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Game Changers
Rachel Johnston’s solitary life is upended by an unexpected encounter with soccer player Jaye Stokes. Jaye is younger, confident, attractive . . . and dedicated to pursuing a relationship with Rachel. Despite the disapproval of Jaye’s best friend, their connection deepens. Jaye plays her best soccer ever, and Rachel begins to dream of happiness with a loving partner. But can she trust Jaye enough to share her long-buried secret? Without warning, a tragic accident changes all the rules of the game for both of them. Is there light at the end of the tunnel or will the flame be extinguished? Find out in this passionate debut romance from Jane Cuthbertson.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2019
4 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Jane Cuthbertson
2 books5 followersJane Cuthbertson was an air traffic controller in Colorado for 23 years. Since her retirement she has spent her time reading, writing, and traveling about the United States and Canada. She was lucky enough to attend several matches of the 2015 Women’s World Cup, including the final. Her love of women’s soccer will survive her, and its spirit will attend games long after she is gone.
After spending a couple of years in Portland, Oregon, she moved to the far reaches of the US and currently lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest.
Game Changers is her first novel. She is at work on a second novel and a series of space opera sci-fi books.
After spending a couple of years in Portland, Oregon, she moved to the far reaches of the US and currently lives on an island in the Pacific Northwest.
Game Changers is her first novel. She is at work on a second novel and a series of space opera sci-fi books.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 3, 2020
4.25 Stars. A really good read! I had actually tried to read this a couple months ago. It was just not working for me and I was not in the best headspace for reading certain types of books back in March. I put this down with the hope to pick it back up when I would enjoy it more. Now that I’m really back into the reading groove, plus missing sports like crazy, I thought now was the perfect time to try this book again. I’m very happy I picked it back up because it was my kind of read.
I’m a huge sports fan and that has been something that I have really missed since the virus hit. I deal with anxiety so I love watching baseball or a women’s soccer game since it just gets my mind off of everything else that might be buzzing around in my head. Not being able to have that escape with sports has been really tough especially with all the stress and anxiety the virus just in itself brings. Therefore, to get to read a book from an author that is clearly a fan of the NWSL and the National women’s soccer team was a real joy. This is a well done age-gap, sports-romance that you can almost stick the drama tag on too. There was enough soccer for me to put a smile on my face, but enough romance and drama that non-sports fans should still enjoy this plenty too.
I mentioned an age-gap and it is a pretty big one at twenty years but I didn’t mind it at all. The characters have a ton of chemistry together and you just feel like they are meant to be. My one issue is that I did feel while not insta-love but that it was pretty fast. I wish Cuthbertson would have slowed things down some. But when you get into the rest of the story, with everything still to come, I get why it was quick so in the end it wasn’t that big of a deal, but just faster than I like.
While the romance is really sweet and pretty steamy at times, and the soccer scenes were a lot of fun, this book also deals with some tough subjects. One of the mains suffers from bad depression so I need to give a slight trigger warning for talk of suicide. This book felt like a drama at times and I sure needed a tissue or two. The book felt very realistic and the depression wasn’t used as a gimmick or just swept under the rug which I appreciate. And while there were some tough moments in this book, there were lots of happy, sweet and even sexy times so that the book had a really nice balance. You feel so connected to the main character so you feel like you are experiencing all the ups and downs with her. This book was really well written that way.
This was a great read. I’m so glad I finally got back to giving this book another try. For people who like a sweet romance, some drama, and a little football (soccer), I highly recommend this. This book has flown under the radar a bit and that’s a shame since it’s really worth the read.
A copy was given to me from https://lezreviewbooks.com for a honest review.
I’m a huge sports fan and that has been something that I have really missed since the virus hit. I deal with anxiety so I love watching baseball or a women’s soccer game since it just gets my mind off of everything else that might be buzzing around in my head. Not being able to have that escape with sports has been really tough especially with all the stress and anxiety the virus just in itself brings. Therefore, to get to read a book from an author that is clearly a fan of the NWSL and the National women’s soccer team was a real joy. This is a well done age-gap, sports-romance that you can almost stick the drama tag on too. There was enough soccer for me to put a smile on my face, but enough romance and drama that non-sports fans should still enjoy this plenty too.
I mentioned an age-gap and it is a pretty big one at twenty years but I didn’t mind it at all. The characters have a ton of chemistry together and you just feel like they are meant to be. My one issue is that I did feel while not insta-love but that it was pretty fast. I wish Cuthbertson would have slowed things down some. But when you get into the rest of the story, with everything still to come, I get why it was quick so in the end it wasn’t that big of a deal, but just faster than I like.
While the romance is really sweet and pretty steamy at times, and the soccer scenes were a lot of fun, this book also deals with some tough subjects. One of the mains suffers from bad depression so I need to give a slight trigger warning for talk of suicide. This book felt like a drama at times and I sure needed a tissue or two. The book felt very realistic and the depression wasn’t used as a gimmick or just swept under the rug which I appreciate. And while there were some tough moments in this book, there were lots of happy, sweet and even sexy times so that the book had a really nice balance. You feel so connected to the main character so you feel like you are experiencing all the ups and downs with her. This book was really well written that way.
