Although this title was supposed to be focused on women's afl, there were lots of details that pertained to other types of football.  I found myself criticizing these issues as I was reading.

What a damn delight this book was! I know nothing about ARF, and I loved getting this glimpse of it. Highly recommended for any sports romance fan.

A good read with some comical and heartfelt moments that was not heavy on details.
Review copy received from Escape Publishing via Netgalley

***I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Escape Publishing and Lauren McKellar.***

A Whole New Ball Game, by Lauren K McKellar, snuck up on me in a good way. Zoe’s plan was an overseas nursing job where she could help the most, but she put her life on hold for her now ex-boyfriend’s career. She’s determined to make her dream come true now. When Emily, one of her most special hospice patients, tells her women can’t play football, Zoe sets out to prove her wrong before she leaves for her new job. Enter Sawyer, a famous AFL player whose ex dumped him for his best friend. He doesn’t want any attachments, only someone on his arm for the events he’s forced to attend by his coach. He offers to train Zoe to try out for the Aussie Rules women’s league in exchange for fake dating her.

I liked both Sawyer and Zoe. Both of them are smart and caring, which I loved, and they had amazing chemistry. I adored how Zoe figured out what she wanted instead of listening to her mom’s wishes. The plot is fairly predictable here, but I found Sawyer’s attitude incredibly refreshing. I loved was how he saw Zoe, how he held her in such esteem and eventually adoration, how he loved her. Even more, I can’t remember ever reading a character with such faith in Zoe, his feelings for her and hers for him, and their future. It was really powerful.

A bit of a rough start for me in terms of set-up. I felt like there were 2 dozen names and I couldn’t keep them straight. And I wasn’t sure whether Sawyer was a male or female character in his first chapter, so that kind of threw me. Also, Sawyer was such a confident man that him feeling so sorry for himself a month after his breakup with a woman he admits he didn’t love (and that they wanted different things), seemed kind of out of character. Honestly it made me think of Eeyore lol. That aside, I very much enjoyed watching them fall for one another. The story had really good flow and balance. It was a cute book.

This is such a fabulous story, there is a mix of sport and heart-waring and sensual romance and then the love and caring that a nurse shows in her everyday job caring for very ill children in a home away from the hospital. I thoroughly loved meeting Nurse Zoe Taylor and AFL star Sawyer Benson and sharing their journey to a beautiful HEA.

Zoe works caring for sick children in a hospice and these kids mean everything to her especially Emily, but Zoe also has another love AFL, playing football is just the best but she also wants to volunteer in Africa to help the underprivileged like her mum, but when young Emily pushes Zoe to prove that woman can play football and she literally runs into Sawyer then things are about to change in her life.

Sawyer has been playing top level footy for a while and he is single at the moment after breaking up with his long term girlfriend and he is hurting seeing as she has new partner, but he needs someone to take to a big awards night and when he is knocked over by the beautiful Zoe and they realize that they have somethings in common like footy and he is very drawn to her, he offers to help her with footy in exchange for a “date” he will move on after that because she is moving, yes?

I loved Zoe and Sawyer two strong caring people, they showed passion in their careers and in each other even if they were trying hard not to with each other, but they were meant to be together, and Emily, Zoe’s patient so strong with what she has to go through. This one had me crying and smiling, a beautifully written story that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys sport and romance with believable and loving hero and heroine, thank you.

This was certainly a novel that tugged at the heartstrings. My goodness there were a couple of times that I shed literal tears. But those tears were borne out of sadness, yes, but also out of enjoyment. This book really did have me enjoying the ride and the chemistry between the two leads, Zoe and Sawyer was totally believable. But I truly loved that it portrayed a great show of women in sport - something that I personally feel needs to be promoted more. Overall, I really did enjoy this novel and certainly might have a snoop around her other books. Congrats to Lauren McKellar on a very enjoyable novel!

