Play You for It

Saldivar takes readers inside the world of college basketball in her well-crafted debut. Jordan D’Amato has spent 10 years as the assistant men’s basketball coach at David Douglas University, and when her boss and mentor moves on to coach professionally, she’s tapped to take his place, making her the first woman to lead a men’s NCAA Division I team. Proving herself is an uphill battle: the school’s athletic director is skeptical about her abilities and will take any excuse to fire her and the players themselves balk. To win them over, Jordan must lead the team to victory. Into this volatile mix comes feisty sports journalist Caroline Beck, herself dealing with sexist skeptics at the Northwest Sports Network. When Jordan refuses to be interviewed, Beck challenges her to a game of basketball. If Beck wins, Jordan will give her an exclusive. The women quickly discover and give in to their explosive chemistry—but the affair could further jeopardize their already precarious careers. Saldivar’s lively plot is juicy and addictive, headlined by multifaceted heroines who command attention from the first page. The colorful characters on the basketball team add to the fun. Laden with both heat and heart, this sapphic sports romance is a winner. (Oct.)