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!