Fans of sports-themed romances will find themselves drawn to this fun & flirty story of reunited lovers. Keep reading to get a taste of Sliding Into Second by Ella Jade, the second installment in the Kingston Heat series. You'll get my impressions of this book, along with learning more about this book by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour too. Make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win 1 of 2 e-copies of the first installment of this series, Stealing His Heart.
Hotshot sports reporter Sage Millan has been busy making a name for herself in the male dominated world of baseball. She’s just landed her dream job, and her first assignment is covering the newly crowned World Series champions, The Kingston Crushers. This is the opportunity of a lifetime. The only problem...her ex-boyfriend, and the only man she’s ever loved, is the team’s second baseman. Things ended badly between them, and she’s not sure she can put those demons to rest.
Professional baseball player Nicolas Cordova is having the time of his life. His team has just won the World Series, and with the victory comes more fame, women, and exposure than he ever could have imagined. But things are about to change for the sexy, charismatic athlete. He never expected his ex-girlfriend to walk back into his life, much less the locker room.
These days Sage is smarter, more mature, and doesn’t plan on being played a second time. Her appearance stirs old memories for Nic. She’s the one he let get away in the name of his career. He vows he can be the man she needs this time around. Will that be enough to mend her broken heart?
EXCERPT:
“I’ll admit I’ve had many women in the past, and I can’t apologize for living. But as the years went by, my feelings for you were always someplace deep in my heart. I know that’s why I can’t settle down. Why I can’t find the peace I’ve been searching for. It doesn’t exist without you.”
“How can you say things like that? You don’t even know the woman I’ve become. I’m not that girl who relied on you, the one who would’ve followed you anywhere. I’m not her anymore, Nic. I can’t ever be her again.”
“Maybe I’m not asking for her.” He leaned closer to her face. “Maybe I want to know the woman you are today. I want another shot at this.”
“No,” she whispered.
“If you remember anything about me, I have a hard time with that word.” He tipped her chin, focusing on her lips. “I am going to kiss you. Right here and right now.”
Her knees buckled as a cool tremor swept through her. She wanted to say no. It was the only logical word to mutter, but her heart didn’t want her to say it. Her body wasn’t on board with turning him down either. The warmth that built in her stomach had moved lower, and now all she could think about was his lips on hers.
“It doesn’t sound like you’re asking,” she breathed out.
“I’m not.”
Before she could say anything else, his mouth was on hers, eager, but slow and soft. His stubble grazed along her chin as he tilted his head and deepened their bond. The sound throughout the crowded lobby seemed to fade into the background, and soon, all she could hear was her heart pumping loud between her ears. Why did he have to be such a freakin’ good kisser?
After the incredibly long connection, he pulled away, but not before stopping to kiss the bottom corner of her mouth like he used to.
“I’ve waited a long time to do that,” he said. “It was worth every lonely minute.”
“I... Nic...” She’d always had the gift of words. It was what she did for a living, but in that moment, all of her thoughts were jumbled and senseless.
“It’s okay.” He grinned as he stroked her cheek. “Let’s get something to eat and maybe figure this out. Whatever this is.”
“No.” She ran her hands along his strong chest, resting them on his shoulders.
“Don’t over analyze this, baby.” He glanced down at her hands on his body. “Let’s just go with it.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you.” She took a breath and continued before she lost her nerve. “Take me upstairs to your room. I know how we can figure this out.”
“What are you asking?” He placed his hand on the small of her back, drawing her closer to him. “You need to be real clear.”
“I want to go upstairs with you.”
“That’s not why I kissed you.”
“Isn’t it?” She smirked. “We’re adults now, Nicky. Let’s settle this like adults.”
“I’m not looking to settle anything. That usually means it’s over, and we’re nowhere near over.” He motioned for Joe. “I’ll take care of the bar tab and then we’ll get dinner.”
“No.” She draped her arms around his neck, intoxicated by the idea of being so close to him again. He may be older now, and may have lost those boyish looks, but the man he had become suited him and drove her wild with need.
“What did I tell you about that word?”
“I can guarantee I won’t be using it once we’re in your bedroom.” She ran her tongue along her top lip. “I’m going to the ladies room. When I come out, if you’re not by the elevators waiting for me, I’ll know that kiss was nothing more than the heat of the moment and we can go on with our lives.”
“Sage?”
“Shh.” She pressed her lips to his. “Now who’s over analyzing?” She reached for her purse and coat hanging on the back of the stool. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.” I hope.
“How can you say things like that? You don’t even know the woman I’ve become. I’m not that girl who relied on you, the one who would’ve followed you anywhere. I’m not her anymore, Nic. I can’t ever be her again.”
“Maybe I’m not asking for her.” He leaned closer to her face. “Maybe I want to know the woman you are today. I want another shot at this.”
“No,” she whispered.
“If you remember anything about me, I have a hard time with that word.” He tipped her chin, focusing on her lips. “I am going to kiss you. Right here and right now.”
Her knees buckled as a cool tremor swept through her. She wanted to say no. It was the only logical word to mutter, but her heart didn’t want her to say it. Her body wasn’t on board with turning him down either. The warmth that built in her stomach had moved lower, and now all she could think about was his lips on hers.
“It doesn’t sound like you’re asking,” she breathed out.
“I’m not.”
