Bowled Over

Sweet Spot #1

by Vida Li Sik

Sports writer Gina Elliot fiercely needs to prove herself in a male-dominated profession. When the hottest scoop of her career plummets into her lap, she pursues the lead all the way to the Cricket World Cup in India.
Until Gina steps back into his life, star player Storm Jones has only one desire - to take home the elusive World Cup trophy. To his surprise, he finds renewing his eight-year-old failed relationship with Gina is suddenly as important as winning the top prize.
In the arena of world-class cricket, their lives cross once again.When whispers of match-fixing implicate Storm, Gina is forced to choose between her coveted career and the man she might just be falling in love with once again.

Bowled Over is a Second Chance Romance and the book 1 in the Sweet Spot Series.

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2018

About the author

Vida Li Sik is a wife, mother, award-winning journalist and multi-genre author. She grew up in a small town, Nigel, in sunny South Africa, and now lives with her family in Johannesburg, the City of Gold. She has no pets and has yet to find a weird and wonderful hobby. In the meantime, she loves to write about people, real ones and imagined.

Reviews

[Judith Nasse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vida paints the world of international cricket and the tough role of a woman sports journalist in such a way that I could understand what seems to me a complicated sport. Even more poignant is how a woman journalist juggles her career with her love for a star on the South African cricket team. One misstep and she could lose either her job, her love, or both. There is a mix of whodunit and romance in this intriguing first novel by South African writer Vida Li Sik! I can't wait to read her newest book.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

All he wanted was to win The cricket world cup. She is trying to prove herself in a make world and so when she gets a chance to cover the cricket world cup. They used to be a couple but once they see each other, he wants her again. A match fixing scandal happens with him being blamed. What will she do? Will she choose her job of him? See what she will do

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book by this Author that I have read. This is a well-written story that grabbed my interest from the very first page, what a story. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Meenal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover, title, and blurb tie together well. 
 
I don't like Gina or Storm much as individual characters because they feel slightly lacking in personality, but I like them as a couple. His previous marriage and the betting subplots only add flavour to the story and turn it into an engrossing saga. I like how he loves her, as evidenced by his touches, reassuring talk, and persistence to win her back the right way. I like her dedication to her career and her unwillingness to give it up to become a housewife who'll follow Storm around. I like the talk of match-fixing because it's prevalent, but the author could've set it elsewhere in the world and it still would've been believable. I like that because she had to give up her job, he, too, retired from the game. They both made a commitment to avoid long-distance relationships and be with each other. This might not be realistic, but it's a harmless fiction book, so love wins, and it feels good!
 
My rating lacks two stars because this story rather unfortunately stereotypes my country negatively, and that's unforgivable. I'd like to know what year this book is set in, because Mumbai autos haven't charged eight rupees in years. The scene about the cow on the road was yet another attempt to stereotype India in a bad light. There aren't cows on Mumbai roads anymore than there would be on New York City roads. I don't know why foreigners think India is a village when it's developed so much. Also, "chai" is the Hindi word for tea. Saying "chai tea" is akin to saying tea twice. Calcutta has a rich culture and heritage and is known for a lot of things, the least of which is that it provided shelter to a questionable so-called "mother." This just reinforces my earlier point. India doesn't support voicemail for calls; that's another factual error.
 
I would recommend it to cricket lovers across the globe. I obtained a free e-book via StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing sports second chance romance story. Amazing chemistry with the characters. It is written well. I liked reading the book and a pleasure to review it.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good sweet romance read. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry. The story does have some good action in the read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Francine Beaton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bowled Over

Bowled Over totally bowled me over. I read it in one sitting, too scared I’m going to miss the action.

[Nadea Croix · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was quite creative with spectacular and stupifying scenes. It keeps me turning pages and sparks the imagination of the reader as they journey through their relationship and challenging scenarios

[Vida Sik]

Debut sweet romance novel with a touch of cricket
Sometimes it's hard to move on from your first real love. At least, that's what star cricket player Storm, and cricket writer Gina discover eight years after they dated.
They both tried to move on and enjoyed great success in their careers. But when they meet up once more at the World Cricket Championship in India, they decide they've got some unresolved issues to sort out. Or rather, that's what Storm would like to do.
Gina, on the other hand, is hyper-aware of the pitfalls of mixing business with pleasure. After all, getting involved with a player is not the thing to do if you want to move up the career ladder. But she finds Storm is just as irrisistible as she remembers, and when match-fixing rumours start circling around his team, she has a decision to make.
This book will appeal to readers who love a sweet romance story set in an exotic setting with a little bit of sport thrown into the mix.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked Gina. She was so determined and motivated with finding the story for her career. She runs into her old flame, Storm, and they rekindled what they thought they lost. Gina was at a crossroads - follow the story and possibly lose Storm, or vice versa. Following Gina and her decisions made this such a great book.

[Melissa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the arena of world-class cricket, their lives cross once again.
You're going to read this book in one sitting so you better not be cooking when you start

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.