Crownover. One funny bit happened when she mentioned what book the Meet Cute Book Club was reading and it was an A.M. Williams sports romance. I don’t remember now exactly what they mentioned when they discussed it, but I’ve read one or two of her baseball romances too. My one complaint right now? The cover, why doesn’t the woman on the cover have any tattoos?

[julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Third book in the series
Daphne born creative but with zero athletic ability in a family of athletes means only one thing she’s the family outcast and no matter how successful she is she will never fit in but that’s ok because she’s happy with her life and got her friends and good books to read and her very own tattoo studio where she can live her own dreams and things are going to be just fine but then he shows up the definition of tall dark and handsome Daphne doesn’t think she’s ever been this attracted to someone at first glance and there’s a million reasons why things between the two of them would never work out but the universe keeps throwing them together and Jameson seems hell bent on proving her wrong
Jameson is in town for one reason only to recover in the off season so he can get back next year ready to dominate on the field and after a brutal divorce and even worse football season he needs to recoup and get his head in the game and what he don’t need is distractions and that’s exactly what she is she’s gorgeous funny and has curves in all the right places there’s just two small problems he’s on the rebound and she’s the daughter of his mentor
Really enjoyable read totally recommend I want to read the first two books in this series now.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of dark romance so getting a light & delightful read is always a bonus, not to mention, you add in football players, yeah, I'm going to love it so I LOVED The Forever Game. Daphne comes from a family of athletes, so she feels like she's the odd man out, however, she is living her life the way she wants it. Jameson has come to town after a hellish period of his life so he can recover in order to be ready for the next football season, and he certainly wasn't expecting to come across Daphne. He can't afford any distractions, and yet, Daphne becomes more than that as there's something about her & fate isn't helping by having them come face to face all over the place. Of course there are complications like his last relationship ending so brutally, and the fact that she's the daughter of his mentor. I love the fact that the complications didn't become too heavy in this story to take over the overall story to weigh me down. The banter was entertaining, the sparks were flying, and an underlying current of football that tied it all together in a delightful bow that left me with a smile on my face. HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Erin Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Star Review The Forever Game (Meet Cute Book Club #3) by A.M.Williams
This was an entertaining story that ticked a number of boxes for me. I really liked Daphne and Jameson, they were easy to relate to and I was drawn to the story that Ms.Williams wove.
Although not a long read Ms. Williams packed a lot into the story. The banter was witty and it was entertaining to watch their relationship develop. Daphne feels that she is the outcast of her athletic family as she has no athletic ability but she is content with her life.

Jameson is recovering from a bitter divorce so the last thing he wants is to become involved with Daphne so soon.When they continue to bump into one another the sparks fly.
However, the heart wants who the hearts wants and so begins a journey that will have you smiling.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Forever Game is a cute romance. It is a sports romance, but there isn't a lot of sports talk in it. This is Daphne and Jameson's story. I really loved Daphne's character. I loved her artist personality. I loved that she had made the best of her life having spent it not feeling like she fit in with her family. The attraction between the couple was fun to watch. I did think that the big conflict in the end was a bit over blown, but the grand gesture was really cute. The only thing I really wish was more of a resolution Dakota, Daphne's sister. I feel like that was left hanging. I do recommend giving this one a try.

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this sports romance story. This is an engaging story that pulls you in from the beginning. The characters not only bring the story to life but also kept me coming back for more. This is a fast paced story that is hard to put down. There is great growth and chemistry with Daphane and Jameson. They made the story for me. You don't want to miss this one for sure. I highly recommend this book.

[Mari (Mystics & Metaphysics Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this so much. I loved Daphne and was happy to see a different side to the female characters. Her chemistry with Jameson was fire and I found myself smiling like a fool a lot of the time.

