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Het is drie jaar geleden dat publiekslieveling Astrid ‘The Face’ Wolfe de tenniswereld de rug toekeerde. En het is drie jaar geleden dat ze meervoudig kampioen Tim Starbuck zonder enige uitleg verliet om Lady Wickerton te worden. Nu is ze terug, en het publiek verwelkomt haar come-back met open armen - evenals Tim. Hij maakt haar meer dan duidelijk dat het tussen hen nog niet is afgelopen. Wat is er eigenlijk gebeurd, die drie jaar geleden? En kunnen ze daarover praten zonder alles opnieuw kapot te maken?
254 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1984
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1201 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,213 books59.9k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
April 25, 2019
I’m a fan of Nora Roberts. But even I have to admit that her category romances are not as good as her longer books. Some of them are really tendentious and old-school. Fortunately, Opposite Attraction is pretty good for her shorter ones.
I have a soft spot for second chance romance and this is what we’ve got here. To be totally honest the plot is not really remarkable or excessively inventive but it’s acceptable. I haven’t rolled my eyes time after time like I do while reading some other category romances (NR included).
Ty and Asher may not be the most fascinating and complex characters, but they are not paper-thin or unlikeable. They make an interesting couple based in the opposite attraction mentioned in the title. The reason behind their break up is not my favourite and I’m not totally convinced about its rationality. However, let’s be honest, we all know much worse ones.
I’ve chosen this story as my travel book and it is okay as such. It is short and easy to follow while you are distracted by the surrounding. I’m not a tennis fan, so I can’t say if this aspect of the book is accurate but to me two professional tennis players as the MC is a pretty refreshing idea.
I have a soft spot for second chance romance and this is what we’ve got here. To be totally honest the plot is not really remarkable or excessively inventive but it’s acceptable. I haven’t rolled my eyes time after time like I do while reading some other category romances (NR included).
Ty and Asher may not be the most fascinating and complex characters, but they are not paper-thin or unlikeable. They make an interesting couple based in the opposite attraction mentioned in the title. The reason behind their break up is not my favourite and I’m not totally convinced about its rationality. However, let’s be honest, we all know much worse ones.
I’ve chosen this story as my travel book and it is okay as such. It is short and easy to follow while you are distracted by the surrounding. I’m not a tennis fan, so I can’t say if this aspect of the book is accurate but to me two professional tennis players as the MC is a pretty refreshing idea.
May 23, 2019
I was not very impressed by this one .... H and h meet are tennis players and had a raging affair ... h left and married OM. When the book starts she is back on the tennis circuit and connects with the H ..
To me this h was one insecure mess ... she had issues and more issues, she was taken advantage of by the nasty OM, fooled by H's sister and abandoned by her father who should have known his child better ...
She also deserved an apology from the H for not listening to her explanations and she should have won the Grand Slam title .... the author didn't do justice to h's character here ... H was in a rage and won the title while emotionally overwrought h lost ... there was nothing to say h was going to compete and win the next year ... I felt by next year she was going to be pregnant and barefoot ...
And H's sister needed the boot; she was spoilt and had a 'poor person, rich person' complex against the h so decided to play God with her brother's relationship, deliberately sabotaging it ... and then with minimum effort she had a husband who loved her and a kid ... her mother doesn't tell her off and H forgives her so easily ....
I am going with 1.5 stars only ...
To me this h was one insecure mess ... she had issues and more issues, she was taken advantage of by the nasty OM, fooled by H's sister and abandoned by her father who should have known his child better ...
She also deserved an apology from the H for not listening to her explanations and she should have won the Grand Slam title .... the author didn't do justice to h's character here ... H was in a rage and won the title while emotionally overwrought h lost ... there was nothing to say h was going to compete and win the next year ... I felt by next year she was going to be pregnant and barefoot ...
And H's sister needed the boot; she was spoilt and had a 'poor person, rich person' complex against the h so decided to play God with her brother's relationship, deliberately sabotaging it ... and then with minimum effort she had a husband who loved her and a kid ... her mother doesn't tell her off and H forgives her so easily ....
I am going with 1.5 stars only ...
April 3, 2018
If you are a big fan of tennis, then you will probably love Opposites Attract. This throwback is filled with tennis terminology and tennis matches. I'm not a tennis fan, so I found those parts of the book a bit tedious and skimmed most of them. Without them, the book would probably be more of a novella length, so they were probably added for filler.
Aside from those portions, this is an angsty second chance romance with a sweet ending. A lot of the angst was due to miscommunication that I found frustrating. There were a couple of things that I found annoying, but they are kind of nitpicky. To me, Asher is not a girl name. It's a boy name, so that kept throwing me off as I kept picturing a man. And every time I heard Ty referred to as "Starbuck", I would picture the character from Battlestar Galactica. Authors really need to think through their name choices. It's not a bad read, but it's not one of her best throwbacks.
