Review: Fair Game

Fair Game by Amy Andrews
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So, last year I got mentioned by Amy Andrews in her newsletter because of my comments on one of her books (and not in a good way), TBH I was flattered but it did make me hesitate over requesting this book from NetGalley - would I be disappointed by the sex to plot ratio? Good news for me, I lurved this book, maybe not so good for those who like Amy at her raunchiest ...

Anyway, this is the third book in the series Women of W.A.R. (Women's Australian Rules football), each book is by a different author, I loved the first book but wasn't thrilled by the blurb for the second so I gave it a miss but liked the blurb for this and, usually, love Amy Andrews' books so I requested it and I can confirm that you can easily read these books as stand-alone novels. The back-story (which is explained) is that a brand new women's league has been created and the women in each novel are players in the inaugural season.

Darcy Clarke has shared a house with Levi Phillips, her ex-boyfriend Tony's ex-friend, since she and Tony were an item and for two years after that. In a bit of a gender stereotype reversal Darcy has a hard physical job as a market-gardener (think lugging huge sacks of compost) and plays the physically demanding game of Australian Rules football (which is not soccer) whereas Levi is a yoga teacher and is all about the wheatgerm and eating clean. However, he is also a total hotty and just the descriptions of him and his messy man-bun brought me out in a hot flush (although these days walking upstairs does that too!).

Darcy and Levi have spent the last two years in a great platonic friendship, eating cheese and Vegemite toasties while watching Netflix on their giant sofa is their go-to evening in. But everything starts to change when Darcy finds out she has been selected to play for the Brisbane Banshees. Everything looks good until Darcy discovers that the coach for the Banshees is none other than her ex, Tony Cameron.

I'm not going to spoil the development of the romance between Darcy and Levi, I mean who doesn't love a friends to lovers novel? Let me just say, I loved Levi passionately, he was kind, generous and totally deserving of Darcy. The sex was hawt (fans self) AND romantic and totally balanced with the plot. I loved the camaraderie between the women on the team, the interactions with Tony were brilliantly done and never strayed into unrealistic territory.

Overall, this was sublime. After giving out two and a half stars left right and centre for most of 2018 so far it was a joy to read this fast-paced, funny and romantic novel - I only wish it had been twice as long!

I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

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