The Game Changer

Absolutely amazing. Wonderful story of love and happiness and fighting for what is right, against all odds; and attaining your dreams.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author – I’ve attempted others but haven’t made it all the way to the end. I’m not sure that I’d have finished this if I hadn’t been listening to the amazing Greg Tremblay – but I was glad I did.

The first half of the book is wonderful. I was LOVING it!

Malcolm is a bit of an enigma, and such a great person. Good, kind, a little naïve. Wonderful. Vance is just a bit more worldly, more jaded, more snarky – but still – nice and kind.

I love the slow burn between them, the silly drinking games and the patient wait for sex.
Even though this is a fairly low steam book, the connection is there and I really felt their chemistry.

However, after the first half of the book – things go sideways. The relationship moves from gentle exploration and love and passion to a Big Misunderstanding and hiding and anger and stubbornness. It was amazingly frustrating and I didn’t understand how two people whose number one commitment is “Honesty” could go on so long with this “issue” between them.

In any case, they muddle through that issue and we get a lovely HEA. (If you read the e book and are willing to sign up for her newsletter the author will send you a “bonus chapter” that adds some steam to this low steam story. Alas, not in audio format.)

As always, Greg made this story for me, and he was the main reason I picked up the audio. I love how he brings a story to life and I thought he gave full characters to even secondary or minor characters. His narration really made me stick it out and I give his narration 5 of 5 stars.
As for the story, I’d give 4.5 stars for Part 1 and 2.5 stars to part 2 – average of 3 of 5 stars.

For both narration and story – 4 of 5 stars – I’d still recommend it – but be warned ☺

Ok . I have to truthfull. ok so beginning this book I was a bit skeptical , the synopsis made it look interesting . personally I think it had a good plot behind it . their were parts of the story that had me lost in its story and then it was like listening to the news . I love the romance part it was brilliant . I didn't mind that it wasn't very sexual it was actually refreshing but so much was left off. the story has been filled with empty conversations with characters. I wanted to give it more stars but i couldn't get over how it was narrorated . the voice fit the main characters its just hearing it as if someone was watching the couple made so bland . parts of the story kept me on edge and then it just fell off . I know as a writer you can do better .

While the characters conform to an idealistic physique and are at times stereotypical , the story itself invokes true emotion and genuine human dynamics. the characters travel through a completely realistic emotional experience. Many of the story arcs are completely relatable in some facet for most readers.

I am not a football fan and I don't listen to a lot of sports romances. At least, I didn't before I listened to The Game Changer. I loved it. This is the story of two men who are such opposites not only in lifestyle but in temperament, attitude, experience and history. Malcom is a big burly football hero and Vance is a Physical Therapist and they meet after Malcom sustains an injury. They become friends as Vance walks a Malcom through some of the most difficult times of his adult life.
Though Malcom has had every success a professional football player could have his life has no depth of meaning until he meets and falls for Vance. As their relationship develops and becomes more public both of their lives change forever.
This is a tender romance sprinkled with LGBTQ politics that only add to the treasure this story holds. Both Kay Simone, the author and Greg Trembllay, the voice actor were new to me and I very much plan to seek out more of their work. Trembly does an excellent job of giving each character a nuisance of their own that I really enjoyed and appreciated.

It was easy to get into the characters of this book. I rarely listen to sport based stories but in this case the sport was just the context around which the characters relationship developed. The characters were fantastic and their story well worth listening to.

While it had some good moments at the beginning, particularly the relationship building and slow burn, it lost momentum halfway in, and then had miscommunication issues, until nearly the end, that drove me almost insane.

Greg Tremblay does a fantastic job with the character voices, timing and pacing, which helps with the story's momentum issues in a way that kept me interested, but he just couldn't get me over the miscommunication.

BUT - anyone who knows me, or reads my reviews, knows that I absolutely hate miscommunication/misunderstanding, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.

All in all, I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either.

really enjoyed this story, and Greg Tremblay is amazing as always. I had to chuckle at every reference to PFL instead of "N"FL.

The writing was bad, the characters were not credible (grown men playing 'Never have I ever'?), and their inner life/inner dialogue was about as interesting to follow as it is watching paint dry. Couldn't finish it.