Code of Conduct Kindle Edition

I really enjoyed the internal struggles they have and the journey that their relationship takes. It’s was well written and I felt fully emerged into the story. I highly recommend you check it out. This was my first book by Cheyenne Blue but certainly not the last.

One of those wet Sunday afternoon books, once you start you can't put it down. Very nice story, strong characters and a loving family, loved the brother. Would love to read a follow up.

As an avid tennis fan, I was especially intrigued when I read the blurb of “Code of Conduct,” Cheyenne Blue‘s latest book. A romance between an umpire and a player? I’ve read lesfic romance involving tennis before but….umpire?! No. And that’s refreshing! And I was especially excited to read it during Wimbledon!! I must say, reading this made me look at the umpires in a whole new light! I’m not ashamed to say that I’ve been trying to spot a potential “Gabriela” to pair up with a potential “Viva” out on the courts since Wimbledon started!! It’s been a much more fun experience watching the sport, I can tell ya that! Ta, Blue!

“Code of Conduct” is a forbidden love trope, obviously, because an umpire fraternising with a player could lead to potential match fixing possibilities of some such. But I was not aware of its severity and the consequences as a result until Blue so meticulously defined all the rules and guidelines that control the actions of officials and players, alike, presumably clearly stated in the Code of Conduct booklet. In other words, I learned so much from reading this book! Cheers, Blue! Anyway, back to the story…

From the first pages of the book, I was immediately captivated. Yup, it was a the Final match between Viva and her opponent, Paige. And let me tell you, Blue’s fantastic, detailed play-by-play account and vivid description of the strokes, the serves, the rallies, the hits, the misses, Viva’s internal monologue whilst gearing up before each serve was so intense, I felt like I was in Viva’s head, processing and experiencing the action with her! And I loved every minute of it, even the painful moments! And oh, nothing spices up a tennis match more than when a player misbehaves and starts hurling verbal abuses at the umpire on the court, does it? 😜 That poor lineswoman! Priceless! So naturally, it was a thrilling tennis match described merely in words but packed a punch! Fancy that! Wow. I was impressed. Well done, Blue! So, from there, I literally devoured the book in a mere short period of time, so fast I was surprised I was at the end of the book already before I could even settle fully in me comfy seat! No joke!

My favourite scene was the fated first meeting between Gabriela and Viva…out of nowhere, in scorching heat! I mean, talk about FATE, eh? It was hilarious. Oh, the awkwardness, the odd behaviour, the silence, and then it went on at the pub her folks owned! The noise in the pub, again, Blue deftly described the atmosphere, the smells, the different behaviours of its patrons, even in the kitchen, with such vivid detail, I thought I was seated in one of the crowded corners of the pub, watching all the hustle and bustle, feeling bad for Gabriela who looked like a deer caught in the headlights as she was literally thrown into the totally chaotic situation and left there to fend for herself! Poor thing! So very visual and audible were Blue’s presentation and characterisation of the entire scenario.

Ok, I LOVED Gabriela!! I loved her prim and proper, socially awkward persona who was a stickler for obeying the rules, no exceptions. I loved how she carried herself during uncomfortable or unfamiliar situations where she’d turned very rigid in her speech and her body language. Viva’s initial behaviour towards her was utterly contemptuous, much to Gabriela’s perplexity. But eventually, they cleared the air and so began their tentative friendship – enemies-to-friends scenario. As both these women got to know each other better, they realised their mutual attraction to each other. But Gabriela, being the consummate rule-abiding professional that she was, could not see herself dipping her toes into the romantic waters with Viva.

Blue did a brilliant job crafting Viva and Gabriela’s personal and professional predicament, their push-pull relationship, their growing feelings for each other that could not be acted upon, and how they each decided what to do about it. Obviously, things didn’t go as planned. In fact, it created so much betrayal, disappointment and anger as a result. This was the moment I was waiting for. I loved how Blue constructed the aftermath where she focused on the emotional struggle and sense of guilt in Viva’s point of view which was typical of her character. The same for Gabriela’s state of mind, which was true to the nature of her character.

I like the fact that Blue tackled one of the most important issues in a relationship. As equal partners. The issue of sacrifice vs. compromise. Could one’s well-being be more important than the other’s in a relationship? Blue effectively explored that in Gabriela and Viva’s journey. How would Gabriela and Viva figure out what’s truly important to each other? But love is a funny thing, innit? The strength and power of it. When tethered to the two affected souls, it can’t easily be erased. Not by a long shot. In the midst of such an impossible situation, how would Gabriela and Viva come to terms with it? Blue managed to weave their predicament effectively and I liked it. Read it to find out!

