REVIEW: Under the Lights by Shannon Stacey

Under the Lights (Boys of Fall #1) by Shannon Stacey: Chase’s life seems to be falling apart around him. His business partner just absconded with money from their business and his girlfriend just left him for another man. So he is not thrilled to be emotionally blackmailed by Kelly to return to Stewart Mills for members of the only championship winning football team to try to save the current football program. Out of respect and a sense of gratitude to Coach, Chase agrees.

Kelly is the high school football coach’s daughter and has always been seen as such in their small town. She feels the weight of that designation, in addition to being a cop, and holds herself to a higher standard of conduct. She’s smart, determined, and loyal.

While in high school, Kelly had a huge crush on Chase. Chase makes a memorable first impression upon returning to town and Kelly realizes that she’s still attracted to the former bad boy. Chase is reluctant to be celebrated for a former accomplishment when his current life is such a mess.

“You’re not a visitor. You’re one of the golden boys of fall.”
“You almost said that with a straight face.” He liked the hint of mocking in her voice. It mirrored how he felt about the whole thing. He wasn’t a golden boy, by any means.
“Go get a coffee, golden boy,” she said. “And grab one of Mimi Dodge’s muffins before the bake sale table runs out. They’re that good.”

Chase ends up spending quite a bit of time with Kelly since she is responsible for the festival and activities geared to raising the funds for the team along with her two best friends. Chase feels an unwanted attraction to Kelly as she’s off limits because she’s the coach’s daughter and he’s currently staying with her parents during the festival.

“If you let me off with one dunking booth shift, I’ll wash the dessert dishes,” he offered, hoping for peach cobbler.
“If you don’t wash the dessert dishes, I’m going to tell Edna Beecher I saw a 9-millimeter casing on the floor of your truck. You know how she feels about guns and, yes, she still has the FBI on speed dial.”

Chase and Kelly can’t deny the chemistry and neither are looking for something permanent. Chase only intends to stay in Stewart Mills for the festival and then go back to put his life back together. They try to keep their fling discreet, but it’s hard to keep a secret in a small town.

Under the Lights is a fun and heartwarming contemporary romance between the troubled athlete and the coach’s daughter. The small town of Stewart Mills is like another character in the book. Shannon Stacey provided a heartbreaking and unique context for the storyline. Ms. Stacey also developed a great relationship between Kelly and Chase filled with banter.

Fans of The Gilmore Girls, Jessica Lemmon, and Kate Meader would enjoy Under the Lights.

Book Info:

Publication: May 26th 2015 by Jove |  Boys of Fall #1

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Kowalski Family novels, a sweet, sexy new series about taking hits, making second chances, and finding love…

They were the golden boys of fall: Stewart Mills High School’s legendary championship winning football team. Fourteen years later, they’re back to relive their glory, save the team—and find themselves again…

Chase Sanders’s life has taken a lot of crazy turns lately. But returning to his hometown to help his old coach keep his high school football team afloat might be the craziest thing to happen to him yet. That is, until he starts falling for the last person he should—Coach’s gorgeous daughter…

Kelly McDonnell learned the hard way that cocky, charming men are nothing but trouble, so she knows Chase is bad news. Still, she can’t resist his smile—or the rest of him. But when his loyalty to her father conflicts with their growing attraction, any hope for a relationship might be blocked before it can even begin…