This was an excellent read. As the main focus is on an existing relationship, rather than finding a new love, the dynamics are slightly different.

Of course there wouldn't be a story to tell (or maybe just a boring one lol) if there wasn't a conflict needing to be resolved, issues needing fixing or problems needing to be overcome. But there was a twist I didn't see coming. One that changed the dynamics and moved the whole story to a different level.

I will admit that towards the end, the seemingly endless discussion of tennis strokes, tactics and movements were becoming a bit too much, but that is the only criticism I would have for this story. ( )

This is an amazing story. I felt as if I was on a roller-coaster ride. It took me a couple days to read this because it's such an intense story. It an uphill, I can't look, I need to catch my breath, what else can happen storyline. I honesty walked away from my laptop and needed to take breathers.

The character's are amazing. Each one is multi-layered and complex. All the characters grow and develop, change and morph into real life, three dimensional beings.

If you are looking for erotica. This is not your book. The sex is glossed over and not descriptive. This is definitely a LOVE story.

The book is centered around tennis and you will learn quite a bit about the game. Discrimination within the game is a major component of the storyline, but in the end it's about a bond between partners.

FIVE PLUS STARS




( )

Without loosing his penchant for eastern philosophy and lifestyle, with Match Maker Alan Chin tests his hand with a sport themed novel, something that apparently is completely at the opposite. Apparently since the chosen sport is yes something that is based on a good physical strength, but it has also deep root in balance and inner calm, Tennis.

Strange is that, the main argument of the novel is that Tennis is a macho sport… well, truth be told in Europe Tennis is probably the most likely candidate to have gay professional players. And no, this is not due to the actual presence of out players, but simply since Tennis is seen like a sophisticated sport, something the common man hardly will play.

But in any case, European misconceptions or not, being gay and a professional player is something that doesn’t match well in any sport, at least to the public opinion, and so Jared and Daniel, teenager lovers who became player and trainer, had seen their dreams smashed; the downfall was not so hard, Jared survives giving few 1 hour lessons each week to people willing to pay more than the average to boast they have a former champion as instructor, and Daniel has a more common job as tennis teacher in a poshy club. They could be happy, but regrets make their life a nightmare, and also their relationship is under duress.

When Connor enters their life, I feared the worst; 18 years old and pretty, and willing to do everything necessary to reach his goal, I was scared he would have been the final blow to Daniel and Jared’s relationship and instead he was their only chance to survive. Connor is not gay, and even if he has a special relationship with Spencer, a same age kid, his is more the jealousy of best friends who don’t like to share a special bond.

Trying to make Connor a better player, Daniel starts to heal also Jared, and four year later their initial defeat, both Daniel and Jared are well aware of what they are losing if they don’t win this time, and it’s not a trophy or money, it’s their happiness and love.

I really liked that, even if Alan Chin didn’t neglect Jared and Daniel’s relationship, quite the opposite actually, he also gave enough insight in the other couples waltzing around, Connor and Shar, Spencer and Harman, even the Baroness and Alma. It makes for a full rounded novel, btw a very long novel considering today standard at over 300 pages, but not boring at all. I read it in a day, with barely a break, and even if the sex was almost non-existent, or better not detailed, it was nevertheless a satisfying romance, maybe even more right for that reason.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1615815872/?tag=elimyrevandra-20