Veena’s review of Foolish Games (Out of Bounds, Book 2) by Tracy Solheim
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 03 Dec 13
Lately I’ve felt that I’ve been getting a bit jaded with the same author/same theme syndrome, so I picked this book as a part of my personal initiative to discover new authors whom I enjoy. I am glad to report that this author and series definitely get a thumbs up. The story starts off with a bang when pro-footballer Will Connelly is called to Capitol Hill to meet with a US Senator who is heading up a senate committee on irregularities in professional football, but, instead of football allegations, he is hit with a paternity allegation. Right then, I knew this was going to be one helluva ball game — uh, I mean book!
Poor Will, he definitely did not see this one coming, and he is so careful, but there was that one possibility – a one-night stand with a beautiful stranger who disappeared the morning after. He came to her rescue and took her to his room, but he doesn’t even know her name. Well, he’s now learning that her name is Juliana Marchione, and besides being a world famous wedding designer, sister to a US Senator with phobias of water, and other things, she’s now the mother of his son.
Will has struggled all his life under the stigma of being the bastard child of a teenage unwed mother in a small town. Clearly his son is not going to grow up with that sort of baggage, so there’s no choice but that Juliana and he be married, a marriage in name to make the child legitimate. They move to his home in North Carolina so Will can bond with his son. We’ve all read enough romance novels to know what happens to marriages in name only with red-hot chemistry between the protagonists.
As the two settle down to playing house and raising a son and trying to keep a wall between them, I think the author does a great job with the relationship building between them and the other people in the town. There are some great characters we meet in town, chief of course is Will’s mother. I love the story development and relationship building as Will and Juliana bond and deal with their baggage and phobias.
Amongst a great cast of supporting characters, the one that shines is Will’s mother and her love story. She put her life on hold when Will was born and worked herself to the bone to provide a solid life for him. Once he started playing professionally, Will has done all he can to make his mother comfortable in a monetary sense, but it seems that she’s left with poor self-esteem. It is very encouraging to see her come to terms with herself as a person and to reach for the love that she is entitled to.
One of the most intriguing secondary characters that I’ve seen for a while is Brody, Will’s teammate and champion. His book is next in the series, and since I am already in love with his character, I am looking forward to see his romance unfold.
All in all I love the depth of the characters that we meet in this series and can’t wait to continue with the series.
Grade: A
Summary:
Bridal gown designer Julianne Marchione knows better than to lose her head at a client’s wedding. But, much to her embarrassment, a mix of migraine medication and a smoking hot football player lead to a steamy one night stand resulting in a surprise pregnancy. Julianne has every intention of leaving her NFL hookup far in the past until her son, Owen, is born with a life-threatening blood disorder that requires a transfusion—and Julianne is not a match.Will “William the Conqueror” Connelly grew up tough, shouldering the stigma of being a bastard child born on the wrong side of the tracks. He refuses to let any child face the same discrimination. When he finds out about Owen, he’s furious that Julianne kept his son a secret. But when he sees her again at the hospital, he realizes that his feelings for her go far beyond anger.
Will insists that Owen recuperate at his home in North Carolina, and he’s adamant that Julianne become his wife—even if it’s only a temporary marriage in name only. But will their simmering attraction ever lead to a real connection? Or are they just playing foolish games?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
