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Winning the Player (The Player Series #1)
When injury destroyed her dream of playing college basketball, Aubree Taylor fled overseas. Now she's finally home again and ready to move on with her life. Until she runs into Hunter Stone on her first night out, the only guy who's ever meant anything to her - and the last person she wants to see.
Since she ran out on him two years ago, Hunter hasn't been able to get Aubree off his mind. The sexy football star has had girls all over him for years, but Aubree is the only one to have ever seen behind the cocky persona he puts on for the crowd.
Despite her attempts to keep her distance, Aubree is unable to resist the strong attraction between them and it isn't long before they fall into a passionate relationship. She has never been afraid of a challenge, but Hunter's arrogance and inability to trust are testing her to her limits. Aubree must decide whether to follow her heart and lower her guard...or risk losing the best thing that's ever happened to her...
Intended for readers 18+
Winning the Player is book 1 and a companion book to:
Charming the Outback
Jardine
Caught Out
Winning the Game
Playing for Time
Since she ran out on him two years ago, Hunter hasn't been able to get Aubree off his mind. The sexy football star has had girls all over him for years, but Aubree is the only one to have ever seen behind the cocky persona he puts on for the crowd.
Despite her attempts to keep her distance, Aubree is unable to resist the strong attraction between them and it isn't long before they fall into a passionate relationship. She has never been afraid of a challenge, but Hunter's arrogance and inability to trust are testing her to her limits. Aubree must decide whether to follow her heart and lower her guard...or risk losing the best thing that's ever happened to her...
Intended for readers 18+
Winning the Player is book 1 and a companion book to:
Charming the Outback
Jardine
Caught Out
Winning the Game
Playing for Time
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 14, 2014
319 people are currently reading
643 people want to read
About the author
Leesa Bow
26 books577 followersBest selling Australian author, Leesa Bow writes alphas with a fierce determination to win, and the women who will push for them to fight harder.
Her love of sports romance came from inspiration from her sporty family.
Leesa loves nothing more than to curl up with a good book, and a glass of South Australian wine.
You can sign up for Leesa's email newsletter at: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
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Website: https://www.leesabow.com
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Her love of sports romance came from inspiration from her sporty family.
Leesa loves nothing more than to curl up with a good book, and a glass of South Australian wine.
You can sign up for Leesa's email newsletter at: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
Follow Leesa at:
Website: https://www.leesabow.com
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/Leesa-Bow/e/B00...
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/leesa...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Leesabowromance
FB Reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/46630...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
April 29, 2014
http://www.divabooknerd.com/2014/04/w...
Winning The Player is the first Aussie footy based fiction I've come across and although I have an aversion to New Adult novels, I couldn't wait to read it. I found Aubree to be not only realistic, but charming in an offbeat sense. She isn't perfect, isn't self absorbed or finds herself fighting off men with her unnatural beauty. She's real. She represents how so many of us feel at one point or another, her future was all but shattered and she's struggling to pick up the pieces and move on. She's tough and doesn't need a man to make her feel loved or needed, she wants to pick herself up and make something of the life she's left with. Hunter on the other hand, I couldn't relate to him at all.
Hunter is an imbecile. He gives the reader the impression that there aren't many women in Adelaide that he hasn't slept with and that he has a reputation of being explosive in bed. I was so unimpressed that I was hoping someone would relive him of one of his testicles just so he would reign in his testosterone charged chest beating. I can understand that his character was an elite sportsman and his football was a way of life, but did he need to be the stereotypical sportsman that seem to dominate New Adult today?
Regardless, Leesa Bow has created characters that will invoke emotions in readers. Women will relate to Aubree and her quiet and reflective personality. This isn't your typical New Adult novel though, although it does feature very mild sex scenes, it just a natural progression of the storyline. It's not sex heavy and concentrates more on Aubree, healing and learning to start again. I only wish that Hunter was more than a stereotype, Aubree deserved so much more. Even if you don't love your footy as much as I do, the storyline is engaging, will keep you riveted and unable to put down. Definitely grab a copy of this one and give it a go.
Ms Bow, I shall leave you with... Go Pies. Humph. Blackbirds indeed. Very clever.
Winning The Player is the first Aussie footy based fiction I've come across and although I have an aversion to New Adult novels, I couldn't wait to read it. I found Aubree to be not only realistic, but charming in an offbeat sense. She isn't perfect, isn't self absorbed or finds herself fighting off men with her unnatural beauty. She's real. She represents how so many of us feel at one point or another, her future was all but shattered and she's struggling to pick up the pieces and move on. She's tough and doesn't need a man to make her feel loved or needed, she wants to pick herself up and make something of the life she's left with. Hunter on the other hand, I couldn't relate to him at all.
Hunter is an imbecile. He gives the reader the impression that there aren't many women in Adelaide that he hasn't slept with and that he has a reputation of being explosive in bed. I was so unimpressed that I was hoping someone would relive him of one of his testicles just so he would reign in his testosterone charged chest beating. I can understand that his character was an elite sportsman and his football was a way of life, but did he need to be the stereotypical sportsman that seem to dominate New Adult today?
Regardless, Leesa Bow has created characters that will invoke emotions in readers. Women will relate to Aubree and her quiet and reflective personality. This isn't your typical New Adult novel though, although it does feature very mild sex scenes, it just a natural progression of the storyline. It's not sex heavy and concentrates more on Aubree, healing and learning to start again. I only wish that Hunter was more than a stereotype, Aubree deserved so much more. Even if you don't love your footy as much as I do, the storyline is engaging, will keep you riveted and unable to put down. Definitely grab a copy of this one and give it a go.
Ms Bow, I shall leave you with... Go Pies. Humph. Blackbirds indeed. Very clever.
April 3, 2015
Winning the Player is an Aussie sport romance. I was excited to read this since I have a huge love for sports and once being a basketball player myself.
Aubree Taylor is a basketball player, she is 6 feet tall and has high hopes of playing college ball in the US and wants to then become a professional player. She has a promising future and then has a traumatic injury that sidelines her, permanently. She has so much negativity and it could have become tiresome in the story but this was something I could relate to 100%. I understand how you love something so much and when you can no longer do it, it feels like your life is over. You feel like this is all you know and it gets taken away from you. You run away from things, this is exactly what Aubree did, quite a few times actually. After her injury, she leaves Australia and travels the world. After 2 years she decides its time to head home, she is done hiding so she goes home to her mother and picks up some of her friendships with her basketball teammates and her best friend Maddy. She takes a job where her mother works while she decides what she wants to do with her life. What she doesn't want is to see Hunter, she is not ready to face the 6'5" sexy football player.
Hunter Stone is an AFL football player from Adelaide. He is Aubree's best friend Maddys cousin. He is big headed, arrogant, alpha male who has many women falling at his feet. He has slept with the majority of them. He had pined for Aubree for 2 years, up until she left to travel. He cant believe she is back and kinda pissed off about it.
It took me a long time to warm up to Hunter. His immaturity about his conquests, making you believe he slept with the half the women that live in South Australia. He was just flat out rude but I did warm up to him and was swooning towards the end.
Will Hunter and Aubree ever find the happily ever after? Will Aubree let her walls come down and fully let
This is an Australian-English read so at times it was confusing for me but did not make the story any less enjoyable. My only complaint would be that some of the issues the characters faced were pretty predictable. If you want a story that doesn't have detailed sex scenes but still has a dominating alpha, then I recommend reading Winning the Player.
***Reviewed for Kylie's Fiction Addiction***
Aubree Taylor is a basketball player, she is 6 feet tall and has high hopes of playing college ball in the US and wants to then become a professional player. She has a promising future and then has a traumatic injury that sidelines her, permanently. She has so much negativity and it could have become tiresome in the story but this was something I could relate to 100%. I understand how you love something so much and when you can no longer do it, it feels like your life is over. You feel like this is all you know and it gets taken away from you. You run away from things, this is exactly what Aubree did, quite a few times actually. After her injury, she leaves Australia and travels the world. After 2 years she decides its time to head home, she is done hiding so she goes home to her mother and picks up some of her friendships with her basketball teammates and her best friend Maddy. She takes a job where her mother works while she decides what she wants to do with her life. What she doesn't want is to see Hunter, she is not ready to face the 6'5" sexy football player.
Hunter Stone is an AFL football player from Adelaide. He is Aubree's best friend Maddys cousin. He is big headed, arrogant, alpha male who has many women falling at his feet. He has slept with the majority of them. He had pined for Aubree for 2 years, up until she left to travel. He cant believe she is back and kinda pissed off about it.
It took me a long time to warm up to Hunter. His immaturity about his conquests, making you believe he slept with the half the women that live in South Australia. He was just flat out rude but I did warm up to him and was swooning towards the end.
Will Hunter and Aubree ever find the happily ever after? Will Aubree let her walls come down and fully let
This is an Australian-English read so at times it was confusing for me but did not make the story any less enjoyable. My only complaint would be that some of the issues the characters faced were pretty predictable. If you want a story that doesn't have detailed sex scenes but still has a dominating alpha, then I recommend reading Winning the Player.
***Reviewed for Kylie's Fiction Addiction***
July 2, 2020
4.5 Star review of Winning The Player by Leesa Bow
Leesa Bow is a new author to me and I have no idea how I have not come across her before. This was a well written and entertaining story that drew me in and kept me riveted from the first to the last chapter.
Ms. Bow’s style of writing is one with characters that are easy to relate to and I really liked Aubree Taylor and Hunter Sloane.
A sports romance that I really enjoyed.
Leesa Bow is a new author to me and I have no idea how I have not come across her before. This was a well written and entertaining story that drew me in and kept me riveted from the first to the last chapter.
Ms. Bow’s style of writing is one with characters that are easy to relate to and I really liked Aubree Taylor and Hunter Sloane.
