First Down and Forever To Go by Leah Dobrinska: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

Can a pair of opposites come together to heal from past wounds, lay their secrets bare, and pave the way for a future full of laughter and love? Or is this Cinderella story destined for an unhappily ever after?

TJ Wilson, the outgoing star running back for the Green Bay River Foxes, swears he’ll never fall in love again…not after losing his college girlfriend. He’s content with a life of football and carefree dating. Nothing serious. No strings. No matter how much his teammates rib him for it. When a stunning, secretive woman all but begs him to show her a good time at his team’s charity ball, he’s the man for the job. If the shoe fits, after all.

One heart-to-heart and an almost-kiss later, TJ finds himself enamored with the bashful but brazen mystery Cinderella, and, against his better judgement, longing for more than the one night she’s offered him.

One night. Lucy Dupree, a secret author and media personality-turned-social pariah, promises her literary agent she’ll come out of hiding for one night. Just long enough to get inspired, overcome her writer’s block, and finish her manuscript by the deadline. With the help of her fairy-godmother landlord and a vintage wedding gown, Lucy attends the Green Bay River Foxes Gala where she meets TJ, a walking, talking prince charming.

The masquerade theme allows Lucy to conceal her identity, and TJ provides her with enough content to write ten romance novels. A win-win. She got what she came for, and that’s enough. It has to be. Because when the clock strikes midnight, the fairytale ends. Or is it just beginning?

First Down and Forever To Go is a soft and sweet closed door romance with kissing only and no implied intimacy, perfect for fans of the opposites attract and friends to more tropes. This is the first book in the River Foxes Football Romance series. All titles can be read as standalones.

The Author

Leah Dobrinska is the author of the Songwriter Sleuth Mysteries, the Larkspur Library Mysteries, the Fall In Love romcom series, and the Mapleton novels. She earned her degree in English Literature from UW-Madison where she was awarded the Dean’s Prize and served as a Writing Fellow. She has since worked as a freelance writer, editor, and content marketer. As a kid, she hoped to grow up to be either Nancy Drew or Elizabeth Bennet. Now, she fulfills that dream by writing mysteries and love stories.

A sucker for a good sentence, a happy ending, and the smell of books—both old and new—Leah lives out her very own happily ever after in a small Wisconsin town with her husband and their gaggle of kids. When she's not writing, handing out snacks, visiting the local library, or doing projects around the house, Leah enjoys reading and running. Find out more about Leah, join her newsletter community, and connect with her through her website.

Book Review

A football romance with Cinderella vibes!? Yes, please! Simply put, I was completely obsessed with this one right from the start! Honestly, it would be pretty hard not to fall in love with TJ and Lucy. On the surface, we have a somewhat cocky football star and a disgraced celebrity in hiding, but I loved how much depth each of these characters had... they both had heartbreaks and loss in their past, and I loved that sense of healing that their story brought. Those more emotional and tender moments were balanced perfectly with the humor and fun... and some pretty amazing chemistry too! My goodness! Truly, there was just something about these two together that I couldn't help but love. I wouldn't say that their story was a true fairy tale retelling, but their Cinderella-inspired meet cute was the sweetest and definitely made this Cinderella fan smile! And the River Foxes? This team already feels like family, and I find myself looking forward to seeing more from them in this series. I cannot wait to see what's going to happen next. If you love football romance and secret identities, this is one you won't want to miss! 

First Down and Forever to Go is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4pATMFD