THE GAME CHANGER (The Perfect Game #2) by J STERLING

Review by Gitte

Jack ‘effing’ Carter, yes I’m late to the game I know but I’m here and loving him now!

So, I read the first book in this series and wasn’t sure about it. I loved the writing style and the characters and then what I called ‘the incident’ happened and Cassie and Jack’s story lost me somewhat. Each for their respective behaviour. However, I did enjoy and like it and wanted to find out what was coming next for them, and wow am I glad I did. Cassie grew up and Jack completely redeemed himself. Yes I am batting off all you ladies for Jack…this is my review, so I can say what I want and he’s MINE! So there…’nuff said.

On a serious note, I loved and celebrated all the underlying themes and messages in this story. They are all applicable to real life and something we should all bear in mind. How we treat each other, showing compassion, forgiveness, trust and embracing love. Words can hurt whether it be directly or indirectly, so choose them wisely.

“Why do people love seeing other people in pain?

“I don’t know. Because people are petty, shallow, and jealous? Because they think they want what you have and when it’s not so glamorous, they’re happy it’s not all it’s cracked up to be?”

I won’t write too much about the story as this is book #2 and I don’t do spoilers, instead, as per usual you’ll get my emotions of what I read.

So I’ll start with Jack who was the biggest pain in my arse from ‘The Perfect Game’ and who had a lot of grovelling and making up to do in my book (pun totally intended). I have to say, his pov was spot on, so well written, because I did a 360 in my feelings on him.

We find him explaining to Cassie where he’s ‘been’ and ‘why’ over the last six months. What he needed to resolve, and I was won over. This guy completely realised what he needed to do and he painstakingly did it, all the while keeping tabs on ‘his girl’ Cassie so as not to lose that connection. He loves her, that much is obvious (all I’ll say here is letters…sigh) and he’s completely repentant of ‘the incident’, which once this story moved along, I saw in a slightly different light. You’ll see why, especially if you were a sceptic like me.

Jack was hurting, his pain immense and he would move heaven and earth to win back his girl. Am I still a teeny weeny bit mad at him? Absolutely yes, would I have taken him back…hell yeah! This guy works for it, no doubt, he’s unrelenting in proving to Cassie how much he loves her and can’t live without her. Oh and I have to say the way J. Sterling wrote the atmosphere of Jack on the field. pitching, had me swooning! Jack’s pov was very convincing and so well written. Well played Sterling!

“I love you. I wish there were different words that I could say, but no one’s been clever enough to invent any yet. So it’s all I’ve got. But it’s everything. I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you…..” ~ Jack

And then there was Cassie who I already loved despite a few annoying decisions in ‘The Perfect Game’. She’s still strong and self-aware, funny and sweet. She has to face not only the re-building of a relationship with the man she loves, but also the stress of suddenly being thrust into the limelight. This girl struggles and it all comes to a head when the bitch from the past comes rearing her ugly head sprouting her lies and spreading her evil, not her legs this time.  Yeah, a whole lot of something went wrong. A women is a woman’s worst enemy that’s for sure. The pressure and scrutiny, the lies and gossip. Cassie also has to adapt to the invasion of privacy, that’s a lot of bloody pressure.

We see yet another few cracks develop in the newly cemented patched up hearts, and it all comes to a head and Cassie runs. I wasn’t happy with Cassie, but I kind of understood it….kind of. Cassie has balls, she just forgets that fact every so often and needs reminding.

“Running away isn’t really showing you have a temper. It just shows you have….legs.” – Jack

I also have to say I love Melissa. She’s the voice of reason and sits on everyone’s shoulder whispering truths and sense into their ear…well everyone’s except her own.

“I’m not telling you this to make you feel bad, Jack. I’m telling you this so you’ll understand the repercussions your actions had on her. You made the mistake, but she had to pay for it…..You broke her Jack.” ~ Melissa

“I broke me too….” ~ Jack

And Dean……can’t wait for his book!!!

I only have two niggles when it came to ‘The Game Changer’, one is book crossovers from another Author. I’ve never liked them, in fact it takes me out the moment of the book I’m reading and makes me think of the other character’s book. It doesn’t matter what book it is and whether I loved it or not, characters should stay in their own books and not stray. Unless of course they stay within the same Author’s books. There, now this is my opinion so you can completely disregard it if you disagree. I don’t mind. The other niggle was Jack’s reaction to Cassie’s innocent discretion and her wanting to have a couple of days’ time-out. Umm hello Jack, you can’t really blame the girl after everything that’s happened and changed in her life. Whilst I don’t agree with Cassie, I really don’t agree with Jack’s reaction. Yeah, I can throw whatever back in your face Jack because I don’t have to live with you oh and I still love you!

“What matters the most is who you love. Because when everything else is a distant memory, the people you love are all that’s left. And love is the single most important thing we can do in our lives. Give it. Receive it. Teach other’s to do it.”

So overall, I loved this second instalment and really recommend you picking this series up, even if you weren’t keen on book #1 like me. What a class act J. Sterling is to make me do a complete U-turn and fall in love!!!

“You’re my Game Changer. Because nothing else matters if you’re not with me.”~ Cassie

Gitte: 4 Stars

ARC supplied via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Check out and purchase The Perfect Game Series here

The Perfect Game: A Novel (The Game Series, Book One)

The Game Changer: A Novel (The Game Series, Book Two)