Former quarterback Lance Quaid just inherited the most losing team in the NFL. He’s got only a few weeks until draft day to turn things around, and after firing more than half his staff, he can’t do it alone. Thankfully, his HR manager is more than capable, if only she’d stop focusing on “due diligence” and stop looking so sexy while she’s yelling at him. Charlotte James has made a life out of … life out of following the rules. But nothing could have prepared her for Lance Quaid–he’s a human resources nightmare. The man is brash, has no filter, and, as her new boss, is constantly relying on her to cover his ass. Which is admittedly quite nice.
When Lance begs her to join him on a trip down the coast for his brother’s wedding so they can finalize details–on a strictly business basis–she agrees…after they fill out the necessary forms, of course. Away from the office, though, sparks start flying as the team starts coming together. But both of them know anything more than the weekend would be a colossally bad idea–after all, the extra paperwork would be a nightmare.
Each book in the Heart in the Game series is STANDALONE:
* The Wedding Deal
* The Mistletoe Trap
more
Lance Quaid just inherited the worst losing football team in the NFL from his grandfather. Now that Lance can no longer be a quarterback because of injury he’s looking forward to turning the San Antonio Mustangs around. Too bad most of his staff doesn’t seem to have the same attitude. When Lance ends up firing just about everyone, he makes Charlotte James’ life miserable since she is the Human Resources Manager.
When Charlotte gives Lance a piece of her mind, Lance is quickly turned on by Charlotte’s sassy mouth. Too bad she works for him because she is the first woman who has excited him since his ex-fiance cheated on him.
Charlotte is a rule follower and likes her life neat and orderly. While Lance doesn’t like to follow rules, he quickly realizes that Charlotte is worth far more to him than an HR manager….she has a fantastic mind for football.
When Lance has to leave town for his brother’s wedding, he convinces Charlotte to go with him so they can continue trying to form a football coaching staff. Charlotte reluctantly agrees, after making Lance sign a form called The Wedding Deal!!! While these two are in North Carolina for the wedding, things start to heat up after having to spend so much time together. Just when it looks like these two are going to get a happy ending, things from both of their pasts come back to haunt them causing Lance to say things that he will later regret. It will take a LOT of grovelling and one fun and interesting move to win back the heart of the woman he now realizes that he is in love with.
I just adored this story. Charlotte was such fun. I loved her knowledge of football. I also loved that some of the story seemed to tie in with the recent history of the Cleveland Browns (my fav team) even though the author said she is a die hard Denver fan. I also enjoyed Lance. It was fun watching him have to rely and trust a female again. I also loved Lance’s crazy and strong family….they were all a hoot! Overall this was a great story with great, fun characters.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
The Wedding Deal was the first book by Cindi Madsen that I have read, but it won’t be my last. I like finding new-to-me writers and I enjoyed her writing and the story flowed well for me.
Former quarterback Lance Quaid has recently inherited the Mustangs organization from his grandfather and they just happen to be the worst team in the NFL. He has little time before the draft to get things in order, but when he decides to fire half of his staff, including the coach and GM, things go downhill really quickly and the only person that can even potentially help him is the HR Director. An HR Director that is all about following the rules…
Charlotte James has worked hard to get where she’s at in her career. Having been burned by people in her personal life before, she’s all about following the rules and making sure that she’s in control of everything she possibly can be. When the new owner of the Mustangs fires several members of the staff seemingly for no reason, she knows she’s got her hands full. Not to mention the fact that he’s drop dead gorgeous and if he wasn’t her boss and wasn’t a former football player himself, she might consider making a play for him.
When it becomes obvious that Lance needs Charlotte’s help due to her expertise not only in HR, but also with football knowledge and stats, he figures out that he can kill two birds with one stone – continue working on all that they need to get done surrounding the team and get his mother off his back by taking Charlotte to his brother’s wedding as his date in North Carolina. Even though Charlotte isn’t certain it’s a good idea, she gives in. Will these two be able to keep everything strictly professional or will the “contract” that Charlotte insisted on for the week of the wedding end up going up in flames due to the sparks flying between them?
This was an entertaining, fun romance. This was a sports romance where it was nice to be in the front office instead of on the field. I wanted to pull for both characters and wanted them to find their happily ever after. Truly an enjoyable read!
The Wedding Deal by Cindi Madsen is the first book in her Heart in the Game series and was funny and sweet and full of steamy chemistry. Lance Quaid, former NFL player, is now the new proud owner of an NFL team. A losing team. A team he is determined to turn around and he knows he needs help.
Charlotte James has no idea what to do with her new boss, Lance. Charlotte has worked hard to be where she is today in her career. She is a no-nonsense type of woman. And Lance, well he is anything but. He is rude and has absolutely no filter. For an HR manager, it is her worst nightmare. Now he seems to be depending on her more and more. But what do they do when they can no longer deny their attraction?
