4.5 ⭐️

I loved First base by Ally, so i was very excited to read Going for two, the second in the Chicago heartbreakers series.

I knew I would enjoy this as it is a grumpy x sunshine and he falls first trope. FMC Lottie got a new job at the NFL as a physiotherapist and in walks grumpy Nolan (he soon became a teddy bear 🧸) while Nolan is working on himself and building his strength for his last season, Lottie has made a bucket list, in which Nolan helps her tick them off. They were adorable and had great chemistry once they made a good friendship. I was routing for them to both figure things out both individually and together.

I love that in both books that the FMC's are driven, successful and killing it in men's sports, one of my fave things about Ally's books 👏🏼

I also enjoyed the little snippets of Tommy and Maggie from First base and I have a cheeky feeling Derek and Olivia may have something going on in book 3... 👀

Read if you like;
🏉 Sports Romance
🏉 Closed door romance
🏉 Work place romance
🏉 He falls first
🏉 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏉 Found family

Thank you @Netgally and @allywingard for this arc in exchange for a honest review.

Thsi was a well written sports romance with an easy to follow plot. It billed itself as spicy which it isn't l, sex is not described at all. The 2 main characters are cute and good at communicating. They also both go after what they want which is refreshing.

So, I apparently read the first book in this series before I read this one, although I had no recollection of it, which is never a good sign. It as only because certain things were mentioned from the first book that vaguely rang a bell that I realised and checked my previous Netgalley feedback to find out I had read it.

This book is about Nolan and Lottie. Lottie is the sister of Olivia, who I can only assume was mentioned in the first book. Hell, Lottie probably was too, how would I know?

This was a sports romance which was heavy on the sports, which I enjoyed. Despite not knowing much about American Football, I still enjoy a story that has a lot of sports throughout. I guess, I just love a sports romance.

There was good chemistry between Lottie and Nolan from the beginning - she is the team's physio and has the not so fun task of getting Nolan to coperat with therapy. I like the whole grumpy athlete vibe but felt that it didn't go on for long and Lottie wasn't sunshine enough to balance it out.

The book started off quite fast paced but then it seedmed to slow down at around 60% and got quite samey. I definitely think this story was 100 pages longer than it needed to be.

Overall, I wouldn't say I hated it, I enjoyed it enough to anticipat a Derek & Olivia story but other than that, I wouldn't say it was an absolute must read. While this wasn't a bad book, I have read many more who have done this sort of trope but better.

3 stars.

Tropes:
- Sports romance
- Colleagues
- NFL star

Going For Two follows star quarterback Nolan Hill and new team physical therapist Lottie Thompson. After a bad knee injury, Nolan shuts down, doubting Lottie’s methods. Lottie, who’s sacrificed her personal life for her career, creates a bucket list with her sister and best friend. As they help each other—Nolan regains his confidence, and Lottie checks off her list—romance sparks. But with Nolan’s possible retirement and Lottie’s family issues, their future is uncertain.

I loved this book! Ally Wiegand’s fast-paced, engaging writing made it a fun and satisfying read.

Going For Two follows Nolan Hill, the all star quarterback for the Chicago Bobcats, and Lottie Thompson, the team's new physical therapist. After suffering from a significant knee injury in the year prior, Nolan has shut down both professionally and personally. He is frosty to everyone — especially Lottie because he doesn't believe any of her methods can help him, despite her impressive career history. As for Lottie, she has had to sacrifice a lot for her success, including a social life. In order to catch up for lost time, she, along with her sister and her best friend, decides to make a bucket list of things she wants to do by the end of the year, like date and have a new year's kiss. As weeks pass and Lottie and Nolan get to know each other, they start to help each other; Lottie gives Nolan back his confidence on the pitch and Nolan helps Lottie tick off some items on her bucket list. Soon enough, feelings begin to develop. But with retirement looming for Nolan and complex family trauma weighing Lottie down, can they work through their issues to be together?

