The Perfect Game by J. Sterling: Book Review

Title: The Perfect Game
Author: J. Sterling
Series: The Perfect Game #1
Date Published: October 11, 2012
Publisher: Self-published
Language: English
Genre: New Adult, Sports Romance
ASIN: B009OMPKTG
Edition: Kindle edition
Size: 379

He's a game she never intended to play. And she's the game changer he never knew he needed.

The perfect game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews and Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind... like getting Cassie to give him the time of day.

They're both damaged, filled with mistrust and guarded before they find one another (and themselves) in this emotional journey about love and forgiveness. Strap yourselves for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together.

Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful.

Review:

I fell in love with Jack Carter. He's handsome and hot, dedicated with his balls—yeah, both kind of balls, the ones in his groin and the one he kneads with his hands. Uhm, I mean baseball with the latter. He's overbearing, cocky, arrogant, and might as well be full of himself. That's how he's shown himself to Cassie "Kitten" Andrews at the beginning. Of course, you'd get intrigued when a famous man-whore just hits on you. That at least, was how Cassie felt when she met him in a frat party.

Jack has a shitty background when it comes to family. Thus, his trust issues. He'd always been emotionally closed. He dealt with his feelings by playing around the field—both in baseball and the bedroom. He never gets under the sheet with the same girl twice, much more date. When he laid his eyes on Cassie, he felt that his game might change.

When he finally got to date his kitten Cassie, it turned out that they both have trust issues. It's maybe because of this that they're both compelled to explore things about each other (not just physically) and work out their issues, together.

And from that date, I would never look at quarter coins the same again. No, apparently, I have my own issues with quarter coins. Let's sidetrack. When I was a kid, there used to be a handsome boy who walks behind me every time I get home. I find it normal since we're both classmates and we had the same dismissal time and he'd pass by our house first before he reaches his own. Until, a year later. We're no longer in the same class then but he still falls behind me whenever I walk home. I could still consider it normal since he had to pass by our sitio to reach his. Forward later, it turned out he got a deal with my mother to "guard" me and my mom would give him a 25-centavo coin (quarter peso) each day.

It felt romantic actually, having someone handsome "guard" you. I just couldn't bear the feeling of being vulnerable, to have the need of someone's protection; I always wanted to appear tough. Anyway, a quarter coin would always remind me of him.

So I will always love Jack. Until he broke my heart. Jack, WHY? You, fucking idiot! Okay, I won't spoil but there will be a part in the book where you would likely punch Jack Carter straight in the face and if that isn't enough, rip him apart with a saw. But despite the anger, the pain would always overcome. I was already consumed with the heartache when he made the most foolish and dumb-witted decision of his life! I have to read the book fast when I came to that part just to ease the pain when my heart has been ripped apart from my chest and torn to pieces. If only I could really punch the idiot, might just as well shove a stick in his butt. But I still love him.

Okay, there might be that heart-wrenching episode, but things will turn out good later. When Cassie has been full at the brim with her relationship with Jack, she decided to pursue her dreams first. And I really appreciate her for that. What is there when you have the big-leaguer when you have nothing about yourself? I think that before a girl becomes happy by having someone she loves, she should have made something for herself first, something she would be proud of, of her own doing. We can't own a person but we certainly own our own achievements.

Dialogues to Remember

"So tell me about your boy test." He picked up his napkin to swipe at a smear of ketchup on his chin.

They're more like rules. Rule number one: Don't lie. Two: Don't Cheat. Three: Don't make promises you can't keep. And four: Don't say things you don't mean.

I looked into his eyes and then down at his mouth before continuing.

Have you ever noticed how pretty and beautiful words can be? How easy it is to say the things you think someone wants to hear. How you can affect a person's entire say with just a few measly sentences?

But when you don't follow them up with any action, they're completely pointless. They're just sounds and syllables. But they mean absolutely nothing.

-Cassie

You're both all messed up from your stupid parents. You're both so screwed up alone that together you're like the perfect mess.

Sometimes letting go is the only way to find out who you're meant to hold on to.

-Melissa

"Prove it."

"I'm not scared." My stupid voice shook slightly. "I'm just... not ready."

Because once you give your body to a guy, there's no taking it back. And once you've done that it opens up feelings, emotions and vulnerabilities you never knew you were capable of having. I'm not ready to give him my heart. What if he breaks it?

I was almost awestruck when I realized that like this meant without a condom. Jack's vulnerability shone through him in that exact moment like a lighthouse beacon in a raging storm. Somewhere along the way, we'd crossed an imaginary line where feelings and emotions blurred into the unknown. A place neither of us dared to go before.

This book really is a conundrum of tears, love and anger. And that's why I love it!