Author: Holly Schindler
Publication: March 8, 2011
By: Flux
4 Stars!
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Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college--and everyone's admiration in her hometown. But everything changed senior year, when she took a horrible fall during a game. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.
As a graduation present, Chelsea's dad springs for a three-week summer "boot camp" program at a northern Minnesota lake resort. There, she's immediately drawn to her trainer, Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player who's haunted by his own traumatic past. As they grow close, Chelsea is torn between her feelings for Clint and her loyalty to her devoted boyfriend back home. Will an unexpected romance just end up causing Chelsea and Clint more pain--or finally heal their heartbreak?
WHY HAVE I NOT HEARD OF THIS BOOK BEFORE NOW?! If it weren't for Jennifer L. Armentrout and Miranda Kenneally, I probably would have never read it but I'm so glad I did! (Word of advice, if author friends boss you to read a book, you listen.)
Told from alternating POVs, PLAYING HURT is a story of love, loss, hard choices and healing.
Chelsea and Clint both come from small towns and good families. Both have suffered tragedies that have left them broken, scared and scarred. But together they discover that just because life doesn't always turn out the way we think it will, doesn't mean it's over or not worth living, like REALLY living.
Their physical attraction is instant and often times hilarious as they both struggle to keep things professional. It doesn't take long though for emotions to kick in and those carefully drawn lines start to get a little blurry. *fans face* Did I agree with all the choices Chelsea and Clint made? No, but I understood why they made them and I appreciated that Holly Schindler took such an honest approach to their story.
I really liked that both sets of parents were visible and involved. Chelsea's relationship with her dad and Clint's relationship with his mom broke my heart in the best way. And the ending was perfect.
Favorite Quote: “The heart is a compass, steers us back to the thing we loved the most.”
Find out more about Holly Schindler and her other books:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Sigh. I'm just going to take brief moment to be jealous of the the fact that Kenneally and Armentrout are your author friends. I've met Kenneally, who is simply awesome, but I'm just beginning to discover the joy of Armentrout's books. This book sounds good, so maybe I should all three's of ya'lls advice. :)
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