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The Perfect Play #2
Keeping Score
From Sara Rider, a fresh new voice in contemporary romance, Keeping Score is a fast-paced, sizzling sequel in the Perfect Play series that’ll leave everyone needing a cool down...
Professional soccer player Jaime Chen is used to hearing the word “no”—she’s just not used to listening to it. Despite her tiny frame, she’s won two Olympic medals and earned the title of Assistant Captain of the Seattle Falcons. And when Sport Fitness magazine decides it wants her for the cover of its annual Bodies of Sport issue, she finally has the chance to prove to the world that she truly is a top-class athlete. But when a lingering ankle injury forces the team’s physiotherapist to bench her, Jaime’s top-ranking dreams start to slip through her fingers.
In his career as a pro sports physiotherapist, Alex Martinez’s instincts have never steered him wrong. But he’s also never met someone as obstinate and frustrating as the snarky Jaime Chen. With their spot in the playoffs on the line, the Falcons’ owner gives him an ultimatum: get Jaime back in the game or kiss his job goodbye. When she skips yet another appointment with him, the only way he can wrangle a diagnosis from the medically-phobic midfielder is to stick to her like a shadow. But getting close to the woman who simultaneously irritates him and turns him on like no other is the last thing he wants to do.
Professional soccer player Jaime Chen is used to hearing the word “no”—she’s just not used to listening to it. Despite her tiny frame, she’s won two Olympic medals and earned the title of Assistant Captain of the Seattle Falcons. And when Sport Fitness magazine decides it wants her for the cover of its annual Bodies of Sport issue, she finally has the chance to prove to the world that she truly is a top-class athlete. But when a lingering ankle injury forces the team’s physiotherapist to bench her, Jaime’s top-ranking dreams start to slip through her fingers.
In his career as a pro sports physiotherapist, Alex Martinez’s instincts have never steered him wrong. But he’s also never met someone as obstinate and frustrating as the snarky Jaime Chen. With their spot in the playoffs on the line, the Falcons’ owner gives him an ultimatum: get Jaime back in the game or kiss his job goodbye. When she skips yet another appointment with him, the only way he can wrangle a diagnosis from the medically-phobic midfielder is to stick to her like a shadow. But getting close to the woman who simultaneously irritates him and turns him on like no other is the last thing he wants to do.
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 7, 2016
19 people are currently reading
273 people want to read
About the author
Sara Rider
7 books239 followersSara Rider writes contemporary romances full of heart and heat about strong heroines and the men who can’t resist them. Growing up, Sara dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player. When that dream was squashed by her extreme dislike of running, she decided to do the next best thing: write about professional soccer players. By day, Sara spends her time working in the field of research ethics and daydreams about plotlines and character arcs. She spends far too much time at public libraries and never leaves the house without a paperback or an e-reader stuffed into her purse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 7, 2016
ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review
A fresh, sexy, steamy, heartfelt modern romance!!! Sara Rider has cemented herself as an author that we need to keep an eye out for. In Rider’s latest sports romance, Keeping Score, Rider immediately grabbed my attention when she wrote a story that had diversity. In today’s world, it is disheartening to see that so many authors doesn’t implement culture and other ethnic backgrounds in their stories. Yes, it is common for readers to read a story with the sexy blonde or brunette. And so when I read the blurb of Rider’s Keeping Score, it was refreshing to finally see that she wrote a love story between an Asian American and a Latino. This alone made this book stand out from other romance novels.
While this book incorporated diversity, Sara Rider also brought forth a sports romance love story that was raw, sweet, playful and emotional. Jamie Chen is a professional woman soccer player, who recently got chosen to be on the cover for a leading sports magazine. Her career should be at it’s peak since she landed this cover deal but Jamie is suffering from severe ankle pains that could destroy and kill her dreams of playing soccer professionally. So when her team’s pro sports physiotherapist, Alex Martinez continues to badgers Jamie on her ankle, Jamie is forced to listen to him. As much as she doesn’t want and tries to avoid Alex and his concerns, it soon forces Alex to do what is necessary for Jamie to listen before her condition gets worse. And in the backdrops of Jamie’s medical concern, Rider beautifully weaves a forbidden love story in the making.
Jamie and Alex are both sexual attracted to one another. They fight. They bicker. They banter. And yet, their chemistry is palpable and tangible. Soon Jamie and Alex find themselves carrying on a secret love affair. They are well aware that they cannot mix business with pleasure. But what happens when Alex knows that there is something seriously wrong with Jamie? Will Alex’s job be in jeopardy when the owner informs him that they want Jamie to be ready for the playoffs? And how will Jamie react when she discovers what is medically wrong with her? Will her dreams of playing professionally be over?
Keeping Score is one of those sports romance reads that takes you by surprise. This book was written in a fresh modern voice that highlights diversity, dreams, sacrifices, love, and new beginnings. So if you are looking for a story where the author did a terrific job in weaving heart and playfulness in such a palpable manner then this book is definitely for you.
Sara Rider
A fresh, sexy, steamy, heartfelt modern romance!!! Sara Rider has cemented herself as an author that we need to keep an eye out for. In Rider’s latest sports romance, Keeping Score, Rider immediately grabbed my attention when she wrote a story that had diversity. In today’s world, it is disheartening to see that so many authors doesn’t implement culture and other ethnic backgrounds in their stories. Yes, it is common for readers to read a story with the sexy blonde or brunette. And so when I read the blurb of Rider’s Keeping Score, it was refreshing to finally see that she wrote a love story between an Asian American and a Latino. This alone made this book stand out from other romance novels.
