A second-chance romance as scorching hot as a baseball diamond in August.Slater “Savage” HarlowWinning the MVP award for the Birmingham Bandits last year was the highlight of my baseball career. It was the culmination of childhood dreams, calculated adult decisions, sacrifice, and a hell of a lot of focus. Tearing my ACL in spring training? Not what I expected at all.Now I’m home, in small town … expected at all.
Now I’m home, in small town Georgia, rehabbing in the comfort of my own home, with people I know. I’m connecting with friends I haven’t had time to talk to in years, spending days at home with my parents, and getting to watch my little brother play minor league baseball.
What I don’t expect is to see Malone Fulcher walking into Del’s Diner one morning while having my coffee and egg whites.
She’s the old flame, the one who got away, and the woman I compare all others to.
Malone Fulcher
Spending the summer in my hometown wasn’t what I had planned, but it’s what I need. Recovering from a hard year, both personally and professionally, I need to reconnect with who I am. When my mom encouraged me to come home and do some soul searching, I can’t say no.
Memories are all over this small town, from the Baptist Church to the east field on my parents farm, to the diner. On my second day in town, I decide to go in, memories be damned.
I lost my breath as soon as I saw “Savage” Harlow sitting alone at a booth. Our eyes lock, my heart flutters, and my hands shake – all the same way they did back in high school. But back then we couldn’t make it work. Going our separate ways to differing colleges, we decided we weren’t meant to be.
A decade later, as soon as our eyes meet, I’m wondering if we were right, because those green eyes of his do nothing but take me to a past that I can see being my future.
Author’s Note: This does end in somewhat of a cliffhanger!
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I loved this book!!! I am a huge fan of second chance romance and this book was perfect for me. This is the story of Malone and Slater. They were in love all through high school and they had plans but life happened and things didn’t work out. Ten years later Slater is back home and he runs into Malone. The spark is still there….chemistry hasn’t disappeared for either of them. The more time they spend together….the more they realize that the feelings are still there for them both. I will admit that their journey ends on a cliffy and while I don’t like cliffys at all….I know that the wait will be worth it and I need to be patient. I loved this book so much and was hooked from beginning to end…I can’t wait for the next book in their journey and would definitely recommend this book to everyone. Its a well written story full of romance, humor, sweet swoony moments, and hot steamy moments. This author is a must read for me and never disappoints on delivering a fantastic book and that is what she has done here. Well done!!!
If you don’t like books that end with cliffhangers then you need to stop right now and just wait for book 2 to come out, especially is patience is not your thing. If you can handle the wait then words can not describe well enough how much I enjoyed Slater and Malone’s story. This was not the typical second chance romance book since the characters were ready to admit to their faults, errors, fears and admit that in the end their split made them grow as people into the adults that they are now. The chemistry between the pair is off the charts and with every one of Ms. Briscoe’s books, I keep wondering where to find a man like the ones that she writes about! I enjoyed this book from page one and was sorry that I could not get it finished in one sitting since I was hooked on the story and I can not wait to see where Malone and Slater go next!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book.
Another great book/storyline from Laramie Briscoe. I can honestly say I love her books and writing style and On the DL did not disappointed. While it’s a little different from her other books, the storyline and characters will steal your heart and hold you close.
The storyline revolves around two small town kids (Slater and Malone) who were high school sweethearts with big plans for their futures including marriage. But when the girl breaks both their hearts they go on to live their lives, separately. She follows her dreams and becomes a PR in California and he becomes a huge Pro Baseball star. When tragedy hits them both (10 years later) they return to their small town to recoup. When these two hard-headed, stubborn people bump into one another, will they finally talk and listen to one another, and I mean really listen, or will they go through the motions once more. Can they really forget and forgive past mistakes now that they both have their own lives and careers? Has Fate thrown them together t0 give them a 2nd chance or to give them closure?
