Struggling pro football wide receiver Derek Ramsey was once Rachel McCormick’s best friend and lover, and now they’re forced together again. Gifted with an uncanny ability for evaluating football talent and a dogged determination to succeed in a man’s world, Rachel finally gets her chance in the pros as a staff member of the Seattle Steelheads. Her first assignment is to help Derek get his game … Derek get his game back. While working with him on the field, she succumbs to the chemistry between them and spends a forbidden night in his arms.
The next day Derek has the best performance of his not-so illustrious career. Soon Derek and Rachel are racking up nights in bed, and the team is racking up wins. They’re risking it all, but they can’t resist each other. Not only is Rachel his coach, but Derek knows the truth behind a secret that destroyed her father years before.
Rachel and Derek are torn between love and duty, and the clock is winding down.
It’s fourth and goal, one second left in the game. The next play Derek makes must be for Rachel’s heart.
Previously published as Fourth and Goal in 2011. This version has been extensively updated, re-titled, and edited.
more
If you’re into second chance romance this is a good one with the plus of a sports theme.
Story of ex lovers as they meet again after many years and she becomes a coach on his football team tasked to get his head back in the game She wants to know why didn’t he and his cousin support her father who fell from grace as a coach for throwing football games.
Hot, Sexy, Realistic, and so Moving it made me cry!!
WOW! Kick Off is my first reading by Jami Davenport, and the moment I finished reading it, I started looking for another book she had written. The characters of Derek and Rachel were truly relatable, some parts of the story were gritty, some sad, some shameful and pathetic, but most of them were endearing because they found a way to glean the positive in life from whatever comes your way. The chemistry between Derek and Rachel was off the charts hot and sexy, and the life dramas iterated in the tale were so realistic and moving I felt as though I was reading my local newspaper’s lifestyle featured story of the lessons people learn when you make the wrong choices. And, off the charts emotions of compassion and love were evoked by the character Ryan – this part of the novel was hauntingly beautiful and had me literally crying! The author wrote about the human condition, the best of us, the worst of us, those who cannot cope, those who find ways to cope, those of us caught up in circumstances not of our own making, and those of us hiding and running from our blatant misdeeds, but what came across the most in this story was the certainty that whatever our choices in this life, those choices are guaranteed to have an effect on every single person who touches our lives…
I need to find another book by this author…she is well worth reading over and over again
• •
: Kickoff: The Originals
: Seattle Steelheads Football #1
: Jami Davenport
: 3/5
As much as I have a weakness for sport romances and second chance loves, this one just wasn’t it for me. The romance felt a bit off at times and the pace of the book was too slow for me. I felt like Rachel deserved so much more than how Derek treated her at some points in the book. The secret involving Rachels dad took (for me) way too long to be revealed. That being said, there were also things I really liked about the book that even made my heart melt. Ryan’s story really broke my heart and I think his story was a beautiful addition to the whole book. Did I think this book was worth my time and did I find it enjoyable enough: Yes. Would I read this book again? No. Would I try another book from this author: Definitely. The book wasn’t it for me, but it might be for you! Recommending it to people who love sport romance and second chance love stories to try it for themselves.
My reviews are also available with photo at my Bookstagram: @justmyfantasyworld
09/29/2020 A positively wonderful story. I would rate “Kickoff” (nook) for 6 or 7 stars if I had my choice. The emotions build to a crescendo, taper off and build again. And, repeat. So very many whirling, intense feelings pull the reader into each of several characters. My favorites are the main characters (Derek and Rachel), of course. Their love story is phenomenal. Ms. Davenport’s words are lilting and add an oomph to the scene.
I loved the book. It was a happy ever after..
Another great sports romance
I thought it was too explanatory. Boring.
I love Reading books by this author.
Great sports romance!
Slow read
Great book, storyline was Excellent ,could not put it down a must read,hats off to the author
Loved this book
This book just didn’t do it for me, I couldn’t really get into the characters all that much I’m guessing because it didn’t seem realistic. I found things slow moving and the sex scenes rather boring and repetitive. Over all it was a gloomy book, yes, there was a HEA for the two main chars at the very end but still…I like to feel good when I’m done reading a book not depressed.
Another great read from Davenport!
I love everything by this author. And her sports series set in Seattle are fabulous.
Getting it right the second time around
This the first book that is part of the re-editing of Jamie Davenport’s Original Steelheads series and it is absolutely fantastic!! The storyline centers around Derek Ramsey who is a struggling pro-football wide receiver and it looks like his former best friend and lover could be the answer to that. Unfortunately, Rachel McCormick was burned once by Derek and does not want to repeat past mistakes especially when her job would be at stake, even when the sparks between them reignites Derek on the field and off.
And do those sparks truly ignite between these two! The chemistry is absolutely smothering and emotionally charged. Seeing these two reconcile their issues with each other and within themselves makes it a total page turner and does not disappoint. Another excellent read from this fabulous author.
Didn’t read the original and loved the re-write!
Safe to say that none of Jami Davenport’s books are straightforward in their plots. This encompasses a whole raft of emotions from fun and wit, denied love, misplaced loyalty, determination, heartbreak, and ultimately loss. In return I laughed and I most definitely cried.
Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, and not all fights are the same, and as always in life, there are winners and losers. Ms. Davenport’s books are more than heavily involved around sport, they are filled with heart, and that is what made this book an amazing read.
Whether it be ice hockey, baseball or football, Jami Davenport covers it all, and while I don’t know American Football, I can feel the excitement ramp with each game as the Seattle Steelheads head for the big one. I love her books and highly recommend them as great reads. 4.5 Stars.
NFL wide receiver comes back with the help of long time friend with benefits,Rachel… who works with players and eventually gets offered a coaching position in a man’s world. Wonder if she makes it? Does their romance survive even though neither wants a relationship!
Rachel and Derek were friends that had an encounter then went their own ways…years later Rachel needed Derek to help her dad out of a difficult situation and he couldn’t. For years she thought him heartless but when she is forced to work with him to help him get his game back she realizes that he had reasons for doing what he did but still couldn’t believe the accusations leveled against her beloved dad. The longer they work together they realize the feelings that had never went away and got stronger. Derek doesn’t want to make Rachel choose between her coaching career and him…if he can get her to stop asking about why he didn’t help her dad. Angsty, cute and an awesome read!
I was offered an ARC in exchange for an honest review.