Playing by Heart

Back Cover

Lula Bowman has finally achieved her dream:  a teaching position and a scholarship to continue her college education in mathematics.  But then a shocking phone call from her sister, Jewel, changes everything.

With a heavy heart, Lula returns to her Oklahoma hometown to do right by her sister, but the only teaching job available in Dunn is combination music instructor/basketball coach.  Lula doesn’t even consider those real subjects!

Determined to prove herself, Lula commits to covering the job for the rest of the school year.  Reluctantly, she turns to the boys’ coach, Chet, to learn the newfangled game of basketball.  Chet is handsome and single, but Lula has no plans to fall for a local boy.  She’s returning to college and her scholarship as soon as she gets Jewel back on her feet.

However, the more time she spends around Jewel’s family, the girls’ basketball team, music classes, and Chet, the more Lula comes to realize what she’s given up in her single-minded pursuit of degree after degree.  God is working on her heart, and her future is starting to look a lot different than she’d expected.

Review

Numbers-loving, predictable Lula Bowman had plans – she had the whole map of her life figured out and no one was going to veer her off path.  But, as Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps”, and Lula’s world was about to be shaken up in a big way.  Tossed into a world of music and ball-playing, Lula has to jump out of her comfort zone and onto the basketball court, learning as she goes.  At least she has Chet, a cute basketball coach to ask for assistance!  

Chet doesn’t know what to make of Lula – unlike previous female teachers, Lula isn’t falling all over herself trying to get his attention.  In fact, she tries to avoid him as much as possible.  Finding her incredibly intriguing, Chet sets out to get to know Lula better – both on and off the court.

This was a sweet, and at times equally fun and serious, historical romance by Anne Mateer.  Values of faith, family, and love are held in high esteem as the characters learn what should be most important in their lives.  I also enjoyed seeing the growth in Lula's character and faith over the course of the novel.  What an encouraging reminder that Christ never changes and He truly is the solid rock upon which we stand!  While a tad slower-paced than what I'm used to, this novel is still an all around good read.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.