Readers are once again thrown into the world of baseball and the delicious men of the Longview Lumberjacks as opposites attract through flirty interactions, unexpected life changes, and danger that comes calling. Keep reading to get a tempting taste of Listen, Pitch by Lani Lynn Vale, along with getting my impressions of this third installment in the There’s No Crying in Baseball series!
Rhys Rivera is the star short-stop for the Longview Lumberjacks. Many know him, even more love him. He has a pretty face, a quick smile, and an air of danger about him that everyone seems to adore.
He’s not known as the bad boy of baseball for nothing.
It all started with his father, who decided to be a criminal mob boss, then die.
Fortunately for his uncle, Rhys wants absolutely nothing to do with the family business and runs before anyone can figure out which way is up.
By the time his uncle, the successor to his father’s criminal empire, thinks to look for him, Rhys has made too big of a name for himself to be taken out quietly, and he wants to keep it that way.
Fast forward eight years, and Rhys is living life one breath at a time, just waiting for the other shoe to drop. That shoe coming in the form of a nosy neighbor who has no idea just how hot she is in her mail carrier uniform.
Her sweet little body and positive outlook on life make him want to laugh at how naïve she is when it comes to the way of the world.
The harder he tries to stay away, the weaker he seems to get, until one day he decides to put his morals on hold long enough to satisfy his cravings. One time is all he needs—or so he tells himself.
But then two pink lines change everything, and all of a sudden, he doesn’t have just himself to worry about anymore.
MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:
From its over-the-top storyline to its memorable main couple, this is a tale that kept me glued to the pages from the first page to the last. In a tale of opposites attracting readers are once again reunited with the baseball players of the Longview Lumberjacks as one of their own sets out to beat the uncle who’s made his life miserable since the murder of his father. With a new-found romance balanced with the secrets of the mafia readers will soon find their cheeks blushing while hanging on for the ride of a lifetime.
Rhys Rivera grew up in the world of the mafia, doing deeds he’s still trying to forget about. With a loving but flawed father, and a mother who played him for a fool, Rhys was left doubting the power of love and HEAs. In trying to protect his deaf sister they eventually left that world behind, after sacrificing their souls, to find a future in the world of baseball. Becoming a success and gaining wealth has kept him and his sister safe for years...at least until his devious Uncle Pablo comes calling to upend his life and new love. The moment Rhys saw his next door neighbor, Henley, was the moment his heart came to life. With her kindhearted care of him from a near-death motorcycle accident to her unwavering support of him he comes to see her as a sexy ally who tempts him mightily. With their fake marriage getting more real every day, they’re both forced into doing things they never thought they’d have to do as they try to save their burgeoning romance from his uncle’s past. Rhys is a sexy beast who has an edge of danger to him. His fame has protected him from his uncle before, but with him still in recovery he’s feeling especially vulnerable and quickly came to rely on Henley to stand strong with him. Despite their differences they’re a formidable pair who had crackling chemistry. He went out of his way to give her all she’s ever dreamed of while she gave him a life and future he could only dream of. Rhys is a bit of a dirty talker, which heightened the eroticism between them, but he balanced that will romantic words and deeds that empowered her to see herself in a whole new light that endeared him to me.
Henley Cree grew up deaf and has always felt inferior because of it. She’s flitted from one career to another while feeling like a disappointment every step of the way, from her perceived bland looks to the weakness she sees her disability giving her. Despite her low self-esteem though she’s still an immensely kindhearted heroine with a strong protective streak, just as protective as Rhys. She’s immediately attracted to him, but doesn’t think she can ever have someone like him...until the day he proposes a fake marriage to avenge his father’s legacy. She may think she’s not enough for him, but it quickly becomes clear that he can’t live without her as they have to make some drastic choices if they want to reach their HEA. Through it all she deals with things head-on. With each new secret revealed she continues to stand by Rhys’ side, never letting her fears keep her from supporting him. Her deafness is dealt with in a realistic manner at all times, even in the middle of a scorching interlude readers get to hear things from her perspective. The longer they were together the more empowered she became, taking more chances to stop hiding in the shadows.
