The Game of Love

Jul 29, 2011 Jill rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance

Debut

Brett Wallace is a retired professional football player. Christina St James is a retired professional tennis player. Both are now coaches in their respective sports at Northeastern High School. Brett is wary of relationships. He was burned once by his ex and dislikes females that fall at his feet when they learn he was a pro-footballer. He'd rather be attractive to the opposite sex for who he is rather than what he was. Chris has also be burned. Her ex-boyfriend was a former NHL player and...more

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Aug 29, 2011 Crystal ♥ RBtWBC rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: request-netgalley

Brett ‘The Wall’ Wallace is a retired NFL player who has returned to his home town to couch the Northeastern High School football team. Wary of women after him only because of his past career Brett is instantly intrigued by Chris who seems to want nothing to do with him.
Chris St. James is a retired pro tennis player who has just moved to town to couch the girl’s tennis team and teach high school math. Embarrassed and resentful of her pro past Chris hides it from everyone, and wanting nothing to...more Brett ‘The Wall’ Wallace is a retired NFL player who has returned to his home town to couch the Northeastern High School football team. Wary of women after him only because of his past career Brett is instantly intrigued by Chris who seems to want nothing to do with him.
Chris St. James is a retired pro tennis player who has just moved to town to couch the girl’s tennis team and teach high school math. Embarrassed and resentful of her pro past Chris hides it from everyone, and wanting nothing to do with pro anything Chris instantly forms a dislike for Brett.

The Game of Love was a fun, easy read with in interesting story about two people with totally different backgrounds but who are very similar to each other and have a passion for their sport of choice. These two, Chris and Brett, instantly clash. Both strong minded independent persons wary of the opposite sex for their own reasons. Brett, thanks to his ex-wife, has steered clear of women since his divorce. Fearful of what he terms ‘prohos’, women only after him for his past career of a pro football player. While Chris wants nothing to do with anyone from the pro’s because of her over bearing parents who pushed her into a pro career then condemned her for retiring and a psychotic ex boyfriend who is a pro hockey player. Sparks flew when these two meet up but they are continually at odds throughout the first half of the story. Chris is very standoffish and Brett, who get’s props for trying, usually ended up putting his foot in his mouth because of his arrogant attitude. Chris and Brett’s relationship built gradually and eventually while Chris’s background and the reasons for her poor attitude are slowly revealed; after several ups and downs they learn trust each other. There was a lot of sexual tension in the building process and though the sexual relief, so to say, was romantic it wasn’t intense. Brett’s family was a great addition to the story that I really enjoyed, they were fun and humorous. There was also a sub plot concerning Chris’s ex that added a nice twist to the story line.

The Game of Love was well written and well set-up, as well as realistic with some of the issues involved and the relationship development but the quibbling between the h/h went on a little too long and began to drag the story down. I also didn’t care for the heroine, Chris, at all. I don’t think her problems justified such a severe attitude. She was very quick to confrontation, rarely giving Brett or anyone a chance to explain or reason out their actions and even by the end when she redeemed herself somewhat I never warmed up to her. I did love Brett though; he was sweet, sexy and an all-around great guy.

Over all a good read that held my interest, I just couldn't get into the heroine.(less)

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Aug 16, 2011 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, sports_romance

Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads

Chris is a first time high school tennis coach, moving into her second year of teaching and trying her hardest to distance herself from her family and her past. After struggling in the pros as a tennis player, she never lived up to her parents expectations in anything and after taking enough hits to her confidence she starts doing for herself instead of trying to please everyone else. That includes breaking up with her controlling, emotionally abusive boy...more Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads

Chris is a first time high school tennis coach, moving into her second year of teaching and trying her hardest to distance herself from her family and her past. After struggling in the pros as a tennis player, she never lived up to her parents expectations in anything and after taking enough hits to her confidence she starts doing for herself instead of trying to please everyone else. That includes breaking up with her controlling, emotionally abusive boyfriend, a pro-hockey player. She’s looking forward to teaching and coaching teens and moving forward with her life until she runs into a road block, Brett.

Brett, a retired NFL player, is the head football coach at the local high school and the first night he meets Chris is also the night their banter/fighting/relationship begins. They initially clash over how funding is going to be used within the athletic department and when the Athletic Director makes them come up with a solution as to how the money should be split, they finally sit down to talk or else both would end up losing the funds altogether. Brett is divorced and not looking for love, at all. His ex-wife was with him for the fame and attention he received being in the NFL and everything fell apart for them when he retired. He realized just how horrible and shallow she really is and while he’s glad to be free of her, he’s incredibly weary of women in general and tries to figure out what Chris’s angle is, and if she’s just like all the others. He couldn’t be more wrong as their hate/love/hate/love relationship begins.