I went into this book expecting to love it after I became quickly obsessed with the first book in this series, and it didn't disappoint! Ally Wiegand's writing style really works for me; it is fast paced, easy to become invested in and written with the perfect amount of detail. I really admire how the dual POV style allows the charatcers to exist as individuals not just as two halves to a relationship. This factor contributes to a strong sense of pride that you feel for the protagonists as they work through their issues; you truly root for them. As for tropes, this book fell into a few classics. It is a workplace romance, slight enemies to lovers (but you know they never truly hated each other, of course) and he falls first. There is also a very strong element of found family in this book, which includes cameos from Tommy and Maggie from book 1 and this is something I always love to see. I am crossing my fingers for a Derek and Olivia book some time in the future! It is also worth mentioning the more complex, deeper rooted themes that run through the plot. Lottie has a complicated family - she really only has her sister — and Nolan is battling with extreme self imposed pressure and the worry of what the future might look like, which is something all of us can relate to even if we aren't NFL players.

Overall, I highly recommend this book and had a great time reading it! Thank you NetGalley, Embla Books and Ally Wiegand for this advanced reader copy. Release date on the 1st October 2024.

Dr Lottie Thompson has finally achieved her dream job as the newest physical therapist for the Chicago Bobcats NFL team. Champion quarterback Nolan Hill is struggling after an injury two years ago. This is his last season to achieve a third superbowl ring, but his fears have made him a grumpy shadow of his normally effusive self. Sparks fly in more ways than one when Nolan discovers Lottie is determined to help him.

I adored Ally Wiegand’s debut ‘First Base’ and thought it was one of the stronger sports romances out there. I can safely say that ‘Going for Two’ cements my assertions as Wiegand writes an emotional truth about Lottie and Nolan that made me understand why they are the way they are and how they learn to heal. Lottie and Nolan were so adorable and I loved learning all their hidden layers and hurdles which stop them from going after their happiness. I appreciated watching their growth individually and as a couple with a future.

There's an insta attraction, developed slowly as they both grapple with their personal issues. I really appreciated that the focus here was on their developing relationship instead of heading to early declarations of love and spice scene without seeing the genuine connection. Instead, we see many smaller moments where Lottie and Nolan step up for each other. I also appreciated the sage advice dished out to both by their friends.

I can’t wait for the third book, which I’m assuming will feature Olivia and Derek.

Thanks to Embla Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This story was cute and had so much potential.

I found lots of it was just too wordy- 10 sentences were used instead of 1, and it needed a really good chop down to get to the actual bones of the story. There were parts of the book where nothing really seemed to happen for quite a while and it started to drag.

I really liked Nolan, and loved how confident Lottie was in her role with the team. The way she built a friendship with Nolan and gained his trust was lovely, but I just wanted to see a bit more of their chemistry building up and then more of them actually together. There was at times a lot of telling but not much showing, and I think that would have made a big difference to the story.

Nolan was pretty swoony when it came to helping Lottie tick off her bucket list items, but those chapters often felt a bit rushed which was a shame.

Overall a cute read with a potentially great story that just needed a bit more behind it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Love, love, love! I LOVED THIS BOOK. Ally Wiegand did a great job at making this story just as good as the first one in the series (which I also loved and would highly recommend if you haven't read it yet).

Lottie and Nolan were the cutest grumpy x sunshine, opposites attract couple. They felt like they were well thought characters as a couple but also as individuals, making their contrasts feel more realistic and them more like real people who had flaws and developed. I devoured this book and really enjoyed the forbidden aspect of Lottie and Nolan's relationship (she is the team's physio therapist and he's an athlete). So all in all if you're looking for your next sports romance, loved the first book in this series or just want a cute romance you can read in one sitting then Going For Two is something I would HIGHLY recommend.

Summary: To Lottie, quarterback Nolan Hill is just a stubborn patient—until their rehab deal leads to unexpected sparks off-field.

Thank you to Embla Books and NetGalley for an eARC of this book, all thoughts are my own.

"If you'd been alive during the time of the Romans, your beauty would have been immortalized in stone."

SHUT THE FUCK UP!?!

Ally Wiegand the woman you are!

When I got sent this book because I loved First Base, I wasn’t sure how you were going to follow it but oh MY GOD!

