One Old, One New: Take Me Out to the Ball Game

One Old, One New features two books - one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today, I am sharing two books that feature a summertime staple - baseball.

Stealing Home
Becky Wallace
Age/Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Page Street
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Fight for your dreams, even if it means breaking a few rules.

Seventeen-year-old Ryan Russell has life perfectly planned. If she keeps up her hard work, one day she’ll take over the family business: owning the Buckley Beavers, a minor league baseball team, and become one of the only female General Managers in the sport.

But when the newest member of the Beavers, child-phenom Sawyer Campbell, shows up, Ryan’s carefully laid plans are thrown a major curveball. Sawyer is far more charming than the arrogant jocks she usually manages, his ambition rivals her own workaholic nature—and he’s completely out of bounds. Fraternizing is against every rule in the Beaver’s handbook.

Then Ryan’s divorced parents butt heads over the future of the Beavers, and her mom plans to sell her shares to a business group known for relocating teams. If this happens, Ryan’s dreams of becoming GM disappear. In a bid to save her future, she partners with Sawyer to use his star power to draw in sponsors who will keep the team in Buckley. But the more time she spends with him, the more impossible it becomes to play by the Beaver’s rules, and she can’t afford a strikeout on the path to her dreams.

Full count with two outs, Ryan’s one pitch away from losing the whole ball game.

Although I never played any sports ball, I LOVE sports romances, and therefore, had to have this book as soon as I heard about it. But, Stealing Home was not your typical sports romance. This was about having a dream, and doing everything you could to make it happen.

Sawyer was the number one draft pick for the Buckley Beavers, the minor league team for the Texas Rangers. He hoped to make it to the majors, and earn enough money to help save his family's farm. Ryan also hoped to make a life in baseball. She wanted to be the first female general manager in the sport. However, when Sawyer and Ryan's aspirations were threatened, the two were able to work together to try and save both their dreams.

Ryan was incredible. She was so focused and driven, almost to a fault, but I admired her for it. You could tell how much she loved the game, her dad, and the Buckley Beavers. I found all the behind the scenes stuff really interesting, and absolutely loved all her planning and plotting to save the business.

Sawyer was also fabulous. He was a baseball playing southern farm boy with a drawl. Be still my heart. He was so sweet and endearing, and his love for his family just made me adore him more. I absolutely had no problem rooting for these two.

The romance was of the slow burn variety, but not really by choice. Sawyer and Ryan had to fight their growing attraction, because of the non-fraternization policy, and, well, that resulted in some serious tension. It didn't stop the two from developing a fond friendship, though, and being there for each other when they really needed someone in their court. Still, I was 100% behind them making that love connection, because they were just perfectly matched.

This book was summer personified. It was warm and sunny, light and easy. It was like a glass of sweet tea on a hot day - refreshing and satisfying, and it made me feel good.

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

Whatever Life Throws at you
Julie Cross
Age/Genre: Young Adult/New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

Life loves a good curveball…

Seventeen-year-old Annie Lucas's life is completely upended the moment her dad returns to the major leagues as the new pitching coach for the Kansas City Royals. Now she's living in Missouri (too cold), attending an all-girls school (no boys), and navigating the strange world of professional sports. But Annie has dreams of her own—most of which involve placing first at every track meet…and one starring the Royals' super-hot rookie pitcher.

But nineteen-year-old Jason Brody is completely, utterly, and totally off-limits. Besides, her dad would kill them both several times over. Not to mention Brody has something of a past, and his fan club is filled with C-cupped models, not smart-mouthed high school “brats” who can run the pants off every player on the team. Annie has enough on her plate without taking their friendship to the next level. The last thing she should be doing is falling in love.

But baseball isn't just a game. It's life. And sometimes, it can break your heart…

I found, and fell in love with, Julie Cross via her Juniper Falls books, and have been working my way through her backlist. As with her other books, this book was an utter delight for me.

It was love at first page for me and Annie. I found her a bit sassy and snarky, and her musings made me smile. I also learned quickly, that beneath her gruff exterior, was a kind and big hearted person. Her love for her grandmother and her dad was showcased, time and time again, and I am all about the big-happy-family vibe. Just the fact, that she was willing to compromise her aspirations for her dad won a lot of points from me. But, the move to Kansas City was a challenge for Annie, and I thought she rose to the challenge, grabbed it with both hands, and adapted in order to succeed. As much as she was labeled a "kid" during this story, she did a lot of growing up, and earned her spot at the grown-up table.

Jason was such a wonderful and swoony hero. It took a while to scratch the surface, but once I saw past the bad boy persona, I just couldn't get enough of him. Jason was tying to improve himself and his life. He was attempting to make better decisions, and I was rooting for him to succeed, because he wasn't that trouble making kid any more.

And, I don't care that he was 19 (Annie was almost 18), I adored him and Annie together. They encouraged and supported one another. They had a flirtation, which grew into a genuine friendship, and eventually, full-on love. They were able to confide in one another, and oh! I loved that Jason was all about communication. That's right, friends. He was about having an open discourse with the people you care about, no matter how awkward it could be. It was so...healthy, and really refreshing to see.

Cross made the story just that much better by throwing in a whole bunch of feel-good baseball stuff too. I am not a sports fan, but there is something about seeing an underdog succeed, which never fails to make my heart soar.

After I finished this book, I posted this Goodreads status:

I just finished this book, and all I have to say is....

And, I am happy to report, I still feel this way about this wonderful book.

What's your favorite ballpark snack?

Let us know in the comments!