THE RETURN PLAY (Oleander Springs 1) by Mariah Dietz-a review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 12, 2022.

Oleander Springs, North Carolina was my second home, but my first love.

The humid days and warm nights provided the perfect backdrop for discovering the magical bliss that comes without expectations or routines. Secrets with my best friend, Hudson McKinley, were shared. sewn together with promises, one summer after another.

I never thought we’d grow up and grow apart.

Now four years later, I’m back in Oleander Springs out of obligation, convinced nothing could be the way I remembered. My first sight of Hudson confirms it. He’s no longer a gangly boy who barely reaches my brow but several inches taller than me, built like Thor, and the starting quarterback of the Knights.

As I focus on how much has changed, Hudson is determined to prove that not everything is different, including the quick smiles, ease, and banter we’ve always shared. Only now, the jokes and innuendos keep pushing the limits of our … friendship, dipping into honesty and an attraction that has me forgetting why I returned to Oleander Springs.

A temporary return.

Now the end of summer is looming and I don’t know if I can leave.
Or if I dare to stay.

Three months, one book of records, and a lifelong friendship is about to prove the ultimate sacrifice.

••••••

REVIEW: THE RETURN PLAY is the first instalment in Mariah Dietz’s contemporary, new adult OLEANDER SPRINGS erotic, romance series. This is twenty year old college football players Hudson McKinley, and eighteen year old Evelyn Watts’ story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Hudson and Evelyn) THE RETURN PLAY follows in the aftermath of Evelyn Watts walking away from a volleyball scholarship at New Mexico State, in the wake of verbal abuse and burn out at the hands of her coach. Needing time to herself, and away from the family that is quickly spiraling out of control, Evelyn heads to Oleander Springs, North Carolina, her home away from home, where she will reconnect with the people from her past. Enter twenty year old, college football player Hudson McKinley, and the man with whom Evelyn will fall in love. What ensues is the rebuilding friendships, and relationship between Evelyn and Hudson, and the potential fall out when Hudson sees red, and pushes Evelyn out of his life.

Evelyn Watts’ homelife is struggling to survive, and when she quits the volleyball team, the reality of her family slowly unravels. In an effort to regroup and reconsider her options for the future, Evelyn heads to Oleander Springs, to a place where innocence and first love were all that mattered. Hudson McKinley never forgot about the young girl that had stolen his heart but Evelyn is struggling with a direction in life, and Hudson is hoping to convince Evelyn Oleander Springs is her final destination.

The relationship between Hudson and Evelyn is one of second chances, of a sorts. A rekindling friendship that slowly blossoms into love, a love that is threatened when Hudson is unable to forgive and forget. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

As this is the introductory story line, we are introduced to several secondary and supporting characters including Hudson’s family, friends and teammates: Nolan Payne, Greyson Meyers, and Corey Bishop; Hudson’s brother Griffin;, and their divorced parents; Mila Atwool, as well as Evelyn’s embattled parents, her brother Shane, her great Aunt Pat, and Evelyn’s friend at home Trinity.

THE RETURN PLAY is a slow building, lengthy story of friendships, relationships, family and love- the author is building the back story for several upcoming instalments therefore not all of the focus was on our story line couple. The premise is engaging and interesting but the conflict is mostly limited to the behind the scenes dysfunctional family problems; the characters are charismatic and flirty; the romance is seductive.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy