When an injury sidelines Marcus it's time to go back to school.
A Physics class, a crush, and family expectations mean a few obstacles to overcome.

If you're looking for a sports romance that can be read as a standalone or part of a series discover the Milwaukee Draqons.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This book has it all. Hot man, hot sportsman, sports and some good sexual tension between characters.

Another Liz Lincoln book I really enjoyed! The characters are developed, there’s a sports theme, and some romance all thrown in. What’s not to love?

I'm a lot late wirh my review because I could not get through this one. It just wasnt for me. I just wish there was a little more to the plot.

I really liked this take on a sports romance and enjoyed the chemistry between the two main characters. Ms. Lincoln is an author who has slid under my radar until now, but that's changed with SWAGGER.

This a beautiful story about finding yourself and learning how to openly love another. The writing will draw you in after only a few pages and have you finishing the book in one sitting. There is the perfect amount of angst and romance to keep you hooked. I loved how the relationship unfolded slowly so we could see these amazing characters grow in ways they never expected. I would suggest picking up a copy of both books asap you will not be disappointed.

What happens when you meet the hot tight end who is on your jersey at school. Well if you are Bree you almost knock the poor guy off his crutches. Marcus is out for the season due to a knee injury, so this a great time to go back to school to finish his degree. Bree is his hot PhD student TA for his physic course that he is insanely attracted to. I love that Bree is a strong woman who holds strong to her beliefs and is willing to let Marcus into her world. A great peak into a pro- athlete injury lifestyle.

I chose not to leave a public review as I DNF this book. I couldn't get past the first few chapters

This was a good read. The writing was good, and I liked Marcus as a H for the most part. I like my heroes a little more assertive, but it's hard to do that when the h flips out when you do anything before clearing it with her first. And that's where my biggest complaint comes in. I understand that Bree had a crappy boyfriend in the past, and her dad didn't appreciate all the hard work she was doing to get her Ph.D., but what Marcus did didn't even compare. Plus it happened before he even got any of her backstory, so to me, Bree's reaction was way over the top. She could "stand up" to Marcus, but let her advisor walk all over her, and not report him? Yeah, no. I liked them together at the end, but I was disappointed that there wasn't more to the ending. It just ended, and I'm a big fan of an epilogue. I did read the first book in this series, and I would like to see who,from the Dragons, is next.
I voluntarliy reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book.

Bree was in the final stages of finishing her degree. So close to the finish line even though she deals with no support from her family and the constant struggle leaves her at a loss. Meeting her all time football crush was something she never expected. Marcus was trying to finish his degree and having Bree as his teacher was a problem. As they spend more time together, they find the one person who truly understands them. The only issue now is holding out until they both finish their degrees.

have read both books in the Milwaukee Dragon series and I hope Liz Lincoln follows Swagger by adding more books to the series. Typically the books have similar storylines but Liz Lincoln outdid herself with Swagger, two totally different storylines just centering around the Milwaukee Dragon football team. This one was steamy hot and I do mean steamy, Kindle-melting scenes. But not only steamy, it also was one of the most heartful sports romance books I have ever read, Marcus knew how to support & cherish Bree, swoon-worthy to say the least. This book has it all and will have you hooked with an abundance of heat & just enough heart. Marcus has so much Swagger he is definitely worthy of the title! My only negative would be I would have loved to have a few more chapters because I would have loved to know what's next for Marcus & Bree. But I am hoping the way it ended only means Liz Lincoln has more books planned for this series and will come through with a Book 3 and a Marcus & Bree update, one can only hope! Definitely recommend not missing this one, Swagger is one delectible read!
I am voluntarily leaving this voluntary review, but for full disclosure I did receive an review copy, ARC, of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

Bree is a TA working on her doctorate, Marcus is a professional football player recovering from an injury taking & her student. Bree has had a crush Marcus since his rookie year with the Dragons & can’t believe her luck when she bumps into him. The chemistry between the two is immediate but because she is his teacher they can only be friends...

This story was great and I loved that the relationship develops as a friendship before it breaks into romance!

I was really excited to read the second book in the Milwaukee Dragons series so I think I first need to point out that the second entry really does not feel closely tied to the first. I'm used to finding more links between titles for sure. This title also focuses more on life away from the field than you might expect.

