The Big Game - Cassie Connor 🏈

This is a light room-com, with enemies to lovers/second chance romance.

Although this seems to be a sports book, honestly there wasn’t all that much about football, this was very much a B plot of the story.

Unfortunately this wasn’t a huge hit for me, I found the characters kind of one dimensional and didn’t really give me any reason to really believe their chemistry. The ending felt really rushed too.

If you’re looking for a lighthearted book,loosely centred around football with some spice, you might enjoy this.

For a sports romance, this one doesn't involve much sport at all and who knew I'd miss that element? It would have been great to see more of Tate in an athletic environment as it's such a big part of his life, but we see so much of him outside that - his gym sessions, professional events, etc - and I was disappointed! That being said, I liked the concept of this book and was intrigued to see these ex-lovers, now enemies, interact and experience the forced proximity required for Lily to protect Tate. All in all though, I wasn't wowed by this book. While I know this is fiction, there were still too many gaps for me, as though the plot had been fit into a box with no thought for how it might stand up in the real world. I also didn't like Tate - he really doesn't think about how his words or actions affect Lily, in the past or present. It made it too difficult to really root for them both as a couple. This does sound really negative, but overall it was fine for an easy read and it wasn't so much that I didn't enjoy it, there were just a few key things that knocked the rating for me.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁: This book really surprised me, in a good way. I thought I was signing up to read a football romance but it was so much more. It was basically an action packed romcom. There was always danger lurking around the corner, it made for a very fast read. I just had a few open questions at the end a few to many plot holes. Definitely would recommend as the vibes on this one is there, it was such a fun take on this genre.

It was a the big college championship game. Tate was the star player about to be drafted to the NFL and Lily was a cheerleader, they were in love. But things are never that simple. Lily received a call after the game her father had a heart attack and she had to get back to England ASAP. She went to go find Tate, and she overheard him talking to his dad. Tate’s dad reminded him he needed to end things with her, he could only have one focus: football. So Lily did the only thing her heart could handle she left and never looked back.

10 years later and Lily just walked back into Tate’s life. She has been working for MI6 and is now working the private sector as bodyguard. She was brought into guard a player for the Austin Armadillos as they are receiving death threats against him unless they pull him from the upcoming Super Bowl. Lily had no idea the player was her Ex Tate and that she would be prosing as his fake fiancée- this job got a lot more challenging.

To make it worse Tate isn’t taking the threats seriously and doesn’t want his security to interfere with his ability to train and prepare for the biggest game of his life. Plus he’s pissed at Lily for ghosting him and breaking his heart all those years ago. But things escalate faster and faster and soon there is a lot more at stake than Tate’s life and playing the game.

𝑭𝒂𝒗 𝑸𝒖𝒐𝒕𝒆: “ Lily, football is football, but you... If I don't have you in my life, none of it is worth anything! “ - Tate

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Bodyguard FMC (She Worked for MI6)
* NFL Superstar MMC
* Second Chance
* Fake Engagement
* Then and Now
* Forced Proximity
* Death Threats Against MMC
* Suspense & Action
* Dual POV
* Lot of Spice

🏈🔥🔫💍 🏈🔥🔫💍 🏈🔥🔫💍 🏈🔥🔫💍🏈

Another winner!

Cassie Connor is now one of my favourite authors to look out for, her books have a great storyline with really developed characters which become totally encapsulating, not forgetting more spice than vindaloo!

A great comfort read that had fantastic witty charm and banter between the characters. It was well written with great flow and dialogue. I am happy to have found a new author and look forward to read more from them in the future.

I enjoy reading about Lilly and tate. This was a quick read for me, but it was an adorable book. It was definitely sassy and spicy! I enjoy reading Elle Kennedy and Meghan Quinn , and now I can add Cassie Connor to that list! There was times that I was laughing so much that I felt like I was crying. I defintely reccomend this book!

3.5 stars.

Lily and Tate dated in college, but a few mishaps occur and they don't see each other for eight years. The next time they meet is when Lily takes on the role of Tate's bodyguard / fake fiancée after a series of threats he's received.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters’ banter and dialogue was easy to read, with a few exceptions.

What made me ultimately deduct a star was that was no epilogue and that there were a few scenes, especially at the beginning, involving one of the characters Pammie that felt confusing and hard to place. Also, I found not all plot points to be wrapped up by the end of the story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A good book you cant help but not love, Yes another sports romance but sports is in so make do. I am thankful I got to the opportunity to read this

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

A fun second chance sports romance!

It’s been years since Tate shattered Lily’s heart. Now he’s a high profile NFL player and Lily’s latest security assignment. Sparks fly when these two reconnect.

I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and filled with action packed scenes. Definitely a little different than other sports romances I’ve read, but I really liked it!


📘: The Big Game by Cassie Connor
🗓️: January 16, 2025

Thank you to NetGalley, Cassie Connor, and Harper Collins UK for this ARC!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Reviewed on NetGalley, Amazon, and Goodreads.

