Tess Hamilton failed to plan. She thought her career as one of the world's top tennis players wouldn't end for years, she thought all the sponsorships would continue so money wasn't an issue, and she just never thought her body would fail her. But after surgery fails to get her back into playing shape, Tess is frantic not to let anyone know how desperate she is to avoid bankruptcy. Determined to put on a game face and snag a couple of sponsorships, she tackles the tennis world.

Aurora Favreaux, one of the founders of Glass Slipper, Inc., knows something is up with Tess and she helps by insisting that Tess coach a new teenage tennis star, Gabrielle Fontaine. Tess reluctantly agrees, never intending for the job to become permanent. Gaby is a little difficult, but even more trying is Gaby's over-protective older brother and manager, Max. He's definitely unsure that Gaby needs the influence of Tess -- who's been in the tabloids since she started hitting the big-time at age 15 -- and he knows he doesn't need someone like Tess in his life.

One of the goals of writing is to show the transformation of characters. Tess is definitely a character who needs transforming -- you have to dig rather deep to get to the kind heart buried under her smart-mouth, over-confident attitude. She's so busy putting on a façade that she's forgotten a lot of things she needs to remember, like kindness and caring for other people. Luckily, those qualities are inside of her and helping Gaby and facing up to her own dire financial situation means she starts making those changes.

But can she be the kind of woman that super-responsible Max could fall in love with? Lust, definitely. But love is a different matter.

This is a fun, high-spirited look at the cut-throat world of professional tennis. Watching Tess shed her rabble rouser image and move on to the next stage of her life is satisfying. As is watching Gaby enter the professional world protected by a loving brother. You'll root for all the characters, though it did take me a while into the book to become attached to Tess. A fun read! You'll enjoy Tess' snappy attitude.

Book Summary

Can a down-on-her-luck princess really have it all?

A whisper away from 30, gorgeous Tess Hamilton has been the tennis world’s top titleholder and celebrity since she won her first championship at fifteen. Now the headline-making party girl is getting her first taste of mortality–thanks to new teenage phenom Gabrielle Fontaine. But it’s Gaby’s cool, calm, and all-too-collected brother and manager, Max, who really has Tess seeing double. He’s the first man she can’t seem to seduce–or intimidate. It appears Tess is truly off her game, until a real-life, modern-day fairy godmother steps in.…

Aurora Favreaux, a founder of Glass Slipper, Inc., and an old family friend, has a plan to get Tess back on her stilettos, and it includes an unlikely meeting between Tess, Max, and Gaby at Glass Slipper’s new London headquarters–just in time for Wimbledon. It seems that Tess is going to hit the courts in a whole new way, to prove to the world–and herself–that a woman with the heart of a champion can ace life and love–even after the big 3-0.…