Baseball player Nathan Hawkins needs to get away from Chicago. After a near career-ending car accident and with paparazzi surrounding his penthouse, Nate can only think of one place to go: home. But when he finds his old apartment occupied by a half-naked woman wielding a baseball bat, he’s not sure what to think…except that maybe his luck has finally changed for the better. Librarian Dorie … Librarian Dorie Donelli never thought she’d get to meet her fantasy man in person–much less in her bathrobe. To her surprise, her nearly naked run-in with Nate leads to more unclothed encounters. But Dorie is sure their fling is only temporary. As long as she remembers he’ll be gone once his life gets back on track, she won’t get hurt. In the meantime, she throws herself into enjoying their three weeks together before he has to report for spring training and go back to his old life.
For Nate, being with Dorie is the only time in months that he finds himself smiling. Laughing. And he has no intention of letting that go. He might even be falling in love…if only Dorie will let him say the words. What they have isn’t just a dream, but the start of a dream come true.
This book is approximately 101,000 words
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Loved this book. ** 4.5 Stars ** Nate Hawkins is a great guy. The heroine stubbornly sticks to the “this will never work, it’s only short term” mantra until I was ready to throttle her. But it’s still a fun introduction to both their families and the town of Inspiration. The characters are charming and lovable, I would definitely like to meet more of them and read their stories.
4 out of 5 stars! A top playing baseball catcher goes home during his off-season with hopes of straightening out his life. Though who he finds to help him along the way is the one woman that he can’t seem to get enough of and who doesn’t want anything more from him other than a fling? Can he prove to her that they’ll be able to last?
This hilariously drama filled contemporary romance was unexpected yet has a “down to earth” feel to it too. I enjoyed the build-up this plot has, while I was thoroughly entertained by its characters. It’s a wonderful baseball romance that reminded me a bit of Ms. Tan’s “The Hot Streak.”
Like Nate (Nathan), I LOVED the way he met Dorie (Lucinda). They have a light hilarity between them that carries through this novel and draws its readers into their relationship even more. Yet, it was their intense connection that moved me and had me rooting for them from the beginning.
My only wish was that the last four chapters were written better so I could’ve liked Dorie more. I understand she was scared but she took the drama to a level that it really didn’t need to go.
Nevertheless, I DO recommend this novel for those wanting a unique contemporary baseball romance.
Review By: From Me to You … Video, Photography, & Book Reviews
— read more of this review and TWO TEASERS on my blog: frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com —
I was completely unaware of Jen Doyle’s books when I won a copy of Calling It during a Facebook contest. But seeing as I like small town romances and sports romances, I was excited to try out this new-to-me author. And I’m glad I did. This was a great start to a promising series.
Nate is an all-star baseball play who returns to his hometown to rehab after a nasty accident and public ending to his engagement. He’s licking his wounds, staying out of the limelight and trying to figure out what’s next for him. He’s not looking for any sort of involvement, but is drawn to Dorie, the new local librarian. Dorie is new to town, taking her dream job and the chance to escape her big, protective family. She doesn’t recognize Nate when she first meets him, in a rather funny scene, and it’s so refreshing for Nate. What then ensues is some flirting, a kind of friends with benefits relationship and since we’re talking about a romance, a happily ever after.
The relationship between these two is the highlight of this book for me. I loved the the dance around each other that Nate and Dorie did. I liked that Dorie was hesitant to get involved with such a famous person and had to get over the related fears and that Nate was willing to jump in feet first after recently ending a disastrous relationship. But I think the fact that there actually IS a romance and not just a sudden “I love you and everything is going to work out great” ending is what won me over.
This book made me laugh and cry and I was so ready to jump into the next book as soon as I read “The End”. If you’re looking for an emotional roller coaster ride set in a small town, this might just be the book for you. And bonus points for it being a sports story as well.
My review originally posted at Romancing the Book.
One of my favorite sports romance books! As a baseball fan Jen Doyle really nails the world of professional players and creates characters who really work for their happily ever after!
Reviewed by Jen
Book provided by Contest win
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I was completely unaware of Jen Doyle’s books when I won a copy of Calling It during a Facebook contest. But seeing as I like small town romances and sports romances, I was excited to try out this new-to-me author. And I’m glad I did. This was a great start to a promising series.
Nate is an all-star baseball play who returns to his hometown to rehab after a nasty accident and public ending to his engagement. He’s licking his wounds, staying out of the limelight and trying to figure out what’s next for him. He’s not looking for any sort of involvement, but is drawn to Dorie, the new local librarian. Dorie is new to town, taking her dream job and the chance to escape her big, protective family. She doesn’t recognize Nate when she first meets him, in a rather funny scene, and it’s so refreshing for Nate. What then ensues is some flirting, a kind of friends with benefits relationship and since we’re talking about a romance, a happily ever after.
The relationship between these two is the highlight of this book for me. I loved the the dance around each other that Nate and Dorie did. I liked that Dorie was hesitant to get involved with such a famous person and had to get over the related fears and that Nate was willing to jump in feet first after recently ending a disastrous relationship. But I think the fact that there actually IS a romance and not just a sudden “I love you and everything is going to work out great” ending is what won me over.
This book made me laugh and cry and I was so ready to jump into the next book as soon as I read “The End”. If you’re looking for an emotional roller coaster ride set in a small town, this might just be the book for you. And bonus points for it being a sports story as well.