Irresistibly Us (Steel City Legacy #2) by Samantha Brinn

 

As the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Renegades, Pittsburgh's NFL team, I have it all. The city I love. The game I love. A Super Bowl ring. Everything I've ever wanted. But even with all that, I still feel like I'm missing someone to share it with. On a mission to find my person, I join an anonymous dating app, hoping it will bring me the girl I can call mine. And it does. At least, I thought so. But when my lifelong best friend Sophie Sullivan moves into my house temporarily, seeing her every morning and coming home to her every night has me feeling things I didn't expect. Big things. Important things. Way more than friendship things. Maybe even...love things. Falling for two women is confusing, until I realize that Sophie is the anonymous girl from the app, and I set out in a mission to make her fall for me - to show her that the only future that makes any sense at all is the one where we spend it by each other's sides. We may have started off as best friends, but loving Sophie is as easy as breathing and I'm determined to give her everything. To show her that we were always supposed to belong to each other. That she was always meant to be mine. Irresistibly Us by Samantha Brinn was published June 5th, 2026. This is the second book in Steel City Legacy series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Samantha Brinn and The Smuthood. I loved the first book in the series so I was so excited to read book two. This book did not disappoint me at all. I loved the two main characters so much. Sophie the FMC was so sweet through out the book. I absolutely adored this book and loved the natural progression of the characters. I love that their romance was slow building even before the story started. Also loved how everyone around them were excited for them to come together. The smut scenes are great but tame. I highly recommend checking out this book. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"Hangry Soph is scary Soph." 

"Sorry. I was too distracted remembering what your tits look like.....Wow, Soph. Just...wow. That's not an image that's going to leave my brain anytime soon. Maybe ever." 

"Get your fucking hands off her before I break your goddamn fingers." 

"I really, really want to do this, and I know you do too. Let's ruin the friendship, Sophie, because even though I didn't know it, I think I've been waiting my whole life for you." 

Steel City Legacy Series 

0.5: Merrily Us 

1: Perfectly Us 

2. Irresistibly Us 

3. Fearlessly Us 

Tropes

Friends to Lovers 

Forced Proximity 

Sports Romance - Football

Secret Identity 

Red Zone (Rock City Renegades #4) by C.L. Rose

 

I used to love being referred to as the bad boy running back - until my antics landed me in hot water. I didn't think life could get much worse than being released by the team I poured my heart and soul into, just to find out I'd be playing for the Rock City Renegades. They may have the league fooled into believing they've got a shot at a championship, but I see through the facade. They've a joke, and it's only a matter of time before the rest of the world catches on. With no other choice, I sign the contract and agree to let the owner's daughter help me clean up my image. If I play my cards right and put on a show, I'll be on my way to better team in no time. But when Sydney Grant walks into our first meeting, I realize I'm not working with a stranger at all, but the woman who had me crawling for her the right before. Can I keep it professional and do what it takes to fix my reputation? Or will I risk it all for another chance with the one person I should stay far away from? Red Zone by C.L. Rose was published on April 30th, 2026. This is the fourth book in the Rock City Renegades series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from C.L. Rose and The Smuthood. I have absolutely loved this series so far. Each of the books so far have their own plot that makes them unique. The characters in this book are amazing. This book had me laughing from the very beginning. I loved how the relationship between the two characters build through the book. This book made me squeal in excitement throughout the book. The conversation through the book is on point and helped push the story through the plot. The characters really helped with talking about things in the plot instead of reading it in the description. There are some turns in the book that will catch you off guard. It doesn't take over the plot but I don't know if it really fits in the book. Though, I highly recommend checking this book out. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"I hope you're ready, baby boy. I'm about to turn you inside out." 

"Nope, not at all. Now, be a good boy and get on your knees." 

"Fuck Around and Find Out: Party of one. Your table's ready." 

"There she is. There's my dirty fucking girl." 

Rock City Renegades Series 

1. Mr. Irrelevant 

2. Bad Call 

3. The Interception 

4. Red Zone 

5. Clock Play (October 1st, 2026) 

Tropes 

Sports - Football 

BDSM 

Forced Proximity 

Enemies to Lovers 

He Falls First 

Perfectly Us (Steel City Legacy #1) by Samantha Brinn

 

Since my wife died ten years ago my life has revolved around two things: football and my kids. Then I met a girl in a bar and one single night changed everything. For six hours I wasn't the veteran Pittsburgh Renegades offensive linemen or single dad of two. I was just a man, and it felt like she was the one I had been waiting for. But when morning came I woke up to an empty bed, the girl of my literal dreams nowhere to be found. Until I walk into work the next day and there she is. Maddy Wright, Director of Sports Psychology for the Renegades and niece of the team's General Manager, is the last woman on earth I should want, but she's the one women I can't stay away from. With my position on the team and her career on the line, a relationship is a terrible idea. But the draw to each other is too strong, the way she fits into my little family undeniable, our chemistry impossible to ignore. We shouldn't need each other like this when being together could ruin everything we've both worked for. I shouldn't feel like I can't breathe without her when dating in secret is our only choice. With our careers in the cross hairs, forever is the last word that should be on my mind. But with my heart utterly lost to Maddy, I'll stop at nothing to make sure that forever is exactly what we get. Together. Perfectly Us by Samantha Brinn was published March 5th, 2026. This is the first book in the Steel City Legacy series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from Samantha Brinn and The Smuthood. Let's just say that I absolutely loved this book. I loved how the book built up the relationship with little things throughout the book. How you fall in love with Cam is this perfect guy throughout the book. The two main characters both have some baggage. Maddy was adopted from the system when she was seven years old and Cam's wife passed right after childbirth of their second child. The plot in this book is perfect, it has a ton of side characters but it didn't take away from the book. I really want to hear all the way the parents in the book met their spouses. There seems to be a story for each couple. I absolutely loved the book and the way the romance was in the book. The smut scenes were tame but still spicy. I highly recommend checking out this amazing book. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"You've been my best friend for twenty-three years. You should know I don't have that kind of self-control....He caught me staring at him. What the fuck am I supposed to do now?"
"What do you want to do?"
"I want to lick his forearms." 