When children's nurse, Zoe, almost runs over a man who steps in front of her car, she never imagines he'll come to mean so much to her, and change the entire course of her life. Sawyer is a professional football player for the AFL team, The Killers, who has discovered his recent ex is now dating his teammate and best friend. It distracts him so much that he steps into oncoming traffic and almost gets his ass run over. He comes across as the typical arrogant professional athlete Zoe tags him as at first, but when he visits one of her patients in the hospital, she sees a whole different, wonderful, side of him. Sawyer needs a date to a team gala and Zoe needs training to be accepted onto the Aussie Rules women's team to prove to her adorable patient that women can play football, so a deal is struck. But the two cannot possibly start to develop feelings for each other because she's leaving soon (hopefully) to go to Africa and Sawyer doesn't trust women any longer thanks to his malicious, sleazy ex. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me...

Unfortunately, A Whole New Ball Game just did not work for me. The relationship between Zoe and Sawyer is really under-developed and instead of this being a big hurrah for feminism and women in professional sports, it made more of a big deal about Zoe being a WAG than becoming a professional footie player. So 3 stars for the exciting premise, but not more stars because the execution is really lacking.

I didn't like this one very much. it seemed childish. He doesn't really seem to know a lot about the branch that the whole story is about. And I love female sportsbooks. But this was a female needing a male to teach her because she can't do it on her own.

Lauren McKellar is one of my favourite Aussie authors, and I get a kick out of sports romances.

And women in sport romances - we need more of them.

I did like Zoe and Sawyer's story, and I liked the backdrop of the setting up of the Women's Aussie Rules (the WAFL has only just started over here in Auslandia).

However, I felt that it leaned too much on the side of being Sawyer's story, and that Zoe became more of a WAG than a W.A.R star - but that could just be me.

I did like the story, I adore Ms McKellar's writing, I just felt that the female sports side of things lacked.

4 Stars
Review by Morgen
Late Night Reviewer 
Up All Night w/ Books Blog

A Whole New Ball Game by Lauren K. McKellar is a fun romance mixed in with the world of sports. It’s about not letting things keep you from your dreams whether that be the world or yourself. 

Zoe Taylor is a registered nurse who takes care of children as they seek treatment for serious illness. She is compassionate, independent, strong-willed, has a selfless heart and is driven by the need to help people. She finally has the chance she has been waiting for to go to Africa to help those who need it most, but she needs one more reference from her boss.

Sawyer Benson is an Australian Football League (AFL) star with all the arrogance and skill that goes with it. He recently went through a breakup and it’s still fresh in his mind. He enjoys interacting with his fans and trying to give back to the people that let him do something he loves. He is kind, witty, and athletically gifted.

One of Zoe favorite patients, Emily, is an AFL fan and Sawyer stops by to lift her spirits. When Emily finds out there is a woman’s league, she begs Zoe to try out for her. How could Zoe refuse her pleas? Sawyer offers to help Zoe train so she can be prepared for tryouts in exchange for her going to a business event with him. She is leaving for Africa soon and he is close to the final matches of his season. What could possibly go wrong?

The story is told through both Zoe and Sawyer's perspectives, letting us inside their heads. It gives us a better understanding of the characters and story line.

They’re both sweet and endearing. They captured my heart right away. The pacing is great and the detail as they practiced together was amazing! I loved their chemistry and being able to watch them connect so easily. Their witty banter is fun to watch. Zoe goes on an emotional journey to find out what is most important to her and it was beautifully written. I’d definitely recommend for those that enjoy a fun romance and women who defy the odds.

**ARC provided for an honest review**

Sawyer was quite the romantic lead - interesting, good-looking and caring. The rest of the book was sadly average, including the "should I stay or should I go?" back and forth. This was a fun and easy read.

I loved the first few books in the Women of WAR series, about female players of Aussie Rules football, and this is a terrific addition to the series. This is my second Lauren K. McKellar book too, and damn it… she made me ugly cry again!

Zoe is a pediatric nurse at a ‘care home’, which is basically a hospice where ill children coming from remote areas stay when receiving outpatient hospital treatment. A major side character is a young patient with cancer, and, spoiler, this is the part which does not have a happy ending.

