I loved this story and I love it even more after learning more around the writing time for the author. This had everything I love in a romance and I did not want to put it down. From the very beginning, I was hooked. I love how Gemma and Zach meet, and the banter between the two. The addition of Gemma’s best friend also brought some fun to the story. I really want a book two following Bell!

I really loved how emotional Zach becomes towards the end, and how this shows that men can also show emotions without it meaning they are weak. This is really rare to read about and it was refreshing. I liked seeing how a breakup can effect a male and not just the females perspective.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I will be ordering this in paperback to add to my collection. ( )

Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired.

4.25 Stars

Gemma has season passes to the Bears and it seems like the perfect opportunity to break the funk her ex-husband left her in. What man doesn't love football and a girl who can cheer right alongside him? Plus, no strings attached is a pretty sweet deal and Gemma can control the outcome, at least she thinks she can. Zach hears Gemma and her best friend planning this while he serves their drinks and what better guy for the job than himself? He isn't much of a one-night stand guy anymore, but something about Gemma calls to him. What starts as a practice round during a pre-season game grows into a desperate desire to convince Gemma she deserves more than one night and that he's meant to be there for all the games.

"Obviously, we have chemistry. We could have a good time. I'll buy the pizza and beer."

Kandi Steiner is the queen of sweet romance, the kind that knocks you on your feet, makes you believe in fairytales, and somehow is still filled with the smut we love. It's got those over the top scenes we dream of and the angst we know comes with real life. In The Wrong Game Gemma has been taken through the wringer, her life feels like a farce and she's recreating herself, hardened to love and embracing her OCD tendencies. Zach is the opposite, he's a romantic at heart and everything about Gemma gets his heart racing. So, like he's in an eighties movie scene he pulls out all the stops to show her he's worth a chance, no matter the walls she's built up around her. It might be odd to say, but I could easily connect with both. Zach felt like my younger self, open to love and willing to do anything for it, while Gemma connects with the me today, aware of heartbreak and the comfort of controlling the outcome. Of course, Kandi Steiner knows life doesn't work like that and her characters both have to come to that conclusion on their own.

"A practice round... Yeah. This could be fun."

The Wrong Game had be laughing, swooning, and even tearing up a bit. The character interactions at the football games were so funny, while the personal moments they shared at home, in the bar, and out and about had me falling for Zach just as fast as Gemma. Trust, though, is a big topic in this book and learning to trust again when you don't know how to forgive the past is hard. Gemma's OCD is a bit intense, though it's been a part of her always it seems to have grown over the top with everything that happened with her ex-husband. Some of it is expected, some of it is worrisome, and all of it made for the perfect romance, with Zach showing more patience and understanding than one would expect. I love how they work it out, even if it takes some time to get through. I have to admit though, I wanted to know more about Carlo, because I felt Gemma deserved to know the whys and how it plays out in the book isn't my favorite. We get memories of their happiness, we see the devastation in the present, but the background to it still feels fuzzy for me. Thank goodness Zach didn't need as much information as I want though, because he just saw barriers to break down and a woman to love and he went for it.

"I wanted him.
But I was absolutely petrified to fall any further than I already had."

The Wrong Game reads like a warm cozy blanket on a cold day, filled with the cliches we loved, characters you can connect with, and a romance that will make your heart grow two sizes. I really enjoyed this book, in fact, it was unputdownable. Sports Romance lovers, this one's for you!

ARC provided. ( )

I have no words

Sweet lord. This author just gets better and better with every book. This one however, was my favorite which says a lot since her duet gutted me. This one has her typical characters that were multi-faceted and endearing but there was also something so endearing in watching two characters take the risk of falling after being so destroyed from before. I loved seeing a man portrayed as a feminist and in love with the notion of all things romance. Even as a romantic he still had serious swag. I loved seeing a woman who was all woman but also so avid of a sports fan. I loved seeing her vulnerable side with her compulsions and need for control. Bottom line, I just loved this book. Add in the steam and humor and sweet holy titfire it was perfection.

I really REALLY need Belle to get a story. ( )

Don't you just hate it when you get the perfect hero and the whole book is ruined by the extremely annoying heroine who won't stop toying with him and whining. It ruined the story for me. I didn't want them to end up together. He deserved better. ( )

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― 10/24/2018
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