Tuesday, February 28, 2017

RELEASE BLITZ for Catch and Release by Laura Drewry & GIVEAWAY




Title: Catch and Release
Series: Fishing for Trouble #3
Author: Laura Drewry
Publisher: Loveswept
Genre: Small Town Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 28, 2017



Blurb

The irresistible O'Donnell brothers return in a charming novel from the bestselling author of Off the Hook ("The perfect balance of sweet, sexy, and wonderfully romantic."—Lauren Layne)
Hope Seaver is an up-and-coming TV producer tackling the hardest gig of her career: a reality show set at the Buoys, a scenic fishing destination owned by three handsome, stubborn brothers. Liam and Finn O'Donnell are willing to tolerate her crew for the sake of the business, but Ronan would rather chew off a limb than open up on camera. Somehow Hope has to convince him of her good intentions-and stop herself from swooning every time Ronan walks into the frame.

Ronan knows that he's the reason his brothers gave up their old lives to run the Buoys, and he needs to make it worth their while. So if this out-of-towner with the kind eyes and dazzling smile wants to give them the free publicity they desperately need, Ronan can't say no. He just won't let himself get burned again by a double-dealing woman. But what if Hope's good-girl routine isn't an act? When Ronan lets his guard down long enough to catch a glimpse of the real Hope, he likes what he sees-enough to give love another shot.







Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK



Excerpt

Hope shook Finn's and Liam's hands, smiling all the while as she consciously focused on maintaining slow easy breaths. No problem.

You got this.

And then she turned to greet Ronan. From the photos in the Hooked files, she'd cataloged every detail about him—about all of them—so deep in her brain that she could have described him perfectly even with her eyes closed.

From the green eyes, to the single freckle in the middle of his left cheek, to the three lines creasing his forehead. From the way he wore his thick brown hair just short enough that he probably only combed it with his fingers, to the way he stood a good inch or so taller than both of his brothers, and the way he always wore his watch on his right wrist. And, yeah, okay, she'd noticed the way his shoulders and biceps stretched the fabric of his T-shirts. Like it was doing now. Whatever. The point was, none of this was new to her; she knew all of it and more.

And yet not a single one of those details, nor any of the others she'd stored up, prepared her for the real Ronan O'Donnell—for the way his eyes weren't just green but a soft mossy color that looked at her with something more like surprise than the blatant anger she'd expected; for the way his strong handshake, hesitant as it was, somehow infused a bit of strength in her; and for how much actual space he took up.

Sure, she could have chalked up the crowding to the number of people on the dock or to the fact that the low-lying clouds made the whole cove feel socked in, but the fact was, Ronan James O'Donnell had a physical presence that was a little intimidating, a little daunting. Or at least it was right up until he spoke.

"Hope." Ronan nodded slightly as he released her hand. "Good to meet you."

It was silly to think he'd yell all the time, but it wasn't until he spoke her name that she realized that's exactly what she'd expected, exactly what she'd prepared herself for. It had to be why the deep warm timbre of his voice caught her off guard and sent crazy flutterings racing through her blood until she shivered them out as goosebumps.

Nerves, that's all it was. Or maybe relief. She'd prepared herself to meet the loud, angry Ronan and she'd shored up her will to deal with that, to be on the defensive right from the get-go. But now . . . now she could relax a little, right?

Yeah, right. He might not be yelling, but suspicion lingered in his eyes, and if this was going to work, she'd need to find a way to get him to trust her. She needed all of them to trust her, to believe she was the one they could count on, the one who'd protect their interests while providing the network with a ratings winner. She needed to show the O'Donnells they had absolutely nothing to worry about.

Nothing except for the fact that she'd never been the one in charge before, she'd never done this on her own, and one wrong move would no doubt bring the whole show to a screeching halt, putting herself, Kevin, and Chuck out of work.

But other than that . . . yeah . . . no worries.

"Thanks," she said, pushing what she hoped looked like a bright, confident smile. "Good to meet you, too."