While this book incorporated diversity, Sara Rider also brought forth a sports romance love story that was raw, sweet, playful and emotional. Jamie Chen is a professional woman soccer player, who recently got chosen to be on the cover for a leading sports magazine. Her career should be at it’s peak since she landed this cover deal but Jamie is suffering from severe ankle pains that could destroy and kill her dreams of playing soccer professionally. So when her team’s pro sports physiotherapist, Alex Martinez continues to badgers Jamie on her ankle, Jamie is forced to listen to him. As much as she doesn’t want and tries to avoid Alex and his concerns, it soon forces Alex to do what is necessary for Jamie to listen before her condition gets worse. And in the backdrops of Jamie’s medical concern, Rider beautifully weaves a forbidden love story in the making.
Jamie and Alex are both sexual attracted to one another. They fight. They bicker. They banter. And yet, their chemistry is palpable and tangible. Soon Jamie and Alex find themselves carrying on a secret love affair. They are well aware that they cannot mix business with pleasure. But what happens when Alex knows that there is something seriously wrong with Jamie? Will Alex’s job be in jeopardy when the owner informs him that they want Jamie to be ready for the playoffs? And how will Jamie react when she discovers what is medically wrong with her? Will her dreams of playing professionally be over?
Keeping Score is one of those sports romance reads that takes you by surprise. This book was written in a fresh modern voice that highlights diversity, dreams, sacrifices, love, and new beginnings. So if you are looking for a story where the author did a terrific job in weaving heart and playfulness in such a palpable manner then this book is definitely for you.
Sara Rider
November 3, 2016
I am not usually one to read books about sports for some reason. The ones I have read in the past have all been from the same perspective - about a bad boy athlete and his women.
This one, however, is about a female athlete and her physiotherapist. It surprised me at how hot and good this book was! So not what I was expecting!
I loved the characters in this book. Jamie is a hard core athlete and lives for her job. She is a mass of conflicts, however, and her heart thumps for her physiotherapist, a big no-no in professional sports.
Alex is a sweetheart with his own series of issues but when he looks at Jamie, all bets are off. Plus he drips sexiness! Yum
A wonderful story that truly caught me up in their whirlwind of secrets. The author crafted a great story of the delicate balance it is for a professional athlete to compete, live life, and love without losing or giving up something. But in the end it's the HEA for the win!
This one, however, is about a female athlete and her physiotherapist. It surprised me at how hot and good this book was! So not what I was expecting!
I loved the characters in this book. Jamie is a hard core athlete and lives for her job. She is a mass of conflicts, however, and her heart thumps for her physiotherapist, a big no-no in professional sports.
Alex is a sweetheart with his own series of issues but when he looks at Jamie, all bets are off. Plus he drips sexiness! Yum
A wonderful story that truly caught me up in their whirlwind of secrets. The author crafted a great story of the delicate balance it is for a professional athlete to compete, live life, and love without losing or giving up something. But in the end it's the HEA for the win!
November 27, 2016
3.5 stars
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 8, 2016
Professional soccer player Jaime Chen is used to hearing the word “no”—she’s just not used to listening to it. Despite her tiny frame, she’s won two Olympic medals and earned the title of Assistant Captain of the Seattle Falcons. And when Sport Fitness magazine decides it wants her for the cover of its annual Bodies of Sport issue, she finally has the chance to prove to the world that she truly is a top-class athlete. But when a lingering ankle injury forces the team’s physiotherapist to bench her, Jaime’s top-ranking dreams start to slip through her fingers.
In his career as a pro sports physiotherapist, Alex Martinez’s instincts have never steered him wrong. But he’s also never met someone as obstinate and frustrating as the snarky Jaime Chen. With their spot in the playoffs on the line, the Falcons’ owner gives him an ultimatum: get Jaime back in the game or kiss his job goodbye. When she skips yet another appointment with him, the only way he can wrangle a diagnosis from the medically-phobic midfielder is to stick to her like a shadow. But getting close to the woman who simultaneously irritates him and turns him on like no other is the last thing he wants to do.
••••••••••
REVIEW: 3.5 stars--KEEPING SCORE is the second installment in Sara Rider’s contemporary, adult THE PERFECT PLAY sports romance series. This is professional soccer player Jaime Chen, and physiotherapist Alex Martinez’s story line. KEEPING SCORE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Jaime and Alex) KEEPING SCORE follows soccer player Jaime Chen as she struggles to keep her place with the Seattle Falcons woman’s professional soccer team. For weeks Jaime has suffered with debilitating ankle pain that is affecting her game and her play, and her chance to be on the lucrative magazine cover of ‘The Bodies of Sports’ issue. Enter team physiotherapist Alex Martinez-the man whom Jaime has lusted after since joining the team, and the man Jaime believes can make or break our heroine’s career. What ensues is the building relationship between Jaime and Alex, and Alex’s search for what ails our story line heroine. Meanwhile, Alex has an offer back home that he considers when his past begins to rear its’ ugly head.
Jaime is a multi-talented athlete with a couple of Olympic gold medals to her credit. Her decision to enter professional soccer has earned her the Assistant Captain position with the Seattle Falcons. She is known as the ‘wild child’ and her antics off the field add to her already meteoric rise to fame. Alex is a man with a secreted past that if revealed could affect his position with the team. Alex’s job is on the line when the team’s owners and managers demand information about Jaime’s ongoing injuries, and Alex is having a more than difficult time scheduling a diagnosis, and forcing Jaime into rehab and therapy.
The relationship between our couple is fraught with tension and the forbidden between player and team physiotherapist. Alex’s attraction to Jaime is palpable but Jaime struggles with her attraction to our story line hero. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense without the use of over the top graphic, erotic language and text but I did struggle with some of the immaturity of the leading couple.