[Jeanne Jabour · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was beyond excited when I learned The Forever Game was coming out from A.M. Williams, one of my all-time favorite authors, and she did not disappoint me one little bit!! The Forever Game is a very touching story of a talented young tattoo artist named Daphne who has had great success opening her own studio in her hometown because of her beautiful designs and amazing creativity. But she is the odd man out in her family of stellar athletes because there isn’t one coordinated bone in her body. She has never been able to play any sport she has tried throughout her life and this has always made her feel like she did not really belong. Her father, Carter, is a famous ex-football player turned mentor for young, talented, and promising men with their sights on the NFL. One of his clients, and an unofficial member of his family is Jameson, an all-star NFL player that had a run of bad luck the prior year starting with a messy divorce which was complicated by an injury that plagued him during the entire season and kept him from performing at optimum and peak levels. Jameson rented a house in Carter’s hometown to begin training with Carter. Daphne had never met Jameson because she was always involved in activities other than sports whenever she was around her family. One evening while waiting for her family to join her for dinner at a restaurant, Daphne noticed the most extraordinarily gorgeous man entering the bar area. He sat down and asked her if he could buy her a drink…and that is how Daphne’s family finds her and Jameson when they enter the restaurant. There are so many unexpected events the occur from this point in the novel until the end that I did not put it down until I finished reading the last word! This novel was terrific, and I was sorry it ended, I could have read three times its length with ease and interest! Ms. Williams packed this story with exceptionally hot, pulsating encounters between Daphne and Jameson, a couple that will find their way into your heart. The family dynamics is compelling and so realistic it could have been taken from my own childhood! Daphne’s longing to belong with the members of her family was so relatable I experienced and relived the discomfort of vivid memories I thought I had buried long ago. Bottom line, I could not put this novel down and cannot wait for the next novel in this series. You cannot do better than A.M. Williams for a hot, heart-touching and truly meaningful story. Get this novel and hold onto it with both hands…!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reading by Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daphne is sitting at the bar waiting for her family to arrive. The most gorgeous man she has ever seen had just entered the restaurant and sat next to her. When he makes a comment admiring her tattoos she glances down at her two half sleeves. She didn't even notice them anymore. One honored her love of reading and artwork. And the other just things she loved...her cat, the Meet Cute Book Club, her sorority, her friends.

As they are talking, her mother arrives and when she asks where Carter and Dakota were her mother told her they were checking to see if their other guest was there. Then her mother turns and greets the man she is talking to with a kiss on the cheek. Guest? Then she watches in shock as her father, brother and sister greet Jameson excitedly.

Daphne forced herself to have dinner with her family once a month or she started feeling guilty. She didn't feel like she fit in. Everyone in her family has dark hair and eyes, she has blonde hair and green eyes. They are all active in sports and she is into her art. She has always felt out of touch.

Come to find out her family has known Jameson since he was a teen and her father, a retired professional football player, has mentored him since he played football in high school What? Her family has known him for 20 years???? How has she never met him? And were her parents trying to set them up?

She takes out her phone and discretely types in his name. Jameson is the starting quarterback for the NC Rebels. She immediately excuses herself from dinner and walks out of the restaurant. Her parents were trying to set her up with a man 100% wrong for her.

I loved this book. It is very well written and the characters are fully developed and relatable. I had to laugh when we meet the rest of her book club and see what their monthly book choice is. Too funny.

This book is action-packed. Jameson needs a break after a bad football season and an even worse divorce and decides to spend time with his mentor to study his game tapes and rehab. Daphne is a tattoo artist who hates sports and feels a disconnect with her family.

Daphne and Jameson's story is smoking hot and has a surprising twist of hate and betrayal. This is the first time I have read anything by A.M. Williams and I look forward to reading more.