Before she could say anything else, his mouth was on hers, eager, but slow and soft. His stubble grazed along her chin as he tilted his head and deepened their bond. The sound throughout the crowded lobby seemed to fade into the background, and soon, all she could hear was her heart pumping loud between her ears. Why did he have to be such a freakin’ good kisser?
After the incredibly long connection, he pulled away, but not before stopping to kiss the bottom corner of her mouth like he used to.
“I’ve waited a long time to do that,” he said. “It was worth every lonely minute.”
“I... Nic...” She’d always had the gift of words. It was what she did for a living, but in that moment, all of her thoughts were jumbled and senseless.
“It’s okay.” He grinned as he stroked her cheek. “Let’s get something to eat and maybe figure this out. Whatever this is.”
“No.” She ran her hands along his strong chest, resting them on his shoulders.
“Don’t over analyze this, baby.” He glanced down at her hands on his body. “Let’s just go with it.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you.” She took a breath and continued before she lost her nerve. “Take me upstairs to your room. I know how we can figure this out.”
“What are you asking?” He placed his hand on the small of her back, drawing her closer to him. “You need to be real clear.”
“I want to go upstairs with you.”
“That’s not why I kissed you.”
“Isn’t it?” She smirked. “We’re adults now, Nicky. Let’s settle this like adults.”
“I’m not looking to settle anything. That usually means it’s over, and we’re nowhere near over.” He motioned for Joe. “I’ll take care of the bar tab and then we’ll get dinner.”
“No.” She draped her arms around his neck, intoxicated by the idea of being so close to him again. He may be older now, and may have lost those boyish looks, but the man he had become suited him and drove her wild with need.
“What did I tell you about that word?”
“I can guarantee I won’t be using it once we’re in your bedroom.” She ran her tongue along her top lip. “I’m going to the ladies room. When I come out, if you’re not by the elevators waiting for me, I’ll know that kiss was nothing more than the heat of the moment and we can go on with our lives.”
“Sage?”
“Shh.” She pressed her lips to his. “Now who’s over analyzing?” She reached for her purse and coat hanging on the back of the stool. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.” I hope.
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MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
Nic and Sage were once inseparable with Sage sacrificing her plans to see him become a pro ballplayer. With marriage on their horizon though Nic's doubts were brought to the forefront and had him leaving Sage behind to fulfill her dreams while he fought to reach the top of the baseball heap. She made a concerted effort to forget him, occasionally in the arms of fellow reporter Jason, while getting her dream job as a sportscaster for the Kingston Crushers. While she fought to forget him, he never forgot her and now longs to pick up where they left off. Thankfully Nic gets help from Sage's sister Rosalie to reclaim the woman of his dreams in a sweet, sexy, and heartwarming journey to HEA full of truths and a breaking down of emotional walls.
Nic is a true gentleman who hasn't allowed fame and fortune to go to his head. He knew when he was in high school how much Sage meant to him and planned to be with her forever until outside forces intervened to compel her to walk away. He's waited for her though and is thrilled to see her come back into his life and decides to unleash a sensual assault to get her back. Nic is immensely charming and I enjoyed how focused he was on Sage. Their connection was just as crackling as before which led to steamy sexual interludes nicely spaced throughout the story. Nic's a delectable hero who had me rooting for him and he completely won me over from the very first page to the last.
Sage was willing to sacrifice everything to be with Nic until he broke her heart after sending her away for what he thought was her own good. It left her heart closed of with emotional walls that Nic'll have a hard time getting through as she doesn't want to get hurt again. Sage is dedicated to her career having become totally focused on it in an attempt to forget Nic. She never truly forgot but isn't willing to give her heart away to him so easily ever again which makes for a bumpy journey to HEA. When outside forces once again intervene the journey is made even more complicated as Sage's unwillingness to accept Nic's attempts to make things right left me frustrated. Despite her hardheadedness Sage was a likable woman, easy to relate to. She's no shrinking violet and she's more than capable of standing up for herself and I enjoyed seeing her softer side return after the coldness her heart became enshrouded in.
This was a fun and flirty romance of reunited lovers. Through flashbacks the deep-seated connection between Nic and Sage was very clear and left me rooting for them to get back together and be as happy as they once were. Nic is a deliciously charming hero who's hard to resist while Sage started off hard-hearted to slowly morph into the open-hearted and trusting person she once was. There's a memorable cast of secondary characters too, some who help Nic in his quest to reclaim Sage and some seeking to keep them apart. Rosalie in particular left her mark with her smarts and outspoken nature and I hope to see more of her larger than life personality. This was an entertaining addition to the Kingston Heat series that can be read on its own, but with such delightful storyline from Ms. Jade, why wouldn't you want to read all this series has to offer!
My rating for this is an A-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Ella Jade has been writing for as long as she can remember. As a child, she often had a notebook and pen with her, and now as an adult, the laptop is never far. The plots and dialogue have always played out in her head, but she never knew what to do with them. That all changed when she discovered the eBook industry. She started penning novels at a rapid pace and now she can't be stopped.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two boys. When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy creating sexy, domineering men and the strong women who know how to challenge them in and out of the bedroom. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.
She loves connecting with readers.
Ella resides in New Jersey with her husband and two boys. When she's not chasing after her kids, she's busy creating sexy, domineering men and the strong women who know how to challenge them in and out of the bedroom. She hopes you'll get lost in her words.
She loves connecting with readers.
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Thanks for having me. I'm currently working on book 3 in the series... Rosalie's Player ;)
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