The Game Changer by J. Sterling

The Game Changer is the continuing story of Jack and Cassie, who we first met in The Perfect Game. Jack shows up on Cassie's doorstep desperate to win her back, ready to beg if necessary. After everything that they have been through, Cassie has every right to slam the door in Jack's face, but she knows that can't live without him. Even though they are back together, their problems are far from over. Cassie finds herself suddenly thrown into the spotlight and forced to deal with the realities of dating a professional ball player - the fans, the paparazzi, the other baseball wives. As the pressure mounts, Cassie must figure out a way to deal with it or risk losing Jack all over again.

I loved The Perfect Game and when I finished it, I honestly did not feel the need for a sequel. I was happy with how the story ended and felt content. When I heard that J. Sterling was going to be releasing a sequel (thanks to fan demand), I was initially hesitant to read it. I wasn't really sure where the story could go and didn't feel like there were a whole lot of loose ends to tie up. I knew that I couldn't handle another colossal f-up by Jack, like what happens in the first book. I wouldn't be able to forgive him or Cassie if she had taken him back again. I love Jack - he is arrogant, cocky, with an ego the size of Texas - and I think a lot of people can dismiss him as a douchebag. While he is all of those things, he is also extremely passionate - about his family, about baseball, and most importantly, about Cassie. His passion is he redeeming quality for me. I enjoyed getting to read about what happened during the 6 months between when Cassie tells Jack to "prove it" and when he shows up at her door. I also loved watching him prove over and over again how he was trying to be a better man for Cassie - it was perfectly swoon worthy.

While I can't say that The Game Changer was a necessary sequel, I can say that I am happy J. Sterling listened to her fans and wrote it. I will admit that it did provide some closure to the story that I didn't realize was missing until after I read it. I am hoping for a spin off series starring Melissa and Dean, and am fairly certain that we can expect one soon based on all of the hints dropped throughout The Game Changer. I don't see anything posted on Goodreads or her website yet, so I guess for now I'll just have to keep my fingers crossed.