She tucked the straps of her bag high on up on her shoulder, then set in to help off-load the rest of the bags and equipment. Once everything was stacked on the dock, the pilot didn't hang around; he just locked up the hold, climbed back inside the cockpit, and waved as Kevin untied the plane and shoved it away from the dock.

It took a bit of juggling, but once they'd stored some of the gear on Finn's boat and everyone was loaded down with the rest of the bags, Liam led them all up the dock toward the lodge. Kevin walked next to him, followed by Finn and Chuck, which left Hope to pull up the rear with Ronan.

"Here." Shifting the bags he already had, he reached for one of hers, but Hope shook her head.

"It's okay," she said. "I got it. Thanks."

The bags were freakin' heavy, and the drizzle was making the hard-plastic handles slippery, but she needed Ronan and everyone else at the Buoys to believe she was fully capable, not some ridiculous delicate flower who couldn't handle things. And while the rational side of her brain knew that carrying bags had absolutely nothing to do with how well she did her job, it was the principle of the matter.

So onward she trudged, and even though the rest of them were already well ahead, Ronan stayed with her, walking in silence, and looking very much as if he'd rather be getting his chest waxed. It couldn't have been more than a couple of hundred meters from the dock to the stairs, but it felt like miles, especially with neither of them saying anything.

Come on, Hope. You've read everything there is to read on this place-you know its specs, you know its history, you even know how many fish they caught last season. Say something! Anything. Talk about the weather, for God's sake.

"Did you know that Texas horned toads can shoot blood out of the corners of their eyes?"



Also Available


AMAZON US / UK



AMAZON US / UK



Author Bio


USA Today bestselling author LAURA DREWRY started out writing poetry - unbelievably bad poetry - which hopefully will never again see the light of day. With that behind her, she now writes contemporary and historical romance novels with characters who aren't perfect, who aren't always nice, and who tend to be a little (or a lot) on the sarcastic side. Born and raised in British Columbia, Laura spent eight years in the Canadian north where she learned important life lessons like how to get your bananas from the grocery store to your car without them freezing and turning black in the -40C temperatures. She now lives back home in southwestern BC with her husband, three sons, a turtle, two crazy dogs, a handful of chickens, and about thirty thousand bees. She loves old tattered books, movies, music, the New York Yankees, and cheesecake. Lots of cheesecake.



Author Links

Girl in Trouble (An Alex Mercer Thriller Book 1) by Stacy Claflin

Kindle Edition, 317 pages
Published February 15th 2017


He gave up his daughter years ago, but now he’ll risk his life to save hers. 

Alex Mercer is no stranger to kidnappings. The emotional scars still run deep from his sister’s disappearance years earlier. His daughter Ariana remains safe long after her adoption, and he cherishes the few times a year he gets to see her. The joy is palpable when he takes her on their first one-on-one outing. At least until he pauses to answer a text and Ariana disappears… 

Wracked with guilt and determined to find answers, Alex teams up with an unlikely ally at the police department. As the clues reveal a pattern of missing girls, the kidnapping case becomes a race against time to save Ariana. What cost is Alex willing to pay to keep his daughter alive?
 

Girl in Trouble is the first book in a series of thrilling stand-alone novels spun off from the USA Today bestselling Gone Trilogy. If you like heart-pounding suspense, page-turning action, and characters you’ll never forget, then you’ll love Stacy Claflin’s engrossing new series.
 

Read Girl in Trouble today!

My Thoughts…

The Gone Trilogy by Stacy Claflin was my introduction to her now to find out that she is continuing that series with a spin off series is incredible.    Girl in Trouble is definitely a standalone story but the characters will be familiar to those have read her Gone Series.  

Girl in Trouble starts with Alex, Macy, and Zoey all grown up.  Living lives, working, and getting by.   Alex and Zoey had a child together and gave her to Zoey’s parents to raise.   Macy is married to Luke (sigh, I loved Luke) and living life after her kidnapping.     The unthinkable happens and Ariana, Alex and Zoey’s daughter, is kidnapped.   

