Written by JN Welsh, Red Flags is a second instalment in Passion Players series, but can also be read as a stand alone.

Charlotte Bowman is a successful business woman of colour, making her change in the comfortables of shoes. Through her best friend Ayanan she meets with a dark-haired Irishman that doesn't leave her mind, especially after they share a night together before he flies back to Ireland.

Eoghan O'Farrell, a football player, back from his rehabilitation, is still unsure about his place on the pitch, and soon after the first training he figures out the problem- his cleats. Deciding to break his current deal and find a new company, he picks Seam and Sole.

Seam and Sole, Char's apparel and footwear company, hits some milling stones with investors, and the new path leads her to Eoghan. What has life got in store for the two of them? Some shoes and maybe even love...





I like the cover, but maybe something with cleats would be an even better fit.
The plot of the story sounded okay, and a new 'take' on romance since I never read a football + shoe inventor till now. Some parts of the story were okay but the writing put me off, and I would probably dnf this one, if it wasn't an arc.
Also worth to mention that hero has past with heroine best friend.

A footalicious four-star read. In parts this was a five-star read, but honestly I felt like I was reading the second story of a series for huge chunks and that’s why I cant give it five-stars, as no where does it say number two or even give a hint of there being a first story about Ayanna and Shane, as in parts it felt like they were taking over this story and it felt like a shame to Charlotte and Eoghan, as they deserved to shine in this story. There were so many great characters in this one, they supported the mains and flourished in the background and if Ayanna and Shane had done that it would have been a fantastic read, as it was, they kept distracting me from the main event. I did really like that it was Irish football and not soccer, and the fact that Ireland and Northern Ireland have different leagues, it’s so often brushed over and ignored that they are different countries, that share a land border, it was details like that that made this a great story. If I find out that Ayanna and Shane have a story I would love to read it, as I think it would compliment this whole thing.
Edit, I have just seen that Open Play is from this author and it looks like maybe Ayanna and Shane story, so hopefully I will get my wish, I just wish it was more clear in the description, if it is I am sorry, but I looked a couple of times and didn’t pick it up.

What a cute story! This book will stay with me for a while. Well written, interesting? And engaging,

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Going into this book, I only knew it was a sports Romance with an Irish hero - and for me that was enough!
Starting the book I was slightly upset at the fade to black scene in the prologue but followed by graphic recollection by the characters after the fact. It was resolved in the rest of the novel with the love scenes being intense!
One slight niggle I had was the repetition of Charlotte's company- 'sports-brand-apparel...' I found I was reading it over and over. I loved seeing a successful woman and the company she loved.
The premise of the novel which was creating a custom shoe for a famous Irish footballer was really interesting. I have not read a book with those topics before and I liked the balance of plot, love story but also the characters already-successful careers flourishing.
Although it was probably obvious to most, I would have loved the POV to be stated at the beginning of each switch. I read so quickly that sometimes I hadnt realised the POVs had changed between characters.
Overall I enjoyed the book, there was never a point where I wanted to stop reading and I wanted to see two closed-off and career driven characters finding comfort in each other.
I think the cover and blurb brings together the plot and characters really well.
Thanks so much :)

Red Flags by JN Welsh was a fun, diverse romance. Lots of times when I request ARCs I just go based on the synopsis, the title, sometimes even just the cover peaks my interest. I don't always know the author. I absolutely love Sports Romances, so I read the description for this one and signed right up!

I had no idea it was the second book in a series. You can totally read it as a standalone. I didn't feel like I was missing anything for this story. Now I want to read Ayanna and Shane's story too. But reading this as a standalone did not hinder Charlotte and Eoghan's story at all.

I absolutely love strong heroines! They are my jam! Charlotte fit that bill and more! She is fierce, she is the CEO of her company, and she trusts herself! Can she trust the feeling of home that Eoghan evokes in her? This is a romance, so there is a happily ever after!

The process of making a custom cleat with an athlete was fascinating! Such a fun set of details for the story! I absolutely want to be friends with Charlotte and Danai. And I am so here for a book with Danai and Lance!

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Some strong characters, even if footballer Eoghan is emotionally buttoned up and Charlotte isn’t able to share her emotions with him too much either. The plot follows the development of a new shoe design and the book spends quite a lot of time talking shoe design and data. It is god to have the characters from the first book in the series back, and they add some strong vibes - more of that feeling would have been great. I struggled to warm to Charlotte.