A sports romance that I really enjoyed.
May 19, 2021
2.5 Stars
Another jerky football player and a girl whose pathway is filled with bad breaks. Hunter isn't my favorite guy -- pretty much a jerk from start to finish. Aubree should have listened to her grandmother -- smart woman!
I wasn't wowed by this sports-romance, and I don't plan on going forward with the series.
Another jerky football player and a girl whose pathway is filled with bad breaks. Hunter isn't my favorite guy -- pretty much a jerk from start to finish. Aubree should have listened to her grandmother -- smart woman!
I wasn't wowed by this sports-romance, and I don't plan on going forward with the series.
April 17, 2020
Thee most heartwrenching, throat gulping, eye drenching dramatic cesspools that's brought me to life! Totally line between fact n faux! In fact Winning the MVP PLAYERS WAS THE MOST REWARDING SUSPENSEFUL ENGULFING JOURNEYS TILL THE END OF OUR GRAYS!
If I must say....please may we take a bow! AND X-REATE AND MOST OF ALL ILLITERATE/ILLUSTRATE OUR VOWS!!!!!
If I must say....please may we take a bow! AND X-REATE AND MOST OF ALL ILLITERATE/ILLUSTRATE OUR VOWS!!!!!
June 18, 2014
Fun, sexy and overall very entertaining!
First of all I'd like to point out that although this story is about an AFL player (Australian Football League), no knowledge of the game is required. I should know since, I must admit I've never watched a match in it's entirety. In my defence I am from NSW, the heartland of NRL (National Rugby League - GO DRAGONS!!!). So for me to say I enjoyed a book about an AFL player - well that's saying something!
REVIEW:
The story:
For the past two years Aubree has been travelling overseas, trying to come to terms with the fact that her once hopeful dreams of becoming a professional basketballer were crushed with a devestating knee injury. Now back in Adelaide, she's starting to find her feet again with the help of her best friend Maddy. One thing she hadn't been looking forward to was running into Maddy's cousin and famous football player, Hunter. He's even sexier than she remembers and just as self assured as ever.
After running out on him two years ago, Aubree wants nothing more than to avoid his intense stares. He sees too much and makes her feel things she's never felt before. But how long can Aubree ignore the powerful attraction between them?
The characters:
Aubree was a very relatable character, she's struggling with the massive change in her future and is feeling so lost and confused as to what she wants to do with her life. I think most people can relate to that feeling, and seeing Aubree going through the stages of getting her life back on track was really rewarding.
It took me a while to warm to Hunter. He's a player, that's no secret, and he's had more than his fair share of women. But it took a while to actually see past all that Alpha-Male-Sports-Guy stuff to the real man underneath. That was the Hunter that I liked and wanted to see more of - but I guess that's a very personal thing, as I'm not really a bad boy type of girl.
The romance:
There was lots of sexual tension between these two, especially since Aubree tried to deny her attraction to Hunter. What I really enjoyed about the romance, was that Aubree wasn't willing to settle for being another notch on Hunter's belt. I liked that she made him work for her trust and didn't just hand over her heart. Hunter has most certainly played the field and I think it was important to see him prove that Aubree was more than just one of his sports groupies.
The Writing:
I really enjoyed the youthful and very natural writing in this story. The use of the Twitter updates, was really creative and such a natural way of venting the characters feelings. They'd tweet inspirational quotes with double meanings about the things gong on in their lives. Sharing their thoughts on social media is something that a lot of readers will relate to.
FINAL WORD:
I'm always excited to read a book by an Aussie author, and I loved that it was actually set in Australia, and had that Aussie atmosphere throughout! Fun, sexy and overall very entertaining!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / some sex scenes
Violence: mild
Language: medium / several f words etc
Drugs & alcohol: medium / several scenes in bars
More reviews at The Reading Realm
First of all I'd like to point out that although this story is about an AFL player (Australian Football League), no knowledge of the game is required. I should know since, I must admit I've never watched a match in it's entirety. In my defence I am from NSW, the heartland of NRL (National Rugby League - GO DRAGONS!!!). So for me to say I enjoyed a book about an AFL player - well that's saying something!
REVIEW:
The story:
For the past two years Aubree has been travelling overseas, trying to come to terms with the fact that her once hopeful dreams of becoming a professional basketballer were crushed with a devestating knee injury. Now back in Adelaide, she's starting to find her feet again with the help of her best friend Maddy. One thing she hadn't been looking forward to was running into Maddy's cousin and famous football player, Hunter. He's even sexier than she remembers and just as self assured as ever.
After running out on him two years ago, Aubree wants nothing more than to avoid his intense stares. He sees too much and makes her feel things she's never felt before. But how long can Aubree ignore the powerful attraction between them?
The characters:
Aubree was a very relatable character, she's struggling with the massive change in her future and is feeling so lost and confused as to what she wants to do with her life. I think most people can relate to that feeling, and seeing Aubree going through the stages of getting her life back on track was really rewarding.
It took me a while to warm to Hunter. He's a player, that's no secret, and he's had more than his fair share of women. But it took a while to actually see past all that Alpha-Male-Sports-Guy stuff to the real man underneath. That was the Hunter that I liked and wanted to see more of - but I guess that's a very personal thing, as I'm not really a bad boy type of girl.
The romance:
There was lots of sexual tension between these two, especially since Aubree tried to deny her attraction to Hunter. What I really enjoyed about the romance, was that Aubree wasn't willing to settle for being another notch on Hunter's belt. I liked that she made him work for her trust and didn't just hand over her heart. Hunter has most certainly played the field and I think it was important to see him prove that Aubree was more than just one of his sports groupies.
The Writing:
I really enjoyed the youthful and very natural writing in this story. The use of the Twitter updates, was really creative and such a natural way of venting the characters feelings. They'd tweet inspirational quotes with double meanings about the things gong on in their lives. Sharing their thoughts on social media is something that a lot of readers will relate to.
FINAL WORD:
I'm always excited to read a book by an Aussie author, and I loved that it was actually set in Australia, and had that Aussie atmosphere throughout! Fun, sexy and overall very entertaining!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / some sex scenes
Violence: mild
Language: medium / several f words etc
Drugs & alcohol: medium / several scenes in bars
More reviews at The Reading Realm
May 15, 2014
I received an e-arc of Winning the Player from NetGalley in exchange for a review from Destiny Romance. This in no way has influenced my review.
For the first time ever, I read a book and understood the sport that it was centred around or included. I love footy, the AFL (Australian Football League) I have been going to and watching the footy since I was 2 years old. I have grown up watching it. So it was really different reading a book not only set in Australia but which also includes a home grown sport.
I felt sorry for Aubree. I understood what it is like, even though it wasn’t what I wanted it to be, how an injury can ruin what you love. I use to dance all the time but then I dislocated my knee, tore my ligament and had a few other things happen that now prevent me from dancing. So I understand her heartbreak, to an extent, of how an injury can stop you doing something that you planned to do forever.
I also really enjoyed Aubree, yes she did have quite a few negative thoughts, but like I said before I understand why she was so negative, she had trained and worked hard her whole life for something, which then came crashing down on her. I don’t like that she ran away from her problems and does a few more times, but I guess that is how she deals with them. I felt that Aubree was a really ‘real’ character. She wasn’t fake.
Life is what you make of it. You take the good with the bad. Turn a negative into a positive.
Hunter. Hunter is a name that I always refer to as those hot bad boys. He may not be a bad boy but he is definitely hot. He is the footy boy, but he is also the Alpha male. Meaning that I wanted to hit the hell of him for 80% of the book. He was arrogant, rude and so immature. He has slept with pretty much all the girls of the South Australian population and he doesn’t hide it. Then there was the other 20% where I loved him the death, and he treated Aubree just perfectly.
Both Aubree and Hunter made mistakes, Hunter making the biggest mistake out of the both of them. But hey, we all make mistakes.
I loved that Winning the Player was set in Australia, even though it’s set in South Australia and I live in Melbourne, it still has the essence of the ‘Australia life.’ Not the one that everyone expects that we all say ‘shrimps on the barbie.’ It was nice seeing what it is really like.
"You can’t win something after the siren sounds.” My hand cupped his beautiful face. “The game ended long ago. You had already won."
I really enjoyed Leesa Bow’s writing in Winning the Player. It was easy to read and understand. I also like that it was pretty clean and only had mild sexual scene. It still isn’t for anyone under the age of at least 17. Lessa Bow is able to invoke the characters emotions to the readers.
Overall I really enjoyed Winning the Player. It was entertaining and emotional, it took me on a ride. I loved that it was set in Australia and had a lot of AFL, it just made me so excited.
For More reviews head to Angel Reads>
For the first time ever, I read a book and understood the sport that it was centred around or included. I love footy, the AFL (Australian Football League) I have been going to and watching the footy since I was 2 years old. I have grown up watching it. So it was really different reading a book not only set in Australia but which also includes a home grown sport.
I felt sorry for Aubree. I understood what it is like, even though it wasn’t what I wanted it to be, how an injury can ruin what you love. I use to dance all the time but then I dislocated my knee, tore my ligament and had a few other things happen that now prevent me from dancing. So I understand her heartbreak, to an extent, of how an injury can stop you doing something that you planned to do forever.
I also really enjoyed Aubree, yes she did have quite a few negative thoughts, but like I said before I understand why she was so negative, she had trained and worked hard her whole life for something, which then came crashing down on her. I don’t like that she ran away from her problems and does a few more times, but I guess that is how she deals with them. I felt that Aubree was a really ‘real’ character. She wasn’t fake.
Life is what you make of it. You take the good with the bad. Turn a negative into a positive.