Rhys and Henley are a crackling couple teeming with sensuality in a romance that builds slowly. Their banter is sweet yet sexy with Rhys making her feel like a precious gift every step of the way. Surrounding this memorable main couple is an equally likable cast of secondary characters that inhabit the worlds of Ms. Vale’s other book series. Each character provided a tempting glimpse of their own stories needing to be, or already having been, told and it leaves readers wanting more. The need for revenge that drives Rhys is a bit melodramatic, with lots of over-the-top twists and turns, that it sometimes had me laughing. But with a quickly resolved ending it still let the romance take center stage and it all won me over by the turn of the final page. On a whole though this was a sexy and exhilarating romance full of scorching encounters and suspense that is an entertaining addition to the There’s No Crying in Baseball series!
Rhys Rivera grew up in the world of the mafia, doing deeds he’s still trying to forget about. With a loving but flawed father, and a mother who played him for a fool, Rhys was left doubting the power of love and HEAs. In trying to protect his deaf sister they eventually left that world behind, after sacrificing their souls, to find a future in the world of baseball. Becoming a success and gaining wealth has kept him and his sister safe for years...at least until his devious Uncle Pablo comes calling to upend his life and new love. The moment Rhys saw his next door neighbor, Henley, was the moment his heart came to life. With her kindhearted care of him from a near-death motorcycle accident to her unwavering support of him he comes to see her as a sexy ally who tempts him mightily. With their fake marriage getting more real every day, they’re both forced into doing things they never thought they’d have to do as they try to save their burgeoning romance from his uncle’s past. Rhys is a sexy beast who has an edge of danger to him. His fame has protected him from his uncle before, but with him still in recovery he’s feeling especially vulnerable and quickly came to rely on Henley to stand strong with him. Despite their differences they’re a formidable pair who had crackling chemistry. He went out of his way to give her all she’s ever dreamed of while she gave him a life and future he could only dream of. Rhys is a bit of a dirty talker, which heightened the eroticism between them, but he balanced that will romantic words and deeds that empowered her to see herself in a whole new light that endeared him to me.
Henley Cree grew up deaf and has always felt inferior because of it. She’s flitted from one career to another while feeling like a disappointment every step of the way, from her perceived bland looks to the weakness she sees her disability giving her. Despite her low self-esteem though she’s still an immensely kindhearted heroine with a strong protective streak, just as protective as Rhys. She’s immediately attracted to him, but doesn’t think she can ever have someone like him...until the day he proposes a fake marriage to avenge his father’s legacy. She may think she’s not enough for him, but it quickly becomes clear that he can’t live without her as they have to make some drastic choices if they want to reach their HEA. Through it all she deals with things head-on. With each new secret revealed she continues to stand by Rhys’ side, never letting her fears keep her from supporting him. Her deafness is dealt with in a realistic manner at all times, even in the middle of a scorching interlude readers get to hear things from her perspective. The longer they were together the more empowered she became, taking more chances to stop hiding in the shadows.
Rhys and Henley are a crackling couple teeming with sensuality in a romance that builds slowly. Their banter is sweet yet sexy with Rhys making her feel like a precious gift every step of the way. Surrounding this memorable main couple is an equally likable cast of secondary characters that inhabit the worlds of Ms. Vale’s other book series. Each character provided a tempting glimpse of their own stories needing to be, or already having been, told and it leaves readers wanting more. The need for revenge that drives Rhys is a bit melodramatic, with lots of over-the-top twists and turns, that it sometimes had me laughing. But with a quickly resolved ending it still let the romance take center stage and it all won me over by the turn of the final page. On a whole though this was a sexy and exhilarating romance full of scorching encounters and suspense that is an entertaining addition to the There’s No Crying in Baseball series!
My rating for this is a B-
*I got this book from the author for review in exchange for my honest opinion.
AUTHOR INFO:
Lani Lynn Vale is a USA Today Bestselling Author of over thirty titles. She is married with three children, two dogs, two cats, a donkey, and a couple (a couple also meaning over twenty) chickens. When she’s not writing, you can find her curled up in her favorite chair reading.
Lani is married with three children, and lives in the Great State of Texas.
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