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Placebo Effects in Sport and Exercise
by Philip Hurst Chris BeediePlacebo effects have been recognised by medicine and by science, yet only recently has systematic research begun to fully understand what they are and how they work. Sport and exercise scientists started systematic research to better understand the potential performance-enhancing effects of placebos as well as how a range of treatments are used in sport, from nutritional supplements to psychological interventions to sports medicine treatments. Placebo Effects in Sport and Exercise synthesises this field of research of the influence placebo effects have in sport and exercise. This book brings together many of the world’s leading and emerging placebo effect researchers to help readers gain an understanding of core research findings from within sports and exercise science as well as sport and exercise-related contributions from experts in anthropology, medicine, and neuroscience. Readers will gain an insight of what placebo and nocebo effects are, how they might influence sport and exercise performance and outcomes, and how they might significantly influence the effectiveness of performance and health interventions. The book investigates various practical and ethical implications for the sport and exercise practitioner, student, and researcher to consider. Can a placebo work if the athlete knows it’s a placebo? Should practitioners use placebos to enhance performance? Can the use of placebos reduce doping? Are some sports medicine treatments little more than placebos? With the rapid growth of applied sports medicine, as well as the concept of exercise as a mental health treatment in its own right, Placebo Effects in Sport and Exercise is key reading for students and researchers of sport psychology as well as those out in the field.
Playfair Cricket Annual 2024
by Ian MarshallThe indispensable pocket guide to the cricket season.The 77th edition of the Playfair Cricket Annual is packed with all the information you need to follow the cricket season in 2024, as well as a review of events during the previous twelve months.Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia will all be touring England this coming summer, and here you'll find comprehensive Test match and limited-overs records and career records to help you follow the action.County cricket is covered in unrivalled depth, with biographies of all players registered to the counties at the start of the season, full coverage of last summer's events and a fixture list for all major domestic matches in 2024.There are also sections on women's cricket and the major domestic T20 competitions from around the world, including The Hundred.For any cricket fan, the season is never complete without a copy of Playfair to guide you through it all.
Playfair Cricket Annual 2024
by Ian MarshallThe indispensable pocket guide to the cricket season.The 77th edition of the Playfair Cricket Annual is packed with all the information you need to follow the cricket season in 2024, as well as a review of events during the previous twelve months.Pakistan, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Australia will all be touring England this coming summer, and here you'll find comprehensive Test match and limited-overs records and career records to help you follow the action.County cricket is covered in unrivalled depth, with biographies of all players registered to the counties at the start of the season, full coverage of last summer's events and a fixture list for all major domestic matches in 2024.There are also sections on women's cricket and the major domestic T20 competitions from around the world, including The Hundred.For any cricket fan, the season is never complete without a copy of Playfair to guide you through it all.
Playing for Keeps
by Jennifer DuganFrom the author of Some Girls Do comes another heartfelt YA sapphic romance—starring a baseball pitcher and a student umpire who are definitely not supposed to fall for one another.&“Sapphic sports romance perfection. Swoony and romantic, but unafraid to tackle grief, family expectations, and fighting for your dreams, this is a home run of a book.&” —Rachael Lippincott, coauthor of the #1 New York Times Bestsellers Five Feet Apart and She Gets the GirlJune is the star pitcher of her elite club baseball team—with an ego to match—and she's a shoo-in to be recruited at the college level, like her parents have always envisioned. That is, if she can play through an overuse injury that has recently gone from bad to worse.Ivy isn't just reffing to pay off her athletic fees or make some extra cash on the side. She wants to someday officiate at the professional level, even if her parents would rather she go to college instead. The first time they cross paths, Ivy throws June out of a game for grandstanding. Still, they quickly grow from enemies to begrudging friends . . . and then something more. But the rules state that players and umpires are prohibited from dating.As June's shoulder worsens, and a rival discovers the girls' secret and threatens to expose them, everything the two have worked so hard for is at risk. Now both must choose: follow their dreams . . . or follow their hearts?
The Politics of Football (Critical Research in Football)
by Christos KassimerisThis book examines the deep connections between football and politics and explains what those relationships can tell us about sport and wider society. With the game occupying a preeminent place on the world sporting stage, this book argues that the political significance of football has never been greater. The book explores the politics of football governance and the international organisations that run the game, as well as the interaction of footballing authorities with government at all levels. It shows how football clubs and supporter groups have leaned left (such as FC Sankt Pauli) or right (such as SS Lazio) and have been significant voices in secessionist debates and the promotion of religious identities and ethno-centrism. It also addresses how fascist and communist regimes have used football to project political ideology. The book also considers key contemporary political issues in football, such as surveillance, discrimination, and human rights. This is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in football, in the politics or sociology of sport, in international relations, government, or political ideology, or in the intersection of politics and culture.
