This is book #4, in The Game Changers series.  This book can be read as a standalone novel.  For reader enjoyment and to avoid spoilers, I recommend reading this series in order.

Eric is a goalie who is on his last season. He has never had to deal with this before, and he is all out of sorts.  Now he can be who he needs to be, love who he wants to love.  

Kyle tells himself he will find someone his own age and be happy.  Then he meets again the man that makes his heart pound, and all his plans fade away.  Can he stick to his guns on this one?  Or will a certain hockey player blow his plans out of the way?

This was a definite sexy book with a slow burn twist.  I loved how the characters seemed obvious to be together.  I also loved the humor, the sparks, and the sexy thrum of heat throughout the entire story.  Such amazing characters, with definite qualities that show they are both individuals and meant to be a couple.  I give this a 4/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

***This ARC copy was given in exchange for an honest review, by Netgalley and its publishers.

DNF @ p. 28 (of 336)

I've been looking forward to this book. However, having read two chapters, I know that this is not a book for me. Nor would I recommend it to anyone else who is looking to read more about Sartre and Camus and their circle.

No. Instead I would like to point anyone interested to Sarah Bakewell's excellent At the Existentialist Cafe. 

The Boxer and the Goalkeeper on the other hand ... no. Just, no.

The first chapter describes how the author got interested in Sartre and Camus. He got stood up by a girl, stole a book, and was feeling at a loss for a place in the world - that's when Sarte crossed his path apparently and hooked him. By the end of the chapter, I was glad we had gotten the introduction out of the way and hoped there would be no future reason for the self-involved chap that the author seems to have been to make another appearance.

The second chapter proved to be worse. I am not sure whether the author was planning a joke on Baudrillard's ideas on how images convey messages, but describing a scene by relating to how the scene is set in another book or film is a crappy way to let your readers know what you are on about. And yes, I have just run foul of that myself by referring to Baudrillard. 

However, unlike Martin, the author of The Boxer and the Goalkeeper, I am seeking to explain what I mean:

When describing Paris at the time of the German occupation, I expect to read about curfews, descriptions about what happened to the people, what everyday life was like, etc., but I do not expect to read something like this:

This was post-Casablanca. The last train to freedom had left the station long ago.

And, yes, Martin is referring to the film here.

On the next page, he continues trying to make an argument while referring to other works of popular fiction: Orwell's 1984, Harris' Fatherland, and Dick's The Man in the High Castle. 

Any work of popular non-fiction that bases its arguments on works of popular fiction, no less works which have little relevance to the subject matter at hand, is starting off on the wrong foot with me. 

Martin lost me completely when over he also included references to works by Camus, Sartre and de Beauvoir without so much as providing an introduction to the works or how they relate to whatever point he is trying to make.

So, not only is Martin presupposing that his readers are familiar with all of the cited works, but the lack of context that he provides also makes him look rather conceited and shows a lack of skill in communicating with his readers.

In short, he either expects his readers to know already what he is talking about and agree with the author on all points exactly, or he is supposing that his readers have no idea what he is talking about and he is banking on his readers to not be able to disagree with the author.

In either case, by the end of Chapter 2 the author had lost my good will to engage with his nonsense. 

September 15-18

She’s good at achieving her goals…

College senior Sabrina James has her whole future planned out: graduate from college, kick butt in law school, and land a high-paying job at a cutthroat firm. Her path to escaping her shameful past certainly doesn’t include a gorgeous hockey player who believes in love at first sight. One night of sizzling heat and surprising tenderness is all she’s willing to give John Tucker, but sometimes, one night is all it takes for your entire life to change.

But the game just got a whole lot more complicated...

Tucker believes being a team player is as important as being the star. On the ice, he’s fine staying out of the spotlight, but when it comes to becoming a daddy at the age of twenty-two, he refuses to be a bench warmer. It doesn’t hurt that the soon-to-be mother of his child is beautiful, whip-smart, and keeps him on his toes. The problem is, Sabrina’s heart is locked up tight, and the fiery brunette is too stubborn to accept his help. If he wants a life with the woman of his dreams, he’ll have to convince her that some goals can only be made with an assist.

Review : I loved this book I loved this series sabrina is tough and Tucker is sweet
Tucker and Sabrina hook up one night in tucker's truck but Sabrina doesn't do boyfriends she has a plan get into law school get out of her home with her mean grandma and creep of a stepfather. But Tucker wants her he keeps perusing her . Sabrina got into law school and she's so happy but her friends finally convince her to go on a date with Tucker and she goes on a double date with her friend Tucker and Tucker teammate fitzy they all had a blast . Tucker's mom wants him to move back to Texas after he graduates and he isn't sure he wants to . Sabrina gets sick and she is still sick after she hooks up with tucker one night .He asks her if she's pregnant and she is . She isn't sure she wants to keep it but after Beau death and talking with his sister she wants to keep it . Tucker and her have a routine they find out the sex of the baby it's a girl. Sabrina loves tucker but isn't sure if she should say it .After the baby is born her name is Jamie they fall into a routine with sabrina at law school and Tucker buys a bar . Sabrina finally admits her feelings and she loves him . I loved this series the relationships the characters I laughed and cried .