The storyline and the characters are very well written. You’ll feel like you are right there feeling all the love and heartbreak these two go through. You may want to knock them in the head a time or two, or tell at least one of them to Get a Grip, but their story is soooooo worth reading. Oh and you even get to catch up on Caleb and Ruby from the Moonshine Task Force series (after all Slater and Caleb were roommates in college). This is a phenomenal book that I Highly recommend reading. But be forewarned, the author will leave you hanging at the end. But Luckily part two is only a couple weeks away and this reader just can’t wait. 2 Thumbs Up for a terrific book and storyline.
Okay, where do I even start with this gorgeous story? Firstly, I have to say that Laramie really has outdone herself with Slade and Malone’s story. I loved these two characters so much. They were relatable and more than loveable…even when they made me want to shake them up and make them realise where they were going wrong.
The first thing I have to say about this story is that it is sweet and touching. It is a story that most people will be able to empathise with, with its coming of age feel and angst. These are two young adults that are starting off in the big world and they have to make some tough decisions that at one point or another we’ve all had to make. I don’t want to give too much away because the best way to go into this baby is blind and without expectations. I’d be lying if I said that this was a happy go lucky read, it is not. In true Laramie fashion it digs deep and sinks its claws into you until you feel like you are one with the story and he characters. A lot has to do with the plot, but it also is down to the brilliant writing. Really, Ms. Briscoe never disappoints.
I’d say that this is a bit of a coming of age/ college/ sports romance. And honestly, Laramie has done such a great job of encapsulating these characters that not only fit into those sub-genres, but they also have a way of fitting into your own personal experiences. I really loved Slade and Malone. I thought they were both pretty grounded characters, they both had their issues and I felt that taking their age and their point in life they were dealt with accordingly. I mean no college aged person is going to make adult decisions without tripping up. Saying that, it is a little infuriating at times…but that’s all part of the charm of this read. It’s also where the delicious angst comes from.
All in all, I loved On The DL. I have to say that I’m not a massive fan of cliffhangers, and the cliffy we were left with did sorta make me want to fall on my knees and beg Laramie to just put me out of my misery. BUT, it was done very well, and I just know that it is going to be SUPER worth it! Also, the wait isn’t going to be too long, so….
My first thoughts after finishing this are “AHHHHHHH! OMG! WHHHHHHYYYYYYYY!?” followed quickly by double checking when the next book comes out. In true duet fashion On The DL has left me dying for the next book because Savage and Malone’s story is so insanely good and I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT! Laramie Briscoe is one of my favorite authors with her incredible ability to always write a story that has romance that makes you swoon no matter what or who it’s about and that shines brightly in this book.
I loved how easy these two were together, while at the same time they didn’t sugar coat or hide from their past. The reconnection between them was real and at times raw, but the sweetness of the love they had is always present. That made me become so hooked to their story. Both having gone their separate ways in the most heartbreaking of manners years before, and now Malone and Savage are both right back where it started with both of their lives turned upside down.
This first half of their duet is as much about them finding themselves again as it is finding the new version of them. There’s a lot of growth, a lot of emotion, and a lot of sweet steamy goodness that grabs you the entire time you’re reading.
4.5 stars
I love a second chance romance so I knew I was going to love Slade and Malones story.
Slade fell for Malone in high school. Together they start making plans for their future but when one of them gets cold feet, they part ways and don’t see each other for ten years. Slade aka Savage is now a top baseball player who has never really gotten over his first love. When he suffers an injury, he heads home to recuperate not knowing Malone is also back in town.
Malone was determined to find herself when her heart was broken. Moving to LA and working PR, Malone’s definitely changed from the shy teenager Slade once knew. After losing her job, she’s left with no choice but to move home while she figures out what’s she’s going to do next.
I love Slade and Malone. They’ve got the maturity that they didn’t have the first time around and they both know themselves a lot better now. Putting the past behind them and then figuring out what’s going to happen next for them leaves them both with some hard decisions to make. It was easy to see the similarities with their past, present and future at times and I couldn’t help cheering them on. I was desperate for these two to finally get the timing right.
