"Romance and football - what's not to love?"

Gavin Mathis, star running back for the Detroit Lions, has a problem. His good-for-nothing father has left Gavin's half-brother, Kyle (a brother he never knew existed), with Gavin and has taken off, yet again, for parts unknown. With no clue how to care for a 13-year-old, he enlists the help of Anna Prescott, the sister of his best friend and business partner.

When Anna agrees to become Gavin's chef and to be available to care for Kyle when Gavin is away, sparks begin to fly between them. Complications ensue when Anna's overprotective brothers and father do not approve of the match. Although he's been a friend of the family for years, Gavin's history of womanizing and his adamant anti-marriage stance, make him unsuitable for Anna, as far as the males of her family are concerned. Although Anna longs for marriage and a family, she loves Gavin, and wants to be with him no matter what the circumstances.

Romance and football, what's not to love? Although sometimes too perfect to be believable, the characters are immensely likable and it's easy to get caught up in their story. I was so drawn to Anna and Gavin, I found myself rooting for the Lions on opening day!

Reviewed by Tish Glasson
Courtesy Old Book Barn Gazette
Posted December 10, 2003

Summary

Who needs love? Not Anna Prescott...she says. A smart, successful woman of substance, she is willing to be a friend to Gavin Mathis, who plays pro football for the Detroit Lions and is the finest specimen of the African-American male she's ever laid eyes on. Gavin's been tight with her brother Wesley for so long he's almost family. So Anna's happy when she can help Gavin out of a personal jam -- and the fact that he's setting fires inside her has nothing to do with it. Gavin feels the heat too, but he can't trust himself to love Anna. Her folks, who've always been good to him, would be enraged. Besides, if he marries, he's afraid he'll become an irresponsible deadbeat like his dad, who just dumped Gavin's little brother on the ballplayer's doorstep. But sparks are definitely flying and this sexy lady's got his heart pumping like mad -- and it's telling him to go for it...and to hell with the consequences.