Going for Two is easily a 5 star read for me. A 10/10. I picked it up and simply didn’t put it down. I absolutely DEVOURED it.

Nolan and Lottie are so special to me, both holding such high levels of self doubt and a need to prove to themselves that they are capable.

I love this book, I love this series, I love this author.

Read Time ⏱️ 2.5 hours

*****

“…my feelings for you aren't going anywhere, Lottie. If you want to wait until after the season, that's fine. But I'm not changing how I treat you. That would be a disservice to what you deserve."

"I just want to be extremely clear, Lottie… The second this season is over, we are going to be having this conversation again. I understand you want to wait till I'm retired and no longer a player. When that confetti falls from the ceiling of the stadium after we win the Super Bowl, you'll be the person I want to share it with."

“She looked like a goddess that myths would be written about. I paused for just a moment as I stood above her. If it were possible to keep a mental image forever, this moment with Charlotte Thompson would be the one I'd want to have.”

Thank you to NetGalley, Embla books and Ally Wiegand for issuing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ally Wiegand is fast-becoming one of my favourite authors. This is book two in the Chicago Heartbreaker series, and follows the story of a PT and an NFL player. This can easily be read as a stand-alone if book one isn’t your vibe.

I really loved the time that was taken to create chemistry between Lottie and Nolan. His little acts of service were super cute and added to the ‘believable’ romance.

The plot is structured and paced well, I didn’t feel bored when reading this. The side characters are great comic relief also.

This is low-spice and almost ‘fade-to-black,’ which was nice as it meant there was more plot and character development.

I liked the happily ever after for this one as well (and glad Nolan made the right choice!)

It also helps that the book cover is adorable!

If you’re looking for a new sport romance series, pick up this grumpy x sunshine, friends-to-lovers offering.

Lottie es una mujer fuerte que sabe lo que quiere, ha luchado por ser exitosa y conseguir su trabajo soñado, y ningún jugador la pondrá en problemas, ni ensuciará su reputación.

Nolan no ha sido el mismo desde que se lastimó, desde ese momento su carácter cambió porque sabe que ya no volverá a ser el mismo y que su jubilación está más cerca de lo que creía. Pero no contaba con que Lottie le devolverá la esperanza de ser titular por algunos años más.


Me gustó que la relación de fuera dando poco a poco y que haya escenas de ellos siendo amigos y después novios.


Lo del tema del padre de Lottie fue lo único que no me gustó como se trató.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️3.75-4/5 🌶️ 1/5

Tropes:
🏈 Rivals to Lovers
🏈 Opposites Attract
🏈 Grumpy X Sunshine

Lottie is the new physical therapist to the Chicago Bobcats and Nolan is their legendary quarterback facing the decision of whether this is his final year in the NFL after a bad injury in the last season. Nolan is reluctant to follow Lottie’s rehabilitation program ( he is so grumpy it’s great) until they strike a deal… he follows her plan to make this season his best and together they will complete her bucket list ( and maybe fall in love in the process).

The dynamic between Lottie and Nolan was developed really well, they contrasted each other with Lottie putting a lot of things in perspective for Nolan, while he pushes her out of her comfort zone and ensures she gets everything on her bucket list completed.

I found that the pacing of the story and the character development was done really well without sacrificing too much of one for the other and I ultimately really enjoyed this book ( I actually think I enjoyed this more than the first book which feels illegal).

Lottie had some tough past experiences that forced her to grow up fast and her bucket list was an outlet for her to heal her inner child and I really loved the way this was explored as an avenue for both herself and Nolan’s development individually and together.

As a mood reader I wanted a light hearted romance with some absolutely phenomenal character development ( and a great ensemble of supporting characters) and that is what Ally Wiegand delivered. Lottie and Nolan were inevitable and yet I still found myself rooting for them to get together.

I cannot wait for book 3 in this series… hopefully Olivia and Derek 🤞🏻🤞🏻( please please please)

A big thank you to NetGalley, Embla Books and Ally Wiegand for the ARC of “ Going for Two”