Break Point

Love takes on multiple meanings in this historical romance set against the amateur tennis scene of 1937-1938. Helen Wheeler and Meike von Bismarck used to be partners on the court as well as in the bedroom, but it couldn't last forever. Now Meike is being coerced by the German government to act as the face of Aryan athletic superiority, while Helen is being blackmailed by the CIA to reconnect with her old friend and report on any Nazi sympathies. They rekindle their romance even as they face each other across the net in competitions around the world. But with dark events on the horizon, they may not have the time or security they need. Wallace (Love's Bounty) captures the spirit of the time, from the changing attitudes of the Great Depression, to the terrifying oppression of the Third Reich, working in real events and people to construct a vibrant setting. The romance is strong, with Helen's butch nature and penchant for suits playing well against Meike's more femme, refined personality. The abrupt ending comes almost as an anticlimax after such an enjoyable buildup. (Oct.)