Aside from those portions, this is an angsty second chance romance with a sweet ending. A lot of the angst was due to miscommunication that I found frustrating. There were a couple of things that I found annoying, but they are kind of nitpicky. To me, Asher is not a girl name. It's a boy name, so that kept throwing me off as I kept picturing a man. And every time I heard Ty referred to as "Starbuck", I would picture the character from Battlestar Galactica. Authors really need to think through their name choices. It's not a bad read, but it's not one of her best throwbacks.
May 9, 2017
After rereading it: I despise Jess. If I were Ty, I wouldn't forgive her for what she did. Ever.
--
It's like watching crappy Indonesian sinetron. The female protagonist has this tendency to victimize herself. I gave this two stars because I like the male protagonist much better.
--
It's like watching crappy Indonesian sinetron. The female protagonist has this tendency to victimize herself. I gave this two stars because I like the male protagonist much better.
October 25, 2016
3.5 stars
October 26, 2017
The lack of knowledge and correct details about tennis in a book where it's a large part of the story was v frustrating.
May 22, 2022
This is an old book but I was amazed by the man forcing himself on the woman, and it being OK. We’ve come a long way.
January 10, 2022
I am not a fan of this genre and this book solidified it. To be fair, I am not a tennis fan either, so no wonder my rating is low.
May 31, 2013
Campur tangan Jess Starbuck, adik petenis pria terkenal Ty Starbuck, tiga tahun silam, terhadap hubungan Ty dengan Asher Wolfe, yang juga seorang petenis, mengakibatkan penderitaan dalam hidup keduanya. Asher memutuskan pergi dari kehidupan Ty, dan menikah dengan seorang bangsawan Inggris, Lord Erick Wickerton. Sebuah keputusan yang meyebabkan Asher kehilangan cinta ayahnya, karena Asher meninggalkan karirnya sebagai petenis profesional yang sedang menanjak.
Tiga tahun kemudian selepas perceraiannya dengan Erick, Asher memutuskan untuk kembali ke dunia tenis pro. Dan bertemu kembali dengan Ty, semakin menmbuatnya menyadari bahwa selama ini ia tak pernah berhenti mencintai pria tersebut. Begitupun Ty, yang meskipun sempat hancur karena 'pengkhianatan' Asher, ternyata dia pun masih mencintai Asher.
Seiring dengan kemenangan yg mereka raih dalam hampir setiap pertandingan, hubungan keduanya pun mulai bersemi lagi. Sayangnya, disaat-saat penting, Erick kembali mengganggu Asher.
Jadi bagaimanakah kelanjutan hubungan Asher dan Ty? Akankah Erick berhasil merusak hubungan mereka kembali?
Buku ini kubaca ulang beberapa hari lalu, dalam rangka ikut challenge, hanya dalam waktu setengah hari aja. Kebetulan, hari itu kantor bener-bener sepi, jadi bisa baca, hehe..
Dalam novel ini, aku merasa sangat simpati pada Asher. Dibalik topeng dingin dan terkendali pada penampilannya, sebenarnya dia adalah sosok yang rapuh. Aku juga sebal dan kesal sekali sama Jess, adik Ty itu. Minta dilempar rupanya, grr...
Oiya, berkat novel ini, aku jadi makin lebih tahu tentang dunia tenis. Inget jaman sekolah, tiap pelajaran olahraga dan harus ikut latihan, ga ngerti sama sekali soal sistem nilai dsb. Heheh..
Tiga tahun kemudian selepas perceraiannya dengan Erick, Asher memutuskan untuk kembali ke dunia tenis pro. Dan bertemu kembali dengan Ty, semakin menmbuatnya menyadari bahwa selama ini ia tak pernah berhenti mencintai pria tersebut. Begitupun Ty, yang meskipun sempat hancur karena 'pengkhianatan' Asher, ternyata dia pun masih mencintai Asher.
Seiring dengan kemenangan yg mereka raih dalam hampir setiap pertandingan, hubungan keduanya pun mulai bersemi lagi. Sayangnya, disaat-saat penting, Erick kembali mengganggu Asher.
Jadi bagaimanakah kelanjutan hubungan Asher dan Ty? Akankah Erick berhasil merusak hubungan mereka kembali?
Buku ini kubaca ulang beberapa hari lalu, dalam rangka ikut challenge, hanya dalam waktu setengah hari aja. Kebetulan, hari itu kantor bener-bener sepi, jadi bisa baca, hehe..
