What do you think?
Rate this book
Second Down #1
False Start
Football, a kitten, and 14 dates.
Zhanna Hale
THEN
My father is a legend. Some call me football royalty, and in my hometown of Louisiana, I suppose I am. His legacy didn’t prepare me for Bryant Hudson. The quarterback. I swore I’d never date football players. Permanently. Yet Bryant had other plans.Three dates and a handful of conversations, I handed him my heart without realizing it. But, Bryant shatters my soul. I’m left picking up the pieces. If only erasing him from my heart was as easy.
Bryant Hudson
NOW
I lost at the only game that matters. And it wasn’t even a game. It was and is my forever with Zhanna. I am the best quarterback out there. That should be enough, right? Achieving my dreams. But none of that matters without my woman beside me. When she left, she took my heart with her.Now I’m back. To remind her of what we had. To see me—the man whose heart she owns, not the quarterback.Our love is fate. Our lives are forever intertwined. I refuse to let a false start signal our end. I’m ready to repeat the play and show Zhanna she is my everything.
Zhanna Hale
THEN
My father is a legend. Some call me football royalty, and in my hometown of Louisiana, I suppose I am. His legacy didn’t prepare me for Bryant Hudson. The quarterback. I swore I’d never date football players. Permanently. Yet Bryant had other plans.Three dates and a handful of conversations, I handed him my heart without realizing it. But, Bryant shatters my soul. I’m left picking up the pieces. If only erasing him from my heart was as easy.
Bryant Hudson
NOW
I lost at the only game that matters. And it wasn’t even a game. It was and is my forever with Zhanna. I am the best quarterback out there. That should be enough, right? Achieving my dreams. But none of that matters without my woman beside me. When she left, she took my heart with her.Now I’m back. To remind her of what we had. To see me—the man whose heart she owns, not the quarterback.Our love is fate. Our lives are forever intertwined. I refuse to let a false start signal our end. I’m ready to repeat the play and show Zhanna she is my everything.
265 pages, Hardcover
Published March 7, 2023
343 people are currently reading
1,120 people want to read
About the author
Sasha Marshall
21books575followersSasha Marshall is an author who loves bad boys with tattoos. In a prior life, she wrangled at-risk youth for a living. And, in the life prior to that one, she traveled right along with the legendary rock act, The Allman Brothers Band, popping from the tour bus to the plane, to the hotel, to the venue as a concert photographer.
You can connect with her at
You can connect with her at
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
June 2, 2022
Trigger Warnings:
I am so disappointed, I had high expectations for this book because it was recommended for grovel but this just wasn’t it. The writing style wasn’t for me, I thought this was gonna be an angsty read that had me crying but nah.
Zhanna and her husband Bryant had a divorce after she caught him cheating on her. Zhanna and Bryant have a friends with benefits, no strings attached relationship after the divorce. But he recently moved closer to her and continues to try to win her back.
Now for spoilers
That is all, stay safe folks!
I am so disappointed, I had high expectations for this book because it was recommended for grovel but this just wasn’t it. The writing style wasn’t for me, I thought this was gonna be an angsty read that had me crying but nah.
Zhanna and her husband Bryant had a divorce after she caught him cheating on her. Zhanna and Bryant have a friends with benefits, no strings attached relationship after the divorce. But he recently moved closer to her and continues to try to win her back.
Now for spoilers
That is all, stay safe folks!
Shelved as 'avoid'
August 28, 2021Safety gang scroll down for new edit�(important!)
Note to self. Might read this cheating book, because it’s suppose to have a very strong female mc. She divorced his ass for getting drunk bj at their home, the ow acted like she was the h.
The h walks in on them and gets arrested for battery lol�
Never mind about the h being strong, just read a reviewer saying that the doormat continued to sleep with the H after the divorce. 🙄 what’s even the point of the divorce then?
(Edit)
Oh hell no�..🤮🤮
I just realized I know this authors work(read her rock series), so I won’t read this.
Shes known to write trilogies where the faithful hero from book 1 with HEA, go on a cheating spree in book 2 and beyond, if you’re a safety reader, should avoid this authors books. She not only writes cheating books, her heroes change at the end of the trilogy, and the new H also cheat on the h😂, and she calls that her romance novels.
So if there is a HEA in this book, don’t trust this author, there is a real possibility that in book 2 he will cheat again, and/or the h will end up with another H. No way in hell will I read this authors books. As a safety reader myself, this authors work go on my instant avoid shelf.
Note to self. Might read this cheating book, because it’s suppose to have a very strong female mc. She divorced his ass for getting drunk bj at their home, the ow acted like she was the h.
The h walks in on them and gets arrested for battery lol�
Never mind about the h being strong, just read a reviewer saying that the doormat continued to sleep with the H after the divorce. 🙄 what’s even the point of the divorce then?
(Edit)
Oh hell no�..🤮🤮
I just realized I know this authors work(read her rock series), so I won’t read this.
Shes known to write trilogies where the faithful hero from book 1 with HEA, go on a cheating spree in book 2 and beyond, if you’re a safety reader, should avoid this authors books. She not only writes cheating books, her heroes change at the end of the trilogy, and the new H also cheat on the h😂, and she calls that her romance novels.
So if there is a HEA in this book, don’t trust this author, there is a real possibility that in book 2 he will cheat again, and/or the h will end up with another H. No way in hell will I read this authors books. As a safety reader myself, this authors work go on my instant avoid shelf.
December 26, 2022
💥Free until 27 Dec 22💥-BETRAYING DOUCHECANOE
There she is! The WORTHY heroine - Vulnerable yet strong. Kickass, sweet and caring yet not afraid to speak her truth. So broken and betrayed; I want to hug her and tell her she’ll be okay; I want to fist bump her every time she stands strong. She’s fair but NO pushover.
The oblivious jealous, possessive man-child. Ugh -. He’s more hair than brains, this one. (man-bun + stupid choices) I want to hug him because he’s so damn clueless and earnest Then I need to backhand him across his beautiful face and follow it up with a roundhouse to the nuts.
The timeline is unclear to me because the lengthy and constant flashback chapters put me off, interrupting the rhythm of the story, slowing it down instead of moving it forward. We have 4 THEN chapters followed by 3 NOW chapters, and 3 THENS, 1 NOW, etc. I couldn’t keep track so I’m not sure, but it looks like they knew each other for 1 year before they married. They were married for 3 years. Perhaps divorced for 2 years but still sleep together now and then. After that I’m lost but this is a re-read for me so next time, I’ll figure it out.
