graceev's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Sexual content
thisreadingcorner's review against another edition
4.5
Cameron and Adalyn are electric and the slow burn worked incredibly well for me. The very end got a little too contrived for me - Maria’s lecture doesn’t quite sound right from a 9 year old and the confrontations in Miami are heavy handed, but the build up to the start of the relationship and the community aspect of the small town all lend themselves to a love story I thoroughly enjoyed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I picked this up because it is the latest release from Elena Armas and I wanted to see if the magic of "The Spanish Love Deception" would be in this book.
"The Long Game" is a dual perspective romance that follows Adalyn Reyes and Cameron Caldani. After a messy PR disaster involving the mascot for the team she works for, the club owner, who is Adalyn's father, sends her to the middle of nowhere North Carolina to help whip a mystery team into shape. It is to her complete shock that this mystery team is actually a bunch of 9-year-old girls. Cameron is the couch of the girls' team, and he has a past he is running from as well. He used to be the star goal keep for a very successful team, but he left all of that behind so that he could live in anonymity.
This story took me about a third of the way to finally get into. Adalyn's and Cam's chemistry did not feel real until they started to get to know each other, because at the beginning they both truly lamented one another. Hate to love is such a delicate line to walk, but by the end of the book I was rooting for them to have their happily ever after.
My biggest gripe with this book is that the plot felt thin. Adalyn was sent to this place and given no preparations as to what she was getting into, but she dove headfirst because she wanted to appease her father and make amends for the team she loves. I found it infuriating and slightly unbelievable that her father did not try to defend her at all, and rather than talk to her or hear her out, he just sent her away. And even more shocking, Adalyn did not question him or try to fight to keep her job. Cam wanted to leave the world of professional sports behind and lead a quiet life, which is believable, but NO ONE recognized him in this small town. That I find highly unlikely, and the only real explanation the reader is given is that he has a beard now, so people do not recognize him. It did not take Adalyn long to realize who he was, and I think in retrospect that should have been happening more frequently for him.
Cam is a very possessive man, but in a good way. He wants to take care of Adalyn so that she can feel loved and protected, like someone is in her court. I did enjoy seeing him become so quickly invested in her and her well-being. This possessiveness also translated into some very hot scenes between the pair.
Adalyn felt unoriginal to me. She came from a wealthy family and because of that things were handed to her and now she wants to prove to everyone that she is independent and can make it on her own. Because of that, she continually puts herself in bad situations. She is really bad at asking for help, and believes she is unworthy of love. Rather than these qualities adding to the tension between her and Cam, I just felt annoyed by her because it was so cliche.
The end of the epilogue leaves a bit of a cliffhanger for a new character's story, and I am VERY intrigued and hopeful that we will get that book next.
Overall, this is my least favorite from Elena Armas, but I still had a good time reading it, and I would recommend it to those who enjoy sports romances.
"The Long Game" is a dual perspective romance that follows Adalyn Reyes and Cameron Caldani. After a messy PR disaster involving the mascot for the team she works for, the club owner, who is Adalyn's father, sends her to the middle of nowhere North Carolina to help whip a mystery team into shape. It is to her complete shock that this mystery team is actually a bunch of 9-year-old girls. Cameron is the couch of the girls' team, and he has a past he is running from as well. He used to be the star goal keep for a very successful team, but he left all of that behind so that he could live in anonymity.
This story took me about a third of the way to finally get into. Adalyn's and Cam's chemistry did not feel real until they started to get to know each other, because at the beginning they both truly lamented one another. Hate to love is such a delicate line to walk, but by the end of the book I was rooting for them to have their happily ever after.
My biggest gripe with this book is that the plot felt thin. Adalyn was sent to this place and given no preparations as to what she was getting into, but she dove headfirst because she wanted to appease her father and make amends for the team she loves. I found it infuriating and slightly unbelievable that her father did not try to defend her at all, and rather than talk to her or hear her out, he just sent her away. And even more shocking, Adalyn did not question him or try to fight to keep her job. Cam wanted to leave the world of professional sports behind and lead a quiet life, which is believable, but NO ONE recognized him in this small town. That I find highly unlikely, and the only real explanation the reader is given is that he has a beard now, so people do not recognize him. It did not take Adalyn long to realize who he was, and I think in retrospect that should have been happening more frequently for him.
Cam is a very possessive man, but in a good way. He wants to take care of Adalyn so that she can feel loved and protected, like someone is in her court. I did enjoy seeing him become so quickly invested in her and her well-being. This possessiveness also translated into some very hot scenes between the pair.
Adalyn felt unoriginal to me. She came from a wealthy family and because of that things were handed to her and now she wants to prove to everyone that she is independent and can make it on her own. Because of that, she continually puts herself in bad situations. She is really bad at asking for help, and believes she is unworthy of love. Rather than these qualities adding to the tension between her and Cam, I just felt annoyed by her because it was so cliche.
The end of the epilogue leaves a bit of a cliffhanger for a new character's story, and I am VERY intrigued and hopeful that we will get that book next.
Overall, this is my least favorite from Elena Armas, but I still had a good time reading it, and I would recommend it to those who enjoy sports romances.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Stalking
sejw's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
samchase112's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I’m always blessed to have another Elena Armas romance in my hands! While I didn’t enjoy this one as much as her last, and certainly not as much as her first, the chemistry between the characters and the slow-burn buildup were still top-notch. There was a lot going on here, and sometimes I think we lost the plot for a bit, but nevertheless I really enjoyed my time spent in Green Oak :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Stalking
Minor: Death of parent
leah08855's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
katiejohns's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Sexism
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
abbypeekreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
As always, Elena Armas delivers a funny yet heartwarming romance novel that i absolutely gobbled up. I adored the romance between Cameron and Adalyn, the small town setting, and all the side characters. But I also really enjoyed the message and themes that Adalyn had to learn. I can’t wait to return to this world with Armas’s next book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Cursing
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual content
Minor: Car accident