This is book one of a duet so don’t expect to get a Hea but I have hope for book two! If two characters were ever made to be with each other, it’s Malone and Slade. I can’t wait for MVP.
Great novel about second chances. On The DL is a novel about second chance love. This book was good, but I felt it could use a bit more conflict in it. I did enjoy it immensely though. This book has everything you need to cook up some love. There is a past history between characters, an undying love, and circumstances that have thrown them together. The question is, will they take this second chance or let it burn?
The plot of this story is interesting. Slater “Savage” Harlow is a pro baseball player loved by all. He leads a rich lifestyle that he always dreamed of since he was a teen. The only problem was, the spot beside him was empty. Malone Fulcher made a terrible mistake in her teens. One that she felt was for the best, but has haunted her ever since. When her circumstances change and she is forced to go back to her old town, she knows the memories there will haunt her.
Malone is a strong and amazing character. She had to go through a lot of tough experiences in order to get to where she was. While she feels the decisions in her past might have been a mistake, I love that she stuck to her guns. Slater is a great character as well. He also had to fight through some tough times. I love how strong he came out on the other end. While he is strong, he also hasn’t let fame get to him. He still has that southern boy charm to him.
The heat in this book has been simmering for decades. The chemistry between these two never really died off. There is that underlying love they felt as teens that shines through as they heat up the pages more and more. The memories of the old times also lend themselves to this heat, making it burn brighter.
I liked the writing style of this book. It was fun and easy to read. I like how the author let us get to know the characters from before then as they are now. What I love most is that Caleb from the MTF novels makes an appearance along with some other characters. That is special to me since that is my favorite series by this author. The only complaint I had was I felt the pace of the book was a little slower than I liked. I liked the use of time jumps though. I liked the feeling of the time passing as these two got to know each other.
Overall, I really liked this book. It is a duet so I can’t wait to read MVP next. This book ends on a cliffy, so if you don’t like cliffys then I would suggest you wait until the second part comes out before you read it. I will say that you will be missing out though. This book is a heartwarming novel about second chances. It is all about how things in your teens can look so different when you look back on it with adult eyes.
Ratings:
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Heat: 5/5
Writing Style: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
So I was skeptical at first because I never could see the author beating her last series with a duet. BAM! Was I so wrong. This is why I read Laramie’s books! I can never say one of her books are better than the other because I love them all the same. I loved Slade and Malone’s journey. The ending nearly killed me. I loved the story line and the characters. I love the writing style and all the emotions you will feel. I had goose bumps and a lot of “What Ifs” moments. My heart was tugged into two!
I can not wait for MVP. I need to know the ending for these two and excited to continue on their journey!!
I have read almost all of Laramie Briscoe’s books and have loved every one of them. This one is no exception.
“On the DL” is a second chance romance which I love those kind of books. Especially when they were high school sweethearts who find each other again years down the road. Slade and Malone have so much chemistry and history and every one can see how much they are still in love just by watching them. Neither one of them have been able to move on from the past because they both couldn’t forget each other or the love they had. What a great read and I couldn’t put the book down.
This book leaves you with a cliffhanger but “MVP” is not far behind and I can’t wait to read it to find out if they get it all figured out!!
On the DL by Laramie Briscoe is the first book in her The MVP Duet and let me tell you, that ending will leave you wanting so much more in this second chance romance! It is not a huge one, but enough to make you want to throw your kindle a little bit. But you do not have to wait long for the second book!
Slater “Savage” Harlow and Malone Fulcher were high school sweethearts who thought they had it all figured out. There love was strong and deep, but their dreams may not have been on the same page yet. Slater would play college baseball until he was drafted and he would always take care of Malone. She would follow him until then. But when Malone has an opportunity to follow her dream, where would that leave them?
Ten years later, circumstances beyond their control bring them back home, a place both tried to avoid as much as possible. For years Slater has been hurt and angry at Malone for walking away and Malone has always wondered what if. Now they are both older and mature and decide they may be able to be friends again. But a connection like theirs cannot be denied and they realize this as they spend time getting to know each other as adults.