Zoe has conflicting ambitions; raised by a mother who dedicated her life to charitable causes and is now encouraging her to work for an overseas medical charity, she’s also a talented athlete who loves blowing off steam in her casual Aussie Rules games with friends.

Sawyer is a professional player at the very top of his game, but his personal life is a train wreck. He broke up with his girlfriend because she was adamantly against having a family, and she moved straight on into his best friend’s bed. Now he’s almost desperate for a date to a major awards night. He offers Zoe a deal; he’ll train her for the tryouts for the WAR competition if she’ll be his date to the dinner.

There are several sub-plots here, but everything ties nicely together in order to help Zoe come to a decision about the direction she wants her life to take. Sawyer’s already firmly on his road with a good understanding of where he wants to end up; Zoe’s just floating by at the beginning of the book, but by the end of it she’s made her decision and is confident it’s the right one. And, of course, because this is a romance, it does lead to a romantic happily ever after. Though not before breaking my heart first.

If you don’t know anything about Aussie Rules, that’s okay. Most of the action in the book is training, which actually shows very well how professional athletes go about their daily activities, rather than the game itself. I was a little disappointed in the way the other WAGs were shown as all being shallow and bitchy, interested in nothing but fashion and makeup; there was a distinct air of ‘not like other girls’ which was only partly mitigated by Zoe’s close friends being supportive, awesome women, and Sawyer’s ex finally stepping up to help Zoe when she needed it.

I’m giving this one four stars; I’m really only knocking one off because I don’t like the ‘ugly ex’ trope much, but if that doesn’t bother you, you’ll thoroughly enjoy this well-written read!

A thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish. I loved the passion Zoe had for nursing and the love she had for her patient Emily. I also loved her passion for women's AFL and how she came to realise just how much playing meant to her. I thought Sawyer was a great character and loved the relationship he and Zoe developed. The chemistry between them was hot and real and the way awyer was so supportive towards Zoe in all ways even when he knew she planned to leave to go overseas. He is the perfect boyfriend. 

Thanks to NetGalley and Escape Publishing for a copy in return for an honest review.

Aussie Rules Football and love!

Sawyer Benson is pissed after finding out his soon-to –be former best friend and Aussie Rules Football teammate is dating his ex-girlfriend. He needs a date for the awards ceremony and he knows that nurse Zoe Taylor won’t fall in love with him because she is waiting for her references to be updated so she can volunteer at a hospital overseas. Zoe is conflicted about leaving Australia and volunteering in Africa because she loves her work and playing Aussie Rules football.

Sawyer and Zoe are very conflicted seeing each other because Sawyer doesn’t want to fall in love and Zoe didn’t like attending games without Sawyer not letting her know that she would be sitting with the wives and girlfriends. 

The rules for Aussie Rules football are very different compared to the U.S. version but love is the same! I like that the author shows that women can play football professionally.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 Stars

I love finding a sports romance that has a good balance between showing the sport and developing the romance. I felt McKeller did that well here. I don’t know much about Australian football (ok, I know next to nothing- I think it’s similar to rugby?) but I enjoyed discovering a little of what it was like when we got descriptions of Zoe and Sawyer playing. I loved that it wasn’t only the guy who was the athlete. Zoe was plenty tough and talented on the field. 

As for their relationship: it starts as an agreed upon fling but grows into something more. I do wish we could have seen a bit more development- they were good together but the story felt too short, like more could have been added to enhance it. 

Zoe and Sawyer both had some small obstacles to overcome but the angst and drama were small and placed well. They also shared a few tender moments that I loved. If you’re looking for a feel good sports romance, give this one a try.

