Serena Bell excels at writing slow burn romances with depth and a message for readers and GETTING INSIDE combines both of those things into a very thoughtful, interesting and lighthearted read.

Football is Iona Thomas's life and after dedicating herself to it as a player, she's now stepping up to the big time with a new job as a coach for the Professional Football League (the PFL). As if being a coach was not enough pressure, Iona is the first female coach ever in the PFL as well as the first person of color to land such a position, which surely means that she will be watched very closely and more would be expected of her than her male colleagues. Talk about living in a fishbowl! Iona is determined to jump into her first task of turning around the losing streak the Seattle Grizzlies have been on and getting a case of major lust for her star linebacker is not the way to start out.

Ty Masters has been off his game since the death of his mentor and coach and his replacement was a hazard to team cohesion, especially damaging to the morale of the younger players. The news that a new coach has been hired is welcome, at least before Ty lays his eyes on her. Yes, her! He does not think having a female coach is a good idea, particularly because of his very strong reaction to her. But Iona is determined to improve his game no matter how potent the attraction between them or how strong his resistance.

I think Ms. Bell does a really great job with Iona and Ty, revealing what makes them tick, from Iona's self-esteem issues and her strained relationship with her dad to Ty's deep seated abandonment issues and how they affect his game; from the forbidden relationship between a coach and her player to the double standards that litter professional sports and the pressure on female professionals to outperform their male counterparts and live exemplary lives in every way.

I enjoyed the push and pull between Iona and Ty, how invested Iona was Ty's, and ultimately the team's success and I was glad there was no hurry to make their relationship physical. Even for a novice in the game of football like me, the daily grind, the training and the action on the field were all attention-grabbing and made me invested in the success of the team.
GETTING INSIDE is a great start to this new series and I'm definitely looking forward to more from Ms. Bell.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
I really loved this story of the first female football coach in the NFL. Iona is a worthy heroine and she is exactly the kind of woman I want to read about. I loved her passion for football, her knowledge of the game, and the way she carefully gained her players’ trust.

Iona is perfectly matched with Ty and I loved the balance of power between the two of them. He may be a superstar, but she is his coach. The immediate but awkward connection between the two of them is brilliant and their chemistry is fantastic. I loved the shared moments watching game play and her gentle correction of his game. I don’t know much about American football, but I enjoyed the sport and the team in this book.

The feminist in me cringed a few times when Iona was willing to risk her job for a very new relationship, but most of the time I really liked her physical and emotional strength.

For me, the ending lost this book a star. It felt rushed and disjointed and I struggled to understand certain decisions. But overall, this is a great sports romance.


Lee’Anne – ☆☆☆
This was a pretty good read, there was definitely a lot of build-up to the actual romance, but once it happens. it’s a steamy read. I think it was a good start to what’s going to be a great series!

Iona Thomas is the first female to ever get a job as coach for a PFL team (professional football). There are many people who believe that she isn’t going to have what it takes, but there are just as many who have her back. Having been heavily involved in football her entire life, Iona has struggled to find a man who can handle her and see her as the woman that she is. Ty Williams is the linebacker for the Seattle Grizzlies and is on the head coach’s radar for being in trouble. Neither Ty nor Iona wants to shake the boat with their careers by seeking a relationship with one another, but the attraction between the two is undeniable. Even though Ty has never been one to be in a committed relationship, Iona has changed his views and he’s working hard to win her over.

I think the author really did a phenomenal job portraying how it would be for a female working in the male dominated industry of football. It was definitely a well-researched book and I enjoyed the storyline. The reason I'm giving 3 stars instead of 4 is because I felt like neither Iona or Ty's issues from their past were really resolved, I felt like once the story ended I was left hanging.

I’m interested to see where the author takes this series next!


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F Sports romance

This was a good story. I enjoyed the dynamic between Iona, the teams, the players, coaches, and her family. I think that all of those pieces came together in a great way – fairly organic but not without their own drama.

Ty is another story. He’s kind of the hot shot, know it all, the “golden boy” of the team. In essence, he can do no wrong and the team will do whatever they need in order to keep him. However, Ty is not without his baggage and when that comes streaming back into his life, he doesn’t really know what to do with the feelings that bubble up.

I do really wish that there had been more resolution between Iona and her family, but I can understand that the story was more about Iona and Ty – their relationship developing and seeing whether or not there was a future for them.

