Making the Match: A River Rain Novel

4.5stars-detailed, complex, dramatic

4.5 stars--MAKING THE MATCH is the fourth instalment in Kristen Ashley’s contemporary, adult RIVER RAIN romance series. This is forty eight year old, multi-media artist Mika Stowe, and former professional tennis player turned doctor Tom Pierce’s story line. MAKING THE MATCH can be read as a stand alone but for back story and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

Told from first person (Mika) and several third persons perspectives including Tom, using present day and memories from the past, following several intersecting paths, MAKING THE MATCH follows the second chance relationship , of a sorts, between forty eight year old, multi-media artist Mika Stowe, and former professional tennis player turned doctor Tom Pierce. Years earlier Mika Stowe fell in love with a married man but Tom Pierce wasn’t about to stray from the woman he loved. Life and everything it had to offer including birth of children and the death of a lover, betrayal and divorce, secrets and lies would ultimately forge a history ; dual paths that would collide when a mysterious package is delivered to our story line heroine, a package that reveals the destructive nature of power and control but Mika struggles with what she believes to be a betrayal by the man she once loved, a betrayal directed at someone else. As Mika and Tom begin to rebuild their friendship, a blending of families reveals heart break and the pain of disappointment, and miscommunication when the past comes looking for forgiveness and acceptance. What ensues is the rebuilding friendship and relationship between Mika and Tom, and the potential fall-out as Tom battles with the guilt of betrayal, a battle he has imposed, all on his own.

Meanwhile, the world of professional tennis is about to face the fall-out of the ‘me too’ movement, when several women come forward accusing past players, coaches and sponsors of sexual harassment and blackmail.

The relationship between Mika and Tom is a friends to lovers that struggled in the face of timing, other relationships, perception and loss. Tom’s divorce from the woman he once loved revealed a different side to family and relationships, wherein blame is often the proverbial two-way street but gossip and the media don’t tell the whole story, a story misinterpreted by our story line heroine. Mika has suffered in the face of tragedy and loss but, once again, life goes on, pushing forward, until there is often no longer a place to push forward to. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, energetic and broken secondary and supporting characters including Tom’s children, each of whom is struggling within the family dynamic: Chloe Pierce and Judge Oakley (Chasing Serenity 2) , Matt, Sasha; Tom’s former wife Gen and her husband Duncan (After the Climb 1) ; Mika’s eighteen year old daughter Cadence; friends, family, business partners and exes.

MAKING THE MATCH is a detailed, complex and dramatic tale of betrayal, second chances, acceptance and love. The premise is impassioned and captivating; the romance is seductive and fated; the characters are determined, edgy and moving forward.