Stick the Landing

August 1, 2020

Topher Caldwell may be retired from figure skating, but he's convinced his expertise would make him the perfect on-air commentator. All he needs is a foot in with the network. When they ask him to join the Summer Olympics coverage in Madrid to work on some features, he jumps at the chance. Considered the best male gymnast in the world, Jake Mirakovitch has a bad habit of choking on the international stage, and he's terrified it's about to happen again. Topher is asked to cover the men's gymnastics practice, and he meets Jake during an interview. Although they come from two different sports, they share the knowledge of what it means to bear the burden of success and that life must go on after retirement. Jake knows he should focus on work and not pursue anything with Topher, but the attraction is instant. As Jake and Topher keep bumping into each other, both by accident and, later, on purpose, Jake starts to wonder if a distraction is exactly what he needs. VERDICT McMurray's return to the "Elite Athletes" series (after Here Comes the Flood) is a welcome one, with a sweet and sexy love story nestled among a solid sports tale. Although it would've paired perfectly with the Beijing Games, this remains a great book for summer and will have staying power in the buildup to the 2021 Olympic Games.--Kellie Tilton, Univ. of Cincinnati, Blue Ash

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