Christy Logan Stuart is a Southern transplant. Originally from Rochester, New York, she attends the nursing program at Vanderbilt University and falls in love with Tennessee. She also falls in love with Parker Stuart, an authentic Southern boy and the Commodores' place kicker. After graduation, Christy gets her first job at St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis. Parker realizes that he wants her back, three years after their breakup. He moves to Memphis and gets a job as a high school math teacher and football coach. Christy has always loved football, and is fascinated with Sarah Thomas, a female NFL referee. She has a crazy idea about becoming a football referee. She and Parker are living the happily ever after, and Parker wants to start a family. As much as she loves children, she fears pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood. It's just not for her. Her pregnancy fears began when her best friend, Erica, suffered a life-threatening pregnancy complication at age eighteen. PENALTY FLAG is about love, marriage, family, and motherhood, but also explores themes of racism and misogyny. It is the third book in the WHAT WE NEED TO SURVIVE trilogy.