Hunter. Hunter is a name that I always refer to as those hot bad boys. He may not be a bad boy but he is definitely hot. He is the footy boy, but he is also the Alpha male. Meaning that I wanted to hit the hell of him for 80% of the book. He was arrogant, rude and so immature. He has slept with pretty much all the girls of the South Australian population and he doesn’t hide it. Then there was the other 20% where I loved him the death, and he treated Aubree just perfectly.
Both Aubree and Hunter made mistakes, Hunter making the biggest mistake out of the both of them. But hey, we all make mistakes.
I loved that Winning the Player was set in Australia, even though it’s set in South Australia and I live in Melbourne, it still has the essence of the ‘Australia life.’ Not the one that everyone expects that we all say ‘shrimps on the barbie.’ It was nice seeing what it is really like.
"You can’t win something after the siren sounds.” My hand cupped his beautiful face. “The game ended long ago. You had already won."
I really enjoyed Leesa Bow’s writing in Winning the Player. It was easy to read and understand. I also like that it was pretty clean and only had mild sexual scene. It still isn’t for anyone under the age of at least 17. Lessa Bow is able to invoke the characters emotions to the readers.
Overall I really enjoyed Winning the Player. It was entertaining and emotional, it took me on a ride. I loved that it was set in Australia and had a lot of AFL, it just made me so excited.
For More reviews head to Angel Reads>
April 22, 2014
4 Kicking Stars!
get it .. *wink, wink*
Anyway Aubree has gone back home to Australia after she suffers a horrific sports injury, basically tears her ACL, MCL and meniscus playing the one thing in like she knew she was good at, basketball. So she's forced to leave the US and go home. Needless to say she isn't happy.
Things don't get better either when she runs into her best friends cousin Hunter, who as I just learned doesn't play soccer but AFL … Not quite sure what it is but I'm always down to read about hot athletic men! Hunter isn't just any AFL player either, he's the cream of the crop, nominated for the most prestigious award their is. Kind of like the Heisman in College Football!
Aubree and Hunter didn't leave on the best of terms either, she ran out on him after almost being deflowered, no big deal, then she left for college in America and never spoke to him again, also not a big deal, UNTIL NOW. hahahaha
I loved the tension between the two of them, literally hilarious, not to mention I loved her best friend.
I liked the Aubree stood up for herself and didn't give in right away. She was a bit whiney, but I get it. It wasn't overkill so it really didn't bother me all to much. We're all whiny now and then.
I'm also glad she realized her faults as well and how to overcome them. It wasn't just a steamy romance it had a really great message behind it that you have to keep going. You can't feel sorry for yourself forever, you need to push on and continue to do what you love even if it's not in the exact context you had foreseen.
I'm so glad I read this book, I really liked it! It was a little confusing, I'm not from Australia so some of the words I had no clue what they were talking about, but no biggie! I just wish it had a different title! The book is so much better then the title leads on. There's such a great story and I wish the title went with it more!
Definitely a great, steamy, easy read!
*ARC provided by publisher via Netgallery
get it .. *wink, wink*
Anyway Aubree has gone back home to Australia after she suffers a horrific sports injury, basically tears her ACL, MCL and meniscus playing the one thing in like she knew she was good at, basketball. So she's forced to leave the US and go home. Needless to say she isn't happy.
Things don't get better either when she runs into her best friends cousin Hunter, who as I just learned doesn't play soccer but AFL … Not quite sure what it is but I'm always down to read about hot athletic men! Hunter isn't just any AFL player either, he's the cream of the crop, nominated for the most prestigious award their is. Kind of like the Heisman in College Football!
Aubree and Hunter didn't leave on the best of terms either, she ran out on him after almost being deflowered, no big deal, then she left for college in America and never spoke to him again, also not a big deal, UNTIL NOW. hahahaha
I loved the tension between the two of them, literally hilarious, not to mention I loved her best friend.
I liked the Aubree stood up for herself and didn't give in right away. She was a bit whiney, but I get it. It wasn't overkill so it really didn't bother me all to much. We're all whiny now and then.
I'm also glad she realized her faults as well and how to overcome them. It wasn't just a steamy romance it had a really great message behind it that you have to keep going. You can't feel sorry for yourself forever, you need to push on and continue to do what you love even if it's not in the exact context you had foreseen.
I'm so glad I read this book, I really liked it! It was a little confusing, I'm not from Australia so some of the words I had no clue what they were talking about, but no biggie! I just wish it had a different title! The book is so much better then the title leads on. There's such a great story and I wish the title went with it more!
Definitely a great, steamy, easy read!
*ARC provided by publisher via Netgallery
July 18, 2014
Winning the Player is an enjoyable New Adult romance that utilises the problems of elite sports to great effect.
When star basketballer Aubree blew out her knee and her dreams of becoming an elite athlete were shattered, she escaped the familiarity of Australia and spent two years travelling overseas. Now she is back and she must deal with everything she left behind: her failed sporting aspirations, her family and friends, and the arrogant footballer who makes her heart beat way too fast.
Winning the Player is a glimpse into elite sports through an entertaining contemporary romance. Aubree is written with depth and compassion. Her difficulties of finding her place in a life no longer filled with training, dealing with her lost dreams and her conflicting feelings for a man who represents everything she should despise are very relatable. Hunter is less understandable, particularly his sudden rages, but as this is Aubree’s story it is normal that some aspects of him would remain enigmatic and the portrayal of a superstar player in the limelight is certainly believable. The use of tweets and texts as part of the courtship and complications is a nice touch.
Winning the Player delivers a quality romance that keeps you guessing about what else could get in the way of these potential lovers.
When star basketballer Aubree blew out her knee and her dreams of becoming an elite athlete were shattered, she escaped the familiarity of Australia and spent two years travelling overseas. Now she is back and she must deal with everything she left behind: her failed sporting aspirations, her family and friends, and the arrogant footballer who makes her heart beat way too fast.
Winning the Player is a glimpse into elite sports through an entertaining contemporary romance. Aubree is written with depth and compassion. Her difficulties of finding her place in a life no longer filled with training, dealing with her lost dreams and her conflicting feelings for a man who represents everything she should despise are very relatable. Hunter is less understandable, particularly his sudden rages, but as this is Aubree’s story it is normal that some aspects of him would remain enigmatic and the portrayal of a superstar player in the limelight is certainly believable. The use of tweets and texts as part of the courtship and complications is a nice touch.
Winning the Player delivers a quality romance that keeps you guessing about what else could get in the way of these potential lovers.
July 15, 2014
With the World Cup ending this past week, I thought now would be a fitting time to review this book; Hunter is an Australian soccer star. Of course I wanted to read this book because both main characters are athletes, they have past history, and that cover is too good too pass over.
This is my first Leesa Bow book and I really enjoyed it. I felt like Aubree and Hunter were two people I'd like to know and be friends with. My heart went out to Aubree; it must be extremely difficult to not participate in something that was ingrained in her soul. I can understand why she chose to run as opposed to staying close to those she knew.
The chemistry between Hunter and Aubree was hot. I was surprised at how things went down the first time around between them. That kept me flipping pages as fast as I could read them. I found Hunter's temper to be concerning, but by the end of the book I liked him.
I found Leesa Bow's debut book to be all that it promised. I loved the use of twitter and texts; they really enhanced the story. Plus it was a great way for them to stalk each other covertly. I'm really looking forward to Leesa's next book and the great story she will surely bring to life.
This is my first Leesa Bow book and I really enjoyed it. I felt like Aubree and Hunter were two people I'd like to know and be friends with. My heart went out to Aubree; it must be extremely difficult to not participate in something that was ingrained in her soul. I can understand why she chose to run as opposed to staying close to those she knew.
The chemistry between Hunter and Aubree was hot. I was surprised at how things went down the first time around between them. That kept me flipping pages as fast as I could read them. I found Hunter's temper to be concerning, but by the end of the book I liked him.
I found Leesa Bow's debut book to be all that it promised. I loved the use of twitter and texts; they really enhanced the story. Plus it was a great way for them to stalk each other covertly. I'm really looking forward to Leesa's next book and the great story she will surely bring to life.
April 3, 2014
*** I have received an ARC via NetGalley ***
Yes, the language is in Australian English, so it was a little bit confusing to read BUT I did like the story of a second chance at love with Aubree and and Hunter.
Aubree, as an injured, former basketball athlete and Hunter, the pro football player had a nice chemistry going on - only to be disturbed by their failure to talk to each other.
I get, that some drama has to be "constructed" to spice up the story, but it's a fine line between a "needed" drama and just getting frustrated - and I almost crossed that line several times.
Surprisingly, I did like story of Aubree and Hunter as a couple (it's a sweet story after all, how they got together and I'm a sucker for sports romances), but for a professional athlete, Hunter behaved immature and sometimes I felt like being catapulted back into high school.
I liked the book, but it took way to long to get to the point of everything (dear book characters, please, please... talk to each other!).
Yes, the language is in Australian English, so it was a little bit confusing to read BUT I did like the story of a second chance at love with Aubree and and Hunter.
Aubree, as an injured, former basketball athlete and Hunter, the pro football player had a nice chemistry going on - only to be disturbed by their failure to talk to each other.
I get, that some drama has to be "constructed" to spice up the story, but it's a fine line between a "needed" drama and just getting frustrated - and I almost crossed that line several times.
Surprisingly, I did like story of Aubree and Hunter as a couple (it's a sweet story after all, how they got together and I'm a sucker for sports romances), but for a professional athlete, Hunter behaved immature and sometimes I felt like being catapulted back into high school.
I liked the book, but it took way to long to get to the point of everything (dear book characters, please, please... talk to each other!).
April 22, 2014
Two thumbs up for the hottie that Hunter is! Shaved head, six foot five of muscly goodness and an alpha male personality to go with. Yum, yum, yum!