The realization that both characters come to is one that was predictable, but without the realization, the story would have been less effective. Overall, this was a good start and I hope that other players get their own stories.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first in a new sports romance series, which I think is going to be a hit! There is quite a large cast to be introduced to, but the focus on Ty, a player, and Iona, a coach, means that we get up to speed pretty quickly. And it also gives plenty of ideas of who might feature in future stories.

I really liked the emphasis on Iona's glass ceiling breaking, and how (unfairly) her behaviour would be judged as a slight on her gender and race, rather than just on her as an individual – it added an extra dimension to a story where roles and risks shift between the two leads all the time. It is always good to read a romance with new angles and issues.

There is a good balance of humour, seriousness, and great chemistry leading us seamlessly through the minefield of two people who are mixing professional with pleasure. I would say this is definitely worth a read, thank you Ms. Bell.

Full disclosure – I’ve tried Serena Bell in the past (not recently) and she never worked well for me. But I guess because it’s been some time since I’ve tried her and this is the new start to a football series, I tried her again. The first half was a struggle for me, but the second half worked better.

Iona has accepted a coaching position in the Pro Football League (aka the NFL). She is going to be the Seattle Grizzlies Defensive lineman coach. Having some intern experience in San Francisco and a lifelong dedication to women playing tackle football, she is very excited. She knows she is going to have to prove herself – not only being a woman, but a black woman. She is ready.

Ty is an all-star defensive lineman who really hates his line coach. The coach degrades his players and puts way too much negative pressure on them. Ty looks to his teammates as more than brothers, and he thinks this coaching style is the reason they have lost so many games. Before he has a chance to tell the head coach all of his concerns, he learns the line coach is fired, and that Iona has been hired. Ty initially doesn’t know what to think having a woman as a coach. The only thing running through his mind is how sexy she is and he can’t concentrate on anything else.

Iona has known Ty from television and has followed his career because she is a fan. Now faced with coaching him, she too can’t keep her eyes off him. But with so much at stake for her career, she knows she can’t give in to her lust.

I had a hard time with the first half because so much emphasis is put on the sexual stuff between Iona and Ty. I love some good, hot chemistry but this felt too forced and in the reader’s face. It’s constant references to these lust-filled thoughts on both sides, rather than respecting her as a coach, or him as a player. For this to happen from the immediate meeting and as Iona gets settled as a coach felt odd to me for some reason.

Once they settle down and actually have dinner together (second half) it felt more natural for these thoughts to arise. Or maybe because she was out to dinner rather than a coach trying to do her job. I understood their attraction and chemistry better later in the book. I wanted to understand Ty as a football player and Iona as a coach first – and that took some time.

I really enjoyed Iona by the end – strong, confident, in love, and willing to fight for her job. I’m glad the author showed us into the locker room, coaches meetings and on the field – although I’m not sure how NFL it really felt.

After a rocky start, it worked out okay in the end

Grade: C+

I was truly surprised at how much I enjoyed this story. On the surface, it seemed like a typical football and coach romance, but the author took the time to develop each character’s narrative that I was engaged in their personal success just as much as the success of their relationship. I was drawn in almost immediately to the end. That’s what great writing does to a reader, transport the reader into the story.

Iona Thomas worked hard to establish herself as female coach and she made sure never to compromise herself by getting involved with a football player…until Ty Williams.

Ty Williams is the starting linebacker for the Seattle Grizzlies, a fictional PFL team, and the new linebacker coach is causing all kinds of distractions for him. While she gives very sound coaching techniques, he can’t help but notice her curves or how good she smells.
Both Iona and Ty fight their mutual attraction because Ty is under the microscope for his less than inspired performances of late and Iona has made history as the first female coach in the PFL much to the chagrin of some.

Ty was working through some personal issues and Iona was working on herself esteem as a woman. Ty and Iona seemed to be just what the other needed at this point in their lives, but both were cognizant of what an affair would do to their burgeoning careers. With so much on the line, was it worth it to risk their hearts over the career they were individually building?

Serena Bell really made me believe in both character’s integrity. While there was an almost immediate attraction, the author made them work for the happily ever after. I found the road to love believable, realistic and angsty.