I love a couple that banters back and forth. It adds that extra spark in a new relationship and Brett realizes pretty quickly that chasing after Chris is turning out to be the most fun he’s had in ages, even if he ends up embarrassing himself and acting like a teen in love.

“Hey! How’s it going?”

She glanced at him, her eyes growing wide. Then they narrowed, and she kept jogging like he hadn’t said a word. Apparently he wasn’t forgiven for whatever heinous crime he’d committed…like having a penis.

They were such an easy couple to want together. Brett came to understand that Chris wasn’t the type of woman to be impressed with jewelry or fancy dinners, but rather when her girls first tennis match came and only parents were in the bleachers, Brett brought his football team over to pack the stands and support Chris and her team. Things like that made me fall a little more in love with Brett after each page.

Chris tried to be so strong on the outside and she is, she’s there for her team, she loves that she’s able to encourage them to have fun while still teaching them the fundamentals about tennis and winning, which was so different from her own teen years playing tennis. It’s the little things that she finds exciting and that Brett finds so endearing about her.

“I’m using this second toothbrush from the two-pack that’s already opened. Bonus points to you for actually having one in here. Ooo, floss!”

The high-pitched tone of her voice made it sound like the floss container was encrusted with diamonds. He almost laughed at how pleased and excited she was about his oral hygiene. She was having an oralgasm.

Of course, no road to happiness is easy and while I really did fall for Brett and Chris, I wish Chris would have come clean a little sooner about her past to Brett. I didn’t fully understand why she kept holding back, it’s very clear how devastating it is to her to have zero support from her family and an ex who makes her so nervous and angry she gets physically sick after listening to just his voice messages, but my one little issue was how long she held herself back. But Brett’s determined to make her see how good they can be together and doesn’t let up, even when outside forces try to interfere.

We get some fun scenes with Brett’s family, his brothers and all their sons, at their weekly brunch. Chris gets to see what a real family get-together is like and she doesn’t dare hope that she could ever be a part of something so wonderful when all she’s known is her own family who won’t support any of her decisions. Jared and Katie, a married couple who are also best friends with Brett and Chris, are a nice addition and add to the overall humor with their supportive ways in trying to get their friends together.

This was such a delightful contemporary romance – I was drawn into the story from the beginning and loved that it was centered around high school and how these two adults, while finding their own professional careers cut short, could find even more success and satisfaction not only with coaching at the school, but having each other there for support after wins/losses and in every other aspect of their lives. Very nice read and one I recommend to anyone who loves a sweet, funny romance.(less)

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Dec 14, 2012 Laura Ashlee rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, romance

This book was pretty good, but there were things that kept me from loving it. Maybe it’s partly because I just read The Perfect Play a couple of weeks ago. It’s hard to keep from comparing, especially when you’ve read two books so similar around the same time. There were things I liked and things I didn’t, so I’ll try to break it down like that.

I really liked Brett. He was funny and so sweet. He had such a big heart and he really showed it, even if Chris was too blind to see it sometimes. He car...more

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Jun 05, 2012 Laurie K rated it 5 of 5 stars

Christina St. James heads to a small town in New York state hoping to find a nice quiet life. After a brief pro tennis career and a high profile romance with a womanizing hockey player, Chris hopes to find her happiness as a high school tennis coach. Unfortunately, the high school she's hired on with has a football-first mentality. It's up to Chris to fight for equality for her girls. When the athletics director assigns donated money to the football team without considering anyone else, Chris ob...more

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Jan 18, 2012 KatiD rated it 1 of 5 stars

Former tennis star Chris St. James just wants her life to normalize. She's walked away from her pro career and has taken a job teaching and coaching the girls' tennis team at a small high school. Her first order of business is securing new tennis uniforms for her girls and planning a tournament to raise the team's profile. But first, she must get through Brett Wallace, former pro football player and coach of the boys' football team.

Brett enjoys his status as beloved local son, and his cushy job...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Felicia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read

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, meddli...more

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Sep 19, 2011 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, non-erotic

Originally posted at: http://longandshortreviews.blogspot.c...

The game of love, just like any other game, is a gamble. When two people have a history in the pro athletic world and have been burned, the last thing either needs is a new relationship. But here they are, meeting by chance, and despite what both want, Chris and Brett find playing the game of love could end up the best thing they've ever done.

Chris and Brett didn't hit it off right away. It takes time for her to warm up to this ex-NFL...more

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Sep 09, 2011 Madame X rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, vip-hero

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 thei...more 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. (less)

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Aug 31, 2011 Lady Lioness rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: genre-contemporary-romance, subgenre-sports, read-august-2011

So I have been without power since just after 9am on Sunday the 28th, thanks to Hurricane Irene. As a result, I am tired, cranky, and frustrated. All I want to do is yawn and glare at things. Don't expect great revelations from this review. Fair warning.

