JACKSON’S TRUST – VIOLET DUKE (book 1 of The Fourth Down Series)

A lot of drama, a lot going on. A lot of football talk, (which I get, it’s a football based but I felt it was just too much).  This book has sports, sass, sex and smarts. This is a story with humor, heart, and intelligence. I loved that the female lead was a knowledgeable woman making a career in the male-dominated NFL reporting scene. Jackson and Leila become friends through their love of the game and their mutual talent for seeing beyond simple statistics. I did not love how at the end it’s revealed how she got her dream job – to me, it didn’t mesh with her strong character. They bring baggage with them to their relationship, including family, fortune, fame, and secrets.  I enjoyed the secondary characters especially Jackson’s friends who are intriguing and their stories will follow in the upcoming books in the series. (Bennett’s is next). This is the first book by this author that I have read. I’m not sure if I will continue with the series.  It was hard to get into in the beginning. Not sure why. I liked the premise of the book.  Probably about halfway through I got into the book, then went slack, then it picked up again. Without giving spoilers, there were a few issues with the characters that just didn’t match up to their character.

I received a free copy of an uncorrected proof of the novel from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review