Dalam novel ini, aku merasa sangat simpati pada Asher. Dibalik topeng dingin dan terkendali pada penampilannya, sebenarnya dia adalah sosok yang rapuh. Aku juga sebal dan kesal sekali sama Jess, adik Ty itu. Minta dilempar rupanya, grr...
Oiya, berkat novel ini, aku jadi makin lebih tahu tentang dunia tenis. Inget jaman sekolah, tiap pelajaran olahraga dan harus ikut latihan, ga ngerti sama sekali soal sistem nilai dsb. Heheh..
April 22, 2017
This is typical Harlequin angst with an atypical setting - the world of tennis. Asher left Ty 3 years ago, quite suddenly and married someone else. After she divorces the other guy, she heads back to the game of tennis and back to Ty as well. The characters were great, the angst was nearly painful before the end and I was highly entertained. I have to complain about unrealistic behavior on the part of the Hero. He abandons his plans for revenge and anger quite early, but he allows the heroine to escape explanations for way too long. He tells himself he's giving her time, but when the woman he loves walks in to his life after having left him suddenly and married another without an explanation it seems completely unreal to me that he doesn't demand and do everything he can for a explanation. And he forgives her far too quickly without having had that explanation. Very unrealistic in that respect.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2010
In life, there would always be this one man who always have a capacity to touch your inner soul, always at the periphery of your heart and mind even if many years have already came to pass... you would still remember the times you were together as if it just happened yesterday...
September 16, 2014
The tennis in this is terrible. (Seven set matches, what.) And the angst didn't work all that well for me, but I'm putting that down to mood, because there is some great melodrama in it. Should have saved it for a time when I wanted to roll around and wallow in angst.
July 27, 2016
Update 2016
kadang saya bertanya-tanya bagaimana NR bisa menelurkan sekian buku setiap tahun dan tetap menghasilkan buku-buku yang berkualitas...
dan ia selalu menemukan profesi-profesi menarik bagi tokoh-tokohnya.
--------------------
First read : 2003
kadang saya bertanya-tanya bagaimana NR bisa menelurkan sekian buku setiap tahun dan tetap menghasilkan buku-buku yang berkualitas...
dan ia selalu menemukan profesi-profesi menarik bagi tokoh-tokohnya.
--------------------
First read : 2003
November 29, 2012
It felt unfinished. The drama seems exaggerated. Asher's attitude isn't likeable.
September 25, 2018
A lot on tennis lingo that I didn’t really understand and the book was a bit predictable but did have a good twist at the end, a quick read.
February 19, 2020
Super easy read, totally a trashy romance novel.
July 25, 2021
to be honest this was more raunch than story line or characterisation
December 14, 2025
You can tell this book is old as hell
April 5, 2018
Prior to reading this book (and most other books), I read the reviews here on Goodreads. Two of the biggest complains I’ve read are: 1) Too much technical tennis jargon and 2) Asher is a male name.
I hate to point out the flaws in those reviews, but, you guys. It’s a book about tennis, so it better have some jargon, otherwise it would be ripped to shreds for being about tennis but knowing nothing about tennis. And “Asher is a male name?” I don’t really even want to go into how I feel about that one, other than that, a name is a name, and it’s the author’s choice to assign the name as they see fit. If it bothers you? Don’t keep reading. Pretty much from page 3 I figured, okay, Ty = male protagonist, Asher = female protagonist. No further reading required, so if I didn’t like the author’s choice, I could choose not to continue on with the book. Or, just refer to her in your head as Ash. PROBLEM SOLVED.
Okay, off the soap box, and now time for my actual review:
At about 8% in, I had that feeling I had read this one before. When I first discovered Nora at 11 or 12, I read through so many of her books, but, like any young, unprepared reader in the late 90s, I did not keep track of precisely what I was reading. (Side note: What would I have done with Goodreads then, and how different would the way I read be? I wonder if we all think this way, or if it’s just me that daydreams about these things.) And, because I read so much, sometimes things get jumbled and mixed up. But this one did seem familiar. As I kept reading, the feeling stayed, but I was enjoying the book so much, I didn’t really care.
The fact that I knew little about tennis didn’t take anything away from this novel, it only added to my understanding of the characters and their emotions. It’s important to know who the characters are, apart from each other.
And then, the conflict reason was made known. And I knew without a doubt, I have read this one before, because it’s one I think about all the time, as I read romance novels, as I consider writing my own at times. Because it’s a good one, and it was heartbreaking, and you instantly know and feel for this character. It was my first brush with true heartbreak in a novel, the kind that punches you in the gut and makes you yearn and feel as a reader. It’s just so solid, and I was so glad that this novel found its way back into my life, because now I can buy, and keep it, and re-read it whenever I want to feel these feelings all over again.
