Game of Hearts by Cathy Yardley

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Title: Game of Hearts
Author: Cathy Yardley
Series: Fandom Hearts #3
Published by: Indie
Release Date: January 30th 2018
Format: eARC
Pages: 179
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Source: the author
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2018 #LetsReadIndie Challenge, Lenoreo's 2018 AtoZ Reading Challenge, Lenoreo's 2018 New Adult Challenge, Lenoreo's 2018 New Release Challenge, Lenoreo's 2018 Platypire Diversity Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon
My rating:

Blurb:

Kyla Summers has been offered the opportunity of a lifetime to get her cosplay business off the ground, and only one thing stands in her way. She needs someone to take over the auto shop, and there’s only one person she can think of to call…

Jericho Salomon hasn’t been back in his home town since he joined a biker gang and rode off nine years ago. When his best friend’s kid sister calls begging for help, he knows that he owes the family a debt and he intends to pay. This is easier said than done once he finds that the kid is all grown up…

She needs a pair of skillful hands. He needs to keep his hands off. When sparks begin to fly, can they keep things strictly business, or will their hearts get hopelessly tangled? No more games, it’s time to play for keeps.

My Review:

I received a free copy through the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

5 stars — You know when you eat an amazing meal of your favourite foods, and when you’re finished you slump back in your chair with a smile of pure giddiness and satisfaction on your face?  Yeah, that’s what I looked like when I finished this book.  I’m not sure I’ll even be able to accurately describe what I loved about this book, other than just everything.  Sometimes a book just fits for you, you know?  This was just a Lenore book through and through.  This was a book full of absolutely fantastic characters, great interactions, amazing chemistry, and those little bits of extra that just put it over the top.

Kyla was just awesomesauce.  She was so unique and sunny and sassy…not to mention tough and vulnerable and adorable.  She made me laugh with her antics, and she made my heart hurt with how torn she was between loyalty to her family and wanting to chase her dream.  And as a “bigger” heroine, she had a few insecurities, but I appreciated that it didn’t actually play that big a role in who she was.  She still had confidence, and it added a note of body positivity to the story as well.

And then we have Jericho!!  He was adorable himself…my hubby was trying to predict why I loved this story, and he was like “beta hero?”  But no…he’s not.  He’s not really alpha either, he’s just Jericho.  I kind of like those heroes the most.  He was thoughtful, sweet, and I loved the way his character grew in so many ways over the course of the story.  I didn’t expect such a rich secondary story with his family…well, I expected the motorcycle family story, but I’m talking about his Mom.  I LOVED the way that played out, there was a lot of richness and seeing things from an adult perspective, and reconciliation that feels realistic and satisfying.  And I didn’t expect the bit of diversity that he added!  It was interesting, b/c it wasn’t a large part of the story, it didn’t take over the storyline.  Rather, it just sort of was, and it was a part of who Jericho was, but…I don’t know how to describe it, it was just normal.  I like when the diversity is added in such a way as it doesn’t feel intentional, it just is.

And OMG, the two of them together were chemistry gold.  And not just steamy chemistry, but that first moment when he comes back and you could just FEEL the friendship that they had together, it came across so effortlessly on the pages with the way they bantered and teased and cared for each other.  It was so genuine and sassy and awesome.  And when they went from friendship to more??  OH YEAH BABY!!!

As with many of my favourite books/series, this one is chock full of fabulous secondary characters that make the most of the short screen time they have.  Even Kyla’s brother Billy amused me…he was kind of a jerk, but for some reason it just lent authenticity to their sibling relationship.

AND THEN there’s the element that just sets this series over the top for me: epic geeky/nerdy/fandom awesomeness.  I don’t fan to this level, but I always admired those who would cosplay.  And all those little nerdy references just made my heart happy.

So yeah.  I know most people won’t read all the way through a 5 star review, but if you’re a follower of my reviews at all, you’ll understand how rare it is for me to give a full 5 stars.  Does it mean a book is perfect?  Nah.  But I’m a gut rater, and this book just made me so freaking happy, I wanted to read it again when I finished it.  <3