Up until two years ago, I was living large and my life’s priorities were anchored to three things – my NBA stardom, money and celebrity.I was also a colossal dick.Until one night turned my world upside down and I suffered unspeakable loss. That event changed the man I was and made me a widowed-single father.Now I’m a desperate parent trying to raise my special needs son and find him a trustworthy … needs son and find him a trustworthy live-in nanny.
Grad student Brooklyn Hayes may be the one, with her single-minded focus on caring for my son and finishing her Master’s degree. She’s the perfect fit for our needs.
Maybe too perfect…with her bright smile, nurturing kindness and gentle touch. Caleb isn’t the only one who’s fallen for her.
I don’t know when or how it happened, but she changed the game for me. Turning my losing streak into a winning second-half.
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Garrett has traded NBA stardom after a tragic accident kills his wife and leaves his young son disabled. He is now a single parent and an assistant basketball coach.
He hires grad student , Brooklyn, after his nanny retires. She connects with both men. Working wonders with Caleb and giving into the mutual attraction with Garrett. But with past trauma, mind sets and drama will they have a chance at more.
I enjoyed the book and storyline. I felt that the author did repeat the same background info on each character too much so it got redundant. Great side characters in their friends. Good job depicting the struggles of a parent with a disabled child
Garrett Parker is a former NBA player who was once living the high life until an accident left him a widowed single father to Caleb, a 4 year old with special needs after suffering brain trauma. Now he is desperate to find a nanny who can help him with Caleb so he can coach basketball.
Brooklyn Hayes wants to be a child psychologist but has worked with special needs children and right away creates a special bond with Caleb.
As Garrett struggles with his attraction to Brooklyn a ghost from his past shows up wanting to change everything he has worked so hard to stabilize. Can Garrett find a way to fight for his son and stop living in the past enough to see what he could have in the future?
This was a great book about overcoming the ghosts of the past to figure out what you really want for the future.
Garrett was a man who was really torn between what he felt like he deserved from the past and trying to provide the best for Caleb in the present. Caleb was his number one priority but Garrett had so much guilt over the past that it had him in almost a state of limbo. He believed that there was no one out there that could be a better mom than Becca but I think it was because of the past events and the guilt he felt.
I thought Brooklyn was a great character who was such a gift for Caleb with all of the time and effort she spent with him. I hated initially how Garrett wanted everything done to his specifics and wasn’t open to listening to Brooklyn until gradually her work with Caleb really showed results. I absolutely loved the bond that the two of them had and how much Caleb improved.
I was surprised with the twist with Penelope. I wasn’t surprised at her initial decision but I was really shocked that she came back and didn’t really know why. I wondered if it was about money but I felt like she sprung everything on Garrett and never really proved that she had Caleb’s best interests in mind.
I was happy with things starting to progress between Garrett and Brooklyn but then Garrett would do or say something that made me so mad at him! The phone call Garrett had with his mom and then the way Garrett treated Brooklyn after a specific incident with Penelope made me so frustrated and I wanted Brooklyn to run!!
I wasn’t surprised about Indiana and Brooklyn’s reaction to it.
I was so happy when Garrett finally came clean to Brooklyn about everything and how that finally made things fall into place with the two of them!
The end was great and I was so happy with how it ended!!
Great story single dad meets nanny. The struggles of having a handicap child. Should a moving story of struggle and love
loved this book, fun read, def.had me wanting more.
My first read from this author and I enjoyed it very much. I will definitely be checking out the other books in the series.
What a sweet yet heartbreaking story.
Garrett and Brooklyn are a great couple and each one helps heal the other.
A bonus is Caleb, the little boy with special needs that Brooklyn is the nanny for.
You can’t help who you love. Sometimes it is meant to be and others are helped and lives are made better by it.
I enjoyed this story. A first for me by this author. I will be back and read more.
A great read which started really strongly and did not let up all the way through the story.
The opening chapter lays bare the struggle that Garrett is facing. He’s given up his professional basketball career to care for his disabled son, whilst grieving the loss of his wife. He’s a man struggling to keep all the plates of his life spinning without dropping.
When his sons babysitter retires, he’s forced to hire someone new. Brooklyn is a graduate, studying special needs education for children. She seems like the perfect fit. For both father and son.
The developing tale of their relationship is interesting to read. The author stays true to the characters and doesn’t make the path to love run smooth. She shows their flaws, their struggles and their mistakes as they negotiate a new path together. A really coherent, engaging read.
Swoon! Brooklyn is a grad student working as a nanny for a college coach. After some traumatic momma drama, Coach Garrett Parker has finally settled in with his special needs son, Caleb. I honestly don’t usually read stories about single dads. It’s just not really my cup of tea. But, after reading the blurb for this book, it caught my attention immediately. This story kept my attention and left me craving more of Brooklyn’s story. I loved her independent, strong nature. I also loved her love for Caleb and between reading about the way she worked with him and seeing Garrett’s love for his son, I just completely fell in love with this story. I loved this book and completely recommend it!
~ 4.5 WINSOME STARS! ~~
“She’s the balm to my soul and a light in my darkest corner.”
