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Making the Call

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Dani
As a bestselling romance author, most assume my life’s glamorous, filled with combustible chemistry, and most of all, romance. Ha! I can only wish. With a deadline looming, I’ve escaped to my family’s cabin on Anderson Island to free myself from distractions. My plan's great, until a man, who could pass as a cover model on one of my books, comes to my rescue. Is there chemistry? Sure. Is he everything I’d look for in a guy? Absolutely. But will my career be at risk if I give into my desire?

Luke
For a player, women line up outside the locker room. For coaches, we're lucky to get in the game. As the youngest NFL coach in the league, I live, eat, breathe, and even sleep football. To gear up for this season, I return to my home on Anderson Island for a much-needed break. When Dani literally crashes into my life, my mind’s suddenly on the sexy brunette with a sailors mouth, rather than my team's next play. She has me dusting off another playbook entirely, making me wonder, did I make the right call?

359 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 14, 2020

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About the author

Amanda Shelley

24 books672 followers
Amanda Shelley writes romantic stories you can escape into. Some are steamy, others are sweet but all have strong characters with a little bit of sass.

When not writing, Amanda enjoys time with her family, playing chauffeur, chef and being an enthusiastic fan for her children. Keeping up with them keeps her alert and grounded in reality. She enjoys long car rides, chai lattes and popping her SUV into four-wheel drive for adventures anywhere.

Amanda loves hearing from readers. Be sure sign up for her newsletter and follow her on social media. Join her reader’s group Amanda’s Army of Readers to stay up to date on her latest information.

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5 stars
106 (45%)
4 stars
84 (36%)
3 stars
33 (14%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
Profile Image for jos (sportschicreads).
178 reviews367 followers
April 14, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫


This was a low angst romance without a ton of action. The drama was basically nonexistent. I was waiting to feel something but I never really connected.
I think I was expecting something else. Or maybe something more.

It was interesting to read about an romance author falling in love.

The book was on the shorter end but I took longer to read it. I think that says everything.

This was my first book by the author.


I kind of wish we’d get more sport romances about coaches in general.
Profile Image for Jenifer Briggs.
1,421 reviews168 followers
April 15, 2020
This book definitely has some sweet moments and was really low on drama and angst, but I just couldn't connect to the characters. I'm happy that Dani and Luke got their HEA, but it took me so long to get into the storyline, and by the time the book was basically over.

I can definitely see why many people who pick up this book will love it, but it just wasn't for me.

**I received an ARC of this book and these are my honest opinions!**
Profile Image for Johnaka- Amity Book Blog.
1,163 reviews16 followers
April 5, 2020
Making the Call by Amanda Shelley
“the author and the coach, 5 stars”

I have never read Shelley before; in fact, I’ve never heard of her before. But I can tell you that she is officially on my follow list. I adored Making the Call. It’s a sweet story that goes by fast. I swear it was like I started one minute and the next it was over. Shelley hit all the sweet spots a romance story needs. There was heat, there were ups and downs. The secondary characters perfectly supported the main characters. I cannot wait to see what she writes next. One thing is for sure, if you take a chance on Making the Call it will pull you out of the funk our world is currently chilling in.
Luke never expected to start his dream job at thirty. With the pressure mounting a romantic relationship is the last thing on his mind. Until he meets Dani. There’s just something about her that he loves. With the season about to start its all sunshine and roses, but will they be able to make it through season?
Dani gets lost in her head, a lot. But that happens when you’re an author and you create worlds. Dani never would have guessed that handsome Luke would just smile and shake his head at her antics. He doesn’t get annoyed when she spaces out. And when their relationship hits a snag in the form of a picture going public well… only time will tell if they can make it out on the other side.
Plot-5/5
Characters-5/5
Heat-5/5
Writing style-5/5
Overall-5/5
Profile Image for Amy [Book Addict Reviews].
2,299 reviews163 followers
April 9, 2020
Amanda Shelley is a new to me author and I can’t wait to read more from her in the future. The idea behind this book is what drew me to it. A romance author and a head football coach. Two people who seem so different from each other but they work so well together.

Dani and Luke meet on their small little island. When Dani doesn’t recognize Luke, he doesn’t give her all the details of who he is and what is job is. He loves the idea that this woman likes him for him, not for his money or career. However, Dani is a best-selling romance author with a pretty big following of her own.