I cannot even imagine.   Living through a kidnapping once is enough but to have to do it again is truly a nightmare.     Stacy Claflin held nothing back.    She portrayed the characters as they would be in real life.   The public crucifies Alex for “letting” his daughter get kidnapped and jumps at ever thing he does to prove that he is the bad guy.     Zoey blames Alex but deep down understands that it happens and is not really anyone’s fault.   It was interesting to see how involved the police let Alex get.    I am not sure this is true to life but for this story it worked wonderfully.   

The clues were there, if you choose to follow them you could probably almost figure out who took Ariana.   Yet, the ending will through you for a loop.     Definitely pick up a copy and be sure to go back and read the Gone Series also. 

Book Links
Goodreads   |   Amazon   |   iTunes   |   Kobo   |   Google Play   |   Barnes and Noble








Monday, February 27, 2017

Remembrance by Heather Hildenbrand

Remembrance is now available and I'm so excited to bring you this story!

This is a spin-off of my Dirty Blood series and while it's more fun to come in already knowing a bit about these characters, you do NOT have to read Dirty Blood first. You can just jump in here!

heart-lines-remembrance-hhildenbrand_v25
She’s the cure that could save him. If only she could remember how.

Two years ago, 20 year-old Samantha Knight experienced a life-altering trauma. Unfortunately, she can’t remember what it was. Previously outgoing, fun, and carefree—it’s as if someone flipped a switch on Sam’s insides. Now, she’s afraid of everything, socially awkward, and convinced she’s going crazy. As Beyonce would say, she woke up like this. Sam tries her best to juggle college classes, work, and the nosiest roommate ever, but behind the curtain, Sam’s life is all about keeping a firm grip on her own mind. And life is kicking her ass.


Alex Channing has only one enemy in this world: werewolves. Born and raised to fight in the supernatural military, he has become an expert at hunting and killing rabid werewolves. But when Alex is bitten and infected, he finds himself racing against a ticking clock for his own survival.

Alex’s search for a cure leads him finally to an oracle in a seaside town in California. And she gives him the reading of a lifetime. The key to his cure is a girl who forgets things, cries spontaneously, and might just be insane. And the only way she can save him is to do the one thing Alex knows is impossible: she has to remember.

Book 1 in the anticipated Heart Lines series, a spin-off of the bestselling Dirty Blood series. Note: you do NOT have to read Dirty Blood first. You can start here!



My Thoughts…

I am so excited… Heather Hildenbrand has a new series and it is amazing!     Remembrance is a paranormal NA story.      It is a tad toward the YA side but I have a feeling this series will be heating up in the next book.    

Alex is dying.   He has been bitten by a werewolf and is infected.  Only one person can save him but she cannot remember that she could save him.    That is a lot of pressure for one person.   Samantha is that person.    She is living a scared life.    Everything frightens her, she is living only a partial life and doesn’t even realize it.       I love that the minute they meet there are feelings.     I had no doubt that there was a connection of some sort between them.    I was intrigued to find out how they would work together.    Would they become romantic?  Would she remember what had happen in her past?   

I believe that Remembrance is the start of a great series and I cannot wait for more.     Definitely check out Remembrance.  

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34218173-remembrance
Amazon US: http://bit.ly/1RememUS



Unstrung by Laura Spinella

Even as a violin prodigy, Olivia Klein courted trouble. But when her marriage to high-stakes investor Rob Van Doren takes another wrong turn, Olivia acts out once too often. A night of bad behavior results in community service hours. Time is to be served with Theo McAdams, an inner-city teacher whose passion for music eclipses Olivia’s. As she inches toward a better place, life surprises Olivia in the form of her first husband—baseball legend Sam Nash.