Proceedings of the 2nd Human Engineering Symposium: HUMENS 2023, Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia (Lecture Notes in Mechanical Engineering)
by Mohd Hasnun Arif Hassan Mohd Nadzeri Omar Nasrul Hadi Johari Yongmin ZhongThis book acts as a compilation of papers presented in the 2nd Human Engineering Symposium (HUMENS 2023), held at Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia. The symposium covers the following research topics: ergonomics, biomechanics, sports technology, medical device and instrumentation, artificial intelligence / machine learning, industrial design, rehabilitation, additive manufacturing, modelling and bio-simulation, and signal processing. The articles published will be of interest to researchers and practitioners from the medical device manufacturers, healthcare, rehabilitation and sports technology.
Professional Football Club Management: Leadership for Commercial Success
by Simon Van KerckhovenThis is a handbook for leading a professional football club to commercial success. Covering every aspect of the business and commercial operations of a modern football club, and with a focus on increasing revenues and building a powerful brand, this book explains how to take any club to the next level and increase brand value. Drawing on the authors’ extensive experience of working in elite professional football, this book covers all the core areas of club management, from brand identity, brand positioning, strategy and planning, human resource management and developing partnerships, to marketing, ticketing, venue operations and merchandise. It examines the importance of business models and achieving club stability and sustainability, and introduces cutting-edge topics that are having an increasing impact on the development of football clubs, including corporate social responsibility, eSports and women’s football. This book is full of real-world cases and data, and offers clear theoretical and practical guidance in every chapter. This book is essential reading for anybody working in professional football and for anybody taking courses in executive football education, football studies or sport management. It is also a valuable resource for anyone who has a general interest in the business and commercial aspects of managing a professional football club.
The Prospects: A Novel
by KT Hoffman&“A queer sports romance and a triumphant debut . . . a heartstring-pulling tale of two minor-league baseball rivals who realize they play much better together.&”—Elle, The Best (and Most Anticipated) Romance Books of 2024, So Far &“I completely adored it.&” —Casey McQuiston, author of Red, White & Royal BlueMinor leagues. Major chemistry.Hope is familiar territory for Gene Ionescu. He has always loved baseball, a sport made for underdogs and optimists like him. He also loves his team, the minor league Beaverton Beavers, and, for the most part, he loves the career he&’s built. As the first openly trans player in professional baseball, Gene has nearly everything he&’s ever let himself dream of—that is, until Luis Estrada, Gene&’s former teammate and current rival, gets traded to the Beavers, destroying the careful equilibrium of Gene&’s life.Gene and Luis can&’t manage a civil conversation off the field or a competent play on it, but in the close confines of dugout benches and roadie buses, they begrudgingly rediscover a comfortable rhythm. As the two grow closer, the tension between them turns electric, and their chemistry spills past the confines of the stadium. For every tight double play they execute, there&’s also a glance at summer-tan shoulders or a secret shared, each one a breathless moment of possibility that ignites in Gene the visceral, terrifying kind of desire he&’s never allowed himself. Soon, Gene has to reconcile the quiet, minor-league-sized life he used to find fulfilling with the major-league dreams Luis inspires.This triumphant debut romance reveals what&’s possible when we allow ourselves to want something enough to swing for the fences.
The Psychology of Golf Performance under Pressure
by Denise M. Hill Jamie B. Barker Karl SteptoeThe Psychology of Golf Performance under Pressure offers contemporary, research-informed information regarding the key psychological factors affecting golf development and performance under pressure. Through the authors’ substantive expertise – all of whom are notable scholars and/or practitioners in the field of golf psychology – the text provides a highly accessible “real world” application of theory to practice, through the provision of evidence-based guidance regarding how to maximise golf performance under pressure. Golf is a sport that has embraced sport psychology, with many of the highest ranked players in the world (male and female) openly working with a sport psychologist and advocating their importance. As a result, an increasing number of high-profile practitioners are working full-time within the sport around the world, encouraging trainee sport psychology practitioners to pursue their career within golf. Accordingly, there is an ever-increasing demand for high-quality information pertaining to the psychological demands of golf; the key psychological variables that affect golfing development and performance; and evidence-based strategies which enable effective golf performance under pressure. This novel text provides a comprehensive portrayal of the psychological factors which enable effective golfing development and optimal performance under pressure. A theoretical review of the pertinent psychological factors followed by the practical application of theory for the provision of “take home messages” will ensure that this book is of value, interest, and benefit for golfers, coaches, golf organisations, and even the parents of golfers, alongside sport psychology scholars, students, practitioners, and researchers alike.
