This is just the sweetest read! You can feel the 'but' coming... But I think you will enjoy this one if you've read at least part of the Play-by-Play series of Jaci Burton. Reason is because we meet so many dear friends from the previous books, it would be a shame if you missed out on them. For instance, Nathan's parents, Mick and Tara are the main stars in The Perfect Play. And his uncle Gavin is starring in Changing the Game. On the other side, we have the Cassidy family in the Play-by-Play books 10 to 12.

Can you read it without the rest of the series? Yes, you can. We meet Nathan, hot sports guy, who is struggling with the weight of following in his father's footsteps in the football team. How can you become a good successor of a football legend? Because of all those high expectations, Nathan feels pressured. And he feels it is very hard to talk to someone about it. Fortunately, his former best friend, Mia has recently moved back to his hometown. So, Nathan is very happy to hang out with Mia and talk with her about his concerns.

Mia is the youngest of the Cassidy family. Having grown up with all kinds of hot sports guy brothers, who never think any boyfriend is good enough for you, was never easy for Mia. So she is determined to turn her new sports management company into a success. But building a company from scratch is not easy. And of course, Mia doesn't want to ask her very successful brothers for help. So, she's very happy to be able to call her best friend Nathan for some friendly advice.

But being together, they both can not deny the pull they feel toward each other. So, after trying to fend it off, the moving from being friends, to being friends-with-benefits. But soon they realize there's more at stake, than just a quick roll in the hay. Can and will they jeopardize their friendship?

Find out in this sizzling story of Jaci Burton. Four out of five stars from me. And with a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

A sports romance full of action packed football, super smokin' hot scenes and a story that delves into the friends to lovers corner. I can't wait for more!

Jaci Burton writes very well.  The Final Score is my first Burton novel and I enjoyed it.  Nathan and Mia are well developed and very likeable.  Their relationship is easy and comfortable.  I enjoyed their interaction.  Their friends and family were a mixed bag and all very interesting.  I liked that Mia is incredibly smart, knowledgeable and beyond competent in a field I’m sure is dominated by men.  While Nathan is very talented he isn’t full of himself and is still a nice guy.  They make a great couple.

I struggled with the story though.  Mia’s response to her deepening feelings for Nathan was disappointing.  She’s so smart and together that I expected a lot more from her.  Her lack of communication and her unilateral relationship decisions created the major source of plot to the book’s detriment .  If the story had been less predictable, the writing was good enough to have been a five star read.

I had not read the rest of the books in this long series but never felt I was missing needed information or lacked an understanding of the characters and backstory.

reviewed by Jem Stone

I stepped away from this series a while ago, but when I saw the main character was Mick and Tara's son, I had to pick it up. Unfortunately, Nathan and Mia's story couldn't stand up to his father and uncle's (Gavin) book.

Any fan of Jaci Burton's Play by Play novels has known Nathan Riley since he was the kid getting in trouble at a party in the first novel from the series. Thirteen books later and Nathan is all grown up and starting quarterback of an NFL team. Hallelujah. His long friendship with Mia Cassidy (also a peripheral character from the series who has grown up) is about to become something more like friends with benefits. Or is it love? It's definitely love.

The Final Score is a fun, sexy, football, romance novel with all of the angst and love that you'd expect. A fun summer read.

Another fantastic book by Jaci Burton! I can hardly wait to read the next one!

Nathan and Mia have been best friends for a long time. They get along well, have a lot in common, and like each others families. There has always been an undercurrent of lust but they were afraid to act on it except for one time a few years ago. Their friendship means too much to them to risk it on a sexual relationship. However, their feelings are strong and they have to work it out. Enjoyable romance with a sports theme.

While I usually love Jace Burton's book... The Final Score dragged a little for me. Since it was book #13, I seemed to have forgotten characters and their relationships, I wish I had a better memory for these things, cause I couldn't keep people straight...

Jaci Burton delivers another well-written romance with lots of spice, plenty of drama and a good helping of sports. In a tried and true romance theme, Nathan and Mia have been friends since meeting in college and have decided to become friends with benefits.
Nathan, the son of Mick & Tara Riley from “The Perfect Play” is under a lot of pressure since being named the starting quarterback for the Sabres after his first year in pro ball. It doesn’t help that the person he is replacing is his dad, Mick, who has decided to retire.
Mia is also in a stressful situation getting her sports management company up and running. Mia comes from a sports-loving family we have met in previous books including her brothers Grant (Quarterback Draw), Flynn (Rules of Contact), Barrett (Unexpected Rush), and Tucker (All Wound Up). She is the one who is the most hesitant about moving from friendship to a sexual relationship because she doesn’t want to lose her best friend.
Once they cross the line, Nathan and Mia can’t keep away from each other but they have to hide the relationship which causes other issues. Eventually, they have to decide what it is that they really want from each other and how will they adjust their lives to get their heart’s desire.
Ms. Burton always does a great job adding the spice to the love relationship but this one is special because of their connection to so many previous couples in her books. I always enjoy seeing what is happening in the lives of the couples after their book has ended. I can’t wait to see who’s up next!

Ms Burton knows how to keep a series fresh and true to the characters so that it to continues to draw you in because of the emotional investment you have in their stories. It's always such a treat when characters from previous books make an appearance in a story...this author weaves her past characters seamlessly into the current story so that their own stories continue.

Nathan and Mia's story is a wonderful addition to those that have preceded it. Throughout the series Mia has popped in and out, having her own story has been long awaited. Mia has come a long way in the series...seeing her blaze her own trail in sports management, doing what she loves most was perfect and the culmination of her struggles over the direction to take following all her college education. Throw Nathan into the mixture and you have the a couple who compliment each other perfectly.

The way this author portrays the Cassidy brothers and their relationships with each other was quite humorous and the perfect addition to the the thrill of the football aspects...but all came second to the romance that grew out of friendship between Nathan and Mia...sigh worthy at its finest. All in all, a wonderful addition to the Play by Play series.

This ARC book was a complimentary copy provided by the Publisher and Netgally, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Nathan knows when he needs to take a few to compose himself, “I’m gonna need a minute before we go in.” She noticed his erection straining against his pants..." Nathan does not hold back his thoughts, “I’m hard and I need to be inside of you,” he said. “You sleeping naked in the bed next to me when I got up this morning? That was torture. I wanted to wake you up and eff you.” I loved this book, Nathan was a sweet man.