Beautiful Game [Paperback]

Kate Christie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 19, 2011

It's 1991 and Melissa Etheridge is a brand new voice on the radio. In Southern California, it's almost--but not quite--safe to say the word lesbian out loud. For Camille Wallace, a sophomore attending San Diego University on a soccer scholarship, life is sweet. She has gay friends, the sport she loves, and a future full of possibilities.
 
Her possible futures don't include a woman like Jess Maxwell. Potential all-American, star-caliber tennis player and in every way the perfect co-ed, Jess isn't likely to notice Cam's admiring glances. Even if she does, chances are she'll never regard Cam as more than a fan.
 
The brilliant sunshine might be one reason Cam sees a side of Jess that no one else has realized is there. But it will take more than training and tenacity to find out if Jess wants to be the woman Cam believes lurks within. It may take more than Cam can possibly risk.
 
Kate Christie looks at love and the pursuit of happiness for two gifted college athletes in the early Gay 90s.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kate Christie, author of Solstice and Leaving L.A., was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After studying women's history at Smith College, she earned a Master's in Creative Writing from Western Washington University. Currently she lives near Seattle with her wife and their two dogs. Beautiful Game is her third published novel.

Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Bella Books (July 19, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159493245X
• ISBN-13: 978-1594932458
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #750,491 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Thanks for your interest in my background. I grew up in Kalamazoo, Michigan. After high school, I studied women's history at Smith College in Massachusetts (class of '93) and earned a Master's in Creative Writing from Western Washington University. I work now in academia, and spend most of my evenings writing fiction. Currently I live in Western Washington with my partner of eleven years, our two dogs, and the newest edition to our family, a baby girl. For more information on me or to read first chapters of any of my novels, check out my Web site at www.katejchristie.com.

"Solstice" (March 2010), my first published novel, deals with two of my favorite things: soccer and the city of Seattle. After college, following a hunch, I moved to the Pacific Northwest sight (site) unseen. I immediately fell in love with the water, mountains, and hills of the aptly named Emerald City. Seattle is also an awesome place for soccer players and fans, as evidenced by the tremendous fan support for the MLS expansion team, the Seattle Sounders. The Sounders weren't in existence when I wrote "Solstice," or undoubtedly they would have made an appearance in the book.

My second novel for Bella Books, "Leaving L.A." (January 2011), is set in Hollywood and Hawaii, places that vary rather significantly from the Pacific Northwest. The storyline is a bit like a tropical lesbian romance version of the movie "Notting Hill." Pam Bigelow, a reviewer for the Lambda Literary Foundation, wrote a glowing review of the novel that closes with, "'Leaving L.A.' could very well end up as one of the ten best books of 2011." Perhaps unsurprisingly, this is the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my writing. Ms. Bigelow was kind enough to add her review to the product page here on Amazon, too.

My third novel, "Beautiful Game" (July 2011), returns to the world of soccer, and is set in the early 1990s at a fictional university in Southern California. Technically, BG is actually the first sequentially of the three novels--I wrote an initial draft in 1994 while living at home after college and saving up money to move to Seattle. "Solstice" comes next, penned in 1997-98 while I was living in Seattle, working at a software company and playing tons of rec soccer. "Leaving L.A." is my latest completed novel, and was begun for NaNoWriMo 2009. Nothing like a challenge to get you writing!

Between 1998 and 2009, I wrote a couple of other novels that do not fall under the lesbian fiction umbrella. They may, however, be candidates for revision and publication at a later date. Currently I'm working on an LGBT-themed novel set in Scotland, where my grandfather, James Wallace Christie, was born in 1900. I traveled to Scotland a couple of times when I lived in London for a few months after college, and am hoping to go back again sometime soon.

Thanks for reading! If you'd like to get in touch, you can find me on Facebook or e-mail me at katechristie8 at gmail.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book July 17, 2011