Anyways, I really liked this. I've been on a sports kick lately, and I went to another baseball game last night, so I was in the mood for something good. This is an ebook from Carina Press. The hero, Brett, is a former NFL star, now a high schoo...more So I have been without power since just after 9am on Sunday the 28th, thanks to Hurricane Irene. As a result, I am tired, cranky, and frustrated. All I want to do is yawn and glare at things. Don't expect great revelations from this review. Fair warning.

Anyways, I really liked this. I've been on a sports kick lately, and I went to another baseball game last night, so I was in the mood for something good. This is an ebook from Carina Press. The hero, Brett, is a former NFL star, now a high school football coach. Chris is the heroine and she is a former tennis pro, now the tennis coach & math teacher for the school (I think it's supposed to be a public school, but it reads like a private). The story is already unique for featuring two star athletes as protagonists.

Game of Love is not really about sports so much as it's about dealing with your past and the value sports can have. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm inclined to agree that sports often take precedence over the arts in high school, but that's not the point of this story. The point is that Chris is gun-shy after getting out of an abusive relationship with a NHL star. She's immediately inclined to think Brett's a misogynistic meathead. Rather than be turned off by her man-hating ways, Brett's intrigued because she's clearly not a 'pro-ho' and she's strong enough to stand up to him.

That, by the way, is the main reason I loved this book. I'm a strong-willed person and I need a guy who has the balls to tell me no. I broke up with my last boyfriend because he was too nice. I walked all over him. So to read about a hero who purposely sought out a strong woman? Hot. Add on the fact that Brett cares about his students and is willing to learn from his mistakes? Scorching.

Another sign of a good book is an immediate desire to seek out more by the author. While reading Game, I wanted to go read Jared's & Katie's story. Also, anything about Brett's brothers. Unfortunately, this seems to be the only book by the author. I wouldn't be surprised if Murray had the manuscripts in a drawer somewhere, but they were too raw for publication. Carina Press is intriguing me lately with its ability to sniff out strong contemporary authors.

In conclusion, I'm giving this a five star review because I felt it was a strong story that would appeal to a wide variety of contemporary readers. Also because it distracted me from my grumpiness for a while. It's not quite Holy Shit worthy, but I still highly rec it. Would appeal to fans of Shannon Stacey and Jaci Burton.(less)

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Aug 31, 2011 Maldivianbookreviewer rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, jeanette-murray, haunted-by-the-past-hero, haunted-by-the-past-heroine, commitment-phobic-hero, commitment-phobic-heroine, good-for-nothing-ex-boyfriend, good-for-nothing-ex-wife, divorced-hero, abused-heroine, against-the-wall-smexing, arcs, brooding-heroine, charming-hero, endearing-hero, endearing-heroine, explosive-passion, family-drama, fabulous-cover, favorite-alpha-heroes, favorite-endings, hot-as-sin-hero, hottest-first-kiss, hottest-sex-scenes-ever, netgalley-reads, possessive-hero, shower-smexing, small-town-setting, sizzling-sexual-tension, sports-theme, stalker-ex, tattoed-hero, unforgettable-hero

As most of you all already know, I am someone who loves a good contemporary romance. In fact, contemporary is my preferred genre and I would be one happy chick if authors continue to pen just straight old contemporary romances without the mystery, suspense or paranormal aspects in the mix. Don't get me wrong, I love reading a mix of all these genres from time to time, but still at heart I am a big fan of plain old contemporary romances when it comes down to it.

34 year old Brett Wallace is a reti...more

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Aug 20, 2011 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Full disclosure: I received this book as a free galley through netgalley.com. I did not receive any compensation, other than the pleasure of reading it!

Chris St. James is the smart, beautiful, sassy new tennis coach who crosses paths with Brett Wallace, the most-likely smart, hunky, laidback football coach on her first day at a new school. Both Chris and Brett are former professional athletes in their respective sports who have retired and become high school coaches and teachers. Thanks to some...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Dinjolina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, book-from-fav-author, favorites, hero-that-can-have-me-24-7, heroes-with-a-temper, lite-romace, out-of-this-world-revelations, romantic-suspense, superb-heroine, thers-a-bun-in-the-oven

Five stars,Dinjolina?

Yeah.Five stars. *rocks on the balls of her feet*

But, but...five stars to a cont. romance?

Mh-mmm.That about sums it up.

Five stars by you? But you are on a 3 to 4 star maximum almost always!

Well, the hell with you, mister! I LOVED this book! It had it all! A hunky ex football player...

They don't even have football in your country!

