Two Olympians are matched in a media campaign that turns into something more than a game.Rio Games silver medalist and social media darling CORA “JADE” ANDERSON is approached by a popular cell phone company to launch a flirty but fake media campaign with ice hockey star DAVIS ELLIOTT. When things get off to a rocky start, Cora and Davis both wonder what they’ve gotten into and how they’ll get … into and how they’ll get through the months until the Korean games.
It’s not long until things start to warm up between the athletes and soon this fake romance becomes something much more real. Cora knows just how to work social media and engage her fans, and as the world watches and interacts with them, their love grows. When Davis is selected for Team USA, the opposition starts. As a Korean American, he’s already facing odds Cora can never comprehend, but he takes his frustration at the racism to the ice and lets the puck take the beating.
Things come to a head just weeks before the games begin. Can Davis and Cora’s very public relationship survive the aftermath of a very public confrontation, or are they going to have to let their love go when the Olympic flame is extinguished at the closing ceremonies?
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Jade’s Match by Hallee Bridgeman
As a woman who enjoys receiving courteous treatment that tells me I am valued, I love having doors opened for me. I know some women are like Cora, however, and think that men who do this are questioning their ability to do it themselves. I loved the discussions throughout the book about this and the beautiful way that author Hallee Bridgeman showed that these chivalrous acts are not a condescension but a show of respect. I couldn’t resist including the excerpt on my blog to show you what might have been my favorite part of the book.
Cora also needed to learn lessons about the importance of not judging based on partial information and especially about keeping a rein on her tongue. It is so sad how hurtful our words can be. I am so glad Cora learned that and was willing to do the right thing.
Davis was a tough, yet tender hockey player headed to the Olympics. He struggled to control anger and even feared he might hurt those closest to him because of it. The author handled this extremely well and offered an insightful perspective on it.
Davis was half-Korean and Cora part Native American. A prejudiced and jealous man confronted them with hatred for this, which led to some major conflict in the story.
I love when authors make an effort to make the formatting of their books attractive. The chapter headings of Jade’s Match were so lovely as was the overall look and feel of the book. As Cora loved to write out scripture and embellish it, I could picture that she might have created something similar to these headings.
Each book in the Jewel series stands alone, though they do include characters from the other books.
This review was originally posted on AmongTheReads.net.
Get a preview of Jade’s Match at AmongTheReads.net
I would like to thank BookCrash, Hallee Bridgeman for giving me this copy of the book. This gift did not influence my opinion or review.
This review was originally posted on AmongTheReads.net
A wonderful story the flows excellent, The Author has done a fantastic job at bringing out the characters and the world building. This is a fantastic series. I definitely recommend this read and series.
Shauna Joesten
This was such an enjoyable novella! I thought these two main characters were so relatable and I really enjoyed getting a behind the scenes type of peek into the world of Olympic sports. Even though this was a quick read, I still felt invested in these characters and enjoyed watching how things worked out for them.
The Jewel series continues with a story about Emerald Fire’s Maxine and Barry’s daughter. Cora is a beach volleyball silver medalist. She decides to participate in a social media campaign with Dauntless Davis a hockey player, hoping to make the 2018 US Olympic hockey team. It is an unlikely pairing and you will see some of the personal sacrifices that every athlete has to deal with while training and competing on an Olympic level. The story is rich with personality and drama and how God is able to work all things out in spite of misconceptions and racism.
The story talks about Christian values without being preachy. Dauntless Davis is a fierce competitor and he has learned how to release his emotions on the ice and draw the power of the Holy Spirit to maintain his cool when off the ice.
These characters are real and you will fall in love with them just like the other stories in the Jewel series books. I did not want the book to end.
Cora doesn’t like Davis when she first sees him in a bar because of her past experience with another man. But she learns he is not like that person. They learn to like each other. But Davis’s temper causes them a great deal of harm. A well-written story that shows taking good advice can make a difference. I received a free copy of this book. This is my voluntary opinion.
What happens if you’re matched with a guy you think is a player? Are first impressions true? Often, they aren’t, and Cora (a.k.a. – Jade) learns this the hard way.
When two athletes are put together for a new phone promotion, things start to get interesting! Can they get to know the “real” other person?
Hallee Bridgeman has written some fun stories with these “Jeweled” series. I think I want to go back and read all of the other books in this series because I know I’ll fall in love with the characters and the settings.
In this book, I found it was a sweet story to read and I did it all in one day. I couldn’t put it down because I was so invested in the lives of these two characters. I loved their banter and all the many things they had to do for this phone promotion.