I loved the instant chemistry these two people had. Their relationship progressed quickly, however, it didn’t feel rushed and fit with these two characters. I loved how supportive both Dani and Luke were of each others careers and wanted to make sure they both succeeded in what they were doing. The secondary characters, mostly both Dani and Luke’s families, were great additions and added a lot to the overall story. I hope that there are more of these characters in the future!

Making the Call is a super sweet, sports romance that will suck you in form the start. A MUST READ!
Profile Image for Jen (jensdreamylittlereads).
861 reviews101 followers
April 13, 2020
3.5 stars

Making The Call was a fun and cute read and I enjoyed the soft and easy flow of this book. I was intrigued by the premise of this story; a romance author and a head football coach. Two people, who on paper, are so different from each other but somehow they fit so well together.

Overall, this book was a great, light filled with a lot of sweetness and plenty of swoon with low drama and angst. The characters are made for each other from the start, and I loved how the secondary characters added to the story.
Profile Image for Laura.
2,419 reviews115 followers
December 17, 2020
DNF at 24%

I tried with this one. I really tried.

Generally, I enjoy when an author sets the scene or explains an action. But it's also possible to do this too much.

This book, instead of saying they had potatoes, asparagus and steak for dinner tells you that they grill the steak, cut the potatoes, get a pan with water and boil them. And that then they get the asparagus out of the refrigerator, cut it up, and put it in a pan to steam it.

I don't need that much information. And it actually pulls me out of the story.
Profile Image for Britt Chaotic Creatives.
1,414 reviews94 followers
April 6, 2020
3.5 stars

If you’re looking for a sweet low angst escape Amanda Shelley has got you covered with Making The Call. I’m sure for a ton of readers this will be a fantastic five star read and I genuinely wish that was the case for me but as much as I can objectively say I know tons of people will LOVE this, it just wasn’t the perfect book for me.
The writing itself is great, it’s clear this author knows how to tell a story I just couldn’t really connect with the characters. Especially Danika. I felt the most we really got to know about Danika was that she was an author. Outside of her career there really wasn’t much else to her that we saw. While I loved how passionate she was about her career I also would have felt more of a connection if we got to see more beyond that.
There’s definite chemistry that exists between Luke and Danika and the sparks between them are obvious from the second they meet but there were times even then that those sparks took a backseat to the focus of her writing. Even small conversations seemed to always circle back to her career. Outside of that though the romance is positively swoony and as I said earlier this book is definitely a great read if you want something light filled with a lot of sweetness.
Profile Image for Ebook Enthusiast.
237 reviews2 followers
April 14, 2020
Making The Call – Amanda Shelley – 4 stars

Making The Call is a new book by author Amanda Shelley. It follows Luke a young head coach of the Rainier Renegades and romance writer Danika. Luke and Danika have an instant connection, when they have a chance meeting on Anderson Island the chemistry is felt by both. Danika is living her dream as an author, she has everything she ever wanted, she just escaped to her grandparent’s place on Anderson Island to edit her newest book and start on a new series when she goes for a bike ride that ends unexpectedly. Luke has just landed his dream job as head coach for the Rainier Renegades, so his focus is set on the team and achieving another championship. Post the announcement of the head coach position he has gone back to his home on Anderson Island for a few days to relax and regroup before and intense preseason begins. What he wasn’t expecting was Danika. Making The Call is a sweet, easy to read romance that is an all-consuming, fast romance with low drama and angst and will be a favourite amongst most romance readers.

Enjoy Everyday,
Ebook Enthusiast 😊
Profile Image for Kari Hansen.
10.1k reviews84 followers
April 14, 2020
Becoming a professional football coach is everything that Luke has always dreamed of, but it also carries a lot of pressure. He decides to spend some time at Anderson Island so he can focus on ensuring that he is prepared for the beginning of the season and all it entails but meeting Dani becomes a game changer.

Dani plans on using her time on Anderson Island to meet her writing goals and not be distracted but the one thing she hadn’t planned on was Luke. The more time they spend together the more the connection and chemistry between them grows but will their new relationship be able to handle their demanding careers and everything that goes along with.

