Review: All of my favorite Ingredients
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 21, 2013
DRATS! I devoured this book like a super tasty Scooby Snack only to get to the end and find out it is to be continued...grrr.  I have been avoiding still to be released series because I cannot stand to wait for the next installment. I am getting tired of losing the story's mojo and needing to reread the first book to get back into it. And, of course waiting on pins and needles for more (and closure) is a major buzz kill. Don't get me wrong; I am glad there will be more but I would rather be behind a series instead of in front. Okay, enough complaining.I am always looking for a good sports romance and was so excited to start this book.  From the blurb I could tell it would be sprinkled with all of my favorite toppings.  Once I got further into the story, I found it was even more than I expected.  The subject matter is heavy.  I don't want to give anything away but will say that I personally felt the author did an amazing job of portraying the reality of the heroine's struggle.  Because of the authenticity and sad truth of this storyline, I found myself hurting for our heroine and feeling her pain & fear.  About half way through I realized there would be no waving of a magic wand and/or quick fix; I started to really feel worried that this book would be heartbreaking.Although there was definitely a melancholy vibe throughout the story the author was also able to seriously bring the smexy.  You would think one would take away from the other but in the case the angst plus hotness was a winning combo for my reading taste.  I loved the chemistry between Ben & Georgia. There was plenty of steamy passion but also an incredible amount of tenderness.  The alternate POV was the icing on the cake for me and probably the best way to help guide the reader through this emotional journey.  Ben and Georgia were so in the dark about each other but their inner dialogue helped us understand their connection and maintain a thread of hope.So as much as I groaned about Julie Bale leaving me hanging, in the end I am relieved.  This book scratched the surface of this couple's journey.  Before I knew it was to be continued, I was getting a tad bit worried that I was being rushed through emotions.  Now that I know there will be more, I totally understand the pace and the lack of more depth within the past of our two characters.  I feel I understand what Georgia is ultimately facing, fearing and longing for but need to understand more about Ben.  Ben Lancaster is about as good as a hero gets so I need to understand the pull Georgia has over him and believe he understands what he and Georgia will be up against.  Because of these missing pieces, I am incredibly anxious for book two (and more Ben Lancaster).