Winning Ruby Heart

August 1, 2014

Five years ago, middle-distance runner "America's Darling" Ruby Heart won Olympic gold only to have it stripped from her, along with her reputation and her ability to compete, when she was found guilty of blood doping. Now, with some restrictions lifted, Ruby is quietly beginning to run again--and then Micah Blackwell, the superstar quarterback-turned-paraplegic reporter who covered her original scandal, spots Ruby at an event and decides that she and her story are his ticket to a network anchor job. But neither of our protagonists plans on the attraction that simmers between them--or its almost disastrous results. VERDICT Edgy, steamy, and thought provoking, this story of two driven, self-centered athletes who have a lot to work through is, despite the convenient resolution, a compelling and rewarding read. A Romance Writers of America (RWA) Librarian of the Year, Lohmann (A Promise for the Baby) lives in Durham, NC.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 15, 2014
Ruby Heart can run, but she can't hide. Reporter Micah Blackwell is positive that one of the runners competing in the ultramarathon he is covering for National Sports Network is former Olympic gold medal winner Ruby. Five years earlier, Ruby was forced to return her medal and was banned from competition after she was caught blood doping. Micah's interview with Ruby afterwards turned her from America's sweetheart to the Tonya Harding of running. An old sports injury has relegated Micah to a wheelchair, but if he can convince Ruby to give him another interview, it could lock in his chances of winning an anchor position at NSN. In order to do this, however, he needs to find out exactly what makes Ruby run. Librarian and author Lohmann, a Romance Writers of America Librarian of the Year, has written a remarkable story of a heroine who refuses to let her past mistakes define her future. Lohmann's realistically flawed characters and emotionally compelling plot will resonate with readers who cherish such groundbreaking contemporary romances as Rio Grande Wedding by Ruth Wind (2011), Barefoot in the Grass by Judith Arnold (2010), and Kathleen Korbel's A Soldier's Heart (1994).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)