"We'll get back to the hockey team because that is straight sexy, Maddy. And that thing you did with your tongue when your head was hanging off the bed? That felt wild to me." 

"Will you come eat tacos with me?"
"What?"
"Liv said your dad made tacos. It's time for dinner."
"It's time for..."
"Dinner.....Come on, Wildcat. I want you to sit by me." 

"Good girl.....Good. Fucking. Girl." 

Steel City Legacy Series

0.5: Merrily Us 

1: Perfectly Us 

2: Irresistibly Us 

3. Fearlessly Us 

Tropes

Sports Romance - Football

Secret Relationship

Forced Proximity

He Falls First 

Single Parent

The Interception (Rock City Renegades #3) by C.L. Rose

 

Since I was a kid, I've only wanted two to be a professional football player and to have a family of my own. Being drafted by the Rock City Renegades was the first step, but now I'm now I'm ready for the rest. I have the house and the rescue dog, who's proven to be a bit of a menace for everyone other than my crush, Finley Bolton. So when I find myself needing someone to watch him while I'm away, moving her in is the logical option. She may be pregnant by another man, but it doesn't take long for her and the baby to etch their names into my heart. I want a life with them, but will I be able to break down Finley's walls and proven that I can be the man she needs, or she will pack up and obliterate every dream I've ever had? The Interception by C.L. Rose was published on January 22nd, 2026. This is the third book in the Rock City Renegades Series. 

I was given this book for my honest review from C.L. Rose and The Smuthood. I absolutely loved this book. I could not get enough of Theo and Finley in this book. Though I wanted to smack a person throughout the book. This book made me giggle and squeal throughout the book. I was also crying because some of the things that Finley was feeling I have felt. The characters in this book both have some faults and they both had to grow from those. But not only were they growing separately but they helped each other as well. The relationship between them are so sweet and you can totally see how they are falling in love throughout the book. Heck, I fell in love with Theo in this book. He is such a good golden retriever of a guy it's crazy. The plot in this book is perfect as it ebbed and flowed from each scene. Everything had a reason to be in the book. Also...you will fall in love with the dog in this book as he makes the book absolutely perfect. I highly recommend checking out this sweet book. I cannot wait for book four and see which character I am going to meet next. 

Quotes that I Loved 

"There's my good girl."

"Tell me you want me to split you open and paint your walls." 

"You're right. You can't. But I can. I'm going to come on your cock, Theo. And you're going to sit still like a good boy while I do it." 

Rock City Renegades Series 

1. Mr. Irrelevant 

2. Bad Call 

3. The Interception

4. Red Zone 

5. Clock Play (10/01/2026) 

Tropes 

Sports Romance - Football 

Friends to Lover 

Forced Proximity

He Falls First 

 

The Wallflower (Oakmount Elite #1) by J.L. Beck

 

She needs me, because she needs money. I don't need her. Just her complete submission...Maybell Jacobs is the Wallflower: quiet, shy, socially awkward and hell-bent on hiding even from herself, that is until a chance encounter takes place between us. Instantly she hates me and for good reason. I'm a walking-red-flag. Filthy rich jock, short tempered, and violent. I can have anyone and anything I want...except her. Little does she know her disgust, anger, and hate for me fuels my obsession to own her, completely in every single way. The Wallflower by J.L. Beck was published February 2024. This is the first book in the Oakmount Elite series. 

I am a huge fan of dark romances and this one is one of those that is most likely on level with Haunting Adeline. I absolutely loved the two main characters in this book. While in the beginning I had a hard time connecting to Drew. But I fell in love with Maybell. She reminds me a lot like me in personality. I am a huge introvert myself though my sass does come out with those who are close to me. The two characters, I could totally see a relationship forming in the way that neither could stay away from the each other. But we don't see a full form relationship out of having sex in this book. I do hope that the next book shows more of the relationship. I saw the ending going in two different ways and was trying to put pieces together. Though I had a feeling that the ending was going to go similar to my thoughts (it did). I really enjoyed the plot in this story, there was some slow parts but the slow parts led into the action scenes and fast pace scenes really well. It had great ebb and flow and personality. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Also the smut scenes were top notch. 

Quotes That I Liked 

"You all know what I want. But this time, I want to be fucking real. None of this pretends not to want it while her cunt is sopping wet bullshit. I want to see the whites of her eyes. If she fights, fine, but I want to be out of fear, not pretense."

"Come here, my little wallflower. I want to get a better look at you." 

The chase is exhilarating, but capturing your prey between your bar teeth while they beg for you to release them? That's the part that gets me every time. 

"There are a lot of things I want from you, flower, but right now...I want you to scream for me because of me. I want you gasping for breath. I want you crying, your eyes shimmering with tears. I want you running, doing everything you can to escape me, while knowing deep down inside you'll never get away. I want all of it. So I'll give you one more chance to get away." 

Oakmount Elite Series 

1. The Wallflower 

2. The Wildflower (TBD April 12, 2024)

Tropes

Dark Romance 

Sports - Football 

College 

Opposites Attract 

Enemies to Lovers

Stalker

Secret Society 

Virgin