Jen Doyle is back with another hot and heartfelt home run of a contemporary romance. Fans of Jill Shalvis should prepare to swoon over Jack and Lola’s HEA. Jack “Ox” Oxford is used to being alone. Granted, when you screw over your friends, being alone isn’t always a choice. Playing for the Chicago Watchmen is a last-ditch effort to save his career…and right some of his past wrongs. He’s not … He’s not expecting a warm reception, but he’s also not expecting a flat tire to change everything.
Recovering control freak, single mom and semiprofessional chaos wrangler Lola Deacon McIntire doesn’t need an arrogant ballplayer to swoop in and save her from anything, much less her flat tire. And she definitely doesn’t need her body to betray her and decide this is the guy to wake up her rusty libido. She isn’t about to upset her sons’ lives for any man–much less one who so clearly doesn’t think he’s dad material.
Jack never thought he’d find someone who wanted to build a life with him, but the more time he spends with Lola and her boys, the more it starts to feel permanent. Even tough-as-nails Lola concedes there just might be a future here–the big, beautiful, messy future neither of them was looking for–but only if Jack will accept he deserves it.
This book is approximately 100,000 words
One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!
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This installment of the Calling It series was by far my favorite. In fact, I spent the last several pages trying to read through tears. As with most series, the book can be read alone, but you’ll most likely want to read the first two books in order to get the most out of this one.
Jack and Lola. Jack get us back to the sports world. He’s made a mistake that cost him one of his best friends and caused his pitching to spiral downward. To save his career, he’s reaching out to that ex-best friend (Nate from Calling It) and then he meets Lola. Lola is a widow with 4 young sons. She has her hands full and doesn’t need a professional ballplayer to turn her life upside down.
I really liked these two together. Neither wanted anything serious and what started out as a flirtation really spiced up. Both had a lot of issues to work through before they could admit their feelings and jump in with both feet. I found myself flipping those pages and cheering them on.
It was also nice to reunite with the couples from the first two books in the series. As they’re connected with Jack and Lola, they make quite a few appearances. It was also nice to get back to the sports since that was pushed to the back burner in the second book.
All in all, this book really tugged and my heartstrings and I’m so glad that I found this series. Well done Ms Doyle.
My review originally posted at Romancing the Book.
Reviewed by Jen
Book provided by Jen Doyle
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
This installment of the Calling It series was by far my favorite. In fact, I spent the last several pages trying to read through tears. As with most series, the book can be read alone, but you’ll most likely want to read the first two books in order to get the most out of this one.
Jack and Lola. Jack get us back to the sports world. He’s made a mistake that cost him one of his best friends and caused his pitching to spiral downward. To save his career, he’s reaching out to that ex-best friend (Nate from Calling It) and then he meets Lola. Lola is a widow with 4 young sons. She has her hands full and doesn’t need a professional ballplayer to turn her life upside down.
I really liked these two together. Neither wanted anything serious and what started out as a flirtation really spiced up. Both had a lot of issues to work through before they could admit their feelings and jump in with both feet. I found myself flipping those pages and cheering them on.
It was also nice to reunite with the couples from the first two books in the series. As they’re connected with Jack and Lola, they make quite a few appearances. It was also nice to get back to the sports since that was pushed to the back burner in the second book.
All in all, this book really tugged and my heartstrings and I’m so glad that I found this series. Well done Ms Doyle.
Aaaaand….it’s back to Inspiration, Iowa, we go! What better way to start the summer than with baseball and the Boys of Summer? I love me a good baseball read! This one is every bit as engaging as the other books in this series. The characters are fun, the dialogue is witty, and the story is entertaining.
Lola is nothing if not loyal. Some would say she’s loyal to a fault. She would probably agree with them. Jack is nothing if not self-deprecating. I wouldn’t call him humble, although he does have some of that going on. Nope. It’s more like he’s been conditioned to think he’s way less than he is. He doesn’t see what others see. He sees what his father sees. And his father is no one to look up to!
Jack has come to Inspiration in a last-ditch effort to save his pitching career. He knows it’s the last place he should be. He’s as likely to be run out of town as he is to get directions to Nate Hawkin’s house. He’s desperate. Lola is raising four boys on her own. Her husband died three years ago and she’s been struggling ever since. She shouldn’t be attracted to Jack. He’s the absolute last person she should have any interest in. But the more she knows about him, the more she sees under his shiny exterior, the more she realizes he’s probably the only one who can save her. The only other person who sees what she sees is Nate.
This is a quick and fun read about the Iowa Dream Team and the meaning of sticking together through thick and thin. It’s about loyalty and second chances, forgiveness and repentance, and mostly about finding out what you’re truly made of. Great way to start the summer!