The Games [Paperback]

Patricia McLinn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2006

In sixteen days, medals can be won and hearts can be lost . . . Tessa Rutledge, once an Olympic champion figure skater, returns to the Games as a coach, encountering her first love and only heartbreak and testing her ability to forgive. Alpine skier Kyle Armstrong has made a terrible mistake that could cost her a shot at Olympic gold as well as any hope of reconciling with the man she loves. Biathlete Rikki Lodge thinks she's just happy to be at the Games, until she meets a hockey player who demands that she do what she's never done before: put it all on the line. Let The Games begin! "A gold-medal winner" Christine Brennan, USA Today sports columnist "Patricia McLinn wins gold with this sparkling romance" Carla Neggers, NYT bestselling author "The Games accurately portrays the emotional roller coaster an athlete rides in pursuit of Olympic glory" Michael Weiss, U.S.Olympic figure skater and three-time U.S. Men's Champion

Editorial Reviews

Review

"If the aim of THE GAMES is to give readers a vicarious Olympic experience that is lively, entertaining, and emotionally satisfying, it hit its mark dead center."    
--Romance Reviews Today

Product Details

• Paperback: 324 pages
• Publisher: Delphi Books (January 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976518511
• ISBN-13: 978-0976518518
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,724,593 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

My readers say my books are "warm and witty", "down to earth", "poignant", with characters who "live and breathe" and "hit the sweet spot" of "laughter and tears."

I hope you'll find all that in reading the e-books I'm now offering through Kindle and www.AWritersWork.com

As for me, I had a great Midwestern childhood, though I did run away from home once - heading for Hollywood. Alas, Dairy Queen came before the train station, seriously depleting capital. Otherwise I surely would have been the only Oscar-winning screenplay writer under ten.

Instead, I followed the normal education track: BA and MSJ from Northwestern. Not quite as normal (especially way back then), I became a sports writer. It's great training for writing - dialogue, character, motivation, conflict, goals. All that went into my Winter Olympic-set "gold-medal winner" THE GAMES (www.patriciamclinn.com/games2010): Medals can be won, careers can be made, hearts can be lost in the sixteen days of the Winter Olympics.

Plus, I didn't have to get up early.

After being a sports writer for the Rockford (Ill.) Register Star and assistant sports editor at the Charlotte (N.C.) Observer, I moved to the Washington Post. That's when I started writing novels -- it all has to do with dried wallpaper paste. (For the full story, see www.PatriciaMcLinn.com)

A couple decades there and 25 books published, and I headed back to the Midwest to write full-time and enjoy the unfolding twists and turns of my plotline.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional - Emotionally Charged - A Winner, January 1, 2006

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Games (Paperback)

The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat! For many of us those words conjure up the opening scene of the commercials for the Olympic games, but for me, they will certainly invoke memories of Patricia McLinn's newest emotionally charged romance THE GAMES.

McLinn has brilliantly put together a multiple cast of lively characters from Amy, the youngest, looking for her first touch of glory; to Tess, her coach, whose memories of past glory held bittersweet feelings of betrayal; and Andrei who looked for forgiveness from the one woman he could never forget. Some were strangers to one another but in the end, Rikki, Lanny, Kyle, Nan, Rob; all found and were strengthened by the bond of friendships that grew during the competition.

Whether athlete or spectator you will find THE GAMES to be a wonderfully emotional rollercoaster ride of human drama in a behind the scenes look at the Olympics. Written with invigorating, breathtaking passion, I found myself jumping up and cheering for the wins, and sobbing out loud during the defeats. While the behind look at the competition was fabulous, I certainly don't want to overlook mentioning the sensual romance aspect that will also have you cheering, sighing, and all choked up throughout this wonderfully compelling read. This is an exceptional read, a winner worthy of the gold, and one I highly recommend!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As thrilling as the real thing, February 9, 2006

By 

Jane Myers Perrine (TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Games (Paperback)

I was holding on to my copy of Patricia McLinn's book THE GAMES to read next week while the Olympics are on. However, I glanced at the first page and couldn't stop. This is an exciting story about three athletes and their friends/loves. By the end, I was so hooked I hoped every one of them would win a gold medal.

I also learned a lot about the Olympics, the events and scoring. Fascinating stuff.

You'll love this book anytime you read it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it!, February 3, 2006

By 

Patricia Lewin "Author" (Outside Dallas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Games (Paperback)

Whether you're a fan of the Olympics or not you'll love this book.

Interesting characters, a pace that will keep you turning the pages, and great writing, all set against the fascinating background of the Winter olympics. Before, after, and during THE GAMES in Italy, is a great time to read this book. I simply loved it.