Books & Spoons Review: GAME CHANGER by Melissa Cutler

Welcome to Destiny Falls, New York, home of Bomb Squad—an ice hockey team full of rugged military heroes. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has the team captain packing his bags for greener pastures, but saying good-bye to the woman who’d captured his heart is easier said than done…

After being wounded in combat, Brandon Theroux lives every day like it’s his last. He never could have imagined that the sleek mechanics of his prosthetic leg would open so many doors, including minor celebrity status as a fitness model and a well-earned reputation as a rakish playboy. The only door it hasn’t opened is the one to Harper Johnson’s bedroom.

Harper has too much self-respect to join the ranks of Brandon’s “carpe diem” conquests, but when she needs someone to keep the peace in the tavern she owns, Brandon offers his help—as long as she agrees to a very tempting trade. It isn’t long before the two realize that a deal struck between friends who can’t keep their hands off each other has the potential to be a whole lot hotter than either of them is prepared to handle…

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I have to admit, I struggled with this book. To my surprise, I didn't like the ex-military, hockey playing hero. I thought Brandon was arrogant, full of himself, and not a very kind person. But I couldn't connect with Harper either, she seemed to be hiding from life, a bit bitchy with her attitude, and just not easy to relate to. The attraction between them seemed animalistic, and raw. But they didn't have a connection. And when they finally acted on this attraction, they admitted, it was the worst sexual experience in their lives. So they decided, they would be friends. I was nearly half way through this story, and I sat there, thinking, this is the most unromantic romance story I have ever read. And then the story had a twist, changing it, changing direction of it, and my opinion of it, and of the characters.
Suddenly, I was able to connect with them, they showed heart, care, kindness, support, and understanding of each other. They stood by each other in the darkest moment of Harper's life. The way Brandon was there for her - amazing. They cultivated, worked on, and developed a beautiful friendship, that turned them into soul mates, best friends, and soon they were each others rising sun and smile, their everything. But there were still things keeping them apart, making the last part of the story beautifully agonizing, as they both did some soul searching, and figured out what they want out of their lives.
I am so glad, I stuck it out, didn't give up on Brandon and Harper, and read the story to the end, that ended up being rather inspirational, refining, uplifting, beautiful, and very unique
~  Four Spoons