Review: Intense Read With Characters Put Through the Emotional Wringer
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 08 24, 2013
As a big fan of sports-themed romances I thought I knew what to expect with Liz Crowe's Red Card but ended up with something unexpectedly intense that kept my emotions on a roller-coaster ride.  This book was at times predictable, mostly at the start, but bodly went where I didn't expect a romance book to go late in the story which brought out drastically different sides to the characters.  This is an unconventional romance that might very well upset some readers but I applaud Ms. Crowe for her daring.Metin is the hotshot Turkish soccer player who could have any woman he wants, and has had them.  Before now they've always been of the superficial model-like variety which has become boring.  His first meeting with the tall, athletic, and sturdy-looking Alicia intrigues him.  He admires her spirit and love of soccer which she desperately wants to play in the big leagues.  He's sexy, charming, and oozes confidence except in his dealings with her.  Though she's not easy to win over, he's immensely attracted and sets out wholeheartedly to woo her in a whirlwind romance that is super steamy but very rocky.  Just when things look to be perfect between them fate decides to intervene and changes the meaning of love and family forever.Alicia was raised by her sister ever since her mother died when she was very young.  She's never been girly and devotes her life to soccer to the exclusion of all else.  Wanting to play professionally has her angry and jealous of those male players who are making millions.  Her initial meeting with Metin therefore is full of aggression which ultimately morphs into attraction and a relationship that's full of sexual tension, steamy interludes, and a lot of verbal warfare that's really HOT.  All does not go perfectly though with a sister who's been burned by men in the past and who spars with Metin every step of the way.  Alicia is torn by the caring yet judgmental nature of her sister Melanie and her love for Metin which leads to many heart-wrenching moments.  Fate soon intervenes in their happiness and puts their wedding vows to the test.Melanie starts out as a completely bitter woman, one who I found hard to like.  She seemed angry at the world but Metin's charming and caring nature finally won her over and they ultimately form a friendship that will come in handy when the going gets tough.  Along with adults being put through the emotional wringer, there's also Melanie's teenage boys who are also experiencing hard times in a realistically gut-wrenching manner.  From start to finish this is a difficult read with heart-wrenching moments amidst guilt, fear, and anger.  Ms. Crowe beautifully balances the steamy interludes with the character's emotional journeys in a richly rewarding way that brings a tear to the eye at times.  Characters from previous books make brief appearances which made for a homey feel to the author's book world and provided nice updates to these familiar characters.  This is the second installment in the Black Jack Gentlemen series but can be easily read on its own but I'm now left waiting impatiently for the next installment, as will you after reading Red Card.