Amber Kuhlman Thielman:Broken Play

MainCharacters

Grayce: Grayce is a determined and intelligent journalism student with a strong sense of justice. She has a complicated past, having been bullied in high school, which has made her wary of people like Jaxon. She is close to her best friend Alex and her mother, who both provide her with support and encouragement. Grayce's interactions with Jaxon start off rocky but evolve as she gets to know him better.

Jaxon: Jaxon is the star quarterback of the college football team, known for his good looks and womanizing ways. He has a complicated relationship with his parents, particularly his father, who was a former football player. Jaxon is initially focused solely on his football career and casual relationships, but his encounters with Grayce challenge his perspectives. He is close to his best friend Tyler, who often provides comic relief.

Development: Jaxon and Grayce's relationship begins with misunderstandings and tension. Grayce is assigned to cover Jaxon's story for the school paper, which forces them to interact more frequently. As they spend more time together, they begin to understand and appreciate each other's complexities. Their relationship evolves from animosity to mutual respect and eventually to a deeper emotional connection.

Main Themes

'Broken Play' explores themes of personal growth, redemption, and the impact of past experiences on present relationships. Through the interactions between Jaxon and Grayce, the novel highlights the importance of looking beyond first impressions and understanding the deeper motivations and struggles of others. It also addresses the challenges of balancing personal ambitions with emotional connections.

Hot Chapters

Chapter 1: Jaxon

It was almost noon. I lay in bed staring at the ceiling as still as possible, wondering if the blonde chick on my arm would wake up soon and leave. My shoulder was falling asleep under her head, and the pressure from her body made my hand tingle. I cleared my throat and shifted slightly, hoping to wake her, but she didn’t even stir.

Chapter 2: Grayce

A wise man by the name of Nelson Mandela once said, ‘To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.’ My pencil hovered over the notebook, and I stared at the page, tapping my foot to an internal rhythm, deep in thought. As I put the pencil back on the paper, our editor spoke again, pulling me back to reality.

Chapter 4: Grayce

The apartment Alex and I shared was a cozy two-bedroom place just a few blocks from campus. We’d been roommates since we’d been friends, every year for the last three, and we had yet to get sick of each other. That night when my classes ended, I headed home while Alex went to work at the local pub where she tended a bar to put herself through school.

Chapter 5: Jaxon

It was a frosty night, so cold that I saw my breath in the air as I stepped outside and into the damp, rainy darkness. In Denver, the entire city becomes an ice bath when fall approaches. The later it gets into the night, the colder it is. Why I’d agreed to stay in Denver after high school graduation was beyond me because a warmer climate like Miami or L.A. sounded vastly more welcoming right now.

Chapter 6: Jaxon

The door slammed as Grayce Something stormed from the room. She was practically seething, I could tell, and I tried my best to hold back a laugh. She was too sensitive, easily riled up, and it was funny as hell. She felt embarrassed about last night, that much was obvious, and for some twisted reason, I was getting quite the kick out of it.