Are the protagonists perfect? Nope, not in the slightest. But their romance feels that way to me, and, ultimately, that’s what we want in a romance novel. We want the gut wrench, we want to tears, and we want the joy.
I’m so glad this novel made its way back into my life.
I hate to point out the flaws in those reviews, but, you guys. It’s a book about tennis, so it better have some jargon, otherwise it would be ripped to shreds for being about tennis but knowing nothing about tennis. And “Asher is a male name?” I don’t really even want to go into how I feel about that one, other than that, a name is a name, and it’s the author’s choice to assign the name as they see fit. If it bothers you? Don’t keep reading. Pretty much from page 3 I figured, okay, Ty = male protagonist, Asher = female protagonist. No further reading required, so if I didn’t like the author’s choice, I could choose not to continue on with the book. Or, just refer to her in your head as Ash. PROBLEM SOLVED.
Okay, off the soap box, and now time for my actual review:
At about 8% in, I had that feeling I had read this one before. When I first discovered Nora at 11 or 12, I read through so many of her books, but, like any young, unprepared reader in the late 90s, I did not keep track of precisely what I was reading. (Side note: What would I have done with Goodreads then, and how different would the way I read be? I wonder if we all think this way, or if it’s just me that daydreams about these things.) And, because I read so much, sometimes things get jumbled and mixed up. But this one did seem familiar. As I kept reading, the feeling stayed, but I was enjoying the book so much, I didn’t really care.
The fact that I knew little about tennis didn’t take anything away from this novel, it only added to my understanding of the characters and their emotions. It’s important to know who the characters are, apart from each other.
And then, the conflict reason was made known. And I knew without a doubt, I have read this one before, because it’s one I think about all the time, as I read romance novels, as I consider writing my own at times. Because it’s a good one, and it was heartbreaking, and you instantly know and feel for this character. It was my first brush with true heartbreak in a novel, the kind that punches you in the gut and makes you yearn and feel as a reader. It’s just so solid, and I was so glad that this novel found its way back into my life, because now I can buy, and keep it, and re-read it whenever I want to feel these feelings all over again.
Are the protagonists perfect? Nope, not in the slightest. But their romance feels that way to me, and, ultimately, that’s what we want in a romance novel. We want the gut wrench, we want to tears, and we want the joy.
I’m so glad this novel made its way back into my life.
December 28, 2016
Stars: 4.5 / 5
Recommendation: You want tennis? You got it. You want romance? You got it. You want drama? You got it. You want vengeance, blood and winning? You got. All in one plot. Enjoy!!!
August 29th marked the start of US Open Tennis Tournament. It happens in Flushing, NY which is very close to where I live and yet hadn't had an opportunity to go. This year I was looking forward to go, but with all the top-seeded players in both Male and Female categories being knocked out sooner, demotivated me to go. Perhaps next year then.
To commemorate this day I am picking this romantic novel by Nora Roberts that mixes business with pleasure. Opposites Attract was first published in November of 1984 as part of the Silhouette Special Edition Series (#199). The plot revolves around two Tennis Superstars - Asher Wolfe and Ty Starbuck - involving romance, determination, misunderstandings, reconciliation, forgiveness and ultimate winners at both love and game.
After a three year sabbatical Asher Wolfe is back in the circuit of the U. S. Indoor Tennis Championship. She had steadily avoided following anything about Tennis and specially about Ty Starbuck. But now she is again back on the circuit back at the same place giving her undivided admiration watching him play - something that she had towards him for more than ten years. Ty had the strength, agility and form when on court making him still the leading player in the sport. And what Asher noticed that nothing has changed the way Ty played the game, but there was something that still changed in him that she couldn't put a finger on it, and then she saw it - his control, his reigning in on his temper - which surprised her. Although Asher had wanted to have their meeting in a planned and professional way, Ty smashed it all with one look across the court, challenging her, making her know that the game is still on and that he always won.
Now that she is back on circuit will she pick up her racket as well as Ty as everyone are speculating? Asher had been Lady Wickerton for past three years and now she is back as Ms. Wolfe with her divorce from Lord Eric Wickerton finalized completely. Will her being available change anything for Ty? But Ty had want to know why she had left and married Wickerton after being with him for that entire year. Why did Asher take that step? Rome was were everything started for Asher , her love for Tennis when she was seven years old and had watched her father Jim Wolfe win the tournament and fourteen years later her love for Ty when he won the cup that year. Now she is back in Rome. Will there be new beginnings for her? Mending old things with Ty? Winning the Italian Tournament had only fed her determination to move forward.
