HOME RUN (The Boys of Summer #2) by Heidi McLaughlin-Review, Book Tour & Giveaway
HOME RUN
Boys of Summer #2
by Heidi McLaughlin
Genre: adult, contemporary, baseball,romance
Release Date: January 17, 2017
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date January 17, 2017
Cooper Bailey finally has a shot at being a major league ballplayer, but it will take all his focus and energy during spring training to make it happen. Complicating things is his instantaneous connection with Ainsley Burke. He can’t get enough of her, and before he knows it, they’re spending every night together. But as happy as he is off the field, his focus on it is suffering, and he isn’t willing to risk his lifelong dream over a girl.
But without Ainsley, Cooper’s miserable, and his game is still off. No matter what he tries, he can’t get her out of his head, and he’s starting to realize that maybe he doesn’t want to. Baseball is just a game, but Ainsley might be the real thing. Now he just has to convince her of that.
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REVIEW: HOME RUN is the second installment in Heidi McLaughlin’s contemporary, adult THE BOYS OF SUMMER baseball romance series focusing on the members of the MLB team the Boston Renegades. This is rookie center fielder Cooper Bailey, and zoo attendant Ainsley Burke’s story line. HOME RUN can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual first person points of view (Ainsley and Cooper) HOME RUN follows the building relationship between the Boston Renegades rookie center fielder Cooper Bailey, and zoo attendant Ainsley Burke. It’s spring training time in Fort Myers Florida, and Cooper Bailey is struggling to make the starting line-up. The team’s first public relations assignment finds our hero face to face with Ainsley Burke, Fort Myers zoo personnel, and the woman that would call to his heart…but Cooper’s career is barely off the ground, and Ainsley struggles with her mother’s deteriorating illness, and a permanent relationship is not in the cards. What ensues is the growing love between two people whose lives will fall apart when Ainsley pushes Cooper out of her life as everything begins to implode.
Cooper Bailey was raised by a father whose goal was to see his son succeed in the game of baseball. Failure was never an option; and a relationship would only interfere in his son’s professional career. Ainsley’s mother is dying and our heroine struggles with the guilt and pain of her impending demise. Meeting Cooper Bailey is all sorts of wrong especially as her mother has reinforced that dating a professional athlete will only lead to heartbreak and a future alone.
The relationship between Ainsley and Cooper is one of immediate attraction. The sexual energy is palpable. Cooper struggles with his less than dynamic play on the field, and Ainsley battles with memories from the past that affect her relationship with the man that she loves. Ainsley need to constantly push Cooper away affected this reader’s overall acceptance of the heroine’s maturity and past. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive without the over the top graphic sexual text and language.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including Ethan Davenport and Daisy Robinson (Third Base #1), as well as the coaches and players from the Boston Renegades. We are introduced to Cooper’s father Roy Bailey, and Ainsley’s mother Janice Burke, as well as Ainsley’s best friend Stella.
The world building follows the ups and downs of the Boston Renegades as they battle for standings in the professional baseball league. The relationship between Ainsley and Cooper struggles with outside interference, and the broken heart of a woman who loses the most important person in her life. Time part is compounded by a couple of surprises, and their rushed reunion and professions of love are resolved with little conflict. Each chapter begins with a Boston Renegade media update, and a blogger forum into the personal and private lives of the players. Plenty of locker room banter to add some fun and humor.
HOME RUN is a sweet, romantic story line about two people torn apart by emotional guilt, grief and parental control. The premise is entertaining and moving; the characters are passionate and playful; the romance is energetic and animated.
Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Third Base
Home Run
Grand Slam (May 2017)
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
Top 5 Favorite musicians/songs to listen to while writing
Eagles
Prince
Taylor Swift
Halsey
80’s on shuffle
Ainsley looks down at the ground and crosses her arms over her chest. “Listen, I’m sure you’re a nice guy and all, but I don’t date baseball players. You guys all come in here, acting sweet and caring about the kids, but will be gone in two months. We’re forgotten all about until next spring training.”
From her spiel, I can tell someone has hurt her in the past, but I’m not willing to give up. There’s no way I can now. “Whoa, why the one-eighty?”
“Excuse me?”
“I mean, a second ago I sort of thought… never mind.” I shake my head and start to walk away, only to turn back. “I don’t know about the other guys. I only know me, and I’m not like that. I’d like to prove myself. Just one date to show you that I’m genuine?”
She shakes her head no again, but there’s a glint in her eye that tells me she’s thinking about it. “I’m sorry I can’t.”
Ainsley is walking away before I can even think to form a rebuttal. Our left fielder is there to pick up the pieces and remind me that I just had the first strike out of my major league career. Wonderful.
I drag my sorry ass out toward the waiting bus with my head hanging in shame. I thought for sure I’d at least get her number and be able to convince her that I’m not an epic douche like some of the other guys.
Just as my foot touches the bottom step, my name is called from behind. In a heart-stopping moment, I think it’s Ainsley, only to find another female worker running toward me. I step away and wait for her to get to me.
“Here,” she says, slipping a piece of paper into my hand. When I look at what’s written on it, I’m surprised to see Ainsley’s name and what I’m assuming is her number. “She’ll kill me if she knew I did this, but it’s her cell. Sweep her off her feet. She deserves it.” The woman winks before running back toward the zoo.
Our catcher slaps me on my shoulder. “Well, you lucky dog.”
Heidi McLaughlin: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Newsletter
Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.
Originally from 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, two Parakeets, Gonzo & Hedwig, and their newest addition of a Highland West/Mini Schnauzer, Jill.
During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she’s writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting court-side during either daughter’s basketball games.
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