Personal Foul

by Lucy J. Madison

Kat Schaefer's career is on autopilot. She's an elite WNBA basketball official. She survived an extremely rocky childhood but still finds herself adrift in her personal life almost two years after her longtime girlfriend dumped her. Kat's well-ordered world turns upside down when she meets a hotshot rookie named Julie Stevens who knocks her world off balance with her stellar play and captivating eyes.

Despite Kat's best defense, she falls hard for the young player, but she's unable to open herself up to love again. Her solution is to retreat alone to the magnificent Provincetown beaches to heal old wounds and to figure out what the future holds for both of them.

Genres: Sports, Romance, Lesbian Fiction, Lesbian, Lesbian Romance

222 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2016

About the author

Lucy J. Madison is an author, screenwriter, and poet from Connecticut. She’s published fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and is a credited screenwriter. Her first feature film script based on the life of Emily Dickinson is currently in pre-production. Her lesbian romance novel Personal Foul was named one of the Ten Best Lesbian Sports Romances by The Lesbian Review. The lesbian romance In the Direction of the Sun was named a 2017 Best Book Awards Finalist. She’s a member of the Golden Crown Literary Society, Romance Writers of America, Publishing Triangle, Story Circle Network, Rainbow Romance Writers, and Lesbian Authors Guild. She received a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University and resides with her wife of twenty years in shoreline Connecticut and in Provincetown, Massachusetts along with their beloved fur babies. www.lucyjmadison.com

Reviews

[Diane Wallace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read! good penmanship writing style by the author...was interesting having both leading character's POV and their past history being mention and written on how each had to go through life differently while growing up...good of the author to pay tribute and to acknowledge the WNBA plus even in mentioning a few teams and players in the storyline... enjoy the bit of chemistry and angst between them but let's not forget their friends and family that really supported them every step of the way...recommend

[~ * K E L L I E * ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Personal Foul but I didn’t love it. Don’t get me wrong, it was an enjoyable read and I certainly don’t feel cheated by time for spending a few hours immersed in Kat and Julie’s story.

Let me start with the things I enjoyed about this book:
* It had a great premise
* I loved the basketball theme - there should be more sports themed books in lesfic :-)
* The on court basketball scenes were quite descriptive and action packed
* I loved the players' attitudes on court getting up in the refs face

Now for what I didn’t enjoy quite so much about the book:
* The execution was lacking and the pacing a little disjointed
* The main characters were quick to profess their love for one another
* I didn’t like the multiple partners – I get why it was done but I don’t have to like it :-)
* I also didn’t like Kat’s decision to quit her job and move to Provincetown

Overall, it was a nice read. 3.5 stars.

*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*

[Ted · Rating 2 out of 5]

A two star that I actually finished by sheer force of will. This is not a good book. I'm not going to sugar coat it. It's not. The *only* reason it wasn't a one star was because of the basketball aspect, which I'm a sucker for. And even then, that aspect is only metered out in very small doses.

We, the reader, are *told* that the MC's have this amazing chemistry. Ok, great. Good for them. I'm not seeing it. Then the vast majority of the book is spent in bad feels. Then at the last 5% of the book the MC's actually sit down and try and get to know each other. Sorry. Not seeing it.

Sorry, this one is a swing and a miss... Yea cross platform metaphor...

[Gaby LezReviewBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good romance with some background on basketball

This is an easy read romance with a basketball background action. It gives a good insight to the game and the job of the referees. The characters are likeable though a little "too perfect" to be real. There is good chemistry between them and the secondary characters add interest to the story.

I had an issue in the author's use of verb tenses. She would switch from past to present depending on the scene. It might be fine from the grammatic or the structure of the story point of view, but it didn't work for me as it distracted me from the story. However, don't let this put you off if you are looking for a light romantic read to spend a nice afternoon.

[Loek Krancher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story and I loved it!

In denial about her own feelings, badly hurting the one she loves, strong one moment and a coward the next moment. She needs to have her life in order but all she does is running away. Running away is the easiest path but with love you never know where the road leads you. The author did an amazing job creating a vivid picture of the games and the romance you will love right away. You don't have to be fond of basketball to enjoy this story. So don't miss this one because it involves sports. You will regret it.

[Kexx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it - but the English a bit creaky which slowed the flow, but well worth persevering. I'm sucker for sport, so didn't really stand a chance. My first by her but I'll look out for more.
One issue: there seem to be 5 editions of this book circulating, but with only 2 covers! I haven't a scubby if I've brought the latest edition - how different are they? Can't previous ones which I assume the author has scrapped be withdrawn? Or am I naive? (Even the header on this asks "Change Edition." I don't know!)

