Despite being happy that her friend Skylar is excited to be asked out by Ford, Ariel Holiday, a beautiful blonde cheerleader at Grove Hill High School, just can't resist a mean and nasty dig. After all, she had her eye on Ford over the summer and now he left her for Skylar. What is that about?

Coming from a well off family and being the only girl, Ariel has been used to always getting things her own way, but things weren't working out that way for her now, especially in the romance department. After being out on the spot by another romance that goes sideways, the last thing Ariel wants is a birthday party, but her mom, a party planner extraordinaire, insists on the party. Will that prove totally embarrassing as well?

Then, if life isn't tough enough already, a family crisis causes real problems from her mom and her aunt and Ariel realizes that she has to be less self-centred and more mature if things at home are going to get better. While trying to work that out, Ariel realizes sparks are igniting between her and Ryder Packer, a black footballer who is a hot star on the football field and Captain of the Defense. Can any harm come from a little flirtation? Ryder has his own share of problems, especially as he was caught kissing a hot young teacher at school Can things work out for them when both his mother and her father are against them? Can they handle their budding romance so their high school team, the Grove Hill Giants, can focus on winning the upcoming state title?

Stephanie Perry Moore is a well-known writer with many books in the Young Adult and Christian genres. While many authors are good at portraying differing perspectives, her second book in the Grove Hill Giants has the Moore team handling it in a very different fashion. GOLDEN HEART, written by Stephanie Perry Moore, presents events from Ariel's perspective; yet when you flip the book, the other side called DEEP SOUL, presents events from Ryder's viewpoint. That story is co-written by Stephanie Perry Moore and her husband, Derrick Moore.

GOLDEN HEART/DEEP SOUL reads very well as a stand-alone story; however, Moore's many fans will be happy to find that this book is filled with many familiar characters, especially the close knit group of cheerleaders and football players. I am impressed with Moore's ability to take seemingly stereotypical characters and refining them with her own special touch, so they are realistic in their actions and achingly raw in their emotional concerns. I am impressed with her handling of biracial romances and working in both positive and hostile reactions to them. GOLDEN HEART/DEEP SOUL is sure to be a winner with fans who like high school romance and football! Enjoy!