I applaud her for not going the route of too much sex over plot because I became invested in these character’s aspirations as well as their family lives. I felt their chemistry, I also felt their anguish about what a secret affair would do to each other and the football community. As a person who loves football, I appreciated the author’s effort to being authenticity to the character and the environment that Iona and Ty were a part of. I hope this book is indicative of how this series is going to be because I really enjoyed this story.

3.5 stars

Getting Inside was a very good read and a great start to the Seattle Grizzlies series.
I enjoyed the storyline, the characters Iona and Ty were likable, relatable and entertained me watching them fall in love.

Overall, another enjoyable read by Serena Bell, looking forward to reading the next book :)

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept for the advance copy.

Iona is the first woman coach in the PFL (similar to our NFL). There is a lot of pressure on both Iona and the team to show she's got the ability to coach men. She's got a lot to prove as most people don't believe females should be coaching at the professional level. She realizes it will be a lot harder once she sees linebacker Ty and he sets her skin on fire!

Ty is a linebacker for The Seattle Grizzlies, the team that just hired Iona. He's got questions on whether she has the right prospective to coach men. It doesn't help that she's so nice to look at and she smells amazing.

Both characters are equally smitten with each other and the book goes back and forth across that coach/player line. Ultimately it becomes too large a mountain to climb and they give into their attraction. But what do they do now? They could have a PR nightmare on their hands and both have a lot to lose if this gets out.

I liked the premise of this book, but I didn't feel real heat with the characters. I didn't feel any real connection with them either. I know they both had their own baggage, but we weren't let into that till way late in the book. Much of it was dancing around this attraction and sneaking glances when they thought no one was the wiser. I had hopes that once they gave in, it would ramp up, but sadly I was disappointed. There just seemed to be missing a spark within this story to drive me to read to the next page and see what happens. I also felt like a lot of the past issues with each character were never resolved. Yes, we have some implied action, but I felt I wanted more.

Getting Inside is the first book in the Seattle Grizzlies series and it may pick up as the series gains ground.

reviewed by Deb

Awesome contemporary sports (football) romance. Ty fought through a tough youth to become a professional football player but that wasn't the only type of player he was known for. Iona has always loved football and played from early childhood. She coached girls football teams and proved women know the sport. She was offered a job as one of the coaches for the Grizzles. That's where she and Ty meet. The story has ups and downs as well as twists and turns that keep the readers interest. I received a complementary copy of this book via NetGalley and chose to write a review. I look forward to other books by this author.

Iona's a woman who loves football. She's played, coached and has earned a position as coach of a mens pro football team! Her success has come at a cost. Her feminine self esteem has been damaged by the men she trusts. The attraction she feels to Ty, a plkayer on the pro football team, can only lead to sex, Iona believes, because she doesn't believe any man can want her...
Ty's a powerful player, both on and off the football field. But there are other, personal things, he's kept hidden. He's drawn to Iona, but backs away...
Absorbing and entertaining romantic sports start to a new series! Fell in love with the characters and storyline! Hope O, Blake and Zach get their own books, as well as Derek, though he's not a football player. Will enjoy getting inside more of this series!
I voluntarily read an Advance Review Copy of this book.

BOOK REVIEW: Getting Inside
BOOK SERIES: Seattle Grizzlies #1
AUTHOR: Serena Bell
GENRE: Sports Romance
PUBLICATION DATE: January 3, 2017
CLIFF HANGER: No

4 Stars

*This story is for mature audiences only. Contains explicit scenes and language intended for adults 18+

SYNOPSIS:
They’re big. They’re hot. And they play hard.

In the kickoff to Serena Bell’s sexy new football romance series, the heat between a female coach and a cocky linebacker turns the Seattle Grizzlies locker room upside down.

Iona: There’s nothing like the rush of going head-to-head with the boys. Football is my life, and I got my new job with the Seattle Grizzlies because I know how to play rough. But as a woman in a man’s game, I can’t afford any distractions—like panty-melting tabloid darling Ty Williams, my star linebacker. I’ve stared down plenty of good-looking players without losing my cool . . . and yet something about Ty’s intense gaze burns straight to my core.

Ty: Despite what they say in the press, I save my best moves for game day. The Grizzlies aren’t just my teammates, they’re my brothers—no way am I going to let some new coach shake up our defense. But Iona Thomas isn’t just some coach. It’s so tough to keep my head in the game when I’d rather be in bed with her. She may take charge at practice, but if I had her in my arms, I’d be choosing the plays. I just need to figure out what makes her tick—and what makes her want to break the rules.

