All you’ll ever be is a pretty face. Star running back Bruce “Bruiser” Mackey has heard those words his entire life, especially after his twin brother’s tragic accident. He might use his surfer-boy good looks to land lucrative endorsements for his secret charity, but he hates books being judged by their covers. Which is why it’s wrong that his friend Mackenzie Hernandez is intent on giving … is intent on giving herself a makeover.
Sure, Mac and her father have been reeling financially since her brother disappeared three years ago, and Steelheads management gives an annual scholarship that might get her life back on track, but he can’t imagine anyone smarter, sexier, or more beautiful than Mac already is. He can’t keep his hands off her—and the more they spend time together, the less he wants to. She’s perfect as is.
One way or another, he’ll make sure the team’s tomboy groundskeeper gets a full ride. And between the two of them, they can learn to accept what’s behind them and look downfield to a future full of win.
Previously published as Backfield in Motion in 2013. This version has been updated, rewritten, and re-edited.
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Bruiser and Mac the attraction is there but they both are living lives that aren’t truly theirs. With some help from friends and self realizations they tackle their journey together. With the help of 11 year old Elliot, they realize their focus a bit earlier! Nice story about family, loss and love. Do not miss!
This is the 4th book in this series and is Bruce / Bruiser and Mackenzie / Mac’s story. Bruce is the star running back for the team and Mac is the groundkeeper at their stadium. My heart broke for both of these characters who are haunted by their pasts, and I loved how the wives took Mac under their wings. Both characters have emotional baggage to overcome, and this is a thrilling friends / lover’s story. This is a well written tale which is an emotional roller coaster, as well as being a heartfelt read which has secrets and is an entertaining read. I look forward to reading more from this author whose work I recommend for all.
Bruce (Bruiser) is charming, sexy, and the running back for the Seattle Steelheads. Mackenzie (Mac) is the groundskeeper for the Seattle Steelheads, but she really wants to get the scholarship offered by the Steelheads. She’s been crushing on Bruce (Bruiser) for a while now. She asks Bruiser if he will take her to a team function so she can get some time with an executive about the scholarship, and Bruiser is taken back by her transformation. Bruiser and Mac are extremely attracted to each other and I loved how their friendship grew into a relationship. This is a really enjoyable story and one I highly recommend.
Reading Jami Davenport is like diving into the deep end without being ready for the splash. There are so many emotions that flash through the body that all one can do is pray that they are ready for the fall. Draw Play is a beautiful mess with an inspiring message and the heart to back it up. Bruce and Mac are the best of friends with a landfill of baggage between them. With life continuously throwing out curveballs, will they ever find the peace of mind that their hearts have never quit yearning for? Sweet serenity proves it has grit.
4.5 stars for this romantic read that has much humour and fun, but which also highlights issues which are sensitive. Mac and Bruiser are a great pairing, both carrying burdens from the past and present, but who are also deeply caring, protective people. By denying their own needs both are shutting themselves off from potential, so their dilemma makes a central focus of the story.
I really loved both of these characters and thoroughly enjoyed the machinations of their friends and the discussions around the past informing the present. Filled with great banter, friendship (I hope Brett is going to get his turn soon!) and live, Draw Play is a winner for me. My only gripe is I felt the ending was a bit rushed and would have loved a longer denouement and epilogue, but then I am greedy!
Jami Davenport’s sports themed books are right up my alley. I so enjoy reading sports romance and I didn’t get into Jami’s books until well after her original football books were released, so this is my first time reading them, and I’m glad I have the opportunity!
Bruce “Bruiser” Mackey is the running back for the Seattle Steelheads. He’s a looker and he’s got all of the endorsements to back up that fact and to capitalize on his good looks. He’s also got a heart of gold, but Bruiser does a great job of trying to hide that piece of himself behind a facade.
Mackenzie “Mac” Hernandez is a groundskeeper at the Steelheads facilities and she’s also had a crush on Bruiser for the last few years. Mac and Bruiser have a great friendship and enjoy being around one another, especially on the nights the team all hangs out at their favorite spot. She’s applying for a scholarship that is awarded by the Steelheads organization and in order to get more time with an important executive, Mac asks Bruiser if he’ll take her. While seeing Mac all cleaned up puts some stars in Brusier’s eyes, he realizes that he likes dressed down Mac as much as the dolled up version.