Aubree Taylor, the once hotshot basketball player, just came back from the a two year long hiatus after a busted knee made her give up her love of the game. Feeling lost as ever, she relies on her best friend's escapades to keep her busy and her mind of her broken dreams. But it's not just basketball that she is running from two years ago. Could it have something to do with a certain Blackbird player named Hunter Stone?
Despite of what I read on earier reviews, I really, really liked Winning the Player by Leesa Bow. It has pretty intense scenes in which I couldn't help but shed a tear or two. I feel Aubree's dilemma and am not okay with how Hunter handles things. AT some point of the book, he came off as a big douche.. But at other parts, he can be the perfect book boyfriend!
I definitely recommend Winning the Player. I say, give it a chance!
Aubree Taylor, the once hotshot basketball player, just came back from the a two year long hiatus after a busted knee made her give up her love of the game. Feeling lost as ever, she relies on her best friend's escapades to keep her busy and her mind of her broken dreams. But it's not just basketball that she is running from two years ago. Could it have something to do with a certain Blackbird player named Hunter Stone?
Despite of what I read on earier reviews, I really, really liked Winning the Player by Leesa Bow. It has pretty intense scenes in which I couldn't help but shed a tear or two. I feel Aubree's dilemma and am not okay with how Hunter handles things. AT some point of the book, he came off as a big douche.. But at other parts, he can be the perfect book boyfriend!
I definitely recommend Winning the Player. I say, give it a chance!
February 2, 2015
A wonderful love story! Chemistry, heat, conflict, and an interesting past. This book has it all!!
Aubree has just returned to her home town in Australia after being away in he states for 2 years. She ran away after a knee injury that left her no longer able to play basketball. Which was her life time goal. With nothing left she took off to heal & find herself. When she returns life isn't easy. And running into Hunter Stone is complicated. Especially since she left his bed and went straight to the airport.
Hunter Stone is a very famous footballer player in Australia. He's known Aubree for years and when she ran away for two years he was completely confused. Now that she is back, he wants to find out why she ran.
These two have some serious chemistry. But can Aubree deal with woman throwing themselves at Hunter? And can she trust him enough to help him in and help her move on?
Wonderful story! Kept my attention the entire way through. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing what would happen
next. Would love to read more about these two.
Aubree has just returned to her home town in Australia after being away in he states for 2 years. She ran away after a knee injury that left her no longer able to play basketball. Which was her life time goal. With nothing left she took off to heal & find herself. When she returns life isn't easy. And running into Hunter Stone is complicated. Especially since she left his bed and went straight to the airport.
Hunter Stone is a very famous footballer player in Australia. He's known Aubree for years and when she ran away for two years he was completely confused. Now that she is back, he wants to find out why she ran.
These two have some serious chemistry. But can Aubree deal with woman throwing themselves at Hunter? And can she trust him enough to help him in and help her move on?
Wonderful story! Kept my attention the entire way through. Plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing what would happen
next. Would love to read more about these two.
August 11, 2018
Winning The Player is another 5 star read from one of my favourite authors. I couldn't put this book down last night and was sat until 4am reading. I loved Aubree and Hunter who both had to learn to trust before they could accept their love for each other. Both were damaged by their pasts and had to face that pain head on so they could then move on with their lives together. And just when it seemed like they were finally heading towards a future together, it looked like Hunter was keeping something from Aubree and my stomach dropped. I was filled with relief by the end though as I honestly wasn't sure if this couple were going to make it.
Leesa Bow is an author who knows exactly what words to use to pull the reader in. She balances the sports facts so well with the main story and it adds rather then takes away from what she's trying to give the reader. I've not yet come across a book of her's that I haven't enjoyed, and each review is so easy to write because I could rave about her amazing work all day. This book is most definitely worth downloading and picking up to read today!
Leesa Bow is an author who knows exactly what words to use to pull the reader in. She balances the sports facts so well with the main story and it adds rather then takes away from what she's trying to give the reader. I've not yet come across a book of her's that I haven't enjoyed, and each review is so easy to write because I could rave about her amazing work all day. This book is most definitely worth downloading and picking up to read today!
July 6, 2020
4.5 Stars for Winning the Player
This is the first book I have read by Leesa Bow but it certainly won’t be the last, after reading Winning the Player I’m left wondering why she hasn’t crossed my radar before now and I’m excited to play catch up with the rest of her books.
If you love sports romance you will want to pick this book up, it’s an Aussie footy based story with characters you can’t help relating to. Aubree Taylor is a basketball player and her dream is to play college basketball in the US but an injury has her sidelined and it also ended her career so she has made her way back home to Australia and that’s when she meets the hot footy player Hunter Stone. Hunter is Aubree’s best friends cousin so their paths were always destined to cross but will Aubree let her walls down and finally let someone in .......
This is a book with all the feels, Aubree is easy to relate to and Hunter is easy to swoon over and its an emotional entertaining read that’s well written. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
This is the first book I have read by Leesa Bow but it certainly won’t be the last, after reading Winning the Player I’m left wondering why she hasn’t crossed my radar before now and I’m excited to play catch up with the rest of her books.
If you love sports romance you will want to pick this book up, it’s an Aussie footy based story with characters you can’t help relating to. Aubree Taylor is a basketball player and her dream is to play college basketball in the US but an injury has her sidelined and it also ended her career so she has made her way back home to Australia and that’s when she meets the hot footy player Hunter Stone. Hunter is Aubree’s best friends cousin so their paths were always destined to cross but will Aubree let her walls down and finally let someone in .......
This is a book with all the feels, Aubree is easy to relate to and Hunter is easy to swoon over and its an emotional entertaining read that’s well written. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
May 29, 2014
I have to admit that I wasn't too sure about this book. I don't like sports and the idea of a sporty romance seemed a bit daunting. Leesa Bow won me over however. There is so much in “Winning the player” It is more about overcoming and maturing than it is about actual sports.
To me it was more about the emotional complexities about being an athlete and how the sport becomes an identifiable part of your identity.
Aubree really grows through the course of the novel as a person and offers some great inspirational wisdom. Her mother is a wonderful character and I some times wish I had someone like her on my side.
Winning the player is a wonderful New adult début full of family drama and acceptance. Even if you aren't sporty like me, this delightfully fun romance will win you over too.
To me it was more about the emotional complexities about being an athlete and how the sport becomes an identifiable part of your identity.
Aubree really grows through the course of the novel as a person and offers some great inspirational wisdom. Her mother is a wonderful character and I some times wish I had someone like her on my side.
Winning the player is a wonderful New adult début full of family drama and acceptance. Even if you aren't sporty like me, this delightfully fun romance will win you over too.
April 25, 2020
This story was fantastic, with some extremely likeable characters. My heart sunk at one point and stayed like that for a number of pages. My gosh Leesa Bow knows how to set a scene, I love her writing style. I can’t wait to read more of her books!
Want to read
September 25, 2025💝 FREE on Amazon & on iBooks today (11/15/2018)!💝
February 25, 2019
I just found Leesa and I have bought this series and I love the characters. Hunter proves drinking can make you %itchy. Lol
April 28, 2014
As a teenager, Aubree Taylor was a gifted basketball player with her whole future mapped out: a couple years at the Australian Institute of Sport followed by playing college basketball in America. A catastrophic knee injury that meant she’d never be able to play competitively again ruined all of her dreams and instead Aubree fled overseas. After a long time, she’s back in Adelaide, Australia and one of the first people she runs into is her best friend’s cousin, Hunter Stone, the one person she really does not want to see. Aubree ran out on Hunter one night, hopping on the plane to take her overseas.
Hunter Stone is an AFL player at the top of his game and he thinks that he and Aubree need to talk but Aubree doesn’t agree. She doesn’t want to talk about why she ran away from him two years ago, she doesn’t even really want to see him – or so she keeps telling herself. Aubree doesn’t do casual hook-ups though – for her it has to mean something. She’s seen enough of the AFL culture and heard enough about Hunter Stone’s prowess with women to know that that’s not a mistake she wants to make. She had a lucky escape two years ago and she needs to make sure she doesn’t slip up again.
But Hunter shows Aubree another side of him, a side she really likes and both of them are unable to resist the powerful attraction between them. However Hunter’s arrogance and distrust of women stemming from an incident in his past make it hard for Aubree to believe that he’ll always be there for her. Her instinct is to run again, before he really breaks her heart. It seems that every time Hunter shows something that convinces her to stay, there’s something else that tells her that this is never going to work.
This title was showcased at the #PTALive event I went to in Melbourne on Monday night and I love my AFL so I thought I’d give it a go. I have read a heap of books about American college football and whatever. I don’t understand the NFL – I don’t even know what a quarterback is/does but I do know Aussie Rules! My beloved Sydney Swans might be playing woefully enough to make me want to cry but there’s plenty of other things to watch.
Aubree has had the life she wanted, trained for, lived for for years, taken away from her by an incredibly serious knee injury. She’s spent the last few years avoiding her future really, by travelling from one place to the next and putting off thinking about what she’s going to do next. However the time has finally come to return home and of course on her first night back out in Adelaide, she runs into Hunter stone, her best friend Maddy’s cousin and her almost one night stand of a couple years ago. Aubree is deeply attracted to Hunter but she has big reservations about him – there’s the lifestyle and ‘player’ mentality and his arrogant attitude as well.
This book takes a good look at what it’s like for the “ordinary” girl to catch the eye of a sports superstar. Hunter is at the top of his game. I can’t remember if it says what position he plays but he’s the star of his team, the Adelaide Blackbirds (that kind of made me LOL because obviously they can’t use real teams however anyone can see where the inspiration for this made up name has come from!). Aubree quite often feels inferior to the sorts of girls that hang off the arms of the players out at clubs and all of the rumours often swirling around speak of sexual conquests, not steady girlfriend. Aubree doesn’t want to be anyone’s conquest – she wants a proper, steady relationship with mutual love (or something that can evolve into it) and respect.