MY THOUGHTS:
I have to say this slow burn sports romance hit on many notes for me. I really enjoyed how the story unfolded. We are taken on a journey with the characters as they try to find their balance between their professional lives and their personal lives.

Iona was an amazing heroine. She was set to trial by fire all through her personal journey to get to play football, coach women’s football and finally is hired to coach the linebackers of the Seattle Grizzlies, a team in PFL. This is her dream job. The story to her journey touches your heart and you feel her anguish to your soul. She has always found Ty attractive, but when they finally meet, she feels a strong pull that she has to deny. She has too much at stake to let her hormones get in the way.

Ty is a cocky linebacker with a player reputation and a chip on his shoulder. His play has been suffering. He has not been playing up to his usual game, until Iona starts coaching and turns that line around. She amazes him with her knowledge of the game, her respect and knowledge of how to deal with each player. He is blindsided by his personal feelings for her.

This was a slow burn romance. Ty and Iona have to take it slow, cautious, and there is a lot of push and pull. As the story unfolds, I got the story behind their professional drives and their personal anguish. When they are together the chemistry explodes and their feelings can’t be denied, but there are so many factors working against them. If their relationship gets out, they both could lose their dream jobs.

I won’t tell you anymore, as you need to read this sweet, slow burn, hot sports romance. I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read more of this new series.

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

3.5 stars--GETTING INSIDE is the first installment in Serena Bell’s contemporary, adult SEATTLE GRIZZLIES football, romance series focusing on the member of the professional football team the Seattle Grizzlies. This is offensive lineman Ty Williams, and coach Iona Thomas’s story line.

Told from dual first person points of view (Iona and Ty) GETTING INSIDE follows the building but forbidden relationship between offensive lineman for the Seattle Grizzlies Ty Williams, and the professional football league’s first African –American female coach Iona Thomas. The Seattle Grizzlies have been struggling; with a 1-6 record the owners and staff were desperate for a change-enter Iona Thomas-the first African –American female coach in the PFL, and the woman that would steal Ty Williams’s heart. What ensues is the turn around of a floundering professional football team, and the growing love between player and coach-a relationship that may not be accepted by the people in charge.

The relationship between Ty and Iona is one of immediate attraction but Iona knows that it is her job on the line as both a coach and the person in charge. Our heroine has struggles through most of her life trying to prove she was as capable as a man in the field of professional football. Ty’s attraction to Iona becomes a distraction both on and off of the field when Iona begins to push away the man with whom she is falling in love. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive.

We are introduced to a number of Ty’s fellow Seattle Grizzlies team mates including his best friend ‘O’ aka Michel Ohalu, as well as quarterback Zach Jones, and cornerback Calder Blake. Iona’s parents, and Ty’s brother add some personal family drama throughout the story.

GETTING INSIDE is a predictable story line of forbidden romance but I struggled with the lack of conflict when all was said and done. The final resolution is more of a fizzle, and this reader was left wondering about the little details in between that were never brought to the reader’s attention. I also had a difficult time with the fact that a woman was coaching a professional football team (ala the NFL) and was readily accepted by most if not all the players, other coaches, and people in charge. I suspect there would have been many more issues than what was presented in the story. The premise is entertaining; the characters are colorful; the romance is sexy.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

THE READING CAFÉ: http://www.thereadingcafe.com/getting-inside-seattle-grizzlies-1-by-serena-bell-a-review/


GOODREADS: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1858818812


AMAZON.COM: https://www.amazon.com/review/R3JKR428ZMXTA3/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B01E2GZ2UU



B&N: posted

KOBO: posted

CHAPTERS/INDIGO: posted

*I received an ARC of this book free from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Getting Inside mixes in a little humor with its romance. I found myself laughing at little things the characters thought or said throughout the book, which kept is light and entertaining.

Iona is one of the coaches for the Grizzlies and despite her always professional attitude there's one man you who has an entirely different effect on her.

Ty is a football player and the last thing he ever thought would happen would be him having the hots for his new coach. Then again, I bet he never expected a sexy female coach either.

Iona's hell bent on ignoring the heat she feels when Ty's around and keeping things only professional. Ty has different plans. And all it'll take is a little power outage to start a fire that won't burn out very easily. With their professional relationship in the spotlight so to speak their personal one will be that much more difficult and secretive....I bet we all know how that'll turn out. It definitely has its ups and downs, but every single one is worth the ride.