The healing comes after he redeems himself by committing to changing his childish ways, addressing his substance abuse, individual therapy, and lots of heartfelt grovelling. And he’s a talker; he’s the one who wants to communicate and discuss and open and face their challenges head on. He’s also a crier. Poor sod. Her soul is hurting but she recovers because she's strong to the core, and has friends and family who love and support her. They go for couples therapy and after much pain and growth they have their HEA, during which he remains true to his word and lives to makes up for his betrayal.
It’s a sweet and bittersweet romance interspersed with humour, angst, stupid mistakes, and loving devotion.
NTS � neaten review
There she is! The WORTHY heroine - Vulnerable yet strong. Kickass, sweet and caring yet not afraid to speak her truth. So broken and betrayed; I want to hug her and tell her she’ll be okay; I want to fist bump her every time she stands strong. She’s fair but NO pushover.
The oblivious jealous, possessive man-child. Ugh -. He’s more hair than brains, this one. (man-bun + stupid choices) I want to hug him because he’s so damn clueless and earnest Then I need to backhand him across his beautiful face and follow it up with a roundhouse to the nuts.
The timeline is unclear to me because the lengthy and constant flashback chapters put me off, interrupting the rhythm of the story, slowing it down instead of moving it forward. We have 4 THEN chapters followed by 3 NOW chapters, and 3 THENS, 1 NOW, etc. I couldn’t keep track so I’m not sure, but it looks like they knew each other for 1 year before they married. They were married for 3 years. Perhaps divorced for 2 years but still sleep together now and then. After that I’m lost but this is a re-read for me so next time, I’ll figure it out.
The healing comes after he redeems himself by committing to changing his childish ways, addressing his substance abuse, individual therapy, and lots of heartfelt grovelling. And he’s a talker; he’s the one who wants to communicate and discuss and open and face their challenges head on. He’s also a crier. Poor sod. Her soul is hurting but she recovers because she's strong to the core, and has friends and family who love and support her. They go for couples therapy and after much pain and growth they have their HEA, during which he remains true to his word and lives to makes up for his betrayal.
It’s a sweet and bittersweet romance interspersed with humour, angst, stupid mistakes, and loving devotion.
NTS � neaten review
May 24, 2022
0.5 stars ⭐️
.5 stars for the cute kitten, the rest can go fuck themselves😍
.5 stars for the cute kitten, the rest can go fuck themselves😍
May 13, 2023
3 ⭐⭐� - OK decent reads
=========================
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S
.
.
.
Their love story starts off beautiful, there are beautiful scenes between the two and she was more resistant at first and he was enchanted right away.
But his fame and the loss of his father leads him to alcohol abuse and partying with his teammates.
In one of those drunks after a party at their house, his agent takes advantage and gives him a blowjob and our heroine catches them both in the act. In a moment of anger she attacks him and the homewrecker bitch and destroys the room. She is arrested and then leaves the house and asks for a divorce.
Then it's just his redemption attempt and she trying to manage the anger and disappointment of losing her best friend and love of her life.
I think it was interesting for the two of them to seek help from a therapist and find a way to have peace and move on after what happened.
=========================
S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S
.
.
.
Their love story starts off beautiful, there are beautiful scenes between the two and she was more resistant at first and he was enchanted right away.
But his fame and the loss of his father leads him to alcohol abuse and partying with his teammates.
In one of those drunks after a party at their house, his agent takes advantage and gives him a blowjob and our heroine catches them both in the act. In a moment of anger she attacks him and the homewrecker bitch and destroys the room. She is arrested and then leaves the house and asks for a divorce.
Then it's just his redemption attempt and she trying to manage the anger and disappointment of losing her best friend and love of her life.
I think it was interesting for the two of them to seek help from a therapist and find a way to have peace and move on after what happened.
My dad was a famous college quarterback for LSU, and eventually, he was head coach for the Voodoo until his death. He left his mark on college and professional football.
“No, woman. I want to kiss you because you’re tough, intelligent, beautiful, and you’re not begging me to marry you. Hell, you won’t even go out on a date with me.�
It feels as though I’ve been floating around waiting for my purpose since our divorce.
It was Leslie who pulled me out of my depression when I moved to New Orleans from California after Bryant and I split.
“Look at me.� I lean back a hair to look him in the eye. “I will always want you to be happy, Zhanna, even if it means you’re truly happy with someone else.�
“The Garth Brooks song. My mom sent it to me.� I wave it off. “The song is called The Dance.�
How does my husband, my best friend, and my lover commit the ultimate sin when he’s supposed to love me?
“We haven’t had sex in two months,� he says ensuring I pick up the fact that he hasn’t slept with anyone else. “I haven’t slept with anyone else in eight years.�
“Your jealousy is juvenile and unbecoming. I appreciate you leaving before you acted like this in front of the others and embarrassed me even more.�
And I know what you saw with Priscilla wasn’t the best image, but she’s just trying to get me to sign with her.� “Sign with her?� “She’s an agent.� “You like Charles.� “Priscilla thinks I could be raking in millions in sponsorships.�
“I don’t know. You know the saying, ‘Once a cheater, always a cheater�.�
“I don’t have an elaborate excuse for cheating. It’s simple, I made a very big, drunken mistake.�
“No, I think he has a problem with fame.�
I took advantage of her always being there. I took advantage of her being a good wife.
Since the season has ended, he’s been going out to events more and arriving home late smelling of liquor. His star has really risen in the last year in the league due to the numbers he put up this past season.“Six in the morning. And it appears you didn’t come home last night.� “I didn’t?�I need a minute to process Bryant not coming home last night. I’m not really ready to see him yet. I don’t even know what happened, and I’m already disappointed in him because he didn’t bother to call or text about him not coming home.“You have to stop drinking,� I tell him. “Do you realize how long it’s been since you’ve touched me?� “I know it’s been a few weeks…� “Try over three months.�You’re a married man. I’ve tried to be understanding, but really, what wife is okay with their husband being God only knows where without her?“Fuck, yeah,� I hear someone whisper as I quietly walk down the stairs. “That’s it.� When I reach the large foyer at the bottom of the steps, I walk across the white marble floor, and flip on the light. I look to my right into the living room and find Bryant sprawled out on the couch. I blink once, twice, three times, and open my mouth to scream, but I can’t manufacture any sound.I stand there frozen to the spot as Priscilla sits between my husband’s legs and bobs her head up and down on his dick.“Fuck,� he moans. “Suck my cock, baby. Good girl.�Bryant and Priscilla disengage and cover their heads as glass skitters across the marble floor of the living room and into the foyer past where I stand.My husband looks up at me with shock in his eyes that morphs into absolute horror as I reach down and grab Priscilla by the back of the hair and escort her to the front door.“Is not what it wooks wike,� he slurs and almost falls over when he holds a finger in the air.“I watched you come in her mouth,� I tell him. “So save your bullshit for somebody else. And put your dick back in your pants. You make me fucking sick.� I turn for the stairs and walk back across the glass.“Fucking shit, Zhanna, huh? Fucking shit, Zhanna? Fuck you! You’re a piece of shit!�“Zhanna Hudson, you’re under arrest. You have the right to remain silent.�“I don’t remember shit except you throwing the vase through the window.� “And why is that, Bryant? Why do you not remember anything? Because you were drunk? A-fucking-gain?�And then his words, Fuck, suck my cock, baby. Good girl. I’m coming. Drink it up, girl. Fuck.“I hate you—the air you breathe, the ground you walk on, and your very fucking name—I hate you.�Who did he cheat with?� “His agent. In our house. While I was sleeping.� “You caught ’em?� “Yeah.� I sniffle.
