CAUGHT UP IN THE TOUCH – Laura Trentham
St. Martin's Paperbacks
Falcon Football Series, Book 2
ISBN-13:  978-1-46-688395-6
July 2015
Contemporary Romance

Richmond, Virginia – Present Day

Jessica Montgomery is under the gun from her father, Reginald Montgomery, to hire an up-and-coming chef for their new Atlanta restaurant.  Her father suggests—in front of every executive in the company—that she use her sex appeal, and as they laugh at her,she wonders why she stays around.  It seems impressing her father and hoping for the carrot of a promotion to CFO he constantly dangles in front of her is worth any degradation he wishes to inflict.  With two weeks to bag the popular chef, Jessica is on her way to Falcon, Alabama to do something her father was unable to do, sign a contract with the new star of Southern Living magazine.  It's not for nothing Jessica learned her manipulation and negotiation skills from good ol' dad.

Logan Wilde runs Adaline's restaurant, named after his grandmother who raised him.  He has pretty much gotten it running itself, and has no need to make more money.  He enjoys living in the small town and never wants to leave where he spent his childhood after the death of his grandmother.  The town still remembers his wild teenage ways, and trying to live them down is an ongoing struggle, despite being a coach for the local winning football team.  But when Jessica comes in all confident that he will sign with Montgomery Industries, he is immediately attracted to her drive and ambition.  It will take more than money to induce Logan to leave his hometown.

When Jessica's car dies in town, Logan suggests she stay at Lillianna Hancock's house that she's trying to make into a bed and breakfast.  There Jessica finds a friend and starts to understand the pleasure of a Friday night football game, especially when Logan is one of the coaches.  With little cell reception, her father is only able to contact her once in a while, giving Jessica time to learn about Logan and his life, and she likes what she sees, but father is still constantly trying to see how she's doing with signing Logan to a contract.  When an explosion between two boys on the football team involves Logan, it looks like his reputation is once more going to be tarnished.  Should he just leave town and take up Jessica's offer?

Laura Trentham has written an exciting and emotional book about a woman still looking for approval from her father, even though suddenly she can't stand much about her job.  It is a life altering event to even think of telling old dad that she is quitting the job she has long been promised for years.  Logan has tried desperately to strengthen his image over the previous years, and the suggestion it will all go down the tubes is earth shattering for him.  Told from Logan and Jessica's points of view, their pasts constantly pop up and confront them with their failures.

Secondary characters are Lilliana, who grows to become a good friend, and Robbie Dalton who is the head coach and Logan's best friend since they were in the service together.  The people of Falcon start to grow on Jessica, even the beautician who dares to cut her hair!

CAUGHT UP IN THE TOUCH follows SLOW AND STEADY RUSH (March 2015) which is Robbie Dalton's story.  Jessica's transition into becoming her own woman and how she stands by Logan during his trouble make this a book worthy to be caught up reading late into the night!

Carolyn Crisher