As the plot proceeds we get to see how Ty and Asher come up to be superstars at Tennis. Both from totally different backgrounds, but both ending on the same court with the same drive and determination to win. However there are still unresolved issues, unanswered questions for Ty and the feeling of sin and guilt that Asher carried. Will they walk to the net and resolve or smash each other in the court of love, neither winning nor losing? What sin had Asher committed that she felt that she needed to punish herself? Will Ty forgive her once he knows what she had done? As these questions are being pondered by both Ty and Asher, Jess - Ty's sister - knows of Asher's come back. She has reasons to be concerned of her comeback, of feeling guilty too. What history does Asher and Jess hold? How will Ty react when he comes to know?
Conquering Paris French Open, her next step was London, Wimbledon. But she was lady Wickerton here. How will she face the three years here? Will Eric cause her more pain? Will Ty be there her side now? Will Ty understand what she did? Will they finally get their closure here? Trust is foremost that these two have to build before they can get answers for these questions. How does it all go on, is something one have to read through to learn.
Other characters that sweep us through in the story and keep it tied well - Chuck Price (another professional tennis star and Ty's closest friend), Madge Haverbeck (former doubles partner and now coach to Asher and also a tennis pro) and her husband "The Dean", Michael (Australian tennis pro), Ada Starbuck (Ty's mother), Jessica Starbuck (Ty's Sister), Martin Derick (Ty's patron) and Mackenzie "Mac" Derick (Jess's husband).
The plot in the beginning concentrates solely on Asher Wolfe making the reader think it's about her. But in the sneaky way that Nora brings the other lead character up, she brought Ty Starbuck into focus as the plot proceeds. Before the reader realizes, she spins a web for you including both Asher and Ty. A master spinner as she was and is, this is the kind of web I miss from Nora's latest books.
The role of Jess Starbuck bothered me the first time around when I read it and even now, the second time I read for the sake of posting this review. Even if someone who loves you has made a decision for you taking the situation in a wrong sense but that decision caused harm to you will you forgive that person? If it was me in place of Ty or Asher, I would have never forgiven Jess in my life and in fact, knowing my nature, I would keep them at as far a distance I can. But again with life being so short, in the end if I get what I want in however twisted way the fate might have done and the decision the loved one had taken caused the twisted way of fate, perhaps I should forgive. But it was hard for me to digest that part in the plot.
I watch Tennis with intense concentration and love the energy of the game a lot. Nora Roberts captured that intensity, emotions and the motions that go through the individual on the court. She also added the personal emotions and tensions into the mix making it more intense. Her writing in this plot not only drew me to Tennis but also to the characters making me want to be there on the court and experience all of it. Powerful weaving.
A turbulent romance mixed with the intensity of tennis that Nora put to a perfect spin and thoroughly enjoyable while reading and left me breathless at the end.
Spoiler Alerts:
1) Following Tennis for so long, there are some championships that I haven't heard of before:
a. U.S. Indoor Tennis Championship - A professional tennis championship only played on indoor hard courts. The event ended after 2014 championships. (More about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Na...)
b. Foro Italico - A sports complex in Rome, Italy that hosts other athletic events apart from Tennis center with clay courts. Italian Open took place in this arena. (More about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foro_It...)
2) Statistical Errors:
a. In the first match that Asher plays against Kingston in Rome, on Pg 45 author mentioned that Asher took the first set six - three (para 2 last line). While on Pg 46 author mentions that Asher took the match six-one, six-two (para 3 first line). If the women's tennis had only three sets, how is it that the stats changed in a span of one page. Perhaps the author mis-entered the numbers.
b. More than once author mentions that Ty had played seven sets to win the match. But Tennis has only Best of Five for Men and Best of Three for Women. Where did seven sets come from? I check old history but nowhere I could find it. Perhaps author made a mistake? Or typo in the scoring? Did she mean that Ty played the last set for a seven pointer win? Only the author can confirm.
Recommendation: You want tennis? You got it. You want romance? You got it. You want drama? You got it. You want vengeance, blood and winning? You got. All in one plot. Enjoy!!!
August 29th marked the start of US Open Tennis Tournament. It happens in Flushing, NY which is very close to where I live and yet hadn't had an opportunity to go. This year I was looking forward to go, but with all the top-seeded players in both Male and Female categories being knocked out sooner, demotivated me to go. Perhaps next year then.
To commemorate this day I am picking this romantic novel by Nora Roberts that mixes business with pleasure. Opposites Attract was first published in November of 1984 as part of the Silhouette Special Edition Series (#199). The plot revolves around two Tennis Superstars - Asher Wolfe and Ty Starbuck - involving romance, determination, misunderstandings, reconciliation, forgiveness and ultimate winners at both love and game.
