Courting Kate
Author: Tori Kron Series: Panthers Players #1
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
Release date: June 23rd 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Sports, Romance
Pages: 193
Format: eBook
Source: Amazon
Add to TBR: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon UK | Amazon US
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Heat rating:
Slapped with court ordered community service for brawling—again, Miller Cassidy, the Indianapolis Panther’s star player, is forced into laboring under stodgy non-profit supervisor, Kate Gallagher. Her saving grace—she happens to be best friends with Stella, the woman he’s been chasing for years.
Despite the masses falling for his charm, Kate doesn’t care for Miller’s notorious reputation or his flippant behavior. But wanting to impress her strict boss, she agrees to a trade that could give them both a shot at success.
Propelled into an unlikely alliance, Miller finds himself taking a defensive stance when he sees beyond Kate’s hard exterior. And Kate is equally thrown off guard when she discovers there’s more to Miller than games.
But is love worth sacrificing friendship? And can Miller let go of the feelings for Stella he’s held onto for years?
In love and basketball, it’s five fouls and you’re out, and every play counts.
The Faerie Queen’s review
I have to admit, I wasn’t sure if I was going to end up enjoying this one. I was seduced by the cute cover, but when I started reading, I found myself not liking Kate or Miller. Kate was pretty insecure in a bitter way and generally needed to chill, while Miller was inconsiderate enough to jeopardise Kate’s job. We can pretend that there was a fair deal in place – Kate helps Miller woo Stella, while Miller helps Kate with her boss – but Miller only stood to gain something while he effectively blackmailed Kate, since she would actually lose her livelihood.
So Courting Kate had an uphill climb to get me on its side. But it did slowly climb that hill as Miller showed a deeper, kinder side and Kate softened. They balanced each other out, and I almost thought the whole thing was orchestrated by an all-knowing Stella. The romance was very much a slow-burn, with both needing to see past the other’s exterior. Kind of P&P-esque! And, like I said, Miller did lose some major points in the beginning, but he did eventually redeem himself in a way that made sense for Kate. He showed he understood what was important to her, and he acted on that. Swoon.
What kept me from fully enjoying this book was the writing style. It seemed a bit too textbook, and when I read the author was an English writing teacher for middle school students, I could see why. Instead of an easy, casual flow I’m used to from romance novels, the voice in this took the rules seriously.
Otherwise, if you want a hate-to-love sports romance that develops slowly and stays on the more innocent side, then here’s a series starter for you!
About Tori Kron
Tori Kron has spent ten years educating middle school students in the art of English writing. She is a proud graduate of Purdue University, where she discovered a love for nearby Chicago and the adventures that awaited within. When Tori isn’t in front of the classroom, you can find her working with fellow authors in the Midwest Writers Guild or traveling the world with friends. In between excursions, she happily resides in Evansville, Indiana with her husband and son.
Giveaway
Thanks for being on the tour! Great review! 🙂