Author, James Ross, takes us back to Prairie Winds Golf Course in East St. Louis for his latest novel, Opur’s Blade. For those of you who have read Ross’ earlier releases, Lifetime Loser, Finish Line and Tuey’s Course, you will feel like you are reconnecting with friends in the clubhouse.

J Dub Schroeder, the golf pro at Prairie Winds is back and at the center of things as he discovers a raw golf talent in a young boy named Owen Purler, Jr. This young boy arrives at J Dub’s golf course with his mother, who is seeking to show her son another side of life. Owen’s father is a long hauler and is absent from his son’s life most of the time. He is also not keen on having Owen getting involved in a game they obviously can’t afford.

Turns out though that Owen is quite the golf prodigy and J Dub becomes a somewhat surrogate father helping Opur (as he is nicknamed by the regulars at the golf course) not only refine his golf skills but also to navigate through life and the trauma that he faces early on. Opur falls in love with the game and with the characters that are part of his new family at the course and needs both of them to deal with his tragedies.

The moment I started reading this book I didn’t want to put it down. At the beginning there is more focus on life, passion, sex and dealing with real family issues. Once Opur goes off on his own and finds himself qualifying for the BIGGEST tournament in golf, the story gets heavily into golf and what is happening on the course at the tournament.

Maybe there is too much detail about the hole-by-hole play but Ross does continue to weave valuable lessons throughout the back and forth conversations with Opur and J Dub who is serving as his caddy at the event. All in all you know there is a major struggle going on inside the ropes and inside Opur’s head. The ending was not what I expected at all and I am not sure I liked the ending. What I do know is I want a sequel to this novel sooner rather than later to help me pick up the pieces and get some closure.

Recommendation: Good read even for the non-golfer.

Thanks for visiting Ladies on the Tee at www.sherrytabb.com. Please read the book and let us know what YOU think!!

Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided free by the Author for me to read and review. This review is totally my opinion and is not influenced by the ‘gift’ of the book.

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