[BM · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of two opposites, who each have their own reasons for avoiding the limelight and have totally different lives, but each prefer to follow a more private style of living.
Jameson, pro athlete, newly divorced and difficult ex wife constantly pestering him. She cheated and became pregnant with another man and now, having miscarried and no longer in the relationship, is desperate to get him back. The reasons for the breakup were given to only two people..his coach and Daphne, the woman he meets in a bar.
Daphne is a tattoo artist and has a successful business. Her family are all sport and athletic minded. She is on the outside and uncomfortable around them, especially her mean and miserable sister Dakota. Despite her father being Jameson's long time mentor and coach and until the night in the bar, a contrived family meeting by her mother to get them together, was unaware as to how Jameson had been integrated within her family.
Attraction and love blossoms but issues at a charity event involving his ex wife, and further drama created by her sister hits home in more ways than one. It brings a lot of home truths, jealousy and lies to the fore which serves as the catalyst for the dysfunctioning within the family.
Truth will out and love does eventually rise above it all.
I enjoyed this book. There is a certain depth in how it has been written and captures all the characters, including Daphne's totally unlikeable, self absorbed sister, her clueless and oblivious parents to their daughter's relationship and the tolerant, poor behaviour accepting brother.
I read it as an ARC copy ..the book cover that looks like a young adult/teen romance, which I would have given a miss in regular circumstances because it would not have appealed to me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sports RomCom featuring a professional quarterback who comes to town to work with his longtime mentor/friend. Jameson is fresh off a nasty divorce that left him wanting some alone time.

Daphne is an artistic, friendly down-to-earth young woman who has a small, but tight knit group of friends. She has felt like she doesn’t belong in her family of athletes as the sole artist among them.

These two meet in the local bar while unknowingly waiting for the same party to join for dinner - her dad, mom and siblings who have known Jameson for nearly 20 years.

Her mom is determined to matchmake and a platonic coffee date as defense against more matchmaking turns into something real.
These two slowly get to know each other, enjoying time spent together talking, laughing or just enjoying some quiet time. They have intense chemistry which ignites and then their mutual desire to avoid a relationship goes up in flames.

The typical misunderstanding/overreaction takes place late in the book, but the situation and results happens realistically. While one of them reacts without listening or talking with the other person in the relationship, the situation being encountered is embarrassing and painful. Thankfully the ‘forced separation’ gets resolved in a satisfying way with some public groveling taking place.

I felt connected to both characters and enjoyed the side characters as well. I hope a book featuring Daphne’s brother and best friend is a possibility. I loved the quick friendship between Daphne and Jameson’s friend’s wife Charlie and would have loved to see more of their interactions.

Overall this is a good read with an interesting storyline and characters.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenn the Readaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart broke for Daphne a few times here. She doesn’t fit with her family, their idea of who she should be, who she should be with, or their social lives at all. And shame on her family for that. Especially when one knows the truth and two others simply choose to pretend that all is well while clearly taking sides. And then Jameson comes along. And he’s a double slap upside Daphne’s head. He’s an old family friend she’s NEVER met, obviously close with the rest of her family, and seemingly playing games with her head also. Or is he?

Jameson is an absolute dolt some of the time here. No lie. Yes, he stands up for Daphne. Yes, he sees the truth. But then he immediately jumps to a conclusion when it matters most. And yeah, he’s definitely scarred and burned by his ex. But instead of stopping for a second to see the truth, he lunges to blame the one person who he knows in his heart would never betray him.

It takes one heck of a grand gesture to make things right here. And make no mistake. Jameson knows he messed up. And he also knows he has to venture far outside of his comfort zone to prove his love. And boy, does he. Complete with a smack down to the person responsible, even if names aren’t publicly uttered. And maybe, just maybe, he can show Daphne just what she means to him along the way.

I swear, if the other stories in this series bring the same angst and heartache and retribution to the pages like I’ve seen so far, this may be the unexpected series to read this year! Because it delivers that much, I promise.

[CarolKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daphne is waiting at the bar for her family to arrive for their family dinner when Jameson walks in. They've introduced themselves and he asks about her tattoos. When her mother shows up it's clear everyone knows Jameson and suddenly, she feels very out of place. Nothing much to do but go along with it at least for a little while. However, when she finds out her father is his mentor, he's a professional football player and her parents hoped they'd hit it off she was done. No fix ups for her.