Ok, we do not have it. But it was the ball. That kind of ball, being held by a man? A man with a six pack? It is sexy. If the hero was a tennis play...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Cynthia D'Alba rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this debut book by Janette Murray. When I was in junior high and high school, we had some very attractive coaches, so it was no stretch on my part to picture Brett Wallace. Now I confess we didn't have a women's tennis team (that I was aware of) but we did have a men's tennis team but I only knew about that because I dated one of the tennis team. There were no uniforms, no stands for fans to watch the matches, etc so these elements of this story didn't seem that urgent to me, bu...more

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Jul 27, 2011 A Tasty Read/ Sweet Reads Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

** Taken from Atastyread.blogspot.com

Retired tennis pro, Chris St. James meets retired WR Brett Wallace and it is mutual dislike at first sight, well she dislikes him and he thinks she has hot legs. He shows her that all jocks aren't chauvinist pigs with his support for her tennis team and for her as a coach and she shows him that not all woman are pro ho's looking for a piece of the pie. But can she set aside her past and fall in love with another jock, or will the past show up and ruin a futur...more

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Jul 25, 2011 Sharon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, 2011-august-release, romance-sports

www.obsessionwithbooks.blogspot.com

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The Game of Love was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Carina Press.

The Game of Love, centers around 28 year old former pro tennis player Christina St James, and 34 year old former pro-footballer Brett 'The Wall' Wallace - both now sports coaches at Northeastern High.

Chris is beginning a new life in a small town, teaching Maths and coaching the girls tennis team whilst trying to avoid her past, her domineering parents and emotionall...more

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Sep 26, 2011 Deborah (LoveToReadRomance) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, reviewed

"Love is nothing in tennis. But in life, it's everything."
my favorite quote from the book!

From the back of the book...

Chris St. James is ready for normal. After walking away from her pro tennis career and a toxic relationship with a star hockey player, she's starting a new life as a teacher and tennis coach in a small town. Now all she needs is an average guy to share it with.

Brett Wallace is no average guy. Forced to retire from the NFL after an injury—and suddenly single after being dumped by...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Mary Catherine rated it 3 of 5 stars

Posted on Ordinary People, Extraordinary Works

Sports and romance. It's hard to find something wrong with that equation, especially when it looks like football is part of the story, but Jeanette Murray's THE GAME OF LOVE falls short on what could have been a brilliant romance.

Christina St. James - simply known as Chris - is a retired tennis pro who's just moved to a small town in hopes of escaping a past she finds embarrassing and shameful. She's the new coach for the local high school's women's...more Posted on Ordinary People, Extraordinary Works

Sports and romance. It's hard to find something wrong with that equation, especially when it looks like football is part of the story, but Jeanette Murray's THE GAME OF LOVE falls short on what could have been a brilliant romance.

Christina St. James - simply known as Chris - is a retired tennis pro who's just moved to a small town in hopes of escaping a past she finds embarrassing and shameful. She's the new coach for the local high school's women's tennis team and she wastes no time in speaking out against her fellow coaches, namely Brett Wallace. Once known as "The Wall" when he played for the NFL, Brett's back in his hometown after divorcing woman who seemed to only care about his money and fame. His first interactions with Chris aren't exactly the best - first, his football staff wolf-whistles at her; then, Chris lobbies against extra funds automatically being given to the football team for a scoreboard when her tennis girls need new uniforms more.

Thus begins a tale of two people clashing, which tends to be a popular plot line in romance.

As characters, Chris and Brett are normal if not a bit over-exaggerated with their attitudes toward pros and pro-hos, what Brett calls women like his ex-wife. However, it reads well on paper. The conversations and/or arguments between them are amusing and witty, with Brett realizing he's interested and Chris not wanting anything to do with him. It's not just their interactions with each other that made me like them though. Murray created relationships between different characters that helped round out personalities, something that isn't always seen in romances. Chris clearly cares for her team, working with them day in and day out, but one of my favorite scenes occurs outside of a team practice when a student seeks her out for help. In the same vein, Brett's relationship with his family is realistic and reminiscent of my own family gatherings. He loves his mother but becomes annoyed with her meddling like any son, and he tends to goof around whenever a brother is present.

The only big criticism or issue I had with the book, minus the not-as-smooth-as-I'd-have-liked writing, was that for brief periods of time, I wondered why Chris was being stupid. No, she didn't hit the too stupid to live mark but some of her choices or non-choices, as the case may be, are questionable and it annoyed me slightly as I was reading. Perhaps this is a testament to the author for making me care enough to become annoyed but I think it was more that there was never really a reason given for the character flaw. Chris has her secrets but we don't exactly know why she kept them that way, even after she and Brett started a relationship of sorts.

