Book Tour for Playing It Close by Kat Latham (Review & GIVEAWAY)

As a fan of sports-themed romances I was immediately drawn to this book and was given even more deliciousness with the witty banter between the immensely likable main couple.  Keep reading to get a glimpse of Playing It Close by Kat Latham, along with my impressions of it, and learn even more through my interview with Ms. Latham.  Make sure to leave a comment telling us what your favorite sport is for your chance to win a digital copy of this book too!

TSP:  Knowing what you do now about the publishing business, would you have done anything different career-wise?

KL:  Ooh, that’s a really good question. I think I would’ve been more patient. I used to get really upset when I got rejection letters. Of course, it would’ve helped me be patient if I had known for sure that I would eventually be published!

I also wouldn’t have started querying editors and agents with the first draft of my first novel. When I look back at some of the things I wrote in that first version… *shudders*… I just pray none of them remember my name!

TSP:  What does your writing space look like and do you surround yourself with any particularly inspirational items?

KL:  I have a really messy office in my house, but I usually choose to sit on the couch and write. Inspirational items…uh, do pajamas and a cup of tea count?

TSP:  The majority of your books are sports-themed in nature, what draws you to that theme?

KL:  Have you ever seen rugby players’ thighs?

Probably the main thing that draws me is the balance between a hero being super tough when he’s doing his job and super tender when he’s falling in love.

TSP:  Beyond its synopsis, what do you want us to know about Playing It Close?

KL:  This was my favorite book to write so far. Tess and Liam were slow to reveal themselves to me—and equally cautious about revealing themselves to each other. But once they did, I completely fell in love with them and hope readers will too.

TSP:  Which of your books would you like to see made into a movie and who would play the main couple?

KL:  This is such a difficult question for me to answer. I think Playing It Close would make a great movie, and Jennifer Lawrence has the attitude and dark humor to play Tess perfectly. I’m afraid there just aren’t any actors adorable enough to play Liam, though.

TSP:  How has the digital revolution affected your career and how you market yourself?  Do you have an eReader yourself?

KL:  Well, all of my books are ebooks, so it’s given me the opportunity to be published in the first place! Before I was published, a lot of people told me, “Americans don’t want to read about British rugby players. Make your hero an American football player and you’ll be able to sell it.” I can’t tell you how glad I am that digital publishing has given publishers (and self-publishers) more scope to try out different kinds of stories, and that readers are shouting out for books that are different.

I do have a Kindle, but it’s gathering dust because I mostly read on my phone now.

TSP:  My site's all about favorite things, so what are your favorite things/the things you can't live without?

KL:  My phone—definitely! It’s got pictures and videos of my baby, and whenever I’m feeling down I look at those and start feeling better.

In March I was announced as a finalist for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA contest. My publisher, Harlequin, sent me a big box of Godiva truffles. They’re a-MAZ-ing. I’ve been holding myself to only eating one a day so I can fit into my dress at the awards ceremony in July!

TSP:  And now for our off-the-wall question........What's the oddest question you've ever been asked and how did you answer it?

KL:  When I was 15, a 21-year-old guy asked me on a date…to a computer store. It was the first time I’d ever been asked out. Considering I was already an avid romance reader, it wasn’t exactly the date request I’d always dreamed of.

I can’t remember exactly how I turned him down. I think something along the lines of, “My parents don’t let me drive with boys.” Handy excuse, but it really only works when you’re a teenager!

Where do you go to escape everything when you're one of the most famous rugby players in the world? For Liam Callaghan, that place is a remote lodge on Venezuela's Caribbean coast. Perfect, except he doesn't exactly want to be alone with his thoughts. Enter Tess Chambers, the ultimate distraction.

Still reeling from a professional disaster that's made her all but unemployable, Tess understands the desire to move through life as somebody else. So when instantly recognizable Liam uses a fake name, she runs with it and creates a temporary new identity of her own.
Their time spent together in paradise is idyllic but brief—after one passionate night, Liam wakes up to find Tess gone. Returning to London, he's shocked to learn she's taken a job with his team's new sponsor. As the Legends' captain, he'll have to not only figure out how to work with the one woman who ever left him wanting more, but also convince her that their feelings in the present mean more than any lies they've told in the past.

Read Chapter One

BUY LINKS:  Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | BN | Carina Press | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As a fan of sports-themed romances I was immediately drawn to this story and its likable characters, witty dialogue, heartfelt romance, and engaging circumstances.  From their unconventional first meeting you can expect the unexpected as Tess and Liam take a twisty and turny journey to HEA.

Star rugby player Liam is still struggling with the loss of his mother, which has him off his game and frustrated with the superficiality of his relationships and desperate to find something more while taking a break in Venezuela.  For weeks Tess has been fodder in the press for her whistle blowing in a work-related sex scandal.  Tired of being the butt of jokes and for again disappointing her family she takes a break at her family's Eco-friendly spa in Venezuela where she's torn between her instincts to be a wild child and not wanting to give people more to criticize her for.  A slightly poor decision leaves her wet and semi-naked in an elevator that breaks down after star rugby player Liam rushes in.  From this engaging opening scene full of playfulness and sexual tension you sense a deep connection between these two people who feel lost and alone.  Though neither of them gave their real names, their connection and emotions were as honestly displayed as ever before.  Their short time together brought out the best in both of them but it wasn't meant to last as the real world was awaiting them.

Arriving back in London didn't stop their problems as she starts a new job that will greatly impact his future as his team is on the verge of bankruptcy.  Though their attraction is just as intense as before their new working relationship forbids anything sexual.  Working so closely amps up their attraction and soon their relationship becomes combustible as they both fight for the happiness they glimpsed millions of miles away.  I enjoyed their romantic journey as their both immensely likable.  Tess is a woman tired of disappointing her family and tries to walk the straight and narrow as she just wants to be accepted.  She's willing to throw away what she has with Liam out of fear and it left their HEA in jeopardy.  I still liked her though as she's outspoken and quirky in her actions.  She has self-esteem and body image issues that every woman can relate to and left me sympathetic to her and rooting for her HEA.  Liam is a kindhearted man who just wants to be loved for who he is.  He too is desperate not to disappoint others, as he feels he did to his mother on her deathbed, which leaves him struggling to do the right thing.  He's willing to admit when he's wrong though which endeared him to me even more.  

Needless to say he's super sexy too, as are the other colorful characters of the London Legends rugby team.  These intriguing men mean there's plenty more stories for Ms. Latham to tell and as the scenes featuring the team were engaging there's plenty of sexy stories left to tell..  Ms. Latham's story flowed nicely with the romance building in increments that allowed their playfulness and sensuality to come shining through and I look forward to the next installment as well as going back to read the previous book in this series.

My rating for this is an A.

*I received this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Meet Liam’s teammate Spencer Bailey in Knowing the Score, out now!

AUTHOR INFO:

Kat Latham is a California girl who moved to Europe the day after graduating from UCLA, ditching her tank tops for raincoats. She taught English in Prague and worked as an editor in London before she and her British husband moved to the Netherlands. Kat’s other career involves writing and editing for charities, and she’s traveled to Kenya, Ethiopia and India to meet heroic people helping their communities survive disasters. Find out more on her website: katlatham.com.

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**********GIVEAWAY**********

PRIZE IS A DIGITAL COPY OF PLAYING IT CLOSE!

-To be entered, LEAVE A COMMENT STATING WHAT YOUR FAVORITE SPORT IS, along with your email addy (no email=no entry).
-Winner will be chosen from all those who comment using random.org

-Giveaway is open to everyone and ends at 11:59 PM CST on 5/4!