Years ago, Olivia fell in love with Sam. Their impulsive marriage imploded with a fateful car crash and harsh parting words. Olivia never expected to see him again. But now Sam is back, and he wants her forgiveness. He also wants to recapture their volatile love affair. Olivia is torn between rekindling romance and saving her marriage. To her surprise, it’s the presence of the young music teacher—and the lessons from a reckless past—that may bring harmony to Olivia’s off-key life.

My Thoughts...

Laura Spinella wrote an amazing story about Olivia, a brilliantly talented violinist who struggles to embrace her talent.    Olivia has some anger issues, mostly brought on by husband’s misuse of their money.    The book starts with Olivia in court for destroying Rob’s, her husband, Porsche with a baseball bat.      As the story continues we learn more about her history and the reasons for her anger and pain.     While this does not excuse her behavior it gives cause for it. 

The story has so many twists and turns that it keeps the reader on the edge of their seats.     There is people from Olivia’s past that come back to visit, a person she has kept a secret from everyone, and her odd mother who does not seem to support her at all.     Add to that her husband who pushes her trust with his secrets and her best friend, lawyer, who also keeps secrets.      It may sound like there is too much going on, but this story is perfect and wonderful.      

Unstrung is a story of a women’s journey to find her true self.     I highly recommend this book.   

Purchase Links





Laura Spinella is the author of the #1 Kindle bestseller Ghost Gifts, soon to be a trilogy. Book two is coming in 2017! In addition to her latest work, Unstrung, she’s penned the award-winning novels Beautiful Disaster and Perfect Timing. She also writes romantic suspense, featuring the Clairmont Series Novels, under the pen name L. J. Wilson. Spinella currently lives in the Boston area with her family, where she can always be found writing her next novel. She loves to hear from readers; visit her at www.lauraspinella.net and www.ljwilson.com. 

Saturday, February 25, 2017

Lovers at Heart by Melissa Foster AUDIOBOOK

Lovers at Heart: Love in Bloom: 

The Bradens, Book 1

  • Written by: Melissa Foster
  • Narrated by: B. J. Harrison
  • Length: 9 hrs and 22 mins 
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Release Date:11-18-14
  • Publisher: World Literary Press




  • My Thoughts...
  • Treat Braden is a wealthy resort owner whose life got turned upside down when Max Armstrong walked into his resort 6 months ago. After making a mistake in assuming she has a one night stand while staying at his resort, he is now going home to try to get over her.

    Max Armstrong has a great career but has never needed or wanted a man as she wants Treat. When she returns home she decides that she does not need a man and goes about her life trying to forget the man she met in Nassau.

    At the festival Max and Treat run into each other and they realize that the feelings are there. But what are they going to do about it?

    This is the fourth book in the Love in Bloom series. The story of Max and Treat was exactly what I was hoping for at the end of the last book, Sisters in Love. The sparks flew and the romance was hot but there were true feelings and lots of respect between these two. The respect and care that Treat shows Max made me in awe. I want a man like that. Every woman should. Of course, Melissa Foster added in some extremely steamy scenes and I love her for it.

    I dreamed of Treat. I have to admit I have a little of a crush on him. This is a book that any romance chic lit lover has to read. As a matter of fact they should he back and read the whole series.

  • Audible Link HERE
  • Purchase Lovers at Heart
  • Amazon   |   Smashwords   |  Goodreads   |   Barnes and Noble

Friday, February 24, 2017

Sweet Lake: A Novel (Sweet Lake #1) by Christine Nolfi

Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: February 28th 2017 by Lake Union Publishing
Linnie Wayfair knows just how many people are counting on her. But knowing doesn’t make doing any easier.

Everyone in Sweet Lake, Ohio, wants her to muster all her business sense and return the Wayfair Inn to its former glory. Her parents hope she’ll forgive her scoundrel of a brother and reconcile the family. The eccentric Sweet Lake Sirens want her to open the inn—and her heart—to new possibilities. And her hilarious lifelong friends Jada and Cat are dropping none-too-subtle hints for her to ignite a romance with Daniel Kettering, the sexy attorney who’s been pining for her for years…

Now a shocking turn of events will open old wounds and upend the world Linnie has carefully built. She has to make changes quickly—and the results, though not entirely what she expected, might be what she’s been yearning for all along.

