Only on Gameday

The fun standalone fifth installment of Callihan’s bestselling Game On series (after The Hot Shot) offers a slow-burning but still steamy take on the fake-relationship trope. Rookie NFL quarterback August Luck comes from a football dynasty. The pressure of his family legacy leads to him “messing up and acting out” off the field, garnering him a bad-boy reputation. After reconnecting with longtime family friend Penelope Morrow, August realizes she may be the key to improving his image and proposes a PR relationship. If this arrangement enables him to act on his long-standing feelings for her, well, that’s a plus. Penelope, an introverted and inexperienced college senior majoring in film history, has always felt shy around August, but she agrees to pose as his fiancée on game days. As they get to know each other as adults, their simmering mutual attraction gives way to some high-heat love scenes. Though both of their families are surprised at their relationship, Callihan doesn’t put too many barriers in the way of this couple’s happily ever after, instead allowing their intense chemistry to blossom naturally. Readers will have no trouble rooting for these two. (Jan.)