If you like romance books staring an athletic protagonist, then this book by Britt McKenna is for you. Superstar baseball player, Corey Johnson is not thrilled to be traded back to his home state of Texas. Things look grim. Rumors are swirling that he’s not a team player, his reputation and career are on the line, and his deadbeat abusive father is back in the picture. Oh yeah, and the girl he’s loved from a distance—his best friend’s little sister—is the Texas Lonestars’ team’s social media specialist.

Carlee Jones has mixed emotions about Corey’s return. She’s had a teenage crush on her hometown friend, but he broke her heart. Teasing her with a passionate kiss on prom night, then up and leaving town without a word for ten years, hasn’t cooled her ardor. She’s successfully repressed it, focusing on building her career, but her world is shaken when she’s assigned to wield her SM skills to bolster Corey’s image. Spending time together challenges her will, her professional future, and her heart.

There’s plenty of beloved tropes and likable characters played out in this small town/big city story.

While it’s a fun read, it’s not cheesy. There are some serious relatable backstories and plenty of depth to both Carlee and Corey, and even a sprinkling left over for their sidekicks. There does tend to be quite a few character names that start with a “C,” Carlee, Corey, Chris, Carter, and Charles, to name a few, which got a little confusing but not so much to take the reader out of the story. In fact, it moves at a surprisingly swift pace, heightening with a conflict, then resolution and back up again—something to keep the reader guessing. Though there are predictable moments, you crave them (with unique twists) and thankfully, McKenna successfully delivers. As a sweet brother’s best friend and sports romance goes…A Whole New Game hits a home-run!

Source: Gifted