Under the Lights by Shannon Stacey Pages: 304
Published by Jove, Penguin on May 26, 2015
Genres: contemporary, Fiction, Romance
Source: eARC from Publisher
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Kowalski Family novels, a sweet, sexy new series about taking hits, making second chances, and finding love…
They were the golden boys of fall: Stewart Mills High School’s legendary championship winning football team. Fourteen years later, they’re back to relive their glory, save the team—and find themselves again…
Chase Sanders’s life has taken a lot of crazy turns lately. But returning to his hometown to help his old coach keep his high school football team afloat might be the craziest thing to happen to him yet. That is, until he starts falling for the last person he should—Coach’s gorgeous daughter…
Kelly McDonnell learned the hard way that cocky, charming men are nothing but trouble, so she knows Chase is bad news. Still, she can’t resist his smile—or the rest of him. But when his loyalty to her father conflicts with their growing attraction, any hope for a relationship might be blocked before it can even begin…
Under the Lights is the first book in the contemporary romance series, called the boys of Fall series. I originally thought this was going to be a new adult series, but it is an adult contemporary romance series. The cover was a bit misleading for me, so I wanted to be sure to point that out. I really liked this as a small town sweet romance, but the book didn’t blow my socks off. I liked Chase and I really liked Kelly. And I loved what they were doing for their towns football team. The love that everyone has for coach is so evident throughout Under The Lights.
The town is going through some hard times, and their high school’s football team is being cut within the next school year if the town can’t raise the funds to keep the program running. And for Kelly’s dad, coach- football is basically his life. He loves coaching and all of his boys. I thought it was so heartwarming how the whole town, and even the old glory days high school dream team of the past, came together to try and save money with the festival and old v. new football game. Kelly is the town cop, and she was my favorite character of the story. I loved how take charge she was, in almost all aspects. And above all, I love how determined she is to save the team for her dad. I also really liked the whole secret crush aspect that she had going on with Chase.
And Chase was great too, but I don’t know- the romance aspect of the book felt a little boring to me. That might be the wrong word because I did enjoy Under the Lights and I might continue on in the series, but their romance didn’t captivate and excite me the way that I was hoping. It was sweet and slow and made me smile. I get why they didn’t rush into anything. They were both coming off of bad relationships, and they were each dealing with their own demons, but together I just expected more fireworks, and it took a longg time to get there.
People that enjoy small town romances will really like Under the Lights. The football played a smaller role than I was expecting in the story as well, but I think that worked out in the end. The true beauty of Under the Lights for me was watching the town come together. This one was a good read, but a bit slower in the romance area than I was expecting.
While you are here Have you entered these giveaways?
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- Booking Through Summer
- May Clean Sweep ARC 2015
Laquesha @ We're All Bookish Here
I really love books which have aspects besides romance such as family and friendship and I think that I’ll really enjoy reading about the rebuilding of the town’s football team. That being said, I’m not too sure if I might pick this one up. Maybe? Maybe not? Anyway, fantastic review!
jazmen
Looks like an interesting read. I never heard of it before this but if I’m ever in the mood I might check it out.