ARC Review: The Perfect Score by Beth Williamson

 

 

“If there’s someone that can make bowling sexy and exciting, that is Ms. Williamson.” ~ Under the Covers

My first thought when I was asked to review this book was… “Dam, I just have to read that book because look at the hot cover!” but then my second was “Bowling?  Really?”.  That can only tell you two things, yes I’m a cover whore and I HATE bowling.  But it’s Beth Williamson, so I knew it would be good and I had to give this a try.  And I’m so glad I did.

THE PERFECT SCORE is actually three stories set pretty much at the same time during a bowling tournament in Espejo, TX.  I loved the fact that each story was about one of three girlfriends and I also loved how they intermingled a bit because they were all happening at the same time.

ONE NIGHT STAND

This was Babs story and probably my favorite chick in this book.  She’s loud and speaks her mind, sometimes even when she shouldn’t.  She’s a rich girl who has been used for that by her own ex husband.  So she’s a bit bitter and just on a binge to use men.  Only then in strolls Jimmy, one of her ex husband’s friends, and a guy she hadn’t seen for years but who has known her for a long time.  I really liked this setup because it’s the friend who always had the hots for her and she thought he was hot as well.  He knows her on a deeper level than just a stranger would and is able to bring out feelings in the sweetest of ways.  I mean, any man that can make me dinner (including miso soup), served with a nice sake….Mmmmmm That’s a keeper!  Jimmy is successful in his career but for his efforts to win Babs her he gets an A+ from me.  Sweet, thoughtful, respectful and soooooooo freaking hot!  I want a Jimmy of my own!  That man knows his way around a kitchen and to take care of someone just as well as he knows a woman’s’ body.

WIDOW’S WEB

This was my least favorite story.  Some might think that it’s because this was a f/f story but that actually wasn’t it.  I didn’t have the problems with that aspect of the story that I thought I would.  My problem was mainly with the fact that Veronica has always been a straight woman, she was married off by her parents and her late husband was kind but never revved her engine as much as she thought he should.  But she’s never felt an attraction to women.  So when all of a sudden her partner for the tournament is a woman and she’s feeling all sorts of attraction towards her, I was expecting a little more self doubt and working through of issues in her mind.  What we got of her internal struggle didn’t convince me.  That being said, these two do spend some time apart in the story which made me feel that what little they had wasn’t enough for a real “love” connection.

MARLENE’S MAN

Well, hot damn *fans self*. That’s one hot, big *wink*, imposing man.  Buck is competing in the tournament because he needs the money from the top prize to finish building his house.  He is partnered with Marlene and the chemistry is just right from the get-go.

Marlene is the last of the friends that we read about, but also the one that has struggled more with self-confidence.  She wants to win as her way of proving herself to everyone that has put her down.  Her own fifteen minutes of fame.  And Buck might just put her off her game.

These two are also very hot together but I think the connection was just a tad less than with the first couple, which is why I’d say this is my second favorite story.  But it was close.  I really enjoyed them together and how Buck wanted to hold things at a slow pace to show her he really cared.  How he got protective over her, although I wish he would’ve kicked some ass.

But what I really liked about all three stories was that the endings are HEA’s without rushing into “lets get married” like a lot of short stories try to be.  Yes, there’s love, but after that there’s a promise of working on a relationship.  Which a lot more believable to me than their marriage vows after about a week together.

In the end, I enjoyed this book a lot!  I guess if there’s someone that can make bowling sexy and exciting, that is Ms. Williamson.

*ARC provided by author

Beth Williamson’s

Blog Tour

The Perfect Score Tournament is coming to the small town of Espejo, Texas. The biggest bowling tournament in the state is going to change the lives of three friends.

What they find is more than a 300 game.

One Night Stand

Babs Loomis is a bitter woman. Her husband left her after five years because they couldn’t have children and he didn’t want a woman that was barren. She is a chain smoker, and a drinker, intent on getting as much pleasure as she can out of life. She bowls for company – Veronica and Marlene are her closest friends. When she runs into Jimmy Tanaka at the tournament, a former friend of her ex-husband’s, her bitterness turns into something completely different and totally unexpected.

Can Babs overcome her own ghosts and find more than a one night stand?

Widow’s Weeds

Veronica Avery needs to get laid. It’s been five years since her husband died in a car accident and she’s lonely and tired of trying to meet men that end up with a big “L” on their forehead. When she joins The Perfect Score bowling tournament, her modest hopes are pinned on meeting a man she might feel comfortable going to bed with.

She’s not expecting to meet Patrice Goldman, a woman that inspires feelings of passion and longing in her cobwebby heart. Afraid and confused, Veronica tries to deny her growing feelings for the auburn haired woman, but fate has other things in mind for the woman in black. It’s time to shed her widow’s weeds and live again.

Marlene’s Man

Marlene is a big girl and has always been a big girl, but she’s a kick-ass bowler, determined to finally hit that 300 game. The Perfect Score tournament at the Starlite Bowling Alley is her chance to show the world that she’s worth something more than just a quick lay.

When she meets Buck Miller at the tournament, she falls instantly in lust. When their fabulous sex turns into a relationship, Marlene runs like a scared rabbit. Will Buck give up his goal of a perfect game to convince the woman of his dreams that he loves her? Or will Marlene’s stubbornness ruin her chances at a 300 game and a man of her own?

As she stood and focused on her mark, she heard someone clear their throat behind her.

“Ah, you’re missing a pin there, sweet cheeks.”

Marlene saw red. Terry just couldn’t let up, could he?

“Listen asshole…” She began as she turned around to tell him to stick it up his ass. The words froze in her throat. Standing at the end of the lane was the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen in her life.

