This is my favorite Ana Huang book so far! It’s got a famous footballer (soccer player) who falls for his new trainer – who’s very definitely off limits! This sexy contemp has forbidden love, playful banter and plenty of steam and, while it’s a little long, I found it very entertaining.

Asher is one of the most popular football players in the Premier League and is also known for his fast cars and dangerous street racing. He decides to transfer to a different team mid-season, (from his hometown team to Blackcastle – we find out why later) and his long-time rival, Vincent, is now his team captain. They don’t get along and their rivalry causes their team to lose the League Championship. Their coach is furious with them and signs them up to spend their off-season together, cross training at a dance studio, in an effort to end their feud. Their trainer turns out to be Scarlett, a beautiful ballet instructor who also happens to be Vincent’s sister, and when Asher meets her, he can’t quit thinking about her. He could have any other girl he wants, but is fascinated by the one girl he can’t have.

Asher’s been going through a lot since his transfer to Blackcastle. His old teammates think he’s a traitor, his father is upset because the team he left was his favorite, plus Asher is grieving the death of someone from home he was close to. Right now, he wants to focus on his dream – to win the World Championships!

Five years ago, Scarlett was hurt in a car accident, in a taxi on her way to perform a ballet. She suffered severe injuries that she has been recovering from. She has chronic pain with debilitating flare ups that she has learned how to manage. She teaches at a ballet studio and her boss asks her to work with Asher and Vincent because she is the best instructor at the school and she has done similar training before. But she’s not thrilled to train them because she’s afraid they will constantly be at each other’s throats. Then, right when Asher and Vincent are ready to start training, Vincent has to leave for France to help his father while he recovers from an injury which means Asher and Scarlett will be cross training alone together and the tension between them starts sizzling.

When the paparazzi discover that Asher is at the dance studio, they become a problem, even going as far as to sneak inside. The stress affects Scarlett and causes her to have a flare up and she passes out. Asher is worried about her and fears the press will continue to be a problem. He decides to build a state-of-the-art studio in his home for them to train in. He even hires her a chauffeur to drive her to his home when he realizes she is afraid to ride in a car since her accident. She thinks he is thoughtful and kind and when Asher’s father has an emergency, she goes home with him to offer her support. They decide they want to have a relationship but want to keep it a secret until Vincent returns at the end of the summer.

One of my favorite things about the story is seeing the glamorous lives of these young footballers. Asher’s home is gorgeous. It was fun to watch him at an exclusive party at a club, charity events, taking helicopter rides and being offered sponsorships. When Asher’s big sponsor, Aoki Watches, needs him to fly to Tokyo, he takes Scarlett along and there’s a luxury suite (with a grand piano!) and they go to the finest restaurants. It was romantic and I loved reading about all the glitz.

Tensions build in the story when Scarlett gets offered the lead in a showcase at her studio and worries that her body might not be able to handle it. Then, there’s Asher’s Street racing which is his therapy. It calms him and makes him feel alive but Scarlett worries he will get hurt, especially with her past trauma. And lastly, what will happen when Vincent finds out they have fallen in love?

What kept this from a DIK for me was it felt a little long, especially in the first half. But I enjoyed this glitzy romance and found the love scenes to be steamy and tender.

I’m excited for more stories in this new series about team players. The team camaraderie gives off Ted Lasso vibes, which I love, and I look forward to Vincent’s story, The Defender – I just wish I didn’t have to wait a year for it!