May 24, 2022
me every time the girl was guilt tripped or felt guilty when she shouldn't
every time someone sided with the guy like he didn't cheat
THE CHEATING REASON OR EXPLANATIONS ONCE AGAIN GUILT TRIPPING THE GIRL WAS SO FUCKING ANNOYING I CANNOT AND THE PAST BEING BETTER THAN THE PRESENT HOW AND WHY WERE THEY PRETENDING TO BE OK IN THE PRESET BUT SAYING THEY ARENT OK SO GLAD THIS IS OVER.
every time someone sided with the guy like he didn't cheat
THE CHEATING REASON OR EXPLANATIONS ONCE AGAIN GUILT TRIPPING THE GIRL WAS SO FUCKING ANNOYING I CANNOT AND THE PAST BEING BETTER THAN THE PRESENT HOW AND WHY WERE THEY PRETENDING TO BE OK IN THE PRESET BUT SAYING THEY ARENT OK SO GLAD THIS IS OVER.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 27, 2021I’ve decided against giving this book a star rating. I’m not the target audience.
I can’t read NA anymore. These characters worked my last nerve for the first half of the book—immature and not humorous. I found the second half more readable.
Highly recommended on a cheater reader FB, so it’s obvious a me issue.
The cheating isn’t even really cheating, blind drunk and he thought it was her, as you read the scene that’s obvious. Her reaction after witnessing the cheating is the best part of the book, her complete meltdown was the only part of the book I found brilliant.
And honestly, why is the gay best friend a complete cliche?
I can’t read NA anymore. These characters worked my last nerve for the first half of the book—immature and not humorous. I found the second half more readable.
Highly recommended on a cheater reader FB, so it’s obvious a me issue.
The cheating isn’t even really cheating, blind drunk and he thought it was her, as you read the scene that’s obvious. Her reaction after witnessing the cheating is the best part of the book, her complete meltdown was the only part of the book I found brilliant.
And honestly, why is the gay best friend a complete cliche?
June 16, 2021
1.5s
Dramatically, the only thing going on throughout was this divorce between the ML & FL. Felt like the book was sharpening its horns, from the very first page, only to come up short with little to no angst, when needed. And given I knew it would be a hea, it didn't do much for me.
It was too plain and predictable, on top of that, came across as repetitive. Had a hard time connecting to any of those characters and above all I still couldn't forgive his cheating ass. Nonetheless QB's reason for cheating was so realistic, top level, just not sure i dig that.
Maybe, because the 2yrs time lapse was lost on me and felt too short.!
Ciao
Dramatically, the only thing going on throughout was this divorce between the ML & FL. Felt like the book was sharpening its horns, from the very first page, only to come up short with little to no angst, when needed. And given I knew it would be a hea, it didn't do much for me.
It was too plain and predictable, on top of that, came across as repetitive. Had a hard time connecting to any of those characters and above all I still couldn't forgive his cheating ass. Nonetheless QB's reason for cheating was so realistic, top level, just not sure i dig that.
Maybe, because the 2yrs time lapse was lost on me and felt too short.!
Ciao
April 28, 2021
Opportunity rarely knock twice and if it does, be like Bryant Hudson and grab your ex- Zhanna Hale with both hands and never let go!!
A warm, insta love story starting out as picture book romance. Success doesnt breaks them apart, it's the frills, the hangar on, the side dishes that spoil your appetite.
But fog clears and Bryant, who's been a super Ass, tries to crawl back to his lost treasure. But since he's an alpha, he can't go down on his knees, so he does what he does best.
He goes back to the start and woos her again
Sweet, charming, adorable story full of hope and forgiveness
4 stars for football and kitten
Follow me on:
🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻
A warm, insta love story starting out as picture book romance. Success doesnt breaks them apart, it's the frills, the hangar on, the side dishes that spoil your appetite.
But fog clears and Bryant, who's been a super Ass, tries to crawl back to his lost treasure. But since he's an alpha, he can't go down on his knees, so he does what he does best.
He goes back to the start and woos her again
Sweet, charming, adorable story full of hope and forgiveness
4 stars for football and kitten
Follow me on:
🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻 🌻
May 27, 2022
I quite enjoyed this book, even if in my opinion it could have been shorter.
I'm not a fan of football game and this has plenty of descriptions.
Chapters are divided into now and then, but it is a bit confusing and I didn't understand why this skip to and fro.
For the rest I think it was well done.
It's the love story between a quarterback and his young physiotherapist.
They fall in love very young, she's a bit prejudiced against football players but eventually they get married.
All is well for some time but he has a breakdown when his father dies, which I found a bit excessive and a clear sign of his weakness.
A real breakdown with plenty of partying and getting drunk.
The thing goes on for months, the heroine just can't stop him and I think she should have made some more efforts to help him before he became an alcoholic, until eventually, in a drunken haze, the heroine finds him after a party having a bj by a woman.
The scene is deserving five stars, it's so angsty that it's painful but the heroine wreaks havoc and beats the hero to a pulp and kicks (literally) ow out of the house threatening to kill her if she comes back.
Oh, thank you god!
Then she leaves him and divorce him.
It's not over.
She keeps on having sex with him, using him as a sex toy, every time they are near, then sending him his way.
Something I appreciated for a while.
Then she had to move on, in my opinion.
The hero, to give him his due, doesn't give up, he goes counseling for his addiction and afterwards tries to win her back.
He doesn't give her up.
They go counseling and eventually it turns out he thought it was her, because it was dark, he was drunk and ow used the nickname that only the heroine used for him.
So he was really thinking it was her.
This thing doesn't make me happy and I didn't think it mattered to him who was giving him a bj in that moment.
But the heroine seems to think that it makes a difference and is ready to blame ow for exploiting him when he was drunk.
