A Whole New Ball Game

Lauren K McKellar

Oct 2018 · Women of W.A.R Book 4 · Sold by HarperCollins Australia

About this ebook

She thought she had her future sorted, but life has other plans...

Get the reference, get the job, get out of here: I know what I want. What I've always wanted. What I've been raised to want. The only thing standing between me and my dream overseas nursing job is a reference from my boss – and a very special little girl in the hospice care where I work who I just can't say goodbye to yet.

The last thing I need is Sawyer Benson, the AFL legend and an arrogant smile, coming in to visit the kids at the hospice and interfering with my life.

But when Emily tells me that girls can't play football, I know that I have to prove to her that girls can do anything they want. So Sawyer and I strike a bargain. I'll play his girlfriend when the camera's on, and off–camera he'll train me up for the Women's Aussie Rules league try–outs. Together we'll show Emily that girls are brave and strong and can do anything they dream of.

I still know what I want. I can walk away from footy and go back to my original plan. Football and arrogant smiles can't be my future.

Can they?

Ratings and reviews

Zoe is a nurse in a hospice which gives care to sick children when they're not in hospital, she plays Aussie Rules football in a league on a Tuesday night but it leaves her feeling unfulfilled and wanting more. She has applied to work for Nurses Abroad caring for sick children in Africa, carrying on the family tradition as her mother is . Sawyer is an Aussie Rules player for a men's team, the Killers. He recently split up with his long-term girlfriend Ava, when he finds out that Ava has been dating his best friend, and team mate, Braden he is so distracted he walks straight into the path of a moving car, Emily's car. Swayer tries to be funny but comes across as a bit of a douche and Zoe pegs him as a typical self-absorbed neanderthal footie player. But when Sawyer and his team mates visit the centre where Zoe works to meet the sick children Zoe starts to see a different side of Sawyer. When one of Zoe's favourite patients, Emily, says that girls can't play Aussie rules Zoe is determined to prove that girls can do everything and asks for Sawyers help to try out for the the Women of W.A.R. Training together brings Zoe and Sawyer close, but she's marking the days until she can go to Africa and he has difficulty in trusting women after Ava's betrayal. This book made me angry, in a series where the heroines play in the first women's Aussie Rules league Zoe spends more time as Sawyer's WAG than she does playing Aussie Rules football. All the WAGs are portrayed as vapid and mean, even Sawyer's sister Kristy is portrayed as mean. Zoe is that cliche of cliches a children's nurse. There is also a ridiculous sub-plot where Zoe's boss asks her to explain her job to his son in preparation for his son taking over the centre. I liked Sawyer, but I found it strange that he could have dated Ava seriously when she came across as such a shallow, spiteful, plastic woman complete with fake nails and cocktail dresses to watch a match. To me this read like a writer who didn't have the confidence to make a female sportsperson the centre of her book, so copped out and made the man the star. There was more sex than Women of W.A.R. Fail for me. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

4 Stars Review by Morgen Late Night Reviewer Up All Night w/ Books Blog A Whole New Ball Game by Lauren K. McKellar is a fun romance mixed in with the world of sports. It’s about not letting things keep you from your dreams whether that be the world or yourself. Zoe Taylor is a registered nurse who takes care of children as they seek treatment for serious illness. She is compassionate, independent, strong-willed, has a selfless heart and is driven by the need to help people. She finally has the chance she has been waiting for to go to Africa to help those who need it most, but she needs one more reference from her boss. Sawyer Benson is an Australian Football League (AFL) star with all the arrogance and skill that goes with it. He recently went through a breakup and it’s still fresh in his mind. He enjoys interacting with his fans and trying to give back to the people that let him do something he loves. He is kind, witty, and athletically gifted. One of Zoe favorite patients, Emily, is an AFL fan and Sawyer stops by to lift her spirits. When Emily finds out there is a woman’s league, she begs Zoe to try out for her. How could Zoe refuse her pleas? Sawyer offers to help Zoe train so she can be prepared for tryouts in exchange for her going to a business event with him. She is leaving for Africa soon and he is close to the final matches of his season. What could possibly go wrong? The story is told through both Zoe and Sawyer's perspectives, letting us inside their heads. It gives us a better understanding of the characters and story line. They’re both sweet and endearing. They captured my heart right away. The pacing is great and the detail as they practiced together was amazing! I loved their chemistry and being able to watch them connect so easily. Their witty banter is fun to watch. Zoe goes on an emotional journey to find out what is most important to her and it was beautifully written. I’d definitely recommend for those that enjoy a fun romance and women who defy the odds.

About the author

Lauren K. McKellar is an author, mother, editor and creator of meals that her children do not eat. She lives in a beachside town north of Sydney where she spends her days working on books written by herself and other international bestselling authors. Lauren has released 19 books in the romance genre. The Calendar Mums (March 2025) is her first foray into women's fiction.Photo Credit: Jessie Walker Photography