If there’s one trope that makes my heart flip inside my chest, it’s the single daddy/nanny tale, and when you add into the mix a sports-themed romance with a hunkilicious ex-baller struggling to raise a special needs child, then I am a TOTAL GONER!
PREMISE:
GAME CHANGER is first captivating installment in Sierra Hill’s Change of Heart series and a spinoff of her Courting Love series, but I can full attest that it reads as a complete standalone. In a nutshell, this is an emotionally charged tale of NBA superstar whose life was thrown the ultimate curveball when a tragic accident left him a widowed single dad. Now two years later, Garrett Parker’s still buried in guilt and grief, struggling to raise his disabled son, Caleb, who suffered traumatic brain injury from the accident that killed his wife. He forfeited his all-star career to care for his beloved boy and is now a highly respected Associate Head Coach to the ASU men’s basketball team. But juggling the demands of the job and single parenthood have taken a toll and he needs a summer nanny…pronto!
He finds one in the form of beautiful and bubbly Brooklyn Hayes, a child psychology graduate student who immediately begins to work wonders with his precious son. But the bereft widower never planned on developed a fierce attraction to the gentle-hearted woman who brings light back into both his and Caleb’s worlds. Can he resist temptation and keep things strictly business with his son’s sweet, alluring nanny…or will lines be irrevocably crossed?
MY MUSINGS:
Wow…just wow. Sierra Hill scored a SLAM DUNK with GAME CHANGER! This gorgeously crafted story OWNED me from page one and held me a captive audience throughout! This book is not only uber hot and tantalizingly sexy, but there were so many heart-tugging feels from start to finish that my hand felt like it was perpetually clutching my chest! And as a warrior mom to two special needs kids with their own set of challenges, this book really resonated on a soul deep level that really punched me in the gut!
“Sometimes the people we love most cause us the biggest heartaches.”
Garrett is my favorite kind of book boyfriend—moody broody, gruff and taciturn, with his heart under lock and key, but when he’s around his son you see what a big ol’ softie he is inside! He has a lot of baggage to contend with—including a custody battle brewing with Caleb’s bio mommy—and with some arrogant “bosshole” tendencies he was admittedly not always the EASIEST guy to love. However, I loved him nonetheless because this fiercely devoted single dad sacrificed everything for his disabled son while at the height of his pro-ball fame. I relished the slow and steady transformation of this character and his journey from bereavement to healing was a beautiful thing to behold.
As for Brooke, this “sweet fiery warrior” was like a godsend in Garrett and Caleb’s lives and her kind, nurturing, fiercely independent nature was the perfect counterpart to this rough around the edges basketball couch. And even when Garrett held her at arm’s length you could see her warmth and goodness slowly chipping away at his steely armor.
“Something broken inside him speaks to something desperate to help inside me, complementing us physically and connecting us emotionally.”
This is a molten hot romance with a hefty dose of angst and tons of push-pull, but I felt a real genuine connection between this duo and rooted for them to make it work despite the obstacles facing them. And that first kiss, where all the pent up passion and swelling emotion finally ignites, was DELICIOUSLY COMBUSTIBLE!
“I’ve never experienced a kiss this passionate or desperate before. Garrett kisses me as if I am the air he needs to breathe. The sustenance he requires to live.”
Steamy romance aside, one of my FAVORITE parts of this books was the way that the H&h came together for the sake of his 4 year old son. Caleb was truly the emotional touchstone of this book for me. That “brilliant, beautiful and sweet” little boy was just a pure wonder and he decimated me in the BEST POSSIBLE WAY! And while his life would always be fraught with difficulties, his spirit was as fierce as Garrett’s ferocious love for him! I adored the scenes where Brooke was working to help Caleb combat his cognitive impairments and strengthen his speech and language skills. And, ultimately, the interactions between the threesome just truly SLAYED me!
I truly felt the full gamut of emotions throughout—heartache, tenderness, frustration, sadness, giddy euphoria and love. SO MUCH LOVE that my heart was overflowing! It’s the kind of book that you read that the world falls away and you find yourself completely and utterly immersed into the lives of the characters. And the payoff after all the tumult was such sweet triumph! The HEA had me swooning—and blinking back tears—as this trio finally beat the odds and scored a winning future!
BOTTOM LINE:
GAME CHANGER is a smoldering hot and deeply poignant tale about second changes, overcoming adversity and embracing life in all its perfectly imperfect glory. I cannot wait for more from this new to me author and will anxiously await the second book in the Change of Heart series!
Highly recommend!
Where do I even start? This is my first book by this author but it definitely won’t be my last. Wow wow wow this book was absolutely amazing. Once I started reading this book I could not put it down, I spent the night up reading this book and I enjoyed every single minute of it. Fantastic book and highly recommended.
Ok a sport book, well that’s what I thought but the NBA celebrity who was known for being a complete dick to people .
He thought with his money and all he was it. Then one night not only took his wife and made him a widow but also left him to be a single dad. This is when the story gets good and you wont want to put the book down.