Maybe, and maybe not.
But this is her way to cope with this trauma.
The hero was not entirely hateful, he had a problem with alcohol and I think he really was wasted when ow jumped on him, but the fact he allowed himself to be in that condition and in that spot was enough to make him guilty in my eyes.
He never made excuses, he always apologized and I think he was really sorry and would have done anything to go back in time and behave differently.
The heroine was tough, and I appreciated that she didn't forgive him immediately, but made him wait for two years.
And after that one time, he was celibate even after their divorce, because he really was in love with her.
They had counseling in the end, I appreciated that they asked for help and tried to talk about their issues, that really weren't many. The hero accepted full blame for his behavior, and in the years they were apart he really grew up.
It was a pleasant reading despite the cheating, I liked the focus on the characters feelings and I liked how the hero never ever gave up on her and never went away, even when the heroine was angry and hurtful.
The psychological insight was deep and we can see how both characters grow up and changes their pov.
- best characters: Leslie, the drag queen, and Punter, the kitten.
I'm not a fan of football game and this has plenty of descriptions.
Chapters are divided into now and then, but it is a bit confusing and I didn't understand why this skip to and fro.
For the rest I think it was well done.
It's the love story between a quarterback and his young physiotherapist.
They fall in love very young, she's a bit prejudiced against football players but eventually they get married.
All is well for some time but he has a breakdown when his father dies, which I found a bit excessive and a clear sign of his weakness.
A real breakdown with plenty of partying and getting drunk.
The thing goes on for months, the heroine just can't stop him and I think she should have made some more efforts to help him before he became an alcoholic, until eventually, in a drunken haze, the heroine finds him after a party having a bj by a woman.
The scene is deserving five stars, it's so angsty that it's painful but the heroine wreaks havoc and beats the hero to a pulp and kicks (literally) ow out of the house threatening to kill her if she comes back.
Oh, thank you god!
Then she leaves him and divorce him.
It's not over.
She keeps on having sex with him, using him as a sex toy, every time they are near, then sending him his way.
Something I appreciated for a while.
Then she had to move on, in my opinion.
The hero, to give him his due, doesn't give up, he goes counseling for his addiction and afterwards tries to win her back.
He doesn't give her up.
They go counseling and eventually it turns out he thought it was her, because it was dark, he was drunk and ow used the nickname that only the heroine used for him.
So he was really thinking it was her.
This thing doesn't make me happy and I didn't think it mattered to him who was giving him a bj in that moment.
But the heroine seems to think that it makes a difference and is ready to blame ow for exploiting him when he was drunk.
Maybe, and maybe not.
But this is her way to cope with this trauma.
The hero was not entirely hateful, he had a problem with alcohol and I think he really was wasted when ow jumped on him, but the fact he allowed himself to be in that condition and in that spot was enough to make him guilty in my eyes.
He never made excuses, he always apologized and I think he was really sorry and would have done anything to go back in time and behave differently.
The heroine was tough, and I appreciated that she didn't forgive him immediately, but made him wait for two years.
And after that one time, he was celibate even after their divorce, because he really was in love with her.
They had counseling in the end, I appreciated that they asked for help and tried to talk about their issues, that really weren't many. The hero accepted full blame for his behavior, and in the years they were apart he really grew up.
It was a pleasant reading despite the cheating, I liked the focus on the characters feelings and I liked how the hero never ever gave up on her and never went away, even when the heroine was angry and hurtful.
The psychological insight was deep and we can see how both characters grow up and changes their pov.
- best characters: Leslie, the drag queen, and Punter, the kitten.
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 13, 2022DNF @ 15% - I don’t like the h -
She’s 19 and already the smartest person in the room 🙄 All the college football coaches (and eventually the NFL coaches) are in awe of her and defer to her opinion. 👀😐
- she’s a bitchy ball buster with the H - she’s the alpha - calls all the shots - she’s very casual about sex. He’s the simp trying to get her to be his girlfriend and she’s all cynical and jaded and “just sex don’t can’t feelings”�. Meh. Way too much Not Like Other Girls. Not sure why the H would bother chasing her. 🤷🏼♀�
She’s 19 and already the smartest person in the room 🙄 All the college football coaches (and eventually the NFL coaches) are in awe of her and defer to her opinion. 👀😐
- she’s a bitchy ball buster with the H - she’s the alpha - calls all the shots - she’s very casual about sex. He’s the simp trying to get her to be his girlfriend and she’s all cynical and jaded and “just sex don’t can’t feelings”�. Meh. Way too much Not Like Other Girls. Not sure why the H would bother chasing her. 🤷🏼♀�
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2021
Sasha Marshall, was new to me author a few years ago when I read her amazing Guitar Face series and afterwards, I became an instant fan of her work. Now, football is the name of the game here in False Start, a heartfelt second chance romance and the first book in her exciting new Second Down series.
Louisiana football had always been in Zhanna and sister Zina's blood thanks to their late, legendary father- star player and coach. Even now, those sassy sisters are still front and center for everything Voodoo- such as the charming, confident, easy on the eyes free agent returning to to invade Zhanna's peace, just as he'd done years ago while he pursued her relentlessly as the standout quarterback at LSU.
Somewhere between denial and all their flirty sparring, a passion filled, once in a lifetime kind of love was ingnited between Zhanna and Bryant. They were everything to each other...until they weren't.. Now, in the present, with his unstoppable quest to win back his woman, the steamy heat is most definitely on!!! Zhanna Hale may be tougher now...older and wiser, but she's fighting a losing battle to get her legendary ex out of her head, a couple of years after he broke her heart into pieces. Can she ever find forgiveness or should she just move on?
False Start will whip your feelings up, down and all around- cheering for Zhanna here, laughing or crying there as the revelations keep on coming. But, there are also witty little gems and treasures to be found, mixed in with all the drama. Of course, with the good, came the bad and the ugly- those few awful characters I really wanted punt into the end zone or tackle to the ground the instant I saw them!!! They know who they are!!!
Zhanna and Bryant's story of unbreakable, fated love, though not always pretty, ends on a sweet, happy high note, thank goodness, but one thing is certain- I won't forget this one anytime soon! Who's up next on this Second Down rollercaoster? I think I know but I can tell you this much- I'll be standing in line for that crazy ride, no matter what. More Zhanna and Bryant would be a welcome bonus too!
An early copy was generously provided and this is my honest review of it.
Louisiana football had always been in Zhanna and sister Zina's blood thanks to their late, legendary father- star player and coach. Even now, those sassy sisters are still front and center for everything Voodoo- such as the charming, confident, easy on the eyes free agent returning to to invade Zhanna's peace, just as he'd done years ago while he pursued her relentlessly as the standout quarterback at LSU.