I enjoyed watching the romance between Luke and Dani evolve which had minimal problems and maximum fun.
Profile Image for K.  Ramjohn.
2,122 reviews
April 16, 2020
Making The Call, the latest novel by Amanda Shelley is a sweet, easy to read romance with low drama and angst. I liked the idea of a romance author and a head football coach as the main characters as they seem to be so different yet fit so well together. I enjoyed watching the romance develop between Luke and Dani , they had great chemistry from the moment they met and this was a story of insta lust/love and how these two can merge their lives and really be there for each other with the demands of their job. Making The Call was a great read and I would recommend it to lovers of low angst romance.
Profile Image for Eve.
562 reviews4 followers
April 17, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and the characters, Luke and Dani you couldn't help but fall in love with both of them and fall in love with how they came together.
This book is on the sweet side that's why 4 stars, there's no drama but its also refreshing to read,well in my case.
Luke is now the youngest coach in the NFL, and Dani is an indie romance author who both go to Anderson Island for no distractions from the outside world such as the media.
They meet while Luke is out jogging and she had crashed her bike. Dani is quite an adorable character.
Luke is a sweetheart, as their relationship starts up they start to wonder did they make the right call.
I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for The Book Lover.
2,074 reviews32 followers
April 13, 2020
This was a sweet, sexy and romantic story, it felt fast paced to me, but it worked for the story and the characters.
Profile Image for Canadian Girl Reads.
912 reviews26 followers
April 13, 2020
description

Luke has just found out that he is being promoted to head coach of the Reiner Renegades, has become the youngest coach in NFL history and has some huge shoes to fill so he heads to his home on Anderson Island for a much-needed break before the season begins. While out for his morning run he witnesses a woman crashes her bike and runs to see if he can help her. Dani is so frustrated when she wrecks her bike and her hands are all scraped up because now she's going to have issues with getting her novel finished. Luke offers her assistance with her injuries and bike which she takes him up on his offer. As they spend time together they get to know each other outside of the spotlight of their careers and fall for the person, not the celebrity. When their relationship goes viral in the media will it prove to be too much or will their Hail Mary attempt turn into a touchdown?

Making the Call was my first novel by Amanda Shelley and I enjoyed how she was able to capture my attention right from the first page of the novel and make me feel like I was part of the story. Luke and Dani are such an adorable, down to earth couple that had great chemistry right from their first meeting. I instantly fell in love with Luke and how humble and swoon-worthy he is and Dani is just hilarious when she gets flustered and starts on one of her rambling rants. The novel truly gives you a glimpse into behind the scenes of a coach and writer and will give you all the feels as you are reading. I would have finished this in one sitting had my e-reader not died as it was hard to put down. Making the Call is a contemporary sports romance that is written in the first-person point of view.

*ARC was generously provided in exchange for my honest review*

Profile Image for Suzana.
573 reviews19 followers
April 15, 2020
5 stars

*ARC kindly provided by the author and I’m leaving an honest review*

Amanda Shelley is a new to me author and Making The Call is my first book by her but certainly will not be the last. The idea and the plot of this book are what drew me in. I think that this was completely brilliant, compelling, low angst, opposites attract, sweet, sports romance and such a wonderful, light hearted read. I liked everything about this book. The writing just flowed and had me engrossed to the story from start to finish wanting to find out what happens next. I enjoyed every minute of it and never wanted it to end. It has so much depth, heart and effortless storytelling. I loved that it was written in first person, dual POV so I know what both characters – Luke and Dani – were thinking at the specific time or moments. It was well developed, well written and well thought out. The author knew how to develop, create the storyline and make you fall in love with her words, plot and the characters demanding your attention. Secondary characters stole my heart too and played a part for Luke and Dani’s romance.

Dani is such a wonderful heroine. I love how awkward she is and her bookworm ways. Also love the fact that she is an indie author and we get to know the process of writing/publishing.
Luke is a head football coach. It’s his dream job and he is the youngest football coach. But with that comes a lot of pressure and relationship is the last thing on his mind.