The Psychology of Running (The Psychology of Everything)
by Noel Brick Stuart HollidayWhy do people run? How can I improve my running performance? Will running help me feel better? The Psychology of Running provides a unique insight into why running is such a popular form of exercise and competition. From evolutionary perspectives on why humans have needed to run and how our bodies have adapted for this function, to discussing evidence-based interventions that can improve running performance, the book delves into the psychological motivations and benefits of running. The book also considers ways in which running can be used for social change and life skill development, highlighting how such a simple activity can have benefits for our physical and mental health. Providing proven psychological strategies and techniques to help improve running performance and boost our individual self-belief, The Psychology of Running shows us how we can enjoy running, no matter our age or ability.
The Psychology of Sport Injury and Rehabilitation
by Monna Arvinen-Barrow Damien ClementWritten by internationally known experts The Psychology of Sport Injury and Rehabilitation draws on the latest research in sport psychology and sports medicine. Using case studies to augment the reader’s experience, this new edition emphasizes the importance of a holistic, interprofessional approach to sport injury management and care. By doing so, the book provides injured individuals, their families, and healthcare professionals a thorough overview of how psychology plays a role in sport injury prevention, rehabilitation, and return to participation process. Athletes routinely use psychological skills and interventions for performance enhancement but, perhaps surprisingly, not always to assist in recovery from injury. This book demonstrates the ways in which athletes and practitioners can transfer psychological skills to an injury and rehabilitation setting to enhance recovery and the well-being of the athlete. Psychology of injury is an integral part of sport injury prevention, rehabilitation, and return to participation process. The second edition of The Psychology of Sport Injury and Rehabilitation is a comprehensive text grounded in biopsychosocial theory and scientific evidence. The fully revised second edition is an important resource for students, academic scholars, and applied practitioners working in sport psychology, sports medicine, sports coaching, and other related healthcare professions.
Qualitative Research and Evaluation in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy
by Kevin Andrew Richards Michael A Hemphill Paul M WrightPublished in conjunction with SHAPE America! Focusing on the unique nature of qualitative methods within kinesiology settings, Qualitative Research and Evaluation in Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy guides graduate students and early career researchers through designing, conducting, and reporting of qualitative research studies with specific references to the challenges and possibilities of the field. Written by qualitative researchers in the fields of physical education and activity, this practical text begins with an overview of qualitative methods before advancing into planning for, collecting, and analyzing qualitative data. The final sections highlight specific qualitative methods applications in physical education and activity before discussing future directions and emerging applications of qualitative research.
Rainmaker: Superagent Hughes Norton and the Money-Grab Explosion of Golf from Tiger to LIV and Beyond
by Hughes Norton George PeperA rollicking tell-all from golf super-agent, Hughes Norton, detailing everything from his life-changing work with Tiger Woods and Greg Norman to his thoughts on golf&’s current money-grab era. The ultimate read for fans of Alan Shipnuck, Bob Harig, and Michael Bamberger.When twenty-one-year-old Tiger Woods stunned the world by winning The Masters by a mind-blowing twelve strokes, the first thing he did was embrace the three most important people in his life: his father, his mother, and Hughes Norton. At the peak of his career, agent Norton earned a million-dollar salary, flew to all corners of the world in first class, and enjoyed a lifestyle nearly as lavish as his A-list clients. That dizzying success, however, came at a high price. The seventy-hour work weeks, constant travel, and intense pressure—both from his players and their corporate partners—took Norton away from his family and ultimately led to divorce. At the same time, in an effort to protect his players and his career, he found himself making ethical and moral choices he would later regret. Soon, he realized he had made as many enemies as friends. Now, in Rainmaker, Norton draws back the curtain on his meteoric rise and abrupt fall. With never-before-told stories and exclusive insights, he discusses what it was like being Tiger&’s first agent, his time representing the narcissistic Greg Norman, and shining a bright light on his sudden—and controversial—ouster as the head of IMG&’s Golf Division—a juggernaut he helped build. This is an engaging and unforgettable memoir that explores golf as never before.
