Love Match: Nelson Vs. Navratilova [Hardcover]

Sandra Faulkner (Author), Judy Nelson (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1993

Covering the affair between tennis star Martina Navratilova and her married lover, Judy Nelson, a chronicle of love gone wrong discusses how the two met, fell in love, and separated bitterly, resulting in a much-publicized palimony suit. 40,000 first printing.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This potentially juicy "kiss and tell" account fails miserably. The relationship and separation of tennis star and millionaire Martina Navratilova and former beauty queen and housewife Nelson is detailed after the fact by Nelson and her friend Faulkner, a sociologist. This could have been a revealing look at the financial legalities of palimony between two women in a state (Texas) that doesn't recognize nonmarital cohabitation, but it isn't. This also could have been an insightful portrayal of two complex women, one of whom is a world-famous athlete, but it isn't that, either. Even the most compelling question to readers--the dollar amount of the financial settlement--goes begging. Not recommended.
- J. Sara Paulk, Concord P.L., N.H.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Former Texas beauty-queen Nelson tells--as written by sociologist Faulkner--of her eight-year affair with tennis great Martina Navratilova, as well as of the pair's litigious breakup and eventual out-of-court settlement. Nelson (a ``latter-day Doris Day,'' according to Rita Mae Brown's foreword), mother of two and married for 17 years, was introduced to the Czech superstar in 1982 by Nelson's 11-year-old son, Eddie. Nelson and Navratilova met again in 1984, and the mutual attraction proved so great that Nelson consulted a psychiatrist. Even so, the tennis star moved in with the Nelson family while recovering from an injury. The details of what happened next aren't made clear, but Nelson's husband, increasingly aware of the pair's relationship, asked Navratilova to leave--and Nelson went with her, as her lover, traveling companion, and ``maid'' (Nelson later told 20/20's Barbara Walters that Navratilova paid her $90,000 a year for her services). The couple finally exchanged rings and vows in an empty church in Brisbane, Australia, and they later videotaped a ``nonmarital cohabitation agreement'' that became the focal point of the litigation when they split up. Since homosexuality is illegal in Texas, and a court cannot enforce a contract to perform an illegal act, all parties were on unsure ground during the legal battle. Nelson charged not only breach of contract but claimed that she was entitled to the same rights as any spouse: half of all earnings garnered during the marriage. Navratilova countered that she thought she was agreeing only to a 50-50 split of any joint business venture. The couple's businesses and real estate were divided up, but Nelson offers absolutely no details of the final agreement other than to note that her desire to write this book was one of the sticking points. Numerous questions go begging in the emotion-laden, self- serving text--making this hardly the work by which to judge Navratilova, the pair's relationship, or, for that matter, Nelson herself. (Illustrations) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 215 pages
• Publisher: Birch Lane Pr (May 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155972157X
• ISBN-13: 978-1559721578
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,165,094 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Kept Woman, April 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Love Match: Nelson Vs. Navratilova (Hardcover)

After reading this book what is clear is that Judy Nelson was basically a kept woman. The rich and famous can afford to do that...so long as they are rich and famous and their fragile egos are intact. And why is Nelson complaining? For 6 years she had an intimate relationship with a celebrity and lived a lavish lifestyle. But like many relationships it came to a abrupt end when Navratilova simply moved on to another girlfriend. That's life Nelson and it happens every day. Poetic justice for Nelson, who cheated on her husband Ed. Navratilova had an extended fling with Nelson and Nelson thought it was love.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Self Serving Tabloid Tell-all--A Scorned Wife Pity Party, February 6, 2003

By 

Paige Turner "Film Fanatic" (Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Love Match: Nelson Vs. Navratilova (Hardcover)

This is an interesting book, self-serving at times. It presents the relationship from Judy's point of view. The best part of the book is the Introduction by Rita Mae Brown--that is absolutely hilarious, but insightful. I kept reading her introduction over and over.
Presenting the printed version of-- THS: Judy Nelson. Judy tells of her childhood, being Maid of Cotton, her first marriage to her rich doctor hubby who was cheating on her with one of his nurses, and how she met Martina. She discusses their years together, but the bulk of the book is on Judy's "galimony" suit against Martina and the ensuing brouhaha and media circus. Judy, as Martina's wife, felt she deserved half of Martina's earnings and property gained during their time together. The book gets rather tiresome at times; Nelson tries very hard to convince the reader to side with her. She really wants your sympathy, so she pours it on thick, carefully omitting or playing down all the expensive gifts and jewelry and perks Martina showered upon her during their relationship.
You can see her point about why she went after Martina after their breakup, yet the book is so one-sided, you ache to hear Martina's side of the story as well. I don't think we will get that chance, as Martina does not care to stoop to Judy's level. For an insightful view of Judy and Martina, and of their galimony battle, read Rita Mae Brown's "Rita Will." It gives a thoughtful, yet hilarious account of Rita's involvement as mediator in the Martina/Judy battle. And Rita's accurate portrait of Judy is a scream--she describes Judy as a person "whose hair gets ruined by a ceiling fan" and other witty, caustic observations that are most unflattering. Rita Mae's insights helps you to understand Judy's book even better. All in all, Judy's book is an interesting read when you don't feel like taxing your brain.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Soulless dribble, February 22, 2007

By 

Zart "a reader" (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Match: Nelson Vs. Navratilova (Hardcover)

If Faulkner/Nelson team isn't embarrassed by this collaboration they must be members of the walking dead. Shameful, hoohah about nothing. Absolutely purposeless. At .01¢ it is over priced. I found my copy at the local library discard bin... now I know why. The genuinely talented Rita Mae Brown did herself a huge disservice letting her name appear on the cover. It only served to make her own self indulgent Martina catharsis "Sudden Death" seem like a mercy killing by associating her name with this garbage.