Winner Takes All

by Erin Kern

Overview

"A vibrant, fast-paced story. Sassy wit, likable characters and breathtaking sexuality... Fans of Friday Night Lights titles will love this one." --Library Journal
The Love of the Game
Money. Fame. Endorsements. Blake Carpenter had it all -- before his professional football career spiraled out of control. Determined to rebuild his life, he takes on coaching the high school team in his Colorado hometown. Despite a few fumbles, Blake knows he can lead these boys to victory. As long as he can keep his eyes on the prize and off the team's distractingly gorgeous physical therapist.

Annabelle Turner knows all about the scandal that cost Blake his NFL career, and she'll be damned if she's going to let his mistakes hurt her team. What she doesn't count on is the intense attraction that turns every heated run-in they have into a wildly erotic competition. Point by point, play by play, kiss by kiss, they try to keep things professional for the good of the team. But when the score is this close-and the passion this fierce-it's anybody's game . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781455535972
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	09/24/2024
Series:	Champion Valley , #1
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	302
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Erin Kern lives in north Texas with her husband, two kids and their dog. She loves BBQ, Texas sunsets, antiquing and high school football games. The first book in the Champion Valley series, Winner Takes All, was published in August 2016 and was inspired by Erin's love of Texas football, small towns, and happy endings.

When she's not at the computer working on her next tale, she can be found spending time with her kids or curled up with a good book.

Editorial Reviews

07/25/2016
In this somber first entry in Kern’s Champion Valley contemporary series, two unlikable people awkwardly connect. Superstar quarterback Blake Carpenter pretended ignorance of the performance-enhancing drugs injected by his trainers, and now his legacy is tarnished. In an effort to put the past away, he returns to his Colorado hometown to coach his high school football team. Determined to take them to the play-offs, he resents physical therapist Annabelle Turner getting between him and the players. Blake and Annabelle certainly lust after each other, but they don’t seem to like each other very much, with Blake being downright vulgar at times, in one instance accusing Annabelle of “rubbing self all over like a cat in heat.” Sometimes tension and arguments are the precursor to passion, but they don’t spend enough time talking, so they never click. Strangely, Kern keeps most of the action inside their heads as both consider the consequences of getting to know each other better. Agent: Kristyn Keene, ICM Partners. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"A vibrant, fast-paced story. Sassy wit, likable characters and breathtaking sexuality... Fans of Friday Night Lights titles will love this one."—Library Journal on Winner Takes All

"A great start to a new series with sexy, alpha males, strong women, and some eccentric secondary characters. Fans of Shannon Stacey would enjoy Winner Takes All."—Kim's Library

"4.5 Stars — Kern's third Trouble book is a beautiful study in balance. Her sense of humor shimmers, but her prose packs an emotional punch that is unforgettable. Her characters are fascinating and multifaceted alone, but as a couple they shine, finding the courage to deal with the best and worst in each other while side by side. This story is smoldering and sexy, and the depth of feeling that is woven throughout this story is genuinely touching. Kern's fans will be delighted by this installment, which will hopefully win her a legion of new readers."—RT Book Reviews (on Along Came Trouble)

"Solid contemporary romance with great characterization."—Fresh Fiction (on Along Came Trouble)

From the Publisher

08/01/2016
Former pro football star Blake Carpenter has his hands full (and his future at stake) trying to turn a small-town high school team that hasn't won a championship in decades into a winner. But physical therapist Annabelle Turner is getting in his way, and she's a little too pushy and too attractive to suit him. They both care about the kids, though, and as they begin to work through their differences, their mutual attraction takes on a life of its own, despite their best intentions. Reputation, self-esteem, and family relationship issues contribute to a vibrant, fast-paced story. VERDICT Sassy wit, likable characters, and breathtaking sexuality result in an engaging read and a solid start to a promising series. Fans of "Friday Night Lights" titles will love this one. Kern (The Trouble with Trouble) lives in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Area.

Library Journal