The Real Hoosiers: Crispus Attucks High School, Oscar Robertson, and the Hidden History of Hoops
by Jack McCallumThe true story behind Crispus Attucks High School and the all-Black basketball team loosely depicted as the championship opponent in the beloved classic sports movie Hoosiers. For far too long the mythology of Indiana basketball has been dominated by Hoosiers. Framed as the ultimate underdog, feel-good story, there has also long been a cultural debate surrounding the film. The Real Hoosiers sets out to illuminate the narrative that the film omits, the story of the unheralded Crispus Attucks Tigers, playing the game at the highest level in the 1950s in a racially divided Indiana. After a crushing loss to Milan High School in the 1954 semifinal, which was the game that the final scenes in Hoosiers are based on, Attucks went on to win back-to-back Indiana state championships. That team was led by a young Oscar Robertson and coached by Ray Crowe, who fully recognized the seemingly insurmountable challenges of playing basketball in a state that was a bastion for not only the game but also the Ku Klux Klan. Veteran sportswriter and the bestselling author of Dream Team, Jack McCallum, pulls back the curtain on that history, which is rich, far beyond the basketball court. The Real Hoosiers replaces a lacuna in the history of Indiana while dissecting the myths and lore of Hoosier hoops; placing the game in the context of migration, segregation, and integration; and enhancing our understanding of this country&’s struggle for civil rights.
Redeeming 6 (Boys of Tommen #4)
by Chloe Walsh*FIRST PRINT RUN LIMITED EDITION OMBRE SPINE DESIGN - ONLY WHILE SUPPLIES LAST*An epic and unforgettable love story continues in Redeeming 6, the fourth book in the international bestselling and TikTok-phenomenon Boys of Tommen series, from Chloe Walsh.I'm saving you, six.Joey Lynch's life is falling apart. Obsessed with proving himself to the only person he's ever truly trusted, Joey fights to stay away from a world that could destroy his life. The odds are against him, but can he keep his head above water?Aoife is absolutely unwilling to give up the boy she loves, so she is determined to save him from self-destruction. She becomes trapped in a world she doesn't understand, but her heart is stronger than what's trying to drag her down. Aoife will never give up on Joey, no matter how much is stacked against them.Through heartbreak and horror, Aoife and Joey have had each other's backs, and this time is no different.Following the beloved pairing from Saving 6, Redeeming 6 will only increase your love for the Boys of Tommen universe. This book is perfect for readers looking for:New adult/YA crossover Irish romanceDual POVsFriends-to-loversAngsty tearjerkersBingeworthy TikTok booksReaders are saying:"This book brought me back to life.""JOEY AND AOIFE FOREVER.""THIS SERIES OWNS A PART OF MY SOUL.""I read this in under 24 hrs.""Chloe Walsh writes the kind of romance novels where you can just tell the [characters] are SOULMATES, literally made for each other, two pieces of a puzzle! Joey and Aoife are everything and deserve the whole world!!!"
Reflections on Play, Sport, and Culture: Introduction to the Play Field Theory (Routledge Research in Sport, Culture and Society #141)
by Felix LebedThe psychological dependence of humanity on playing is huge. Its nature and functional utility are unclear. These linked yet contradictory issues have created the intrigue that has fed philosophical thought for more than two hundred years. During this period, philosophy transferred many of the subjects of its analysis to the aegis of the humanities that it spawned. Each of them pays close attention to human play and studies it with its own methods of theoretical and experimental research. Thus, what was once a general philosophical comprehension of human play has branched out into different directions, definitions, and theories. This new book represents a renewed general view of human play. The unique quality of the volume lies in its fairly rare interdisciplinary methodology, encompassing a broad spectrum of the humanities: philosophy, anthropology, sociology, and the history of play, and behavioral analysis of playing, which have been done by the author. As a result, the volume ends with the proposition of a new general approach to human play that is named by the author “play field theory”. Such an approach makes reflections on play, sport, and culture a source for all scholars studying play, by widening their knowledge through both a new general view and their familiarization with notions from neighboring fields and disciplines.
