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Tuesday, March 13, 2018

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW: Rounding Third - A Baseball Anthology





Baseball is a game built on the number nine.

Nine innings of play.
Nine fielding positions.
Nine batters in a starting lineup.

Now, America’s favorite pastime can add another lucky number nine to the list.

Nine indie authors bring you nine unique stories filled with romance and baseball. Get ready to round third base, slide into home and fall in love.


***All proceeds from this anthology will go directly to the 10 Books a Home project! 10 Books a Home is an early education tutoring nonprofit that serves low-income preschoolers and their parents.**


EXTRA INNINGS BY CONNOR WRIGHT

When Deacon Callahan asked his wife Lily to marry him when they were eighteen years old, he only wanted three things: Lily by his side forever, a career in professional baseball and a family. Now at twenty-eight, he’s a veteran in the league.

He and Lily are married, but they haven’t been able to conceive and the stress has put a strain on their marriage that’s making it crumble. When Lily Callahan said 'yes' to Deacon all those years ago, she couldn't wait to spend her life by his side, cheering him on and raising their family. But she didn't count on not being able to have children. And she didn't count on always coming in second to baseball.

Deacon is rarely ever home and when they are together, they're just going through the motions. Lily is fed up and ready to call it quits when a surprise rocks her world.
Can Deacon show Lily that she's number one in his life before it’s too late? Can they save their relationship? Or are they just waiting for the clock to run out on their happily ever after?



SLIDING HOME BY LYNSEY M. STEWART

I was flying high with the Florida Falcons until an injury completely changed my life. Playing baseball had been my dream since I was a kid and, America couldn’t get enough of the Brit who’d made it to the big leagues. The game was my world, but suddenly I couldn't do it anymore. I was bored. I was frustrated. So I filled the void.

Sex was an easy answer for a pro ball player with an English accent, and soon my misdemeanors were splashed across the tabloids. Now I was a bad joke, a sleazy internet meme, a washed-up third-baseman who enjoyed playing with women more than playing the game.

I was given an ultimatum: go home to England and turn things around, or face being dropped. My reputation had been knocked out of the park for the final time. I needed a lifeline.

And then she showed up. An obstacle in my path struggling with a suitcase.

Jess tempted me before I’d even left the States. But there was something more. She intrigued me. Could the actress with the knockout smile help turn my life around?

I offered her a business arrangement she couldn’t refuse. No complications. No distractions. What could possibly go wrong?



WILD PITCH BY KATHRYN NOLAN
(See review below)

I wanted to tell their story.
Cash and Sawyer.
Best friends.
Ball players.
A force to be reckoned with.

I interviewed them for months, documenting their rookie year. On the field and in the locker room. On long, dusty bus rides and hotel bars. In the throes of victory and during crushing defeat.

And I learned that Cash and Sawyer were more than what they seemed.

Because I watched them. Watched the myriad of glances that passed between them every day. Filthy grins and sly winks.
Touches that lingered.

And then one day... they touched me.




THE CHANGE-UP BY MAREN LEE
(See review below)

Clay “Mo” Morrison is a phenomenal pitcher. He has been since he was a kid. He received national attention when he lead his team to victory over Japan in the Little League World Series and has been lighting up the mound ever since. At only 22 years old, baseball has been his life for nearly all of it. Now he wants a ring that comes with the real World Series and a woman on his arm to celebrate with.

Samantha Young is a single mom working two jobs. At 32 years old, she certainly didn’t see herself working in retail and waitressing to make ends meet. But here she is. She has her parents to help her with her five-year-old son, but otherwise, she’s tired and alone.

When Clay walks into Samantha’s life, she has no clue who he is. She just knows she’s insanely attracted to him. She's stubborn; he’s persistent. She's gun-shy; he's ready to pull the trigger. She's suddenly feeling much her age and he's so very, very young. When decisions must be made, can they handle the change-up?




IN MY LEAGUE BY KELSEY KINGSLEY

As a teacher, unemployed or not, Mackenzie Hanson hates jocks. She’s dealt with them all her life and she knows a cliché is a cliché for a reason. Dumb, loud and obnoxious, she’s never been attracted to that kind of guy.

But when her brother lands his dream job as the mascot for Maine’s Portland Plovers, she meets Brett Culver. The former star shortstop for the NYGulls may be a jock but he’s not at all dumb. He’s dreamy and dedicated to proving to her there’s more to him than meets the eye.

With biting banter and a heated attraction, can Brett convince Mackenzie to give him a chance or will he strike out with the gorgeous girl that’s stolen his heart?



CURVEBALL BY DEE ELLIS
(See review below)

Riley Roland is just here to play a game.