Dani and Luke were just amazing. They won me immediately – from their meet cute until the end. They are at the different phases at their lives and careers. The relationship is the last thing they thought they need. But for some reason they can’t stay away from each other. Luke is immediately drawn to Dani, though he can’t exactly figure out why; he just knows there is something about her that gets to him; that he likes her. Neither of them in the beginning is looking for a relationship, but also can’t deny the strong connection they feel or the chemistry. They are passionate, a little bit angsty, intense; but also fun, flirty and sweet. He admires her and loves all of her. I love that they both accepted each other with no judgement and so much understanding. Epilogue was amazing and I wanted more of them.

It kept my attention at all times and I could not put it down. I loved that it was fast paced with low drama and just fun, sweet, adorable read. I highly recommend it.
Profile Image for Luisa Rivas.
1,971 reviews32 followers
April 21, 2020
I liked this story! Amanda Shelley is a new-to-me author and I love her simple, straightforward writing style. Just a man and a woman who meet, like each other, spend some time together and fall in love. There are complications along the way and they meet them head on. It made for a lovely read!

Luke is the youngest head coach in the NFL. In the week before his first season as head coach, he heads for his home in Anderson island, off the Puget sound. During one of his runs, he witnesses a woman falling from her bike and goes on to rescue her. And bam, our love story starts. He’s attracted enough that after the rescue and first aid, he buys the broken part for her bike and offers to fix it. Then they start to spend time together and by the time Luke has to leave for his football season, he just doesn’t want to leave it there.

Likewise, Danika is enthralled by Luke. She doesn’t have a clue who he is in the football world, but sees him as this wonderful man, considerate, wonderful company, interested in her writing world. The fact that he’s a hottie does not come amiss. There are frequent references to gorgeous inky black hair and electrical blue eyes. They are a great fit because she’s as committed and disciplined about her writing as he is to managing his team. They spend lovely times together, each pounding in their respective laptops. I found this to be so engaging, since my husband and I do the same. We are each engrossed in our world, but we are together and that’s what matters.

I loved that, in this story, Danika is a romance book author. She was adorable and dorky and at times, a little socially clumsy. I loved reading about the writing process, all the discipline it takes, the follow through with edits, the daily word count assignation, the sudden inspiration of a plot, and the characters talking to her in her head. She would zone out for hours at a time, writing out her story and Luke was happy to wait and tend to her food while she zoned out. And when he needed to work and she was so understanding, it made her the perfect girlfriend in his demanding world.

The development of the story was simple, the pace was slow but steady and the character development fantastic. It’s one of those books you read to enjoy, not to bite your nails in suspense or tear out your hair in frustration. You just meander with them as they live out their story, fall in love and take it to the end. Lovely!
April 23, 2020

Okay, I’m a sports girl, I come from a sports family, but that being said, I live in Vegas, and we have (until recently) only had College Basketball - Go Rebels, and the Hockey. I’ve never been a football fan. At all. I won’t even watch the super bowl for commercials or half time. Once I went to Disneyland on Super Bowl Sunday to avoid everything football. There has only been one other author of all time who has held my attention with a football book.

Well, thanks to Amanda Shelley and her new incredible book “Making the Call”, I might have to go see my new home town team play sometime. I’m a convert. Or at the very least a complete and total convert to football romances!

Amanda introduces us to the intriguing Dani, who, at least for me, had me falling for her within minutes of meeting her! I won’t lie, Luke was a nice added bonus, who, okay I adore now too, but the fact that this sports, or even more so football romance book revolves heavily around the female character was a huge and welcome change in my opinion.

Amanda weaves the intricacies of writing, (or at least what I assume it is like to live in a writers head) into this book so seamlessly, while magically making you fall in love with the sexy Luke as he tries to balance his booming career, and being a new boyfriend at the same time. She puts the perfect amount of football, and sports into this to satisfy any fan, or anyone like me, who is now intrigued in becoming a fan.

Together Dani and Luke go through relationship ups and downs, traveling, time away from each other, sexy times, zoning out moments, and even a wonderfully mismatched outfit that just does it for them.

So for those of you who have been crazy enough to have not picked up your copy of “Making The Call” yet, trust me, this needs to be on your wish list, downloaded to your kindle, or in that brown amazon box on your front porch... I now have two copies in my Kindle, and Amazon says I’ll have a fun brown box on my porch May 4-5.

This Bookworm give this 5 stars easily, and I can’t wait to read it again and again as the mood strikes. I want to be Dani when I grow up!