This was the first book I have read by Sierra Hill, and I have to say… I am now a fan! This book was so good. It was well written, the story flowed perfectly, and it was immensely enjoyable. Garrett and Brooklyn are a perfect match, and let’s not forget Caleb. My heart feels full of love and joy after reading this. I absolutely recommend this book.
Game Changer is the first book from this author that I have had the pleasure of reading. I loved meeting Garrett and his son Caleb. The love Garrett has for his son was wonderful to see through the pages of the book. With Brooklyn entering their world and making brighter. I enjoyed following their story and look forward to the next book in the series.
An enjoyable story but I felt it to be a bit slow at times. The characters were mostly likeable and I liked how Garrett was now but that he did have the acknowledgment of being a major dock in his past. I also liked the fact it was honest about how hard it must be being a special needs parent and that although he loved his son with all his heart he could admit it’s was a challenge at times.
Garrett is a former NBA superstar who’s now an assistant coach in a college. After a horrendous accident took the life of his wife, he’s now a single dad to a special needs son, Caleb. He’s in need of a nanny for the summer, one who understands and can work with Caleb. One that can step into the role and not need a lot of training. One of his friends gives him Brooklyn’s name. She’s studying for her Master’s degree in Child Psychology.
Brooklyn steps into the role like she was made for it. She knows how to work with Caleb, to get him where he needs to be to be prepared for school in the fall.
Garrett and Brooklyn had heat from the start though neither were looking for a relationship. Their relationship was slow to start, but boy did it burn hot. I really enjoyed Ms. Hill’s writing, the world building, and her characters. The story flowed and with the interesting story, and intriguing characters, it was a very easy and enjoyable read. I can’t wait to read more from Ms. Hill.
This book is adorably, heartbreakingly awesome.
Coach Garrett Parker has had a very tragic few years.
Brooklyn is about to enter grad school when she hears of a summer job nannying for Coach Parker and his son with traumatic brain damage.
This story was very easy to read. Smoking hot. Achingly heartbreaking. And awesome fabulous! I highly recommend!
Sierra Hill
Game Changer follows the story of Garrett, his son Caleb and Brooklyn. Garret was a famous NBA player until a life alternating event made him give up his career to take care of his disabled son, Caleb, as a single dad. Brooklyn, is studying psychology and takes on a summer job as nanny to Caleb. The story follows the pushes and pulls of their relationship. I didn’t particularly like Garrett’s character and struggled with that part of the book which meant if I hadn’t been given the book as an ARC I may not have forced myself to keep reading. But don’t let that put you off, that’s just my personal feelings for the character.
Wow, what a great story!! I love Garrett, Brookly and Caleb and their stories will steal your heart. Brooklyn is an incredibly strong character and loves hard. Garrett is broken and his story is one where you will definitely need tissues. Great writing, incredible story line with angst, drama, heartbreak and funny banter draws you into this story and keeps you there from start to finish. Can’t wait to read more from this series.
For Sierra Hill fans, this book is a spin off of the Courting Love series and starts with Coach Parker as our lead. I was not left in the dark by any means as I have not yet read the Courting Love series.
Garrett is anywhere from being settled in life, but honestly who can expect him to be. Loosing his wife two years ago to an accident that also change the life of his son Caleb, causing him to leave his career of NBA player. But Garrett seems to have settled in to his new role as coach, single dad to a special needs son pretty damn well. It can get lonely and overwhelming all by yourself though. Mistakes from his past keep knocking on his door threatening to make more changes. With the summer team ready to get started, he is in the need of a nanny to help him out.
Brooklyn is getting ready to start Grad school in the fall for child psychology. What better summer job for her than being a nanny to a special needs child. Relationships haven’t really been an issue for her in the past as she has been instilled by her mother to not change her life or ways for a man. Sure she wants all of that some day but certainly on her terms without loosing herself.
There is an instant connection with Caleb and Brooklyn as she starts her job. They work very well together and soon great progress can be seen. The hardest part of the summer is fighting off her immediate attraction to Garrett. She can’t mix work and pleasure. But there is a strong chemistry between Garrett and Brooklyn and one night when everyone is a little exhausted and overwhelmed the line is crossed. Where will they go from here? Can they go back or do they keep moving forward at the risk of loss to everyone?
This is a sweet slow burn romance. Caleb stole my heart from the very beginning and pulled me into the story. Before long I was cheering Garrett and Brooklyn on.
I’m excited to see what comes next from the Series as there were some pretty great side characters introduced.
*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***
These stories just really get me! After tragedy changes the course of his life, Garrett is now the single father of a child with special needs. Attempting to navigate his new life with a new job, taking care and learning his child’s new needs, and reeling from loss, he hires Brooklyn to help care for his son Caleb to help juggle his multiple duties. Brooklyn isn’t looking for much except a summer job as she works on her graduate degree in psychology. With experience in special needs children (her brother has Autism), she meets and clicks instantly with Caleb in recognizing and understanding his needs. As Garrett and Brooklyn continue to spend time both together and with Caleb, feelings start to form from the instant attraction and begin a relationship. When some twists occur in the storyline and the relationship is threatened multiple times, we wonder if the two will end up together while also following their career dreams. Overall, this was a great heartfelt story!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.