Keeping Score

Brooklyn Monarchs #3

by Regina Hart

To be a pro b-ball champion takes endless drive and passion. But being a winner on the court can often mean losing off the court. . .

He's an NBA legend, considered the best of the best. Now veteran player Warrick Evans is determined to lead his team all the way to the championship. It's his last shot before he retires, but the media can't get enough of his story--and all the attention is turning his teammates against him, not to mention his wife. . .

Dr. Marilyn Devry-Evans has always stood by her man, even when it meant standing in his shadow. Now she wants to focus on her own career, and on scoring her own dream job. But with the spotlight bearing down on them, Marilyn is reaching her breaking point. Especially when a secret comes to light--one that could destroy not only her career, but her marriage. . .

Praise for Regina Hart

"Sexy, fun, and fast-paced. . .a slam dunk!" --Kate Angell on Fast Break

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, African American Romance, Basketball

368 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Regina Hart is the contemporary romance pseudonym of award-winning author Patricia Sargeant.

Regina’s contemporary romances feature the franchise members and friends of the Brooklyn Monarchs, a fictitious National Basketball Association team set in Brooklyn, New York.

In addition to Patricia Sargeant’s various pastimes and hobbies, Regina loves football, basketball and track-and-field—college as well as pros. Her favorite teams are the New York Knicks, New York Jets, New York Giants, Syracuse Orangemen and the West Virginia Mountaineers.

Regina and Patricia love chatting with readers. You can contact both at [email protected].

Reviews

[Reshemah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of basketball and a good romance story. The Brooklyn Monarchs Trilogy gives you a little bit of both. Keeping Score is the story of Warrick Evans and his wife Dr. Mary Devry-Evans. Since the Monarchs have turned their season around and are making a run for the title, Warrick is becoming a superstar and his wife Mary is not liking all the media attention so it is putting a strain on their marriage. Regina Hart did an awesome job with the whole series. Pick up the first book, Fast Break and watch the drama of an NBA team unfold.

[Shaquaila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished the series today and enjoy it. Rick and Mary had a unstoppable love. Poor Rick went through so much, as mush as he helped everybody. Mary friend Emma needed her a$$ kicked Hater! I glad the got through it all.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thiught it was a good read. I have a tendency to dislike weak women and Mary (Marilyn) gave me that impression. I would fight tooth and nail to keep my man and wouldn't be intimidated by anyone, not even the Media. She finally realized she had a good man when he left and it seemed as her world was falling down around her. She put on her big girl panties and did what needed to be she proved she loved him and would fight to keep him. All in all the series was a good read.

[Whit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Between the deceitful and intrusive media/reporters, their jealous friends, their crazy, overbearing parents and their back-stabbing co-workers, NBA all star, Warrick and his OB-GYN wife, doctor Marilyn, just can't seem to catch a break! And the madness is destroying their marriage. Will all of the nonsense cause them to give up and simply walk away?

[African Americans on the Move Book Club · Rating 5 out of 5]

KEEPING SCORE IS AN ENTICING SPIN ON CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE WITH SPORTS AND THE NBA IMPLEMENTED INTO THE STORYLINE. IN THIS BOOK YOU BECOME EMERGED IN THE LIVES OF NBA LEGEND FOR THE NEW-YORK MONARCHS WARRICK EVANS AKA RICK AND HIS WIFE MARYLIN-DEVRY EVANS A PRACTICING OBSTETRICIAN. THIS BOOK TAKES YOU ON A JOURNEY AND ACCURATELY DEPICTS WITH LIFE IS ACTUALLY LIKE BEING MARRIED TO A PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL PLAYER AND AN NBA LEGEND. IN BETWEEN THE PRESS, CAMERA CREWS, BLOGS, REPORTERS, THE LIFESTYLE OF WARRICK EVANS TAKES ITS TOLL ON MARILYN’S AND HIS MARRIAGE. THEY BOTH ARE CAUGHT IN-BETWEEN ROCKS IN HARD PLACES .WARRICK IS STEADILY LOSING GAMES AND NOT PLAYING UP TO HIS FULL POTENTIAL IS MAKING FANS ANGRY AND DISAPPOINTED. THEY ARE BLAMING HIS WIFE MARILYN FOR HIS POOR PERFORMANCES IN THE COURT ALSO, MARYLIN’S COWORKERS AT THE HOSPITAL SHE WORKS AT ARE BASHING HER SAYING SHE DOESN’T SUPPORT THE MONRACHS ENOUGH NOR DOES SHE SUPPORT HER HUSBAND. DISTRESSED AND TIRED OF LIVING HER LIFE ON PUBLIC DISPLAY AND DEALING WITH BLOGS, PRESSURES OF PARENTS, FRIENDS, CLIENTS ETC. MARILYN IS FORCED TO MAKE A TUFF DECISIONS WITHER TO STAY MARRIED TO HER HUSBAND OR LEAVE. WITH PRESSURE AND STRAIN ON THEIR MARRIAGE FROM VARIOUS PRESS, MEDIA, FRIENDS AND FAMILY. WILL THERE LOVE WITHSTAND THE HARSH BLOWS OF BEING A CELEBRITY COUPLE? WILL WARRICK WIN THE NBA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP AND GET HIS RING. WILL HE EVEN GET A CHANCE TO LEAD THE NEW-YORK MONRACHS TO VICTORY AND WIN THE BIG EASTERN CONFERENCE? WILL HE KEEP HIS SCORES WITH THE NBA AND HIS MARRIAGE? WILL HE GET ONE RING AND LOSE ANOTHER? FIND OUT IN KEEPING SCORE AT FAST PACED CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE WITH A NBA SPIN. I LOVED THIS BOOK IT REALLY MADE ME FEEL AS IF I WAS AT AN NBA GAME THE SPORTS LOGO WAS EASY TO FOLLOW IT WAS ALSO, VERY VIVID. THE ONLY THING I DISLIKE ABOUT THE BOOK WAS TO CONSTANT USE OF NICKNAMES SUCH AS MARY MARILYN FOR SHORT AND RICK WARRICK FOR SHORT IT WAS CONFUSING IN THE BEGINNING. REGINA HART DEFIANTLY KNOWS HOW TO WEAVE A ROMANCE NOVEL THAT IS UNIQUE AND IS AND INSTANT CLASSIC. THIS IS MY FIRST BOOK I’VE READ BY HER, BUT IT WON’T BE MY LAST.