Jameson knew nothing of this and tracks her down to The Ministry of Ink, her tattoo shop. He needs to explain and apologize. He's also always wanted a tattoo but never found the right inspiration, until now.

Daphne is very attracted to him and is really trying to keep it together. Jameson had just been through a divorce and a bad season. He needs to relax and regroup.

Of course, her parents weren't going to give up easily and they both end up at their house for another try at dinner. It's here we get to see some really revealing things about the family dynamic. Especially between her and her sister Dakota.

There's so much attraction between these two it jumps off the pages. However, nothing this intense is going to go smoothly. Both Jameson and Daphne both have some issues. Jameson with his ex and Daphne with her family.

I really loved this book, there's laughter, tears, fun, intrigue and some sizzle too.

[Kate Carley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creative Daphne Abrams is a successful tattoo artist who feels as if she doesn’t fit within her athletic family. Jameson Cutler is a well-known football star, coming off a bad season and a bitter divorce. He arrives in Abbot Ridge for the off season in order to refocus his energy on training with Carter Abrams, his long-time mentor and Daphne’s father.

Since Daphne and Jameson have never met each other, Daphne’s mother devises a scheme to set the two of them up. As everyone knows, defying mom’s will is sometimes harder than just playing along, so Daphne and Jameson enjoy a “date” and realize there really is a connection between them.

The Forever Game by A.M. Williams is the third installment in the Meet Cute Book Club series. I wasn’t sure what to expect since this author is new to me, but the story grabbed my interest immediately. It’s well-written, and I felt as if I knew the characters personally. What I liked most were the unexpected plot twists. At several points within the story, the author takes the reader down an unexpected, yet believable, path that provides richness and depth to the plot.

I received an ARC of this story with no expectations from the author. But I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed The Forever Game and look forward to reading another novel by A.M. Williams.
~ Kate Carley, author of Just for a Moment

[Emily Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daphne and Jameson's Story . . .

The reader will definitely feel the awkwardness and discomfort that Daphne Abrams goes through in this story as a brilliant creative talent who just doesn’t seem to fit among her athletic family members. The cerebral versus physical talents keep them at opposite ends of the spectrum, and she is definitely outnumbered at home.

However, Daphne has had huge success with her tattoo studio where she can create amazing designs and display her full range of talent for her clients. But her skills are still not recognized at home among the athletes. Her own father is a well-known ex-football player who mentors younger players. So when Daphne meets football player Jameson Cutler at a bar where she is waiting for her family, they are attracted to each other and are enjoying each other’s company. At least until her family arrives with a friendly greeting for Jameson, an established friend of the family she has somehow never met! Her father will be helping him get back in shape after an injury so he is ready for the following season. But falling for an athlete is not high on her list. Will the two of them start a relationship? Or will her father have something to say about her distracting the quarterback? And can they find a HEA and win that “forever game” when they are so different?

[Kia B · Rating 5 out of 5]

OVERALL RATING – 5

RECOMMENDED: YES for lovers of independent heroine, slightly insecure at the moment Hero, mentor's daughter, small town nosiness

First my usual points:
- I do not do spoilers unless warned.
- Read the summary above; it will tell you what the book is about. I will not reiterate.
- This is a standalone.
- No errors that I caught as far as editing.
- The author was not new to me

BOOK:
- Cover adequately reflects the story
- Genre/troupe: contemporary romance
- 1st person alternating POV

Star Ratings - 1 (poor) - 5(READ THIS BOOK)
• Writing Quality: 5 stars
• Story ingredient: 5 stars
• Ease of reading/Pace: 5 stars
• Plot strength: 4 stars
• Steam Level 4 – open door and high on romance

Notes/Opinion (personal):
This was a quick read for me (admittedly, I’m a fast reader). This author is one whose sports stories I've enjoyed before with the ability to make famous athletes into ordinary everyday people. I love the quirkiness of this heroine and his attraction to her. The sister was a bit much and I did feel her story was left hanging but then again, in real life, sometimes we can't always have the neatly tied up ending with everyone. Bottom line: I loved it.

