Now that we are in the summer months, I thought it might be fun to look at another baseball book.
*****
After nine years of striking out in the dating department, Maddie Hamlin is throwing in the towel. But just as this mom resolves to remain single, she meets sweet and sexy pitching phenom Chase Patton at a family dinner. He’s perfect for her–aside from the fact he’s only twenty-two.
Chase knows he should be focusing on his rookie year with the Detroit Rockets, but he can’t stop thinking about Maddie. He doesn’t care that the beautiful school counselor is twelve years older, and he’s already lost his heart to her adorable daughter. When an incredible date leads to an incredible night of passion, he knows he never wants to let her go.
But dating in the media spotlight is a whole new ball game. Maddie quickly discovers that not everyone accepts their unconventional relationship and that finding love may mean losing everything else.
A couple of years ago my husband gave me On The Island as a gift and it quickly became one of my favorite books ever. It was the first time I can remember reading a book about a woman with a significant age difference than her younger lover. Garvis handled it with style and with The Changeup Shaw does as well.
In OTI, TJ had aged because of the cancer he fought as well as being stranded for years on the deserted island. I’m not sure what causes Chase to be an old soul but he definitely is … which helps with removing any ick factor from the story. He’s hard-working, smart, caring and has an amazingly level head on his shoulders. It is difficult for Maddie to get over the difference, but Chase is very determined. Plus, he’s hot and kind and treats her and her daughter right, so he is very hard to resist.
When he finally gets her to agree to a trial date, it quickly heats up and she decides to just go for it. But someone has other plans and their relationship is quickly threatened, along with her job and her daughter. I’m not sure I understand exactly how this comes about, it seems a little convoluted and a little farfetched, but it definitely works with the story. I do think that the ending glossed over these issues but it still made me happy. I know this is the beginning of a series, and that the next story is the romance between Chase’s friend and Lynn’s friend, so maybe there will be more about it later. Even if there isn’t, though, it wasn’t enough of an issue for me – I still thought the story was excellent and I had trouble putting it down until I finished it.
Don’t let the fact that Maddie is twelve years older than Chase decide whether you are going to give this book a go. It’s well-written, with addictive characters and a sweet romance, and that perfect amount of baseball to make it a great pick for a summertime read.