That said, this is a great title. You've got a football player as a main character that checks off all the boxes. He's a closet nerd, super smart, and comes with family drama of his own. Our heroine is a STEM girl suffering from anxiety while figuring out the path her life is going to take. The characters are interesting and a little offbeat compared to what you would normally find.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and a really good read. It is undoubtedly a sports romance, although Marcus is currently on the bench due to an injury, so he is taking the opportunity to catch up on some studying. This leads him to meet PhD student-teacher, Bree, as she is teaching his Physics module. So as well as sports romance, we get the student/teacher dynamic, and hey, it's physics, so there is a lot of fun geekiness thrown in. Give them both parents who can't help but know best and a couple of feline companions, and this really ticks every box – and I must add – in a really good way. In fact, all my plans for my Saturday morning have been shelved as I had to finish this first!

Bree suffers from anxiety, and it is at an all-time high as she gets close to completing her PhD. Throw in a truly awful replacement supervisor, who is the ultimate misogynist and a bully to boot, and coping is becoming even more difficult. So meeting her longtime crush, tight end Marcus James, is surely going to tip her over the edge. Instead, she finds a really good guy who is patient, kind, and weirdly seems to really like her back. It is really fun being along for the ride as she starts to realise this, and even more fun when she breaks some rules and turns rather unexpectedly into quite a sex kitten.

Marcus is not happy about missing a whole season, and Bree certainly helps distract him, but he has a feeling this is a little more important than just a way to pass the time. How it can possibly work with him being her student, and then Bree likely to leave for another job, leads him to ask a favour of a friend... what ensues is complicated, but makes for a really good twist in the story.

Another really good installment, with some great humour, as well as some serious issues being considered, and the romance and passion was both engaging and believable. I am very much looking forward to the next book in the series.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
Bree and Marcus' relationship starts off slow, which I adore. They took time to get to know each other, their likes and dislikes, and became lovers. Marcus is the dream boyfriend: smart, good looking, and a great listener. Downside: he reacts before he thinks and doesn't always hear what Bree is telling him.

Bree is a working on a doctorate in a male-dominated field and often has to put up with the 'old boys club' that still exists in the area of physics. Her own doctoral adviser seems to the founding father of this particular faction. She's holding her head up, working on her dissertation, and doing her level best to succeed where it seems that everyone wants her to fail. Including her own family.

Being friends with Marcus is something new, he's supportive of her work, her dreams, and wants to help. However, the chip on her shoulder about people "knowing" what's best for her could derail their relationship before it gets off the ground.

Marcus also has some issues with his family not being supportive. His highly successful parents are both doctors as are his sisters. He's the only one in his family who's underachieving. His success on the football field is nothing of note to his family. Their major concern is that he not end up with brain damage before he gives up the game. His season ending injury only solidified his parents’ belief that he needs to do something more meaningful with his life.

Bree and Marcus are good for each other in that they believe in each other and only to build the other up, rather than tearing them down. Marcus has to realize that Bree's independence is an innate part of her just as it is in him.


Lee’Anne – ☆☆
This was just an okay read for me. The storyline progress is slow and I did a lot of skimming towards the middle. The main character, Bree, has had a crush on her favorite football player, Marcus James, forever. Marcus is injured and taking a physics class that Bree is TAing. Though the attraction is immediate, there is a ton of build up to a kiss that she immediately stops because she’s his teacher. Then we have a another few chapters before any more progress is made on the relationship front. I did like Bree’s character a lot, she’s a strong independent woman who is trying to get out from under her controlling family’s thumb – and doing a bang-up job of it by getting ready to graduate with her Ph.D. I was a bit less impressed with Marcus’s character but really, it’s because I just wanted him to grab Bree and claim her, LOL.

This one didn’t leave me wanting more, which was disappointing. Unfortunately, I probably won’t be continuing with this series, but I will most likely check out some of this author’s other work as I really enjoyed book one from this series.

Coming at a timely juncture, Liz Lincoln’s new contemporary sports romance Swagger, book 2 in the Milwaukee Dragons series covers a lot of territory in her story about a football player and a PhD student. Just like in real life, football and college are both in full swing for fall and this story combines both aspects in a thoroughly enjoyable romance with a hint of the forbidden teacher/student trope. It also doesn’t shy away from some serious topics delivering them in an authentic and believable fashion.