Team captain Lainey Lukas returns along with her significant other Seattle Surge soccer player Gabe Havelak (For The Win #1), as well as sports agent Jillian Nichols whose story will be told next in GOING FOR THE GOAL (February 2017). Several of Jaime’s teammates play secondary and supporting roles including Tara, Joanna, Kara, Alyssa and head coach Victor Labreilla.
The world building focuses on the Seattle Falcons woman’s professional soccer team as they battle for the league’s ultimate prize, and the ongoing and undiagnosed pain of the team’s assistant captain. Although not readily obvious, I guessed the source of Jaime’s struggle immediately but for most readers it will remain a mystery until revealed.
KEEPING SCORE tackles diversity, sacrifice, illness and injury, the struggle to succeed, and women athlete’s battle for equality in the world of sports. The premise is realistic and intelligent; the characters are playful and energetic; the romance is provocative and captivating.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 8, 2016
Professional soccer player Jaime Chen is used to hearing the word “no”—she’s just not used to listening to it. Despite her tiny frame, she’s won two Olympic medals and earned the title of Assistant Captain of the Seattle Falcons. And when Sport Fitness magazine decides it wants her for the cover of its annual Bodies of Sport issue, she finally has the chance to prove to the world that she truly is a top-class athlete. But when a lingering ankle injury forces the team’s physiotherapist to bench her, Jaime’s top-ranking dreams start to slip through her fingers.
In his career as a pro sports physiotherapist, Alex Martinez’s instincts have never steered him wrong. But he’s also never met someone as obstinate and frustrating as the snarky Jaime Chen. With their spot in the playoffs on the line, the Falcons’ owner gives him an ultimatum: get Jaime back in the game or kiss his job goodbye. When she skips yet another appointment with him, the only way he can wrangle a diagnosis from the medically-phobic midfielder is to stick to her like a shadow. But getting close to the woman who simultaneously irritates him and turns him on like no other is the last thing he wants to do.
••••••••••
REVIEW: 3.5 stars--KEEPING SCORE is the second installment in Sara Rider’s contemporary, adult THE PERFECT PLAY sports romance series. This is professional soccer player Jaime Chen, and physiotherapist Alex Martinez’s story line. KEEPING SCORE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Jaime and Alex) KEEPING SCORE follows soccer player Jaime Chen as she struggles to keep her place with the Seattle Falcons woman’s professional soccer team. For weeks Jaime has suffered with debilitating ankle pain that is affecting her game and her play, and her chance to be on the lucrative magazine cover of ‘The Bodies of Sports’ issue. Enter team physiotherapist Alex Martinez-the man whom Jaime has lusted after since joining the team, and the man Jaime believes can make or break our heroine’s career. What ensues is the building relationship between Jaime and Alex, and Alex’s search for what ails our story line heroine. Meanwhile, Alex has an offer back home that he considers when his past begins to rear its’ ugly head.
Jaime is a multi-talented athlete with a couple of Olympic gold medals to her credit. Her decision to enter professional soccer has earned her the Assistant Captain position with the Seattle Falcons. She is known as the ‘wild child’ and her antics off the field add to her already meteoric rise to fame. Alex is a man with a secreted past that if revealed could affect his position with the team. Alex’s job is on the line when the team’s owners and managers demand information about Jaime’s ongoing injuries, and Alex is having a more than difficult time scheduling a diagnosis, and forcing Jaime into rehab and therapy.
The relationship between our couple is fraught with tension and the forbidden between player and team physiotherapist. Alex’s attraction to Jaime is palpable but Jaime struggles with her attraction to our story line hero. The $ex scenes are intimate and intense without the use of over the top graphic, erotic language and text but I did struggle with some of the immaturity of the leading couple.
Team captain Lainey Lukas returns along with her significant other Seattle Surge soccer player Gabe Havelak (For The Win #1), as well as sports agent Jillian Nichols whose story will be told next in GOING FOR THE GOAL (February 2017). Several of Jaime’s teammates play secondary and supporting roles including Tara, Joanna, Kara, Alyssa and head coach Victor Labreilla.
The world building focuses on the Seattle Falcons woman’s professional soccer team as they battle for the league’s ultimate prize, and the ongoing and undiagnosed pain of the team’s assistant captain. Although not readily obvious, I guessed the source of Jaime’s struggle immediately but for most readers it will remain a mystery until revealed.
KEEPING SCORE tackles diversity, sacrifice, illness and injury, the struggle to succeed, and women athlete’s battle for equality in the world of sports. The premise is realistic and intelligent; the characters are playful and energetic; the romance is provocative and captivating.
Copy supplied by Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
November 22, 2016
5 Stars for Keeping Score
Keeping Score is a fun and sexy romance. This was my first Sara Rider book and it won’t be my last. I loved this!
Keeping Score is a sports romance set in the fast-paced lifestyle of the professional soccer world. I don’t know anything about soccer but I found the play by play action exciting. But what really stood out for me was the minority main characters Jamie Chen and Alex Martinez. Jamie Chen is a two-time Olympic medalist and a professional soccer player. She is driven by her love for sports but is disappointed with her lack of recognition because she’s Asian. As a Filipino-American I identified with Jamie and her responsibility as being a positive female role model for minorities. Just like Jamie I found it difficult growing up with no minority public figures (athletes, artists, etc.) who I can identify with. Author Sara Rider was spot on with Jamie’s frustrations and determination to make a difference. I really appreciated the authors decision to create diverse characters. Jamie and Alex are beautiful characters struggling to follow their dreams but discover love and support in each other. There was sexy banter, sizzling romance and heartwarming moments.
Keeping Score is the second book in The Perfect Play series and it can be read as a standalone. I plan to read the first book and I can’t wait until the next book in the series is released.
I received this book as a member of the XOXperts, XOXO After Dark’s official street team, in exchange for an honest review. Visit XOXOAfterDark.com for the best in romance, urban fantasy and women’s fiction.
