Golden boy, Zach Chamberlain, isn’t the first jock Jenna Peterson’s tutored with cover-boy good looks, and he won’t be the last. When Zach’s storybook life begins to unravel, Jenna discovers he’s more than just a gifted athlete with a pretty face. A sprig of mistletoe and a searing kiss pits the playmaker against the rule maker. When secrets are revealed and the game is on the line, will they follow the game plan, improvise, or make an end run around their hearts?
Formerly published in 2014 under the title, “A Kiss by the Book,” this book has been extensively revised from the original.
My Thoughts:
The End Run by Christy Hayes focuses on Zach and Jenna who first appear in Stalling for Time, book one of the Kiss & Tell series. While The End Run could stand alone because a lot of background information is given, I recommend reading the novels in order.
The End Run is a fun, flirty contemporary romance. Because I had read Stalling for Time, I expected college life realities, such as casual sex and drinking, as well as sexual content with details that push the boundaries of clean romance. I enjoyed the zap of attraction between Jenna and Zach, but I was put off by the edgy content right at the beginning. As the story progressed, I appreciated Jenna’s character, but found Zach immature. I did enjoy the teasing banter and swoony moments (ones that did not involve a play-by-play of Zach’s wandering hands or aroused mind and body). While The End Run by Christy Hayes was too edgy for my taste, many readers will enjoy this novel filled with college life, football analogies, and flirty romance.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.
