Sunday Spotlight is a new feature we’re running in 2016. Each week, we will spotlight a release that we’re excited about. We’ll be posting exclusive excerpts and being total fangirls. You’ve been warned. 🙂

This is the second book in the Gridiron series and I am completely obsessed with this series. Matty Iverson is a friend of Knox Masters (the hero in the first book, Sacked) and his book promises to be a good one. I knew that it was going to be a good book and I was fortunate enough to score an ARC of this book and inhaled it in one sitting.

It’s good guys. Really good. This is how I looked after I finished the book:

Everything that I hoped this book would be, it was. Matty was a fantastic hero, Lucy was a great heroine and their romance had me all swoony. It was a great reading experience so I’m over the moon that we’re spotlighting it this week.

Jock Blocked (Gridiron #2) by Jen Frederick
Released on February 11, 2016 by Jen Frederick

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She’s always played it safe…

College junior Lucy Washington abides by one rule—avoid risk at all costs. She’s cautious in every aspect of her life, from her health, to her mock trial team, to the boring guys she dates. When a brash, gorgeous jock walks into the campus coffeeshop and turns his flirt on, Lucy is stunned by the force of attraction. For the first time ever, she’s willing to step out of her comfort zone, but can she really trust the guy who’s determined to sweep her off her feet?

He’s always played around…

Entering his last year of college eligibility, linebacker Matthew “Matty” Iverson has the team captaincy in his sights. And it’s his for the taking, if he can convince his quarterback Ace Anderson to give up the starting position. Luckily, Matty already has an edge—the hottie he’s lusting over just happens to be Ace’s childhood best friend. Getting Lucy on his side and in his bed? Hell yeah. Matty is more than confident he can have both, but when he falls hard for Lucy, it’s time for a new game plan: convince the woman of his dreams that she’s not sleeping with the enemy.

Don’t you just love it when a hero, who has never had to chase anyone gets turned down? A little rejection definitely makes one humble and Matty needed to be humbled a bit so this excerpt cracks me up because I love the camaraderie between Matty and his friends, then I loved seeing him battle wits with Lucy. So great!

Excerpt

“I’m trying to decide which is the best coffee for me.”

“I thought you didn’t drink coffee.”

“I don’t.” I shrug. Can I be more obvious? I don’t think so. Unfortunately, Lucy isn’t taking the bait. Another girl would be leaning against the counter, maybe twirling her hair around her finger. Lucy looks bored. That should bother me more, but instead I feel kind of energized by her dismissiveness. It’s sure as hell different. “You didn’t use my number.”

“I was studying. We have eight different kinds of tea.”

“I have the same problem with tea as I do coffee. Anything else?”

She opens her mouth to ask me what my problem is, then snaps it closed almost immediately. Hmm. Maybe I’m cracking her barrier a tiny bit.

“How about a spiced mulled cider?”

I perk up. “You can make that?” It’s January and as cold as a penguin’s ass, so spiced cider sounds great.

“Yup.” She scribbles something on the cup. I’m guessing it’s not her phone number because the vague smile she directs my way is the same one she gave the two students before me and undoubtedly the next one who will come behind me.

I shouldn’t feel a twinge of disappointment, but I do.

“Anything else?” she asks tentatively.

Because, like a dumbass, I’m still staring at her. I shift over to the glass case. “I could use an apple streusel.”

I’ll have to do an extra ten minutes on the sleds tomorrow to pay for that, but what the hell. We just won the championship. I have three weeks until spring ball starts. If I want to eat a piece of cake, this is the time.

“We make it fresh every day.” She recites the line with enough boredom to convey she’s tired of saying it. As she reaches inside the glass case with a pair of tongs and picks out the biggest slice, she asks, “Would you like it warmed up?”

“I don’t know, will I?” The words slide out, husky and provocative, and totally unintended.

Her eyes widen. “Ah, most people do.” She shoots me an irritated look and ducks around to heat up my cake while I feel like a total idiot. Not since sixth grade have I been so unpolished with a girl.

My phone buzzes.

