Review: THE PERFECT SCORE is actually three stories
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 12, 2012
Reviewed by FRANCESCA & posted at Under the Covers Book BlogMy first thought when I was asked to review this book was... "Dam, I just have to read that book because look at the hot cover!" but then my second was "Bowling?  Really?".  That can only tell you two things, yes I'm a cover whore and I HATE bowling.  But it's Beth Williamson, so I knew it would be good and I had to give this a try.  And I'm so glad I did.THE PERFECT SCORE is actually three stories set pretty much at the same time during a bowling tournament in Espejo, TX.  I loved the fact that each story was about one of three girlfriends and I also loved how they intermingled a bit because they were all happening at the same time.ONE NIGHT STANDThis was Babs story and probably my favorite chick in this book.  She's loud and speaks her mind, sometimes even when she shouldn't.  She's a rich girl who has been used for that by her own ex husband.  So she's a bit bitter and just on a binge to use men.  Only then in strolls Jimmy, one of her ex husband's friends, and a guy she hadn't seen for years but who has known her for a long time.  I really liked this setup because it's the friend who always had the hots for her and she thought he was hot as well.  He knows her on a deeper level than just a stranger would and is able to bring out feelings in the sweetest of ways.  I mean, any man that can make me dinner (including miso soup), served with a nice sake....Mmmmmm That's a keeper!  Jimmy is successful in his career but for his efforts to win Babs her he gets an A+ from me.  Sweet, thoughtful, respectful and soooooooo freaking hot!  I want a Jimmy of my own!  That man knows his way around a kitchen and to take care of someone just as well as he knows a woman's' body.WIDOW'S WEBThis was my least favorite story.  Some might think that it's because this was a f/f story but that actually wasn't it.  I didn't have the problems with that aspect of the story that I thought I would.  My problem was mainly with the fact that Veronica has always been a straight woman, she was married off by her parents and her late husband was kind but never revved her engine as much as she thought he should.  But she's never felt an attraction to women.  So when all of a sudden her partner for the tournament is a woman and she's feeling all sorts of attraction towards her, I was expecting a little more self doubt and working through of issues in her mind.  What we got of her internal struggle didn't convince me.  That being said, these two do spend some time apart in the story which made me feel that what little they had wasn't enough for a real "love" connection.MARLENE'S MANWell, hot damn *fans self*. That's one hot, big *wink*, imposing man.  Buck is competing in the tournament because he needs the money from the top prize to finish building his house.  He is partnered with Marlene and the chemistry is just right from the get-go.Marlene is the last of the friends that we read about, but also the one that has struggled more with self-confidence.  She wants to win as her way of proving herself to everyone that has put her down.  Her own fifteen minutes of fame.  And Buck might just put her off her game.These two are also very hot together but I think the connection was just a tad less than with the first couple, which is why I'd say this is my second favorite story.  But it was close.  I really enjoyed them together and how Buck wanted to hold things at a slow pace to show her he really cared.  How he got protective over her, although I wish he would've kicked some ass.But what I really liked about all three stories was that the endings are HEA's without rushing into "lets get married" like a lot of short stories try to be.  Yes, there's love, but after that there's a promise of working on a relationship.  Which a lot more believable to me than their marriage vows after about a week together.In the end, I enjoyed this book a lot!  I guess if there's someone that can make bowling sexy and exciting, that is Ms. Williamson.*ARC provided by author