Title: Jockblocked
Series: Gridiron #2
Author: Jen Frederick
Release Date: February 9, 2016
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.
Lucy Watson plays it safe. She’s not a risk taker—both by choice and by necessity. She’s comfortable in her little safety zone right up until the day Matty Iverson barrels his way into her life.
Matty could not be more opposite of Lucy. He’s living his whole life right on the edge, for better or for worse, and doesn’t even really understand why anyone would want to play it safe. Where’s the fun in that? But when he’s knocked for a loop by Lucy, who seems to be immune to his charms, he must find a way to toe the line or accept that he is too risky for her to invest in.
Can y’all see this review through the megawatt beam of my smile?
I hope so.
Because this smile is pretty epic and with Matty and Lucy fresh on my brain, it’s not going anywhere any time soon.
You guys. If there was any doubt that Jockblocked was going to live up to the awesomeness that was Sacked, let me put those to rest right now. Knox Masters was a thing of beauty but Matty Iverson? Aw, hell. Matty is damn near perfection in his own right. I freaking love this guy. Both in a heart racing, panty soaking, lust-fueled kind of way (Matty has a dirty mouth!! *flails*) AND in a stop it, could you be any cuter, I want to carry you around in my pocket kind of way. Only he wouldn’t fit in my pocket, obviously. Cuz my boy Matty is huge.
I digress.
This story killed. It was a perfect mixture of swoony and fun with a healthy dose of beefy jock and a heaping scoop of angst thrown in for good measure. I loved Lucy, who sometimes got stuck in her own head, afraid to make moves outside of her comfort zone—things I can completely relate to. So while her decisions were frustrating, I also understood them and never felt like she needlessly created drama. There’s a little bit of Lucy in me, so I loved her super hard. It was sweet and a little hilarious to watch her sort out what to do with this gregarious ball of energy who latched himself to her like an eager puppy and kept at her until she was forced to relent. Because there’s no resisting Matty and even Lucy discovered that, in the end, he was totally worth the risk.
SO. CUTE.
And…the guys.
Man, one of the biggest rewards of reading sports romance is the relationships that are developed and fostered within the team. This book highlighted a lot more of the conflicts—which was interesting, and made me a little throat punchy (*cough* Ace *cough*)—but also gave us that hilarious, sometimes shocking, but always fun camaraderie between teammates and friends. I mean, Hammer? Yeah. I’m gonna need Hammer’s book right quick.
The wattage on my smile hasn’t dimmed at all. I’m riding the high of this fun, flirty, and super sweet book and I could not be happier. This is not a book hangover. This is like, a book buzz—I’m left happy, bubbling with excitement, and desperate for more!
~ Review by Shelly
It's pretty simple. I read Jockblocked, found a book boyfriend I want to keep all to myself, laughed a bunch, frowned a little, got mad at times, smiled, swooned and clenched my thighs like it was my job, and just basically enjoyed every single second of it.
Jockblocked is a really fun story—and it has a side helping of college-age angst for good measure. I have to say, I was a little apprehensive coming into it. Not because I didn't love the premise, or believe that Jen Frederick would be able to blow it out of the water, but because I loved Sacked so much. How could this one compare? How would Matty stack up against the delicious Knox?
Answer? Perfectly.
Matty, and Jockblocked, were just about everything I could have hoped for. He was charm, swoon and sex wrapped up in one delicious pair of tight football pants. Yum. But more than that, he was a kind, caring and conflicted friend and boyfriend, and I ached for him as he tried to hold everything together. I raged inside at the unfairness of what he was being asked. I melted for him when he took steps to take care of, protect, his Goldie.
And what a gem his Goldie was. Lucy was carefully controlled—for good reason—and it was rewarding and amusing watching her fight her attraction and want for Matty. Try to justify it. And then succumb to it. These two were electric together, so when she did? Sparks flying off the pages. So, so hot. Whew. But Lucy was more than that. She tried to be a good friend, even when it was made difficult. I hated (in a good, all-the-feels way) what she dealt with, and was pained to see her try to juggle the changes in her life and relationships.
So, yeah, was a lot of humor in this book, but a hell of a lot of emotion too. This was no one-dimensional rom-com. It was so many things, all of them wonderful in their own way. I loved the way Ms. Frederick turned some moments on their head, taking what might have been a predictable plot point and giving it new life, an unexpected resolution. There was no silly miscommunication, no immature assumptions; Jockblocked felt like real relationships encountering little bumps—and big ones, too.
I just love the way this author writes—and I can't wait to read more of her amazing Gridiron series. I want to know what happens to Ace, even though he needed a good whack upside the head at times. And I'm still curious about Ty, Knox’s twin. But most of all, I'm fascinated by the hilarious Hammer. That character? Well, Ms. Frederick NAILED him—and I think he might just be the next book boyfriend I don't wanna share...
~ Review by Beth
I love sports romances so it was no surprise when I read the blurb for Jockblocked that I would want to get my hands on this book. I haven’t read the first book in this series, but after reading this one I will definitely be picking it up soon!
Lucy is a very cautious person who weighs the risks of every decision she makes. When Matty approaches her, she knows he’s a risk. She turns him down because she’s afraid it would turn out badly. Despite Lucy’s cautiousness, Matty doesn’t give up. He wants to prove he is worth the risk.
Matty is a linebacker for the Western State Warriors. He could be defined as a player. And I’m not taking about on the football field. He knows his way around the ladies. But when he sees Lucy in the Brew he’s thinking he might want a change of pace.
“I’ve hungered for wins on the field, championships, success, but never a person. Not until Luce.”
Lucy’s best friend since childhood is Ace. He’s the quarterback for the Warriors. Since they came to college they made a pact that Lucy wouldn’t go after his teammates and Ace wouldn’t go after her roommates. She never had an interest in one until Matty.
When Matty is put in the position by his coach to convince Ace to give up the quarterback position and move to safety, he’s not sure how he’s going to do it. Lo and behold he finds out that Lucy is friends with Ace—will he be able to convince her to talk Ace into it? Or will this dilemma make this Championship team fall apart?
When Lucy finally decides to give Matty a chance I think I did a little happy dance! They were so good together. Despite his bad relationship in the past, Matty really wants this one to work.
“Matty might have been my biggest risk, but he is sure as hell the best reward a girl could ever have.”
The conflict I thought was going to tear them apart in this book surprisingly brought them closer together and I was happy about that. Though what does bring them apart? I didn’t it see coming...
Let’s talk Hammer. Just Hammer. *Swoon* At first I thought Matty’s best friend was just another player, but then I got to see more of him and was I wrong. He turned out to be so sweet and funny. If I don’t get his book soon I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself.
All in all, I loved this book. Lucy and Matty were so good together. I understand why she would be cautious in the beginning and I think it was a good thing for Matty because it really made him realize how much she was worth. I loved how much effort Matty put into being with Lucy; he made sure to prove to her that he was worth the risk. Between all the hot football players, their crazy coach, and the drama around Ace—who I, at times, hated—this book is one that you won’t want to put down. Now, can we please get Hammer’s book next? I’ll be not so patiently waiting.
~ Review by Leah
Jen Frederick 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!
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