Hammer: Where are u? The chicks at the Gas Station are so hot tonight. It’s like winter doesn’t exist for them. God bless band-aid dresses.

Me: Bandage.

Hammer: Same thing. Where are u?! Do you think the Christmas break makes these Western girls hotter? I don’t remember them being so fine last semester.

Me: How much have u had to drink? It’s only 8.

Hammer: Where are u?

I sigh. If I don’t answer him, he’ll probably run out of the Gas Station and start yelling my name like the guy who keeps yelling “Stella!” from that movie my mom loves so much. Huh. I wonder if that’s why Coach named his daughter that. I give myself a mental head slap for falling down that particular rabbit hole and punch in a response to Hammer.

Me: Brew place. Striking out.

Hammer: Noooooo.

Hopefully, Hammer’s drinking with a friend tonight.

My phone vibrates again but this time the screen displays the number fifty-five. It’s Masters. Damn, I’m going to miss that bastard when he leaves school at the end of this year.

Masters: Hammer texted me. Sounds like you need help.

I roll my eyes. What’d Hammer say?

Masters: Screenshotted the convo he could fit on one screen.

Me: Hammer’s shocked to find out that there are women outside the Gas Station. Worse, they have the word no in their vocabulary.

Masters: Situation appears dire. Look around. Do you see any adults?

I look up at Lucy, who’s talking to her co-worker and actively avoiding me. I think that’s a good sign.

Me: My ball size indicates I’m the adultest thing here.

The microwave dings, and she slides the streusel out. That’s not a good sign. I no longer have an excuse to loiter here at the counter. I point to the first thing I see. “I’ll take one of those, too.”

“It’s coffee cake. This version is made with actual coffee.” I don’t even have to look at her to know her expression is hovering between this guy is an idiot and when is he going to take his shit and go back to his table.

“Yeah, give me a big piece.”

She clearly thinks I’m short-changed in the big head. No clue what she thinks of me otherwise.

Me: I haven’t been rejected this hard since I tried to block the punt in that game against OSU last semester.

Masters: My wife says rejection is good for you. Makes you mentally tough.

Me: You love saying that phrase “my wife.”

Masters: You bet your fat ass I do.

Me: You don’t think it’s completely strange that you’re 21 and acting like a Taylor Swift song?

Masters: Bro, sorry you feel left out. Stop by later and I’ll give you a hug.

Me: Fuck off.

Masters: I have MY WIFE to do that for me. Thanks, though. Hug still stands. I’ll even let you smell me. MY WIFE says I smell delicious.

Me: I’ve smelled you before, which is why I’m not sure how you convinced Ellie to marry you. She must have defective olfactory senses.

Masters: Me and MY defective WIFE will be getting it on tonight. While u have only Rosie Palm.

Me: Don’t worry. I get plenty of variety. Left-hand Laura sometimes steps in.
Masters: Heard you were out with Josie Weeks. Be careful. She eats little linebackers like you for breakfast.

And the fact that I don’t even want to make a sexually charged comeback tells me exactly how I feel about Josie. Hope she doesn’t mind being just study partners.

“Here’s your apple streusel and your coffee cake.”

I tuck my phone back into my pocket. Lucy’s cheeks are back to a normal color, and her smile is one that says any future flirtations from me are about as welcome as a nighttime visit from a spider.

“You ever going to use that phone number?”

“I already did.” She tips her head down toward the end of the counter. “You can pick up your cider down there.”

I open my mouth to say something extremely witty when her male co-worker starts shouting out my phone number. So that’s what she wrote on the cup. The entire coffee house looks up at the skinny, hipster dude with his hair gelled so immaculately he might actually be a Ken doll come to life. Lucy spares me a glance under her eyelashes, and I can’t help but laugh.

I lean forward. “I like that you have it memorized.”

I have every faith that you guys will look just like this when you get this book:

It’s going to be a great read. I promise!

Gridiron Series

Giveaway: We’re giving one lucky winner their choice of one of our Sunday Spotlight books. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter for one of February’s features.

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Are you as excited for this release as we are? Let us know how excited you are and what other books you’re excited for this year!

About the Author

Jen lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She’s been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.