Thanks Amanda! I can’t wait to see what’s percolating in that brain of yours and will land on my kindle from you next!
Profile Image for Norma .
376 reviews5 followers
April 13, 2020
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.

This is my first Amanda Shelley book and I adored it. Sports romance is my jam... and she took it and elevated it. She gives you all that you love about a great sports romance and adds in the depth and craziness that is a romance authors life... or any author's life.
Danika and Luke are so adorable. From the time they meet until the bittersweet end, I loved their story. I loved each moment they shared. This book had me smiling so big, crying like a hot mess, laughing, and threatening to throw my kindle across the room.

The only drawback for me was Luke's response to that critical moment that every book has. I can't give anything away but I just felt like he actually let me down in a way. I lost some respect for him, honestly. Now, the ending was perfect. But that moment felt like a let down. It didn't make the book unreadable or unenjoyable, it was just a personal thing that made me feel like a little disappointed in that scene as a whole.

Amanda's attention to detail had me feeling as though I was in the book, living each moment with the characters. The character connection was strong enough that I felt like I was reading about friends, instead of complete strangers. The characters also had a very dynamic relationship with each other, which only made the story feel more intense and real.

All in all, this is a great read that I would happily re-read again, even with the small let down I mentioned.

Four stars for this fun sports romance that gives you a little peek into the world of a romance author. This book will have you smiling, laughing, crying and more.
332 reviews12 followers
April 15, 2020
Making The Call is by a new to me author, Amanda Shelley. I was intrigued by the concept of a sports romance revolving around the head football coach instead of a player thinking it would be a nice twist from the norm. Shelley has managed to create a fun sports romance with a little insight into the life of an author. Making The Call follows Luke, the newest head coach of the Rainier Renegades and romance writer Danika (Dani).

Dani is living her dream as an author. She is spending time at her grandparents' home while she strives to meet her editing deadline. While out on a bike ride she takes a header and fortunately for her, there was a witness. Now, most people wouldn't want witnesses, but why would she complain about Luke coming to her rescue and swooping her off her feet. Isn't that what any romance author would dream of?

Luke was just promoted to his dream job as head coach for the Rainier Renegades. Planning one last relaxing break, Luke headed to his home on Anderson Island before the season ramps up. Luke is used to calling big plays. He plans every part of his day, but he sure didn't plan on Dani.

Making The Call is a sweet, easy to read romance. While there is some drama it comes across as very low key for the reader. I enjoyed the descriptive scenes and the natural flow of this book. Having attended a few book signings, I can verify the craziness described in the book signing portion of the book. I would definitely recommend this book to others and I will also be checking out Amanda Shelley's backlist.
Profile Image for Danielle.
223 reviews13 followers
April 12, 2020
What a cute story! I adore books with a romance author as one of the main characters. Then add in a sexy football couch, and you have an amazing steamy story. Amanda Shelley is a new author for me, but I will definitely be following her for any of her new stories.

Dani is a popular romance author, and she's living on Anderson Island writing her new book. Luke, the new head football couch, is taking a week off at his home on Anderson Island. When Dani has a bicycle accident, Luke is her knight in shining armor, and they spend the week together. Following in love was the easy part, but will they be able to navigate their new semi long distance relationship while being in the public eye?

I think we need more book boyfriends like Luke. He wasn't sure how their relationship could work with him traveling, but he knew Dani was something special. I love when men do everything in their power to make their women feel like a million dollars. Luke make sure to do that, and it was so swoon worthy. He definitely make this book worth reading.

Dani is an extremely relatable character. She felt like someone I could be friends with. She wasn't high maintenance, and she lived in her own little bubble. Dani did have some insecurities that get in the way at times, but after the fact she knows how ridiculous her actions were. She owned up to her mistakes. I loved that in a character.

This story has low angst and drama, but has all the feels. I enjoyed every single characters that was introduced, even the side characters. My only issue, which is why I took a few stars off, was that they kept calling each other friends, and saying "this is what friends would be" when obviously they were so much more then friends. I will be stalking Amanda Shelley for her upcoming books.

I received an ARC for a honest view.
Profile Image for Tammy’s  Timeout.
307 reviews13 followers
April 15, 2020
Making the Call by author Amanda Shelley is a 4 star read from me, of which I thank the author for the early copy I received.