Somewhere between denial and all their flirty sparring, a passion filled, once in a lifetime kind of love was ingnited between Zhanna and Bryant. They were everything to each other...until they weren't.. Now, in the present, with his unstoppable quest to win back his woman, the steamy heat is most definitely on!!! Zhanna Hale may be tougher now...older and wiser, but she's fighting a losing battle to get her legendary ex out of her head, a couple of years after he broke her heart into pieces. Can she ever find forgiveness or should she just move on?
False Start will whip your feelings up, down and all around- cheering for Zhanna here, laughing or crying there as the revelations keep on coming. But, there are also witty little gems and treasures to be found, mixed in with all the drama. Of course, with the good, came the bad and the ugly- those few awful characters I really wanted punt into the end zone or tackle to the ground the instant I saw them!!! They know who they are!!!
Zhanna and Bryant's story of unbreakable, fated love, though not always pretty, ends on a sweet, happy high note, thank goodness, but one thing is certain- I won't forget this one anytime soon! Who's up next on this Second Down rollercaoster? I think I know but I can tell you this much- I'll be standing in line for that crazy ride, no matter what. More Zhanna and Bryant would be a welcome bonus too!
An early copy was generously provided and this is my honest review of it.
May 1, 2021
This book was good but I just couldn’t forgive this guy. Yeah he’s a gorgeous football star with green eyes and he falls head over heels in love with Zhanna. She’s the love of his life, he see her across a bonfire one night and it’s game on. She’s his one and they were barely out of college when he put a ring on that finger. Bryant couldn’t even wait for a wedding, he was so in love and they were happy until they weren’t. So a few years into his marriage and a bad event has him drinking, a lot. So his wife walks in on him while he’s getting a BJ by his manager. His excuse is lame, and I was hoping he had been drugged- he wasn’t. I did finish the book and it has a happy ending but I was not happy with Bryant.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2024
The MC’s have been together for 8 years happily married for around 5 when the H loses his father and starts drinking. One night while having a small drunken
Party the h goes on to Bed but wakes up later to find her husband getting a bj from His female agent. The book starts after the fact when the Football player H signs with the Team from New Orleans their hometown. She’s still highly pissed off at him after 2 years even though they have been hooking up sporadically over the 2 years. He’s determined to get her back. I’m Not a fan of past to
Present time hops and this book is back and forth the whole time. Great writing and characters. I enjoyed it more than I expected to.
Party the h goes on to Bed but wakes up later to find her husband getting a bj from His female agent. The book starts after the fact when the Football player H signs with the Team from New Orleans their hometown. She’s still highly pissed off at him after 2 years even though they have been hooking up sporadically over the 2 years. He’s determined to get her back. I’m Not a fan of past to
Present time hops and this book is back and forth the whole time. Great writing and characters. I enjoyed it more than I expected to.
April 23, 2021
I really loved this story but I am not a big sports fan but I thought I will try it and it was a great decision. Zhanna is a football princess because her dad was famous in football but because of that she vowed never to date a football player, well when Bryant sees her across the bonfire he knows she is the one. Things between them are great until they aren’t and it’s so bad that it was heartbreaking for them and me because you feel everything they do, but I love this kind of story it’s one that stays with you long after your done.
November 15, 2021
Spoilers can be found here:
April 19, 2021
This was the first book that I read by Sasha Marshall, but I know it won't be the last.
False Start isn't just a football romance. It's a date with the perfect book boyfriend, Bryant Hudson. His long hair and body will leave you longing for you to be the one in his arms. However, the thing about perfection is you're up on a pedestal and the fall from grace can be spectacular.
When we meet him and Zahnna, they aren't in the best place, but that's okay because Sasha takes us on a journey of love, getting lost as life comes at you fast and ultimately realizing what's at stake.
You don't have to be a sports fan to fall in love with the characters and the story and to boot there is a little kitten that adds just a little something extra to their love story.
False Start is a quick well-written novel and one you can lose yourself to escape. I'd definitely say it's a touchdown.
False Start isn't just a football romance. It's a date with the perfect book boyfriend, Bryant Hudson. His long hair and body will leave you longing for you to be the one in his arms. However, the thing about perfection is you're up on a pedestal and the fall from grace can be spectacular.
When we meet him and Zahnna, they aren't in the best place, but that's okay because Sasha takes us on a journey of love, getting lost as life comes at you fast and ultimately realizing what's at stake.
You don't have to be a sports fan to fall in love with the characters and the story and to boot there is a little kitten that adds just a little something extra to their love story.
False Start is a quick well-written novel and one you can lose yourself to escape. I'd definitely say it's a touchdown.
April 15, 2021
5 To the Moon & Back QB stars!!!
If you are into insta-love, fluffy bunnies and unicorn farts, this is not the book for you. You have been warned.
Bryant & Zhanna are two imperfect people. Their love isn’t easy, it’s real! I love that Zhanna has a back bone and she was not a pushover. Bryant was 100% Alpha male who definitely showed how he felt and the two of them together were just exactly what romance is made of. Messy, complicated and REAL!!
I cannot wait for the next book!
More review to come, just need a moment to get my thoughts together!
If you are into insta-love, fluffy bunnies and unicorn farts, this is not the book for you. You have been warned.
Bryant & Zhanna are two imperfect people. Their love isn’t easy, it’s real! I love that Zhanna has a back bone and she was not a pushover. Bryant was 100% Alpha male who definitely showed how he felt and the two of them together were just exactly what romance is made of. Messy, complicated and REAL!!
I cannot wait for the next book!
More review to come, just need a moment to get my thoughts together!
March 18, 2025
41% into this story and I still don’t know why the MMC cheated. Everything I’ve read so far shows a dedicated and committed MMC, so I’m not getting how he got to the cheating point or how it happened in their home. This annoys me because I thought this was a book working on getting their relationship back. Instead I’m reading post divorce of a MMC who is basically the same man as when the main couple first met and fell in love.
This is not realistic. He had to have changed to explain away this betrayal. But all I’m getting is flashbacks of them before marriage and the post divorce MMC who seems sorry but doesn’t seem like someone who has changed. He keeps saying sorry and wants the FMC back, but if he never changed enough to cheat, never changed enough to allow the FMC to divorce him without a fight, never changed enough so infidelity could never happen again if the FMC gives him another chance, then what is the point of this story??
53% UPDATE
Ah. So the author is going with fame made him stupid. I’m sorry but he has only been in the big leagues a few weeks and at his very first party he cheats by letting a sk@nk paw him in front of everyone. They’ve only been married a few months and a couple for less than two years. He hasn’t even started the season yet and he is already acting like he has been body snatched into a completely different person? This is too fast for the author to have the reader believe that the extent of the MMC’s cheating was one bj with a woman he already hated a few years later into their marriage?