[Hanna Barker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a part of The Meet Cute Book Club series and focuses on Jameson and Daphne. Daphne has grown up in a family full of athletes and has never felt like she truly belonged. Instead of being gifted with athletic abilities, she was gifted with artistic talents and ended up becoming a talented and creative tattoo artist. Jameson is in town during the off season to regroup and work with his mentor, who happens to be Daphne’s dad, after a disastrous personal and professional year. Neither one of them was looking for a relationship or love, but it found them when they least expected it. This story was sooooo good! I loved Jameson and Daphne together. I felt so bad for them for how certain people in their lives treated them but I am so glad that in the end they found the person who they were truly meant to be with, even if they had quite the bump in the road to get their HEA. Great story and a great addition to the series! You will definitely not regret picking this book up. It had me completely hooked from the first page until the last.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the third installment of the Meet Cute Book Club series, and it is simply wonderful. The series is delightfully fun and cute and The Forever Game is a brilliant addition. This was my first experience reading A.M. Williams' work, and you can be certain I will be seeking out more. Daphne is the family outcast, more creatively inclined than athletic like the rest of her family. When she meets Jameson, a football player. she can't believe how strongly she is drawn to him. But seeing as how she has zero interest in athletics, she quickly decides things would not work out between them. Jameson is equally attracted to her, but has his own reasons for keeping his distance. But fate has other plans and seems to find ways for them to constantly cross paths, until neither can deny their connection. It was fun seeing their relationship develop and their interactions were witty and entertaining. The characters were realistic and relatable and I couldn't help but fall in love with them.
An absolutely delightful and enjoyable read and I am truly hooked on this series!
I received a complimentary copy from the author and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Forever Game" is an interesting mixture of sports, family problems, and attraction despite all the reasons not to succumb. Daphne is the non-sports person in her family and tries extremely hard to resist their influence on her life. She has a promising career as a tattoo artist, which her mother hates. Daphne doesn't want to be set up with men, but her mother persists. She meets Jameson in a bar while waiting for her family to come for dinner. He is beautiful and sexy--she likes him right away. But he is her mother's latest set-up, so she bolts. The two meet again since he is working with her father. Jameson is an NFL quarterback and her dad, Carter, is his mentor. Throw in his nasty divorce, her conniving sister, and plenty of misunderstandings; the story has plenty of places to go. Her parents are surprising. Her brother is supportive. Jameson makes up for his unforced errors in an unexpectedly dramatic way, and all is well! The author makes all the plot twists look easy--excellent writing!
I received an ARC from the publisher and left this review voluntarily.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The next book in the Meet Cute Book Blurb series is here! I'm really enjoying this multi author series so much. With each book in the series it makes me wish I could be part of the book club. A lot of great friendships between the members. This book was a great opposites attract romance. Daphne feels like the black sheep in her family of athletes so call her surprised when meeting Jameson causes instant attraction. Not everything is it seems for the characters in this one. I felt for Daphne because she's got a great heart, but her family relationship isn't too great. I love that Daphne is a tattoo artist. That was a big draw to this book for me besides the series it is in. Daphne really won me over even more because she has a cat. Always major brownie points for this cat lover. I really liked Jameson and Daphne together. Jameson just got out of a horrible divorce so his heart is closed up, but he can't deny Daphne might just have the combination to open it once again. This was a fun read with plenty of heart and the right touch of angst to it.

[Kari Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daphne may love her family but her relationship with them is strained as they excel in athletics, and she excels in art. She has created a career for herself as a tattoo artist and has surrounded herself with people who understand her. When she meets Jameson, the sparks fly until she finds out his connection to her family and that he is an athlete.