Marcus James is on the injury list with a damaged knee and in physiotherapy rehab while his team the Milwaukee Dragons starts their season. Instead of pining on the sidelines (well, there might be some of that too) he decides to finish up some college credits needed towards his degree. Physics is not his forte, but the bright and engaging teacher definitely makes it a smart choice. His parents are both medical professionals and are thrilled that he’s gone back to school. They hope it’s a sign that he’s going to quit football, especially his mother who messages him weekly with new research on brain traumatic injuries. But Marcus isn’t looking to end his football career anytime soon – this is just an injury time out until he can get back on the field.

Bree Novak is in the final weeks leading up to her dissertation and hopefully her PhD in physics. She’s got a lame duck adviser, an older man who doesn’t think much of women in the workplace, never mind in a scientific field. He’s stuck her with teaching a class, one that turns out to be an admittedly bright spot in her day when her celebrity crush, Marcus, turns up as a student. From the first time they chat after class, to the tutoring sessions he’s sorely in need of, they have a connection; one that becomes a fast friendship and then something more.

Bree is cautious, not wanting to give her adviser any reason to derail her PhD defense by finding out she’s become involved with a student. Besides, the odds of Marcus wanting to actually be in a long term relationship are remote, or so her clinical anxiety likes to tell her. She doesn’t know where she’ll end up after she gets her degree having looked at employment opportunities out of state. Are she and Marcus headed for the real thing or will their diverging futures leave a relationship in the dust?

There’s a lot to unpack in this solidly written and engaging story so let’s start at the top. Firstly, the teacher/student relationship isn’t one of particular concern with respect to their ages as they are both in their late twenties and Marcus is a few years older than Bree. Their friendship is out in the open (they have lunch together several times) and Marcus is seeing Bree for tutoring so it’s not surprising that they are spending time together. Whether someone finding out that they are moving towards a more intimate relationship could damage Bree’s graduate studies is a source of tension in the story but not an overwhelming one.

The environment the author creates for Bree as a grad student is (hopefully) familiar to anyone who has gone to college, realistically portraying the diversity of cultures and ethnic groups that study together. (At least, that is my personal experience so I am delighted with its portrayal here). Marcus is black and it's great to see the cover reflecting this. Bree’s best friend, fellow student and housemate Reina is Latinx, and uses a wheelchair in her daily life. The author does a great job of incorporating all the details that can’t be overlooked when accessibility is an issue. Marcus and some of his football buddies own a nightclub and since one has a family member in a wheelchair, they’d made sure to include a wheelchair ramp to get around. That Marcus is not only a talented football player, a serious student, and thoughtful too is another kink in Bree’s original plan to keep him at arm’s length.

Though it’s becoming more common, it’s still not the norm to discuss CTE – chronic traumatic encephalopathy- in a romance, though it’s getting better as more is known about the dangers of concussions in impact sports. Anyone playing football is aware of the issue and Marcus more than most with his neurologist mother never missing an opportunity to try to get him to quit playing ball and bemoaning his career decision from the start. Marcus loves football and has weighed the risks for himself, with plans to continue for at least a couple more seasons once his knee injury is healed. I appreciate that the author brings this up as an everyday topic the guys on the team discuss and debate.

You also don’t commonly see characters who deal with anxiety and depression, though that is becoming more prevalent in contemporary romances. It may seem odd to want to include story arcs that don’t automatically make you think of a happy ever after but it reflects a growing trend in modern society and romance is nothing if not a reflection of trends and social norms. Bree’s anxiety will show up whenever it’s not wanted (of course) and the stress of dealing with a misogynistic professor who could derail her research efforts and her degree definitely doesn’t help. When Bree shares her mental health issues with Marcus, he’s understanding and offers help to her in whatever way she needs, having had a family member with a similar diagnosis. Marcus’s support helps her to regain her mental balance more quickly in tense times.

But what about the romance? Well, as hoped it's exciting and sexy! It's a slow burn at the start since the reasons for them to avoid getting involved are pretty clear. But hanging out together, and meeting each other's circle of friends, as well as his genuine friendliness and good nature make the attraction between them difficult to resist. The resulting love scenes are sexy and emotional. The sharing of confidences and the challenges they both face from not always supportive family environments provide another link to make the end of the school term not come quickly enough. Naturally there is a conflict that requires soul searching and compromise to resolve, but it all adds up to a genuine belief that this couple will have a fun and long lasting future. Swagger takes football romance to the next level with a story that seamlessly blends important topics into a fun and engaging romance.

This review has been posted at All About Romance and feedback updated with the link. An abbreviated version will be posted at sale sites, and the blog link will be updated on Goodreads when it goes live.

