The Long Game

July 10, 2023
An unlikely duo find love while coaching a children’s soccer team in this adorable small-town romance from bestseller Armas (The American Roommate Experience). After a video of Adalyn Reyes, “the overachieving daughter” of the owner of professional soccer team the Miami Flames, in an altercation with the Flames’ mascot goes viral, her father comes up with an unconventional plan to divert the bad press. He exiles Adalyn for the rest of the Flames’ season, sending her to manage a struggling team in need of a boost. Adalyn doesn’t know until she arrives that the North Carolina Green Warriors are a bunch of unruly nine-year-olds—nor is she expecting their coach to be former hotshot goalie Cameron “Cam” Caldani. The pair get off on the wrong foot when Adalyn nearly hits Cam with her car, an encounter that leaves Cam determined to run Adalyn out of town. But Adalyn is intent on proving herself to her father by steering the adorable but chaotic Warriors to victory. Armas’s leads feel fully fleshed out, and the pacing of their transition from enemies to lovers is just right. With plenty of hilarious and swoonworthy interactions set against a quaint backdrop, this is sure to please Armas’s many fans. Agent: Jessica Watterson, Sandra Dijsktra Literary.

Starred review from August 1, 2023

Adalyn Reyes is dedicated to working for the Miami Flames, the major-league soccer team that her father owns. But when her reaction to an overheard conversation causes her to attack the team's mascot--and video of it goes viral--Adalyn is banished to a philanthropic project in North Carolina to earn her job back and give the incident time to blow over. Finding herself in a small town with a soccer team of young girls to coach is surprising enough, but then Adalyn encounters pro goalkeeper Cameron Caldani, who is hiding from the press after his unexpected retirement. Forced to coach the girls together, Adalyn and Cameron's initial dislike soon turns to grudging respect and mutual attraction. The ebb and flow as they learn how to balance strength and softness and become protective of each other is incredibly emotionally satisfying. While Adalyn will have to face decisions about her career and priorities, life with a gruff but tender goalkeeper, his cats, and some stray baby goats is starting to seem very appealing. VERDICT This slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance from Armas (The American Roommate Experiment) is sexy, satisfying, and perfect for any reader who has ever swooned over Roy Kent.--Melissa DeWild

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 1, 2023
Adalyn Reyes knows exactly what she wants: to impress her rich father and boss enough to be granted a promotion to run the Miami Flames soccer club. Unfortunately, after an incident involving her beheading the team's mascot, Adalyn finds herself banished to North Carolina to head some charity work for the club in the form of managing a young girls' soccer team. Everything goes from bad to worse when Adalyn discovers she's staying in a crumbling, infested shed next to a hot neighbor who hates her. Former professional goalkeeper Cameron Caldani was simply looking for a quiet place to disappear for a while when he got suckered into coaching nine-year-old girls. One look at the uptight woman moving into the ramshackle shed next to his house while claiming she's his boss has him gunning to get her out of town. Sports-romance enthusiasts, Armas fans, and anyone who loves a grumpy/grumpy dynamic will adore this charming story filled with memorable characters and stellar chemistry.

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