Jameson is a professional football player who is going through a difficult time in his life both when it comes to his career and his divorce. He has come to town to spend some time with Daphne’s family, but Daphne was a surprise he wasn’t expecting.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship between Daphne and Jameson unfold as even though other people in their lives thought they belonged together they were cautious because of their pasts. They had some setbacks along the way however in the end they proved the only place they belonged was with each other.

[Kristen Lewendon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The angst! The drama! Be still my reality-television-loving heart. I loved Daphne right from the beginning. I found it very easy to connect with her feeling like a misfit among the people she should have had the most in common with. For the most part, I really liked Jameson too. His biggest jerk moment made me question that feeling, but I could understand what was driving his behavior. I also really liked that this was a slower burn romance. We got to watch Daphne and Jameson learning how to be friends while they were trying to resist being set up together before finally giving in to the chemistry between them. Now that it's over, I'm desperate to know more about the family dynamic that landed them in this situation in the first place.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book through Indie Pen PR.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series, and this is Jameson and Daphne’s story. Daphne is an outcast in a family off athletes, but she is happy in the direction and choices she has made in her life, as she is creative and owns her own tattoo studio. Jameson is a football player who is in town for the off season to regroup and prepare to dominate next season, after a brutal divorce and a disastrous football season. Fate has destined these two to keep crossing paths, but neither are looking for a relationship, and Daphne is the daughter of Jameson’s mentor. This is a well written light-hearted story, with family, friendships, humor, witty banter, and love, which leads to a sweet and entertaining sports romance. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.
I received a free copy of this book via Indie Pen PR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Cute Book Club #3

Daphne Abrams owns a tattoo shop in her hometown of Abbott Ridge. She comes from a family of athletics and feels she is the family outcast since she has no athletic ability but is creative.
Jameson Cutler meets Daphne at a bar and they seem to be getting along great until her family comes in and also greets Jameson. It happens they know him and he's a friend of the family, only Daphne has never met him. He is the starting QB for the North Carolina Rebels and is in town to recoup and recover so he's ready for next season. He's gone through a divorce and doesn't need distractions but since Daphne's dad is his mentor and is working with him, they keep getting thrown together.
Can they find happiness together or will issues tear them apart?

4 stars

[KL Cassanello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daphne and Jameson become friends over a coffee date, while they try to get out of being "set up". She's not comfortable with her family, feeling like a misfit, and it broke my heart with the discovery of what's caused that feeling (no spoiler, but it's such a painful revelation). And just like Daphne, I also love the smell of coffee but can't stomach the taster. Jameson is an all-around good guy, and the only time I felt differently about him was over his accusation toward her. I especially love that her book club selection is an actual book by the author - a shameless plug for one that I loved, The Changeup. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marilyn Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daphne Abrams felt like the family outcast as the baby of an athletic family. Daphne had no athletic ability. Daphne was artistic an creative. All she needed was her friends, books, coffee an her very own tattoo studio. Until tall, dark alpha Quarterback Jameson Cutler shows up in this small town. Jameson was rebounding from a divorce an off season. It didn’t help that Daphne’s dad, a retired football player was his mentor.
I got lost in this sports-romance fast. It became a mysterious, page turner with unexpected an sudden plot twists. Jameson asked Daphne to install a tattoo on his arms but he was afraid of needles. Showing trust in Daphne who he believed to be a gorgeous distraction. It’s a great read.
I’ve given a honest review for this talented Author in lieu for an ARC.

[Amy Reads Romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daphne has a family filled with athletic stars. She is an artist, a book reader, and absolutely not looking for a relationship. She meets Jameson when her mother decides they should go out, even though he is coming out of a really messy divorce and a terrible season as a professional quarterback. Neither one is looking for love, but as so often happens, they find it.
Happily ever after guaranteed, Daphne and Jameson are the perfect couple. This is my first read by A.M. Williams, but now I will be checking out her backlist. The best part of these multi-author series is being introduced to new-to-me authors. This book is well crafted, and a pleasure to read. It is well worth the one click.

I received an advance reader copy and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.