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Review of The Changeup by Rhonda Shaw w/$25 GC giveaway

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Okay, before we start with the usual, I just want to say that I worship baseball!  My husband is the head coach of our son’s team and our first game is Monday!  Woot!  Carry on…oh and I cheated.  Today is typically reserved for category romances from Harlequin and Entangled.  Hey, Carina Press is a Harlequin company.  😉

The Changeup

by Rhonda Shaw

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BLURB:

 

Playing for keeps

 

After 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 and 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…

MEDIA KIT The Changeup

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Excerpt Two:

 

Maddie felt herself blush fiercely at the lingering look he gave her, but she remained where she stood and watched as he walked through the living room and out the front door, keeping a smile plastered on her face even though it felt as if everything was freaking out internally. When the door closed behind him, she closed her eyes as she let out the breath she’d been holding and slouched against the counter. This was a bad idea. Nothing good could come from it; in fact, the only possible outcome was one of them getting hurt. But even knowing that, she couldn’t stop herself. She couldn’t ignore the fact that he got her juices flowing without much effort.

 

Despite all that, it wasn’t enough. She was much older than he was. They were in two different stages of their lives; there was nothing to build on. While she was looking to lead a quiet, comfortable and peaceful life, he should be looking for excitement, thrills and new experiences—casualness versus commitment, living-it-up versus settling down.

 

And then there was the inevitable scrutiny of their age difference. Even if they got past it, others would comment on it. Their families would definitely have opinions on the matter and families were never ones to keep their opinions to themselves, especially ones that had people like Lenore in them, regardless of the existing awkward situation with Chase and her niece. How would they ever get past that? It wouldn’t be easy, but was it worth it?

 

bookreviewI’m not sure whether to continue crying over Maddie and Chase’s story or personally thank Rhonda (who I do NOT know personally or social media wise at all) for writing my personal love story.  See, I’m 7 years older than my husband.  I let our age difference come between us one too many times and I almost lost him due to that one hangup I had.  He sometimes doesn’t let me forget it either.

I “got” all the emotions that Maddie went through with Chase.  What would people think about the age difference?  Was she out for his fame?  And about her daughter Bree?  And let’s not forget about her family.  I personally didn’t have to worry about my family.  They loved my now husband regardless.  In fact, I hate “talkings to” because I was being an idiot over the age thing.  🙂  Even my grandmother’s got to me.  I love Maddie’s family even if they were meddling and a bit off.  Not everyone’s family is perfect.

Chase is totally wise beyond his years.  Plus, OMG he wasn’t an ALPHA.  I’ve grown tired of the heroes that I’m reading that play the Alpha, chest beating, I know what’s good for everyone card.  Ms. Shaw wrote an entertaining, very patient, sexy and thoughtful hero.  Plus, he plays baseball.  Woot!  That’s another thing…I worship baseball and having Chase actually play baseball was a welcome addition to the story.  Most so-called sports romances don’t even have a sports scene in them.  Boo!  No one cares about the back office/politics of the sports world.  Just my two cents since I worked the back office operations of the Dallas Stars hockey team.

I would be remiss to mention that once Maddie and Chase got together it was sweet, tender and HAWT.  But great sex doesn’t make for a great relationship.  Maddie had more hangups and mixed emotions about Chase than I’ve seen in a long time.  But that’s what makes this book was good.  Ms. Shaw wrote the story in a way that I liked.  This was no quick fix for Maddie.  When she finally decided I was relived.  If I had a doubt it was because I felt like I reading my story with all the wishy washyness and angst.

Peeps, please pick up Ms. Shaw’s debut.  She hits a home run with me!  She told my romance story with my husband, minus that my husband isn’t a baseball player.

5harlies

recommend-harlies- new

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

After writing one mind numbing technical document after another, Rhonda Shaw decided to combine her love of writing with her love of reading romance. Born in California, but transplanted to the Midwest, Rhonda is a warm weather girl to the bone. She works in the software development industry and was a lifelong dancer until her body told her it was time to come down off her toes.  For more information about Rhonda and her books, please visit her website at http://www.rhondashaw.com.

Website – http://www.rhondashaw.com

Twitter – https://twitter.com/AuthorRShaw

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/authorrhondashaw
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18 thoughts on “Review of The Changeup by Rhonda Shaw w/$25 GC giveaway

  1. What a great review, Harlie. It was nice learning a bit more about you and how you related to this story.

  2. I really enjoyed your review!! I love baseball also, my 7 year old grandson is playing at school this year. I enjoy watching them. Thanks for your giveaway, really looks like it will be a good read.

  3. I love books about athletes and this sounds like it’ll be great.. thanks for sharing the excerpt and the great review 🙂

  4. I really like the premise of this book and, more importantly, the fact that this topic isn’t treated in a cheesy over-the -top sexual extravaganza but rather a sensitive and moving story.

    ilookfamous at yahoo dot com

  5. Thank you, Marika, for hosting and for the wonderful review! It really sounds as if you could personally relate to Maddie and truly understand all of her concerns, which means a lot to me.

    Thank you to everyone stopping by to learn about THE CHANGEUP. I hope you enjoy it! If you’re a baseball fan…Opening Day is just days away! Yay! 🙂

  6. Congrats to the author on her debut. What a wonderful review. While I’m not a fan of baseball this still sounds like a fantastic story and I’m looking forward to reading it 🙂

  7. Awesome review … I’m 5 years older than my husband. Oddly, that never bugged me (though he does remind me now and then, esp. as I hit important dates like the big 4-0 and I’m nearing the big 5-0 soon). Thanks for the review! mnark111 AT gmail DOT com

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