I can see how the prospect of dating a footy player would be intimidating. Many of them are famous for model/actress/whatever girlfriends and much is made of the fact that Aubree is a tall and muscular size 12. Not large by any means, but also not skinny either and she feels uncomfortable in short clubbing dresses – but this doesn’t really stop her from wearing them when they go out. Aubree does a lot of drinking in this story and part of me wondered if she did shots a lot when she was out to help up her confidence when she was in a place that most of the time, she really wasn’t interested in being. Maddy almost always had to twist her arm to get her to go anywhere.
Despite being footy’s current golden boy, Hunter is a bit of a mess at times and I think there are a couple of things that aren’t really addressed properly here that should’ve been. The first is his sexual history – he brushes Aubree off when she tries to ask him about things that she needs to know in order to trust him. The whole thing where he takes pick ups to his spare room is sort of weird and his treatment of a girl that’s part of the hangers-on really isn’t great. She might be an epic bitch to Aubree and I suppose the reader is supposed to dislike her but I ended up feeling sorry for her. Also Hunter’s behaviour to Aubree after he catches her with Connor is not satisfactorily dealt with at all. He’s really quite rude towards her and that temper would be a significant red flag unless he acknowledged and it and showed that he was dealing with it and working on it. It’s explained why he’s mad but it’s not really a good enough reason and it’s also something he doesn’t want to talk about as well, along with his father. It seems like there’s a whole bunch of stuff that Hunter doesn’t want to discuss that gets stuck in a box and Aubree, who wants trust and disclosure, just has to deal with it. I definitely feel she gives Hunter too many chances here to redeem himself and he keeps royally stuffing them up in the same ways! When he lies to her about the reason he’s in Melbourne, I wanted to smack him. Hunter, learn from your mistakes buddy! Perhaps the professional football playing lifestyle both enhances and stunts maturity. After all players can be drafted when they’re barely adults, often moving away from home to train and play, travelling interstate, etc. It would make you grow up in some ways but in others….well you’re used to everything going your way. Being able to do whatever you want. Hunter does need to learn that he won’t always get his own way here and I think that Aubree does a good job of teaching him that she’s her own person and can think and act for herself and the only thing that will change her mind is her.
I actually really enjoyed Aubree as a character. I think it would be incredibly difficult for her to go through having her whole life thrown up into the air like that and she struggles with what she should do with her life. However she gets some really good ideas from people around her who support her and want to see her back involved in the sport that meant so much to her. She was occasionally a bit negative but she was dealing with quite a lot of things and she seemed to come out the other side a lot stronger. I liked how she stood her ground a lot of the time to Hunter, about issues like Connor and how she also stood up for a girl who was so drunk it was unlikely she would remember what was happening in the morning. That sort of behaviour, footy players taking advantage of that, isn’t a good look and Hunter’s casual dismissal of her fears I felt really put them on different sides. Aubree is the girl who knows what it will be like the next day, Hunter is the guy who would probably barely give that girl another moment’s thought. He does come around to her way of thinking in the end and admits he was a dick, which was good. If you’re wrong, you should admit it. I even liked them together, especially when Hunter was being playful and not moody but I think as a couple, they had issues that could’ve been explored a bit more thoroughly. I did really like the football details – Aubree isn’t really an AFL fan so mostly it comes from other people telling her what’s going on but it was good to read an Australian story focused on an Australian game.
Hunter Stone is an AFL player at the top of his game and he thinks that he and Aubree need to talk but Aubree doesn’t agree. She doesn’t want to talk about why she ran away from him two years ago, she doesn’t even really want to see him – or so she keeps telling herself. Aubree doesn’t do casual hook-ups though – for her it has to mean something. She’s seen enough of the AFL culture and heard enough about Hunter Stone’s prowess with women to know that that’s not a mistake she wants to make. She had a lucky escape two years ago and she needs to make sure she doesn’t slip up again.
But Hunter shows Aubree another side of him, a side she really likes and both of them are unable to resist the powerful attraction between them. However Hunter’s arrogance and distrust of women stemming from an incident in his past make it hard for Aubree to believe that he’ll always be there for her. Her instinct is to run again, before he really breaks her heart. It seems that every time Hunter shows something that convinces her to stay, there’s something else that tells her that this is never going to work.
This title was showcased at the #PTALive event I went to in Melbourne on Monday night and I love my AFL so I thought I’d give it a go. I have read a heap of books about American college football and whatever. I don’t understand the NFL – I don’t even know what a quarterback is/does but I do know Aussie Rules! My beloved Sydney Swans might be playing woefully enough to make me want to cry but there’s plenty of other things to watch.
Aubree has had the life she wanted, trained for, lived for for years, taken away from her by an incredibly serious knee injury. She’s spent the last few years avoiding her future really, by travelling from one place to the next and putting off thinking about what she’s going to do next. However the time has finally come to return home and of course on her first night back out in Adelaide, she runs into Hunter stone, her best friend Maddy’s cousin and her almost one night stand of a couple years ago. Aubree is deeply attracted to Hunter but she has big reservations about him – there’s the lifestyle and ‘player’ mentality and his arrogant attitude as well.
This book takes a good look at what it’s like for the “ordinary” girl to catch the eye of a sports superstar. Hunter is at the top of his game. I can’t remember if it says what position he plays but he’s the star of his team, the Adelaide Blackbirds (that kind of made me LOL because obviously they can’t use real teams however anyone can see where the inspiration for this made up name has come from!). Aubree quite often feels inferior to the sorts of girls that hang off the arms of the players out at clubs and all of the rumours often swirling around speak of sexual conquests, not steady girlfriend. Aubree doesn’t want to be anyone’s conquest – she wants a proper, steady relationship with mutual love (or something that can evolve into it) and respect.
I can see how the prospect of dating a footy player would be intimidating. Many of them are famous for model/actress/whatever girlfriends and much is made of the fact that Aubree is a tall and muscular size 12. Not large by any means, but also not skinny either and she feels uncomfortable in short clubbing dresses – but this doesn’t really stop her from wearing them when they go out. Aubree does a lot of drinking in this story and part of me wondered if she did shots a lot when she was out to help up her confidence when she was in a place that most of the time, she really wasn’t interested in being. Maddy almost always had to twist her arm to get her to go anywhere.
Despite being footy’s current golden boy, Hunter is a bit of a mess at times and I think there are a couple of things that aren’t really addressed properly here that should’ve been. The first is his sexual history – he brushes Aubree off when she tries to ask him about things that she needs to know in order to trust him. The whole thing where he takes pick ups to his spare room is sort of weird and his treatment of a girl that’s part of the hangers-on really isn’t great. She might be an epic bitch to Aubree and I suppose the reader is supposed to dislike her but I ended up feeling sorry for her. Also Hunter’s behaviour to Aubree after he catches her with Connor is not satisfactorily dealt with at all. He’s really quite rude towards her and that temper would be a significant red flag unless he acknowledged and it and showed that he was dealing with it and working on it. It’s explained why he’s mad but it’s not really a good enough reason and it’s also something he doesn’t want to talk about as well, along with his father. It seems like there’s a whole bunch of stuff that Hunter doesn’t want to discuss that gets stuck in a box and Aubree, who wants trust and disclosure, just has to deal with it. I definitely feel she gives Hunter too many chances here to redeem himself and he keeps royally stuffing them up in the same ways! When he lies to her about the reason he’s in Melbourne, I wanted to smack him. Hunter, learn from your mistakes buddy! Perhaps the professional football playing lifestyle both enhances and stunts maturity. After all players can be drafted when they’re barely adults, often moving away from home to train and play, travelling interstate, etc. It would make you grow up in some ways but in others….well you’re used to everything going your way. Being able to do whatever you want. Hunter does need to learn that he won’t always get his own way here and I think that Aubree does a good job of teaching him that she’s her own person and can think and act for herself and the only thing that will change her mind is her.
I actually really enjoyed Aubree as a character. I think it would be incredibly difficult for her to go through having her whole life thrown up into the air like that and she struggles with what she should do with her life. However she gets some really good ideas from people around her who support her and want to see her back involved in the sport that meant so much to her. She was occasionally a bit negative but she was dealing with quite a lot of things and she seemed to come out the other side a lot stronger. I liked how she stood her ground a lot of the time to Hunter, about issues like Connor and how she also stood up for a girl who was so drunk it was unlikely she would remember what was happening in the morning. That sort of behaviour, footy players taking advantage of that, isn’t a good look and Hunter’s casual dismissal of her fears I felt really put them on different sides. Aubree is the girl who knows what it will be like the next day, Hunter is the guy who would probably barely give that girl another moment’s thought. He does come around to her way of thinking in the end and admits he was a dick, which was good. If you’re wrong, you should admit it. I even liked them together, especially when Hunter was being playful and not moody but I think as a couple, they had issues that could’ve been explored a bit more thoroughly. I did really like the football details – Aubree isn’t really an AFL fan so mostly it comes from other people telling her what’s going on but it was good to read an Australian story focused on an Australian game.
December 17, 2022
Love love love.❤️❤️❤️
March 2, 2019
Winning The Player has been on my TBR list for awhile and after finally getting to it, I am kicking myself for taking so long to read it. This young adult sports romance is angsty, captivating, frustrating and packed full of emotion. Hunter and Aubree will at times drive you insane, however these two will also capture your heart. Their story is packed with sexual chemistry and will take you on a journey of two people finally discovering what it is to really fall in love and trust your heart to another.
October 6, 2014
Winning the Player is a fun read! It reminds me, somewhat, of Scoring Wilder in that its characters garner media attention due to their sports-related success.
