Game Changer by Sylvie Stewart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Game Changer is one of the funniest and most engaging stories I have read this year. This gem is the work of Sylvie Stewart and is hands down my favourite book of hers that I’ve read (so far)! This book is a romantic comedy- but there is so much more to this superb story- because woven through the storyline is some wonderful tension, sizzling chemistry, steamy encounters, dramatic moments, a little angsty push-pull, and lots of heartfelt emotion.
I was introduced to Ms. Stewart through her Carolina Connections series and was immediately hooked. I didn’t think this story could beat the other books I’d read- but I was wrong! If I could give this more than 5 Stars, I would. It was so much fun to read, wonderfully engaging, with all the feels to give it even more depth and connectivity. LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!
Poppy James has spread her wings and has set flight to make her dreams come true. This down home Georgia peach has left everything and everyone she loves back home to move to New York to join a national magazine as Creative Director. That’s if the team can give the publication a complete makeover, and win over the board of directors in the process. There is a lot riding on their success. This is her big chance to change her life and she’s determined not to mess it up. She is desperate to be taken seriously, so she says “Goodbye” to Georgia Poppy, and “Hello” New York Poppy.
But the annoying and impossible to ignore subject of her artisan showcase interview throws an anvil in her plans and becomes a huge distraction for her- distraction with a capital D.
Mac is what we’d call tall, dark, and brooding. He’s a hot hunk of tattooed goodness, the strong silent type, who has such an intensity about him that he scares most people away. That suits him fine. He doesn’t ‘do’ people. He has his workshop, his forge, and his creations- they won’t let him down. But people do. He comes with quite a lot of baggage which really weighs him down. Poppy will have her work cut out for her to even get him to agree to speak with her, let alone give her anything much to write about. But fate has a way of interfering.
I LOVED Poppy and MAC- they are really wonderful characters who were so perfect for each other. Their chemistry was off the charts- electrifying!!! They really made this one deliciously Hot and Sexy read. But all the characters played their part to make this story stand out from the crowd- this was a stellar cast- with secondary characters who made an impact. Some were so loveable, like Cookie and Naveed- as well as some not so nice personalities who added an element of drama to the whole story. They all made this a very entertaining read.
The wit and humour were so on point- with such funny banter, quips, and antics- I was laughing out loud quite a lot through the book. I love the addition of the ‘southernisms’ and the ‘Cookie Quotes’- it was very clever of Ms. Stewart and added more personality to the story. Poppy cracked me up with some of her analogies, and self-talk!
This story was so well written I could ‘hear’ Poppy’s voice, southern accent and all, in my head as I read along. When Mac grunted or ‘spoke’ with his eyebrows, I could see/feel it. There wasn’t an element of this story that was left untouched by Ms. Stewart’s attention to detail and vividly descriptive touches- and because of that, the whole book came alive and ‘played out’ before my eyes. It takes true talent to achieve that!
On an interesting note, this book seems to be a crossover with Rule Breaker by Phoebe Alexander, as the two books share characters, and other major details. I have really enjoyed both books, and the clever, entertaining, and original stories both authors have produced using the shared elements. While both books can be read as standalones, I really recommend reading both!
I cannot recommend “Game Changer” highly enough! Seriously, do yourself a favour and grab yourself a copy to enjoy. You really won’t regret it!
Superb!!

Thank you, Ms. Stewart!

Reviewed by @angelahayes

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