I really enjoy reading books written by Hallee Bridgeman. She brings such wonderful lessons to our hearts through her books.
I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
What happens if you’re matched with a guy you think is a player? Are first impressions true? Often, they aren’t, and Cora (a.k.a. – Jade) learns this the hard way.
When two athletes are put together for a new phone promotion, things start to get interesting! Can they get to know the “real” other person?
Hallee Bridgeman has written some fun stories with these “Jeweled” series. I think I want to go back and read all of the other books in this series because I know I’ll fall in love with the characters and the settings.
In this book, I found it was a sweet story to read and I did it all in one day. I couldn’t put it down because I was so invested in the lives of these two characters. I loved their banter and all the many things they had to do for this phone promotion.
I really enjoy reading books written by Hallee Bridgeman. She brings such wonderful lessons to our hearts through her books.
I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
One of my favorites of Bridgeman’s Jewel Series. I love how she effortlessly brings back previous characters while keeping the main story line separate. I enjoyed the unique plot and diversity of the characters, and appreciated their realistic dialogue and interaction.
Falling in love in public can’t be easy. Harder still when jealousy, anger, and racism are thrown into the mix. Will Cora and Davis find a way to make it work?
Great book combining the excitement of the Olympics with the discovery of true love. Quick read, I couldn’t put it down.
Hallee’s book “Jades Match” is yet another that once you start it is hard to put down. I first want so sure about the plot when I was getting ready to read it. It being about a company using a couple to try to advertise their phone just seemed odd to me, but once I got reading it everything flowed and it turned out to be very interesting. I love how she pulls in people from her other books and it all flows with their lives and what happens in her other books. This book makes you feel the excitement build in anticipation of the Olympics and how others feel traveling for them. She also portrayed really well how sometimes the impression you first get of someone isn’t really what they are.
JADE’S. MATCH by Hallee Bridgeman.
Ruby and Jade were close, as friends, as sisters in Christ, doing competitions. Vel.Tech smartphone company, in which they took pictures, video, and even live presentations, turned out to be a hugh success. Now, they want Davis, in Hockey and the winter games to join them. This campaign has a twist, relationship and it starts on Valentine’s Day. One is engaged, that leaves Jade, for 8 months to pretend. The pictures in the press of bar fight, was that the true person of Davis. Without reason, she accept it, so he calls her “fake”
Now she questions everything about herself. Delightful story of two people, who had to reset their ideas about each other. Both wanting to find who the other truly was. Delightful book, you want to sit and read till finished. Loving all she has written. GivenARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.
Hallee Bridgeman has written another outstanding novel, Jade’s Match, in The Jewel Series. Having previously read the other books in this serious, it wasn’t long for this reader to pick up in the lives of the characters in these novels although you don’t have to have read the other books to enjoy the story plot in Jade’s Match. Main characters, Jade and Davis, are thrown together in a “publicity romance” advertisement campaign for a new cell phone. Jade, being an Olympic volleyball superstar has an overwhelming social media following and is loved by millions of fans. Davis is an Olympic hopeful for the USA hockey team. The “publicity romance” will not only be an advertisement campaign for the new phones as they post photos of their dates, it will also boost Davis’s social media following and provide money for both their educations. How will this fake romance turn out? Misconceptions and racism are obstacles that both characters must face. Can both being faithful Christians pull them together to overcome the past hurts and mistakes to form a lasting relationship themselves? Hallee Bridgeman is a fantastic Christian author that has an excellent writing skill in penning Christian values and beliefs into her novels whether they are Christian romance or suspense. I love the discussion questions at the end which make you think or could be used in a book or small group for discussion. The recipes at the conclusion are always great to try for good healthy diets. This reader thoroughly enjoyed Jade’s Match, the seventh book in The Jewel Series, and could hardly put the book down until it was finished and is looking forward to the next novel in this series. The release of the book is in excellent timing with the upcoming Winter Olympic Games and Valentine’s Day. I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
So I loved the Jewel Series, each and every book, but I thought the just of Jade’s Match sounded a little strange, with the media campaign idea. But once I started reading and all the players and puzzle pieces started falling into place, I felt like a giddy teenager, ready to see how it would pan out. Misinformed and first impressions can cause misunderstandings. This is what happened between the first meeting of Cora (Jade) and Davis. Both had great personalities and the getting to know you in that first week was a hoot! Davis has a remarkable set of parents and I love the family dynamics between the Viscolli’s and the Anderson’s. Jade’s Match is perfect reminder that as Christians, we are not perfect, but a daily work in progress as we follow the leading of our God. Perfect addition to the Jewel Series!
Absolutely loved this story!