You know, when I read literature from the new adult or romance genres, I typically gravitate toward dual-perspective narratives: This is Falling, All Lined Up, Maybe Someday, The Sea of Tranquility…I could go on. But every now and then, hearing from only one character reminds us how nerve-wracking it is to navigate the dating and relationship scenes. You must decide whom to trust, and you must weigh the risks against guarding your heart.
In Winning the Player, we see main character Aubree tackle both. But I like that she doesn’t let emotion and strong feelings rule her. Instead, she relies upon her own self-respect and upon the guidance of the strong women in her family. She doesn’t have a flippant attitude about sex (unlike her friend Maddy), and she refuses to fawn over Hunter solely because of his success on the field—both of which I appreciate.
And while I like Aubree a lot, I can’t say the same for her love interest. Frankly, I doubted that Hunter could win me over in the end …and I’m still not sure whether he has.
I mean, you get to know a person’s character through words and actions, right? (Especially since the reader isn’t allowed inside Hunter’s head.) When it comes to Hunter’s speech—well, he does a good job in the end of communicating his feelings, but before that he says some really hurtful things to Aubree that I have a hard time forgiving (e.g. “You’re no better than the others” and “Just who do you think you are, you stuck-up bitch?”). Wisdom shared from Maddy’s mum is pertinent here: “You can’t take back the hurt of what you say after the words leave your mouth.” While I acknowledge that both times Hunter is speaking from place of hurt, lashing out with one’s words is an unhealthy way to deal with conflict. I don’t want this type of thing for Aubree long-term.
As for Hunter’s actions, he doesn’t do enough to overcompensate for his mess-ups, in my opinion.
One more complaint about Hunter, and I promise I’ll stop: I don’t like that he never tells Aubree the story behind Samantha. Shouldn’t he fill her in since he mentions (at least twice) his desire for them to talk about what she hears from other people?
You know what would clear all of this up? The same story told from Hunter’s perspective. Is that too much to ask? :)
Final thoughts:
• I love Gran; she’s a fantastic character.
• I love that communication via Twitter is included as part of the story.
• While I didn’t understand all of the novel’s vocabulary/phrasing, I did appreciate its setting. Winning the Player is the first NA book I’ve read that’s set in Australia, and I appreciate the change of scenery. Plus, I spent a semester abroad there, so many of the references are familiar to me.
• What’s with Aubree escaping to the bathroom at every awkward/difficult encounter?
Now don’t get me wrong: I really enjoyed this book. I may have mixed feelings regarding Hunter, but this novel made me think. I’m protective of characters I love and respect, and I count Aubree among their number. Thanks to the author for crafting such a thought-provoking story!
*Copy generously provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
You know, when I read literature from the new adult or romance genres, I typically gravitate toward dual-perspective narratives: This is Falling, All Lined Up, Maybe Someday, The Sea of Tranquility…I could go on. But every now and then, hearing from only one character reminds us how nerve-wracking it is to navigate the dating and relationship scenes. You must decide whom to trust, and you must weigh the risks against guarding your heart.
In Winning the Player, we see main character Aubree tackle both. But I like that she doesn’t let emotion and strong feelings rule her. Instead, she relies upon her own self-respect and upon the guidance of the strong women in her family. She doesn’t have a flippant attitude about sex (unlike her friend Maddy), and she refuses to fawn over Hunter solely because of his success on the field—both of which I appreciate.
And while I like Aubree a lot, I can’t say the same for her love interest. Frankly, I doubted that Hunter could win me over in the end …and I’m still not sure whether he has.
I mean, you get to know a person’s character through words and actions, right? (Especially since the reader isn’t allowed inside Hunter’s head.) When it comes to Hunter’s speech—well, he does a good job in the end of communicating his feelings, but before that he says some really hurtful things to Aubree that I have a hard time forgiving (e.g. “You’re no better than the others” and “Just who do you think you are, you stuck-up bitch?”). Wisdom shared from Maddy’s mum is pertinent here: “You can’t take back the hurt of what you say after the words leave your mouth.” While I acknowledge that both times Hunter is speaking from place of hurt, lashing out with one’s words is an unhealthy way to deal with conflict. I don’t want this type of thing for Aubree long-term.
As for Hunter’s actions, he doesn’t do enough to overcompensate for his mess-ups, in my opinion.
One more complaint about Hunter, and I promise I’ll stop: I don’t like that he never tells Aubree the story behind Samantha. Shouldn’t he fill her in since he mentions (at least twice) his desire for them to talk about what she hears from other people?
You know what would clear all of this up? The same story told from Hunter’s perspective. Is that too much to ask? :)
Final thoughts:
• I love Gran; she’s a fantastic character.
• I love that communication via Twitter is included as part of the story.
• While I didn’t understand all of the novel’s vocabulary/phrasing, I did appreciate its setting. Winning the Player is the first NA book I’ve read that’s set in Australia, and I appreciate the change of scenery. Plus, I spent a semester abroad there, so many of the references are familiar to me.
• What’s with Aubree escaping to the bathroom at every awkward/difficult encounter?
Now don’t get me wrong: I really enjoyed this book. I may have mixed feelings regarding Hunter, but this novel made me think. I’m protective of characters I love and respect, and I count Aubree among their number. Thanks to the author for crafting such a thought-provoking story!
*Copy generously provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
September 21, 2015
Winning the Player by Leesa Bow
Published by Destiny Romance on 14 April 2014
Reviewed by Kj
The Word: Missed the 'Mark' (yes thats a footy term) in punching through as a winner in the New Adult romance genre
I went through a week of reading new adult romance and this is one of the books I picked up – hey it was that or a drink a lot of wine – I choose romance! Set in Australia and about Footy how could I resist! My life is overtaken during Footy season – our weekends are planned around when our AFL team is playing so I was rather excited to see how this story was going to pan out. The story, unfortunatly, just wasn’t anything special.
Aubree – was rather annoying as a female lead and I didn’t really relate to her much. Once an up and coming basketball star, she is now lost and washed up after an accident on the court ended her promising future. Travelling the world for the past few years trying to forget that her dreams were crushed she arrives home to try and pick her life back up. She spends a lot of the book trying to discover what she wants out of life and in my opinion wallowing – I don’t relate well with those that don’t choose to fight, especially when she reveals that she potentially could have made it in the basketball world if she worked her butt off in physio to try and repair her broken body. She takes the easy way out runs away and gives up. I get it, life is tough, I just can’t relate because I would have made different decisions.
Insert perfectly lovely and protective guy Hunter. There was a real discourse between what Aubree was thinking of Hunter and Hunter’s actions. For whatever reason Aubree lumped Hunter into the category of inconsiderate, mean and arrogant jock, when his actions, especially at the beginning of the book said anything but this. He was considerate, looked out for her welfare and spent time attention on Aubree to make her feel comfortable around him. He does have a bit of a temper that doesn’t appear until halfway through the book – guess there had to be a reason things couldn’t be perfect. But in general he is supportive and pushed Aubree to get out her funk – which she doesn’t always want to hear. I actually really disliked that Aubree thought he was a bit cocky and inconsiderate and wanted to shake her to open her eyes and see the truth of the situation.
The book is set around Aussie football – AFL, which was nice. Having a husband who is obsessed with the game our weekends are often scheduled around when his team is playing on the tele. In Australia we reference following the footy as a religion, and it can be. It was nice that the importance of the game was reflected in the book. It is not just a game – it is the atmosphere and community build around the game that makes it special. Leesa tries to keep things fairly simple so even if you don’t know a thing about the game it would make sense.
The book had notes of Cora Carmack’s All Lines Up, but just didn’t manage to punch through to that level. I enjoyed the read, but I don’t think I’ll add it to my reread pile.
Love you long time.
Published by Destiny Romance on 14 April 2014
Reviewed by Kj
The Word: Missed the 'Mark' (yes thats a footy term) in punching through as a winner in the New Adult romance genre
I went through a week of reading new adult romance and this is one of the books I picked up – hey it was that or a drink a lot of wine – I choose romance! Set in Australia and about Footy how could I resist! My life is overtaken during Footy season – our weekends are planned around when our AFL team is playing so I was rather excited to see how this story was going to pan out. The story, unfortunatly, just wasn’t anything special.
Aubree – was rather annoying as a female lead and I didn’t really relate to her much. Once an up and coming basketball star, she is now lost and washed up after an accident on the court ended her promising future. Travelling the world for the past few years trying to forget that her dreams were crushed she arrives home to try and pick her life back up. She spends a lot of the book trying to discover what she wants out of life and in my opinion wallowing – I don’t relate well with those that don’t choose to fight, especially when she reveals that she potentially could have made it in the basketball world if she worked her butt off in physio to try and repair her broken body. She takes the easy way out runs away and gives up. I get it, life is tough, I just can’t relate because I would have made different decisions.
Insert perfectly lovely and protective guy Hunter. There was a real discourse between what Aubree was thinking of Hunter and Hunter’s actions. For whatever reason Aubree lumped Hunter into the category of inconsiderate, mean and arrogant jock, when his actions, especially at the beginning of the book said anything but this. He was considerate, looked out for her welfare and spent time attention on Aubree to make her feel comfortable around him. He does have a bit of a temper that doesn’t appear until halfway through the book – guess there had to be a reason things couldn’t be perfect. But in general he is supportive and pushed Aubree to get out her funk – which she doesn’t always want to hear. I actually really disliked that Aubree thought he was a bit cocky and inconsiderate and wanted to shake her to open her eyes and see the truth of the situation.
The book is set around Aussie football – AFL, which was nice. Having a husband who is obsessed with the game our weekends are often scheduled around when his team is playing on the tele. In Australia we reference following the footy as a religion, and it can be. It was nice that the importance of the game was reflected in the book. It is not just a game – it is the atmosphere and community build around the game that makes it special. Leesa tries to keep things fairly simple so even if you don’t know a thing about the game it would make sense.
