The wrong Mr. Darcy /

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

In Evelyn Lozada and Holly Lorincz's lightly inspired Pride and Prejudice romantic comedy, two unlikely people discover the error of judging by first impressions and the beauty of family, friendship and love. This book will entice you through the last page.

Hara Isari has big ambitions and they won't be sidetracked by her mother's insisting that she settle down soon. She dreams of leaving her small-town newspaper behind, as well as her felon father, and building a career as a sports writer, so when she is chosen to exclusively interview a basketball superstar, she jumps at the chance. It's time to show the bigwigs what she's truly made of.

At the same time, she meets a rookie on the rise, Derek Darcy. Darcy is incredibly handsome, obnoxiously proud, and has a major chip on his shoulder. Hara can't think of a man more arrogant and infuriating. However, fate keeps bringing them together--from locker rooms to elegant parties, to the storm of the century--and what begins as a clash might just be more complicated than Hara anticipated. When she begins to see Darcy in a new light, Hara is not quite sure if she should drop the ball or play the love game.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Library Journal Review

Reporter Hara Isari is determined to make a name for herself covering sports at a major news outlet, but it's hard for a woman to break into the field. When she has the opportunity to interview one of the biggest names in professional basketball, she jumps at the chance to show that she can keep up. Unfortunately, talking to Charles Butler also means spending time around Derek Darcy, his teammate and best friend, who, while admittedly handsome, is the most unpleasant person Hara has ever met. When Hara accidentally overhears that Charles is hiding a dark secret that could endanger his career and the team, she and Derek struggle to reconcile their attraction to one another with Hara's journalistic ambition and Derek's need to protect his best friend. Readers attracted to the cheery cover may be surprised by the heavy themes that surface late in the book. VERDICT Those hoping for a contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice will likely be disappointed, as any similarities to Jane Austen's classic novel distract from the story rather than add depth. Fans of sports romance in which twists and drama abound may find it more enjoyable, though at times the plot feels overstuffed as threads and story lines appear suddenly or are left dangling without conclusion.--Jessica Moore, Milwaukee P.L.

Publishers Weekly Review

Lozada, star of the Basketball Wives reality TV show, and coauthor Lörincz (who previously collaborated with Lozada on The Perfect Date) loosely reimagine Pride and Prejudice as a sporty, multicultural romance with a surprising amount of edge. Hara Isari is determined to make it as a sportswriter. Derek Darcy, a professional basketball player in Boston, spent his rookie season sidelined after an injury. He's now ready to get back in the game when he hears a troubling secret about his best friend and teammate Charles Butler. When Hara wins a national writing award, the prize is an exclusive interview with media-shy Charles, who brings Derek along. At the interview, Derek criticizes her for her softball questions, all of which had to be approved by the team's hostile owner. Hara and Derek's first impressions of each other are just as disastrous as Austen fans will expect, but they grow closer as Hara attempts to dig out Charles's secret. The authors bring the lively plot to an unexpected, explosive finish, but the occasionally stilted prose keeps the tale from fully taking off. Still, the basketball angle is an inventive spin on a favorite story. This is sure to delight fans of sports romance. (June)

Booklist Review

As the only biracial child in her small town, Hara Isari is familiar with the feeling of being different. When she was in middle school, her father was convicted of running an illegal sports betting organization. Untested professionally at 22, Hara is working for the local paper with the goal of landing her dream job as a sports reporter, when she wins a writing competition. The prize is an exclusive interview with the unpredictable basketball superstar Charles Butler. Will this be her big break, or a big mess? Hara's reflections on her racial identity, how she feels as though she always needs to explain herself, and her pursuit of a career path made difficult for women make for added elements of interest. Family relationships and friendships are also rendered with depth, and the unfolding drama keeps the pages turning. The inside glimpse of the athletes' personal lives feels authentic, possibly reflecting reality-TV star Lozada's own experiences as portrayed on Basketball Lives. Lozada and coauthor Lörincz further add appeal with nodding references to Pride and Prejudice in this smart and sexy contemporary romance.

Kirkus Book Review

A sports reporter from Portland, Oregon, travels to Boston for the interview of a lifetime. Hara Isari works at a small city newspaper. She recently submitted an article to a contest for sports reporters, hoping to gain a broader audience for her work. When she wins the contest, Hara's prize is the opportunity to fly to Boston to interview Charles Butler, star player for the Boston Fishers professional basketball team. Once she lands in Boston, Hara meets Derek Darcy, another Fishers player and one of Charles' closest friends. Although there is sexual chemistry between Hara and Derek, the ingrained distrust between professional athletes and reporters keeps them at a distance. However, as a series of implausible events throws them together, Hara and Derek realize their animosity might truly be attraction. The novel is full of huge, meaty plot events: bribery and gambling; winter storms and flooding; secret girlfriends and broken friendships. However, most of these storylines are nonsensical or poorly developed, and none of it deepens the relationship between Hara and Derek. Hara is ostensibly a trained reporter, but she misses a huge story right under her nose until Derek inexplicably blurts it all out to her and then swears her to secrecy. Characters are thinly developed; for instance, Derek and Hara are each disappointed in their parents, but there is very little detail about what makes them tick as adults. Despite the title, the connections to Pride and Prejudice are meager and likely to disappoint readers looking for a stronger Austen connection. Fails to deliver a coherent plot or satisfying central romance. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

EVELYN LOZADA , is a high-profile American-Latina reality television personality, entrepreneur, author and philanthropist. She is best known for her role on VH1's hit series Basketball Wives (2010-present), OWN's hit series Livin' Lozada (2015), author of the first installment of the book series: The Wives Association: Inner Circle (2012) and creator of Healthy Boricua (A Puerto Rican Lifestyle Guide to Healthy Living). Evelyn has become a national trendsetter, a "go to" fitness export, jewelry designer, fashion and beauty maven, social media royalty and a stimulating voice and proactive supporter of causes that effect women and girls through the Evelyn Lozada Foundation . Evelyn is a Bronx native, mother of two (Shaniece Hairston and Carl Leo Crawford) that currently resides in Los Angeles.

Holly Lörincz is a successful collaborative writer and owner of Lorincz Literary Services. She is an award-winning novelist (S mart Mouth , The Everything Girl ) and co-author (best-selling Crown Heights , and How to Survive a Day in Prison ) living in Oregon.