KEEPING SCORE, the latest from Regina Hart - there's a giveaway!

Author Regina Hart has a new release, the latest in her Brooklyn Monarchs series, and was kind enough to provide me with a review copy.  KEEPING SCORE is the third book in this series, and comes with a strong recommendation from me to take a look at it!  Check out Ms. Hart's website for excerpts and ordering information.

A blurb:
To be a pro b-ball champion takes endless drive and passion. But being a winner on the court can often mean losing off the court...
He’s an NBA legend, considered the best of the best. Now veteran player Warrick Evans is determined to lead his team all the way to the championship. It’s his last shot before he retires, but the media can’t get enough of his story — and all the attention is turning his teammates against him, not to mention his wife.
Dr. Marilyn Devry-Evans has always stood by her man, even when it meant standing in his shadow. Now she wants to focus on her own career and on scoring her own dream job. But with the spotlight bearing down on them, Marilyn is reaching her breaking point. Especially when a secret comes to light — one that could destroy not only her career, but her marriage.

My review:

Dr. Marilyn DeVry-Evans wants little more than a partnership in the prestigious Linden Boulevard Women’s Health Clinic, but has concerns because the partners overseeing her application seem more interested in her wealthy family than what she personally could bring to the practice.  They too have concerns, mostly about Mary’s husband, professional basketball player Warrick “Rick” Evans, and the rumors about his being a bad boy sports image. Mary has moved out of their marital home in an attempt to see their relationship in a different light. She feels that the clinic’s concerns are more than a little silly, and her current position at the hospital being in jeopardy is disconcerting, but she’s trying to please everyone, even at the risk of not being true to herself.

Rick Evans is determined to bring home a championship for the Brooklyn Monarch fans, and his greatest wish is for his wife to be by his side.  Frustrated by their separation and the seemingly  ridiculous reasons behind it, he sometimes feels like he’s banging his head against the wall to get Mary to see past the frivolous accusations and rumors. He loves Mary more than life itself and will do whatever it takes to get their marriage back on solid ground.

Regina Hart gives romance readers a feel-good story that includes the realities of what some might consider to be the good life.  Mary’s confusion over the worrisome opinions of her parents, her employer, and a prospective employer is well-written, even if I did want to shake her on occasion to make her see what a wonderful man she has in her husband. Rick’s patience with Mary while she takes time to put her life into perspective is sweet and proves just how strong his love and devotion are.  I encourage romance readers, whether you prefer contemporary or sports romance, to take a look at Regina Hart’s Brooklyn Monarch’s series.

I’ll give a Kindle or Nook version, winner’s choice, of the first or second book in this series, FAST BREAK or SMOOTH PLAY, to one commenter here.  Are you familiar with Regina Hart or the work of her alter ego, Patricia Sargeant?  If you’ve had the pleasure of meeting Patricia, you know that she is one of the kindest, sweetest women that God gave breath. I’ve adored her for years. But consider yourself warned: this sweet, soft-spoken woman is a ruthless sports fanatic who is fiercely loyal to and strongly opinionated about her favorite teams and players!  I’ll draw the winner on Monday, July 16^th. Thanks for checking out KEEPING SCORE!