[Tiff · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tend to be a sucker for romance novels that have a sports influence. While I love to run, I really don’t watch much in the way in sports. I definitely do not watch basketball, but I love athletics and the inner drive for success. So when I came across Personal Foul by Lucy J. Madison I was intrigued.

Kat Schaefer is a WNBA referee. This former college basketball player has spent her whole life dedicated to the game. It was literally her refuge from a terrible childhood. While basketball gave her a future and an escape from her small Midwest hometown it has also caused her personal struggles. Her girlfriend has just left her. The reason she left Kat for another woman, Kat spends too much time on the road for her job and she just can’t stand to be alone anymore.

Enter our other leading lady WNBA rookie Julie Stevens. Julie is hot right now, her shots are on fire and she is playing like the absolute superstar she was destined to be. The only problem she has is that she is terribly attracted to a ref. Yep, Kat Schaefer.

So, the book has a great premise. You definitely have the set up for a push- pull angsty relationship. I mean it’s never a good idea for a player to date a referee right. This has to be a big no-no. The only problem is while Kat’s personal strife is set-up. You never really feel a strong connection between the two leads. There is attraction, sex, conflict and then resolution. You never feel the love you just hover around. In Personal Foul there is way too much telling, not enough showing and not nearly enough dialogue between Kat and Julie.

My Blog: https://theromanticreaderblog.com/201...

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review

[Delitealex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kat is still trying to get over her last girlfriend Danielle and also figure out what went wrong with their relationship. She is a WNBA ref so she travels a lot covering as many games as she can to drive away the loneliness Kat feels. At a game Kat meets Julie a rookie on the New York Liberty team. The chemistry between them is off the charts from the beginning which really scares Kat.

I really loved this book. Kat's love for basketball shines through. It was very emotional especially when she went soul searching to figure out what she wanted and needed out of life. Also if a relationship with Julie would work. I enjoyed being able to see from both characters perspectives it really added something to the story.

I enjoyed all the basketball and glimpses into officiating games. I would definitely recommend this book to those that enjoy lesbian romance.

I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

[Mirtha Siblesz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very touching story

This a very touching and poignant story. The two main characters Kat and Julie were very well described. Kay's struggle with her inner self and her love for Julie are depicted so well. The scenes in Provincetown were magnificently beautiful. Julie's agony over Kat's abandonment is so painfully felt. Both of these women 's struggles were so poignant. It was almost as if feeling it yourself. A sign of an excellent writer. Well done!

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would say that this book had its pros and cons. I thought the basketball aspect was interesting and I enjoyed reading from an officiating perspective. I just struggled to really understand what is was about Julie that had Kat so interested from the start. I understand the initial attraction but I just felt that the author lacked the side of showing us why Julie was different and why she would risk her career for her after just meeting. I think the book would have been better if we could have properly gotten to know Julie not just glimpses at the start. I also felt that the author tried to give Kat character development but failed. Kat ran away and never truly stepped out of her comfort zone to make what she had done wrong right. Instead Julie does all the work.

I think that the book almost got there for me but just didn't make it in the end. However I did love the end scene at the basketball court, very sweet! I was thinking 2.5 stars until that point but then decided to push it up to 3 stars. I can't help it just love a good ending.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Penelope · Rating 2 out of 5]

An honest review thanks to Netgalley. This was a good book, but for some reason, I could not get into it, I tried, but it felt forced. There were a couple of times where I even skipped ahead; there was a lot of the book in Kat's head, so much so that I got board and didn't want to continue. I did like the beginning of the book a lot, but that like slowly dwindled down. I haven't read anything by this author before so it could be because she is an acquired taste. I will try to read another one of her books to see if it was just this book I didn't like or the authors writing style itself.

[Margaret L. Hedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book.

A quick easy read. Very enjoyable. The insiders view of the women's basketball tour added a lot of interest to the book.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The third person present tense in which the author chooses to relate the story of Kat, a WNBA ref who falls into hit-by-lightning love with a WNBA player and immediately backs away, makes sense, theme-wise. The present tense usually works to make a narrative feel more immediate, but when combined with the third person, the effect is more one of distancing than immediacy. And since Kat is a closed-off person, that form, and its distancing effect, make sense. But it also has the effect of making the story hard for a reader to feel engaged by; it almost feels as if Kat is the object of our study, rather than a character whose emotions we get to experience with her.

If I had gone into it expecting it to be women's fiction rather than romance, I think I might have enjoyed it more. The story spends most of its time charting Kat's journey to facing her difficult past, ditching her career to go find herself in Provincetown, so ultimately she can be more accepting of Julie's love, and her own feelings. Don't go into this expecting lots of time with Kat and Julie together, working on building a relationship; that's not what this is about.

