Review: Earning a Ring by Kristina Mathews (More Than a Game #4)
Note: This ARC was provided by Kensington Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Earning a Ring is the fourth and latest addition to the More Than a Game contemporary sports romance series by author Kristina Mathews and with it we finally get San Francisco Goliaths superstar shortstop Bryce Baxter's story, one he shares with up and coming television reporter Rachel Parker. Both Bryce and Rachel have been more or less prominent in the series from the beginning--except the third book, since that took place mostly away from the baseball field and the Goliaths, and because there was already a connection between the two of them from the get-go, having them paired up here was inevitable and yet still a good read overall. Bryce's career is at an all-time high and Rachel's star is beginning to shine, but things are about to change for both of them, and will force them both to take stock of where they are in their lives and what it is they truly want from themselves and from each other. Because they're such familiar characters, watching them evolve into more mature leads here was one of book four's highlights.
Bryce has been portrayed as a ladies' man from the beginning, and while we do get snippets of his personal history, it was great getting to know the real Bryce behind the confident baseball player. He and Rachel seem to suit one another well, and I was surprised with how their love story developed here, sometimes to the point that it felt so out of the blue that I had to wonder if I had missed something in the transition from one page or chapter to another. They're both facing personal and professional challenges here, and while they may prefer to think that they can handle everything on their own, they learn to value the support they receive from the other. Hooking up for a year was one thing, but having to live their lives together was a challenge that tested their resolve, making them wonder if it's all worth it in the end. One bonus in this story was having Johnny and Alice Scottsdale return as secondary characters, because, after all, their tale was what got the series rolling. All in all, Earning a Ring was a commendable four-star read. ♥
Release Date: 19 January 2016
Date Read: 18 January 2016
Learn more about Kristina Mathews.
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