The cover of this book gets FIVE STARS!  Finally, its the beautiful abs of a WOMAN that graces the cover of a sports themed romance.  Unfortunately, the story behind the cover does not live up to its promise.  The H and h and conflicts the move this story along are childish and lack meat.  The h supposedly loves AR Football, but has never heard of the H who is a famous footballer?  The H invites the h to a game to sit with the WAGS and doesn't think about his ex being there?  Said ex makes comments straight out of "Mean Girls" to the the h and this "strong woman" runs away, certain that the H has set her up?  C'mon man!  If this was YA I *might* be more forgiving of these tropes.  However, it isn't and these poorly written cliches were meant to more the story forward.  In light of all that is going on in the country right now I do hope that authors continue to introduce us to "non-traditional" heroines like this one.  I give the author two stars for effort.

I have read a few books about women athletes, and I really love that subject. While this book is kind of in the same style, it's not really the main subject here. Still, <b>I enjoyed it</b>, and if you like women's sports books it's recommended.

The story is about Zoe, a pediatric nurse who is planning to leave for humanitarian work in Africa, and who plays Aussie rules football. She cares deeply for a patient of hers; a young terminally ill girl who is a serious football fan.

To prove a point and to encourage the young girl, Zoe decides to try out for the professional women's football league, even though she still plans to leave for Africa, but is getting pretty conflicted about it.

Sawyer is a professional football player whose last relationship just failed, and his ex is now dating his friend and fellow team mate - yeah kind of embarrassing, right?

Sawyer and Zoe meets at a sponsored event at the hospital, and the short version is: Sawyer could use a date for an event, and Zoe could use a little help regarding her tryout.

With Sawyer who now has some difficulty in trusting, and Zoe been rather conflicted about her plans to leave for Africa and having issues with parental expectations, those two have some interesting times coming for them.

There is a rather annoying subplot about a sleazy guy influencing Zoes job, that in my opinion was unnecessary and which the book could easily have done without.
And while I wished the plot had been a bit tighter, and it sometimes seems a little underdeveloped, the bottom line is; That I enjoyed and appreciating the story.

I was disappointed with this book they could have gone a different route and brought so much more, the ball was really dropped with this one. So we meet Zoe a pediatric nurse who wants to show her patient that woman can play ball. She is also waiting on getting everything ready to leave for Africa on an assignment since she doesn't seem to get fulfillment on what she is doing now, which I didn't get because she worked with sick children and everything helps. She meets Sawyer after almost running him over, and he was a jerk however their was a different side to him when he visited where she works. Sawyer has difficulty in trusting woman after his last relationship with Ava who is now dating his friend and fellow team mate. Now these two woman were completely  opposites from each other, completely. And the way the teammates wives and girlfriends were portrayed was horrible they all sounded shallow, horrible woman totally not a good example of the female race.

This is a nice story by this author, I give this book 3.7 stars.
I enjoyed this story and reccomend it if you like women sports books.

I love the fact that there is a series of books about women playing professional Aussie rules football Is it true that I know next to nothing about the sport but so many sports romances focus on male athletes that I am just excited to see women get their due.  This is the fourth book in the series and the first I have read, All of these books are standalones written by different authors so using this as my starting place did not have any effect on my enjoyment.  
There is a lot going on in this book.  Zoe is a nurse who is planning to leave for nonprofit work in Africa,  Sawyer is a professional athlete who just found out that his ex and his best friend are now together.  Zoe decides to try out for W.A.R. despite planning to leave the country in a few weeks to somehow prove a point about what women can accomplish to a sick patient of hers (the rational of which never made much sense to me but I just went with it).  There is drama with Sawyer's ex and drama with Zoe getting the last piece she needs for her journey to Africa and issues with parental expectations and an entire subplot about a creepy guy at Zoe' s job that I could have done without.  And of course Zoe's tryouts, Sawyer's journey to the finals and the relationship that is developing between them.  Some of it seemed a little tacked on and underdeveloped and I do wish the plot had been tighter. However none of it kept me from appreciating the story and rooting for both characters.I have already purchased the first three books in this series and am looking forward to reading them.

As a side note I would love to read an entire book about the father of one of Zoe's patients. 

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.