Great playful and fun romance that kept me smiling and swooning! What a fun read! This book is full of swoon worthy moments and great chemistry!

I really enjoyed this book and loved Tallan and April so much! I was rooting for them the whole way through. I thought the story flowed so well and was a great feel good book to read after too many mystery/thrillers. I really regret not reading this book in the Fall because the football theme has me craving some crisp, cool, fall weather.

Thank you Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Erin Lockwood has done it again. She is starting to become one of my favorite authors. Love this book.

Thank You NetGalley and the publisher for this copy!
This was the first book by Erin Lockwood I have read and it definitely will not be the last! Buckman was a really great surprise for me. I love college and football romance, the way it was developed was amazing, with enough emotion and love throughout the pages to keep me hooked for a while. I especially liked Tallan's character, but hated April. A lot of her actions were really immature and selfish.

I enjoyed the story and the football aspect of it. However, I did think Tallen was a bit too intense and April was incredibly selfish in the relationship. I wouldn’t say this was a great example of a healthy relationship and that prevented me from really rooting for the characters.

I loved this book! April and Tallan's romance is dramatic and steamy. The ending is satisfying and didn't necessarily leave me wanting more or disappointed with where they ended up. As someone who can stand to watch a game or two of football, but doesn't obsess over it, I appreciated the football deatils without feeling like they took over the story. (And as a fellow PAC-12 Alumni, I respect the author giving UCLA such a good record, even if Oregon had to beat them.)

I'd read reviews before I started it where people would say I can't believe this or I didn't like this about their relationship. I'm sure it's not the most thought-provoking book in the world and if I wanted to analyze it I could find problems with how April and Tallan acted, but it definitely was a quick, enjoyable read for me. That's what I keep coming back to, I really loved reading this.

I'd highly recommend for a quick, romantic fall read.

I received an advanced reviewer copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I have read one of Erin Lockwood’s book All the Rogers which addressed issues of mental health and first love.

What It’s About: April Moxley has a bad experience with the limelight, her father is in a band and essentially personifies the worst parts of rock n’ roll culture, he chooses sex and drugs over her all the time. Her ex-boyfriend is not much different. She’s decided she’s done and ready to live an anonymous life helping others, too bad she falls in love with Tallan Buckman, the star quarterback at her college. This book is about the two characters journey in love and April’s struggle to deal with Buckman’s fame and future career.

What I loved: I liked the story of a sweet romance where two characters are pulled together despite the circumstances. I cheered for the characters to make it work often even though there were a lot of mistakes and the characters were imperfect. I loved the secondary characters like Mayra. I liked that the book was set at a real University and I could picture it perfectly.

What I didn’t like so much: I felt at times that the Buckman was needy and sometimes had character traits I would associate with an abusive boyfriend (he never hits or anything, but sometimes his explosive anger is troubling) and the main character will blame herself for his behavior when in fact it is over reaction. I didn’t find him to be so much of a Prince Charming as the book made him out to be. I felt he had anger issues that weren’t addressed and made me less invested in a happy ending.

Who Should Read It: People who love a good football centered romance novel. People who love campus novels. People who have previously loved Erin Lockwood novels.

General Summary: A romance story with fame and football at its center.

Unfortunately this NA sports romance just didn't do it for me. It lacked the depth I need to really feel invested. It kept things right at the surface, scenes were rushed at times and I just never connected.

I really enjoyed this book. I think my crazy love for football really drew me into this story!


Tallan Buckman is the most-talked-about quarterback in college football and is destined for a successful career in the NFL. His whole world revolves around the sport. There’s just one problem. He falls in love with April Moxley, the daughter of a famous rock star and the most challenging woman of his life. Football means nothing to April. She’d rather spend her time volunteering at the Red Cross and helping others than go to a game.

This is a book about life, love, loss and finding out what really matters.

April didn’t care about football. But April’s best friend Mayra does especially the football played by their college team- The Ducks.- like everyone else on campus and around but April. Then Mayra got April to go to the last home game. When the Ducks won Mayra pulled April on the field to get closer to the team players. April runs to the side of the field hoping it would be quieter there. She almost gets there when someone slams into her. Her body goes forward and her arms go out to protect herself from falling . Before April hits the fake grass shove into the firm padded of a tight butt in a green uniform. Then she fell the rest of the way. The camera that had been on Buckman’s face was now pointed down at April. April leans back and is about to stand when the football player asked if she was alright with a texas drawl. It was Tallan Buckman- the quarterback and he yelled to April to wait as she walked away. Tallan caught up and helped April find Mayra. But April hated athletes because they’re just people searching for fame and now April hated herself for finding Tallan so attractive. Then April pulls Mayra away as Tallan says “Do you wanna” and April said all she wanted to do was get off the field and she wished him good luck. Just as Tallan is to say something more and Mayra is about to protest the woman with the microphone stepped in front of Tallan focusing Tallan’s attention on her. Mayra asked April if she was nuts to walk away form Tallan but April said she just didn’t like football players. April dragged Mayra to volunteer for the Red Cross. The Merrick walks in who works for the Red Cross. He had boring and perfect written all over him as far as April was concerned - what she had been holding out for. Merritt oversees the volunteer programs. April was the daughter of a rockstar who was in the band Libra. April went to see her father during Christmas break as his band would be in Portland. When April got hter her father had already done some coke and two prostitutes had come up and were waiting for him. April was done he wasn’t really a dad anyway just the man who impregnated her mother who he had treated badly. Her man had been a backup dancer for the band until she got pregnant. April had adored her mother who had passed away. As far as April was concerned Mayra was her family- her sister. They were Juniors at college. April’s last boyfriend- Lennon had been on the tour with Libra. Lennon had treated her bad and cheated on her. April hoped she never seen Lennon again. Mayra talked April into going to a Delts party and April gave in and went. April loved to dance, after she decided she needed a break she went to get another drink and Tallan stops her and ends up making her a drink. Tallan is determined to go pro so he can support his mom and kid brother Colton. April notices Tallan is watching her as she dances then a guy won’t leave April alone or keep his hands off her. Tallan comes over and make sure the guy knows April didn’t want to dance with him and to leave her alone. She takes Tallan’s hand and walks off the floor. Tallan told April she didn't know him well enough to hate him. Tallan was determined to to win April over to him. April eventually agrees to date Tallan.
I loved this story. It had a good plot and pace to it. I loved how Tallan was determined to take care of his mom and Colton. I also loved how old fashion and true to himself Tallan was. Also when Tallan was in a relationship he went all in or didn’t bother. I also loved how protective he was of April. I loved seeing Tallan and Aprils relationship grow. I loved April and Tallan together and how they interacted with each other. Happily I found nothing to criticize in this book. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this story and I highly recommend.

