"Opposites do attract!"

The first time Professor Jacelyn Ross meets up with celebrity football coach Mike Kingston, there's a misunderstanding. She's asking for his autograph for her nineteen-year-old son. Coach thinks she's a groupie and refuses. Finally, she convinces him it's definitely not for her. He signs the paper and goes about his business until Jace winds up with a sprained ankle. After carrying her to the clinic, he realizes how beautiful she really is. When he finds out she's a professor against the Sports Studies Program he's heading up for the college, he shocked. She really DIDN'T want his autograph. She WASN'T a groupie. In fact, she probably didn't even like him.

Jace's son, a music genius and music major, applies for the job of watching the Coach's seven-year-old son who lost his momma a few years ago. Immediately a bond is formed between Kyle and Tyler and Mike and Jace. Before she knows what's happening, she's tumbling into bed with super jock, Mike Kingston.

For Mike, this is a first. He really cares about Jace and her son. The fact that Jace's ex-husband is getting in the way doesn't matter. What matters is him convincing Jace they can work things out -- even though they're on opposite sides of the fence. He's building a new program for the college and even gets some of her grants for the program she runs.

Though they're very different, they have something important in common: their unconditional love for their sons. Can two people with different goals come together and make it work? Could they actually be, as Mike would like, a family? You'll have to read the story to follow all the twists and turns it takes emotionally.

Ms. Shay has beautifully captured the emotional turmoil that goes on with children whether they are nineteen-years- old or seven. She also is right on with her depiction of conflict between a celebrity football coach and a professor who has voted against his sports program. But, the best thing Ms. Shay does is create a strong sensual tension between two people with two very different goals. I was sorry when the story ended and actually found myself asking a few questions I can't tell you or it will give away the ending! Congratulations Ms. Shay for a deeply emotional and well thought out story. It's one I'm sure many moms across the world can relate to -- the unconditional love for their children and falling in love with someone who creates a bit of a stir. And, of course, there's also that blending of two different families that makes it even more real and more interesting -- the way that Ms.Shay pens it.

Reviewed by Kelly McDonough
Posted March 22, 2005

Summary

it all started with an autograph...

Only her son, Kyle, can get Professor Jacelyn Ross anywhere near a sports arena. Especially when the celebrity in question is a boorish football jock. But Kyle means everything to Jacelyn -- and he wants the signature.

Besides, she'll have to meet "The King" -- famous Mike Kingston -- eventually. It's his team that's tarnishing her beloved school's pristine academic reputation -- all in the name of progress. She and the rest of the teaching staff don't approve of the plan at all.

But Mike has more in common with Jacelyn than she would care to admit. Their commitment to their troubled sons, for staters. And the attraction that has Jacelyn seeing Mike in a whole new light.