But what will happen when Slater is ready to play again? Can Malone follow and support him while still being true to herself? Throughout the story we get glimpses to their past and see them reconnect in the present. Though there was a lot of anger and hurt between them, you could also see the love that was still there. Is this there second chance at love?
I really enjoyed watching Malone and Slater get to know each other again and discuss what happened between them and how it affected them. It was sweet and charming and you wanted to keep cheering them on. But sometimes life gets in the way and we are left hanging a bit. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book! It was also so much fun to see some of our Moonshine Task force friends! This is a standalone duet, so no fear there, just the author brining in some old friends!
Read and reviewed for Reviews From The Heart.
Happy reading!
On the DL was my first book by Laramie Briscoe and I really enjoyed it. This was a second chance lovers tale about baseball player Slade and his high school sweetheart Malone. Slade was a total hottie, with tatts and a heart of gold who just wanted to have the perfect life. Malone was more work driven and although she was sassy and their banter was playful, she was a little insecure as well.
By the end of their senior year, Slade has their lives all planned out. College, marriage and the dream of being picked during the first draft to a major league baseball team. He never knew Malone had dreams of her own, ones that didn’t include him and after initially saying yes to his proposal, she broke his heart and they went their separate ways.
Ten years later, they’re both back in their home town. Slade recovering from an injury and Malone due to losing her PR job.
When they meet up again it’s obvious neither has really moved on from their previous relationship and the love is still burning bright. Try as he might, Slade can’t help falling for Malone again and risks having his heart trampled once more.
Malone thinks fate must have had a hand somehow and although she’s wary at first, she soon gives in to temptation as Slade wins her over.
Finally sure of where they stand, Slade puts himself out there again… but will Malone give him the answer he wants?
Well, I did cry at the end but remember that this is a duet, so when I say cliffhanger, you’ll get what I mean.
The only thing about this book that bugged me was that it is a cliffhanger, of which I’m not a fan, especially when I get so invested in the characters. Overall I really enjoyed this book. Slater & Malone are a strong couple together and apart, and I’m rooting for them to find their ‘forever together.’
The story itself is good, reads at a good pace and never got boring. However, as much as I was hoping they could get passed any future misunderstanding (especially after their past) it doesn’t happen. Old habits are hard to break for some, and we’re left with an unhappy cliffhanger. But that just makes us want to read on, right? So onto book 2 I go.
I recommend this book if you like stories about love, redemption and letting go of the past. And if you’ve like Laramie’s previous books, you won’t be disappointed.
If you like a good second chance romance, then this duo is for you. It has all the things you want in a good book: love, loss, heartache, and miscommunication. At the end I wanted to smack the main characters, but in the second book the misunderstanding is fixed.
Let me start off by saying if your like me and one click everything LB writes then your going to see that this is different than anything she’s written BUT at the same time has lots of the same LB charm. This is Slater “ Savage “ Harlow and Malone “Mal” Fulchers story … I’m normally not one to jump on a second chance book but because LB wrote this I jumped in and let me tell you this story is full of heartbreak, sadness, healing , forgiving and rekindling old love !! Watching Slater and Mal reconnect after 10 years apart after things ended as they did had me laughing and crying , standing ovation LB on giving us a story u like any you’ve written before and making us fall in love with these two much like we have with all your others !!! From one non-lover of second chance love books to another if your on the fence about this let Savage knock it our the park for you… ONE CLICK NOW !!!! PS I might also love this series bc I’m a Bama girl !! #RollTide # GoBandits
Another lovely book by Laramie Briscoe! This is not a stand alone, so prepare yourself for an abrupt ending, and find the second book now before you curse the author! But it’s a great book about second chance love.
I loved this book about high school sweethearts who part ways and then come back together 10 years later as adults. Being married to my own high school sweetheart, it does bring up good points about the evolution of relationships and personal development.
