I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Changeup by Rhonda Shaw Series:
Published by Carina Press on 2014-01-06
Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, General, Romance, Sports
Pages: 198
Goodreads
Playing for keepsAfter nine years of striking out in the dating department, Maddie Hamlin is throwing in the towel. But just as this mom resolves to remain single, she meets sweet and sexy pitching phenom Chase Patton at a family dinner. He's perfect for her—aside from the fact he's only twenty-two.Chase knows he should be focusing on his rookie year with the Detroit Rockets, but he can't stop thinking about Maddie. He doesn't care that the beautiful school counselor is twelve years older, and he's already lost his heart to her adorable daughter. When an incredible date leads to an incredible night of passion, he knows he never wants to let her go.But dating in the media spotlight is a whole new ball game. Maddie quickly discovers that not everyone accepts their unconventional relationship—and that finding love may mean losing everything else…82,000 words
The Changeup (Men of the Show #1)
by Rhonda Shaw
I have an addiction to Sports Romances, so when I saw The Changeup on Netgalley I requested it based solely on the cover! As soon as I was approved, I downloaded and started reading it, and despite a few minor glitches? It was exactly what I was hoping it would be!
Maddie is a 34 year old divorced mom, raising her daughter all by herself with an unsupportive family and loser of an ex who only shows up when it’s convenient for him. She was lovable and easy to relate to, and you couldn’t help but sympathize with her situation. Bree, her daughter is fantastic! (I love kids, so it’s natural to love her and want the story to work out simply for her sake! Chase is a hot stuff Rookie of the Year and falls for Maddie almost immediately. The only problem? He’s 22.
I loved this story. There was believable conflict, the characters were all lovable and realistic for the most part. But there was a hint of insta-love on Chase’s part, and it was hard for me to really buy it. But, after about a quarter of the way through? I was over that frustration. My other annoyance lays with Maddie and how negative she is on herself, but that seems to be a trend lately – so again, easy enough to overlook.
All in all? This is a fantastic sports romance and I’d recommend it to anyone who always dreamed of hooking up with the hot pitcher! I read the book in 2 evenings, unable to get enough of Chase and little Bree and I look forward to reading more from Rhonda Shaw in the future!