He was big, no check that, he was huge. At least six and a half feet tall, with curly light brown hair, and a well used cowboy hat on his head. His shoulders seemed to fill her vision as they stretched out a black cotton t-shirt until the seams looked like they’d bust. His jeans were sinfully tight across a nicely bulging package.

Holy ever-loving Christ.

His eyebrows rose as his gaze traveled up and down her body. She broke out in goosebumps when he lingered on her overly large boobs. Her pussy felt plump and warm in her jeans and hot damn, she was getting damp panties just looking at him.

“I’m sorry; I thought you were someone else.” Marlene knew that sounded lame since she’d just called him an asshole, but it was the best her paralyzed tongue could come up with.

“Gotcha. Somebody been bugging you?” He stepped down into the seating area and Marlene felt her nipples twitch.

“Just… an old friend I guess you could call him. He was just trying to get my goat, ya know. Um, is there something I can help you with? I mean, do you need help?”

Oh, hell, she should just leave the building and stop making a fool of herself. He smiled and those pearly whites just about blinded her. Who the hell was he?

“You can help me if you’re Marlene McComb.”

“Me? You’re looking for me?”

Not. Possible. Just not possible. Why would this Greek God be looking for her? He needed someone to polish his scepter?

“If you’re Marlene, then I’m your partner for the tournament. Name’s Buck Miller.”

Marlene wasn’t a religious woman, but when he announced that he was her partner, she could swear she heard angels singing up on high. He was her partner. Her partner. Well, halle-fucking-lujah!

“Oh, right. In the mixed doubles. Yep, I’m Marlene. Nice to meet you.”

She wanted to snort at her own inane comments. Nice to meet him. All she could think about was his name. Buck. Nice that it rhymed with fuck, because that’s all she could think about. He was big enough to ride. Big enough for her.

As Marlene stepped forward to shake his hand, the air around her seemed to crackle. When their hands met, the jolt that went through her had nothing to do with static electricity and everything to do with pure chemistry. Buck’s smile got wider. He felt it too.

“Would you like to practice with me?”

Would you like to jump in the sack with me?

Marlene couldn’t contain her wayward thoughts. He was just so damn… hot and sexy. She was totally in lust. It wasn’t the first time, but it was the most powerful. Holy cow. She could hardly form a coherent thought in the glare of those pearly whites.

“Sure thing. Let me go get my stuff outta my truck.”

He turned to walk out and Marlene’s knees went weak. That ass. His ass was absolutely perfect. Round, tight, and the perfect size to caress and squeeze. And bite. She sat down heavily in the scoring chair and tried to calm her racing heart before Buck came back. She didn’t want to look like an idiot, and no doubt, her pale complexion was as red as a tomato right about then.

“Marlene, you okay?”

Marlene turned and looked at her friend Jesse, the owner of the Starlite Lanes. He was a fifty-something bachelor with steel gray hair, a sweet disposition, and the largest collection of Hawaiian shirts in the state of Texas.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You look like you’re about to pass out, honey. Do you need something from the snack bar?” He looked so concerned, she felt guilty. After all, she was flushed because she was horny, which he would never suspect of course.

“Maybe an ice water, Jesse. That’d be peachy.”

He nodded and went off to the snack bar to get her the water. Marlene smacked her forehead with one hand and tried to think of icky things to calm herself down. Math class, old ladies with saggy boobs, toe cheese, rat droppings.

“Lee?”

Marlene’s head snapped up at Buck’s voice.

“Huh?”

“I’m sorry. I’m one of those fellas who likes to shorten names. If it’s okay, I thought I’d call you Lee instead of Marlene.”

Oh hell. He did it again. She could feel the heat creeping back into her cheeks. No one had ever given her a nickname that didn’t suck. Until now.

“That’s sweet of you. Sure, you can call me Lee.”

“Perfect. Can I warm up before we bowl?”

Marlene simply stared at him as he set his bowling bag down and leaned over to unzip it. That ass was going to send her into a coma if she kept looking at it. Warm up? Hell, if she got any warmer, she’d catch on fire.

“Sure. Let me reset the scores and we can bowl on both lanes.” She managed to squeeze out.

While she busied herself trying to remember what buttons to push to clear the scores, Buck took out his bowling balls and shoes. She peeked at his feet. He had biiiiig feet, really big feet. Didn’t that mean he had big… other body parts? Just the thought sent shivers down her spine.

About Beth Williamson

Beth Williamson, who also writes as Emma Lang, is an award-winning, bestselling author of both historical and contemporary romances. Her books range from sensual to scorching hot. She is a Career Achievement Award Nominee in Erotic Romance by Romantic Times Magazine, in both 2009 and 2010.

Beth has always been a dreamer, never able to escape her imagination. It led her to the craft of writing romance novels. She’s passionate about purple, books, and her family. She has a weakness for shoes and purses, as well as bookstores. Her path in life has taken several right turns, but she’s been with the man of her dreams for more than 20 years.

Beth works full-time and writes romance novels evening, weekends, early mornings and whenever there is a break in the madness. She is compassionate, funny, a bit reserved at times, tenacious and a little quirky. Her cowboys and western romances speak of a bygone era, bringing her readers to an age where men were honest, hard and packing heat. For a change of pace, she also dives into some smokin’ hot contemporaries, bringing you heat, romance and snappy dialogue.

Life might be chaotic, as life usually is, but Beth always keeps a smile on her face, a song in her heart, and a cowboy on her mind. 😉

Beth loves to hear from readers so get to e-mail her [email protected]

BETH’S WEBSITE: http://www.bethwilliamson.com/
BETH’S TWITTER: https://twitter.com/authorbethw
BETH ON GOODREADS: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/38231.Beth_Williamson

Did you like this review? If so, please tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

[about-author author=”Beth Williamson”]