Phoebe has twenty-four hours to deliver a rescue puppy to her sister’s family in Devon. Armed with a pink woolly hat and a heart full of good intentions, she’s determined to make it happen.
The only problem? She doesn’t have a car. Joshua, her sister’s American house sitter, does.
Joshua came to England to focus on his work and heal a broken heart. Spending Christmas Eve driving a relentlessly cheerful stranger and a howling dog through a blizzard was not part of his plan.
But Phoebe is very persuasive. And somewhere between an impromptu snowball fight and a night sheltering in a firelit shepherd’s hut, the frost between them begins to melt.
Soon what started as a chaotic road trip turns into an even bigger adventure: falling in love.
She knows better than to fall for another football player – especially her brother’s best friend…
As a single mother, Annie Quinn knows she should steer clear of football players, if her son’s absent father is anything to go by. Determined to prove she can raise Nelson on her own, she’s decided to go back to school. There’s just one problem: she refuses to rely on her brother Colton for rides into the city.
Tanner Pace has always known Annie Quinn is strictly off limits. Colton is his teammate and best friend, so she’s more like a sister. When he offers to teach her to drive, it’s just to help out a friend. At least, that’s what he tells himself. Because these days, Annie has transformed into a strong and independent woman – one he can’t seem to stay away from.
Somewhere between unpredictable drives and slow Texas sunsets, sparks fly and Annie forgets why she decided never to trust a sports star again.
As much as Tanner wants something to happen, he knows it can’t. Annie is his best friend’s sister. Completely, undeniably out of bounds… but are some rules meant to be broken?
This book is about finding love when life has already taken an unexpected turn, and learning that trust, support, and family can sometimes come from the most unlikely places. It delivers a heartfelt sports romance centered on single mother Annie and professional football player Tanner.
Annie is determined to finish her education while raising her young son, Nelson, but her lack of transportation leads Tanner, her brother’s teammate and friend to step in and help. Their driving lessons gradually evolve into a deeper connection, and Tanner’s kindness, patience, and devotion make him an easy hero to root for. His growing bond with Nelson is especially touching and adds warmth to the story.
The novel shines in its portrayal of friendship, family, and found support systems. However, the romance can feel frustrating at times. Annie and Tanner spend much of the story battling their feelings, creating a repetitive cycle of attraction and retreat that slows the emotional momentum. Miscommunication and constant hesitation occasionally overshadow their chemistry.
Despite these frustrations, the engaging football team dynamics, lovable side characters, and emotional family moments keep the story enjoyable. While not as strong as the previous book in the series, Out of Bounds remains a sweet, character-driven romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy brother’s-best-friend, single-parent, and slow-burn romance tropes.