Keeping Score is a fun and sexy romance. This was my first Sara Rider book and it won’t be my last. I loved this!
Keeping Score is a sports romance set in the fast-paced lifestyle of the professional soccer world. I don’t know anything about soccer but I found the play by play action exciting. But what really stood out for me was the minority main characters Jamie Chen and Alex Martinez. Jamie Chen is a two-time Olympic medalist and a professional soccer player. She is driven by her love for sports but is disappointed with her lack of recognition because she’s Asian. As a Filipino-American I identified with Jamie and her responsibility as being a positive female role model for minorities. Just like Jamie I found it difficult growing up with no minority public figures (athletes, artists, etc.) who I can identify with. Author Sara Rider was spot on with Jamie’s frustrations and determination to make a difference. I really appreciated the authors decision to create diverse characters. Jamie and Alex are beautiful characters struggling to follow their dreams but discover love and support in each other. There was sexy banter, sizzling romance and heartwarming moments.
Keeping Score is the second book in The Perfect Play series and it can be read as a standalone. I plan to read the first book and I can’t wait until the next book in the series is released.
I received this book as a member of the XOXperts, XOXO After Dark’s official street team, in exchange for an honest review. Visit XOXOAfterDark.com for the best in romance, urban fantasy and women’s fiction.
November 13, 2016
The medical diagnosis was interesting, but what I really want out of a physio/athlete romance is the loss of bodily autonomy that athletes must feel considering the way they're poked and prodded and that they're not wholly theirs. My kingdom for that book.
October 18, 2016
Review to come
July 18, 2018
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job. I wasn't a big fan of the H/h in the book but it mostly has to do with the trope used throughout the book that is one of my least favorite.
November 14, 2016
If you are keeping score between the first book and the second one of the The Perfect Play series by Sara Rider, #2 definitely comes out ahead of #1, in my opinion. The writing is hands down better and so is the slowly unfolding story of this “you drive me crazy, but I can’t help but want you anyway” main couple.
Alex Martinez is pretty much perfect, at least most of the time, folks. There is a brief time or two when he gets a little wishy-washy and one big “Oh, no, he didn’t just say that!” moment, which he later regrets/apologizes for. Overall, he’s is a hardworking, caring, stand-up, hot latino physiotherapist who is all about keeping this professional women’s soccer team physically fit and patched back together after each grueling match that is one step closer to their goal; the play-offs which will take them to the big dance, the championship. In the past, he has always kept to himself and is all about the job. He’s Mr. Professional 24/7 and never blurs the line with these talented, beautiful female athletes. In fact, we don’t have to endure any OW drama, past or present, with this handsome hunk.
Only beautiful, feisty, sassy, keeps the team motivated and one of their most vital players, Jaime Chen, seems to be his achilles heel and holds his interest. She tries his patience at each and every turn as she dodges his treatment recommendations and stubbornly insists she is fine when she obviously isn’t.
Well, get in line, Alex, because Jaime tried my patience, as well. Yeah, it made for an interesting storyline, but the logical side of me wanted her to save all her running for the games and stop trying to escape Alex’s attempts to get to the root cause of her on and off again problem. For someone who was touted as such a team player, she often came across as “all about me” as she left Alex hanging in the wind more than once having to make excuses for her and then outright lying/hiding the truth, all because she just didn’t want to deal with reality. Since the other players depended on her performance, her behavior at times just didn’t seem fair to them either. Yet, knowing her sad background, I couldn’t help but keep hoping everything would work out for her.
The back and forth arguments, lingering doubts, and inner dialogue between this pair had me wondering sometimes if I was watching a tennis match. Even after they appeared to finally be close, they really didn’t consistently always come across that way. Maybe it was because on top of all this drama they left one another guessing whether their relationship was temporary and/or worth fighting for, since both were afraid to be the first one to speak up. They did share some tender moments as they got to know one another outside the field (i.e., meeting his large latino family).
What’s the passion meter on this one? Well, Alex shows a lot of restraint in the beginning. For one thing he was quite emphatic about not jeopardizing his career. Once they do score with each other, at times it became quite numerous, at the drop of a hat, and very lengthy/graphic/smexy, to the point I did find myself skipping over those scenes in search of the plot. But that’s just me, folks. I’m more about the romance than the steam in my romantic reads. At nearly 400 pages, there is plenty room for both. If it begins to occur too often though, I start to feel it’s being repetitive and starting looking for the emotional connection instead.
Again, I found this one better than book 1, but I still should confess I had issues with the rather meandering story line and indecisive, illogical behavior decisions, at times by both characters. It seemed to take quite awhile to get to the HEA, likely because of their indecisiveness and lengthy smexy scenes. It was nice to see this good guy hero find happiness with someone who did need a knight in shining armor to save her from herself.
Here’s to hoping my review has been helpful in some way in determining if this one’s for you, my fellow romance book-loving friends. It ended up better than I expected, but I wasn’t a big fan of book 1.
Book 1 - For the Win, Pages: 336, 6/6/16, (Lainey & Gabe)
Book 2 - Keeping Score, Pages: 368, 11/7/16 (Alex & Jaime)
Book 3 - Going for the Goal, Pages: 288, 2/13/17 (Jillian & Nick)
Title: Keeping Score, Series: The Perfect Play (Book 2), Author: Sara Rider, Pages: 368, Pub. Date: 11/7/16, stand-alone but part of a series, HEA, no cheating, no love triangle, no OW/OM drama, romance safe, MC are both keeping a secret, better than the first book, a determined to help type of hero, sassy/stubborn/illogical at times heroine who still suffers from losing a loved one, numerous VERY lengthy, smexy scenes with lusty language.