[Maria Siopis · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I have to say that I hate basketball and I don’t have any interest to watch tall women interact in a basketball court trying desperately to steal a ball from their opponent, and score. Yet, after reading Personal Foul by Lucy J. Madison I developed an appreciation for the game. It wasn’t love but tolerance toward it, and I enjoyed reading about it. The writer is, without a doubt, charismatic because she made me feel every emotion that cruised through her characters’ bodies. I felt the pain, the heartbreak, and love. When Kat decided to uproot and leave behind Julie my heart felt the pain and my soul was full with melancholy. The author’s ability with words increased my craving for a never ending story, even though, my whole existence was hurting. How is it possible written words to emotionally move people so much? It is, after all, a work of fiction, yet the realism of the story was outstanding. When the reader identifies with a character(s) then the author created an outstanding work. The ending was grand and the sex scenes were hot, so hot and so well written that made me smile all the way home. LOVED IT. WOW.

[Ethelene Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved Personal Foul. I liked sport theme books, and the basketball scenes were written well. I also like that you got both main character POV. Now on what I think the book was missing. When kat broke up with juile and was depress. One of her friends should have get in touch with her ex Danielle so she can apologize for the way she left the relationship. She should of a least called and talk to her.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Inked Rainbow Reads in return for an honest review.
I wasn't exactly enthusiastic at the beginning of this book. The story seemed a bit sluggish and didn't draw me in much. I blame two things for this: first, I really hate narration in the present tense, and second, there was a lot of exposition that seemed to bog things down. The first thing many people may have no problem with. I have narration pet peeves. I dislike first person head-hopping, first person present tense, and third person present tense, and that's going from least objectionable to most. I did get used to it in this story, but every once in a while it would snag my attention and irritate me all over again. The second thing didn't get better further on in the book, but my attitude about it changed. See, Kat lives in her head. She dwells on things and over thinks them, and isolates herself in order to self-examine. So while in the beginning things seemed slow, as the story progressed, things began to feel a little more deliberate, a little more examined, and a little deeper for Kat. And we joined her for that journey. One other thing that bothers me in this story is how fast the feelings developed. Kat and Julie see each other for the first time in a game and that night they share a dance and a kiss and an instant connection. Then there's a game where they clash. And the third time they meet leads to a couple of days in bed together and at the end of that period of time they're in love. It just seems to me that the depth of the feeling has no real basis; they don't know each other in any other way than physically. That said, I enjoyed Kat's journey to fix herself. I was surprised at some of the twists the plot took and that made the book more than I expected. I like that Julie knows what she wants even if she's so much younger than Kat. In all, this ended up being an interesting and engaging read.

[Tori Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an entertaining, fun ride that I didn't want to end. I enjoyed getting to know both Julie and Kat. The character development was spot on and I enjoyed seeing them both go through the spectrum of working through their feelings and past. I would like to have gotten more time with Julie; however, I understand that Kat's journey was the one we were following.

The intimate scenes were tasteful and hot. And the book as a whole was well written. My biggest issue with the book was how abrupt Kat left and how she was void of contact with everyone. I understand why, but it was still sudden.

All-in-all, I really enjoyed the book and I will be looking more into Madison's books in the future.

This book was given by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.

[Christine Close · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars: f/f romance

I was sent this book by Inked Rainbow Reads in exchange for an honest review.

Technically this was a well constructed novel. An enchanting romance. The scenes describing the on court action were electrifying. The ending beautifully contrived and passionate.

I did find the constant reference Kay made to her age and Julie's difficult to understand. Another problem I had was believing in what the actual attraction was between the two women, once it was supposedly beyond a physical one.

A good summer read if you are looking for a romantic entertaining love story.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and especially Kat. I loved the setting in women's basketball and learned loads I didn't know about how it is organised. That was really interesting. The plotting was okay although sometimes the inner dialogues got a bit clunky. But the thing that stopped it being 4* for me was the tense used. "Kat likes things in their respective boxes." "She holds her head in her hands." I'm guessing this is to give the narrative a sense of action and movement but it detracted from the story for me and drew me out of the world created by Ms Madison - which was worth staying in.

I was given a copy of this book by netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Felice Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Personal Foul keeps your attention from tip off. Both characters are well developed and likable and you find yourself rooting for each of them. Even though you know there's going to be a happy ending, going through their personal struggles and processes felt real. And that's a win-win!

[Dara Onofrio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating love story. Fast paced basketball action. Couldn't put it down. Can't wait to read more books from this author.