This wasn't my favorite book. Tallan is the star quarterback for his college football team. April is the daughter of a famous musician. They meet at a party, he falls instantly in love with her, and they go back and forth in a relationship. She doesn't want to be with someone famous and omg he can't live without her.

I get where April was coming from. I don't think I'd want that lifestyle either if I'd had the same bad experiences that she did. However April is a jerk. Plain and simple. She wants to be with him then doesn't. Over and over and over. She refused to go to his games. She didn't want anyone to know they were dating. She wanted to sleep with him but not be in a public relationship. She asked him not to join the NFL draft because, after like 3 months of dating, they were in love and going to be together forever and she didn't want to be in the limelight. What????

Tallan was courteous and put up with more than I would in a relationship. He let April make really big decisions for him and his life. He followed her around like a puppy, cleaning up her messes. To be fair I did not like how he pressured her into a relationship or into going to his away games. But I think he was a genuinely nice guy and deserved a lot better than April.

I ended up skimming most of the book because I couldn't handle the back and forth. The writing is good and engaging plus I liked the descriptors of the football playing itself. I just really didn't like April.

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet, sexy romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

Excellent Non-Football Football Story. This is a romance told from the girl's perspective that happens to involve a star quarterback and the pressures he faces. Definitely a recommended read, particularly during the college football season. Just ignore the implausibility of this particular school doing as well as it does it the book - it is the author's alma mater. :D As a romance, this is one of the better ones I've read this year. As a football story, it actually ranks up there with John Grisham's Bleachers - yes, it is *that* good, and rare in that it *is* told from the non-football fan girlfriend's perspective. Seriously, stop reading this review and go buy this book. :)

I always love a good football romance story and Erin Lockwood nailed it with this one! I need a Tallan Buckman in my life <3 You can't help but root for him and April - they are such likable characters! I feel like I really missed out by not going to a college that had a big football program, but in Buckman I felt like I was there, rooting for the Ducks (and Tallan) every step of the way! I really hope there is a sequel with Tallan and April in the future (or even Tallan's younger brother)! Fans of Intercepted by Alexa Martin will love this one! Perfect fall read during football season!

Thanks to Erin Lockwood, the publisher, Independent Book Publishers Association, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Overall a great story! It was fast paced and a good, light read. As a fan of football AND romance novels, it was a tremendous blend of the two! I appreciated the character development, although April wasn’t my favorite. She grew on me towards the end when you realize her intentions and why she makes certain decisions. I found myself unable to put the book down! I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

This is a “love story” between Tallan and April, both seniors in college. Tallan is the school qb and is talented and kind. April is a selfish jerk who is mean to him all the time and really needs a good therapist to sort out her daddy issues. No idea why Tallan liked her at all. She has zero redeeming qualities.

DNF @ 22%. I tried, but I just couldn't get any further. I didn't like the writing style. Most of the sentences were short and simple, telling us, instead of showing us. April was such a thoroughly horrible character that I couldn't care about the outcome of the book. She was selfish, judgemental, and almost sociopathic in her inability to understand other people or their views. Finally I feel as if I know how the entire story will play out because it is so heavy handed. Yes, the reader understands April hates fame and famous people. Yes, we know he's a star quarterback going pro. It felt as though both were mentioned at least once per page. Buckman just didn't work for me.

I read this book in less than 24 hours - although April made me cringe so many times throughout the story, I couldn’t help but become invested in their love story and to see how it ended for them! A great story of being able to overcome the past and have a happy and successful future!

This is Tallan and April book, I really enjoyed reading this book! But man oh man I did not like April! Ugh she was such a selfish witch!! I understand her want to not be in the limelight but geez! Come on?! The guy was trying to provide for his family and make all their lives better! But nooooo she wanted him to quit his advancing career! The whole book she's really really selfish and forcing him to quit going into the draft! But it was such a great read that the rest made up for April's shortcomings! Definitely don't miss out on this book!Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for sharing this book with me!

I loved the previous Erin Lockwood books I have read and Buckman does not disappoint! I read it in a day and a half and I hope there’s a follow up with more Tallan & April! Would love to see their relationship continue as adults! Great story!