(This review is based on free advanced reader copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased, fair review. No type of compensation was given to the reviewer. There is no relationship/affiliation between the reviewer and the author/publisher.)
Alex Martinez is pretty much perfect, at least most of the time, folks. There is a brief time or two when he gets a little wishy-washy and one big “Oh, no, he didn’t just say that!” moment, which he later regrets/apologizes for. Overall, he’s is a hardworking, caring, stand-up, hot latino physiotherapist who is all about keeping this professional women’s soccer team physically fit and patched back together after each grueling match that is one step closer to their goal; the play-offs which will take them to the big dance, the championship. In the past, he has always kept to himself and is all about the job. He’s Mr. Professional 24/7 and never blurs the line with these talented, beautiful female athletes. In fact, we don’t have to endure any OW drama, past or present, with this handsome hunk.
Only beautiful, feisty, sassy, keeps the team motivated and one of their most vital players, Jaime Chen, seems to be his achilles heel and holds his interest. She tries his patience at each and every turn as she dodges his treatment recommendations and stubbornly insists she is fine when she obviously isn’t.
Well, get in line, Alex, because Jaime tried my patience, as well. Yeah, it made for an interesting storyline, but the logical side of me wanted her to save all her running for the games and stop trying to escape Alex’s attempts to get to the root cause of her on and off again problem. For someone who was touted as such a team player, she often came across as “all about me” as she left Alex hanging in the wind more than once having to make excuses for her and then outright lying/hiding the truth, all because she just didn’t want to deal with reality. Since the other players depended on her performance, her behavior at times just didn’t seem fair to them either. Yet, knowing her sad background, I couldn’t help but keep hoping everything would work out for her.
The back and forth arguments, lingering doubts, and inner dialogue between this pair had me wondering sometimes if I was watching a tennis match. Even after they appeared to finally be close, they really didn’t consistently always come across that way. Maybe it was because on top of all this drama they left one another guessing whether their relationship was temporary and/or worth fighting for, since both were afraid to be the first one to speak up. They did share some tender moments as they got to know one another outside the field (i.e., meeting his large latino family).
What’s the passion meter on this one? Well, Alex shows a lot of restraint in the beginning. For one thing he was quite emphatic about not jeopardizing his career. Once they do score with each other, at times it became quite numerous, at the drop of a hat, and very lengthy/graphic/smexy, to the point I did find myself skipping over those scenes in search of the plot. But that’s just me, folks. I’m more about the romance than the steam in my romantic reads. At nearly 400 pages, there is plenty room for both. If it begins to occur too often though, I start to feel it’s being repetitive and starting looking for the emotional connection instead.
Again, I found this one better than book 1, but I still should confess I had issues with the rather meandering story line and indecisive, illogical behavior decisions, at times by both characters. It seemed to take quite awhile to get to the HEA, likely because of their indecisiveness and lengthy smexy scenes. It was nice to see this good guy hero find happiness with someone who did need a knight in shining armor to save her from herself.
Here’s to hoping my review has been helpful in some way in determining if this one’s for you, my fellow romance book-loving friends. It ended up better than I expected, but I wasn’t a big fan of book 1.
Book 1 - For the Win, Pages: 336, 6/6/16, (Lainey & Gabe)
Book 2 - Keeping Score, Pages: 368, 11/7/16 (Alex & Jaime)
Book 3 - Going for the Goal, Pages: 288, 2/13/17 (Jillian & Nick)
Title: Keeping Score, Series: The Perfect Play (Book 2), Author: Sara Rider, Pages: 368, Pub. Date: 11/7/16, stand-alone but part of a series, HEA, no cheating, no love triangle, no OW/OM drama, romance safe, MC are both keeping a secret, better than the first book, a determined to help type of hero, sassy/stubborn/illogical at times heroine who still suffers from losing a loved one, numerous VERY lengthy, smexy scenes with lusty language.
(This review is based on free advanced reader copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased, fair review. No type of compensation was given to the reviewer. There is no relationship/affiliation between the reviewer and the author/publisher.)
November 6, 2016
** ARC provided for an honest review **
Keeping Score, is the second installment in the The Perfect Player Series. It's also the first book of Sarah's I have read. It certainly won't be my last.
Keeping Score is a sports romance novel, one I found a great read for this year. A fan of different genres. And sports romance is a favorite of mine. And Keeping Score was a great addition to my kindle.
The writing, was fresh, enlightening, and steamy. Sarah did an amazing job on the characters.
I loved how she gave the readers different diversity to this genre. She didn't stick to anything. Own main girl is a woman's soccer player, who is Asian American. And I fell in love with her. Sara is a phenomenal writer.
I felt the struggles Jamie was facing when tragedy hit at her peak of her career. She had tough decisions she had to make. And I felt for her. What made this novel a great read for me wasn't just Jamie, but also Alex Martinez, he's the physiotherapist, who tries to help her. And I was rooting for them through out this book.
Sarah is truly a great writer for sports romances. I particularly, found myself waiting for what Sara has next.
Reviewed by Lindsey W
Keeping Score, is the second installment in the The Perfect Player Series. It's also the first book of Sarah's I have read. It certainly won't be my last.
Keeping Score is a sports romance novel, one I found a great read for this year. A fan of different genres. And sports romance is a favorite of mine. And Keeping Score was a great addition to my kindle.
The writing, was fresh, enlightening, and steamy. Sarah did an amazing job on the characters.
I loved how she gave the readers different diversity to this genre. She didn't stick to anything. Own main girl is a woman's soccer player, who is Asian American. And I fell in love with her. Sara is a phenomenal writer.
I felt the struggles Jamie was facing when tragedy hit at her peak of her career. She had tough decisions she had to make. And I felt for her. What made this novel a great read for me wasn't just Jamie, but also Alex Martinez, he's the physiotherapist, who tries to help her. And I was rooting for them through out this book.
