Book Review | First & Goal by Laura Chapman

Today I’m excited to share my review on Laura Chapman’s latest novel, First & Goal. Whether you’re a football fan or simply a chick-lit enthusiast, this novel is for you!

First & Goal by Laura Chapman

Published: September 9, 2015

Set your lineups and pull out the old game tape—football is here. This year, you can experience fantasy football vicariously through (or commiserate with) Harper Duquaine in First & Goal by Laura Chapman.

What begins as a way to make nice with her new co-workers soon becomes an obsession for Harper as she navigates the ups and downs of managing a fantasy football team. Add in a pair of meddling brothers, a crew of quirky colleagues, and a league-mate who makes her toes curl, and Harper’s football season has plenty to keep her interested.

This new romantic comedy is now available from Marching Ink on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Join in the fun and cheer Harper on as she takes on the old boys club.

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. Then beat them.

About the Book: When Harper Duquaine’s no-nonsense approach to work unintentionally ruffles the wrong feathers at her new job, she joins her co-workers’ fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way).

Embroiled in a world of lineups, stats, and trades, Harper’s quest to make nice topples when her competitive streak emerges. And her promise to herself that she’ll be a strong, independent woman and leave the drama and heartache behind is seriously tested when she catches the attention of her two biggest competitors: J.J., a local celebrity determined to win a fantasy championship, and Brook, the mild-mannered coach who seems too good to be true. Both threaten her resolve to remain single… and, more importantly, her chances at winning the prize pool.

With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.

Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads | Kobo

My Review:

First & Goal is a fun, fantasy football-filled chick-lit novel about figuring out love and life. We start off with Harper, an office manager at a car dealership that is fabulous at her job, but not so great at connecting with the team. After a little encouragement from her boss to become friends with the guys, Harper finds herself getting pulled into her work’s fantasy football league as their 12th member. She figures since her brothers are football fans, they can help her figure out how to draft her team and not look like a total football fool by failing miserably.

Cue the beginning of Harper’s hilarious path on her pursuit to become one of the guys. Throw in a cute co-worker and a sexy high school football coach and you’ve got yourself a recipe for some major drama and laughs.

One of the main themes in this novel is the importance of learning to stop second guessing yourself. Learning to let yourself be happy and believe that you deserve the best is vital on your path of love and life. You can’t let your rocky past dictate your bright future and ultimately, you must realize that nobody’s life is perfect, but that’s no reason to not keep pushing towards your goals and living life to the fullest.

First & Goal was wonderfully written and was a thoroughly entertaining novel. Who knew fantasy football could be so stressful but exciting at the same time? I’m not a football gal myself but it piqued my interest and you don’t need to know a thing about the game to enjoy this novel. Whether you’re a football fan or simply a chick-lit enthusiast, this novel is for you!

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

About the Author – Laura Chapman

Author Bio:

Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, The Marrying Type, andHard Hats and Doormats. Her work appears in Merry & Bright, A Kind of Mad Courage, and a forthcoming Christmas anthology from Marching Ink. A native Nebraskan, she loves Huskers and Packers football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Laura is currently in pursuit of a fantasy football championship while penning her next novel.

Check out Laura’s other novels…

The Marrying Type

Published: February 24, 2015

About the Book: Always the wedding planner, never a bride, Elliot Lynch is famous for orchestrating the splashiest weddings in Charleston, South Carolina. When her father’s sloppy management practices leave them on the brink of bankruptcy, Elliot will do whatever it takes to save the family business. When asked to appear on “The Marrying Type,” a reality TV show about the people behind the scenes as couples exchange I dos, she says yes to the invasion of privacy (and the hefty paycheck that comes with it).

With a camera crew capturing every detail of her life, Elliot faces her most challenging contract yet: planning a wedding where her ex is involved in every part of the process. Add in a lazy assistant, liquor-loving bridesmaid, and rival planner encroaching on her turf, and Elliot’s wedding season goes from high-end to high-stress.

Forced to confront her past, Elliot must live out her troubled present on national TV if she has any hope of saving her future.

Check out my review on the novel here and my interview with the author here!

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Kobo | Marching Ink

Hard Hats & Doormats

Published: December 11, 2013

About the Book: Lexi Burke has always been a stickler for following rules and procedures. As a human resources manager for a leading Gulf Coast chemical company, it’s her job to make sure everyone else falls in line, too.

But after losing out on a big promotion–-because her boss sees her as too much of a yes-woman––Lexi adopts a new policy of following her heart instead of the fine print. And her heart knows what it wants: Jason Beaumont, a workplace crush who is off limits based on her previous protocol.

While navigating a new romance and interoffice politics, Lexi must find the confidence to stand on her own or face a lifetime of following someone else’s orders.

Who says nice girls have to finish last?

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads | Kobo | Marching Ink