Lynn Bailey
AAMBC Reviewer

[Rhea Alexis M Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW....this is an awesome read!!

As I consumed Keeping Score....I smiled, I laughed out loud, I was rooting, I was angry as hell, I was literally sitting on the edge of the seat, I was shocked, I was disappointed and even confused among other emotions. JUST WOW!!!! This was an awesome read and one of the best things is during the game scenes, I WAS THERE!!

Regina Hart did a fabulous job of tell the story of Warrick and Marilyn Evans while expounding on the quest for the NBA championship for the New York Monarchs. Warrick and Marilyn Evans' marriage was challenged by the media, fans and others issues that his fame brought into their lives. Couple this with controlling parents, belittling parents, jealousy and doubt then you had an extreme mixture of stress, pressure, anger and tiredness.

As one gets lost in this story, we take that ride both good and bad with them. We experience a range of emotions while waiting on the next "what's next." Bravo Regina, I am looking forward to another addition to the Love 'N Hoop series :-)

[Annette Williams · Rating 1 out of 5]

I cannot express how bad this book was. It was just stupid. The storyline was stupid and Mary Evans was equally stupid. She was an extremely dislikable character. She whined about Rick being a public figure and having their privacy invaded the entire freakin’ book! Who the hell marries a basketball player and NOT expect those things?!!!! It comes with the damn territory! She left the man because, she claimed she couldn’t handle his newfound celebrity and he spent the entire book begging her to come back until he finally had enough of her BS and left. The fact that she couldn’t understand why he wanted a championship ring just pissed me off. No female should be that clueless. Not even a made up one. Ugh! They were the most annoying book couple ever. I am so happy to be done with this series. I can say I read it and NEVER do it again.

[Jessica Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A 3.5 for me. It was a mix of being really frustrated with what I was reading (to the point I considered stopping) and wanting to see how it turned out.

The story itself was intriguing. But a lot of the individual elements were irksome. I'm not famous, have never been famous and probably never will be but the way the media was portrayed seemed a little farfetched...the inconsistencies between what the characters thought and what they said...Marilyn seemed quite naive and Warrick drove me crazy with his stubborn over-humility. I was glad when he finally did something about Marilyn's skittishness instead of continuing to plead his case when he'd done nothing wrong. And don't get me started on their parents and Emma.

I'll say, though, that the ending was satisfying.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was slow to me. I thought the wife was naive and non supportive and held the relationship in the balance too long. Some parts seemed unrealistic. Not too sure I will read the other books in the series.

[The_Book_Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wavering between 3 1/2 and 4 STARS

[Brandi Ahonsi]

I had no interest in finishing this book. It didn't capture my interest at all.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the love story in this novel and thought the troubles between Mary and Rick were well portrayed and nicely resolved.

The secondary female characters really frustrated me. I wanted Mary to have a friend who told her to follow her heart and that everyone else can go hang themselves. Emma was supposed to have been that person, and the wasn't. I think the Monarch Wives were supposed to have become those women, but I never felt like Mary actually liked them--just that they understood better what it was like to be the wife of someone famous.

I'll track down her Hart's other books.

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

[BW Diva · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good read ....I'm glad Mary got it together with Rick & seen how he really did love her....

[Sharon Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Series!

Wonderful romance story! Rick and Mary were determined to prove their marriage was not a mistake no matter who was against them. This series is a must read!

[ShayBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this series I think Book 1 and this one was the best in the series. I look forward to reading more by this author.