Mac and Bruiser don’t seem to have a lot in common on paper, but when you really get down to it they do. They both have family situations that have weighed heavily on them and they both battle their own insecurities about relationships and life in general. When the two begin a “friends with benefits” relationship, they battle those aforementioned insecurities and some other forces that are throwing roadblocks in their way. Will they finally make it to their HEA?
I enjoyed the way this book unfolded, although there were a few times where I wanted to shake both Bruiser and Mac. I felt like things were right in front of them and they were just SO stubborn! This is another great offering by Jami Davenport and I would recommend it as a summer read.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**
On the surface, Bruce “Bruiser” Mackie and Mackenzie “Mac” Hernandez don’t seem like they have much in common besides the fact that they are both part of the Seattle Steelheads organization. Bruiser is a very popular player in more ways than one and Mac is a groundskeeper/landscaper. They are friends but Mac has had a major crush on the sexy player for quite some time now, not that he would ever notice or so she thinks. She’s just one of the guys, but then one day all that changes. They enter into what I guess I would call a friends with bennies since their was nothing deeper going on, until there is. The book was a little slow going but once it got going I really enjoyed it! I liked the development of their relationship and the growth of their characters even though I wanted to give them both a big push every now and again. I love that Bruiser is not at all what everyone sees him as and is so sweet with the biggest heart. Turns out they have more in common than they thought. I love the whole Elliot piece of the story so much!! And of course, it has a wonderful HEA.
4 star Review Draw Play : The Originals (Seattle Steelheads #4) by Jami Davenport
I love Jami Davenport’s style of writing; her books are always entertaining and she delivers a well written story. This is a friends to lovers story that drew me in and kept me riveted throughout.
Bruce “Bruiser” Mackey and Mackenzie Hernandez’s story is one that ticked the boxes for me. Underneath his good looks, is a kind and caring man who will do whatever he can to support his friends and raise money for his secret charity.
This was at times an emotional roller coaster of a read, particularly as the details of Bruiser’s brothers accident unfolds. Both Bruiser and Mac have emotional baggage which they both try to keep to themselves. Can they overcome their pasts and find a lasting love with one another?
I loved that the relationship grew from friendship. This book was exactly what I’ve come to expect from Jami Davenport, it will make you laugh, it will make you cry,but oh how I loved it and I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
Bruce “Bruiser” Mackay is waaaaaaaaaay to good looking for his own good and.he.knows.it. He uses his looks and charm to his full advantage each and every day and in each and every way with.no.shame. But, and there is a big but, there is so much more to him than his playboy, easy go lucky, sexy male model image, so.much.more.
Mackenzie “Mac” Hernandez is the groundskeeper at the stadium where Bruiser plays. She’s one of the guys, a tomboy, little Miss Plain Jane, except there is something about her that Bruiser finds appealing. Like him, Mac has a crippling secret. Something in her past that has defined and shaped her future for too long. She’s desperately trying to change and make things better for herself.
Both Bruiser and Mac are extremely attracted to one another and neither one can explain it. All they do is fight it until fighting it is no longer an option. The thing I loved most about this book was Bruiser’s inner monologues and his futile attempts to “get over” or rationalize his feelings for Mac and Mac’s attempts at downplaying her incredible attraction to Bruiser and being amazed by the fact he reciprocates them in spades.
Watching these two damaged people come together despite everything that works to keep them apart had me flipping through my kindle faster than fast because I desperately needed them to get their happily ever after and when they did, all was right in my book loving world again. TBR and Enjoy.
Bruce is more than a pretty face!
Mackenzie Hernandez loved her job working as a groundskeeper for the Seattle Steelheads, but she really wanted the scholarship that the team gave to a member of the staff. She already had finished two years towards her degree but helping her father search for her missing brother takes up a lot of her time. Bruce “Bruiser” Mackey had always been called a pretty face and it had gotten him many endorsements, but he decided he wanted to help Mackenzie get the scholarship by escorting her to team functions.
Bruce had to work to get Mackenzie’s interest because she felt that she wasn’t gorgeous enough for him, but he found someone that wanted him and not just the pretty face.
Draw Play is the fourth book in the series (The Originals), and it helps tie the old and new parts of the Seattle Steelheads series together.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.