The Wedding Deal by Cindi Madsen was fun and charming. I loved Charlotte’s feistiness and her knowledge of the game. Lance was cocky and determined. Watching them fall was half the fun! I am excited to see what is next in the series.
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4.5 Stars for The Wedding Deal. This is a really entertaining, funny, sweet, romantic, easy to read tale and it will certainly captivate you from the very first page.
Charlotte and Lance cross paths when he takes over his late grandfathers NFL team, she is the woman in charge of the HR department and when Lance starts firing people left right and center Charlotte has no option but to read him not only the riot act but also the HR Manual……
Lance is a man on a mission he wants to turn the failing team into winners, he is loud, he is a playboy and he doesn’t follow the rules. Charlotte plays by the book, a paper pusher who has a place for every price of paper she pushes but that doesn’t mean she isn’t attracted to the hot retired quarterback and when he convinces her to be his date for his brothers wedding things really start to heat up……
I loved the characters, the story and the banter flowed and it had enough going on to keep me turning the pages. The chemistry is sizzling and this book is full of love and passion, the banter had me giggling and I was left smiling like a Cheshire Cat. If you are looking for a fun read look no further than this entertaining read.
A football romance from the owner’s box that is infused with laughter, wit and a whole new 1st row staff. Clearly, an HR nightmare according to Sec. ??? well, ask Charlotte bc she is the walking talking rule following HR manager. Lance, former QB, current owner, a walking talking rule breaker. Together they make their own team (there’s heat) and need to come up with a winning combination for the real team.
Enjoyed the story concept with a kicka** female in sports and lighter reading that had me lol’ing regularly, but still bringing forth several realistic issues. I did feel his brother’s wedding got a bit more time and detail I could have done without. Still a great stand alone read and I look forward to more in this series.
I received an ARC from Entangled Publishing LLC thru NetGalley and am freely giving my honest thoughts and opinions
This was a fun, easy going, slow burn romance with Lance and Charlotte. When his grandfather dies, he leaves Lance his NFL team, the Mustangs. The most losing team in the league. The only person to stand up to Lance is the HR manager, Charlotte, who is not afraid to speak her mind and remind Lance that he must temper his words and follow the guidelines in the employee handbook. With the clock ticking for the start of Draft Day and having to effectively rebuild the Mustangs, a week off to attend Lance’s brothers wedding could not come at a worse time. The most effective use of time? Bring Charlotte with him, together with her forms, her handbook and her sass!
The book is enjoyable, shows that women can be powerful in business, but not total bitches. The writing flowed and the story moved along at a reasonable pace. Nothing felt rushed or dragged out. Ms. Madsen did make me want to root for the characters and for them to find their HEA. I would certainly recommend this book.
A wonderful story that takes to people who are skeptical about love and throw them together. Charlotte is all about following the rules because it is what keeps her grounded. She doesn’t believe in love. Lance has been hurt before and has trust issues. For the love of football they will make their own rules. These rules eventually lead to things crossing the line into the personal.
The story is filled with fun and witty wisecracks from the characters. The tension between the two is often hilarious. The family dynamic is great! You will enjoy the mini madness that takes place at the wedding and in the office. You will find plenty of opportunities to laugh and thoroughly enjoy the ride to their happily ever after.
3.5 stars
The Wedding Deal is a workplace romance with a bit of an enemies to lovers thing going. Because nothing says conflict of interest like…well, I can’t say because I was forced to sign a NDA.
You see, our heroine, is sassy, feisty, and the head of Human Resources. So any pertinent information I have about this book and the characters in it can not be disclosed. I can not in good conscience, or financially, tell you anything about the Mustangs, their staffing issues, or the actual Wedding Deal. Nope. Legally, I am bound not to disclose the tension filled lusty moments between boss and employee. I also have nothing to contribute to any conversation, accusations, or rumors about players being added, coaching staff, or other prominent parties.
So if your looking for the scoop, you’ll just have to sign the NDA (also known as one-click) and read it for yourself!
This was a cute book, easy to pass the time but I would probably pick something else, why? well while I did love myself some Lance and thought he was funny and a sweet geeky guy, Charlotte although smart kind of annoyed me sometimes and I also found this book to be a little slower than I tend to like. We have another fake romance who we know will eventually lead to the real thing..Wished we had an epilogue probably would have given me what I felt was missing.
