The False Start
The False Start is an open door, spicy sports romance perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey and Liz Tomforde.
Lila Summers has a great life on paper.
A kick-ass career—where she spends too many late nights with her emails. A supportive family—whose critiques showcase exactly how short of their measuring stick she falls. A blue-eyed boyfriend in finance—who lives 800 miles away and is really more of a situational on-again-off-again presence.
Okay, so maybe it isn’t so great after all. When her ride-or-die best friend convinces her to give one night at the club a chance, she smacks face first into the chiseled chest of newly traded NFL Tight End John “Cal” Basset. Their connection is as electric as their first dance, and as much as they might try, the sparks can’t be ignored.
Cal might have a pretty face, but he has his own baggage. Between the spotlight of a mid-season trade, a complicated relationship with his father, and a trust fund with too many strings, he’s juggling more than the average NFL tight end, but he knows what he wants.
When Lila and Cal are forced to confront their complicated feelings for each other during a trip up North, it goes almost exactly as imagined—terribly.
Can these two possibly have what it takes to overcome their own emotional baggage and have a winning season or will this be another false start?
What people are saying
T.C. (Beta Reader)
I was lucky enough to be chosen as a beta reader for Lyle’s first piece and WOW, it did not disappoint.
I was immediately hooked on this story. It draws you in, embraces some slow burn, and then hits the passion with the strength of 100 suns! I appreciated that the spice was very well paired with a solid plot line and character development. I straight up won’t do spicy romance without a good plot. Every character in this book gave me strong reaction; good or bad. And that’s what you want from a great book. Every character had a piece that you could relate to.
Already ready to re-read this final version and dive into sequels!
Ashley J.
“I absolutely loved this book! From the very first moment Lila and Cal collided on the dance floor, I was hooked. Their chemistry was electric and leapt right off the page, but what really made this story shine was the depth behind both characters.
Lila is such a relatable heroine—successful on paper but quietly struggling with expectations, relationships, and figuring out what she really wants. Cal was everything I want in a book boyfriend: charming, vulnerable, and more than just the swoony NFL tight end. The way he and Lila challenged and supported each other made their romance feel so real and so satisfying.
I also loved the balance between the lighthearted banter, the off-the-charts attraction, and the heavier emotional moments. Both characters had their own baggage, but the way they navigated it together made me root for them even harder.
This was a perfect mix of sports romance, emotional depth, and swoony feels. I couldn’t put it down, and now I’m already counting the days until the next book! 🏈✨”
Charlotte M.
“Great read!
Absolutely amazing book for a Debut release! I genuinely couldn’t put the book down, and I love a sports romance& one bed only situation BUT add in a FMC in her 30’s? I was SOLD!
I’m always a girls girls but my god Cal had me wanting to jump in the book and shake Lila for him! He is the most respectable, caring, genuine sweetheart of a man I’ve ever read in a book and with everything he goes through, he still makes sure he’s looking out for Lila🥹
Lila is such a relatable character, a woman who is balancing work, family expectations and a awful ‘on again off again’ relationship, that I really felt for her! We’ve all had that or known someone close who has so it really made her stand out as an FMC to me.
I loved the story and wish it was longer but I’m hoping we see more of the lovable Theo and Katie in future books!”
LILLIAN LYLE 