Review: First and Goal by Laura Chapman

First & Goal (Queen of the League Book 1)
by Laura Chapman

When Harper Duquaine’s no-nonsense approach to work unintentionally ruffles the wrong feathers at her new job, she joins her co-workers’ fantasy football league to prove she can hang with the guys. Only problem: she doesn’t know a sleeper from a keeper (or any of the other lingo thrown her way).

Embroiled in a world of lineups, stats, and trades, Harper’s quest to make nice topples when her competitive streak emerges. And her promise to herself that she’ll be a strong, independent woman and leave the drama and heartache behind is seriously tested when she catches the attention of her two biggest competitors: J.J., a local celebrity determined to win a fantasy championship, and Brook, the mild-mannered coach who seems too good to be true. Both threaten her resolve to remain single… and, more importantly, her chances at winning the prize pool.

With a slew of conflicting advice in her real and fantasy worlds, Harper must figure out how to play the game and come out a winner.

Harper Duquaine knew she was always doing her best at work, and it was evident that her boss was impressed with her. But he also realized that Harper needed to make friends and bond with her officemates. So he asked her to improve her social skills so they wouldn’t call her Harper the Harper.

JJ, Gio and Wade had a fantasy football game coming up and they needed another player to complete the gang. Enter Harper and everyone was surprised when she volunteered to join the game. Who would have thought that a lady like her knew anything about football?

Well, the guys were in for a big surprise. Thanks to her brothers who were big football fans and players, Harper ventured and risked on a high stakes game with her wit, determination her heart in her sleeves. A fantasy game that will change her and her colleagues perception of her.

After finishing this book, I thought Queen Harper was an inspiration. I liked how she had transformed herself from a reluctant co-worker into a brave and compassionate game player. Brook, one of Harper’s football fantasy competition was also a likable character. He wasn’t working with Harper and the boys in the same company, but he was friends with them.

Brook had this charismatic appeal that made me love him. A school teacher who thinks of other people’s welfare first before himself. A loving uncle to kids who meant the world to him. He was a man worth rooting for.

First & Goal featured a lot of football players, techniques and ideas that football aficionados would easily relate to. While I may not have been aware of all these people and sports jargon, I liked the feel of the story, I liked the pacing and world-building and I liked mostly the characters individual personalities. Laura Chapman hit the jackpot with this novel!

Laura Chapman is the author of First & Goal, The Marrying Type, andHard Hats and Doormats. Her work appears in Merry & Bright, A Kind of Mad Courage, and a forthcoming Christmas anthology from Marching Ink. A native Nebraskan, she loves Huskers and Packers football, Netflix marathons, and her cats, Jane and Bingley. Laura is currently in pursuit of a fantasy football championship while penning her next novel.

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