The Sidelined Wife (More Than A Wife #1) by Jennifer Peel

She’s getting back in the game, one blog post at a time.

Samantha Higgins never thought driving her husband’s car would forever change her life. But one conversation later, heard through his Bluetooth, and Samantha is changing her last name. While trying to figure out who Samantha Decker is, she writes what she thinks is one final post on her blog, announcing her divorce. When the post goes viral, she finds herself with a new title, The Sidelined Wife, and an unbelievable following.

To make matters more interesting, her younger brother’s best friend, Reed Cassidy, who was a thorn in Samantha’s adolescent side, moves back to town as the new head football coach for her son’s high school team. Unbeknownst to Samantha, Reed has harbored a crush for his old babysitter all these years. But, Samantha isn’t keen on dating anyone, much less a younger man that used to booby trap her bedroom with firecrackers.

While Samantha is doing her best to learn and even make up some of the rules of single life and being a semi-celebrity, Reed comes in and changes the game. Now Samantha must decide if she should get back on the field or if she prefers the sidelines.

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Oh. My. Swoon.  Reed!!  My tummy butterflies were all a flutter over the persistently sweet and sexy ways Reed worked his magic on Samantha.  Honestly, grocery shopping will never be the same for me again.  There is just something so sexy about a man who goes out of his way to give the woman he is interested in the message that he wants her.  Reed is expert at this.  

I loved that this book felt adultish and more mature.  I love young love, first love (which this book has some of) but as I get older (ahem, cough*cough) there is something satisfying in reading about more mature situations and feelings that come with time and experience.  Samantha is a mother to a teenage son.  Life isn't quite the same as when she was in her twenties.  I loved watching Sam find her own self again- processing all those emotions that were swirling inside her.  Healing from hurtful experiences looks different for all of us and I really enjoyed Sam's journey.  She was heartfelt and entertaining.  The perfect balance.

Jennifer Peel has a knack for writing realistic emotion that I really connect to.  No matter the age or the circumstances of her characters, I feel things when I read her books.  That's why her books have become an addiction of sorts for me.  I just can't get enough.  I could have read about Reed all week and been a happy girl.  

I also loved how well Jennifer peeked my interest in the next books in this series.  I am so interested in these side characters who will steal the show in the next books.  

Content:  Some mention of affairs, kissing

- I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  All opinions expressed are my own.