After a three year sabbatical Asher Wolfe is back in the circuit of the U. S. Indoor Tennis Championship. She had steadily avoided following anything about Tennis and specially about Ty Starbuck. But now she is again back on the circuit back at the same place giving her undivided admiration watching him play - something that she had towards him for more than ten years. Ty had the strength, agility and form when on court making him still the leading player in the sport. And what Asher noticed that nothing has changed the way Ty played the game, but there was something that still changed in him that she couldn't put a finger on it, and then she saw it - his control, his reigning in on his temper - which surprised her. Although Asher had wanted to have their meeting in a planned and professional way, Ty smashed it all with one look across the court, challenging her, making her know that the game is still on and that he always won.
Now that she is back on circuit will she pick up her racket as well as Ty as everyone are speculating? Asher had been Lady Wickerton for past three years and now she is back as Ms. Wolfe with her divorce from Lord Eric Wickerton finalized completely. Will her being available change anything for Ty? But Ty had want to know why she had left and married Wickerton after being with him for that entire year. Why did Asher take that step? Rome was were everything started for Asher , her love for Tennis when she was seven years old and had watched her father Jim Wolfe win the tournament and fourteen years later her love for Ty when he won the cup that year. Now she is back in Rome. Will there be new beginnings for her? Mending old things with Ty? Winning the Italian Tournament had only fed her determination to move forward.
As the plot proceeds we get to see how Ty and Asher come up to be superstars at Tennis. Both from totally different backgrounds, but both ending on the same court with the same drive and determination to win. However there are still unresolved issues, unanswered questions for Ty and the feeling of sin and guilt that Asher carried. Will they walk to the net and resolve or smash each other in the court of love, neither winning nor losing? What sin had Asher committed that she felt that she needed to punish herself? Will Ty forgive her once he knows what she had done? As these questions are being pondered by both Ty and Asher, Jess - Ty's sister - knows of Asher's come back. She has reasons to be concerned of her comeback, of feeling guilty too. What history does Asher and Jess hold? How will Ty react when he comes to know?
Conquering Paris French Open, her next step was London, Wimbledon. But she was lady Wickerton here. How will she face the three years here? Will Eric cause her more pain? Will Ty be there her side now? Will Ty understand what she did? Will they finally get their closure here? Trust is foremost that these two have to build before they can get answers for these questions. How does it all go on, is something one have to read through to learn.
Other characters that sweep us through in the story and keep it tied well - Chuck Price (another professional tennis star and Ty's closest friend), Madge Haverbeck (former doubles partner and now coach to Asher and also a tennis pro) and her husband "The Dean", Michael (Australian tennis pro), Ada Starbuck (Ty's mother), Jessica Starbuck (Ty's Sister), Martin Derick (Ty's patron) and Mackenzie "Mac" Derick (Jess's husband).
The plot in the beginning concentrates solely on Asher Wolfe making the reader think it's about her. But in the sneaky way that Nora brings the other lead character up, she brought Ty Starbuck into focus as the plot proceeds. Before the reader realizes, she spins a web for you including both Asher and Ty. A master spinner as she was and is, this is the kind of web I miss from Nora's latest books.
The role of Jess Starbuck bothered me the first time around when I read it and even now, the second time I read for the sake of posting this review. Even if someone who loves you has made a decision for you taking the situation in a wrong sense but that decision caused harm to you will you forgive that person? If it was me in place of Ty or Asher, I would have never forgiven Jess in my life and in fact, knowing my nature, I would keep them at as far a distance I can. But again with life being so short, in the end if I get what I want in however twisted way the fate might have done and the decision the loved one had taken caused the twisted way of fate, perhaps I should forgive. But it was hard for me to digest that part in the plot.
I watch Tennis with intense concentration and love the energy of the game a lot. Nora Roberts captured that intensity, emotions and the motions that go through the individual on the court. She also added the personal emotions and tensions into the mix making it more intense. Her writing in this plot not only drew me to Tennis but also to the characters making me want to be there on the court and experience all of it. Powerful weaving.
A turbulent romance mixed with the intensity of tennis that Nora put to a perfect spin and thoroughly enjoyable while reading and left me breathless at the end.
Spoiler Alerts:
1) Following Tennis for so long, there are some championships that I haven't heard of before:
a. U.S. Indoor Tennis Championship - A professional tennis championship only played on indoor hard courts. The event ended after 2014 championships. (More about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Na...)
b. Foro Italico - A sports complex in Rome, Italy that hosts other athletic events apart from Tennis center with clay courts. Italian Open took place in this arena. (More about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foro_It...)
