Team Spirit – review (AD)
I was kindly given an advanced electronic copy of Team Spirit by R J Gould in exchange for an honest review*.
Team Spirit book blurb
Everything seems straightforward enough when an agreement is reached for the tennis club to hold social events at the nearby Dream Café while the clubhouse is being rebuilt.
When the current chairman is forced to resign, Laurie, his young and inexperienced deputy, is left in charge, accepting the role on condition that the attractive Helen is prepared to support him as the new deputy.
The pair face an unprecedented run of challenges. The builder is failing to deliver on time. A player’s dubious line calls are infuriating opponents.
The WhatsApp group has become a hotbed of salacious gossip. A middle-aged flirt is offending the young female members. And poor behaviour at the Dream Café is threatening the agreement.
Helen and Laurie are struggling to cope, though tennis club problems are a distant second for Helen as she attempts to start a relationship with Laurie.
She’s sure he also wants that but something major is going on in his life to prevent progress.
What is that something and can it be overcome?
Team Spirit is the fourth stand-alone novel in the ‘at the Dream Café’ series.
My overall thoughts on Team Spirit
Having thoroughly enjoyed Nothing Man, Dream Café, Darren, Andrew and Mrs Hall, and The American Woman from the ‘at the Dream Café’ series I was looking forward to getting stuck into Team Spirit.
Although this book can be enjoyed as a stand-alone, returning readers like me will appreciate catching up with some of the familiar faces while meeting intriguing new characters.
The reign of Oliver and Stephanie Kilroy as chair and co-chair of the tennis club has reached its tumultuous end.
As the Kilroys fight tooth and nail to maintain their positions, the club members realise that change is necessary for the greater good.
Enter Laurie and Helen, late twenty-somethings with a latent attraction for each other, poised to shake things up.
Helen, a promising cellist on the cusp of fame, and Laurie, a dedicated scientist researching cures for serious illnesses, make for an interesting duo.
Meanwhile, the barrister duo, Oliver and Stephanie, bring their courtroom tensions home, adding to the drama.
Adding to the mix, Bridget and David have been approached to host club meetings and after-match teas at the Dream Café.
The story unfolds with the club in uproar as Oliver’s affairs and bribery scandal erupt on the club’s WhatsApp group just before the pivotal AGM, where he aims to be re-elected.
Stephanie, however, has other plans, leading to chaos at the meeting.
Laurie and Helen step in to take control amidst the upheaval, sparking a potential romance against a backdrop of constant challenges and intrigue.
The character dynamics are the heart of this cosy, slice-of-life story set in a London suburb and the interactions and relationships among the diverse cast, from the self-assured Oliver and his combative wife Stephanie to the endearing Laurie and Helen, are richly depicted.
Laurie and Helen’s evolving relationship, from platonic friends to potential lovers, adds a layer of romantic tension, while the Kilroys’ domestic disputes and professional maneuverings provide ample drama.
Gould’s writing is engaging and often humorous, capturing the essence of the tennis club’s internal politics and the personal lives of its members.
The book balances light-hearted moments with poignant reflections on human nature and relationships.
And as with the other books in this series, the various subplots, including the building work at the clubhouse and the fair-play issues among players, are woven seamlessly into the narrative, keeping readers hooked.
Team Spirit is a delightful read, filled with humor, drama, and romance.
It’s a testament to Gould’s skill in creating a vivid world with relatable characters and situations.
With just under 300 pages, Team Spirit is a relatively quick read that leaves a lasting impression. I
t’s a book that brings a smile to your face and might even change your perspective on genteel tennis clubs.
Gould’s ability to infuse humor and warmth into his storytelling ensures that readers will be left with a sense of satisfaction and a reminder to seize the day.
A huge thank you as always to Richard for writing such wonderful books and inviting us readers into this brilliant little slice of London that he’s created and for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
About the author
Richard writes under the pseudonym R J Gould and is a (rare male) member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association (RNA).
His first novel was shortlisted for the Joan Hessayon Award following his participation on the RNA New Writers’ Scheme.
Having been published by Headline Access and Lume Books, he now self-publishes.
He writes contemporary literary fiction about relationships, loosely though not prescriptively within the Romance genre, using both humour and pathos to describe the tragi-comic journeys of his protagonists in search of love.
Dream Café is his sixth novel, following The Engagement Party, Jack and Jill Went Downhill, Mid-life follies, The bench by Cromer beach and Nothing Man. [It is a rewrite of A Street Café Named Desire].
Ahead of writing full time, Richard led a national educational charity.
He has been published in a wide range of educational journals, national newspapers and magazines and is the co-author of a major work on educating able young people.
He lives in Cambridge, England.
Follow R J Gould
Website: www.rjgould.info
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*Disclaimer
This review has been written with 100% honesty.
I was not financially compensated for this post. I was given a copy of this book for review purposes. The opinions expressed in this post are completely my own based on my own experience.
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