Monday 16 January 2017

Blog Tour & Review ~ Home Run (The Boys of Summer #2) by Heidi McLaughlin


Title: Home Run
Series: The Boys of Summer #2
Author: Heidi McLaughlin
Release Date: Jan 17, 2017

Add to your TBR




Book Description:


LOVE ISN'T A GAME . . . 

I’ve given up everything for the chance to play major league baseball. Everything. Now I’m so close I can practically hear the crowd chanting my name. There’s nothing that could take my dream away from me . . .

Unless I lose focus. And Ainsley Burke is the most beautiful, distracting woman I’ve ever met. When I’m with her, I can’t think of anything else.

But no matter how much I want Ainsley, there’s no room for love in my game plan. I can give her a quick tour of the bases, but that’s it. Then I have to let her go. If she wants to think I’m a love ’em and leave ’em player, fine.

All dreams require sacrifice. I just wish this one didn’t mean tearing out my own heart.

Buy Links:

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/28MMWZv
 ​
 

Our Review:

Reviewed by Donna ~ 4 stars
***ARC received for an honest review***


“Baseball is America’s game. It doesn’t know social class, race, or any other classification. It’s a game every one can play and afford to participate in.”


Home Run is the second book in the Boys of Summer series and can be read as a standalone. This is a sports romance and our hero is a rookie for the Boston Renegades. While Cooper Bailey is a rookie, he didn’t draft straight from college, but got his degree first so that he had something to fall back on. Being an older rookie presents a few problems but he is working hard to prove his worth and make himself a better player.

Cooper is extremely focused and motivated, baseball has been his life and he is adamant that he isn’t going to mess it up now. No drinking, no parties, no women are his current motto. Cooper throws himself 110% into practice and trying to take the starting spot from a veteran who was supposed to be retiring. That retirement never happened and now he has to prove himself even more. The pressure is real as is the constant pressure he receives from his father. His life is one huge ball of pressure.

Ainsley Burke is a zoo keeper in Florida who has a mountain of personal problems and is having to put her life on hold to care for her sick mother. Ainsley is devoted to the animals and has a heart of gold. Between work and her mother, she is spreading herself extremely thin but has a best friend that is always there for her.

The Boston Renegades are in Florida for spring training, when the Renegades go to the zoo for a press opportunity with local under privileged kids. Cooper and Ainsley’s paths cross for the first time and both are immediately smitten. However, Ainsley has her priorities and Cooper isn’t one of them.


“The only thing missing is the epically cheesy music that either signifies a connection or our untimely doom.”


Ainsley makes Cooper work for it, something that is not the norm for baseball players, but Cooper is far from the norm. Ainsley is constantly battling with her thoughts because now is not the right time and also Cooper would not be around anyways once he heads back to Boston. It also doesn’t hurt that she has been burned before and her mother has made her swear of athletes for life. Cooper has to battle his own thoughts too, he doesn’t need any distractions either, he is there to play ball, not to fall in love.


“He’s a baseball player, and they’re nothing but trouble.”


I loved the chase in this book, the little texts, the conversations, the back and forth was great to read. The fact that these two did take time to get to know each other first was refreshing as well as believable. Both battle themselves as well as each other and this really gave their story merit as well as creating some swoon worthy moments.


“Ainsley, yesterday meant everything. #25”



One twist I thought was a little convenient even though the intimation was always there and I did feel that keeping this from Ainsley was rather selfish on her mum’s part. However, the struggles that these two go through were all relatable and actually made this story “real.” The chemistry between these two was always apparent and there was just enough angst to keep the story entertaining while not being too gut wrenching. The banter between team mates was hilarious and really gave an insight into locker room talk. Loved the camaraderie between team mates and how a team is more than a collective group of athletes, but a family. This was a cute read and I will definitely be reading more about this band of merry men.

Playlist:

Into You by Ariana Grande
Don't Let Me Down- The Chainsmokers & Daya
Animals- Maroon 5
Treasure- Bruno Mars
This Summer's Gonna Hurt Like A Motherfucker- Maroon 5
Want To Want Me - jason derulo
Where Are You Now - Skrillex & Justin Bieber
Can't Stop the Feeling - Justin Timberlake
Dancing On My Own - Calum Scott
Treat You Better - Shawn Mendes
Let Me Love You - Ariana Grande, Lil Wayne
Constant Crush - Verite 
Something to Believe In - young the giant 
Can't Stop The Feeling Justin Timberlake
Boyfriend - Tegan & Sara
The One - Kodaline
House Party - Sam Hunt
Sippin on Fire - Florida Georgia Line
Smoke - A Thousand Horses
Wild Child - Kenny Chesney
Girl Crush - Little Big Town
Humble and Kind - Tim McGraw
Break Up in a Small Town - Sam Hunt
I Met A Girl - William Michael Morgan
Die A Happy Man - Thomas Rhett
Record Year - Eric Church



About the Author:


Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.

Originally from Portland, Oregon and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup and a Highland Westie/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL and her brother, Racicot.

When she isn’t writing one of the many stories planned for release, you’ll find her sitting courtside during either daughter’s basketball games.

Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, is currently in production for a major motion picture.

at
Labels: , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)