For followers of the author, we briefly met Savage in “Cruise” as he and Slater were college roomates and friends. Slater, aka Savage, is a professional baseball player, a previous MVP for his team. But he’s currently rehabbing a torn ACL in his hometown. Malone is also back in town, from LA where she lost her PR job, and is now trying to pick up the pieces and figure out where to go from there. These former high school sweethearts run into each other, and have to figure out how to put the past behind them, and learn what went wrong…do they want to be friends…or more?
Asking if these characters have any heat and chemistry is a bit silly, as all the wonderful characters Ms. Briscoe writes light the pages. But these two give the readers the unique ability to see them as both teens on the brink of greatness dealing with the prospect of adulthood and unfamiliar issues; as well as the adult version who know better (we hope) and work things out and then…wink, wink, work it out! “Horny wasn’t just a state of mind, it was a way of life.”
I started this book knowing I’d love it as a huge fan of the author. And while it didn’t disappoint, I felt the beginning was a little slow to get going. That slow was a little necessary once you got further into the book and got more details and understood the character point of views and backstories. By the last third, you’re sucked in and can’t put it down.
The author warns you of a cliffhanger, but that doesn’t fully prepare you for it! It certainly builds you up to leave you wanting more. I want to know how Slater and Malone work out the need for individuality in a relationship while making the teamwork aspect work better.
“Life and relationships are about compromise, but we weren’t good at that back then, were we?”
“I’m not promising you perfect, and I’m not promising you easy. … Love is being with someone when they’re at their weakest. It’s helpign them up when they’re down, being their strength when they have none.”
Star Ratings:
Plot = 4/5 Characters = 5/5 Heat = 5/5 Writing Style = 5/5 Overall Rating = 5/5
What a great start to a new series by Laramie Briscoe! On the DL is the perfect second chance romance. And it’s a Southern sports story, which makes the hero Slater so much more yummier.
High school sweethearts Slater and Malone have everything going their way until Malone makes a surprising decision regarding her future. Ten years later, they both end up back at home. But is the spark that was so hot and heavy when they were younger still there today?
I can’t wait to see where this story is headed in the next book. Great job, Laramie!
A fantastic start to a second chance romance. Malone and Slater were high school sweethearts who were going to get married. Malone started having second thoughts and decided not to follow him to college. Ten years later they are both back in their hometown and run into each other. They can’t deny they are still attracted to each other. Can they put the past behind them and start a new relationship? You will have to find out what happens in the next book because this one ends with a cliffhanger. Interesting storyline, amazing characters that had me devouring this book. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Slade and Malone were childhood sweethearts that were torn apart by them wanting 2 different things in life and not communicating to each other what they wanted. After ten years apart, they are back in their hometown at the same time and realizing that they want to truly be together. The book ends on a cliffhanger when Slade does the one thing that Malone asked him not to do.
Can’t wait for the 2nd part.
On the DL was a great 5 star read. This is book 1 in the MVP Duet series.
I was once again pulled right in by Laramie’s writing, I didn’t want to put it down until I was done.
This is Slade and Malone’s story. These two were high school sweethearts but something happened that caused them to go separate ways.
We jump ahead ten years and they both are back home again. They are both in difference places now, then when they were younger and dealing with college, etc. The spark is still there between them. Can these two come together now that they are older and put the past behind them? Is their love strong enough?
I had some frustrations at times with Malone she needs to be a little stronger when it comes to speaking up. Slade was a hot and lovable alpha male. Overall this was a great book with great characters. We do end with a cliff hanger of sorts and I’m anxiously waiting for the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.
On the DL was amazing. Slade and Malone where awesome. Slade and Malone are high school sweethearts but right before they left for college things changed now 10 years later they are back home will they be able to overcome what happened 10 years ago or will their new lives tear them apart once again? Laramie knows how to make you cry and she will do that to you in On the DL there is also a cliffhanger at the end but just know she will make up for it in the next book. Thank you Laramie for another amazing story.