Game. Set. Match. By: Jennifer Iacopelli
Links: Goodreads | Amazon | BN
Synopsis: Nestled along the coastline of North Carolina, the Outer Banks Tennis Academy is the best elite tennis training facility in the world. Head Coach, Dominic Kingston has assembled some of the finest talent in the sport. From the game’s biggest stars to athletes scraping and clawing to achieve their dreams, OBX is full of ego, drama and romance. Only the strong survive in this pressure cooker of competition, on and off the court.
Penny Harrison, the biggest rising star in tennis, is determined to win the French Open and beat her rival, the world’s number one player, Zina Lutrova. There’s just one problem, the only person who’s ever been able to shake her laser-like focus is her new training partner. Alex Russell, tennis’s resident bad boy, is at OBX recovering from a knee injury suffered after he crashed his motorcycle (with an Aussie supermodel on the back). He’s hoping to regain his former place at the top of men’s tennis and Penny’s heart, while he’s at it.
Tennis is all Jasmine Randazzo has ever known. Her parents have seven Grand Slam championships between them and she’s desperate to live up to their legacy. Her best friend is Teddy Harrison, Penny’s twin brother, and that’s all they’ve ever been, friends. Then one stupid, alcohol-laced kiss makes everything super awkward just as she as she starts prepping for the biggest junior tournament of the year, the Outer Banks Classic.
The Classic is what draws Indiana Gaffney out of the hole she crawled into after her mom’s death. Even though she’s new to OBX, a win at the Classic is definitely possible. She has a big serve and killer forehand, but the rest of her game isn’t quite up to scratch and it doesn’t help that Jasmine Randazzo and her little minions are stuck-up bitches or that Jack Harrison, Penny’s agent and oldest brother, is too hot for words, not to mention way too old for her.
Who will rise? Who will fall?
Told from rotating points of view, GAME. SET. MATCH. is a ‘new adult’ novel about three girls with one goal: to be the best tennis player in the world.
Jennifer Iacopelli was born in New York and has no plans to leave…ever. Growing up, she read everything
she could get her hands on, but her favorite authors were Laura Ingalls Wilder, L.M. Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett all of whom wrote about kick-ass girls before it was cool for girls to be kick-ass. She got a Bachelor’s degree in Adolescence Education and English Literature quickly followed up by a Master’s in Library Science, which lets her frolic all day with her books and computers, leaving plenty of time in the evenings to write and yell at the Yankees, Giants and her favorite tennis players through the TV.
Penelope “Penny” Harrison
Penny Harrison, the biggest rising star in tennis, is determined to win the French Open and beat her rival, the world’s number one player, Zina Lutrova. There’s just one problem, the only person who’s ever been able to shake her laser-like focus is her new training partner. Alex Russell, tennis’s resident bad boy, is at OBX recovering from a knee injury suffered after he crashed his motorcycle (with an Aussie supermodel on the back). He’s hoping to regain his former place at the top of men’s tennis and Penny’s heart, while he’s at it.
Age: 18
Birthday: January 16th
Height: 5’8”
World Ranking: #19
Born: Chicago, Illinois
Achievements:
- 18 and Under U.S. National Champion (at 14 years old)
- 3x Outer Banks Junior Invitational Champion
- 2x Australian Open Jr. Champion
- French Open Jr. Champion
- 2x Wimbledon Jr. Champion
- 2x U.S. Open Jr. Champion
- Australian Open Quarterfinalist
- Madrid Open Champion
Myers Briggs: ISTP
Tolerant and flexible, quiet observers until a problem appears, then act quickly to find workable solutions. Analyze what makes things work and readily get through large amounts of data to isolate the core of practical problems. Interested in cause and effect, organize facts using logical principles, value efficiency.
Song: Stand in the Rain – Superchick
Absolutely blown away. When I read the synopsis, I was definitely interested right away seeing that I would most likely get a fun romantic story. After reading it though, it was so much more than that. Game. Set. Match. is the perfect mix of tension, romance, and tennis and Jennifer Iacopelli links all three main character’s stories effortlessly.
Let me start off with my characters: Penny, Indy, and Jasmine. In an e-mail I received from Jennifer she said that most people find a clear favorite early on and she was somewhat right about that. I absolutely loved all three girls and their own individual stories, but I completely connected and couldn’t get enough of Penny and Indy. Jasmine definitely starts off as your typical rich, mean girl and I admit I did grow to like her and I hope we get to see more of her story. Next, Indy. I loved Indiana as soon as we meet her. You can tell she has raw talent and plays tennis for all the right reasons. Finally Penny, which was probably my favorite story line of the three. Penny is now a “celebrity”, but underneath that she’s a girl who loves tennis. She’s strong and I absolutely adored her story with Alex.
Next, the lovely and sexy fellas. When I say lovely and sexy… I totally mean it, UNF! All three of our main boys have something to offer. Lets start off with Teddy and Jack Harrison. Both boys have light brown hair and the killer green eyes… which is always an insta-win for me! Teddy has the whole aloofness, playboy thing going for him but underneath that I think he has a good heart and I hope we see more of him. Now, his older 23 year old brother, Jack! Jack I definitely loved as soon as we meet him. There’s nothing not to love about this guy. He supports his sister 100%, he’s good-looking, and how he’s always concerned for Indy just melted my heart. Then finally Alex Russell. British, blond, sexy beyond belief, and a start tennis player… UNF. Even though Alex and Penny’s past is a slightly rough one you can tell every time he’s with her or near her his attention is solely focused on her. I loved every scene with these two. I definitely want myself an Alex!
Overall, I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t finish it fast enough. I loved all the tennis aspects. I loved the cat fights. I loved the romance and the sexy scenes, which I think Jennifer handled perfectly. I love all the variety of ages, the settings, the families, just everything! There was so much tension in each scene whether it lead to something bad or something amazing. Plus, each of the three girl’s stories were linked so effortlessly. Jennifer Iacopelli definitely impressed me with this book and I know I will definitely be picking up her next book as soon as it releases! so sexy!
Jotted by Jena 
I'm on Team Jasmine but now am not so sure with why I chose Jasmine over Penny. *face palm* Penny sounds like a great character. 🙂
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Penny is amazing! I loved that despite being a \”star\” she is so humble and nice!
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