My Favorite Moment is when Coach gets in on a little play action during practice. Hope no one saw that reaction!

They’re big. They’re hot. And they play hard.

In the kickoff to Serena Bell’s sexy new football romance series, the heat between a female coach and a cocky linebacker turns the Seattle Grizzlies locker room upside down.

Iona: There’s nothing like the rush of going head-to-head with the boys. Football is my life, and I got my new job with the Seattle Grizzlies because I know how to play rough. But as a woman in a man’s game, I can’t afford any distractions—like panty-melting tabloid darling Ty Williams, my star linebacker. I’ve stared down plenty of good-looking players without losing my cool . . . and yet something about Ty’s intense gaze burns straight to my core.

Ty : Despite what they say in the press, I save my best moves for game day. The Grizzlies aren’t just my teammates, they’re my brothers—no way am I going to let some new coach shake up our defense. But Iona Thomas isn’t just some coach. It’s so tough to keep my head in the game when I’d rather be in bed with her. She may take charge at practice, but if I had her in my arms, I’d be choosing the plays. I just need to figure out what makes her tick—and what makes her want to break the rules.








Review:




Here is what I liked best about this book...




I like the diversity of characters. That seems to be getting better and better. I think everyone enjoys a good interesting character (s) no matter what their ethnicity is.




Loved that the lead female character is breaking that glass ceiling and is coaching in the pro football league. This creates some interesting twists on work place romance and the consequences of it.




It was super hot! The Author did a great job of putting the sexy into this story. It was well-done and the romance made sense and was realistic for these two characters.




I had read one other story by this Author, had read and enjoyed it so when I saw this one I thought I would try another. It is first in a new series, so there is not catching up. The characters are all likable and interesting, and as I said super sexy. It was a quick read, I read it in an afternoon during the holiday break. I am curious to see where the series will go next.




4Stars




*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book provided by the publisher.*

Serena Bell’s Returning Home series, about military veterans and their adjustment to life at home again after deployment is a favorite of mine, and book 3, To Have and To Hold, made my best reads of 2016 list for its thoughtful and emotional look at how a brain injury could impact a relationship. Now she’s set her sights on the world of professional football with this first entry in her new Seattle Grizzlies series. Getting Inside is a tight paced, sexy and exciting forbidden affair/ workplace romance, about a female coach and one of the players on the team. Told in alternating first person present tense point of view (more often seen in new adult than contemporary romances), the story delves into the conflicts and emotional consequences of getting involved with someone you work with and is a great first entry into what promises to be a dynamic and entertaining sports romance series.

Iona Thomas loves football. First as a player, then working her way up to coaching, she’s thrilled to have accepted her first job with the Professional Football League (the PFL) as a linebacker coach for the Seattle Grizzlies. As an African American woman, she knows she has her work cut out for her to prove that she belongs in such a high powered position and that she will be judged more harshly than her male counterparts. She already has plans to turn around the Grizzlies current losing streak, starting with her star linebacker, Ty Masters. He’s been off his game recently and she doesn’t know why. But the tape doesn’t lie and it shows he’s been hesitating, resulting in losing plays. She’s got ideas to help him get back on track – if he’s willing to listen.

Ty is struggling with the recent death of his longtime ally, friend and coach Mack. Mack’s replacement was a disaster, never gelling with him and his guys, and he’s relieved that they’ve hired someone new. His first look at Iona when he encounters her in Coach Thrayne’s office (before realizing who she is) results in an immediate visceral reaction:

Wow.

Hot.

Want.

Followed immediately by:

Nope. Because if she’s anyone who has anything remotely to do with the team, she’s off limits. Especially media or personnel.
Finding out that Iona is his new coach puts her very definitely in a ‘no touching’ category – but the seeds are sown.

Iona has some self-esteem problems when it comes to her looks. She’s a very fit woman who plays pick up games of football when she can and her job keeps her physically active. Told by her father as a teenager that she’d never find a man interested in her if she kept playing football, she took those words to heart and assumes that they are still true. Some short-term relationships, mediocre sexual experiences and her ‘masculine’ job results in her believing that she’s undesirable as a partner. When she thinks she glimpses interest in Ty’s eyes, she convinces herself that she’s mistaken and it’s only as they spend time alone together and Ty makes the first move that she realizes his interest is real.

