The Recommended Reading Order for Quarterback’s Heart
Unlike many romance series where each book follows a different couple, the Quarterback’s Heart series (initially published under the title Intercepted by Love) is a single, continuous narrative serialized across six parts. The books follow the emotional and dramatic love story of Cade Prescott, a professional quarterback, and Andie Wales, a university research librarian.
Because the story is a serialized novel split into six segments, you must read these books in chronological order. Jumping in midway will leave you confused by the ongoing plot, character developments, and subplots involving sports betting and criminal frame-ups. If you prefer to avoid waiting between segments, you can also read the entire saga as a single compiled boxed set.
Quarterback's Heart Books in Publication and Chronological Order
All six installments of the series were published in quick succession in 2015. Below is the list of books in the order they must be read, along with what to expect from each step of Cade and Andie's journey.
- Intercepted by Love: Part One (2015) – The story begins in a quiet university town. Cade Prescott, a professional quarterback seeking refuge from the media and a painful Super Bowl loss, crosses paths with Andie Wales. Andie is a librarian focused on historical research who has no idea who Cade is. Their opposites-attract romance sparks quickly, but secrets loom.
- Intercepted by Love: Part Two (2015) – The romance heats up as Andie relocates to Los Angeles to be closer to Cade's high-profile athletic world. However, transitioning from a quiet library to the glamorous and high-stakes lifestyle of a professional athlete introduces new challenges and tests their fragile trust.
- Intercepted by Love: Part Three (2015) – As their lives become more intertwined, Cade and Andie face the pressure of the public eye. Cade's painful history in the foster care system begins to surface, affecting how he handles intimacy, while Andie struggles to find her footing in a world dominated by sports media and constant scrutiny.
- Intercepted by Love: Part Four (2015) – Conflict deepens as Cade's protective instincts kick into overdrive, clashing with Andie's fierce desire for independence. The tension between their personal desires and the demands of Cade's career reaches a boiling point, setting up high-stakes drama.
- Intercepted by Love: Part Five (2015) – The narrative takes a dramatic turn into romantic suspense. A sports betting syndicate attempts to frame Cade for throwing a crucial game by intentionally throwing an interception. The situation escalates when Cade is arrested, forcing Andie to fight for his innocence.
- Intercepted by Love: Part Six (2015) – The final installment resolves the criminal plot and the syndicate's attempt to ruin Cade's career. With the real culprits exposed, Andie and Cade finally secure their hard-won happily ever after, concluding the serialized arc.
The Boxed Set: An Easier Way to Read
If you prefer a seamless reading experience without navigating six separate volumes, Rachelle Ayala released the complete story as a single omnibus. Look for Intercepted by Love: Complete Collection (sometimes titled Boxed Set: Intercepted by Love). This volume compiles all six parts into a single book, making it the most practical option for readers who want to binge-read the entire romance from start to finish.
What to Know Before You Start
Before diving into the series, here are a few details to help set your expectations:
- It is a true serial: Many of the individual parts end on dramatic cliffhangers, particularly Parts One through Five. If you dislike unresolved endings, reading the compiled boxed set is highly recommended.
- Themes and Tone: The series is a contemporary sports romance that balances steamy, high-chemistry scenes with heavier emotional themes, including childhood trauma from the foster care system, trust issues, and a suspenseful subplot involving sports betting and criminal syndicates.
- Audiobook Version: For listeners, the series is available in audiobook format. Narrated by Chris Abell, the audiobooks bring Cade's athletic world and Andie's quiet determination to life.
What to Read Next: Related Series by Rachelle Ayala
Once you finish Cade and Andie's story, you might want to explore more of Rachelle Ayala's extensive contemporary romance bibliography. While she has written over 300 books, here are the most relevant starting points for fans of Quarterback's Heart:
Men of Spring Baseball Series
If you want to stay in the sports romance genre, this series is the perfect next step. Instead of a single serialized couple, each book in this series follows a different baseball player finding love. The books can generally be read as standalones, beginning with the prequel Playing the Rookie, followed by titles like Playing Without Rules and Playing Catch.
Bad Boys for Hire Series
For readers who enjoyed the suspenseful elements and protective hero tropes in Quarterback's Heart, the Bad Boys for Hire series offers high-chemistry contemporary romance focusing on different protective male leads, beginning with the first book, Ryker.