While THE GAME OF LOVE is, in short, a cute book with a bit of tension and anger, the writing didn't always seem to flow for me, which is what really jarred me out of my element while reading and what made it lose a few stars. The plot is sweet, with two seemingly different people realizing they have a lot more in common than expected. The characters, from the hero and heroine to the quirky best friends, from the rambunctious teenagers in search of guidance to the villain of Chris' ex-boyfriend, are solid for the most part. If Jeanette Murray were to write another romance, I'd give it a chance. While I wasn't completely enamored by this debut, I was far from hating it.(less)

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Oct 26, 2011 Tracy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-romance, sports-romance, netgalley, arc

~* 4.5 Stars *~
Fun, Feisty, Sweet, and Sexy
Former professional tennis player Christina St. James doesn't have an idyllic past. Raised by emotionally stunted and controlling parents who withheld love and demanded perfection from their less-than-perfect tennis-playing daughter, she was ripe pickings for the sort of emotionally abusive bastard that was her NHL star goalie ex-boyfriend. Getting away from him was one thing. Building herself back up into someone who could look herself in the mirror wi...more

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Aug 04, 2011 Ana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: z-read-in-2011, contemporary-romance, z-netgalley, sports-romance

Chris St. James is looking for a fresh start. She left her pro tennis career along with the emotionally abusive boyfriend. She found a new job as a teacher and a tennis coach. But her first day at her new job didn't go as planned. First she found out that all the donation money automatically goes to the football team (which is totally not fair) and when she lost her temper and complained it kinda make her look bad in front of her colleagues. And then there's Brett Wallace - a pro athlete that co...more

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Jul 29, 2011 Tigris Eden rated it 3 of 5 stars

Okay lets gets down to the nitty gritty of the book.

I liked this book, it had its moments of funny, sad, and just Oh my god he did not just say that. I was a bit leery in the beginning only because High school Football Coach vs. The High school Tennis Coach. I didn’t think it could work.

An unlikely situation puts two people together that would otherwise not have interacted with one another, at a closer glance.

They both played professional sports, Brett Pro Football and Chris Pro Tennis. She d...more Okay lets gets down to the nitty gritty of the book.

I liked this book, it had its moments of funny, sad, and just Oh my god he did not just say that. I was a bit leery in the beginning only because High school Football Coach vs. The High school Tennis Coach. I didn’t think it could work.

An unlikely situation puts two people together that would otherwise not have interacted with one another, at a closer glance.

They both played professional sports, Brett Pro Football and Chris Pro Tennis. She didn’t want her pro-status to be out in the open, where as the entire town knew of Brett’s status and at times I think he used that as a way to justify his behavior. There is a termed he labeled women due to a failed married. “Proho” Which I thought was funny but called appropriately. In that there are those types of real life situations. Brett didn’t want to be taken advantage of and I think with Chris ignoring him so hard in the beginning that is what set the sparks flying. She wasn’t what he was use to.

For Chris it was the opposite. Brett was exactly how she pictured an ex-pro athlete as his mouth continued to get him into trouble. For the longest time as I was reading I thought the two were never going to catch a break. They were constantly at odds, then there was just a moment where the two let their guard down and the relationship was able to grow.

There was Chris ex-boyfriend and professional Hockey player Dax that almost accomplished what he set out to do. He was the poster boy for JERK! Brett’s interaction with his family was close knit where as Chris was alienated by her parents as they wanted her to be in the spot light. They didn’t approve of her teaching High School Tennis. Her best friend Katie was married to Brett’s best friend Jared. I’m not sure if there is a story prior to Chris and Brett’s, but those two were a couple that played an integral part in Chris and Brett’s relationship.

There was some sexual tension in the book, and the sex scene’s although not intense were romantic. There are even a very funny moment where Brett’s brother meets Chris in a not so hot moment. The chemistry between the two couple’s were good, there were some very funny moments and some very intense moments.

The plot was good, slow at first but once you got through both the character’s barriers it was easy reading. I gave this book three stars on GoodReads.
(less)

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Sep 20, 2012 Samantha Sullivan rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Game of Love has got to be one of my new favorite contemporary romances. The story was such a treat. It was funny, flirtatious, passionate, and every romantic moment in the book had me wanting more.

The story is about Chris St. James and Brett Wallace. They are both starting off from bad places—Chris had just broken off her bad relationship with a hockey player, who she had had enough of. Brett used to be in the NFL but had to leave due to being injured. His wife divorced him because she had...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Erika Badass rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: aug-2011-release, contemp-sports-romance, kindle, netgalley, own-but-not-read-yet

This is a time I wish for half stars. This is a 3.5 star book. I liked it -- a lot-- but not enough for four stars.

Grade: B

Mostly because of the mis-communications, little omissions, and just plain stubborness of both Brent Wallace and Chris(tine) St. James.