Sarah is truly a great writer for sports romances. I particularly, found myself waiting for what Sara has next.
Reviewed by Lindsey W
August 8, 2017
I liked the book, but I'm giving it two stars for a few reasons.
First, the ending was ludicrous. I mean, really. Also, it ended without showing a satisfactory character arc for either player. They're both stubborn and run away and hide when something goes wrong. It would be much more convincing if they had actually faced a trial together where they confided in each other and didn't run away. They said they're going to do it in the future, but seeing it would have been more satisfying.
Two, the generic Asian descriptor for Jaime. Asia has a couple billion people in it and they don't all have the same culture or appearance. Plus, the emphasis on her little hands during sexy times was a bit creepy, since East Asian women get fetishized a lot for being small and delicate. Also, describing her as a porcelain doll when she was hurt played into that as well.
Third, I can't believe a 5'1.5" Olympic sprinter with double D boobs, especially when she is described as being very muscular every where else. They don't have enough body fat for that to be a realistic body type. Every time her boobs got mentioned, it irritated me. Also, if she did actually have DD boobs, I want to know what brand of sports bra she's wearing, because I need one.
First, the ending was ludicrous. I mean, really. Also, it ended without showing a satisfactory character arc for either player. They're both stubborn and run away and hide when something goes wrong. It would be much more convincing if they had actually faced a trial together where they confided in each other and didn't run away. They said they're going to do it in the future, but seeing it would have been more satisfying.
Two, the generic Asian descriptor for Jaime. Asia has a couple billion people in it and they don't all have the same culture or appearance. Plus, the emphasis on her little hands during sexy times was a bit creepy, since East Asian women get fetishized a lot for being small and delicate. Also, describing her as a porcelain doll when she was hurt played into that as well.
Third, I can't believe a 5'1.5" Olympic sprinter with double D boobs, especially when she is described as being very muscular every where else. They don't have enough body fat for that to be a realistic body type. Every time her boobs got mentioned, it irritated me. Also, if she did actually have DD boobs, I want to know what brand of sports bra she's wearing, because I need one.
October 21, 2016
I enjoyed Keeping Score. The characters had depth, the plot wasn't extremely unbelievable or predictable, and it was sweet.
Jaime was an interesting character. She pushed limits and was wild, but only when it was called for. Weird, I know, but true. She is dedicated to her team and her sport. Now, that's not to say she doesn't ever act irresponsibly when it comes to soccer, but I don't want to ruin anything for you, so just trust me when I say some things cannot be ignored no matter how badly we want to.
Alex is a great leading man. Brooding at times, caring and sweet when it counts, Alex is perfect for an "opposites attract" relationship with Jamie. They butt heads, they argue, he presses her, and (best of all) he challenges Jamie on a number of levels.
The author did a great job highlighting the "hidden issue" and giving us a realistic view into the head of someone with this problem.
Jaime was an interesting character. She pushed limits and was wild, but only when it was called for. Weird, I know, but true. She is dedicated to her team and her sport. Now, that's not to say she doesn't ever act irresponsibly when it comes to soccer, but I don't want to ruin anything for you, so just trust me when I say some things cannot be ignored no matter how badly we want to.
Alex is a great leading man. Brooding at times, caring and sweet when it counts, Alex is perfect for an "opposites attract" relationship with Jamie. They butt heads, they argue, he presses her, and (best of all) he challenges Jamie on a number of levels.
The author did a great job highlighting the "hidden issue" and giving us a realistic view into the head of someone with this problem.
November 2, 2016
You can feel the sexual chemistry between these two from the beginning. The chemistry leads to some steamy scenes between the two of them. They work together on the same team and are constantly pulled towards one another. An important health issue is discussed in this book. Their interactions kept me hooked and the story flowing. I am glad they worked out the issues that were hindering their finding their happy ending.This was a good read.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
January 2, 2017
This was pretty cute and it was nice to see a romance between a latino and asian-american character. Although i felt a bit weird about them not specifying an ethnicity beyond Asian about Jamie?
no-thank-you
January 24, 2018No because of the comments about race/ethnicity here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
November 11, 2016
http://rpmbt-blog.com/rpmbt/category/...
Keeping the Score is the second book in the Perfect Play Series by Sara Rider, but is a complete stand-alone. In this installment we meet Jamie and Alex and get to see their love/hate relationship bloom.
As a short, minority professional soccer player Jamie has a lot stacked up against her, but she pushes herself each day to be the best at what she does. The problem? Alex, the teams physiotherapist who seems hell-bent on keeping her off the field. Alex used to be a physiotherapist on the men’s soccer team the Surge, but is now working with the Falcons and he’s determined to figure out Jamie’s mystery injury, if only he can get her to stay in one place long enough to figure it out.
The cat and mouse game between these two is hilarious. You can tell they are both attracted to one another, but they push each other so much that they don’t know what to do with each other. Jamie’s tricks to put off Alex only make him want her more, which just angers her at times. When the two of them finally give in and allow themselves to figure out what they could be, things definitely get interesting.
Alex knows being with Jamie is a risk to his career, one he can’t afford to take, with his troubled past, but he can’t stay away from her. Jamie knows she needs to figure out what is going on, but due to things in her past, she’s scared to death. Both of these characters have a lot to overcome in this book. Fears, their past, their careers, everything and anything that could possibly tear them apart seems to come up and as much as I wanted to scream at times, I think it helped make both of these characters stronger in the end
I adored Jamie’s character, one moment I’d want to cry with her for the things she deals with and her past, and then the next I would be laughing out loud at her antics. She’s a strong lead female character and I loved this about the story.
If you’re looking for a sports romance that has so much depth it’s not even funny, I highly suggest picking up a copy of Keeping the Score by Sara Rider today. This book will definitely not disappoint!