My Thoughts…

There were so many wonderful characters.    Most were very likable some were not so likable.   Yet even those who were not likable were interesting.      Linnie, Jada, and Cat were working hard to keep Linnie’s family inn open.   It seemed that with every good thing that happen something else happen to counter it.  

Linnie’s brother, Freddie, comes to town and throws everything in an upheaval.   He is selfish, rude, and undeserving of anyone’s forgiveness.    I felt like he was never held responsible for his actions and the problems those actions caused.    He was not likable but he was Linnie’s brother so she still cared about him.    I liked that Linnie did not just give up on him.    He forced her to push him to be responsible or at least take some blame for his actions.   While Freddie was not a “good guy” he wasn’t all bad and he did make Linnie stand up for herself and push to get what she deserves from her family.

My favorite character was Daniel.      The feelings between Linnie and him were a big part to the story.   While keeping a big secret, he still kept Linnies best interest in mind.       He went beyond what was expected of a friend and lawyer to help Linnie keep the inn open and get what she deserved.   The relationship between these two was sweet.   It was an easy, no pressure friendship with an undertone of more than that.     Daniel knew he couldn’t push too hard but that he had to nudge Linnie in the right direction.  

I recommend picking up your own copy of Sweet Lake.   

Book Links

Author Links


Thursday, February 23, 2017

Where Do Dreams Come From? by Kim Delgado



About the Book:

Title: WHERE DO DREAMS COME FROM?
Author: Kim Delgado
Publisher: KDNovelties
Pages: 44
Genre: Personalized Children’s Picture Book

A magical story that will satisfy even the most curious child and expand their imagination about Dream Land, the place where dreams are made. After all, what child wouldn’t love to know "Where Do Dreams Come From?” 

In this magical adventure, your child’s imagination takes them on a visit to Dream Land where they see how dreams are made. They learn about the "Dream Machine" and the fairies that work very hard to make sure that happy dreams are delivered to children around the world. This is the perfect bedtime story to expand your child’s imagination, encourage reading and instill pleasant dreams!

Voted Mom’s Choice Book of the Year Award and featured at the Book Expo NYC at the Jacob Javits Center.


My Thoughts...

The first thing I noticed about this book is the bright, vibrant colors.    They popped from the page and caught my attention immediately.    I knew that when I read this to my nephew he would love it. The fact that it was personalized with my nephews name, his hometown, his best friends, and his favorite game just added to the fun.    
  

I had this book personalized for my 1 year old nephew.     It was fun to read about characters that he recognized the names of and the game he loved to play.      He pointed at the pictures, talked to the characters, and couldn't wait to turn the page to see what would happen next. 


I highly recommend ordering your own personalized copy of Where Do Dreams Come From?.  Your child will be so thrilled to hear you read it and will request it daily. 

   

About the Author

Kim Delgado is owner of KD Novelties an independent publisher of personalized children's books. She has written several award winning children's books and has gotten featured in several publications. 

When she is not busy writing books or running her publishing company, you can find her tutoring children who struggle with reading in her local school district. She is also a board member and serves in her local soup kitchen feeding the homeless and families in need. 

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK


FOR MORE INFORMATION:


Book Excerpt:
It was a beautiful sunny morning in (child’s hometown).  (Child’s name) woke up with a big smile on his/her face because he/she had such a wonderful dream.  (Child’s Name) had a dream about playing their favorite game, with (friends/relative).

As (child’s name) got ready to begin their day, he/she thought, hmm… I wonder where dreams come from? He/She tried to think of the answer, long and hard, but could not think of where dreams came from.  Then (child’s name) got excited – he/she was sure (parents or loved one) would know the answer.  (Child’s name) couldn’t wait to see (parents or loved one) so she could ask.



