Sidelined

April 1, 2019
In this middling contemporary sports romance (after Trouble Brewing), a renowned football coach’s daughter gets the job everyone thought would go to a man, with mostly predictable consequences. Charlotte “Charlie” Gibb grew up studying football strategy and worked for her father at Georgia Tech. When she gets her first head coaching position at a high school, she is confronted by antagonism from her staff—including Connor McGuire, a history teacher and the team’s offensive coordinator, who expected to land the gig—as well as students and parents. Connor is impressed by Charlie’s football knowledge and surprised when their constant (and adolescent) sniping turns into stolen kisses and a secret relationship. Charlie comes across as immature, but her new friends and Connor’s loving family add depth. Readers may find it inappropriate that Charlie is romancing a direct report, and those cheering for Charlie to have both a coaching career and romance will be disappointed by the ending. There’s plenty of flirtatious banter to keep the plot moving, though, and even readers who aren’t sports fans can enjoy Charlie and Connor’s story. Agent: Sharon Pelletier, Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret.

August 9, 2019

Charlie Gibb has been hired as the first female football coach at Douglass High School in Minneapolis. There's bound to be pushback, but she's been dealing with misogyny and sexism all her life and is ready to prove that she's the best person to get the team to the playoffs. Connor McGuire, meanwhile, is convinced he should be leading the march to the postseason. An assistant coach for years, he's convinced Charlie's hiring is a publicity stunt for the school. From the first whistle, Charlie and Connor butt heads over every decision, yet it's clear Charlie knows her stuff. When Charlie moves in with one of Connor's friends, the two must navigate feelings of animosity in order to keep the peace. As their anger turns to attraction, Connor continues to have problems opening up even as Charlie is trying to assert herself as a coach. They may be drawn together, but it's anybody's guess if they'll survive the season. VERDICT Enthusiasts of Baltsar's first novel, Trouble Brewing, will be excited to see many familiar characters here, but the chemistry between Charlie and Connor isn't strong enough to make the transition from enemies to lovers a smooth one.--Kellie Tilton, Univ. of Cincinnati Blue Ash

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