Ex-Pro Football Star Brent Wallace has practically sworn off women after he learns his wife was only with him for the fame and fortune. She obviously didn't take her vows very seriously...for richer or richer should have been her spoken word...more This is a time I wish for half stars. This is a 3.5 star book. I liked it -- a lot-- but not enough for four stars.

Grade: B

Mostly because of the mis-communications, little omissions, and just plain stubborness of both Brent Wallace and Chris(tine) St. James.

Ex-Pro Football Star Brent Wallace has practically sworn off women after he learns his wife was only with him for the fame and fortune. She obviously didn't take her vows very seriously...for richer or richer should have been her spoken words... So now he is weary of others motivations. He is now a high school football coach, doing what he loves.

Christine St. James is a Former Pro Tennis player who is hiding out. She's hiding from her ex, her parents and her shame. After accepting a teaching position and coaching position she is starting to finally feel good about herself, and her decisions. She's 28 years old, and never really lived life according to herself. She always worked to please her parents, her coaches and fans. Her life was a constant pressure cooker. Her top finally blew.

I know some people won't like Chris, and others won't like Brent. I liked them together. Sure, more often than not Chris acted like an ice princess and Brent acted like a superstar jackass, they both had legitimate trust issues and quite frankly I am amazed at Chris's parents. I really, really hated them in this novel. They are vile people. In contrast, Brent's family was fantastic. They obviously love each other, and he grew up much different than Chris.

Any parent who tells their child that they are lying when they confide that their significant other is abusive (because he is rich, powerful and 'successful' in the pro's) My momma bear was all up on her hind legs ready to do battle with those feckers. They actually told her to go back to him and that she--in effect-- was worthless without a pro husband.

Brent and Chris have power struggles, and are both stubborn and insecure. Chris kept secrets from Brent that come back to bite her in the ass, and she pays for her omissions.

Overall, it was a nice afternoon read, and the characters kept me interested. There is a small plot revolving around Chris's crazy Ex.

ARC provided by Netgalley and Carina Press :)(less)

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Jun 20, 2012 Tina "coffee and books" rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-romance, reviewed

Chris St. James, tennis pro, is tired of being the target of her parents and ex's disappointment. She's never been good enough at anything for either of them and they have never hesitated to list in detail her many shortcomings. When her ex, an emotionally unstable hockey player, starts setting off warning signals she decides to move away. As luck would have it, she gets a job coaching tennis. This is exactly what she needs. She loves her job mentoring and bringing out the best in these young hi...more Chris St. James, tennis pro, is tired of being the target of her parents and ex's disappointment. She's never been good enough at anything for either of them and they have never hesitated to list in detail her many shortcomings. When her ex, an emotionally unstable hockey player, starts setting off warning signals she decides to move away. As luck would have it, she gets a job coaching tennis. This is exactly what she needs. She loves her job mentoring and bringing out the best in these young high school girls, she is away from "pro" players, which she has sworn off and doesn't trust at all.

Brett Wallace had his football career cut short due to an off field injury. This is fine by him. He would have retired in just a couple of years anyways. His wife left him when his career ended, but he's healing from that as long as he stays away from "pro-ho's". This is his name for women who only want to date pro athletes to get themselves in the public eye. He is coaching high school football in his old hometown and life is good.

A donation has been made to the high schools athletic department. Brett and Chris find theirselves competing for this money. The athletic director creatively puts the decision in their hands. He tells them they have to find a way to agree on who gets the money and how it is divided or all of the money goes to the "fall teams".

This is where the story gets so predictable. They fight over the money, they come to an agreement, they fall for each other, Chris hides her ex and her fears from Brett because she's embarassed of her bad choices with men, Brett holds on to his hatred and distrust of anyone he deems a "pro-ho". Of course, it comes out about the ex, Brett finds out about her past and assumes she is exactly what he has been avoiding. They fight, break up and eventually work it out for the HEA.

PROS:

This is an okay read. There is some witty banter to keep you entertained. It would be perfect for a beach day.

CONS:

So predictable. I could totally have stopped midway through the book and still described what was happening and going to happen. The characters were okay. Chris got on my nerves a bit. She played the whole "I hate and won't date a pro player ever again" game for too long. How can you admit you really like a person, hang out with them and enjoy their witt and company, yet hold what job they are retired from against them? Just not realistic.(less)

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May 18, 2013 Lynn Aoude rated it 2 of 5 stars

The plot was meh. The high point not much of a wow. Loved Brett. He was fun, real, considerate, loving. But seriously the guy is a grade-A masochist. Why he put up with Chris's crap, I have no idea. She's so not worth it. She's a cold-hearted, stereotyping, judgmental, venomous bitch, especially at the beginning. Sure, she got burned by a pro-athlete, so she becomes a man hater, specifically if he's an athlete of any kind. That's just sad. And frankly I find her a sad excuse of a woman. What's m...more

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Sep 12, 2011 Brie C. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

Contemporary Romance is my all-time favorite genre, which means that I’m always on the lookout for new authors. Jeanette Murray is my newest find, when I saw this book on Netgalley it looked like it would be an enjoyable read and so I requested (besides, the cover was very appealing). The book was pretty much what I expected and despite having some issues here and there I enjoyed it very much and I’m looking forward to read Jeanette’s future books.