 



Wednesday, February 22, 2017

I See You by Clare Mackintosh

Kindle Edition, 372 pages
Expected publication: April 4th 2017 by Sphere
You do the same thing every day.

You know exactly where you're going.

You're not alone.

When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it's there. There's no explanation: just a website, a grainy image and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it's just someone who looks like Zoe. But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that.

Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make . . .

I See You is an edge-of-your-seat, page-turning psychological thriller from one of the most exciting and successful British debut talents of 2015.
 

My Thoughts…

Clare Mackintosh has done it again!    This is her second book and with a new author I am never sure what to expect.      Clare has proven that she has talent!    Her first book I Let You Go blew me away so I was hoping for the same result with I See You and I got it!     I See You is amazing.  

I was scared, worried, and terrified for the safety of the women who choose to ride the London Underground.    They were being stalked, watched, followed, and their paths were being noted and share with men.    The questions was how? And who?      

I felt the fear of Zoe.    She seemed to be the one who found the clues and put them together.    She had a fear for herself and her safety but also for her daughter Katie and the rest of the women who are targets without even knowing they are.      

I See You is a thriller.    Now that I am done reading I continue to think about the what if’s, the could have beens, and the Oh My Gosh moments.       There were so many clues given that could be leading in the right direction or could be leading in the wrong direction.   I never saw the ending coming!   

This is a book I recommend for all my thrill seeking readers.  

Book Links


Tuesday, February 21, 2017

RELEASE BLITZ of Daisies in the Outfield by Carolyn LaRoche & GIVEAWAY




Title: Daisies in the Outfield
Author: Carolyn LaRoche
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: February 21, 2017



Blurb

His lifelong dream turned into a haunting nightmare.

Jamie Williams had his chance but blew it. A series of very bad choices not only destroyed his major league baseball career but brought a dishonor his family refused to forget. Exiled to a small Cape Cod town, a distant relative took pity on him and got him into the local fire department. His love of the game remained though and drew him back to the field--not as a player, but as the head coach of the Falmouth Troopers. Falling for a girl from New York who thought baseball, the only real love of his life, was just a bunch of guys standing around picking daisies was so not in his game plan.

Her summer in Cape Cod was supposed to be a new start.

When Mandy Gilman happened upon the chance to take her paramedic skills to Cape Cod for the summer, she packed up and didn't look back. Mandy needed a serious change--an escape from the heavy disappointment in her parents' eyes and the prying pity in her friends' comments. The Cape was the perfect opportunity to find herself again under the warmth of the sun and relaxing sea breeze. She even let her new roommate drag her to a couple of ball games. Baseball bored her but watching some hot guys run the bases was better than sitting around feeling sorry for herself. The incredibly sexy coach who seemed determined to make her fall in love with him and the game didn't hurt...

Mandy has no intention of falling in love ever again, but Jamie has no plans to let her walk out of his life. He might have blown his past, but the feisty paramedic is his future. He has to convince her that a man who risks his life every day for strangers is worth risking his heart on. Can she let go of past heartache and let Jamie love her or will Mandy be the one left picking Daisies in the Outfield?







Purchase Links

AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Free in Kindle Unlimited





Excerpt

She tore off some paper towel and offered that as well. They were quiet for a moment while he worked away the rest of the wetness and snots. "That's going to hurt again when I get in the shower later."

"I really am sorry. I didn't expect—I mean, why were you following me anyway?"

"I just wanted to see if you liked the game."

She shrugged. "It was okay."

"Just okay?"

"I told you earlier, I just don’t get all the hype."

He folded the towel and placed it on the porch rail. "It looked like you were enjoying it."

"I’m good at faking."

His eyes sparkled as a smile tugged at his lips. "I can’t imagine you'd ever have to fake anything."

A rush of heat made its way from deep in her abdomen up over her chest and caused her cheeks to flame. She frowned, hoping to hide her response to his comment with feigned annoyance. "Do you make a habit of following women home after a game?"

"Only the cute ones." He looked her in the eye and winked again.

