Title: Slow and Steady Rush by Laura Trentham
Falcon Football Series Book One
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperback
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Length: 400 pages
Book Rating: A
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
She lives by the book—and is still searching for her happily ever after.
Darcy Wilde has tried hard not to live up to her last name. As a librarian in Atlanta she lives a fine life far away from the football-obsessed town of her childhood. But when her beloved Grandmother needs help, Darcy takes a leave of absence and heads back to the home and past she left behind.
He knows how to play the field—and is in no rush to settle down.
Robbie Dalton knows a thing or two about painful pasts. After bouncing around in foster care and the Army for years he is finally ready to move on and make a home for himself in Falcon, Alabama as the newest high school football coach. Sparks fly when the sexy new coach and the sharp-tongued librarian meet, but neither of them is looking to make ties.
But when it comes to love, sometimes you’ve gotta throw away the rule book to cross the finish line…
Everything changes when Darcy falls in love, not only with the gruff, protective, and smoking hot man who’s sharing her days and nights, but also with the complex tapestry of people who weave Falcon together. Could this be where she belongs – and who she belongs with?
Review:
Laura Trentham’s debut novel, Slow and Steady Rush, is a fresh and engaging romance that I absolutely LOVED. The characters are superbly developed and likable, the plot is unique and the small town setting is realistic and homey. This first installment in the Falcon Football series is quite captivating and will leave readers very impatient for the release of book two, Caught Up in the Touch.
Darcy Wilde could not wait to leave the small town of Falcon, Alabama behind and she has made a wonderful life for herself in Atlanta. But when the grandmother who raised her needs her help, Darcy puts her career and life on hold and returns to Falcon where she immediately crosses paths with newcomer Robbie Dalton. Robbie served with Darcy’s cousin Logan in the army and Logan was instrumental in getting Robbie hired as the football coach/math teacher at the local high school. Robbie and Darcy are attracted to one another, but since Darcy plans to leave as soon her grandmother is back on her feet, they have no intention of acting on their mutual desire. That is until a minor misunderstanding leads to gossip that jeopardizes Robbie’s career and Logan proposes a zany plan to squash those crazy rumors circulating about Robbie…
Darcy spent her childhood trying to live down her absentee mother’s wild reputation and she found solace at the local library where her grandmother was the head librarian. Now working as research librarian at a university, Darcy is in line for a big promotion but her family’s needs trump her career aspirations for the foreseeable future. Darcy is pleasantly surprised by her new perception of her small hometown, but is she willing to make her return permanent?
Robbie is a sweet, caring man, but he is haunted by his past. His childhood was very traumatic and he never forgets just how close to the edge he once walked. Robbie is very closemouthed about his accomplishments and he is very eager to begin a new life in Falcon. His past experiences make him an excellent coach who pushes his players to do well athletically and academically. Robbie is willing to ride out the rumors swirling around him, but when Logan comes up with an idea that could put an end to the gossip about him, he finds himself in a faux relationship with Darcy that begins to feel a little too real.
An exceptionally well-written novel with an appealing cast of characters, Slow and Steady Rush is a fun and flirty romance that is also poignant and thought-provoking. Darcy and Robbie are three dimensional characters who spring vibrantly to life and it is very easy to root for them both individually and as a couple. Laura Trentham accurately portrays both the good and bad of small town life and despite a few negative experiences, the overall atmosphere is warm and inviting. All in all, it is an excellent beginning to the Falcon Football series that fans of contemporary romances are going to love.
