THE END GAME

By Michael Scott Clifton

Contemporary Sports Romance

Publisher: Independently Published

Publication Date: August 8, 2025

Synopsis

Eager to put his past behind him, Chris Cooper takes the head basketball job at Mayfield High School in Northeast Texas. Haunted by a history of rocky relationships, he’s surprised by the sparks his landlady, single mom, Jennie Sloan, ignites in him.

Despite trust issues from her own tumultuous past, something about the tall coach with emerald-green eyes makes Jennie believe in second chances. When her young son bonds with Cooper, the barriers Jennie built around her heart begin to crumble.

Excited about the raw potential of his team, Cooper is blindsided by Rocco Rawlings, the arrogant Head Football Coach and Athletic Director. The AD demands Cooper’s entire team play football. When Cooper refuses, Rawlings works to undermine the basketball program, and Cooper is forced to find inventive ways to succeed.

As the stakes rise on and off the court, Cooper and Jennie must contend with the demons of their past to protect the fragile flame they’ve lit, while Cooper’s scrappy team—fueled by grit, heart and a shared dream—might just defy the odds and reach the ultimate end game.

A state championship.

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Review

This book is Ted Lasso meets basketball. Except in this case, Coach Cooper knows all about basketball. It is the dedication and belief in his players despite the sports climate in Texas…aka football.

This novel is a departure from the author’s usual genre. But that doesn’t stop him from writing a knockout book that inspired me, made me laugh, and even had me in tears at the end.

Set in 1995, before the advent of social media and technology, Chris Cooper decides to uproot his life in Arkansas to coach a struggling basketball team in Mayfield, Texas. He has his work cut out for him because the athletic director is primarily focused on football and doesn’t care about any other sports. This is not an unusual sight in Texas. Due to the author’s experience and knowledge of the sport, the scenes and terminology are on point.

This book had me hooked from the very first page. In fact, I devoured the book in one day. While not totally unusual for me, this book inspired me. Chris Cooper found ways to motivate his players, build camaraderie, and the support from the various characters was inspiring. I think my favorite character was Julius. He was the janitor, but he was more than that. He loved basketball as much as Chris and wanted to see the team thrive. He offered pearls of wisdom, helped transform the old gym when the team was relegated there, and brought the community together around this fledgling team. He even provides insight into the athletic director, who is the antagonist in this story. Coach Rawlings is not one to be trifled with, but nothing he does deters Chris from his goal.

There is a romance between Chris and his landlady, Jennie. They have a rocky start due to the baggage they both carry, but I think that is what makes this relationship work. They recognize that neither is perfect, but honesty can bridge many gaps. This is not to say that they have a perfect relationship. That baggage does get in the way, but they learn to communicate with each other and move beyond their past and into a brighter future. I enjoyed watching the interactions between Chris and Josh. Jennie is protective of her son, but he needs another male role model. Josh loves basketball, and Chris teaches him more than just the game. It is about dedication and a love for the game.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the team players. This rag-tag group has grit and determination, but it sometimes needs to be reeled in. Several scenes made me laugh, and I felt a little sorry for Bruise because he is beyond clumsy, but he doesn’t let that stop him from enjoying the game. This group learns how to be a team and that they are capable of anything if they put their minds to it.

This is a book not to be missed. Grab it today! We give it 5 paws up.

About the Author

Journey into realms of magic and mystery

Michael Scott Clifton is a rapacious reader, gardener, and movie junkie. A resident of East Texas, he lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife, Melanie. A multi-award winning author, his books include The Treasure Hunt Club, The Janus Witch, and the Conquest of the Veil Series—The Open Portal, Escape From Wheel, A Witch’s Brew, and Cavern of the Veil Queen, and the award-wining Teen/YA novel, Edison Jones and the Anti-Grav Elevator. Pringle Prawn, an urban fantasy novel, is a 2024 Reader’s Favorite Book Award winner.

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