Mandy picked up the towel and headed back to the door. "Sorry again about the spray. Next time, though, maybe you should just introduce yourself."

"The boys played well today," he called after her. "So, your faking was appropriate."

She stopped and turned to look back at him. Even with watery, swollen eyes, he was fine to look at. Long dormant butterflies came to life and started dancing inside her as he looked at her. "I don't get the excitement of grown men hitting things and then running around in circles."

"Because you don't understand the game. There is so much more to it than that."

"Okay. If you say so."

He held his hands in the air and stepped closer to the porch. "Don’t hurt me, I come in peace." She watched as he climbed the porch steps and extended a hand to her. "Name's Jamie Williams. I'm the head coach of the Falmouth Troopers and, if you give me time, I will convince you that baseball is the best game around. It’s as American as apple pie. You do like apple pie, don't you?"

Apple pie?

She accepted his outstretched hand in hers. "Of course. I love apple pie. Who doesn't? It’s baseball you’re never going to sell me on. I'm Mandy Gilman."

He held her hand in both of his, bringing it to his lips and pressing a light kiss to the back of it. The action created an arc of electricity that shocked her. She snatched her hand away.

"So, Mandy Gilman, if you don't love America's game, what brought you to the Cape this summer?"

How did she answer that without having to tell him the whole sordid story? Jamie looked at her expectantly. She took a deep breath. "You already know I'm a paramedic and I thought a change of scenery might be nice for a bit."

"So, you did know who I am."

"Not until a few minutes ago. How does a baseball coach happen to also spend his spare time running into burning buildings?"

"It’s a hobby."

Mandy laughed. "Running into burning buildings?"

"Baseball. We all have things we’re good at and then we have things we do because we have to." His grin sort of made her want to find out what else he was good at.

"So, which is which?"

"Both. I’m good at both." Oh, she imagined he was probably good at a lot of things.

"Funny, I had you pegged as a washed up ball player that never made it to the big leagues." She had meant it as a joke but the words came out sounding anything but. A flash of hurt passed over his face but disappeared so quickly, she wasn't even sure she had actually seen it.

"You might be on to something."

"I’m sorry. That was rude of me."

Jamie shrugged and smiled at her. "I had my chance but—family obligations, you know?"

She looked out over the dark street. "Yeah, I know. I really am sorry. I didn't mean to sound like such a jerk. I—"

"It's okay, really. It was a reasonable assumption given I eat, sleep, and breathe baseball from May to August. It’s genetic, I guess. Baseball runs in my family. I’ve got two cousins in the MLB, my dad was a pitching coach for several teams, and my grandfather may or may not have played ball with Babe Ruth."

"Wow. Really?" She may not know baseball but everyone had heard of the Babe. The curse of the bambino was New England legend.

"It's a family legacy. I'm the disappointment."

"I don't see why. I mean, if family was the reason?" Mandy dropped down into the porch swing, only a little surprised when Jamie sat down next to her.

"Because I coach a college rec league. Because my family is the first family of baseball and I prefer to work here, part time, and—God forbid—have a job that pays less than a million a year."

Mandy pushed her toe against the floorboards to start the swing moving. "They think being a firefighter is a bad thing?"

"No. The real disappointment is that I am not coaching for the Red Sox or the Yankees or the Orioles. If I want to coach, I should be going big time, not in some rinky dink neighborhood league, according to my father. None of them can understand my dedication to my players."

"Why are you so dedicated to a bunch of college kids?"

"Careers start here. Stars learn to shine. I am proud to be a part of that."

"I will never understand the appeal of sports. Getting all sweaty and dirty and for what?" Mandy shrugged and released a sigh.

Jamie winked and grinned. "There’s something to be said for sweaty and dirty."



Author Bio


Carolyn LaRoche grew up in snow country but fled the cold and ice several years ago. She now lives near the beach with her husband and their two sons. She’s been known to lug her laptop to the baseball fields and keeps a notebook by her bed to jot down the next big story idea in the wee hours of the night.



Author Links