ABOUT THE BOOK
Divided by circumstances. United by football.
Two types of folks live in Pottsville, Texas. Those who have two jobs and those who have two houses. But no matter their address, Friday night football brings every soul in town together under the same stadium lights. Problem is, the have-nots always watch from the sidelines. Until now…
Four years ago, Reed Maddox made a deathbed promise to his mother before the cancer claimed her life: Take care of their family. To make good on his vow, Reed has agreed to a pact forcing him to abandon his dream of playing football—his one guaranteed ticket out of the trailer park. But when he throws a reckless pass from the sidelines, everything he’s tried to protect is threatened including his guarded heart.
To regain her title as cheer captain and unofficial crown as princess of Pottsville, knock-out Savannah Kensington is about to brush elbows with Reed Maddox and his hooligan friends. But Little Miss Perfect’s world has been upside down longer than anyone who’s seen her winning smile would realize. Still scarred by the death of her baby sister, she hides her feelings under the pretense of popularity.
When the opportunity to reclaim her senior year involves a secret deal to help Reed, Savannah accepts. When their two pacts collide, revealing Reed’s football talent and upending everything Savannah knows about her personal kingdom, Pottsville High implodes. The have-nots are invading, the painted white lines are blurring, and Savannah and Reed are locked together in the middle of a battle between circumstance and privilege. Can their new alliance unite the stands or will the ingrained hatred of a town divided tear apart their chance at happily ever after?
MY REVIEW
My reading slump is finally over with a captivating young adult sports romance with a Friday Night Lights feel.
Pottsville, Texas is a football town divided by the Sammies (the “haves”) and Willies (the “have nots”). No one knows that better than Reed Maddox. He’s the tough leader of the Willies and has a talent he cannot reveal due to his promise to his mother on her deathbed. Savannah Kensington is a Sammie and is the daughter of the football coach. She has quit cheerleading to bring her grades up. With the help from Coach Kensington, the Sammies and Willies are about to change course.
Reed is a natural-born leader who is responsible and protective of the ones he loves. Willies are family and they have his back. Reed’s love for his little sister is adorable and I admire his fortitude to keep her safe by keeping a secret and sacrificing his happiness and future. Savannah’s struggles with the loss of her sister and her parents’ grief are heartbreaking as she also deals with bad grades and drama with friends and her boyfriend, Dalton. Her father’s suggestion to help out a little girl in need despite the girl’s brother being a Willie changes her life. She experiences what it’s like to have a sibling and to have a boy appreciate her for the strong compassionate young woman she is.
I love a good popular girl/bad boy young adult theme and the author gives a wonderful human quality to the characters that drew me in. Witnessing Savannah’s growth and healing from trauma is well written and Reed’s secret that is slowly revealed is enthralling and shocking.
High school is sometimes a difficult period in one’s life and Ms, Claire does a compelling job managing the emotional turbulence and family dynamics of authentic characters.
I wholeheartedly recommend this poignant and engrossing story that seamlessly blends sports, romance, and emotional depth. It’s brimming with heart, resilience, and the enduring power of love and hope. I can’t wait to read more in the series!
Thank you to Ms. Claire for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Friday Night Gridiron Series
1. Sideliners (2023)
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dana Claire is an award-winning author whose stories explore identity, fate and destiny in the crossroads of romance and adventure. But her writing career didn’t begin when she published her first book, The Connection, in 2020. It started as a young girl when her mother, an elementary school teacher, inspired her to create imaginary worlds between the pages.
Dana’s love of romantic tension, the supernatural and non-stop action has elicited positive feedback from many readers, as their online reviews reveal her flair for spine-tingling action and unforgettable characters. But it’s not just readers who love her; literary critics have also taken note, and Dana was given the Children’s Moonbeam award for The Connection in 2021.
Dana is now sharing her stories through speaking events and book signings, introducing more readers to the worlds she created. She lives in Los Angeles, CA with her adoring husband living her dreams: writing books, telling stories, and changing the world, one reader at a time.
Follow Dana on her website, Bookbub, Facebook, Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.