Nope. I already know I don’t care what comes in the rest of this book. It won’t be believable. I would never forgive the MMC. I would always wonder where the “other� personality was and when he would show his ugliness. This book is dragging too much for me to believe that the FMC will get back with him. I’m pretty sure the author is going to time jump through any therapy this couple will do. It will mostly be off page which is NOT what I wanted to read. This author is selling the lie that the MMC is a good guy who deserves a second chance just because of that. But to me that is NOT reason enough. He has to be a good guy in all ways not just when he is chasing something. Ugh.
57% UPDATE
The MMC is blaming the alcohol. Like he never got drunk when they were in college dating. But the FMC blamed the fame which is the only uncommon denominator that could explain his extreme character change. It was a drunken mistake. Even drunks can know when not to cheat. Also, I don’t like that it was a family member that bailed the FMC out of jail and not the MMC. I am waiting for how that played out.
Honestly, I’m seriously annoyed that the book is only now getting to the meat of this story and I can see there won’t be a lot of post therapy grovel and or forgiveness and probably no OW comeuppance. Grrrr.
92% UPDATE
Okay so the author made it so it was the alcohol, too drunk to know what was going on and a sexual a$$ault as the OW pretended to be the FMC and took advantage of the MMC in his inebriated state. That’s why this book took so long to get to the point. It was always going to be an easy fix. This is not what I want to see in any cheating book. It should never be treated as an easy fix storyline.
Besides that, the MMC stated he tried to bailout the FMC but her uncle and sister, who live halfway across the country beat him to it. Yeah, that doesn’t fly. Period.
FINAL UPDATE
The cheating was basically taken away and up to a point was equally blamed on both main characters. The MMC was grieving and drinking heavily because of it. The MMC was a$$aulted. The FMC wouldn’t give him a chance to explain. The FMC has trust issues and was always running away. The MMC was the one putting all the work into their relationship from day one. The OW barely got any comeuppance when she should have been charged with sexual a$$ault. It never gets explained how the uncle and sister bailed her out before the MMC could. It never gets explained how the MMC signed the divorce papers without more of a fight or what the settlement was. We don’t find out what happened with his getting another agent and what his deals are. We only ever get ONE MMC pov in the epilogue which was strongly unsatisfying. Lots of details simply aren’t addressed.
Having said all the things I found lacking in this story, other than some minor grammatical errors, the story was well written. I wouldn’t classify this as a marriage in trouble because they would have gotten better on their own if it hadn’t been because of the SA. This would have been a normal bump in the road of life not just married life if it wasn’t because of the OW. If you go into it open minded and not with a perceived idea of what the cheating was all about like I did you will enjoy it. The characters are likable and I absolutely want to read Ben and zinas story.
I found this book due to a request for more books like “Goalie� in one of my fb book groups and basically this book is NOT like “Goalie�, at all and that idea ruined this story for me. This book and “Goalie�, are completely different stories. And should NOT be categorized as the same. So, I liked it. I would read it again because the angst was decent. The building of the romance between the couple was super sweet. It was a good book with one and a half moments of cheating. I can’t rule out the first time of mild cheating when the MMC let the OW paw him and he was okay with it. In that he was completely to blame.
Good luck.
This is not realistic. He had to have changed to explain away this betrayal. But all I’m getting is flashbacks of them before marriage and the post divorce MMC who seems sorry but doesn’t seem like someone who has changed. He keeps saying sorry and wants the FMC back, but if he never changed enough to cheat, never changed enough to allow the FMC to divorce him without a fight, never changed enough so infidelity could never happen again if the FMC gives him another chance, then what is the point of this story??
53% UPDATE
Ah. So the author is going with fame made him stupid. I’m sorry but he has only been in the big leagues a few weeks and at his very first party he cheats by letting a sk@nk paw him in front of everyone. They’ve only been married a few months and a couple for less than two years. He hasn’t even started the season yet and he is already acting like he has been body snatched into a completely different person? This is too fast for the author to have the reader believe that the extent of the MMC’s cheating was one bj with a woman he already hated a few years later into their marriage?
Nope. I already know I don’t care what comes in the rest of this book. It won’t be believable. I would never forgive the MMC. I would always wonder where the “other� personality was and when he would show his ugliness. This book is dragging too much for me to believe that the FMC will get back with him. I’m pretty sure the author is going to time jump through any therapy this couple will do. It will mostly be off page which is NOT what I wanted to read. This author is selling the lie that the MMC is a good guy who deserves a second chance just because of that. But to me that is NOT reason enough. He has to be a good guy in all ways not just when he is chasing something. Ugh.
57% UPDATE
The MMC is blaming the alcohol. Like he never got drunk when they were in college dating. But the FMC blamed the fame which is the only uncommon denominator that could explain his extreme character change. It was a drunken mistake. Even drunks can know when not to cheat. Also, I don’t like that it was a family member that bailed the FMC out of jail and not the MMC. I am waiting for how that played out.
Honestly, I’m seriously annoyed that the book is only now getting to the meat of this story and I can see there won’t be a lot of post therapy grovel and or forgiveness and probably no OW comeuppance. Grrrr.
92% UPDATE
Okay so the author made it so it was the alcohol, too drunk to know what was going on and a sexual a$$ault as the OW pretended to be the FMC and took advantage of the MMC in his inebriated state. That’s why this book took so long to get to the point. It was always going to be an easy fix. This is not what I want to see in any cheating book. It should never be treated as an easy fix storyline.
Besides that, the MMC stated he tried to bailout the FMC but her uncle and sister, who live halfway across the country beat him to it. Yeah, that doesn’t fly. Period.
FINAL UPDATE
The cheating was basically taken away and up to a point was equally blamed on both main characters. The MMC was grieving and drinking heavily because of it. The MMC was a$$aulted. The FMC wouldn’t give him a chance to explain. The FMC has trust issues and was always running away. The MMC was the one putting all the work into their relationship from day one. The OW barely got any comeuppance when she should have been charged with sexual a$$ault. It never gets explained how the uncle and sister bailed her out before the MMC could. It never gets explained how the MMC signed the divorce papers without more of a fight or what the settlement was. We don’t find out what happened with his getting another agent and what his deals are. We only ever get ONE MMC pov in the epilogue which was strongly unsatisfying. Lots of details simply aren’t addressed.
