Downed
(Gridiron, #3)

by Jen Frederick

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Blurb

He’s the guy no one likes…

Despite winning two national championships, JR “Ace” Anderson was sent packing from his old school after losing the trust of his coach. At Southern U, he has a second chance to prove that his college legacy isn’t endless debauchery and selfishness. But his reputation precedes him, and his teammates offer a chilly welcome in the locker room. The one person who is willing to accept him is the very woman he should stay away from—his new coach’s daughter.

She’s the girl everyone loves…

Bryant Johnson’s only goal in life is to make others happy, even at her own expense. One look at her father’s new star quarterback, and she knows that Ace is her next project. With a reputation for being a “jerk whisperer”, Bryant has spent her last three years at college reforming sorry behavior and turning bad boys into the best boyfriends ever. In Ace, though, she’s met with surly resistance and a sizzling attraction she doesn’t expect. Fixing this wounded warrior will be her biggest challenge yet. Not falling for him will be even harder.

Between her big heart and his damaged one, a battle is ensuing. In this game of love, every defense will crumble.

Find Downed on GOODREADS

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Review

5 stars!

Downed, the third book in the Gridiron series by Jen Frederick, is fantastic. I am always impressed when an author can take a character from a previous book (in this case, the hero) who I practically despised and tilt the scale in his favor.

Ace is the Southern University Renegades’ new quarterback. He has a rocky past that forced his transfer and has a lot to prove. Hitting it off with the team is difficult and he finds it tough to lose the less than stellar reputation he got while attending his previous school. Ace thinks he hit the jackpot when he takes home the gorgeous woman from the bar, but little does he know Bryant chose him specifically.

Bryant doesn’t let people into her heart and keeps everyone at a distance. She has a big heart though and wants to make people smile. When she meets Ace, a bad boy jerk who is anything but happy, she set her eyes on reforming him.

I knew he would be the last participant through my program – my senior thesis, so to speak – on how to turn an asshole into the perfect boyfriend.

The way Bryant brought Ace into their relationship had me giggling with every thought that went through their heads. They had great chemistry and though this new “project” had her testing her usual routine, she couldn’t stop from wanting him. This was never a problem in the past with her other “projects” and soon she found herself in over her head.

I loved Downed! The third book in the series, it had everything I have come to love from Jen Frederick’s sports romances – well-developed storylines, witty banter, steamy sexy times, swoon worthy hero, lovable heroine, super sweet moments, and FOOTBALL! My favorite in the series!

I loved Ace and that is in itself amazing because I hated him in the previous book. Ace totally redeemed himself in this story though. After despising all he did to Lucy in Jockblocked, I didn’t think it was possible. However, his transformation was wonderfully done. He didn’t just wake up one day a new man. Instead it took time, realization, understanding, and growth, and it was completely believable.

“I know I’m still an asshole sometimes, but being with you has been an eye-opening experience. You’re warm and honest and just…good.  You’re a good person, Bryant. And you make me want to be a good person, too.”

Now, I am a firm believer that people can change and I completely fell for him! This new Ace totally maked me giddy with his sweet remarks and hot when his dirty mouth came out to play.

He didn’t pretend to be someone he wasn’t and I loves that he realized who he could be and all of his potential.

Bryant was a fantastic character and I adored her. She was just so good and had such an amazing heart. I loved that she could put Ace in his place and she did so often. She saw a softer side, a better side and was determined to make him see it too. She bottle up her own heart and I loved when she started to fall, but because she was afraid to feel, it broke my heart that she fought against her own happiness. And in the end, Bryant changed too and it was beautiful.

Bryant and Ace were amazing together. They challenged each other, helped each other, grew together, and loved each other. The banter was fantastic and the chemistry was scorching. Their personalities, though different, were perfect for each other.

This book in not without serious emotions though. When we learn the reason behind Bryant’s desire to make people happy and close her heart off, my own heart broke for her. I couldn’t imagine going through what she did. The support and love she had from her dad and the team was beautiful. I also felt for Ace when we learn what he thought of himself because of his father’s actions and the way he viewed the world. I wanted to be there for him as Bryant was and loved when he realized who he really wanted to be.

I am so glad there was no unnecessary drama in this book! The course the story took was perfect and so was the ending. Ace’s “plan” put the hugest smile on my face and I loved every bit of it. Not only were there closures but new beginnings too. I loved that the transfer from Western to Southern U was just what Ace needed.

I had no idea I’d fall in love here at Southern. I hadn’t come looking for it, that’s for damn sure. But I don’t regret it. All of the acts of my past – both good and bad – led me to her.

The only thing I am left wondering…

Overall, Downed is a fantastic book that was incredibly difficult to put down. I enjoyed the characters and felt invested in them. I loved how everything turned out and I can not wait to see who is up next in the Gridiron series!!

 

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Gridiron series

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About the Author

Jen Frederick is the USA Today bestselling author of Unspoken, part of the Woodlands series, and Sacked, part of the Gridiron series. She is also the author of the Charlotte Chronicles and has had several books on the Kindle Top 100 list. She lives in the Midwest with a husband who keeps track of life’s details while she’s writing, a daughter who understands when Mom disappears into her office for hours at a time, and a rambunctious dog who does neither.

jensfrederick@gmail.com