The Game of Love
Jeanette MurrayContemporary romance
Available from Carina Press
ISBN: 9781426892127
August 2011
| Chris is looking to hide from her past as a professional tennis player and the arm candy of an NHL goalie. She's finished with a lifestyle that sapped her soul. Now she's a high school math teacher and tennis coach. Brett is a retired football player who moved back to his hometown and spends his time coaching the local high school football team. He's leery of most women because they just seem to be after his money and a brush with fame. When these two explosive personalities are forced to find a compromise for the spending of a donation to the athletic fund, sparks fly.
The Game of Love is a fun novel. It continues the trend of stories where the guy has a great, supportive, welcoming family and the woman's family is lacking. That's so sad, but it's used to explain why she doesn't immediately fall under Brett's spell. In this case, it also fuels the plot and makes the danger Chris faces at the end completely believable. So often, the ex-boyfriend as the bad guy angle comes out of nowhere. Ms. Murray did an excellent job building the tension and making it so that the final obstacle is an effective plot twist. Chris finds more than love, she finds a home and family. That's wonderful for her, a true happy ending. This is one of those novels that's hard to put down. The rhythm of the pace is comfortable, the character development is excellent, and the characters winnow their way into your heart. When the novel ends, it's hard to put it down and walk away from people who feel like they've become friends.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Clare |
