ASIN: B00TY3ZS1U
Publisher: InterMix (September 15, 2015)
Publication Date: September 15, 2015
Sold by: Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pro football player Steven Harrison has a new life. Fresh out of rehab for alcohol abuse, he’s trying to secure his spot on the team after a scandalous event left him in a negative spotlight. He’s glad to be home, and after 6 months of lockdown in a treatment facility, the last thing he wants is a stranger lurking about his home, watching his every move, and reporting back to his coaches. But that’s what’s going to happen, unless he finds a better alternative than the life coach they’re about to force upon him.
Margaret Logan, nicknamed Mags, has been Stephen’s live-out maid for years. Although he hasn’t been around, she’s continued to clean his home, wanting him to have a nice place to return to. She’s always liked him a lot more than she was willing to admit, and that attraction is now stronger now that he’s sober and carrying around a lot fewer pounds. His previously large size has never mattered to her, however, she can’t deny, or ignore, that he’s even more attractive now that he’s in shape.
When, in a rush to get the coaches off his back, he lies and says he has a live-in girlfriend that can act has his life coach and help keep him on the wagon, he propositions Mags to take the job. He offers to pay her to stay with him for the season, all the while pretending to be his girlfriend – making appearances, agreeing to do interviews, and most importantly, actually being his life coach. Wanting to start her own cleaning business, she sees the money as an incentive. Now, if she can manage to keep her heart out of it, things just may work out.
Murray did a note-worthy job of developing the relationship amid the serious issue of alcohol abuse recovery. Instead of glamorizing the issue, she showed the true nature of the beast by letting readers get a look at Stephen when he had his bad days. She showed his struggles, and although he didn’t fall off the wagon, the character acknowledges that it’s possible, but that he’d do his best not to let it happen.
The pace of the story, and the relationship development, have the pace of a long distance runner. Not too fast nor too slow. The dialogue entertains as well as moves the story forward. The climax is not overly dramatic, but does what it needs to, and the ending wraps up the story nicely.
Down. Set. Hike. If someone throws this book at you, catch it, hold on tight, and read it til the end.
Rating system: Cups of coffee – the less the better
0: You won’t need any coffee to stay up for this one. It’s intriguing enough all on its own.
1: You’ll stay up late, but not all night. Brew one cup.
2: You’ll read as long as you’re not tired. If you are, two cups should do the trick.
3: I hope you got plenty of rest; you’ll need it, or at least 3 cups.
4: If the cable goes out, read the book. It’s better than nothing, I guess. Oh, don’t forget your brew!
5: Find anything else to do- it doesn’t matter what it is. Don’t waste your coffee. Too much caffeine is bad for you.
My rating: 0 cups of coffee