Book Review: Chasing the Ring by Lauren Rowe

I was so excited to dive into Chasing the Ring! It was such an entertaining story with wonderful characters, great banter, and a whole lot of steam. I'm happy to share that the first book in the Footballs and Feels series is now available!

Chasing the Ring (Football and Feels #1) by Lauren Rowe

When a wronged bride and an NFL quarterback find themselves sharing the same Hawaiian vacation, a no-strings, just-for-fun encounter quickly becomes unforgettable in this warm-hearted, extra spicy football romance for fans of Sarah Adams, Tessa Bailey, Monica Murphy, Kristen Callihan, and Lucy Score.

Iris Benedetto’s wedding day just went viral . . . for all the wrong reasons.
After a heated blowout with her lying, cheating fiancé at the altar, Iris storms off on a solo honeymoon—loudly announcing that she’s finally going to find out what good sex is all about. Rebranding from small-town preschool teacher to #Horny Runaway Bride was not the plan, but the insanely hot stranger who ends up double-booked in her bungalow on the island of Kauai is an opportunity even devastated Iris can’t ignore.

It’s not often NFL quarterback Roman Maguire meets someone who doesn’t recognize him. Even rarer to have that someone barge in while he’s taking a shower and quickly make him an irresistible offer. Roman is in Hawaii to secure the deal that could finally land him a Super Bowl ring—and closer proximity to his son. A sexy fling in paradise is a perfect way to spend a week with a surprise roommate . . .

Except . . . suddenly a week doesn’t seem nearly enough. And once the truth about Roman’s identity, Iris’s internet infamy, and all kinds of loyalty-testing secrets are revealed, will they both be willing to step into the real-life spotlight together?

4 out of 5 stars

Chasing the Ring was an absolute delight! It was a sweet, super-entertaining read with wonderful characters and plenty of steam. I was laughing and swooning as Iris and Roman came together and fell in love. It was a light read that was fast-paced fun that had me smiling from start to finish!

I felt for Iris as she found out about her then fiancé and couldn't wait to find out how she put him on blast. I loved how Iris and Roman met, it was hysterical. This was filled with a lot of witty moments that I adored. I really liked them getting to know one another and the banter between them while their explosive chemistry was playing out. These two were hot together! There was some mild drama between them, but mostly this was a non-stressful good time. I liked it when life after Hawaii came into play, it was a bit more emotional as they opened up and shared their vulnerabilities. That being said, the second half was lacking some of the playfulness and excitement that the first half held. Iris was kind and endearing, but sometimes she was way too hard on herself and had insecurities, and I liked her growing and trusting in herself and Roman. I liked Roman opening up to her and being honest.

I really enjoyed this. There was a nice cast of characters introduced. I loved Roman’s family, they helped to create some funny scenes. Roman’s son, Maverick, was adorable as well. I liked what he added to the story. This was an easy, entertaining, quick read with likable characters, lots of spice, and just the right amount of emotion.

Complimentary copy received.