I was really excited for the premise of this book but sadly it fell short for me. I found it overall to have a bit too much of a juvenile feel. The characters were meant to be adults who met in college but it had a real high school feel to it I couldn’t get past. The plot was a fun idea but again I think the execution felt a bit too far fetched and nothing ran deep enough. I’ve loved some of her past books but this one just wasn’t for me sadly.

I had high hopes for this one because I thought it would be a really cool reverse gender The Bodyguard second chance romance, but I ended up DNF at around 35% then skipped to the last few chapters.

Too many plot holes. He's a Texan NFL player but a lot of action in New York. Theyre both 28 and she's been retired from MI5 (!!!) for a few years? The ending was ludicrous and disappointing given we're supposed to have a heroine who was in MI5 and highly trained.

Also, why can’t British writers write about characters in their own country without pandering to the worst of the American market? The male POV was just full of his dick twitching. The author admits not knowing NFL, but didn't even really demonstrate any research into a NFL team.

The writer has promise but this needed more work.

Thanks to One More Chapter/Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the ARC.

⭐️ 3/5 🌶 2/5

‘Only good girls get what they want.’ He pushes me back against the tiles and changes his hold on my arms, forcing them higher above my head. ‘Are you going to be a good girl?’

Um... ok, sir 🥵

Lily & Tate were high school sweethearts, until they were separated and heartbroken. Their reunion is an odd one now that he is a professional NFL player and she is a bodyguard of all things (hear me out, I thought this was going ti be weird but I liked the roll flip).

This was a fun, enjoyable, and quick read with a good balance of yearning, lust, romance, humour and tension to keep you burning through pages.

Were there some pacing and general storyline flaws? Yes. But it didn't make it bad. It's comparable to a Netflix RomCom. I had a good time and enjoyed it.

♡ Enemies to Lovers
♡ Second Chance
♡ NFL Sport Romance
♡ Protective and Possessive MCs
♡ Banter & Whit
♡ Spice
♡ Push & Pull

This was an enjoyable quick read with a lot of spice and the main characters have good chemistry. I liked that the FMC was the bodyguard in kind of a role reversal of a trope, but overall, I didn't love how the plot developed in terms of mystery and suspense.

Lily and Tate were college sweethearts but went their separate ways, leaving her heartbroken. Now he’s the face of an NFL franchise and she’s a successful bodyguard.
Tate has been getting death threats and his team hires a bodyguard, someone who can fit in without looking like a guard. Lily has trained and is the best in her profession. She can fit in by pretending to be Tate’s girlfriend. Neither of them are happy with this situation, but the Super Bowl is coming up and Tate needs to be there.
As they spend time together their feelings for each other return, but can they stay together after the threat has passed?
I enjoyed this light hearted enemies to lovers, second chance romance. It’s an entertaining read, 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a cute second chance love story! I love a good football story and this was a really fun one. The writing was good and the characters were easy to connect with. A fun read!

The Big Game was a pleasant read. It was a second chance love story with romance and spice.
It did seem they ‘bickered’ often which I found a little annoying, but it is worth a read.

I've seen mixed reviews for this book, but I go off vibes and I had a great time reading it. It has romance, spice, suspense and it made me laugh. I enjoyed the woman being the bodyguard and Lily is a great character.

The tension between her and Tate is off the charts. They make a cute couple and I enjoyed watching Lily try to resist being pulled back in. I also liked the fact that they didn't actually take too long to talk about why they broke up so there isn't as much miscommunication as there could have been.

The action twist to the book was fun and added some suspense. I did suspect a certain character but it didn't ruin it that I guessed. The ending was a bit ridiculous but it was also entertaining.

This was a solidly fun read!

I LOVE a sports crossover, and so The Big Game did not disappoint.

I also love when the FMC is just a badass, and Lily checks that box.

I do wish there had been a little bit more on the suspense side of things, but overall, the chemistry between Lily and Tate was 10/10.

If you like a fast paced sports romance with second chances, this is a solid read!

Lily and Tate were college sweethearts, crazy in love with each other till a misunderstanding drove them apart.
Years later they meet again. Tate is a pro footballer who is getting threats, and Lily has been hired to protect him. There are too many hurt feelings between Lily and Tate for anything to happen, but the sparks between them didn’t get the memo. Try as they might, they couldn’t keep their hands off each other. Their chemistry was hot. I enjoyed the suspense and the action.

This is an entertaining but somewhat uneven sports romcom that blends second-chance romance, fake dating, and light suspense. The story follows Lily, a tough-as-nails security agent, assigned to protect her ex, Tate, now a high-profile NFL player. Their forced proximity reignites old tensions and undeniable chemistry, making for plenty of steamy and emotional moments.

While the premise is fun, the execution stumbles in places. The sports elements feel underdeveloped, and the romantic suspense aspect, though intriguing, lacks the depth needed to feel truly high-stakes. Additionally, the writing sometimes struggles with pacing and believability, particularly in how the security storyline is handled. That said, the banter is enjoyable, the tension between Lily and Tate is engaging, and the book delivers on the spice promised. A solid pick for fans of *Miss Congeniality* vibes and steamy sports romances.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.