Rules of Contact

Starred review from November 7, 2016
Burton’s 12th Play-by-Play contemporary sports romance (after Unexpected Rush) is a captivating and satisfying mix of physical and emotional passions. Flynn Cassidy spends his days as a defensive end for the San Francisco Sabers and his nights at his new restaurant, Ninety-Two (named for his jersey number). He’s tired of women using him to get their 15 minutes of fame and wants to fall in love with someone who loves him for himself. Amelia Lawrence, head chef at Ninety-Two, has no interest in the spotlight; she’s perfectly content to turn out delicious dishes and guard her heart after a messy divorce from a man who didn’t trust her and destroyed her self-confidence. The powerful chemistry between Amelia and Flynn leads to a red-hot romance, punctuated by sweet moments with Flynn’s sports-minded family. But when a misunderstanding causes Flynn to question Amelia’s motives in dating him, their baggage threatens their love. Burton imbues her hero and heroine with vulnerabilities that immediately endear them to readers, and the deft characterization, snappy dialogue, and sizzling love scenes will keep the pages turning. This may be Burton’s best book yet. Agent: Kimberly Whalen, Trident Media Group.