Quotes :I love Jamie and I love Tucker and if, at any time, Harvard or work or anything threatens their happiness in any way, I would give it all up in a minute.” Her brown eyes widen. But I’m not done. “He and Jamie are the most important things in my life,” I say fiercely. “And everything I’m doing right now is to make sure that I keep them in my life, to make sure I can contribute to our family and give Jamie a better childhood than the one I had to deal with

My goal, once upon a time, was to succeed. I didn’t realize that success wasn’t grades or scholarships or achievements, but the people I was lucky enough to have in my life. As I look around the room, I want to give everyone a hug and a thank-you. A hug to express how much I love them and a thank-you for loving me back. Because love is the ultimate goal. It’s not the one I had strived for, but I was lucky enough, so damn lucky, to achieve it.


You’re the only one for me. My sun rises and sets on your smile. My heart beats because yours does.
Poor guy. The ladies go wild for Colin Fitzgerald, but in all the years I’ve known him, he’s been incredibly selective about who he goes out with. I think deep down he’s as old-fashioned as I am.


When I offer her some ice chips to chew on, she tells me to shove them up my ass. The one time I peeked over Doctor Laura’s shoulder at Sabrina’s lady parts, she told me that if I did that one more time, she’d break my hockey stick and stab me with it.

Sabrina James isn’t used to people loving her. Sometimes I wonder if she even knows how to love someone back, but then I see her with our daughter, the way her face softens with love and adoration every time she looks at Jamie, and I know she’s capable of feeling deeply.

“Why Gigi?” she asks slowly. Hannah sighs again. The name suddenly clicks in my head. Oh for fuck’s sake. “G.G.,” I mutter to Sabrina. “As in Garrett Graham.” She’s silent for a beat. Then she bursts out laughing, triggering giggles from Grace and eventually Hannah, who keeps shaking her head at her boyfriend. “What?” Garrett says defensively. “The godfather should have a say in the name. It’s in the rule book.” “What rule book?” Hannah bursts out. “You make up the rules as you go along!” “So?”

Garrett is holding a tiny newborn doll. Which is missing its head, by the way. “You fucking took it home?” Logan sounds outraged. “Hell yeah I did. What use were they going to have for it there? It doesn’t have a head, bro.” “Where’s ‘there’?” I ask carefully, though I’m not sure I want to know the answer. “Newborn CPR,” Garrett explains. “We took a course at the campus health center this morning.” “Newborn CPR?” Sabrina shakes her head, dazed. “It was the grace under pressure test.” Garrett smiles smugly. “Which he failed. I, of course, passed with flying colors.” “Is it my fault I don’t know my own strength?” Logan protests. “Yes!” Garrett says in a spurt of laughter. “That is totally your fault.” He holds up the doll and waves it around tauntingly. “Show me on the doll where your brain is. Oh right, you can’t. Because you fucking decapitated it


Him: Is that like naked Twister? Me: I have no clue. I send him the picture. Maybe he can make some sense out of it, because I sure can’t. Him: Was this taken with an actual camera or drawn by tiny leprechauns? Me: Carin’s a scientist, not an artist. Btw did u find someone? Him: Yes. My buddy Fitz is coming and b4 u ask, I have no idea re: his oral skills. But he’s hella smart, has a mean slapshot, and I’ve never heard any complaints. I take a screenshot of that text and send it to Carin. Me: Is this OK? Her: Can I have a pic? I text Tuck, Can she have a pic? Him: Of what? Dear God. This is a ridiculous game of actual telephone. Me: Tucker says: of what? Her: Face, abs, ass. No dick I take yet another screenshot and shoot that off to Tucker. While he considers the request, I wash my face and brush my teeth. By the time I climb into bed, there’s a message waiting for me. A picture of a gorgeous dark-haired guy flipping Tucker off fills my screen. 

Wow. It’s incredible how hot these Briar hockey players are. Is that a requirement of making the team? Be able to slap the puck a hundred miles an hour and also star in the calendar?


Me: I’m bringing my friend Carin and u need to bring the hottest guy u know. Him: I’m the hottest guy I know. Will look for 2nd hottest guy on campus. She have any preferences? Me: Someone who knows how to use his tongue. Him: Again, that’d be me. Not sure how I’ll find out how good the other guys are w/ their equipment. Not a topic that comes up a lot. Me: That’s the price of my time. Him: On it.


Dean shoved a dildo up his ass last night.” Fitzy nods. “Makes sense.”

Damn, who would’ve thought that gingers could be so hot?

Hey, what if I said I was still interested?” I turn around to meet his eyes. “That’d be too bad.” Beau chuckles. “I thought so. Well, more power to you, dude, but I’m warning you—there are easier women than Sabrina.” “Why would I want someone easy?” I flash him a grin. “That doesn’t sound like any fun.”

This is my favorite book of all times. I loved to read Dr. Seuss as a child but when I got older this book encouraged me and I will make sure it is one of the books I read to my students every year. A lot of inspirational messages are hidden in the book. If you are just reading it and making sure you rhyme you will miss all the goals and hidden messages. This will be a whole class read for my classroom.

LEXILE: AD600L 

Never give up! This book takes a twist from what I predicted it to be about. I was still pleased with what is was really about. This book shows students and adult to never give up on something that is required or that you want to do. Like the book, sometimes we have to find something that will help us focus and keep us consistent. In the book it was the little girls dog that helped her keep focus and reach her goal. This book is perfect for younger students who are learning to read and to those struggling readers who are ready to give up. 

LEXILE: AD500L