I've been meaning to try Liz Lincoln's Milwaukee Dragons series ever since it was announced but based on how much I enjoyed this second book, I'll be catching up on the first book very shortly. The story really leans into the tension of "we really like each other but you're my professor/student so we can't do anything." This was a really fun read but it also made me surprisingly emotional in places.

Bree is finishing up her PhD in physics, which impressed me in and of itself. Her dedication to and passion for her career was admirable and I'm pretty sure if I'd ever had her as my teacher, I'd have had an entirely different experience with my science classes. I really appreciated learning more about what life is like for someone who is writing their dissertation, as well as the specific roadblocks women in the STEM field can face. Her advisor was the literal WORST and I wanted to throttle him any time he was in a scene. It was enraging to watch Bree experience sexism and misogyny and see the very real way it could and did negatively affect her career.

Marcus is an absolute dreamboat. He's such a good guy and he was always making me smile. It was so interesting to read a sports romance in which the athlete hero/heroine is sidelined by an injury. It's a real threat for any athlete but I can't think of many romances than address it head on like Swagger. In this instance, Marcus has to sit out a whole season while he heals from his knee injury. He and his teammates have a really honest discussion about how many years they think they'll still be able to play and what will come next after their football careers are over. The book also focuses on CTE and the research being done, which is such a great thing to highlight. Plus: great diversity representation for an NFL team! Just like real life!

Bree and Marcus are friends first and foremost. They have a good amount in common and I loved watching them get to know each other. I also liked how they could support each other in various capacities but especially the way they both had unsupportive families. It was frustrating to see how their respective families treated them and I was really glad they both had found families who were in their corners.

They have excellent chemistry and because of the teacher/student dynamic, their interactions were fraught. I had no idea if they would make it through the semester! I wish this element had gone in a different direction but it didn't detract from my enjoyment too much.

I really liked how Marcus tried to take care of Bree but also how this impacted her insistence on independence. I could see both points of view so clearly and it was interesting to watch this play out in their relationship. There were just so many interesting threads in the story! I'm definitely looking forward to more from this author.

Another solid addition to Lincoln's Milwaukee Dragons series. I *really* loved the first book in the series, On The Line, so I was interested to see if Swagger could come anywhere close and I'm happy to report that it did not disappoint!

Once again, Lincoln has created characters that are realistic and relatable. Sometimes sports romance read more like New Adult to me, but in this case Bree and Marcus are responsible adults instead of annoying, immature caricatures. As a #nerdygirl myself, one of the things I loved most about the first book was that the heroine was a self-avowed geek/nerd. Well, Bree is a doctoral candidate in physics so once again, it was nice to see a heroine in a non-traditional role portrayed realistically. That being said, I will say that although I get why Bree had a chip on her shoulder about how some men treated her (hey, I'm a woman working in a predominately male field, too), I felt as if her reaction to Marcus's "meddling" was way over-the-top, even given her experiences.

Marcus is portrayed as much more than just a professional athlete. And although I'd consider this "sports romance" there's not as much emphasis on actual football given that Marcus is out for the season with an injury. Instead, I feel like we got to focus on a different aspect of his personality since he wasn't actively playing.

I'm hoping we get some more books for the Milwaukee Dragons!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

I don't think I've enjoyed a meeting between two characters more than when Bree runs down Marcus. I felt all of her embarrassment at finally meeting her favorite football player who's injured by knocking him down.

Bree is finishing up getting her Ph.D in Physics. I loved that she's in a STEM field and this book showcased how difficult that can be for a woman. She has an amazing group of friends that are supportive which was a great since she didn't seem to have support from anyone else. Marcus is out for the season with an injury and takes the opportunity to finish his degree. My favorite thing about him was that he's a closet nerd. The similarities between them were surprising and it made me love them that much more. There were times that I thought Bree was a little over the top and that sometimes made me think that Marcus could totally do better but then she redeemed herself for me.

I'm loving the Dragons and I can't wait to see what comes next!!

*This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

Very real character, they weren't vain or pretentious. Classic boy meets girl or shall I say man meets woman, try to fight the feeling but fall in love anyway. Marcus is that Alpha male that most women want in their life. He truly expresses Swagger. Great series. .

Bree and Marcus had a lot going for them individually, and potential problems from getting together (professor/student relationship). In this case, they were just better together... he was a good partner for someone with debilitating anxiety and she was his number one fan even when others in his life didn't believe in him. Great and easy story.