Having said all the things I found lacking in this story, other than some minor grammatical errors, the story was well written. I wouldn’t classify this as a marriage in trouble because they would have gotten better on their own if it hadn’t been because of the SA. This would have been a normal bump in the road of life not just married life if it wasn’t because of the OW. If you go into it open minded and not with a perceived idea of what the cheating was all about like I did you will enjoy it. The characters are likable and I absolutely want to read Ben and zinas story.
I found this book due to a request for more books like “Goalie� in one of my fb book groups and basically this book is NOT like “Goalie�, at all and that idea ruined this story for me. This book and “Goalie�, are completely different stories. And should NOT be categorized as the same. So, I liked it. I would read it again because the angst was decent. The building of the romance between the couple was super sweet. It was a good book with one and a half moments of cheating. I can’t rule out the first time of mild cheating when the MMC let the OW paw him and he was okay with it. In that he was completely to blame.
Good luck.
April 24, 2021
What a rollercoaster of a ride..has all the feels, I love how Sasha has you smiling from the first chapter! To your heart torn in pieces and put back put back together!
Bryant..sexy, sweet..and a big ole butthead!! But you love and root for him
Zhanna..strong, beautiful..But with flaws! A character I’d come to no less expect from Sasha.
From rockstars to football player Sasha never fails to disappoint! Can’t wait to read Zina and Ben’s story! (Hopefully)
Bryant..sexy, sweet..and a big ole butthead!! But you love and root for him
Zhanna..strong, beautiful..But with flaws! A character I’d come to no less expect from Sasha.
From rockstars to football player Sasha never fails to disappoint! Can’t wait to read Zina and Ben’s story! (Hopefully)
May 19, 2021
Well that kept me up till 4 am cause I just had to know what happened! No doubt these characters were brought together by fate. The perfect match of football royalty, the all star quarterback and the daughter of a football legend. We take football seriously in the south and these two were made for each other. There was instant chemistry between them and while she tried to fight it... You can't fight fate. He could have been the cocky, self righteous jerk, but he was far from it and proved again and again how sweet and special he is. Seriously, he had me at Grandma Rose (hand to chest, awhhh). I really enjoyed Zhanna too, she was smart, strong and sassy with a side of sensitive. Even with the first crazy girl, she was still nice to her! Glad she pulled out her claws for the next one. What a slithering snake! She should have thrown that one out the window instead of the vase tho!
All is fair in love and war right? While it got a little bumpy along the way to their happy ending, they both never wavered on their love for each other. This was a super sweet story with wonderful, colorful characters - Leslie was a hoot! The perfect amount of swoon with heat and angst with love.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
All is fair in love and war right? While it got a little bumpy along the way to their happy ending, they both never wavered on their love for each other. This was a super sweet story with wonderful, colorful characters - Leslie was a hoot! The perfect amount of swoon with heat and angst with love.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2021
This book is fantastic! I could not put it down. This book follows Zhanna and Bryant. Zhanna is football royalty who won’t date football players due to the fact her dad died from football related injuries. Bryant doesn’t date because he feels all the women he meets look at him like a prize. When they meet, he throws his no dating rule out the window the moment she calls him chicken shit and tell him to throw the damn ball. He pursues her until she falls in love with him and takes a chance. Then one night changed everything. Almost 2 years later he is back, and playing for the pro team she works for and he has his sights set on getting her back. Will he be able to show her how special their love is and break down her walls again?
This book had all the feels and the ups and downs. It’s written in Zhanna’s POV and jumps between the present and past. I thought the two timelines flowed effortlessly and gave much perspective to the book and characters. I rated this a 4.7. The only reason it was not a 5 is because I felt like we should of had Bryant’s POV also. There were scenes that I craved to know what he was thinking . Fantastic book and a must read!
This book had all the feels and the ups and downs. It’s written in Zhanna’s POV and jumps between the present and past. I thought the two timelines flowed effortlessly and gave much perspective to the book and characters. I rated this a 4.7. The only reason it was not a 5 is because I felt like we should of had Bryant’s POV also. There were scenes that I craved to know what he was thinking . Fantastic book and a must read!
April 29, 2021
It has been a hot minute since I’ve read a story from Sasha Marshall but this one didn’t disappoint at all! False Start was engaging, captivating, and a moving story. This unique story covers Zanah Hale and Bryant Hudson as they navigate life, love, and football.
In traditional Sasha fashion with that right mix of humor to heart. There are moments in this story that will have your heart. It will choke you up but then give way to a raw real love that is honest and worth the trials and tribulations.
The plot flowed nicely in this story and you will enjoy this from the first chapter to the end. It flows in a “then� and “now� time frame but it’s fluid.
There is so much I want to say but don’t want to spoil. This story will take you on a crazy wonderful ride and leave you begging for more!
Five glorious pointe shoes for this book and I recommend this to anyone who looks for second chances at life and love.
In traditional Sasha fashion with that right mix of humor to heart. There are moments in this story that will have your heart. It will choke you up but then give way to a raw real love that is honest and worth the trials and tribulations.
The plot flowed nicely in this story and you will enjoy this from the first chapter to the end. It flows in a “then� and “now� time frame but it’s fluid.
There is so much I want to say but don’t want to spoil. This story will take you on a crazy wonderful ride and leave you begging for more!
Five glorious pointe shoes for this book and I recommend this to anyone who looks for second chances at life and love.
May 1, 2021
First off- I am a HUGE fan of Sasha's Guitar Face series- so if you haven't read those yet-- RUN!
Sasha has a way of getting you emotionally invested with her characters and this was no different with False Start. You immediately feel like you are a part of the crew. She does a good job of building the backstory and keeps a great pace throughout the book.
Zhanna- strong yet vulnerable. Sassy yet loving. And so much more.
Bryant- where to even START?! Just 😍😩😍😇 you will have to read to find out!
Also (in all her books) the secondary characters are top notch! I am anxiously awaiting another book because I need more!
Sasha has a way of getting you emotionally invested with her characters and this was no different with False Start. You immediately feel like you are a part of the crew. She does a good job of building the backstory and keeps a great pace throughout the book.
Zhanna- strong yet vulnerable. Sassy yet loving. And so much more.
Bryant- where to even START?! Just 😍😩😍😇 you will have to read to find out!
Also (in all her books) the secondary characters are top notch! I am anxiously awaiting another book because I need more!
April 25, 2021
I read this book as an ARC and it had me spellbound!! I love Bryant and Zhanna’s story. I couldn’t put the book down! I stayed up all night until I finished it. I felt both their pain and heartaches I’ve never rooted for a couple as badly as I did them. Their deep love was so obvious and heartfelt life’s curveball nearly destroyed them. I love the other characters in the book also. Leslie was the comic relief the dark moments needed. I sincerely hope Ben and Zina get their own book and HEA as well. This book is exceptionally well written and I consider it a must read!