Ou...more Originally posted at Romance Around the Corner

Contemporary Romance is my all-time favorite genre, which means that I’m always on the lookout for new authors. Jeanette Murray is my newest find, when I saw this book on Netgalley it looked like it would be an enjoyable read and so I requested (besides, the cover was very appealing). The book was pretty much what I expected and despite having some issues here and there I enjoyed it very much and I’m looking forward to read Jeanette’s future books.

Our heroine is Chris St. James. She used to be a pro tennis player but she walked away from it because she wasn’t happy anymore. But tennis wasn’t all she left behind, she also dumped his abusive boyfriend (a NHL player) and put some distance between herself and her overbearing parents. Now she is about to start her new life teaching and coaching tennis at a local High School. When school is about to start she meets Brett Wallace, he is the town’s golden boy and the school’s football coach, he also happens to be a former NFL player. At first they collide over how to use the money from a donation (he wants a new scoreboard, she wants new uniforms for her team) and also because they both have serious misconceptions about each other, but there’s an unmistakable attraction between them and they will have to fight their issues to find a way to be together.

At first I was a bit unsure about the characters. Brett didn’t cause a better first impression on me than he did on Chris, he came across a bit assholish and I thought that I was going to have to suffer him throughout the entire book. But he was far from that, he was a sweet guy who was badly hurt by an ex-wife who married him for his money. But he was a gentleman and he fell hard and fast for Chris.

Chris was your typical contemporary romance heroine. She was hiding a lot of insecurities and pain behind a tough façade but she really was a nice, hardworking woman looking for happiness and a normal life. She was reticent to accept Brett’s advances because she had a terrible experience with her ex-boyfriend and saw someone similar in Brett, but instead, she got someone who wanted her just like she was, someone who cherished and respected her.

Brett comes from a big family and the scenes with his brothers were hilarious. The family dynamics was fantastic and my favorite part of the book. I was actually disappointed to see that all the brothers were happily married because they would have made great heroes, but maybe we will get some prequels where we get to see how each one of them got their happily ever after.

It was also interesting to see how Brett and Chris were alike in some aspects, like being pro athletes and their bad luck in love, but very different in others, their families being the main one. Brett’s family was big and loving and very tight whereas Chris’ was the opposite, her parents were cold and more interested in her career than her happiness. It was an interesting contrast between them.

Another thing that I liked about the book was that Brett and Chris jumped into the relationship with both feet. Yes they were somewhat traumatized by previous experiences but they were able to see that what they had between them was different and special, and this is the reason why I was so annoyed by the “big misunderstanding”. I’m not sure why there’s a need to add some drama in these stories because I think that a book about two people falling in love and developing a relationship is good enough without the external problem. In this case Chris’ ex comes back and wreaks havoc, and Brett falls for it hook, line and sinker. That annoyed me a lot because I found it completely unnecessary and the worst part was that he dealt with it in a very assholish way, so we ended up as we started. There’s a HEA and it was a nice ending but I couldn’t get rid of the bad aftertaste.

Overall this is a sweet story, with interesting and likeable characters, fun situations and very steamy. I enjoyed a lot and I think you will too, the ending didn’t ruin the book for me but I could have done without. This was the perfect beach read and a good contemporary romance. As I said before, I’m looking forward to reading more from Jeanette.

Note: ARC provided by NetGalley for review purposes.(less)

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Aug 08, 2011 Kate rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I give it a 3.5 on 5

Chris St James has a difficult childhood. She doesn't get along with her parents and they never support her choices. When she broke up with her boyfriend, Dax, her parents were disappointed. Chris St James used to be a professional tennis player. Brett Wallace used to be a NFL football player. Both of them are coaches at the same school. Chris thinks that every male who is a pro athlete is a jerk because of her ex-boyfriend, Dax.

