Lula Bowman has finally achieved her dream: a teaching position and a
scholarship to continue her college education in mathematics. But then a
shocking phone call from her sister, Jewel, changes everything.
With a heavy heart, Lula returns to her Oklahoma hometown to do right by her sister, but the only teaching job available in Dunn is combination music instructor/basketball coach. Lula doesn't even consider those real subjects!
Determined to prove herself, Lula commits to covering the job for the rest of the school year. Reluctantly, she turns to the boys' coach, Chet, to learn the newfangled game of basketball. Chet is handsome and single, but Lula has no plans to fall for a local boy. She's returning to college and her scholarship as soon as she gets Jewel back on her feet.
However, the more time she spends around Jewel's family, the girls' basketball team, music classes, and Chet, the more Lula comes to realize what she's given up in her single-minded pursuit of degree after degree. God is working on her heart, and her future is starting to look a lot different than she'd expected.
With a heavy heart, Lula returns to her Oklahoma hometown to do right by her sister, but the only teaching job available in Dunn is combination music instructor/basketball coach. Lula doesn't even consider those real subjects!
Determined to prove herself, Lula commits to covering the job for the rest of the school year. Reluctantly, she turns to the boys' coach, Chet, to learn the newfangled game of basketball. Chet is handsome and single, but Lula has no plans to fall for a local boy. She's returning to college and her scholarship as soon as she gets Jewel back on her feet.
However, the more time she spends around Jewel's family, the girls' basketball team, music classes, and Chet, the more Lula comes to realize what she's given up in her single-minded pursuit of degree after degree. God is working on her heart, and her future is starting to look a lot different than she'd expected.
My rating:
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(View my rating system)
My thoughts:
Playing By Heart was a unique story for me, as I don't think I've ever read a story quite like it. The main character, Lula, had to return to her hometown to help her sister and she ends up taking a teaching job as a music instructor and becomes the girls' basketball coach (even though she doesn't know anything about the sport!). It was really interesting to see how she tackled the new jobs.
While the book did take me a little bit to get into (because I didn't know any of the characters or backstory, so when new characters were mentioned I was trying to figure out who everyone was), I ended up loving the story so much! The characters were great and I enjoyed the sweet romance story. There were some unexpected events towards the end of this book that made me care about the characters even more than I already did.
All in all, Playing By Heart was a very good historical romance and I recommend it! This is my first Anne Mateer read, but it won't be the last.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
Playing By Heart was a unique story for me, as I don't think I've ever read a story quite like it. The main character, Lula, had to return to her hometown to help her sister and she ends up taking a teaching job as a music instructor and becomes the girls' basketball coach (even though she doesn't know anything about the sport!). It was really interesting to see how she tackled the new jobs.
While the book did take me a little bit to get into (because I didn't know any of the characters or backstory, so when new characters were mentioned I was trying to figure out who everyone was), I ended up loving the story so much! The characters were great and I enjoyed the sweet romance story. There were some unexpected events towards the end of this book that made me care about the characters even more than I already did.
All in all, Playing By Heart was a very good historical romance and I recommend it! This is my first Anne Mateer read, but it won't be the last.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
I found it interesting reading about the early days of the game of basketball. It seems strange sometimes to think that the game was played a different way than it is now. It does make me wonder how it will evolve in the future.
ReplyDeleteIt was definitely interesting to read about the early days of basketball. Thanks for commenting! :)
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