May 14, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book i genuinely got to the stage where I couldn't put it down.
The story of Zhanna and Bryant and their big love is amazing. Bryant is such a lovely person and you just can't see or underatand how he did what he did until he did it then you just want to slap him.
You go through the story and feelings with both characters and fall in love with them both along the way
The story of Zhanna and Bryant and their big love is amazing. Bryant is such a lovely person and you just can't see or underatand how he did what he did until he did it then you just want to slap him.
You go through the story and feelings with both characters and fall in love with them both along the way
May 15, 2021
Spark, Intrigue, Totally Steamy and there is football too. You can't help but to get wrapped up in False Start from the very beginning. It is hard enough to lose someone, but when they put crazy terms on top of it, you fight fire with fire. Grab your cleats and slide into a great story
Read
May 27, 2021Wtf, so is there an infidelity on the part of the hero here? Why the fuck did I add this book xD
I actually saw a guy with no shirt and added it without checking what the hell was this about? Oh my god lol
I actually saw a guy with no shirt and added it without checking what the hell was this about? Oh my god lol
May 1, 2021
I loved the new stuff from Marshall. This was incredible!
Zhanna and Bryant are so combustible together, it had me squirmey when they got together. The drama with this book was best part!!!
Zhanna and Bryant are so combustible together, it had me squirmey when they got together. The drama with this book was best part!!!
March 31, 2025
35% - Probably gonna DNF. Really well written, but holy crap, I cannot deal with all of these flashbacks. I saw another reviewer who mentioned that the version of Bryant in the flashbacks was the same sweet, loving guy who was featured in present day, and they were spot-on. It makes it unbelievable when we're supposed to believe that at some point in the meantime he changed enough to cheat, but then reset back to how he was at the beginning.
If I do finish, it will be because I start skipping flashback scenes and read only the present day stuff.
UPDATE: So I did eventually finish it, and this is really hard to rate. The story and writing were incredibly well done and if it weren't for my own personal issues with flashbacks, this would have been easily a four-star, maybe even a five-star read. This was recommended to me when I asked a Facebook Cheater romance group for something with a "Girl with a Jeep" vibe (basically meaning something where the guy screws up and the heroine absolutely loses her shit because I'm kind of tired of seeing them just taking the hit in the moment). Zhanna definitely fit the bill, only my issues came because at least half the book was told in flashback, juxtaposed against the present day stuff, and the "gut-punch" came at 75% through the book, and lost some of the fun for me. Again, this was a personal issue and YMMV.
Zhanna and Bryant fell in love in college (you'll see it). She was the daughter of football royalty, who had passed young due to injuries and wanted nothing to do with football players. He was a football player who pretty much fell for her at first sight -- or at least first "you're a chickenshit." And honestly, Bryant was a total golden retriever of a hero. He was sweet and funny -- and stubborn as hell, which he'd have to be, because so was Zhanna and she didn't want to be in a relationship at first. Even though he eventually started pushing some lines enough to be a cheater, I absolutely adored him, right along with Zhanna, and the author did an amazing job of selling his personality, and their relationship, to me.
This was extremely well told. Kudos to the author, and I really hope to read her again in another book that doesn't contain my own personal kryptonite. My issues above when I was considering a DNF are still real, but at least I get it now -- Bryant was an almost too-perfect hero both before and after the breakup, so his personality change seemed out of character. Then again, grief does weird things to people, so once I finally got there, it made more sense than it would have otherwise.
I see why the author chose to spend so much time in the past and for people who don't think flashbacks showing how the couple fell in love before everything fell apart are a waste of page space, this book will be a winner. But for me, all a flashback is, especially in a second-chance romance, is a failed relationship. I want to see how things are being fixed, not more than half on how they were started and then broken. I can see how a few chapters of flashbacks would have been beneficial, but way too much of this book was bogged down in their prior relationship.
There is another nit toward the end that I had issues with, but relatively minor.
Seriously, this was such a good book and would have been an oh-my-goodness-I-need-to-buy-this-now "Keeper" if not for my personal issues with flashbacks (which -- I feel the need to belabor the point -- were well-written and even interesting, I just don't have patience for 50% or more of the book being the past).
If I do finish, it will be because I start skipping flashback scenes and read only the present day stuff.
UPDATE: So I did eventually finish it, and this is really hard to rate. The story and writing were incredibly well done and if it weren't for my own personal issues with flashbacks, this would have been easily a four-star, maybe even a five-star read. This was recommended to me when I asked a Facebook Cheater romance group for something with a "Girl with a Jeep" vibe (basically meaning something where the guy screws up and the heroine absolutely loses her shit because I'm kind of tired of seeing them just taking the hit in the moment). Zhanna definitely fit the bill, only my issues came because at least half the book was told in flashback, juxtaposed against the present day stuff, and the "gut-punch" came at 75% through the book, and lost some of the fun for me. Again, this was a personal issue and YMMV.
Zhanna and Bryant fell in love in college (you'll see it). She was the daughter of football royalty, who had passed young due to injuries and wanted nothing to do with football players. He was a football player who pretty much fell for her at first sight -- or at least first "you're a chickenshit." And honestly, Bryant was a total golden retriever of a hero. He was sweet and funny -- and stubborn as hell, which he'd have to be, because so was Zhanna and she didn't want to be in a relationship at first. Even though he eventually started pushing some lines enough to be a cheater, I absolutely adored him, right along with Zhanna, and the author did an amazing job of selling his personality, and their relationship, to me.
This was extremely well told. Kudos to the author, and I really hope to read her again in another book that doesn't contain my own personal kryptonite. My issues above when I was considering a DNF are still real, but at least I get it now -- Bryant was an almost too-perfect hero both before and after the breakup, so his personality change seemed out of character. Then again, grief does weird things to people, so once I finally got there, it made more sense than it would have otherwise.
I see why the author chose to spend so much time in the past and for people who don't think flashbacks showing how the couple fell in love before everything fell apart are a waste of page space, this book will be a winner. But for me, all a flashback is, especially in a second-chance romance, is a failed relationship. I want to see how things are being fixed, not more than half on how they were started and then broken. I can see how a few chapters of flashbacks would have been beneficial, but way too much of this book was bogged down in their prior relationship.
There is another nit toward the end that I had issues with, but relatively minor.
Seriously, this was such a good book and would have been an oh-my-goodness-I-need-to-buy-this-now "Keeper" if not for my personal issues with flashbacks (which -- I feel the need to belabor the point -- were well-written and even interesting, I just don't have patience for 50% or more of the book being the past).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 187 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.