By TerryB

Format:Paperback

It's 1991 and Camille Wallace, (Cam) is a soccer player on a scholarship at San Diego University. Life is good for Cam and her future looks bright. She is doing well, has lots of gay friends and a best friend, Holly, that she hangs out with when Holly isn't with her girlfriend Becca.
When Cam meets star tennis player, Jess Maxwell, she doesn't see anything beyond the possibility of friendship and that's only `maybe'. Over the course of time, Cam and Jess do become friends and Cam begins to fall in love with Jess, but doesn't think she stands a chance and keeps her feelings to herself. Cam is all too aware that Jess can be withdrawn and seemingly stand offish, but she has no idea that Jess is holding in a terrible secret. A secret that could completely destroy her life and everything she's worked for.
Meanwhile Cam and Jess go on being just good friends, concentrating on their respective soccer and tennis and studying together. With Cam still hankering after the seemingly untouchable Jess.
Their comfortable friendly existence takes a turn for the worse when Jess thinks that Cam is dating someone. Why is Jess so bothered about Cam dating someone? Will Jess listen to Cam's side of the story? Will Jess finally confide in Cam and tell her secret? What will happen to their friendship, let alone any chance of a relationship? Will Jess be able to come to terms with the past and let go of it to have a future?
Another winning title from Kate. A page turner from the very beginning. I loved the two main characters and there is some really lovely supporting characters that add to the story too. Although this book title is Beautiful Game and gives the impression it is all about soccer, it is not. The story revolves around soccer and tennis, but there is so much more to it.... Much more than a romance too. The character of Jess and the secret she is hiding has been written about with sensitivity and understanding in a totally acceptable and believable way. I have to admit, I'm not `into' sports, but I loved this book as the sports aspect is not overwhelming. Plus I could understand and relate to the descriptions of the games. So, don't let that put anyone off. There is plenty for sports fans too. A happy medium. Now, I have to ask, how long do I have to wait for your next book Kate? Read more ›

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Story to Savor July 21, 2011

By P. Sloss

Format:Paperback

I'm trying to find the right word to express how I felt as I read your book. I enjoyed it so much I was reading it slower than normal because I wanted to "savor" the words, the emotions and the feeling of living back in the 90's when letters were written, long distance bills existed and a flashing red light meant a message was left. A beautiful story. And I learned a little about soccer. Thank you for this wonderful story of Cam and Jess.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book! January 11, 2012

By Sara Lenise Atchison

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Beautiful Game was a great read! It is a book that fits a niche that had been missing from the lesbian fiction genre, lesbian life and sports. The book flowed well, the characters had great character development and you really get to know them. Like with Solstice, the book was great, and you miss the characters once you have finished reading the book. I bought the book and had it read in one day. If you are looking for a bit of coming of age, coming out, and remembering first loves, along with sports, and college life, this is the book for you. Kate Christie is a wonderful new writer, check out her other work Soltice as well, and Leaving L.A.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweet story December 30, 2011

By MJS

Format:Paperback

I enjoyed this story quite a bit, it's not as good as Leaving LA, but I'd still recommend it. Christie devotes ample time to building the relationship between Cam and Jess and also give the reader a nice glimpse into the life of a college athlete. I agree with P. Bigelow though, given how slow the relationship build up was, the end does seem a little rushed, but it's a minor quibble, it's still worth a read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Slow, sweet romance December 11, 2011

By Philologus

Format:Kindle Edition

This is a slow-paced (all good, as in slow food), sweet romance which gradually builds the relationship between two very likeable main characters. I liked the sports angle (soccer is my favourite sport - so that helped <s>). I didn't get the setting in 1991 and waited some time for "the revelation". This a good romance for anyone into romances.

4.0 out of 5 stars easy read March 12, 2013

By J. M. Walls

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

A story I could relate too. It was like I wrote it myself. Change the setting too the military isnstead of college and there ya have it.

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally! February 23, 2013

By Katie Pierce

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

a lesbian romance written in just one point of view! I'm so tired of going back and forth between characters and then being confused about which one is speaking. Most lesbian authors do this and I think it's because they have a very large imagination combined with a lack of decent writing skills. I also think it's because they rush. And if the story isn't written like that then it's usually in a bad excuse for third person. Only a certain people can pull off a good first person novel and it takes more that a few months of writing and a contract with Bold Strokes. I gave this book four stars because it was good but not great. It had so much potential but then it just felt like it ended abruptly. If she would just go a little easier on the sports descriptions and focus more on Jess and her problems then she would have had a GREAT novel. A novel worthy of a Barnes and Noble bookshelf instead of kindle ebook.

4.0 out of 5 stars Too cute! January 20, 2013

By M.McC

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

All in all, a fluffy read, but a thoroughly enjoyable one! I couldn't put it down. Characters were well created and engaging, and I was rooting for Cam from the very beginning. Yes, some of the plot points were not so subtle, and some of the "puzzle pieces" were immediately apparent, but I don't even care because this story was too damn adorable. I definitely recommend it. Also, a thumbs up to Kate Christie for her responsible treatment of a handful of very tricky topics.