I have received this book as a member of the XOXperts, XOXO After Dark’s official street team, in exchange for an honest review.
Keeping the Score is the second book in the Perfect Play Series by Sara Rider, but is a complete stand-alone. In this installment we meet Jamie and Alex and get to see their love/hate relationship bloom.
As a short, minority professional soccer player Jamie has a lot stacked up against her, but she pushes herself each day to be the best at what she does. The problem? Alex, the teams physiotherapist who seems hell-bent on keeping her off the field. Alex used to be a physiotherapist on the men’s soccer team the Surge, but is now working with the Falcons and he’s determined to figure out Jamie’s mystery injury, if only he can get her to stay in one place long enough to figure it out.
The cat and mouse game between these two is hilarious. You can tell they are both attracted to one another, but they push each other so much that they don’t know what to do with each other. Jamie’s tricks to put off Alex only make him want her more, which just angers her at times. When the two of them finally give in and allow themselves to figure out what they could be, things definitely get interesting.
Alex knows being with Jamie is a risk to his career, one he can’t afford to take, with his troubled past, but he can’t stay away from her. Jamie knows she needs to figure out what is going on, but due to things in her past, she’s scared to death. Both of these characters have a lot to overcome in this book. Fears, their past, their careers, everything and anything that could possibly tear them apart seems to come up and as much as I wanted to scream at times, I think it helped make both of these characters stronger in the end
I adored Jamie’s character, one moment I’d want to cry with her for the things she deals with and her past, and then the next I would be laughing out loud at her antics. She’s a strong lead female character and I loved this about the story.
If you’re looking for a sports romance that has so much depth it’s not even funny, I highly suggest picking up a copy of Keeping the Score by Sara Rider today. This book will definitely not disappoint!
I have received this book as a member of the XOXperts, XOXO After Dark’s official street team, in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2018
Forget billionaire playboy and mouse heroine here its just plain normal trying to do what they love and paid be off of course. The romance is real simple Jamie-stubborn one- is suffering in injuring and does not want to Alex-big bad wolf-the physiotherapist is trying to help her. But none of them could stop their passionate hurricane.
Its a day a day spent long hours together because of the matches. Its more like a crescendo and so glad that Alex is the "uptight" one and Jamie is more like the party,relaxe type still responsible to work out and training.
I like their romance because both of them are not shy about it yet trying to deal with their feelings.
There is the bad news of Alex past ressurging but its feels so nature how was handle it.
Who says that a physiotherapis could know bedroom foreplay?!
Its a day a day spent long hours together because of the matches. Its more like a crescendo and so glad that Alex is the "uptight" one and Jamie is more like the party,relaxe type still responsible to work out and training.
I like their romance because both of them are not shy about it yet trying to deal with their feelings.
There is the bad news of Alex past ressurging but its feels so nature how was handle it.
Who says that a physiotherapis could know bedroom foreplay?!
November 29, 2017
Why did it take me this long to discover Sara Rider's romances about athletes in love? I freakin' loved Jaime - a take no prisoners gladiator on the soccer field and a sweetheart off. Kudos to the author for not making her ethnicity a plotline or ignoring it altogether - I loved that Jamie is fully aware of how rare she is as an Asian-Canadian female athlete (who scored Olympic medals in two separate sports, mind you).
Not only was it refreshing for a sports romance to make the heroine the star athlete, Alex Martinez as physiotherapist to the Falcons was the perfect strong, steady, and steely foil to Jaime's star on the rise. I'm always on the lookout for romances with diverse characters; this made me want to find more with soccer players as well.
Not only was it refreshing for a sports romance to make the heroine the star athlete, Alex Martinez as physiotherapist to the Falcons was the perfect strong, steady, and steely foil to Jaime's star on the rise. I'm always on the lookout for romances with diverse characters; this made me want to find more with soccer players as well.
May 17, 2017
This book was just okay for me; not nearly as good as the first book in this series.
At times I found Jamie to be immature and selfish despite that most of the team looked up to her. I found her difficult to relate to. Alex's character though was the opposite; he was mature, completely selfless (which we learn more about towards the end) and easy to relate to.
Holding out for the next book in this series.
** ARC received from Netgalley **
At times I found Jamie to be immature and selfish despite that most of the team looked up to her. I found her difficult to relate to. Alex's character though was the opposite; he was mature, completely selfless (which we learn more about towards the end) and easy to relate to.
Holding out for the next book in this series.
** ARC received from Netgalley **
June 13, 2018
What a fun read!
I loved a lot of aspects of this book - how different Jaime was, how Alex was such a genuinely good person, the NON-WHITE INTERRACIAL COUPLE. It was such a beautiful blend of sports and medicine plus their romance was so pure - it was a nice twist on enemies to friends to lovers. I actually didn't see the twist coming with Alex's past. And I just really enjoyed how supportive these two were with each other.
I loved a lot of aspects of this book - how different Jaime was, how Alex was such a genuinely good person, the NON-WHITE INTERRACIAL COUPLE. It was such a beautiful blend of sports and medicine plus their romance was so pure - it was a nice twist on enemies to friends to lovers. I actually didn't see the twist coming with Alex's past. And I just really enjoyed how supportive these two were with each other.
November 30, 2016
I loved this book. It's a quick, sexy read. Jaime and Alex were perfect for each other. So much chemistry. The plot was interesting, too. I didn't expect it to go where it did, but I really liked it.
June 4, 2017
I enjoyed the relationship that developed between Julie and Alex in Keeping Score. I also liked reading about the unglamorous aspects of athletic life.
December 2, 2017
Great series
July 23, 2018
Really enjoyed this one!
December 31, 2018
Loved the characters in this book. So much.