Remembering Torn-Down Ballparks, Over a Cold Beer: A Beer Table Book Celebrating Lost Ballparks
by Ken FinniganThe perfect beer-table book for fans of the Great American Pastime—regardless of team affiliation! Beginning with Comiskey Park in 1990, author Ken Finnigan used to take road trips to many ancient remaining ballparks with his oldest brother. The idea was to see them just before they got knocked down, instead of imagining what they were like after demolition. They went on journeys to quite a few other old baseball stadiums in the early 1990s and even investigated some of the former sites where ballparks were decommissioned years before. Most of the sites he saw in the early 1990s are no longer standing. Remembering Torn-Down Ballparks, Over a Cold Beer, through vintage full-color art featured on beer coasters, reveals what it may have been like to see the stadiums that are no longer around. From the journal-styled observations of each ballpark, to the artwork from the coasters and the artifacts depicted, Finnigan offers baseball enthusiasts a sense of having a piece from each ballpark.
Research with Children and Young People in Physical Education and Youth Sport
by Fiona C. Chambers Rachel Sandford Oliver Hooper Lee SchaeferThis innovative book presents a new framework for researchers in the field of physical education and youth sport. By examining the complex interplay between values, voice and ethics within the research process, it showcases how the CREATE Principles for Research Design can facilitate meaningful research with/for children and young people. Adopting a design thinking approach - and underpinned by principles of youth voice - the book rethinks educational research with children and young people and offers a new framework for the field. With contributions from leading international experts, the book exemplifies how the CREATE Principles for Research Design can be applied in practice across a range of diverse populations and contexts through ten in-depth case studies. Reflecting contemporary issues in the field, such as gender, race and ethnicity, disability and social disadvantage, these case studies take the reader through the process of applying the CREATE principles as a reflective lens through which to consider research design with/for youth. Designed to support aspiring and experienced researchers alike, this book equips readers with valuable ideas and tools to enhance their research praxis and shape meaningful and relevant research with/for children and young people.
Research with Children and Young People in Physical Education and Youth Sport
by Fiona C. Chambers Rachel Sandford Oliver Hooper Lee SchaeferThis innovative book presents a new framework for researchers in the field of physical education and youth sport. By examining the complex interplay between values, voice and ethics within the research process, it showcases how the CREATE Principles for Research Design can facilitate meaningful research with/for children and young people.Adopting a design thinking approach – and underpinned by principles of youth voice – the book rethinks educational research with children and young people and offers a new framework for the field. With contributions from leading international experts, this book exemplifies how the CREATE Principles for Research Design can be applied in practice across a range of diverse populations and contexts through ten in-depth case studies. Reflecting contemporary issues in the field, such as gender, race and ethnicity, disability and social disadvantage, these case studies take the reader through the process of applying the CREATE principles as a reflective lens through which to consider research design with/for youth.Designed to support aspiring and experienced researchers alike, this book equips readers with valuable ideas and tools to enhance their research praxis and shape meaningful and relevant research with/for children and young people.
Ride Beside Me
by Lucy KnisleyThe community that rides together, thrives together! New York Times bestselling comic creator Lucy Knisley celebrates the joys of biking in this picture book about coming together to build safer streets and a brighter future for all.A mother and son hop on their bike for a ride through the neighborhood, joining friends and neighbors along the way. There are people on unicycles and tandem bikes, tricycles and recumbents—all kinds of bikes for all kinds of riders.Before long, the bikes outnumber the cars and trucks, taking up more and more of the road until they form a parade of sorts, smiling and popping wheelies, ringing their bells, and celebrating the beautiful community they all share.
The Role of Self and Adaptation in Learning and Development: Chasing Excellence
by Daniel RodriguezThis book introduces readers to Psychoadaptation—a general model of change that stresses the importance of experiencing disequilibrium in the development of a healthy Self—and applies it to a range of examples across the academic, sport, and health domains. Built upon his studies of human development and learning, Daniel Rodriguez offers an overview of a model of change with a specific focus on the development of Self and conceptions of Self. The author begins by focusing on academic topics such as conducting research, teaching, and being a student, before highlighting examples from sport and health. With a clear and engaging tone, each chapter highlights how the theory behind Psychoadaptation can be applied across a variety of contexts and in the modern world. The result is a solid balance of scientific theory and practical application that readers can relate to their own circumstances and research. Offering a unique conceptualization to development, learning, and behavior change, this is a useful resource for students and scholars within these areas, as well as clinicians working in the fields of health and sport. It will also benefit individuals looking to embark upon their own journeys to Self-development.