The book had notes of Cora Carmack’s All Lines Up, but just didn’t manage to punch through to that level. I enjoyed the read, but I don’t think I’ll add it to my reread pile.
Love you long time.
April 16, 2019
Aubree had a horrible injury that took her out of basketball. She took an extended trip overseas to deal with her emotional loss. Hunter is a player on and off the field. Aubree ran out on him the night before her trip. Hunter has always wondered why. When she comes home to stay these 2 find themselves dancing around their chemistry.
I have never read an Aussie sports story and I was thinking American football until about half way through the book when it donned on me we were talking soccer. Made a little more sense after that:) This was my first Leesa Bow book and it is a sweet read. Loved the fact that Aubree didn't have everything she always dreamed off and was having to rethink her life. It made the characters more real for me. It was a quick, easy read that made for an enjoyable afternoon.
I have never read an Aussie sports story and I was thinking American football until about half way through the book when it donned on me we were talking soccer. Made a little more sense after that:) This was my first Leesa Bow book and it is a sweet read. Loved the fact that Aubree didn't have everything she always dreamed off and was having to rethink her life. It made the characters more real for me. It was a quick, easy read that made for an enjoyable afternoon.
October 26, 2014
Just because one dream was shattered doesn’t mean that another one can’t be developed and achieved.
Well I have to say that this read took me by surprise. I don’t know why I left this read in my Kindle for so long. I have to say that this story grabbed me from the beginning because I wanted to see if she could overcome her tragedy of not being able to go through with her dream. Then there was him an arrogant jerk that seemed to have a temper that I didn’t like. Even though this was all in her point of view I wanted to know what he was thinking about what was happening between them. I know that soon I learned the reason for his broken relationship between him and his brother but what happened when he was not with her.
Aubree and Hunter had something going on before she ran away. They were at a celebration and she ended up going back home with him but she ran away. Now she is back and can’t believe she ran into him again but this time he has a chick hanging all over him. I know when that happened I automatically thought he was a big player and that he would end up playing with Aubree if and when they would get together. I know that she was struggling with the idea that she was no longer going to have a career as a basketball player but she needed to stop during to drinking. I got really frightened for her when she passed out in an alley where but thank goodness that Hunter got to her before something bad happened to her.
Hunter what can I say about him but he was at times a big jerk. I know that at the beginning I didn’t like him and was hoping to be able to get into his head to see why he did the things he did but that never happened. He has his own story and when his brother was introduced I was wondering how he was going to play at part in this relationship. Then the unthinkable happens and I wanted to strangle Hunter because he never gave Aubree the chance to explain to him what if anything was going on between her and Conner. I knew from that point that something bad had happened and knew that Hunter needed to tame his jealousy down or else he was going to lose the best thing that walked into his life.
Winning the Player is a great introduction to a great series. I know that I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. I know that there were times that I didn’t understand some of the words in this book but believe me it didn’t distract me one bit. The pace of this story was perfect and the emotions that I felt while reading this story were intense. I wanted for these two battered hearts to mend each other and for them to live happily ever after. The storyline was flowed perfectly. The chemistry between Aubree and Hunter is passionate, it’s hot, exciting.
Received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review
Well I have to say that this read took me by surprise. I don’t know why I left this read in my Kindle for so long. I have to say that this story grabbed me from the beginning because I wanted to see if she could overcome her tragedy of not being able to go through with her dream. Then there was him an arrogant jerk that seemed to have a temper that I didn’t like. Even though this was all in her point of view I wanted to know what he was thinking about what was happening between them. I know that soon I learned the reason for his broken relationship between him and his brother but what happened when he was not with her.
Aubree and Hunter had something going on before she ran away. They were at a celebration and she ended up going back home with him but she ran away. Now she is back and can’t believe she ran into him again but this time he has a chick hanging all over him. I know when that happened I automatically thought he was a big player and that he would end up playing with Aubree if and when they would get together. I know that she was struggling with the idea that she was no longer going to have a career as a basketball player but she needed to stop during to drinking. I got really frightened for her when she passed out in an alley where but thank goodness that Hunter got to her before something bad happened to her.
Hunter what can I say about him but he was at times a big jerk. I know that at the beginning I didn’t like him and was hoping to be able to get into his head to see why he did the things he did but that never happened. He has his own story and when his brother was introduced I was wondering how he was going to play at part in this relationship. Then the unthinkable happens and I wanted to strangle Hunter because he never gave Aubree the chance to explain to him what if anything was going on between her and Conner. I knew from that point that something bad had happened and knew that Hunter needed to tame his jealousy down or else he was going to lose the best thing that walked into his life.
Winning the Player is a great introduction to a great series. I know that I can’t wait to read the next book in this series. I know that there were times that I didn’t understand some of the words in this book but believe me it didn’t distract me one bit. The pace of this story was perfect and the emotions that I felt while reading this story were intense. I wanted for these two battered hearts to mend each other and for them to live happily ever after. The storyline was flowed perfectly. The chemistry between Aubree and Hunter is passionate, it’s hot, exciting.
Received ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an Honest Review
May 17, 2014
I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I couldn’t finish this one. To begin with, the writing irritated me. I don’t need so many inconsequential details! This is an actual paragraph excerpt:
On Friday night I wanted to do something special considering every night for the past week I’d gone to the gym and then home to watch television with Mum. Maddy remained unwell and there wasn’t exactly a line of guys waiting to take me out. My list of girlfriends was even shorter. Growing up, basketball commitments had stolen my social life, and apart from Maddy I never developed close friendships with girls from school. Conveniently, I’d had friends from my team, but they had moved on, some to university, and it pained me to keep in contact. So tonight my only date was with the treadmill, again. At least I was seeing the benefits. My knee was stronger and I was fitter. My aerobic routine changed from all bike to a half hour of bike, a half hour on the cross trainer and ten minutes of jogging. Since I never completed my rehab, running was my biggest achievement.
Aubree is completely annoying. She’s immature which is bad enough, but she’s also extremely stuck on herself and just unreasonable. She hurt her knee 2 or 3 years ago (I’m unclear on the timing…) when she would’ve been 17 or 18 and then left Australia to, I guess, lick her wounds in a different country with no family and friends around her…??? So it’s been 2 or 3 years since the injury and she can’t play basketball anymore. (But she can jog on the treadmill… Does that make sense AT ALL???) So she’s all Debbie Downer and her life is ruined now and blah, blah, blah. Evidently she just gallivanted around during those 2 or 3 years also since she didn’t seem to have gone to college during that time. You know, since she couldn’t play basketball, there’s really no sense in going to college, I suppose… And she describes her family as relatively lower income, but she had the money to just go do whatever for 2 or 3 years. ANYWAY… So the night before she left, she went home from the bar with Hunter. They start making out and then she ran away like a thief in the night before they even removed their clothing. Now that she’s back, she’s all hung up on Hunter and shit. I don’t know, she was just too immature and blah for me.
Then there’s Hunter. I don’t have much up an impression of at all. I don’t really know who he is or what he’s like, so I have no real opinion of him.
I just wasn’t feeling the story. I was under the impression this was a second chance romance, but they didn’t even have a first chance… I’m sure others will like it, I’m just not one of them.
I couldn’t finish this one. To begin with, the writing irritated me. I don’t need so many inconsequential details! This is an actual paragraph excerpt:
On Friday night I wanted to do something special considering every night for the past week I’d gone to the gym and then home to watch television with Mum. Maddy remained unwell and there wasn’t exactly a line of guys waiting to take me out. My list of girlfriends was even shorter. Growing up, basketball commitments had stolen my social life, and apart from Maddy I never developed close friendships with girls from school. Conveniently, I’d had friends from my team, but they had moved on, some to university, and it pained me to keep in contact. So tonight my only date was with the treadmill, again. At least I was seeing the benefits. My knee was stronger and I was fitter. My aerobic routine changed from all bike to a half hour of bike, a half hour on the cross trainer and ten minutes of jogging. Since I never completed my rehab, running was my biggest achievement.
Aubree is completely annoying. She’s immature which is bad enough, but she’s also extremely stuck on herself and just unreasonable. She hurt her knee 2 or 3 years ago (I’m unclear on the timing…) when she would’ve been 17 or 18 and then left Australia to, I guess, lick her wounds in a different country with no family and friends around her…??? So it’s been 2 or 3 years since the injury and she can’t play basketball anymore. (But she can jog on the treadmill… Does that make sense AT ALL???) So she’s all Debbie Downer and her life is ruined now and blah, blah, blah. Evidently she just gallivanted around during those 2 or 3 years also since she didn’t seem to have gone to college during that time. You know, since she couldn’t play basketball, there’s really no sense in going to college, I suppose… And she describes her family as relatively lower income, but she had the money to just go do whatever for 2 or 3 years. ANYWAY… So the night before she left, she went home from the bar with Hunter. They start making out and then she ran away like a thief in the night before they even removed their clothing. Now that she’s back, she’s all hung up on Hunter and shit. I don’t know, she was just too immature and blah for me.
Then there’s Hunter. I don’t have much up an impression of at all. I don’t really know who he is or what he’s like, so I have no real opinion of him.
I just wasn’t feeling the story. I was under the impression this was a second chance romance, but they didn’t even have a first chance… I’m sure others will like it, I’m just not one of them.
May 17, 2014
Winning the Player is my first experience reading a Leesa Bow book and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was different and being set in Adelaide Australia, it’s close to my heart. With realistic issues and characters that are fun and diverse, I will be picking up more books from Ms Bow.
Aubree Taylor is a 6 foot tall twenty-one year old that had high dreams and higher nightmares. She dreamed of playing professional basketball and college basketball in USA, but they all came crashing down three years ago.
