New York Times bestselling author Rachel Van Dyken kicks off a brand-new series in which romance is a game and love is a touchdown.

Emerson just made her dream come true as a professional cheerleader for her favorite pro football team. But even though the plus-size athlete is breaking down boundaries, she still has to contend with the massive rulebook. Carbs? Nope. Chocolate? Definitely not. Still, Emerson loves her curves, and she’ll rock the hell out of this job even if it kills her. Except for one mandate that is easier read than done…

No fraternizing with the players.

Problem one is Miller Quinton: Emerson’s first love, first sex, and the guy who still ignites her daydreams and R-rated fantasies. Thrown back together, Miller and Emerson feel the undeniable pull of passion again, even if the conflict that tore them apart seems insurmountable. Then there’s way-too-sexy Grant Sanchez. He has a serious reputation with the ladies, and when it comes to winning someone he wants, he doesn’t let anyone stand in his way.

Now Emerson is breaking every rule in the manual. But what she doesn’t know is that she’s part of a wicked little game—one that could steal both her dream and her heart. 

Emerson Rodner has been working towards achieving her goal of becoming a professional NFL cheerleader and is finally getting her chance. She is not a typical tiny cheerleader in that she is tall, plus-sized and curvy, though she is strong, motivated, and sassy. Like most NFL teams there is a strict fraternization rule with the players, but she is not really worried about that initially.

But she catches the eye of the Grant Sanchez, the team captain and rumored to be a ladies' man. He is flirty, sexy, sweet, cocky, and very persistent. And he might have been motivated at least in the beginning by something else as well. And then comes Miller Quinton, the new tight end...who also happens to be her childhood to teen best friend, first love and lover that broke her heart. Two men. Attraction. Attention. Against the rules.

Sanchez really goes after her and is determined to worm his way in. He is observant, attentive, patient, and caring even though he can be quite unfiltered, over-the-top, and funny. Miller is still angry and hurt and dealing with his own issues from their past.  He gets a slower start and watches from the sidelines, but eventually he starts moving back at least towards the friendzone knowing he is going to want more.  There is competition, jealousy, and friendship interfering. But both men are gearing up to catch the girl. 

Emerson's life is not easy now and it wasn't in the past. She still has some things to work through...including talking some things through with Miller. Both she and Miller will have to confront their past and resolve those feelings before there is any hope of moving on.

Who is the man Emerson truly loves and needs to be with? The one who was her first and best friend or the one that is really pushing for a chance at her present and future? Both are worthy. Both have a chance. But she needs to choose one and follow her heart. And even then there still might be things that could surprise or hurt her.

This is a fun, sexy, sweet, and emotional slow burn, love-triangle, and friends-to-lovers story. I honestly was not sure who I was supposed to be rooting for and at times was not sure who I even wanted to win. It is told in all three of their points of view but the majority seems to be in Emerson and Miller's (and they had some flashbacks too). I liked both Sanchez and Miller. I loved that Emerson was curvy, real, confident, and that both of the men saw her as sexy and beautiful inside and out. I also enjoyed the side characters of Jax and Kinsey and the camaraderie of the team and friend group, while there were some antagonists that I certainly did not. The author did a good job having just enough football and cheerleading in the story to make it realistic. I am looking forward to the next book, Infraction that was teased at the end.

Emerson is finally seeing her dreams come true: cheering for professional football. She has a whole rule book to follow that make her question her dream, especially as she is not the traditional professional cheerleader body type -- she’s got curves. Most of the rules aren’t too bad, but the fraternization rule quickly becomes a challenge when she meets Grant Sanchez, one of the team captains. And shortly thereafter runs into someone from her past she thought she’d never see again: her ex best friend and first love, Miller Quinton.

I liked Emerson’s character. She is determined and focused on her goals, while also keeping her small family afloat. She has to work hard to provide for herself and her father and though she has very little free time, cheering is important to her so she makes it work.

The guys were each harder to love in their own ways. I loved that Miller had returned after so many years away, and as the pieces of their past are uncovered I couldn’t help but love him even more.

Grant Sanchez was very much the stereotypical overconfident professional athlete, but he also was very goal oriented and loyal to his team.

There were times I couldn’t decide which guy I was rooting for, and other times I had a clear leader in my head. There were even times that clear leader switched places for me. I wasn’t prepared for a full on love triangle, and think I struggled more than I needed to with that aspect of the story.

This was a fun, sporty triangle with strong friends to lovers ties. The side characters added a lot of fun to what was already an entertaining story. Though I wasn’t always sure which team I was on, I knew this was a story I had to consume and am looking forward to more from this series.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

“The best.” His lips grazed my ear. “Curves, know this,” His breath was hot on my neck, “If you need to cry, I’ll hold you until you’re done. Sometimes the only way to get over things, is to walk through them, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it on your own.”

My breath hitched in my chest. “Does that mean you’re going to walk with me?”

“That’s all I’ve wanted since meeting you.” He pulled back and gripped my hand. “You know, other than sex.”

I laughed, “You’re ridiculous, you know that right?”

“But, I did just make you laugh, when minutes ago you were crying. I hate those tears, Curves. Never want to be the cause of them, ever.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

“I’m not.” He said it so sternly that I sucked in a breath. “I think I need to use that hand now…maybe on your chest, possibly that shirt.”

Infraction