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bananatricky's review
3.0
A slightly sickly sweet romance about a pageant queen and a baseball pitcher
captainjaq's review
4.0
My initial disclaimer here is I was given this book by the author as a "thank you" for helping out with something else and she asked if I were to review it, to give it an honest review. That's fair. Although my personal thoughts, generally, are that if I have nothing good to say, why say anything at all. My secondary disclaimer is that I've never read a romance before and baseball is not one of my favorite sports. And yet, here I am, writing a review about a baseball themed romance novel to which I gave 4 stars.
The reason is simple: I enjoyed it.
This doesn't mean I'm going to rush out and buy every book in Ms. Klasky's 9 book Diamond Brides series (one book for every player on the team) but this first pitch was a short, fun read.
The plot is fairly easy. Up and coming pro ball pitcher makes a verbal gaff which nets him, by way of apology, an introduction to a beauty queen. Of course, at this initial meeting, sparks fly and the rest of the book isn't a "will they or won't they" scenario but a "how are they going to pull it off this time" adventure. Now, never having read this style of romance (or any style of romance, really, but this style in particular reminds me of the short Harlequin-type I remember from my days as a waldenbooks bookseller) I made some general assumptions about the format and formula. I figured there was going to be sex (there was, and, quite frankly, a little harder - pun definitely intended - than I was expecting), there was going to be bumps along the way, and we were going to end up in happily ever after position. I don't think I'm giving too much away to say that yes, these tropes were all fulfilled.
What I also wasn't expecting were well-rounded characters, some well researched information on baseball and music theory and a finale which sent onion chopping ninjas into my house. Sam Winger, the beauty queen in question, is more than just an attractive foil for DJ Thomas, the aforementioned pitcher. She's smart, driven, has a university degree and just enough flaws to make her seem real but not too many as if to show Klasky is trying too hard. DJ, on the other hand, is a bit of a stereotype, not really coming into his own until the end of the book. That could also be intentional, though, as the character doesn't really see himself as anything other than a stereotype, incapable of change, until he is forced to reconcile his own emotions.
The end resolution does come a little quickly for my tastes, and wraps everything up in a nice neat bow, but again, I blame the tropes of the genre more than the writing and story development.
So, I was asked to give an honest review. Here it is. If you're expecting baseball along the lines of W.P. Kinsella or Bernard Malamud, you're not going to get it. But if you want a nice afternoon's reading, with a bit of spice and a happy ending, then this is at least a stand-up double.
The reason is simple: I enjoyed it.
This doesn't mean I'm going to rush out and buy every book in Ms. Klasky's 9 book Diamond Brides series (one book for every player on the team) but this first pitch was a short, fun read.
The plot is fairly easy. Up and coming pro ball pitcher makes a verbal gaff which nets him, by way of apology, an introduction to a beauty queen. Of course, at this initial meeting, sparks fly and the rest of the book isn't a "will they or won't they" scenario but a "how are they going to pull it off this time" adventure. Now, never having read this style of romance (or any style of romance, really, but this style in particular reminds me of the short Harlequin-type I remember from my days as a waldenbooks bookseller) I made some general assumptions about the format and formula. I figured there was going to be sex (there was, and, quite frankly, a little harder - pun definitely intended - than I was expecting), there was going to be bumps along the way, and we were going to end up in happily ever after position. I don't think I'm giving too much away to say that yes, these tropes were all fulfilled.
What I also wasn't expecting were well-rounded characters, some well researched information on baseball and music theory and a finale which sent onion chopping ninjas into my house. Sam Winger, the beauty queen in question, is more than just an attractive foil for DJ Thomas, the aforementioned pitcher. She's smart, driven, has a university degree and just enough flaws to make her seem real but not too many as if to show Klasky is trying too hard. DJ, on the other hand, is a bit of a stereotype, not really coming into his own until the end of the book. That could also be intentional, though, as the character doesn't really see himself as anything other than a stereotype, incapable of change, until he is forced to reconcile his own emotions.
The end resolution does come a little quickly for my tastes, and wraps everything up in a nice neat bow, but again, I blame the tropes of the genre more than the writing and story development.
So, I was asked to give an honest review. Here it is. If you're expecting baseball along the lines of W.P. Kinsella or Bernard Malamud, you're not going to get it. But if you want a nice afternoon's reading, with a bit of spice and a happy ending, then this is at least a stand-up double.
klndonnelly's review against another edition
2.0
Too short for my taste - some of the characters deserved some more time to percolate. Not turned off of her as a writer, but will wait a while before finishing the series.
crazy4reading's review against another edition
4.0
This was a cute story with a baseball theme and music, which are two of my favorite things. The story starts with the Summer Beauty Queen be awakened by her phone. This is all due to DJ Thomas a pitcher making a comment about being stuck with the Summer Beauty Queen.
This is the set up for the potential romance between Samantha Winger and DJ Thomas. DJ apologizes and you can feel the attraction right from the beginning. Samantha wants to start a program called Musicall to bring arts back to the schools.
This is a series I will read just for pure entertainment.
This is the set up for the potential romance between Samantha Winger and DJ Thomas. DJ apologizes and you can feel the attraction right from the beginning. Samantha wants to start a program called Musicall to bring arts back to the schools.
This is a series I will read just for pure entertainment.
lucyp21's review against another edition
3.0
This was an okay romance. I liked how there was a good reason for Samantha and DJ not to be together, I liked how they met in the first place and I thought they were a cute couple. I did think Samantha being a beauty queen, who wears make-up and heels, was a really nice change of pace from the women normally in these books who don't ever need make-up because they're so beautiful and they're 'not like other girls'.
On the other hand, I thought their issues were resolved far too quickly and I was really surprised when DJproposed marriage at the end because it was far too fast. There was some great build-up with DJ's father/parenting issues and Samantha and her Musicall programme, but then it was either brushed under the rug or it was resolved with a few words.
I liked the book but I think the ending could have been developed a lot better.
On the other hand, I thought their issues were resolved far too quickly and I was really surprised when DJ
I liked the book but I think the ending could have been developed a lot better.
jkh107's review
3.0
For some reason I thought this was a minor league team throughout the book. My bad for skimming just a bit. At least the part where the hero wasn't totally poor makes sense now! Perfectly fine erotic romance with a slight baseball theme and without too much depth. Good beach reading type book.
samnreader's review
DNF at 29% Just had nothing to hook me. I wouldn't decline the author necessarily, I just didn't connect to this one.