Aubree went travelling around the world for two years and has finally come home. Not really ready to face her reality back in Australia, Aubree still headed home to her mother. Picking up her friendship with Maddy and other friends from her basketball days, Aubree isn’t going to hide any more.
Finding a job where her mother works, Aubree is slowly trying to work out what to do with her life. One thing she didn’t count on was seeing Hunter Stone so soon. Hunter Stone is 6 foot 5 inches tall and plays professional Australian football. Hunter is known for his womanising ways and seems angry to see Aubree hanging around the bar scene again.
Hunter and Aubree seem to keep running into each other, but their encounters never seem to be very pleasant. Although Hunter keeps trying to bring up what happened on Aubree’s last night in the country two years ago, Aubree is embarrassed. The more time they spend together thought, the more Aubree wants Hunter. She has always had a secret crush on him.
Aubree gets an offer to start coaching basketball when the new season begins. She is a little apprehensive and annoyed because she really just wants to play.
Hunter starts to drift away from Aubree and she is worried. Hunter has never been known for his commitments with women. When the press print articles about Hunter, Aubree runs again. Heartbroken, she disappears for the weekend with her Mother.
Will Aubree work out what she wants to do in life? What about Hunter, can she listen to his explanations and let down her walls? Can she put her past injury behind her and just live life without the bitterness? Will she decide to coach?
Winning the Player is a wonderful romance with the fun of sports, life drama and family circumstance. With Aubree trying to prove herself to everyone and to herself, watch as she grows into her age and works through life’s challenges. I certainly recommend all new adult readers to pick this one up for something sporty and intriguing.
Aubree Taylor is a 6 foot tall twenty-one year old that had high dreams and higher nightmares. She dreamed of playing professional basketball and college basketball in USA, but they all came crashing down three years ago.
Aubree went travelling around the world for two years and has finally come home. Not really ready to face her reality back in Australia, Aubree still headed home to her mother. Picking up her friendship with Maddy and other friends from her basketball days, Aubree isn’t going to hide any more.
Finding a job where her mother works, Aubree is slowly trying to work out what to do with her life. One thing she didn’t count on was seeing Hunter Stone so soon. Hunter Stone is 6 foot 5 inches tall and plays professional Australian football. Hunter is known for his womanising ways and seems angry to see Aubree hanging around the bar scene again.
Hunter and Aubree seem to keep running into each other, but their encounters never seem to be very pleasant. Although Hunter keeps trying to bring up what happened on Aubree’s last night in the country two years ago, Aubree is embarrassed. The more time they spend together thought, the more Aubree wants Hunter. She has always had a secret crush on him.
Aubree gets an offer to start coaching basketball when the new season begins. She is a little apprehensive and annoyed because she really just wants to play.
Hunter starts to drift away from Aubree and she is worried. Hunter has never been known for his commitments with women. When the press print articles about Hunter, Aubree runs again. Heartbroken, she disappears for the weekend with her Mother.
Will Aubree work out what she wants to do in life? What about Hunter, can she listen to his explanations and let down her walls? Can she put her past injury behind her and just live life without the bitterness? Will she decide to coach?
Winning the Player is a wonderful romance with the fun of sports, life drama and family circumstance. With Aubree trying to prove herself to everyone and to herself, watch as she grows into her age and works through life’s challenges. I certainly recommend all new adult readers to pick this one up for something sporty and intriguing.
April 3, 2025
I was provided with an ARC of this book by Destiny Romance via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4 out of 5
I'm sure I've said it before - there is just something so perfect about the match of sports and New Adult romance. Let's face it, most visible professional athletes (at least here in Australia) are in that 18-25 age group - a time of life filled with all the promise of youth and the growing responsibilities of adulthood. The mixture of the excitement of pro sports and the angst & drama of NA romance is right on the money for me.
Winning the Player is a great new sports-themed New Adult romance from debut Australian author, Leesa Bow. I was very excited about this as I am always on the lookout for good sports romance - the fact that this is Australian-set and the hero plays Aussie Rules, well that's just a bonus!
Here’s my thoughts on Winning the Player:
A real strength of Winning the Player are its characters, and particularly Aubree and Hunter. They were real, honest versions of people of their age and station in life.
Aubree has both great strength and vulnerabilty. She’s trying to come to terms with life post-sport, and finding her new place in the scheme of things. in other reviews I’ve seen, some have said they saw Aubree as a little whiney, but I didn’t see it that way. I could just imagine what it would be like if you’d lost everything you’d worked towards, as Aubree had – I thought her actions and behaviour was pretty spot-on.
Hunter – while I had some issues with the way he went about certain things, I liked that he wasn’t Mr Perfect. While he has that stereotypical pro-athlete swagger about him, there is a genuinely caring guy underneath that. I suppose, like many young men in his world, the fishbowl of professional sports doesn’t really allow him to show it as much as he should.
There was a great and believable tension between them, and I was very much engaged with them as a couple – angsty behaviour and all. I loved the journey both of them went on as people and together.
I very much enjoyed reading Winning the Player, and I am very keen to continue following Leesa Bow’s journey as a writer – this was an excellent way to start.
4 out of 5
I'm sure I've said it before - there is just something so perfect about the match of sports and New Adult romance. Let's face it, most visible professional athletes (at least here in Australia) are in that 18-25 age group - a time of life filled with all the promise of youth and the growing responsibilities of adulthood. The mixture of the excitement of pro sports and the angst & drama of NA romance is right on the money for me.
Winning the Player is a great new sports-themed New Adult romance from debut Australian author, Leesa Bow. I was very excited about this as I am always on the lookout for good sports romance - the fact that this is Australian-set and the hero plays Aussie Rules, well that's just a bonus!
Here’s my thoughts on Winning the Player:
A real strength of Winning the Player are its characters, and particularly Aubree and Hunter. They were real, honest versions of people of their age and station in life.
Aubree has both great strength and vulnerabilty. She’s trying to come to terms with life post-sport, and finding her new place in the scheme of things. in other reviews I’ve seen, some have said they saw Aubree as a little whiney, but I didn’t see it that way. I could just imagine what it would be like if you’d lost everything you’d worked towards, as Aubree had – I thought her actions and behaviour was pretty spot-on.
Hunter – while I had some issues with the way he went about certain things, I liked that he wasn’t Mr Perfect. While he has that stereotypical pro-athlete swagger about him, there is a genuinely caring guy underneath that. I suppose, like many young men in his world, the fishbowl of professional sports doesn’t really allow him to show it as much as he should.
There was a great and believable tension between them, and I was very much engaged with them as a couple – angsty behaviour and all. I loved the journey both of them went on as people and together.
I very much enjoyed reading Winning the Player, and I am very keen to continue following Leesa Bow’s journey as a writer – this was an excellent way to start.
April 19, 2014
**ARC provided by Penguin Australia in exchange for an honest review.**
When I received an ARC for Winning The Player I was excited because I love a good sports romance. Though I underestimated the storyline from the synopsis. When I read that Hunter Stone was a ‘football star’, I thought that meant he played in the NFL. I was extremely surprised when it became evident that Hunter is an AFL footballer from Adelaide. Being an Australian and never having the chance to have read a romance based on a character that plays the most followed sport in the country, I may have fallen in love with Leesa right then and there. I was hooked on this book from the very first page. I actually left Uni early and skipped a lecture just so I could get home and read the book without any interruptions.
I though that Aubree was a strong female character. She had suffered a terrible injury that ended her basketball career. She travels the world and returns, trying to find the path she now needs to take without basketball being the be all and end all. I also loved Hunter’s character, not just because of his status as an AFL footballer, but because he is completely swoon-worthy. I judge a story by it’s attempt to draw me in and the connection I make with the characters – this book demonstrated both of these aspects.
Winning The Player is Leesa’s debut novel. Though it was a great story, it wasn’t without fault. I had an issue with some of the ‘problems’ the characters faced individually and with each other. There was a slight predictable element to the storyline that I’ve read about many time before, so it wasn’t hard to guess what each outcome would be. As Leesa’s first attempt at a published New Adult book, it was a great start to a promising career. I look forward to following Leesa’s career from here on out. She’s got a new fan out of this reader! :)
I’ve done some research and it looks like there will be a companion novel to this book. I cannot wait to read it.
“You can’t win something after the siren sounds.” My hand cupped his beautiful face. “The game ended long ago. You had already won.”
When I received an ARC for Winning The Player I was excited because I love a good sports romance. Though I underestimated the storyline from the synopsis. When I read that Hunter Stone was a ‘football star’, I thought that meant he played in the NFL. I was extremely surprised when it became evident that Hunter is an AFL footballer from Adelaide. Being an Australian and never having the chance to have read a romance based on a character that plays the most followed sport in the country, I may have fallen in love with Leesa right then and there. I was hooked on this book from the very first page. I actually left Uni early and skipped a lecture just so I could get home and read the book without any interruptions.
I though that Aubree was a strong female character. She had suffered a terrible injury that ended her basketball career. She travels the world and returns, trying to find the path she now needs to take without basketball being the be all and end all. I also loved Hunter’s character, not just because of his status as an AFL footballer, but because he is completely swoon-worthy. I judge a story by it’s attempt to draw me in and the connection I make with the characters – this book demonstrated both of these aspects.
Winning The Player is Leesa’s debut novel. Though it was a great story, it wasn’t without fault. I had an issue with some of the ‘problems’ the characters faced individually and with each other. There was a slight predictable element to the storyline that I’ve read about many time before, so it wasn’t hard to guess what each outcome would be. As Leesa’s first attempt at a published New Adult book, it was a great start to a promising career. I look forward to following Leesa’s career from here on out. She’s got a new fan out of this reader! :)
I’ve done some research and it looks like there will be a companion novel to this book. I cannot wait to read it.
“You can’t win something after the siren sounds.” My hand cupped his beautiful face. “The game ended long ago. You had already won.”
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