2) Statistical Errors:
a. In the first match that Asher plays against Kingston in Rome, on Pg 45 author mentioned that Asher took the first set six - three (para 2 last line). While on Pg 46 author mentions that Asher took the match six-one, six-two (para 3 first line). If the women's tennis had only three sets, how is it that the stats changed in a span of one page. Perhaps the author mis-entered the numbers.
b. More than once author mentions that Ty had played seven sets to win the match. But Tennis has only Best of Five for Men and Best of Three for Women. Where did seven sets come from? I check old history but nowhere I could find it. Perhaps author made a mistake? Or typo in the scoring? Did she mean that Ty played the last set for a seven pointer win? Only the author can confirm.
June 16, 2023
The only thing interesting in this book was the pro tennis games and since I'm not a tennis fan, what does that tell you???
There's a TSTL h who (yet again) believes the words of the OW (in this case, the H's sister, not a girlfriend) and takes off without a word to the H, and actually marries the OM, not knowing she's pregnant with the H's baby!! (Can you say, "bad soap opera"? I sure can!!)
It gets worse! OM finds out it's not his kid (not sure how, she married him before she knew she was pregnant, so it must have been close, so how could she be sure? Whatever...), he gets angry at being used, they fight, she falls, loses the baby, and he threatens to get in touch with the H unless she quits her tennis career and plays the role of society wife for him; meanwhile they'll lead separate lives and he'll sleep with other women, but NOT her. And the nitwit agrees!!! All because she's afraid of the H finding out about the baby???? This woman needs to grow a pair of....what? For the h it'd be balls, so for the h? What's slang for ovaries? all these "b" words: balls, boobs, butt...
How about bells! Okay, she should have grown a pair of bells and stood up to the domineering, autocratic piece of crap! No sympathy for him, as she didn't deliberately trick him, he didn't love her, just wanted her like something to add to a collection, and he showed what a mean streak he really had when he kept her letters to her father which told what happened, and instead told him the h had an abortion! Instead of talking to his daughter himself, he takes the word of his crappy son-in-law and refuses to have anything to do with her, thinking she killed his grandchild, while she thinks he's angry because she quit playing tennis, WHAT A STUPID MESS!!
It gets messier, when the h and the OM/Villain Hubby go their separate ways after three years of stupidity, and she and the h decide to hit the sheets again, because despite the resentment on his part and the fear/guilt on hers, they still have the major HOTS for each other!
Many orgasms later, the H tries to reconcile the h and Daddy, only to be told about the baby, (assuming it was the OM's) but the h thinks he found out it was his and apologizes for the miscarriage, but now he thinks she aborted HIS baby, and wants nothing to do with her!
Then, his now happily married, interfering jerk of a sister gets a belated case of the guilts and confesses to her bro what she said to the h and he's major mad, but madder still at the "baby killer", until the truth comes out at last and then everyone died in a horrible plane crash!
I WISH!!! None of these numbskulls deserved a HEA!!!
There's a TSTL h who (yet again) believes the words of the OW (in this case, the H's sister, not a girlfriend) and takes off without a word to the H, and actually marries the OM, not knowing she's pregnant with the H's baby!! (Can you say, "bad soap opera"? I sure can!!)
It gets worse! OM finds out it's not his kid (not sure how, she married him before she knew she was pregnant, so it must have been close, so how could she be sure? Whatever...), he gets angry at being used, they fight, she falls, loses the baby, and he threatens to get in touch with the H unless she quits her tennis career and plays the role of society wife for him; meanwhile they'll lead separate lives and he'll sleep with other women, but NOT her. And the nitwit agrees!!! All because she's afraid of the H finding out about the baby???? This woman needs to grow a pair of....what? For the h it'd be balls, so for the h? What's slang for ovaries? all these "b" words: balls, boobs, butt...
How about bells! Okay, she should have grown a pair of bells and stood up to the domineering, autocratic piece of crap! No sympathy for him, as she didn't deliberately trick him, he didn't love her, just wanted her like something to add to a collection, and he showed what a mean streak he really had when he kept her letters to her father which told what happened, and instead told him the h had an abortion! Instead of talking to his daughter himself, he takes the word of his crappy son-in-law and refuses to have anything to do with her, thinking she killed his grandchild, while she thinks he's angry because she quit playing tennis, WHAT A STUPID MESS!!
It gets messier, when the h and the OM/Villain Hubby go their separate ways after three years of stupidity, and she and the h decide to hit the sheets again, because despite the resentment on his part and the fear/guilt on hers, they still have the major HOTS for each other!
Many orgasms later, the H tries to reconcile the h and Daddy, only to be told about the baby, (assuming it was the OM's) but the h thinks he found out it was his and apologizes for the miscarriage, but now he thinks she aborted HIS baby, and wants nothing to do with her!