Making The Call is the story of Luke, the youngest NFL coach in the history of the game, and Dani a bestselling romance writer. I loved delving into the world of an author, within a fictional contemporary romance setting, as well as the coaching side of football. Both were refreshing insights into these careers as well as the basis of this book.

Luke and Dani meet unexpectedly, but it turns into a pleasant surprise as they soon realise the attraction between them as they spend time together. Both characters lead busy lives and as their relationship progresses we see the determination of them both to make their commitment to one another work, with a hiccup or two along the way.

I laughed out loud a few times throughout this book, and definitely smiled a few times too. A feel-good romance that is a fun and low-angst read, I recommend to readers of contemporary romance and those who enjoy sports romance too. Making The Call is my first read by Amanda Shelley and I look forward to reading her upcoming releases.

This is an honest review and all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Sharon Moritz-rosenthal.
2,160 reviews23 followers
April 14, 2020
I received a complimentary ARC - early release copy of this book in Kindle format from the author for review purposes.

This is my first time reading a book by this author but I really loved this story and want to read more from her. It is a sports romance but also a sweet romance between two very different people who find love and romance with each other but also have very busy professional lives.

This story takes place in Washington state and both Luke and Dani aka Charlotte lives on an island. It has a small town feel and they both love life on the island. They meet when Dani falls off her bike and Luke rescues her.

They have a sweet romance but they both have BIG careers. Luke is the youngest coach in the NFL and Dani is a very busy romance writer. This is a story of insta lust/love but more about how they can merge their lives and really be there for each other with societal pressures.

I really liked all the characters in the story and really felt for both main characters as they try and form a long lasting romantic life together.
April 23, 2020
I am so thrilled to have met Charlotte Ann and Luke. This story rings so true in that life is messy and can get in the way. Nice to see something down to Earth that many of us have experienced.

My favorite part is when Charlotte Ann has a knee jerk reaction to social media then realizes she made a huge mistake. Fortunately, Luke is more than smitten and is more concerned about her state of mind than anything else. But let's travel back toward the beginning.

Romance author, Charlotte Ann lives under a rock; when she flies over a pothole she finds an indescribable love. Luke observes her flight and rushes to her rescue. He is the knight in shining armor with a secret he keeps....a little too long. To his defense, it was easy to keep since she stays so secluded with work.

Not to give away anything but this quick-paced, humorous and easily relatable book is worth the read. Shelley was a new author to me and if this novel is any indication I will become fast friends with her characters.
Profile Image for Ashton.
216 reviews2 followers
April 5, 2020
* * I HAD BEEN GIVEN AN ADVANCE READERS COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR MY HONEST REVIEW * *

This one is another amazing read by Amanda Shelley!

Dani and her character gives us romance reader fanatics a slight glimpse into the writing and publishing process but still loving the way she is and how funny she is as a person. A character you can relate to even though we are not writers.... Well at least I am not.

Luke is sweet and amazing and just is a true southern gentleman that his mama raised him to be. How he tries to find that balance and make his relationship work with Danika and his new coveted position as youngest NFL coach. (Almost wrote couch)...

I love the soft and easy flow of this book, there is conflict and a natural arc in this story but there isn't a high flow of anxiety and just a sweet story full of love and passion!

I do recommend!!
-Ashton 💜📚🤓
Profile Image for Jennifer Pierson.
11.6k reviews163 followers
April 14, 2020
Dani is on tiny Anderson Island to meet some deadlines she has, as she's an author who needs no distractions to make those deadlines. Luke is also on said tiny island to just breathe, as he's now the youngest NFL HC in the league, and so fate throws them together in a meet cute. See, Luke is jogging when he sees Dani falling from her bike, and the journey takes off from there. These two have serious chemistry, and serious careers which put them in spotlight, so that's the push & pull. That's it for real. I LOVED the whole books & football premise since these two things are 100% my happy place, but still, I felt like Dani & Luke needed to have just a bit more something going on. I'm not even sure that I could put words to what I mean, just know that I needed something more. Making the Call is a sweet read with some heat that I did enjoy, so decide for yourselves by hitting those one click buttons! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Profile Image for Brittany from Can’t Quit Books.
423 reviews23 followers
April 14, 2020
This book was a fun, cute read, but it took me awhile to get into it. I feel like it was definitely “It’s a me thing.” I know most people will probably really enjoy it and fall in love with the characters, but for me it just seemed like the story didn’t really get going until the halfway mark.

