Review: The Sweet Spot by Stephanie Evanovich

The amazing Stephanie Evanovich returns with The Sweet Spot, the sizzling story of everyone’s favorite couple from her New York Times bestseller Big Girl Panties: hunky professional baseball player Chase Walker and his sassy wife Amanda

When pro baseball player Chase Walker first meets Amanda at her restaurant, it’s love at first sight. While Amanda can’t help noticing the superstar with the Greek-god-build, he doesn’t have a chance of getting to first—or any other—base with her. A successful entrepreneur who’s built her business from scratch, Amanda doesn’t need a Prince Charming to sweep her off her feet. And a curvy girl who likes to cook and eat isn’t interested in being around the catty, stick-thin herd of females chasing Chase and his teammates.

But Chase isn’t about to strike out. A man who isn’t interested in playing the field, he’s a monogamist who wants an independent woman like Amanda. His hopes rally when she discovers that squeaky-clean Chase has a few sexy and very secret pre-game rituals that turn the smart, headstrong businesswoman on—and into his number one fan.

Then a tabloid discovers the truth and turns their spanking good fun into a late- night punch-line. Is Amanda ready to let loose and swing for the fences? Or will the pressure of Chase’s stardom force them to call it quits?

Series:
Release Date: July 8th 2014
Publisher: William Morrow
Source: Publisher
Reviewer: Marie
Rating:

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Reviewer’s Thoughts

Okay.There are SEVERAL things about this book that I need to get out in the open that really bothered me.

1. What the hell is with the cover of this book? It implies one thing about the book…and then has absolutely nothing to do with it. It’s confusing. I hate it.

2. Why is it that authors feel a need to write a main character that’s a “fat girl”…and then write her with zero self-confidence or self-esteem? Just because you’re “curvy” or “heavy set” doesn’t automatically qualify you as a part of the self-loathing, no self-esteem team. Why can’t her curves just describe her and not DEFINE her? At first, I loved Amanda. I loved that she seemed so bubbly and I loved her excitement over the prospect of a MLB player (Chase) finding her attractive. But when she finds out his secret…WHAT THE HELL. All of her insecurities come to light, and she allows herself to be deeply involved in what I would consider a horribly abusive relationship. Which, as most bigger girls can probably attest to…means that if you stay in a situation like that, you obviously lack self-worth.

3. The abusive relationship. Okay, I’m COMPLETELY over the BDSM Dom/Sub thing. I think authors are running out of ideas and are now flirting with the fine line between kink and abuse. It’s atrocious to me that an author would ever think it was okay to take a female character, introduce her to a seemingly normal male, and then when it’s discovered that he creepily gets off on smacking women on the ass…HARD…the woman is stripped of her voice, her opinion, her ability to say no, and it’s called “love”. Ladies and gentlemen, this is what most people would call…abusive. Especially given the situation in the book. It just…really turned my stomach.

The only promising thing this book had going for it, was at the beginning of the story when Amanda and Chase first meet. Before the weird sociopathic behavior and the belittling & low self-worth begin. The beginning is sweet and charming, and has all of the makings of a really cute contemporary romance.

As a big girl, I can honestly say that I will not be recommending this book to anyone, and it will probably be the last book by Stephanie Evanovich that I’ll ever read.