This was a great read. I’m so glad I finally got back to giving this book another try. For people who like a sweet romance, some drama, and a little football (soccer), I highly recommend this. This book has flown under the radar a bit and that’s a shame since it’s really worth the read.
A copy was given to me from https://lezreviewbooks.com for a honest review.
October 11, 2020
Game Changers is Jane Cuthbertson’s first novel? I definitely want to read more. There’s a lot to like here and if not for my own biases and blindspots, I probably would have liked it more.
Rachel Johnston is 52 and single and perfectly content with that, despite her secret career as a lesbian romance writer. Or so she wants us to believe. She’s battled depression her entire adult life and has serious anxiety being in crowds. And she’s extremely private about her life and her alt-identity as a renowned romance writer and blogger, the Fyrequeen (which is, IMO, a really stupid name).
In contrast, Jaye Stokes, a professional soccer player, lives a very public life. She even has tumblr pages devoted to her career.
A chance encounter at an obscure small-town cemetery brings them into each others’ lives, and Jaye, who is 31 years old and for reasons Cuthbertson never explains, is immediately drawn to a guarded woman who’s old enough to be her mother.
And therein lie my two biggest issues with the novel: Jaye’s inexplicable instant attraction and the age gap. The first is Cuthbertson’s failure; the second is my own bias.
An age-gap romance to this degree was always going to be a hard sell for me (my comfort is max 15 years), but I kept wondering what was in it for Jaye, which is a sentiment Rachel repeats again and again. She’s 31, gorgeous, has a great personality, is a professional soccer player. She could have anyone, and without Cuthbertson making it clear to me, I don’t understand what she sees in a chronically-depressed middle-aged woman (I write this as a middle-aged woman myself). And I never got it, to be honest.
You might say: “But, Angie, you gave this novel three stars!” And that’s true. Three stars from me is an achievement. And despite a major flaw for me, I did enjoy it.
- Cuthbertson deals with depression in a very real and meaningful and humanely way. Rachel will never be free of her depression, but she finds ways to thrive anyway.
- The soccer elements are really well done and I enjoyed them a lot.
- My hang ups/issues/blindspots shouldn’t derail what was a really engaging read. With the one exception (and a tragically missed “Neither...or... error), the writing was pretty good.
This just isn’t a book I’m likely to revisit and not one if recommend to most readers. And that’s okay.
Rachel Johnston is 52 and single and perfectly content with that, despite her secret career as a lesbian romance writer. Or so she wants us to believe. She’s battled depression her entire adult life and has serious anxiety being in crowds. And she’s extremely private about her life and her alt-identity as a renowned romance writer and blogger, the Fyrequeen (which is, IMO, a really stupid name).
In contrast, Jaye Stokes, a professional soccer player, lives a very public life. She even has tumblr pages devoted to her career.
A chance encounter at an obscure small-town cemetery brings them into each others’ lives, and Jaye, who is 31 years old and for reasons Cuthbertson never explains, is immediately drawn to a guarded woman who’s old enough to be her mother.
And therein lie my two biggest issues with the novel: Jaye’s inexplicable instant attraction and the age gap. The first is Cuthbertson’s failure; the second is my own bias.
An age-gap romance to this degree was always going to be a hard sell for me (my comfort is max 15 years), but I kept wondering what was in it for Jaye, which is a sentiment Rachel repeats again and again. She’s 31, gorgeous, has a great personality, is a professional soccer player. She could have anyone, and without Cuthbertson making it clear to me, I don’t understand what she sees in a chronically-depressed middle-aged woman (I write this as a middle-aged woman myself). And I never got it, to be honest.
You might say: “But, Angie, you gave this novel three stars!” And that’s true. Three stars from me is an achievement. And despite a major flaw for me, I did enjoy it.
- Cuthbertson deals with depression in a very real and meaningful and humanely way. Rachel will never be free of her depression, but she finds ways to thrive anyway.
- The soccer elements are really well done and I enjoyed them a lot.
- My hang ups/issues/blindspots shouldn’t derail what was a really engaging read. With the one exception (and a tragically missed “Neither...or... error), the writing was pretty good.
This just isn’t a book I’m likely to revisit and not one if recommend to most readers. And that’s okay.
March 5, 2020
Game Changers Scores Big for Love
This is a wonderfully written age gap sports romance with two very likable main characters.
When Rachel Johnston, a self-proclaimed recluse, has a chance meeting with effervescent star soccer player, Jaye Stokes, there is an immediate spark between them. But Rachel, who is so blinded by low self-esteem based on her age, social ineptitudes, and history of depression that she can’t or won’t see it, explains away attempt after attempt Jaye makes to draw her closer. Over and over again. Seriously, you just want to smack her upside the head. And then … the ice melts, the wipers clear the fog away, and Rachel finally gets a clue.
I’m not much of a sports fan, so I was a bit concerned that the sports references would lose me, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the soccer references weren’t heavy-handed and actually related to the story at hand. I know a lot of sports minded people will be glad to know the games weren’t given short shrift, but their descriptions didn’t override the romance between Rachel and Jaye (or bore this reader). The game matters to the characters, so it matters to the narrator/writer, as it should to the reader.