But it obviously comes with all sorts of problems. Though there are no official team rules preventing relationships between players and coaches (mainly because it’s never been an issue before), Iona is fully aware of what the public will think if they find out what’s happening between them. As a female, it will be assumed that she slept with someone to get the job, or that she’ll dally with more than one player, or that any off-field relationship will be detrimental for the players on the field. She and Ty have a bit of push and pull between them as they try to resist the attraction, resulting in lots of sexual tension. I appreciate that they didn’t just sleep together at the start of the story and damn the consequences, making their eventual lovemaking worth the wait. It results in some steamy scenes that make it clear it’s not going to be so easy to keep their feelings under wraps. Ty respects Iona and understands that should their relationship become public, it will cause her a lot more problems than it will him. He is willing to follow her lead and will stand by her no matter what happens.

Their burgeoning relationship notwithstanding, Iona is interested in getting to the heart of what makes Ty tick. She quickly realizes that his focus in football is playing for someone else, and not for himself. He had a rough childhood and is estranged from his brother for reasons that still affect him. He had always played for Mack, and when Mack died suddenly prior to the season starting, Ty didn’t have anyone to win for. It turned him into a more cautious player and Iona realizes this and knows that to get Ty back into winning games, he needs to learn to win for himself and no one else. She’s not afraid to push Ty, to challenge him, and make him face his fears on and off the field.

For someone who hasn’t written a sports romance before, Ms. Bell has done a very satisfactory job of making the reader believe they are witnessing a behind the scenes look at what makes a football team tick. The action on the field is credible and exciting, the seasonal games play out and the reader has a real vested interest in the team and its players. Knowing that Iona and Ty’s relationship could be outed at any time makes for some underlying suspense in the second half of the story. The pressure on Iona to succeed not just as a coach, but as a female in a typically male career adds to the tension and this is one of those stories that kept me up late reading to find out how it would all work out. Getting Inside is a sexy and entertaining sports 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 during release week.

3 1/2 stars. Iona is the first female coach of the PFL. She has dreamed of this her whole life. She has to succeed. She is being watched by the world. She knows she is an inspiration to all women who dream of being in the male dominated world of football. She is looked down at and suspiciously by most of the men. Treated as if she less a woman for being there. Ask a lot of stupid and uncomfortable questions along the way. She won't mess this up. Unless she lets one man in who could destroy it all.
Ty isn't so happy about her being the new coach. Not so much because she is female, but because he misses his old coach and isn't sure a women can get inside of a man's way of thinking about the game. Plus he is drawn to her. This could ruin his career, if he got involved with the coach.
The romance was pretty good if a little predictable. One shinning light was bring up how athletic women's bodies are sometimes frown on and not seen as beautiful and Iona certainly has some issues with how she has been seen. Both struggle with the ramifications of how a romance between them would be seen and how it would affect their careers. I would have liked more back story from her life and his. Overall I thought it was a good start to a new serie

Getting Inside is a football book and I think I may be the start to a new series. I have read several of Ms. Bell's books and have always enjoyed them. This was not my favorite of books but it was enjoyable. Ty is a professional football player, and Iona is the first female football coach. The premise is a good one, but it just didn't feel real to me. I did not feel the emotions of the characters, and had a hard time with their romance. I think this may be partly my fault because I am realizing that I am tired of many sports books except by a few authors I love. And even with those authors, I find it is the connection of the characters that are engaging, more than a sports story. Thanks as always to Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review.

This book was just okay for me. I thought it could have been better and it had all the potential to be better but something was missing. Iona is a female coach in the PFL and should know better than to have a relationship with one of her players so maybe that was it. Ty is the star linebacker for the Seattle Grizzlies and should be at the top of his game but he is on thin ice with the head coach and so he knows better than to take up with his coach. I could see if the romance waited until after the season but...

I will reserve judgment on whether I will continue with the series or not.

**Received an ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

I loved it, especially the ending. Good emotions, good story, good characters. I posted a review on Goodreads.