Dani is a romance writer, and I loved getting to see glimpses of how a writer goes about writing a book. The whole romance community plays a big part, and it was fun to see it from her perspective.

Luke is a famous football coach and doesn’t think he has time for a career and a personal life. Watching him navigate that’s process and watching how others in his life have both, made me fall for him that much more.

This is a perfect book for those who like little to no angst and a cute storyline. The characters were made for each other from the start, and I loved how the secondary characters rounded out the book.

- An Arc was generously provided in exchange for an honest review.-
Profile Image for Kathryn Linke .
2,118 reviews23 followers
April 14, 2020
Making The Call was my first time reading Amanda Shelley’s work and it was just what I was after. A sweet, low angst and engaging story with undeniable chemistry.
Dani and Luke are both career orientated individuals who have a chance encounter whilst living on Anderson Island. He’s an NFL coach, and she’s a romance writer. I loved that we get a glimpse into the mind of a romance writer, and all that’s involved in publishing a book. I could totally relate to Dani’s introverted tendencies and Luke is such a sweet, gentleman it’s hard not to love his character.
Overall a light hearted and enjoyable sports romance with likeable characters, and I look forward to reading more of Amanda’s work in the future.
Profile Image for Ga Books LoverX.
2,356 reviews22 followers
April 14, 2020
This is my first book by Amanda Shelley, but won't be my last, I adored Making the Call and it was an interesting coupling of characters. I love that our leading lady is a romance author and her love interest is her complete opposite- a football coach! I am a huge fan of sports romances and Luke is definitely my type of main man!

The book moves at a fairly fast pace, but did not feel rushed in the slightest. The characters were real and not perfect, which is exactly what I liked to read. The chemistry between these two were there from the very beginning. All in all if you are looking for a book that moves fast and is full of sweet emotions, this is definitely a book for you! I give it 4 outta 5 stars!

PS: Thank you to Amanda Shelley and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for allowing me an advanced copy of the book to read and review honestly!
Profile Image for Larissa Rye.
1,198 reviews14 followers
April 5, 2020
4-1/2 stars!!

I’ve never read any books by Amanda before & her writing style is different from many of the authors I’ve read in the past. But I really enjoyed this book!

Sports romances are always a favourite of mine so I really enjoyed getting some actual football scenes in this book & learning more about what head coaches do for their teams. It had a lot to do with why & how Luke was the way he was. I liked Luke right away, & only fell more in love with him as the book went on.

Dani... I loved the indie author character! I loved getting a little taste about what authors go through to create a book & how they feel about signings & so forth. Her character in general was great.

I think that’s what I loved the most about this book was how she really brought the characters to life for me, I could see Luke as head coach of an NFL football team, I could see Dani as a bestselling author. I could see the two of them together & how they fit. It was just a really well written & enjoyable book to read.

I received an arc of this book in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Melena.
2,822 reviews71 followers
April 14, 2020
3.5 stars

This book has a really fun concept! Dani is a romance novelist and Luke is a football coach. Both are spending time on a quiet island and meet when Luke comes to her aid. They connect fairly quickly and find that there's a lot of chemistry between them.

There wasn't a huge conflict or drama as the story moves along. I like that it wasn't too angsty, but did expect there to be a little more of a central conflict for them to overcome.

As I am a big football fan, it was interesting that it focused on an NFL coach as it is usually the players I see in stories.

I did enjoy the story overall and am looking forward to checking out the author's other books.

Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jodi Bird (Ruby Red Romance Review).
1,168 reviews96 followers
April 20, 2020
What a super cute book. I loved Dani and Luke. Dani is a romance author. She's come to Anderson Island to edit her newest book. I love her inspiration. I love her passion. I love who she is and how laid back she is. Luke just got the promotion of a lifetime. He's now the youngest head coach in the NFL. I loved watching him achieve his dreams. But he needs to work on the future. He needs to focus, so he heads to Anderson Island.

I loved this story. I loved getting lost in Amanda Shelley's story. She's new to me, but I loved every second of this book. This story was everything I wanted and so much more. I can't wait to see to come next from Amanda Shelley!
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