Then, his now happily married, interfering jerk of a sister gets a belated case of the guilts and confesses to her bro what she said to the h and he's major mad, but madder still at the "baby killer", until the truth comes out at last and then everyone died in a horrible plane crash!
I WISH!!! None of these numbskulls deserved a HEA!!!
June 10, 2025
Tension, angst, lost love.
I loved how Nora captured the intensity that was Ty. He was beautiful, charming, a full package of intense emotions.
When he played tennis, it was a show, an experience.
I didn't know all the tennis terminology but Nora taught me. I even began to appreciate the sport more.
The heroine was stoic and controlled and only Ty could evoke strong emotions from her.
They both loved each other but kept it to themselves.
Secrets, hidden intentions and righteous betrayal from family members.
This enchanting story would keep you eager to know what the hell happened.
Closed door sex, but you can still feel the passion they shared..
Hea assured.
I just loved how the characters expressed their emotions.
I loved how Nora captured the intensity that was Ty. He was beautiful, charming, a full package of intense emotions.
When he played tennis, it was a show, an experience.
I didn't know all the tennis terminology but Nora taught me. I even began to appreciate the sport more.
The heroine was stoic and controlled and only Ty could evoke strong emotions from her.
They both loved each other but kept it to themselves.
Secrets, hidden intentions and righteous betrayal from family members.
This enchanting story would keep you eager to know what the hell happened.
Closed door sex, but you can still feel the passion they shared..
Hea assured.
I just loved how the characters expressed their emotions.
March 27, 2022
(2.5 rounded to 3) After seeing such great tennis at Indian Wells, I wanted to read about it! I knew I'd read this before, and even though it's very dated now, it was still a fun read. The amount of tennis detail didn't bother me, but it was funny that so much was included and there could still be such fundamental errors (no one plays seven sets). I did remember being annoyed that Asher doesn't win the Grand Slam and Ty does, and that is still true. That the past comes back to bite her so badly (and that she crumples), and instead Ty uses it to fuel his rage was sexist to me then, and remains so now. Nonetheless, it satisfied my tennis bug.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2025
Weird anti-choice nonsense at the 80% mark. Everything was going fine until that point and it went to shit. I don't understand the anger that the males had towards the FMC for a supposed abortion as being the climax of the plot.
The MMC's reaction was violent and disgusting after the miscommunication of the FMC having a miscarriage instead of an abortion. The FMC's father disowning her for assuming the same thing??
Not only that, the ending was so rushed with them immediately forgiving each other and making up especially after the MMC saying outright that he wanted to "beat her senseless" for the "abortion". 😬 But then again this story was published in 1984 so 🤷♀️.
The MMC's reaction was violent and disgusting after the miscommunication of the FMC having a miscarriage instead of an abortion. The FMC's father disowning her for assuming the same thing??
Not only that, the ending was so rushed with them immediately forgiving each other and making up especially after the MMC saying outright that he wanted to "beat her senseless" for the "abortion". 😬 But then again this story was published in 1984 so 🤷♀️.
July 20, 2021
Asher Wolfe was at the top of her tennis game when she retired from the game and became Lady Wickerton. Now, three years later she's ready to return to the game and is Asher Wolfe again. Ty Starbuck is still #1 on the tennis tour. He still can't believe Asher left him without a word and married another man. There are secrets, miscommunications, attraction as well as a lot of love between these two. This was an interesting story about the things we tell ourselves, the things we let others tell us and the things we believe about ourselves. I enjoyed this story.
July 5, 2025
Roberts and her editors needed to do current research on how tennis operated in the 1980s. The book was published in 1984, yet much of the tennis (NY grass courts, white tennis balls) changed in the 1970s. Also, she had the Australian Open being held between Wimbledon and the US Open, which would have been winter (the Australian Open is in January). Then there are the references to 7 set matches, when 5 is the limit in grand slams for men. To the best of my knowledge, there have never been 7 set matches. Very sloppy.
January 17, 2018
Asher Wolfe and Ty Starbuck were tennis superstars - Ty all fire and flash, Asher the ice princess with devastating control. Three years ago, the combination had resulted in a passionate affair. But misunderstandings had catapulted Asher into an unhappy marriage with another man. Now the ice princess was back on the circuit, determined to win. But her concentration was threatened, as Ty's dark eyes dared her to become the fiery woman he had once loved.
January 15, 2020
Of all the Nora Roberts books I have read, this has to be my least favorite. Opposites Attract? Really? What was opposite about Asher and Ty. they are both tennis pros, both on the tennis circuit...I don’t get the opposites attract angle at all. Besides that, the story was slow. I liked the premise of a reunited love. But this just didnt work at all. Too much repetition.
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