DOWNED is book 3 in Jen Frederick's "Gridiron" series. It
is a good idea to read JOCKBLOCKED before reading DOWNED.
Reading JOCKBLOCKED will give the reader a window into
Ace's psyche and provide a detailed account of what went
wrong for him in his past. After reading JOCKBLOCKED, I
wasn't sure if I was that interested in reading more
about Ace, but Jen Frederick really turns the character
around in DOWNED and gives him a new perspective in life,
as well as giving the reader a new perspective on Ace.
JR "Ace" Anderson has a little bit of a chip on his
shoulder after some bad experiences at his former
college. He and his bad attitude are exactly the kind of
thing Bryant Johnson looks for in a project. She recycles
and repurposes guys who are basically jerks and turns
them into the kind of guy you'd want for a boyfriend.
Although Bryant's mission might seem a little odd or
frivolous but, as the story progresses, her motivation is
revealed and her actions take on a more profound
connotation. Ace was just meant to be another project to
Bryant, but the many intense emotions she experiences in
her relationship with Ace have her a little panicked. I
like that Bryant has enough self-awareness to realize, by
the end of DOWNED, that she was the one most in need of a
change in her thinking. Ace impressed me when he didn't
fall for Bryant's cheery façade, and when he fought for
her and didn't give up on her when she tried to push him
away emotionally. There are several delightfully carnal
exchanges between Ace and Bryant, but I love their
moments of emotional intimacy as well.
Although Bryant helps Ace bury a few of his demons, it's
the struggle to communicate with and be accepted by his
new teammates that really changes Ace. Jen Frederick does
a wonderful job of breaking down team politics --
especially for people like me who have never been
involved in sports. What starts out as a slightly
dysfunctional family of football players, evolves into
the network of support and teamwork that it is supposed
to be. Bryant's dad is very Zen, and a much more likable
coach than the one in the previous two books.
DOWNED is a character-driven romance about rebuilding
people as well as a football team. Jen Frederick packs
DOWNED full of the same kind of blistering eroticism she
puts into everything she writes. I hope Jen Frederick
will write a story for Ty Masters one of these days. Like
with Ellie and Knox in SACKED, I think it's great that
Ace and Bryant have a similar enthusiasm for, and
interest in, football. Football is a big part of this
story, but it's the unforgettable characters who are the
stars of DOWNED. I look forward to reading the next super
steamy romance by Jen Frederick!
Despite winning two national championships, JR “Ace”
Anderson was sent packing from his old school after
losing the trust of his coach. At Southern U, he has a
second chance to prove that his college legacy isn’t
endless debauchery and selfishness. But his reputation
precedes him, and his teammates offer a chilly welcome in
the locker room. The one person who is willing to accept
him is the very woman he should stay away from—his new
coach’s daughter.
She’s the girl everyone loves…
Bryant Johnson’s only goal in life is to make others
happy, even at her own expense. One look at her father’s
new star quarterback, and she knows that Ace is her next
project. With a reputation for being a “jerk whisperer”,
Bryant has spent her last three years at college
reforming sorry behavior and turning bad boys into the
best boyfriends ever. In Ace, though, she’s met with
surly resistance and a sizzling attraction she doesn’t
expect. Fixing this wounded warrior will be her biggest
challenge yet. Not falling for him will be even harder.
Between her big heart and his damaged one, a battle is
ensuing. In this game of love, every defense will
crumble.
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