The GOAT Sports Romance Series
Liz Tomforde's Windy City Series has my whole heart
My favorite way to consume books is via word of mouth recommendations. If a friend I trust liked it, there’s a good likelihood it’ll mean something to me too. So in an effort to pay that forward for someone else, the Book Review series was born. These will be short, sweet, synopsis-focused & impact-oriented where I’ll also make suggestions on who I think would enjoy them, but ultimately you can decide for yourself. Also, as a fellow author - please note that my critiques are NOT toward the author themself EVER, and I admire & respect the work always. Healthy authors are able to recognize that their work isn’t for everyone (oh, I’ve learned this the hard way so many times), so my hope is my words help their work get one step closer to landing in the hands of the people it IS meant for.
Liz Tomforde can do no wrong in my humble writer/reader opinion.
Yes, it is no secret if you’re a part of my email friend list that I’ve been in a deeply intoxicating relationship this summer with fiction…specifically modern day romance books.
And out of the 35+ books I’ve read in the last, call it 60 days, this 4 book (book 5 will be out April 2025) series is THE. BEST. ONE.
I can’t sing it’s praises enough.
Book 4 just came out on July 11th, Play Along, and tells the love story of Isaiah and Kennedy. To say that you will FALL IN LOVE and be 1000% OBSESSED with Isaiah, would be an understatement. If he doesn’t make your Top 3 Book Boyfriend list then we shouldn’t be friends because the bar has been SET!
I literally GUSH, get full body chills, and my heart wants to explode when I think about this entire series. I LIGHT UP when a friend who I’ve evangelized about this series to texts me to let me know they are starting to read it! Gah - to be at the beginning of each of their love stories!! The butterflies!
I went in with ZERO expectation about this series (I think a Google search gave it to me honestly - so good job to Liz Tomforde’s people for utilizing proper keyword searches), and have come out the other side a believer - in Liz we trust. Her writing is cheeky, healthy, way more real and honest than some of these other romance books, and she makes you feel like we would all be the best of friends over a glass of wine.
Book 1 of the series is the story of Stevie and Zanders. He’s in the NHL and she’s the new flight attendant for the team plane. It’s called Mile High well because…you need to just read it.
Book 2, The Right Move, is the story of Ryan Shay (Stevie’s twin brother) and Indy (Stevie’s best friend). After reading this one, Ryan Shay immediately made Top 3 Book boyfriend list. Yes he plays in the NBA, but his demeanor is much more subtle and quiet love. Reminded me a lot of my husband honestly.
Book 3, Caught Up, introduces us to a new set of siblings - the Rhodes brothers (they share an agent with Ryan Shay of course), and this is the story of the oldest brother Kai, and his love interest, Miller. She becomes his nanny but is wholly accomplished in her own right and well, it’s single dad MLB goodness. Plus, it’s baseball season right now so YES PLEASE!
Then book 4, Play Along, just came out and I can’t even with it. The playlist from Liz1, the vibes I’ve scoured Pinterest to find and create…gah it’s literal PERFECTION. Loyal love, strong women, emotionally intelligent & caring men (obviously written by a female LOL) - this book is IT. G.O.A.T, hands down.
I’ve described this series to friends who like me, have mostly never really entered into this book genre (I’m a recovering personal development book addict) as a Hallmark movie meets real life, with a side of sexy spice (always tasteful though). Everything that you would hope & expect to feel from watching your favorite rom com, you will feel 10x over when diving into the friend group of this book series.
If you are someone who loves love, I promise you your heart will swell for this series.
Please for the love - go read it right meow and then come talk to me because I already miss them and love them so much (yes, I know they are fictional people but once you are privy to their world you’ll understand).
I will only from here forward be reading books that have accompanying playlists - it makes SUCH a difference to the entire experience and getting sucked into this glorious fiction world. I feel like music helps tell their story so much and now every time I hear certain songs (no spoiler alerts), I light up thinking of Isaiah & Kenny