Liv's World of Books: Book Review: Losing Game #2: A Winning Ace Novel by Tracie Delaney

I loved the first book and was so excited to start the second one especially with how Winning Ace ended. I just can’t deal with cliffhangers and was so happy that I didn’t have to wait too long for the second book. So, lucky for me the second book picked up not long after the story in the first one ended. I was worried that it would be dragging because who knew where the story would go and if Tally would be heartbroken for most of the book. Anyway, I worried for nothing because the writing was as captivating as in the first book and I loved the dynamic between the characters and the fast pace. Let’s just say that I fell in love with the story all over again. =)

Whereas Winning Ace was much more about the characters fighting against all odds for a chance to be together and learning to deal with the different life and perspective of the other, Losing Game revolved much more around the second chance and what else awaits them, especially for Cash and his career. Let's just say that enemies aren't always easy to distinguish and they sometimes are people but may also come as a twist of fate. So, when it suddenly hits you, it's too late to do anything about it and no matter how many “what if's” you come up with, there is just one way to deal with it -> Head on and with your head held high. But this is easier said than done when all you can think of is the loss it brought with it.

The Story:
Tally ran. When she saw the photos of Cash kissing another woman, she was beyond devastated about his betrayal. Cheating is the only one thing she won’t forgive no matter of how much her heart hurt.
Cash has always been stubborn and determined at getting what he wanted. When Tally left him, he was torn between telling her his secret and putting everything at risk that he’d build so far, or letting her go and keeping his secrets. Because there’d be no way in getting her back without telling her the truth. Risking his career, he tracks Tally down and makes up his mind, that he can’t live a life without her in it. But what will the consequences be? Will there be any at all? Nobody has a perfect life but people like to believe so.

'The swaying from one thing to another was making her head spin. Why couldn't life be simpler?'

Thoughts:
I loved it!! There was so much going on I can't even say what I loved most!
This book was anything and nothing what I'd expected because at first, I felt like I knew most of what was coming and I anticipated most that happened but it didn’t really bother me. There might’ve been something that not everyone would agree on and which is a matter of opinion and believes. I was a bit torn about it but decided in the end it’s just a part of a whole and I just rolled with it. (If you're curious, I'm talking about Rachael and the press stuff.)

Anyway, there was a certain point where the story took a huge turn and got somewhat harder for the characters and became much more emotional (with reason of course!). I absolutely loved it although it was tough to read because I felt so close to the characters that it felt like I was right in the middle of their emotional disaster. The only thing that bothered me a bit (besides Tally's constant change of mind in the beginning) was how fast it all happened. At least it felt for me like it happened in a blink of an eye and I don't mean what put the characters in this position but everything else after that felt a little rushed. It made for a fast pace which I liked but at the same time I would have loved to have a bit more of preparation time and details.

There’s not much else to say actually because I loved the second book as much as the first one. For all I know it could have been one huge book because the story rolled so easily and was really enjoyable to read! As in the first, there were also some ups and downs in the story, most of which were predictable (though not all) but it didn’t take away any excitement or suspense no matter which course the story took. It reminded me of a quote from a movie 'It's the perfect combination of sweet and sexy'. That's how I felt about most of the book but it was not just funny and romantic but also really emotional when you least expected it.