Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler
Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college--and everyone's admiration in her hometown. But everything changed senior year, when she took a horrible fall during a game. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.
As a graduation present, Chelsea's dad springs for a three-week summer "boot camp" program at a northern Minnesota lake resort. There, she's immediately drawn to her trainer, Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player who's haunted by his own traumatic past. As they grow close, Chelsea is torn between her feelings for Clint and her loyalty to her devoted boyfriend back home. Will an unexpected romance just end up causing Chelsea and Clint more pain--or finally heal their heartbreak?
Publishes in US: March 8th 2011 by Flux
Genre: Ya contemp
Source: library
Series? No.
Buy it: B&N|Amazon|Book Depository
Author stalk away: ~site ~twitter ~facebook ~blog
I really enjoyed the premise of Playing Hurt and I connected well with Chelsea. The romantic tension between her and Clint but I did not appreciate the cheating. I think that Gabe got played and while it is realistic and I could see it happening, it just is hard for me to read and accept and pull for cheating. Love triangles to me are somehow different because there isn't that attachment already there and established over a long period of time, and also, the guys normally know about each other so it seems more fair.
Despite that hang up, I loved the story. It flowed well, I sympathized with Chelsea and she had some real emotional turmoil going on. I also devoured Clint's story. I think that his pain, and his past really are the depth to this story.
The romance between Clint and Chelsea could have stood on its on without the Gabe aspect, and with him being in the picture, I just wish that he would have really had a shot and that it wouldn't have been the comfortable and the adding the tension because I think that was already present.
I will say that this maybe should be considered NA because it is pretty sexual and steamy in the real sense, not letting much to the imagination.
My question to you, my lovely readers:
Have you ever been injured and had to miss out on something you love?
I am so tired of cheaters in books. I always end up hating the book.
ReplyDeleteI tend to not have too hard of a time with books about cheating, as long as I can feel the reasons and it's dealt with. Sorry this was a hang up foryou.
ReplyDeleteI would have issues too
ReplyDeleteOh, boy. I've been dying to read this, but I feel like I'm not going to like the cheating aspect, either. At any rate, I'll give it a shot. Thanks for bringing that part up in your review--I'm glad I'll know about that going into the book.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree with Heidi, cheaters are not good! Still, great review!
ReplyDeleteOh no, I'm not a fan of cheating either. Sigh....not sure this one is for me. Glad you were able to enjoy it anyway!
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, I am not a fan of cheating at all. I don't think it's the least bit romantic and won't have me rooting for a character. I think it's great that you found a lot of other things to enjoy out of it though. Thanks for a great review! Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven.
ReplyDeleteI hated the cheating too-it just made me so mad! I wanted her to be much more honest.
ReplyDeleteEven though there is cheating in this one, I thought the author handled it well and I really enjoyed the book. :)
ReplyDeleteOh new one to me! I understand the love triangle thing, sometimes we don't need that in a story...
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of cheating plotlines either, but I do think that the cover is cute and I'm happy that you enjoyed it in general. Surprised that it was so steamy though O.o
ReplyDelete