The Routledge Handbook of Mega-Sporting Events and Human Rights (Routledge International Handbooks)
by William Rook Daniela Heerdt Shubham JainThe Routledge Handbook of Mega-Sporting Events and Human Rights is the first book to explore in depth the topic of mega-sporting events (MSEs) and human rights, offering accounts of adverse human rights impacts linked to MSEs while considering the potential for promoting human rights in and through the framework of these events. Drawing on the contributions of an international group of leading researchers, practitioners and advocates, the book introduces key concepts in human rights and considers how they relate to ethical, social, managerial and governance issues in contemporary MSEs, from inclusion and welfare to corruption and sustainability. It examines the role of key stakeholders in the delivery of MSEs, including organising committees, sport governing bodies, governments, athletes, sponsors and broadcasters, as well as the role of activists and advocates, and presents historical and contemporary case studies of human rights as an active issue in MSEs. The book provides new perspectives on human rights as a lens for understanding modern sport and as a guiding principle for responsible sport that protects the interests of individuals and communities, as well as offering guidance on best practice. It is essential reading for all advanced students, researchers, practitioners, policymakers and stakeholders with an interest in organisation and delivery of MSEs, as well as general sport management, sport policy, sport governance, the ethics of sport, event management, political science, development studies, ethical business or the significance of sport in wider society.
The Routledge Handbook of Mega-Sporting Events and Human Rights (Routledge International Handbooks)
by William Rook Daniela Heerdt Shubham JainThe Routledge Handbook of Mega-Sporting Events and Human Rights is the first book to explore in depth the topic of mega-sporting events (MSEs) and human rights, offering accounts of adverse human rights impacts linked to MSEs while considering the potential for promoting human rights in and through the framework of these events.Drawing on the contributions of an international group of leading researchers, practitioners and advocates, the book introduces key concepts in human rights and considers how they relate to ethical, social, managerial and governance issues in contemporary MSEs, from inclusion and welfare to corruption and sustainability. It examines the role of key stakeholders in the delivery of MSEs, including organising committees, sport governing bodies, governments, athletes, sponsors and broadcasters, as well as the role of activists and advocates, and presents historical and contemporary case studies of human rights as an active issue in MSEs. The book provides new perspectives on human rights as a lens for understanding modern sport and as a guiding principle for responsible sport that protects the interests of individuals and communities, as well as offering guidance on best practice.It is essential reading for all advanced students, researchers, practitioners, policymakers and stakeholders with an interest in organisation and delivery of MSEs, as well as general sport management, sport policy, sport governance, the ethics of sport, event management, political science, development studies, ethical business or the significance of sport in wider society.
Rugby, Resistance and Politics: How Dan Qeqe Helped Shape the History of Port Elizabeth
by Buntu SiwisaBuntu Swisa has written a vivid biography of Dan Qeqe, the legendary sportsman, powerbroker and pioneer of black rugby and the liberation of sport. His book examines the complex and questionable relationships that Qeqe had with the enemies of non-racial sport, which cemented his power base. Siwisa tells the story of Qeqe’s life and times and at the same time has written a social and political biography of Port Elizabeth—a people’s history of Port Elizabeth. As much as Qeqe was a local legend, his achievements had national repercussions and, indeed, continue to this day. Print editions not for sale in Sub Saharan Africa.
The Rule Book
by Sarah AdamsCollege exes break all the rules when they reunite years later in this enemies to lovers, second-chance romance, the highly anticipated companion novel to the TikTok sensation The Cheat Sheet—from the New York Times bestselling author of Practice Makes Perfect. <p><p> Nora Mackenzie’s entire career lies in the hands of famous NFL tight end Derek Pender, who also happens to be her extremely hot college ex-boyfriend. Nora didn’t end things as gracefully as she could have back then, and now it has come back to haunt her. Derek is her first client as an official full-time sports agent and he’s holding a grudge. <p><p> Derek has set his sights on a little friendly revenge. If Nora Mackenzie, the first girl to ever break his heart, wants to be his agent, oh, he’ll let her be his agent. The plan is simple: make Nora’s life absolutely miserable. But if Derek knows anything about the woman he once loved—she won’t quit easily. <p><p> Instead of giving in, Nora starts a scheme of her own. But then a wild night in Vegas leads to Nora and Derek in bed the next morning married. With their rule book out the window, could this new relationship save their careers or spark the romance of a lifetime? <p> <b>New York Times Bestseller</b>