Jami Davenport

4.5 stars

This series gets better and better! There is such great world and character building, it feels so real. The heroine, Kelsie, used to be a real mean girl in every sense of the word. So I shouldn't even like her but I absolutely adored her. The author did a great job of showing how she has changed and why. And the hero, Zach, is so down to earth and rough around the edges. He doesn't feel comfortable at social gatherings and always a bit out of place which makes him act stupidly show more sometimes. He's got such a big heart but hides that from most people and lets them think he is a dumb jock. I loved those two together. show less

Jami Davenport hits it in the net with OFF-SEASON (Scoring #6). After a disappointing loss in the second round of the playoffs, Seattle Sockeyes rookie Andy Staples decides to do some soul searching. He chooses to spend time alone camping in an RV in the off season, his only company, his dog, Bones. He didn’t plan on meeting Kennedy, brand ambassador for Journey RVs.

Andy is half-brothers with Gage Ziegler (Scoring #5). I recommend reading Gage’s story first. Andy and Gage have a rocky show more relationship. Nobody on the team knows why they hate each other, and that they are brothers. I enjoyed reading Andy’s viewpoint of their situation growing up. He does a lot of growing up in this story.

I like Kennedy and Andy. They are a fantastic couple with intense chemistry. The only problem is they want different things in their lives. Kennedy thrives on a nomadic lifestyle filled with adventure. Andy wants to settle down in one place and have a stable home; something he didn’t have while growing up. I have always wanted to travel using an RV. I learned a lot about RVing by reading this story.

OFF-SEASON was a heartfelt and entertaining read. The book was skillfully written with endearing characters. I am looking forward to “Caveman” Flint’s story next, DELAYED PENALTY (Scoring #7) I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. show less

I was going to read the book since so far I have liked what I have read from this author, but I wasn't able to read past chapter two. Why? Here is exhibit #1:

"There were lots of things Rachel McCormick couldn’t forget. Topping the list was Derek Ramsey, her former longtime best friend and only-one-weekend lover. And not just any weekend lover, but the shatter-your-heart-never-slept-with-anyone-else-before-or-after type of lover."

So Rachel was a virgin before Derek and she didn't sleep show more with anyone for the last 5 years aka from the time she slept with Derek until the present time. That alarmed me and I started doing some research in my e-copy and I stumbled upon exhibit #2 and the nail in the coffin

"He’d never been one of those sex-crazed guys who had to have it several times a day, or even once a day. In fact, until she’d stumbled back into his life, he’d done quite well with once a week, if that. He went for quality, not quantity." Once a week means 52 per year which makes it 260 women, 250 to give him a break. Isn't it perfect when the "hero" is a manwhore and the heroine is oh so pure?

The story could break some stereotypes by having the heroine work in a male-dominated profession, but it had to be ruined by making her a nun for the last 5 years and him a walking STD. The worst part was that the first time they had sex (in present time) she even told Derek that there was no need for condom since she said he must clean. She should have had him tested. show less

Jami Davenport makes it hard to sit on the sidelines and not root her characters on. The blinders come off and the celebrity becomes human. Shutdown Player is the journey of two good people, who have suffered a bad break. A blow to the heart is not easy to bounce back from, especially when hateful words and violent episodes are part of the equation. Steph knows that first hand. As she rebuilds her life, she struggles to keep her heart intact. Jared is putting that resolve in danger. When it show more comes to love, will pride or trust win? show less