The story unfolds much in the way a great soccer game will – with building tensions, steady progress, turnovers, tragic errors, key assists, and game changing moves happening within the blink of an eye – in other words drama. Despite some bad behavior from both Jaye and Rachel (and some others), justifiable and inexcusable actions, I found myself rooting for Rachel and Jaye until the end.
Put one in the win column for Cuthbertson.
Love 4 – 2 Gorilla/Guerilla (you’ll need to read the book to get that)
This is a wonderfully written age gap sports romance with two very likable main characters.
When Rachel Johnston, a self-proclaimed recluse, has a chance meeting with effervescent star soccer player, Jaye Stokes, there is an immediate spark between them. But Rachel, who is so blinded by low self-esteem based on her age, social ineptitudes, and history of depression that she can’t or won’t see it, explains away attempt after attempt Jaye makes to draw her closer. Over and over again. Seriously, you just want to smack her upside the head. And then … the ice melts, the wipers clear the fog away, and Rachel finally gets a clue.
I’m not much of a sports fan, so I was a bit concerned that the sports references would lose me, but I was pleasantly surprised to find the soccer references weren’t heavy-handed and actually related to the story at hand. I know a lot of sports minded people will be glad to know the games weren’t given short shrift, but their descriptions didn’t override the romance between Rachel and Jaye (or bore this reader). The game matters to the characters, so it matters to the narrator/writer, as it should to the reader.
The story unfolds much in the way a great soccer game will – with building tensions, steady progress, turnovers, tragic errors, key assists, and game changing moves happening within the blink of an eye – in other words drama. Despite some bad behavior from both Jaye and Rachel (and some others), justifiable and inexcusable actions, I found myself rooting for Rachel and Jaye until the end.
Put one in the win column for Cuthbertson.
Love 4 – 2 Gorilla/Guerilla (you’ll need to read the book to get that)
February 19, 2022
Inspirational Debut
Thank you Ms. Cuthbertson for writing this beautiful book. Depression has been my companion for over 30 years and while reading this novel I could see myself as if I was looking in the mirror. I cheered for the MCs and thought, yes, sometimes there is a light on the distance.
Thank you Ms. Cuthbertson for writing this beautiful book. Depression has been my companion for over 30 years and while reading this novel I could see myself as if I was looking in the mirror. I cheered for the MCs and thought, yes, sometimes there is a light on the distance.
March 5, 2020
I won this book in a drawing. I was not sure what to expect from this first time author. I have read so many poorly written first novels of late that I didn't have a lot of hope, but I am thrilled to report that was not the case with Game Changers. Jane Cuthbertson has written an emotional and compelling story that drew me completely into her well developed characters and their struggles to grow their unlikely May-December romance.
I really identified with Rachel as she struggled through her low self esteem, agoraphobia, and depression. When she has a chance encounter with Jaye, I winced as she repeatedly does her best to ignore her intuition and blow her chance to get to know this woman who is obviously attracted to her. The most painful parts were seeing her make the same kind of mistakes and miscalculations that I have made in my life. I cheered as she finally got out of her own way and took a chance on love.
I loved the dive into Jaye's sports career and how it played into the women's budding relationship. It is obvious that the author is a sports fan and while the detail was extensive it never got in the way of the story and in fact provided many opportunities in the story to watch the relationship grow.
I hope this is not the last book by Jane Cuthbertson. I would love the opportunity to take another journey with her and her next novel.
I really identified with Rachel as she struggled through her low self esteem, agoraphobia, and depression. When she has a chance encounter with Jaye, I winced as she repeatedly does her best to ignore her intuition and blow her chance to get to know this woman who is obviously attracted to her. The most painful parts were seeing her make the same kind of mistakes and miscalculations that I have made in my life. I cheered as she finally got out of her own way and took a chance on love.
I loved the dive into Jaye's sports career and how it played into the women's budding relationship. It is obvious that the author is a sports fan and while the detail was extensive it never got in the way of the story and in fact provided many opportunities in the story to watch the relationship grow.
I hope this is not the last book by Jane Cuthbertson. I would love the opportunity to take another journey with her and her next novel.
March 15, 2020
Realistic
This book is very true to life it seems as if the author must have lived through most of this. There are some twists, one surprising. The love story is fun and the love scenes, hot.
This book is very true to life it seems as if the author must have lived through most of this. There are some twists, one surprising. The love story is fun and the love scenes, hot.
May 11, 2020
I enjoyed this book
August 11, 2023
Overall pretty decent, and as someone who also avoids relationships because of their mental health issues burdening others, Rachel's story was very relatable to me. I just wish the rest of the book's emotional moments were written a bit more intensely - that would have really elevated the novel for me.
May 11, 2020
Loved it.
I always enjoy a good sports romance. The trials and tribulations seemed very realistic. Heartbreaking at times, but that's what kept it interesting.
I always enjoy a good sports romance. The trials and tribulations seemed very realistic. Heartbreaking at times, but that's what kept it interesting.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews