"3 out of 5 stars, it was a cute/sweet novel but I didn't enjoy it as much as I could have. I mean the main characters..."

Read more of this review and TWO TEASERS here: http://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2011/08/made-grade-game-of-love-by-jea... ( )

2.5 stars

I've had this on my TBR list for a while, and was anxious to read because I'm always on the lookout for new, hot sports romance books.

While this did include two pro-athletes in a relationship, there was very little talk of actual sports (except the HS girls' tennis team, which bored me to tears), so if you're looking for that, you'll want to look elsewhere.

All in all, I thought this book was okay. It didn't blow me away, but found it a satisfactory read. I wasn't wowed by either the hero or the heroine. Brett, for all that he was big and beefy and hunky, he was a little bit of a meathead at first. And Chris, for all that she was the strong, empowered woman, she was a little bit of a cold-hearted bitch.

Besides not really warming to either of the MCs, there were parts of this book that just didn't work for me. Lots of things left unresolved or just weren't discussed at all (her relationship with her parents, his father's death, etc, etc). In all honesty, this read like the 2nd or 3rd book in a series, but this is a stand alone book. There wasn't enough world-building, and I felt lost a lot of the time because the author told us things like we should've already known the details.

So, this was somewhere between an ok read and me liking it. I'm rounding up because Brett was fond of calling her baby, and you all know that's my kryptonite. ( )

I struggled with the silly misunderstandings and lack of communication but still found this to be a well written romance. Despite both of them letting their paste rule their lives, I liked both Brett and Chris. ( )

THE GAME OF LOVE combines two pretty common romance formulas:

(1) Brett Wallace is a former NFL star, rich and smoking hot, who needs a woman who will love him for who he is - not the trappings of his fame.

(2) After spending years with an emotionally abusive boyfriend, Christina St. James needs a man who will give her kindness, support, and understanding - no matter how much she pushes him away.

Personally, I like books about pro athletes who are desperate for an authentic connection after their years in the spotlight. And THE GAME OF LOVE delivers on that theme...in a way. Brett was scarred by a gold-digging ex-wife but he's separated himself from the world of pro football. He's really a high school coach with some glory days to brag about. His world, his concerns, his priorities all revolve around his high school: getting his team a new scoreboard, winning Sectionals. He doesn't have any other pro friends, or even any ex-pro-friends. He has a big house and a fancy car but that's the extent of it.

I read these pro-athlete books partly because I like the excitement and tension that the world of professional athletics generates so easily. Drama and high stakes galore. High school football games just don't strike me the same way; besides, Brett is a former pro. Of COURSE his team wins all the time - he's way overqualified. No conflict there.

In fact, Brett's not a very conflicted guy, period. He's happy with his life. He's got a huge, supportive family, a job he loves, a boss he's friends with, and no angst at all about falling in love with Chris. He's ready to propose before they go out on their first real date. I'd describe his temperament as placid.

And placid is just what Chris needs. She's an emotional wreck. Her parents are cold and their love is highly conditional. She gets harassing phone calls regularly from her abusive ex, Dax. She thinks that all men are scum and, as predicted by 9 out of 10 psychiatrists, she models a lot of the behavior that she hates. Brett is warm and affectionate with her but she's cold and insulting towards him. The basic pattern of their relationship is that she tries to push him away, but he's really warm and understanding and never gets angry.

Personally, I don't like stories about mean, angry women and the sweet, long-suffering men who love them. It's not my thing, and I think that it meshes oddly with the pro-athlete plot. I don't usually picture pro football guys as long-suffering, placid betas, but that's basically what Brett is. So I think that this book is in danger of disappointing via false expectations; in any case, if I'd been more aware of how Christina's storyline would go, how she'd be perpetually ticked off and Brett would refer to her in his head as Man Hater and then go crawling back for more, I probably wouldn't have picked it up.

But all of my problems are personal taste. I found the plot a little predictable but that wouldn't have been a problem if I'd been on board for the ride. So if this sounds like a story you'd like, I say go for it. ( )

Requested on NetGalley by Me
Overall Rating 3.25
Story Rating 3.00
Character Rating 3.50

NOTE: This is a very cute, very fun little summer read that I am glad I picked to read. Grab a nice glass of tea, a comfy seat, and just enjoy!

What I Loved: The Game of Love featured Brett (former NFL Player) and Chris (former Tennis Pro). They were a perfect match for each other but had to get through their pasts and hangups first. I loved Brett's family first and foremost though. Anna, the mom, was fun, meddling, and knew exactly what her son needed (wasn't afraid to say it either). Brett's brothers were always a light of sunshine when on the page and their wives were great too. I loved Katie and Jared (Brett and Chris BFF's).

What I Liked: I really liked the idea of two pros turning into HS coaches just because they loved passing on the love of the games. It is a rare thing to love a character because of the passion they have for their professions. It really did make me like Chris and Brett more though.

Complaints: I thought the misunderstandings went on a little too long. I know it was due to both of their pasts but just felt like it got a bit daunting towards the end.

Why I gave it a 3.25: This was a fun little summer read that only had a little to much squabbling for my taste. It was perfect for hot summer afternoon of escaping the heat. Oh,I did love the ending though--it was too cute!