Lucky Loser Audiobook By Yolanda Wallace cover art

Lucky Loser

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Lucky Loser

By: Yolanda Wallace
Narrated by: Lori Prince
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In the high stakes world of women's tennis, love means nothing. Or at least that's how Sinjin Smythe sees it. Then she begins to fall for her friend and former doubles partner Laure Fortescue. Having had her heart broken by one player, Sinjin isn't willing to have it happen again. The talented but oft-injured Brit enters Wimbledon fighting her feelings - and struggling to resurrect her career.

Laure Fortescue has fame, fortune, and a ranking inside the top 10. She has everything she ever wanted. Everything except Sinjin Smythe. As a rule, Laure doesn't date other players. A rule she would gladly break if it means winning Sinjin's heart.

Both women reach Wimbledon desperate to claim tennis's crown jewel - Sinjin because it would be her greatest victory, Laure because it could be her last.

Where does love fit in a game that only one can win?

©2011 Yolanda Wallace (P)2016 Bold Strokes Books Inc Contemporary Literature & Fiction Heartfelt
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I enjoyed this book and enjoyed the tennis matches but I was hoping there would be a little more sex. sadly that's my only complaint and I feel like a pervert now ha it was a good story and the narrator did a great job with several accents

a good sports lesbian audiobook with little sex

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Sinjin and Laure did something for me I never imagined possible: they made me care about a sport!

Okay, that's over-stating, but not by much. In the same way reading The Princess and the Prix by Nell Stark surprised me by drawing me in deep with a sport, I found myself really on the edge of my seat as these fictional tennis matches occurred. That's no small feat, by the way: building tension when describing action is a real balance, and Yolanda Wallace has that talent down.

So, sporting aside, this romance has a set-up I've not really seen done often and never as well as it is in Lucky Loser: It's a friends-to-lovers (with a dash of former-teammates-to-lovers) where the spark between the two characters is known, discussed, and something they've agreed to explore pretty much from the start. It's the reality they're currently competing in Wimbledon that stops them from moving forward. There's way, way too much on their plates (or 'The Plate,' ha!) already. So this isn't a case of a miscommunication stalling a romance. It's that they've both got major careers in Tennis, they've both got a lot at stake in this match, and neither of them wants to jeopardize this by starting a new relationship in the middle of the highest stress time of their lives.

And it's all the more brilliant because of this totally rational reason for them to put on the breaks. It's fantastic.

Next, the characters. I loved Laure and Sinjin, and it was lovely to read two athlete characters with that level of development: I'd want to hang out with these ladies. They're fun, they're witty, and while they're driven to do their best in the sport, they're not single-minded to the point of being one-note, something I've found with athlete characters in the past. Art, wine-making, parks, family... they've got more to them than tennis, and their relationship—despite them wanting to wait until the tournament is over—progresses with these unfolding moments of learning about each other. It's lovely.

Last? The performer. I listened to this on audio, and I have to say she freaking nailed it. The character voices (including accents) didn't once jar, I always knew who was speaking, and as I mentioned above, Wallace's ability to write tension just sang in Lori Prince's performance.

Highly, highly recommended.

Friends-to-Lovers done with Tension and Joy

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Is there anything you would change about this book?

Produce an actual story! I now know more about tennis than I ever wanted!

Would you ever listen to anything by Yolanda Wallace again?

Doubtful.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Too much variation in volume with attempts to cover the various accents. Why do the narrators let us down so often while attempting to be actors and not simply storytellers?

Was Lucky Loser worth the listening time?

Not really

Great Tennis Lesson

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This book in a wonderful saga on the strategy of tennis. Sinjin Smythe is coming back from a severe injury prior to Wimbledon. She will let no one get in her way of her first win at Wimbledon. Laure Fortescue ranks in the top ten and wants one last grand slam win in London. A course in romance and tennis.

A Grand Slam Course In Tennis

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This was solidly fun. 3.5 stars.

I am… not a sports girl, and I do not understand anything abt the rules of tennis, nor have I ever watched a match in my life, so… a lot of that was lost on me, but despite not being a sports girl, I DO like an underdog, trying to beat the odds sports story occasionally, and this was right up my alley in that respect. Both main characters were fleshed out, flawed, lovable, and their dynamic together was great. The conflict with Victoria was also just enough to feel the pressure, but not enough to put her into mustache twirling territory, a good balance. I’d def rec it to people who like sports stories, but I think those who don’t usually would enjoy it too, just know this is one where you spend a decent time on the matches, and go in ready for that. The writing felt exciting though, despite not knowing the rules, I was into it (in a way I absolutely was not when I recently DNF Carrie Soto is Back).

Lori Prince as narrator was why I picked this one up, as I’ve got no experience with this author, but I would def read more from her. The audiobook was lovely, though it should be noted, don’t expect accent authenticity here. Lori does an admirable job on some of the British accents, but I think the French ones are probably not very accurate at all lol. I enjoyed her performance anyway, but if that’s something you know is a pet peeve of yours, skip audiobook form and enjoy Lori Prince in other books instead.

Fun sports romance

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