Get paid some and get laid some. His recent trade to the St. Paul Sluggers is breathing life back into his career. Posing for billboards to sling sportswear isn’t in his job description, though. Unless mouthy, curvy Ashland wants to get him out of his uniform. Ashland Burke is fed up with men and their huge...egos.

Being a woman running a sportswear company is never easy. When her company lands hotshot pitcher Riley Roland as their fresh face, she isn’t excited about the ego that comes with the deal. Ashland doesn’t care how hot he looks in her clothes...or out of them.

They clash from day one but they both have a job to do.

Ashland is not about to let Riley see how he rattles her.

Riley is not ready for a curveball like Ashland.



RED STITCH BY S. COLE

Pitch black.

My life is consumed by a darkness.

One chance encounter shifted my entire life.

I’m plagued by nightmares and sightings of a girl that I have never actually met.

A girl who may not be real, even if her brown eyes are a permanent piece of my memory.

Life is looking up as I move to Atlanta to pitch for the Peaches, fulfilling my childhood dreams.

The nightmares ease. My team embraces me.

And then I see her face.

Atley Fate.

Only this time, there’s not a doubt she is real.

Atley is not who I thought she’d be and I don’t know if I can survive becoming a pawn in this Fate’s game.



SAFE BY JESS BRYANT
(See review below)

Trevor Thorne has always played it safe.

He’s a ballplayer.

The game has had his heart and soul since he was just a kid. He learned early on that living in the testosterone fueled world of baseball meant living a lie. He couldn’t afford to be openly gay, not when he had his whole career ahead of him. But his days behind the plate are numbered and he’s tired, so damn tired of hiding who he is and it’s becoming more and more difficult to deny himself what, and who, he wants.
Rodrigo Cruz is the opposite of safe. He’s young, ballsy and bold. Out and proud, Cruz has never shied away from going after what he wants. He wants a career as a big league ballplayer and he wants it on his own terms. No hiding his sexuality or his past but also no throwing himself at his beautiful, blue-eyed bunkmate.

Not even if he suspects Trevor isn’t quite as straight as he claims. Crossing that line, testing that theory, it could put his entire career at risk.

If he swings for the fences and strikes out, he’ll always be that guy in the locker room that can’t keep it in his pants. But what if he’s right and they’re more than just teammates.

What if they’re soulmates?



CLUTCH BY TARRAH ANDERS

Def: [kluhch] - Adjective: Good performance under pressure when good performance really matters. done or accomplished in a critical situation, dependable in crucial situations.

Being the Ultimate Fan is quite the title.

Would I say that I am?

No. I just got lucky with my new job and my boss not having a kid or the time to be the Ultimate Fan.

So, here I am, about to meet Gunnar “The Gun” Reynolds. The overly gorgeous catcher for the San Diego Hornets. The known playboy and all American good guy. I’ll act indifferent. I’m not a baseball fan after all. Who am I kidding, I’m a sucker and he sucked me right in. Only now, there’s a media backlash, spreading lies and Gunnar seems to care less… or does he?




My Review

I received an advanced copy of this book with the promise of an honest review. 

I love baseball, so an anthology about baseball players is right up my alley. The cool thing about this anthology is the fun little little rating system they have going on. The more flaming baseballs, the steamier the book. And believe me when I say there is something for everyone. Below are some quick thoughts on the stories I had a chance to read.

Safe by Jess Bryant

I’m going to call this one a friends (aka teammates) to lovers story and I absolutely LOVED IT. When Trevor and Rodrigo finally give in to their feeling for each other...get that cold shower ready! 

Full disclosure: I got this ARC to read Jess’ story. I’m a big fan and have been waiting for this one for a while. It’s just a bonus that I had a chance to read some of the others and discover some new authors.


Wild Pitch by Kathryn Nolan

Kathryn is a new to me author and I haven’t read too many threesome stories, but when I saw this synopsis I just knew I had to read it. And OH. MY. GOD. This story is smoking hot. Not to mention friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes and this short story is that, x1,000,000.


The Change-Up by Maren Lee


Let’s hear it for the older woman/younger man trope! Holla! As I get older, I get super excited when I see this trope in books. Especially when it is done in a not creepy way! In this book we have the guy doing the chasing and he had to pull out all the stops to get his lady. It is a sweet and sexy story and I was left wanting more of them!


Curveball by Dee Ellis
Since this an anthology of short stories, things have to move pretty fast for everyone to get their HEA. From the moment Riley and Ashland met. they practically melted my e-reader. These two had crazy chemistry and this is another one where I want more of their story. 

Oh who am I kidding! I want more from ALL the characters in this anthology. Hi, my name is Kim and I have a hard time letting go.  ;-) 

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