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions
What a great book! I’ve read books by Cindi Madsen before, so I figured I was in for a treat, and I wasn’t wrong. Charlotte and Lance are so wonderful together. I absolutely loved the quick wit and bantering between the two of them, and laughed out loud a few times. Lance takes over his grandfather’s football team, The Mustangs, and Charlotte, the HR manager, is scrambling to pick up the pieces when he decides to do a complete overhaul of the organization. Suddenly, the two find themselves spending a lot of time together as they work to mitigate the damage Lance has unwittingly done, while also pulling together a new pool of talent to help the team start winning again. Lance is scheduled to travel from Texas to the East Coast for his brother’s wedding, and decides that bringing Charlotte along for the weeklong trip will kill two birds with one stone: They can work on rebuilding the team, and Charlotte’s presence will stop his mom from her well-meaning but unwelcome attempts to set him up with other women. Charlotte and Lance agree neither of them is in the market for a relationship, so it seems perfect. It turns out that fate has other plans. The two of them find that they are a great team, both in the office and the bedroom. But Lance has trust issues from a relationship gone very bad, and a misunderstanding on his part might ruin their working and personal relationships. I really loved how “real” both characters seemed. They were flawed and funny and a perfect match for one another. And Lance is eager to have Charlotte’s help when he finds out she’s got a head for stats and a deep knowledge of both the team and the game in general. Far from being threatened by her, he encourages her to speak up and takes her advice very seriously. They both have a healthy respect for one another, and Lance has no qualms with everyone knowing Charlotte is a part of the decision making, despite football still being a male-dominated enterprise. There are a few other characters introduced in the book that I’m hoping will get their stories told, too, especially Sean Bryant, the new head coach of the Mustangs and a guy with an “All-American Dude meets Viking vibe.” This book had humor, heart and heat. Definitely recommended.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.
A stickler for the rules and a hothead who doesn’t even read the rule book. What could go wrong in that scenario?
Lance and Charlotte were hilarious. They couldn’t be more different when it comes to policies, protocols, and paperwork but when it really matters, these two are perfectly in sync. Their passion for the game, their team, and each other was off the charts. I loved the banter, the honesty, and the drama.
This is an awesome start to this series! I loved all the characters and can’t wait to see who’s gets their HEA next!!
*this is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*
What I liked:
The writing style
Most of the characters
Part of a series: Heart in the Game
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.
3.5 stars–THE WEDDING DEAL is the first instalment in Cindi Madsen’s contemporary, adult HEART IN THE GAME romance series. This is former NFL quarterback and team owner Lance Quaid, and HR manager Charlotte James’ story line.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Lance and Charlotte) THE WEDDING DEAL follows the building but forbidden relationship between the former NFL quarterback and San Antonio Mustangs’ owner Lance Quaid, and the team’s HR manager Charlotte James. Upon the recent death of his beloved grandfather Lance Quaid inherited the struggling NFL San Antonio Mustangs. Already at the end of his rope Lance fires the majority of the team executive and coaches but retains his feisty HR manager Charlotte James. Lance and Charlotte must pull together in an effort to reorganize and recruit for the upcoming season but Lance’s brother’s wedding throws a kink into their tight schedule. Needing a plus one to keep his mother off his back, Lance invites Charlotte to Nag’s Head, North Carolina where their search for a new executive and quarterback continues. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Lance and Charlotte, and the potential fall-out as Lance’s issues of trust come to a head with the reveal of team secrets and Charlotte’s past.
Charlotte James has a head for statistics; a mind for numbers and in this she is a stickler for rules and regulations, so much so that her relationship with Lance is directly affected by her need to recite and follow the rules. Lance Quaid struggles between head and heart knowing to get involved with a member of his staff could bring about another round of publicity that will affect negatively against himself and the team.
The relationship between Lance and Charlotte begins acrimoniously as Charlotte continues to speak her mind. A case of instant attraction tempered by Charlotte’s almost obsessive-like quality to quote and obey the rules, Lance battles his need for a woman whose secrets are about to be revealed. The $ex scenes are passionate but limited, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to Charlotte’s friend and roommate Shannon, and Lance’s large extended family including his parents Maribelle and Chuck, brother Mitch and fiancee Stacey, and her bridesmaids Grace and Bridget; sister Taylor and husband Scott, nephews Aaron and Austin, as well as an assortment of prospective team members and executive.
The world building focuses on the game of football- behind the scenes as our leading couple struggle to rebuild a team that has fallen below expectations. There is plenty of rules and regulations, legalese and statistics as Charlotte is not above laying down the law and offering her opinion.
THE WEDDING DEAL is a story of family, friendship, betrayal and trust. The premise is engaging; the romance is flirty and fun; the characters are sexy and sassy but I did have an issue with the frenetic change in third person perspectives so much so that I had to re-read several passages in order to clarify which point of view was presented.
The Wedding Deal by Cindi Madsen a five-star read that will make you want to settle. This is the first novel in the Heart in the Game series and my first read by this author and I can’t wait for more, Lance Quaid could be a rotten character born with a silver spoon and handed a football team, but he was so well written that you really felt for him. Charlotte James was another one, she could have been a rule following ball breaker, but she is great she has real depth to her. I for one can’t wait to hear more about these ball playing Mustangs. Pick this one up if you are in need of funny, sweet and hot drama.