Meanwhile, there were some secondary characters who were a delight to explore, particularly Viva’s nemesis, Alina (albeit very brief but impactful – wouldn’t it be great if Blue decided to tell HER story, eh? Well, wishful thinking is what I’m good at! 😉), her brother, Jack, and the up-and-coming player, Jelena.

One thing worth mentioning is that Blue managed to delicately insert a veiled debate about the long-running issue of how the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the sponsors, The-Powers-That-Be (TPTB) who run the pro tennis circuit are still so against players being out without having to suffer the consequences of losing sponsorship, or discrimination. Blue’s presented this issue without taking any sides. The issue is just is. Unfortunate but a sad fact, nonetheless. I really appreciate Blue including this issue in her story.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed “Code of Conduct,” so much so that I didn’t even realise I finished it until I found myself unable to scroll down anymore! I was at the end! No more pages left to scroll! Whaa???! So, take that as proof that this book truly sails right through with an absorbing tale of forbidden love, filled with the good, the bad and the…ultimate sign ….Love. Wills. Out. 😏❤

Also, being a nerd that I am, I was so pleased to read about the rules and the protocols regulating the tennis officials, i.e. the code of conduct, the on and off-court dynamics between the players and the officials. I love it when I learn something from reading a book. And this one was no exception. I came away a little more informed and educated about the socio-politics of the sport. So, I thank you, Ms. Blue, for opening me eyes to all the intricacies involved in the behind-the-scenes of professional tennis.

Plus, all the heart-pounding excitement of the matches so vividly described you will feel like you’re actually watching them live! Not a moment of downtime. Blue spread out several different matches along with practice sessions throughout the book with equal zeal, describing the action sequences ever so vividly. The universe that Blue created in the world of tennis with all these characters felt very grounded to me. Hence, everything that happened in the book gravitated toward the natural flow of cause and effect, a sense of reality, so to speak.

Anyway, you will be fully entertained especially if you’re a tennis fan and love romance, and there’s nothing more intriguing and captivating than a tale of forbidden love between two women who couldn’t be more different from each other but…well, you can’t help who you fall in love with, can you? My favourite book by Ms. Blue, yet!! 👍

So, enjoy the ride! It was definitely a thrill for me, on and off the court! 🤟👍

Cheyenne Blue has a clear passion for tennis that comes across in her writing of those scenes that involve the game; lovers and fans of tennis will surely love them. I liked reading about tennis from the perspective of the umpire and linesperson since they are integral to the sport and yet do not share the limelight or fortune with the players. There is some humor in the story but overall it’s drama heavy so may not appeal to readers looking for light fluffy romance.

What I found most disappointing and frustrating was the relationship between Viva and Gabriela; it is clearly forbidden – something mentioned frequently in the book and could literally cost Gabriela her career - and yet their behavior is indiscreet time and again in a part of Australia where Viva is a recognizable celebrity. Viva comes across as selfish, her actions frequently contradicting her words, and I was curious to see how she would grow out of that and into a more worthy partner for someone like Gabriela; in my opinion her character development was minimal so she remained unlikable and juvenile from beginning to end. Rather than cheering for a relationship between them I kept wishing for Gabriela to find someone better, who respected her and with whom she could have a healthier relationship; despite being written as a strong and intelligent woman of integrity at the beginning of the book, her actions later on felt like those of a totally different person. The only relationships I did root for were those between secondary characters. The sex scenes are hot although not liking the pairing together outside of those moments made them bittersweet to read.

I’ve loved all of Cheyenne’s Blue books prior to this one and would recommend all of them ahead of this one. I hope her next book will be one I like more than Code of Conduct.

"Code of Conduct" by Cheyenne Blue follows Viva, a tennis pro, who has been injured and wants to win a championship before retirement. During one of her matches, she believes one of the line judges, Gabriela, makes a bad call. Months later, the two come into contact when Viva gives Gabriela a ride after her car breaks down. Viva is still resentful, but since the two are forced into close contact, they discover they are attracted to one another. The problem is that, per the code of conduct, relationships between players and judges are forbidden.

This book was an easy read, and I enjoyed learning more about tennis. I don't often read sports romances, so this was fun for a change. However, I didn't particularly care for Viva as a lead. I liked and understood Gabriela. She was focused, driven, and wanted to achieve her goal of reaching gold level. Viva was also driven to achieve her dream of winning a championship, but I felt she was more broody, self-centered, and careless. There was a lot of push and pull since their relationship is forbidden. I would have liked to have seen Viva grow more as a character. And I felt the end was a bit too pat. This was a decent read, but I prefer a few of Blue's other books more.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.