July 18, 2019
Overall good book. I like that they included the point of view for the 2 main characters.
January 6, 2024
Eh... nope.
December 25, 2024
liked the first one more
November 9, 2016
This story had potential and the characters had chemistry, but character stupidity can't be covered up with more hot, naked scenes.
I enjoyed the first book in this series and the introduction of most of the secondary characters. Jaime was introduced as the life of the party, co-captain, always ready to get the team going and build the team spirit. Alex is the hot, sexy, slightly brooding physiotherapist. Alex and Jaime butt heads because Jaime keeps having a recurring injury to her ankle. Alex knows that it atypical for an athlete's injury to keep coming and going but Jaime doesn't want to be "sick" like her sister was and wants to pretend nothing is wrong. Underlying the head butting is some heavy sexual tension which Alex tries really hard not to act on since that would cross a professional boundary and if they were involved, Alex couldn't treat Jaime anymore.
The Falcons are on a two week road trip stuck together on a bus and close quarters makes avoiding each other harder. Sexual tension builds until it explodes.
Overall the story was well-written and decent, the sexual tension was smoldering and the characters were likable. I know that for storytelling purposes there needs to be some drama. We had this in Jaime hiding her sister's illness and possible effect on Jaime's health, and Alex's "misdiagnosis" on a prior athlete which we don't learn the details on until the very end. But the biggest problem I had is when they weren't steaming up the bus windows with those smoldering looks or hot sex, they were just being stupid. The misunderstandings between them could have been avoided simply by finishing sentences. Such as when they start getting hot and heavy, Alex tells Jaime not to tell anyone. She is hurt that he is hiding their relationship and they don't speak for days. What Alex should have said was simply, don't tell anyone...until I can break the news to our bosses and discuss the ethical ramification of my medical treatment of you. There is also a misunderstanding between them where Alex then believes that Jaime slept with him in order for him not to be able to treat her injury anymore thereby allowing her to play when Alex was keeping her off the field. And again, they weren't speaking for days while both wondered where their relationship was heading.
There was so many non-conversations between these two which left their relationship so wobbly, including the fact that it was not Alex who finally tells Jaime what happened to the other athlete Alex treated, Jaime tracks down the other player and gets it out of him. Neither one even attempts to make a leap of faith to talk to the other.
While they we not talking, Alex was planning on simply leaving to go visit his family for a few days. He wants a relationship with Jaime but he doesn't ask her to go with him? He doesn't even text her to let her know he will be out of town for a few days. Most of the story, Alex's brother was trying to get Alex to leave the Falcons and come open up a practice with him, but no matter how close he got with Jaime, he never once mentions to her about the offer made to him or that he is contemplating opening his own practice four hours away from the stadium.
These were two interesting characters which incredible chemistry...while they were together in the story, but the not talking to each other and especially not talking to each other for days at a time rang too much of high school angst to me which sucked any enjoyment I was getting out of this story.
I hate when good characters are wasted like this. They had such potential and it was wasted because neither could open up to the one person they wanted to try a relationship with.
I enjoyed the first book in this series and the introduction of most of the secondary characters. Jaime was introduced as the life of the party, co-captain, always ready to get the team going and build the team spirit. Alex is the hot, sexy, slightly brooding physiotherapist. Alex and Jaime butt heads because Jaime keeps having a recurring injury to her ankle. Alex knows that it atypical for an athlete's injury to keep coming and going but Jaime doesn't want to be "sick" like her sister was and wants to pretend nothing is wrong. Underlying the head butting is some heavy sexual tension which Alex tries really hard not to act on since that would cross a professional boundary and if they were involved, Alex couldn't treat Jaime anymore.
The Falcons are on a two week road trip stuck together on a bus and close quarters makes avoiding each other harder. Sexual tension builds until it explodes.
Overall the story was well-written and decent, the sexual tension was smoldering and the characters were likable. I know that for storytelling purposes there needs to be some drama. We had this in Jaime hiding her sister's illness and possible effect on Jaime's health, and Alex's "misdiagnosis" on a prior athlete which we don't learn the details on until the very end. But the biggest problem I had is when they weren't steaming up the bus windows with those smoldering looks or hot sex, they were just being stupid. The misunderstandings between them could have been avoided simply by finishing sentences. Such as when they start getting hot and heavy, Alex tells Jaime not to tell anyone. She is hurt that he is hiding their relationship and they don't speak for days. What Alex should have said was simply, don't tell anyone...until I can break the news to our bosses and discuss the ethical ramification of my medical treatment of you. There is also a misunderstanding between them where Alex then believes that Jaime slept with him in order for him not to be able to treat her injury anymore thereby allowing her to play when Alex was keeping her off the field. And again, they weren't speaking for days while both wondered where their relationship was heading.
There was so many non-conversations between these two which left their relationship so wobbly, including the fact that it was not Alex who finally tells Jaime what happened to the other athlete Alex treated, Jaime tracks down the other player and gets it out of him. Neither one even attempts to make a leap of faith to talk to the other.
While they we not talking, Alex was planning on simply leaving to go visit his family for a few days. He wants a relationship with Jaime but he doesn't ask her to go with him? He doesn't even text her to let her know he will be out of town for a few days. Most of the story, Alex's brother was trying to get Alex to leave the Falcons and come open up a practice with him, but no matter how close he got with Jaime, he never once mentions to her about the offer made to him or that he is contemplating opening his own practice four hours away from the stadium.
These were two interesting characters which incredible chemistry...while they were together in the story, but the not talking to each other and especially not talking to each other for days at a time rang too much of high school angst to me which sucked any enjoyment I was getting out of this story.
I hate when good characters are wasted like this. They had such potential and it was wasted because neither could open up to the one person they wanted to try a relationship with.
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