Serena Bell's Returning Home series, about military veterans and their adjustment to life at home again after deployment is a favorite of mine, and book 3, To Have and To Hold, made my best reads of 2016 list for its thoughtful and emotional look at how a brain injury could impact a relationship. Now she's set her sights on the world of professional football with this first entry in her new Seattle Grizzlies series. Getting Inside is a tight paced, sexy and exciting forbidden affair/ workplace romance, about a female coach and one of the players on the team. Told in alternating first person present tense point of view (more often seen in new adult than contemporary romances), the story delves into the conflicts and emotional consequences of getting involved with someone you work with and is a great first entry into what promises to be a dynamic and entertaining sports romance series.

Iona Thomas loves football. First as a player, then working her way up to coaching, she's thrilled to have accepted her first job with the Professional Football League (the PFL) as a linebacker coach for the Seattle Grizzlies. As an African American woman, she knows she has her work cut out for her to prove that she belongs in such a high powered position and that she will be judged more harshly than her male counterparts. She already has plans to turn around the Grizzlies current losing streak, starting with her star linebacker, Ty Masters. He's been off his game recently and she doesn't know why. But the tape doesn't lie and it shows he's been hesitating, resulting in losing plays. She's got ideas to help him get back on track – if he's willing to listen.

Ty is struggling with the recent death of his longtime ally, friend and coach Mack. Mack's replacement was a disaster, never gelling with him and his guys, and he's relieved that they've hired someone new. His first look at Iona when he encounters her in Coach Thrayne's office (before realizing who she is) results in an immediate visceral reaction:

Wow.

Hot.

Want.

Followed immediately by:

Nope. Because if she's anyone who has anything remotely to do with the team, she's off limits. Especially media or personnel.

Finding out that Iona is his new coach puts her very definitely in a 'no touching' category – but the seeds are sown.

Iona has some self-esteem problems when it comes to her looks. She's a very fit woman who plays pick up games of football when she can and her job keeps her physically active. Told by her father as a teenager that she'd never find a man interested in her if she kept playing football, she took those words to heart and assumes that they are still true. Some short-term relationships, mediocre sexual experiences and her 'masculine' job results in her believing that she's undesirable as a partner. When she thinks she glimpses interest in Ty's eyes, she convinces herself that she's mistaken and it's only as they spend time alone together and Ty makes the first move that she realizes his interest is real.

But it obviously comes with all sorts of problems. Though there are no official team rules preventing relationships between players and coaches (mainly because it's never been an issue before), Iona is fully aware of what the public will think if they find out what's happening between them. As a female, it will be assumed that she slept with someone to get the job, or that she'll dally with more than one player, or that any off-field relationship will be detrimental for the players on the field. She and Ty have a bit of push and pull between them as they try to resist the attraction, resulting in lots of sexual tension. I appreciate that they didn't just sleep together at the start of the story and damn the consequences, making their eventual lovemaking worth the wait. It results in some steamy scenes that make it clear it's not going to be so easy to keep their feelings under wraps. Ty respects Iona and understands that should their relationship become public, it will cause her a lot more problems than it will him. He is willing to follow her lead and will stand by her no matter what happens.

Their burgeoning relationship notwithstanding, Iona is interested in getting to the heart of what makes Ty tick. She quickly realizes that his focus in football is playing for someone else, and not for himself. He had a rough childhood and is estranged from his brother for reasons that still affect him. He had always played for Mack, and when Mack died suddenly prior to the season starting, Ty didn't have anyone to win for. It turned him into a more cautious player and Iona realizes this and knows that to get Ty back into winning games, he needs to learn to win for himself and no one else. She's not afraid to push Ty, to challenge him, and make him face his fears on and off the field.

For someone who hasn’t written a sports romance before, Ms. Bell has done a very satisfactory job of making the reader believe they are witnessing a behind the scenes look at what makes a football team tick. The action on the field is credible and exciting, the seasonal games play out and the reader has a real vested interest in the team and its players. Knowing that Iona and Ty's relationship could be outed at any time makes for some underlying suspense in the second half of the story. The pressure on Iona to succeed not just as a coach, but as a female in a typically male career adds to the tension and this is one of those stories that kept me up late reading to find out how it would all work out. Getting Inside is a sexy and entertaining sports romance.

What an amazing story and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Two strong willed, career oriented people, both fighting past demons also have to fight their attraction to one another. Loved the characters and their connections as the story moves along nicely. Great read!

Loved this book. It was a quick read I couldn't put it down. The forbidden dynamic was very interesting and kept my attention. It was hot and gritty and I can't wait for the next book from this author.