The book starts off with Brett and Chris wanti...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Fani rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-netgalley-to-review, romance-contemporary, smexin-hot, hero-is-besotted, hero-is-good-man, heroine-i-disliked, heroine-i-wanna-shake-or-slap, heroine-is-stupid, secrets-and-misunderstandings, waste-of-time, athlete-actor-celebrity, what-does-he-see-in-her, questions-my-intelligence, heroine-is-cold-hearted

2.5 stars

Well, I have to say that the first half of the book was more than good; I'd say it was a solid 4 stars, even if the heroine was so stiff and rude that she already grated my nerves. It was witty, fast paced, well written and had a yummy, gentle but also very sexy hero that compensated for the lack of charm in the heroine's part.

Brett is an ex pro-athlete and current football coach in the high school where Chris(=Christina) comes to work as a tennis coach. What Brett doesn't know, is tha...more 2.5 stars

Well, I have to say that the first half of the book was more than good; I'd say it was a solid 4 stars, even if the heroine was so stiff and rude that she already grated my nerves. It was witty, fast paced, well written and had a yummy, gentle but also very sexy hero that compensated for the lack of charm in the heroine's part.

Brett is an ex pro-athlete and current football coach in the high school where Chris(=Christina) comes to work as a tennis coach. What Brett doesn't know, is that Chris was also a pro tennis player and used to date a pro hockey player herself, before she left everything and everyone and decided to work as a tennis coach. Brett is initially impressed that Chris is not awed by his pro-athlete status and big bucks, and that makes him want him all the more. But Chris has just come out of an abusive relationship with the afore-mentioned hockey player and is seriously prejudiced where pro athletes come from, so she's less than receptive to Brett's efforts to court her. Soon though, it becomes obvious that Brett is different from Dax; he's good natured and generous and kind, and as he's also very handsome, it doesn't get long to give in to his attentions.

And that is when my dislike for her, really blew out of proportion:) Till then, I had to read through a few scenes where she was simply rude to his kindness and he, besotted with her long legs that he was, decided to take it as a joke and laugh. So far, she had pushed him with the door of her car and he'd fallen on his butt, thrown iced coffee on his face and generally talked him down, just because "all pro athletes are stupid, self-centered jocks", herself excluded of course. Can it get worse? YES, IT CAN. Their making out starts when at a picnic she throws first garlic bread and then a whole plate of spaggeti and meatballs on him, just for fun. Fun??? This was fun when we were seven years old, not twenty seven! And then he jumps on her and starts liking the sauce and salad and pasta from her, while also kissing and fondling her of course, which makes it one of the most gross make-out scenes I've read about only to get worse: he gets her pants -I repeat PANTS- off, only to find out she wears no underwear! And her excuse is that "hey, I thought I was going out with my girlfriend for coffee, not a date so I'd put on my sexy underwear." Really? Is that the only reason women wear underwear? Stupid me, I thought it was for hugiene reasons first and foremost. And after their sex-fest, when they sit on bed and eat some pizza -where the hero's impressed that she eats four whole pieces of pizza (really? is 4 pieces of pizza too much? I must be a pig myself)- she proceeds to wipe her chin with the T-shirt (his T-shirt mind you) she's wearing. Cute, right? WRONG. Lack of respect for self hygiene is not cute, nor tomboyish and definitely not sexy. Add to that her belief that "the food in restaurants nicer than Texas Roadhouse starts smelling like feet anyway", meant to show how indiferrent to money she is, and she's gained a position in my least favorite heroines shelf.

As if her prejudice and rudeness were not enough, there's also her inability to confess the truth to him about her past with excuses like "I don't want people here knowing about my failures", where the failure is not being in the first top twenty tennis players in the world ratings and dating a famous, wealthy but admittedly very stupid jock and I wanted to bang her head in a wall.

So, in the end I admit I didn't even enjoy this book. I spent too much time being angry at the heroine to be able to do that. Yummy as the hero was and crisp and witty the writing, it touched too many pet peeves of mine. If however you don't share any of my indignations above, then this is a book you'll probably like, since the basic plot is fun and sexy.

ARC provided by NetGalley(less)

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Aug 15, 2011 Becca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-s, books-read-in-2011, contemporary-romance, netgalley, romance, sports-romance

After Chris retires from pro tennis all she wants to do is start fresh with her new career as a teacher and tennis coach at a high school. She wants to avoid pro athletes at all costs because she has been hurt by their egos before. But when she arrives at her school and sees how football is running everything she instantly takes a dislike to their coach and to add insult to injury he is a retired pro football player. Chris and Brett start off with an equally antagonistic relationship. Chris does...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Judith rated it 4 of 5 stars

A very readable novel involving two former pro athletes who find themselves alone in their personal lives and locking horns as they spar for resources for their respective teams. In addition, they are dealing with an attraction that just seems to grow, but even after they begin their affair, their difficulties on and off the field don't go away. Ms Murray is a new author for me, and I am impressed with her talent and skill as displayed in this novel. I appreciate that she kept the adversarial ba...more

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