novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
3 STARS
"Baseball hopeful Bo Crutcher is about to get his shot at the majors. That is, until life throws him a curveball. When AJ, the son he's never met, lands on his doorstep, Bo's life becomes a whole new ball game. He needs help--fast.Enter Kimberly van Dorn. Hired to smooth Bo's rough exterior for the media, she expects the kind of shallow pro athlete she's used to handling. But Bo is willing to sacrifice everything for his vulnerable son. Kim can train him to hit a home run with the press, but over a breathtaking winter on frozen Willow Lake, she realizes he has far more to teach her about the game of life...and putting love first." (From Amazon)
Not my favourite of the series but I did enjoy this book.
"Baseball hopeful Bo Crutcher is about to get his shot at the majors. That is, until life throws him a curveball. When AJ, the son he's never met, lands on his doorstep, Bo's life becomes a whole new ball game. He needs help--fast.Enter Kimberly van Dorn. Hired to smooth Bo's rough exterior for the media, she expects the kind of shallow pro athlete she's used to handling. But Bo is willing to sacrifice everything for his vulnerable son. Kim can train him to hit a home run with the press, but over a breathtaking winter on frozen Willow Lake, she realizes he has far more to teach her about the game of life...and putting love first." (From Amazon)
Not my favourite of the series but I did enjoy this book.
zenithharpink's review against another edition
2.0
"...and she looked almost pretty, in a chubby way." This was when I finally decided I didn't like this book. Also, I won't be reading Wiggs again. Not just for this comment, but the overall story was contrived and bland, and the characters just sort of faded in and out-they didn't have any real depth, they were solely there to move the plot along, or to help the two main characters realize they loved each other. As a romance, it was weak and there really wasn't much chemistry.
Kim is stunningly beautiful, and she's truly physically perfect, and blah blah blah. It was like reading Twilight and hearing about how gorgeous Edward is-AGAIN. But to withstand all the gushing of Kim's jaw-dropping good looks (a few characters in the book actually did drop their jaws when first seeing her), and then to hear that some poor girl was ALMOST pretty in a chubby way. I actually rolled my way then put the book down. Ultimately, I finished, but I'm totally turned off from this book and this author.
I don't recommend this book, unless you're at an airport and this is the only book or magazine available for sale. And you're desperate.
Kim is stunningly beautiful, and she's truly physically perfect, and blah blah blah. It was like reading Twilight and hearing about how gorgeous Edward is-AGAIN. But to withstand all the gushing of Kim's jaw-dropping good looks (a few characters in the book actually did drop their jaws when first seeing her), and then to hear that some poor girl was ALMOST pretty in a chubby way. I actually rolled my way then put the book down. Ultimately, I finished, but I'm totally turned off from this book and this author.
I don't recommend this book, unless you're at an airport and this is the only book or magazine available for sale. And you're desperate.
bibliophile24's review against another edition
3.0
I'll rate this one a little better than the one about Greg Bellamy. I just wasn't that into Bo.
nursenell's review against another edition
1.0
I thought I'd like this book better since it is about an adoption reunion. But I couldn't get into it.
ivy_skye's review against another edition
3.0
It had been a while since i read the other books in the series. It was a nice change of pace to return o Willow Lake, read about the Bellamys and other residents of Avalon, NY. These days there is just something about reading a book, where family, love, and doing the right thing come first.
nicolesnook's review against another edition
3.0
Book five in the Lakeshore Chronicles, but you do not need to read the first four to follow Fireside. Bo Crutcher is finally getting his chance at Major League Baseball just as he's called to care for the son he's never known when the mother is brought in by immigration. Meanwhile, Kimberly VanDorn's career as a publicist is ruined when her relationship with a star athlete explodes publicly. She's hired to polish Bo's image for the press. After years of dealing with arrogant athletes, Bo's sincerity is a breath of fresh air. This was a sweet love story and the characters are likable. However, a lot of the story could be cut. It's more than halfway through the book before the characters admit any feelings for each other and the story with Bo's ex is really drawn out.
willowsfair's review against another edition
2.0
Surprised at how lame this was. TBH, could hardly finish it. Expected a lot better from this author, so am pretty disappointed. It just fell quite a ways below the realm of plausibility for me. It seemed contrived for the sole purpose of meeting the romance-novel formula. Don't waste your time on this one.
allingoodtime's review
4.0
This story in the Lakeshore Chronicles series features Kimberly and Bo, but I found myself anxiously awaiting any mention of Daisy. Don’t get me wrong, I really like Kim and Bo. I am just so invested in Daisy and her life. I cannot get enough! If you are a Daisy fan like I am, be assured we get some good scenes with her in this story.
This book, although published 10 years ago as of my reading, couldn’t be more timely. The issues Bo’s son AJ has to deal with are at the forefront of today’s news cycle pretty much every day. I’ve never had to deal with these issues myself, but from what I can tell the author handled the situation well. She gave a lot of information without bogging down the story. I was able to feel AJ’s fear and heartache, Bo’s anger and protectiveness, all of it one big ball of anguish. Yet, the way everyone tries to keep AJ’s spirits up brings a lot of bright spots into the story.
There was an instant connection between Bo and Kimberly. Although I didn’t feel their chemistry as strongly as some of the other couples in this series, they are definitely meant to be together. Their chemistry almost came more from a place of comfort. I mean that in a good way. Comfort is what they both need in their lives and what AJ need in his life. The three of them together have a sort of safety and security that was felt by me as I was reading.
I’m enjoying some of the peeks into the lives of the younger generations in town. With this author’s magic, I’m sure some day I’ll be reading their HEA stories.
This review can also be found on All In Good Time.
This book, although published 10 years ago as of my reading, couldn’t be more timely. The issues Bo’s son AJ has to deal with are at the forefront of today’s news cycle pretty much every day. I’ve never had to deal with these issues myself, but from what I can tell the author handled the situation well. She gave a lot of information without bogging down the story. I was able to feel AJ’s fear and heartache, Bo’s anger and protectiveness, all of it one big ball of anguish. Yet, the way everyone tries to keep AJ’s spirits up brings a lot of bright spots into the story.
There was an instant connection between Bo and Kimberly. Although I didn’t feel their chemistry as strongly as some of the other couples in this series, they are definitely meant to be together. Their chemistry almost came more from a place of comfort. I mean that in a good way. Comfort is what they both need in their lives and what AJ need in his life. The three of them together have a sort of safety and security that was felt by me as I was reading.
I’m enjoying some of the peeks into the lives of the younger generations in town. With this author’s magic, I’m sure some day I’ll be reading their HEA stories.
This review can also be found on All In Good Time.
fleurette's review against another edition
3.0
It was ok. I really liked Bobby even though he is definitely dreamlike. I didn't bother about Kim but I rather enjoyed them as a couple.