Liam Evans always gets what he wants. Or so it seems.
Quarterback for the Knights and a personality able to charm anyone–he’s never had much to complain about. But it’s easy to hide behind an infectious smile and witty sense of humor masking sleepless nights and unhealed generational trauma. Bad days aren’t allowed and feelings aren’t meant to be expressed–at least that’s what he’s always been told.
The one feeling Liam never has trouble expressing though? His long time crush on the Knights sideline reporter, Demi Sanchez. She’s confident, independent and has worked hard in the world of sports, with more goals still to be met. But when her world flips upside down and her divorce is finalized, she finds unexpected peace and comfort with the hot shot quarterback when their personal lives intertwine. Causing her to question everything she thought she knew.
Will Liam’s shiny personality be the spark that Demi needs again in her life? And will Demi’s ability to weather storms help Liam see that showing vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness? Maybe they’re exactly what each other needs.
If there is one word I would use to describe the love story in Pass Rush, it’s gentle. Gentle in the way it unfolds. Gentle in the way Liam loves Demi. Gentle in the way two wounded people learn how to choose each other without losing themselves.
Liam Evans… wow. Sir. What an honor it would be to be loved by you. He has been in love with Demi for five years—quietly, respectfully, from a distance—never crossing a line, never pushing when she wasn’t ready. He remembers everything about her. The way she smiles. The way she lights up. The way she carries herself with strength and determination. And when she becomes single again, he doesn’t rush in. He waits. He supports. He stays exactly where she’s comfortable. Golden retriever energy in its purest, most emotionally intelligent form.
“She’s something else. Just being around her makes me want to freeze time so I can stay in these moments with her for as long as possible.”
Demi deserves a calm love, and Liam gives her exactly that. Ordinary dinners. Cozy nights on the couch. Rooftop conversations. Laughter over missing puzzle pieces. Safety. Stability. Peace. Friendship. After a marriage that slowly erased pieces of who she was, Demi is rebuilding her life from the ground up, in learning how to trust herself again, how to breathe again, how to believe she deserves more. Watching her reclaim her confidence and independence was powerful and deeply relatable.
“You’re graceful in your resilience, Dem. A quiet strength you’ve shown that’s inspiring as well. You make me want to understand my emotions better, handle them better, be better.”
What makes this story shine is the communication. Truly. These two talk. They listen. They open up without judgment. They share their baggage—hers in the form of her ex-husband, his in the form of a father whose expectations left lasting scars—and they hold space for each other’s pain. Liam’s mental health journey, his therapy, and his willingness to be vulnerable felt honest and refreshing. He doesn’t pretend to be healed. He does the work. And that matters.
I also loved how unapologetically Liam adores Demi. Everyone knows it. His teammates tease him. His crush is an open secret. The looks. The winks. The way he always treats her with respect in interviews. The way he’s proud of her career in a male-dominated field. He never makes her feel small. Never makes her prove herself. He just shows up. Over and over.
“Being around Demi, being pulled into her orbit sets my soul on fire. In the deepest, warmest, most beautiful way.”
Their slow burn was perfection. Liam is content just being near her, getting the chance to know her, cook for her, cuddle with her on the couch, and to learn what being her safe place is. So when Demi finally has her “forget it, I’m all in” moment? It is so earned. Their physical connection feels natural and emotional, not rushed. Like their souls recognized each other long before their bodies did.
“I feel the high immediately—the spark, the dizziness, the butterflies. The absolute magic that is Liam Evans hums throughout my entire body. And in that instant, I know I’m royally f—ed.”
Liam is a standout MMC. He’s soft, emotionally fluent, devoted, and completely down bad. He challenges every stereotype of what a football hero is “supposed” to be. And Demi is just as strong: choosing herself after years of being last, learning that love doesn’t have to mean losing pieces of who she is.
This book thrives on honesty, healing, and intentional love. It’s about two people becoming each other’s safe place while still having full, independent lives. It’s about choosing therapy, communication, and growth. It’s about loving someone without trying to own them.
If you love a man who is patient, devoted, emotionally intelligent, and hopelessly in love… this one is for you.