Let me ask you a question: If someone is vying for your spot on a team and just so happens to injure you during practice, would you believe it was on purpose?Word around campus is . . . it was no accident. That injury has cost me everything; my starting position, my junior year—and the draft. Now, I’m a senior fresh off recovery, struggling to find my groove, until the day I run into a nervous, … day I run into a nervous, fidgety, girl with freckles, in the dining hall.
They call Milly Potter The Baseball Whisperer, The Diamond Wizard, and The Epitome of All Knowledge. She believes in baseball. She breathes it. She’s the queen of an infamous dynasty, but no one actually knows who she really is, and she plans to keep it that way.
One mishap in the panini line, one miscommunication in the weight room, and many failed attempts at an apology equal up to one solid truth — Milly Potter never wants to speak to me again — no matter how good my forearms look.
Little do we both know, she’s about to become more than just my fairy ballmother.
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The Dugout by Meghan Quinn was a hit! It was a mix of humor, angst, bromance, love, and baseball .
Carson Stone was by far my favorite hero from Meghan’s books thus far and that’s making a statement as I’ve loved most of her heroes. But Carson, gah there is just something about him that will steal your heart completely!
Carson is first introduced in The Locker Room. He’s Knox’s best friend and an overall hilarious man. In this book he is more than laughs, he’s sweet and really just an amazing fictional being!
Then we have Milly Potter probably one of the best heroines. This girl is a nut. She lives for baseball. Is smart, funny, and awkward. She also has her dorky moments that will leave you snickering at her antics.
Together, Milly and Carson were everything! Their romance was inspirational. I couldn’t help falling in love with them. Though an emotional wreck towards the end, I found I really just loved this book so much! Carson goes through some dark moments that change him and as a reader witnessing it is truly heartbreaking (cue the tears) .
The Dugout was the perfect sports/college romance! An A++ novel I recommend you read. Oh holy moley what a ride! I’m so excited to see whose next
*5 Stars*
ARC kindly received in exchange for an honest review.
Um, where can I find myself a Carson Stone? Holy moly I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down! Carson is everything, and Milly is the cutest! I feel that Milly is a really relatable character, and I truly connected with her, even though I know nothing about baseball.
I was invested in this story and really enjoyed watching it unfold. Carson is a fantastic male lead and Milly was extremely likeable. I started getting scary feelings about the part where it was all going to turn into a pile of poo (as things tend to happen in every romance book) and turned out I was right.
I kind of wished that the ending was longer, and things were dragged out a bit more, and a bit more time was given as things were pulled together in the end, but it was a great story and very well written.
I loved all of our secondary characters, particularly Cory, and I quite liked Jason as well. I’d love for all the Potter boys, and for Jason, to get their own books. Like, can we just get all the books for all the characters please Meghan?
Highly recommend this one, and can’t wait for more of this series!
Damaged Alpha Hero
Wallflower Heroine with heart
Slow Burn with an EXTREMELY hot end
Baseball player with all the swoon
Romantic Comedy that will melt your heart
Carson Stone has one more chance to make the draft and he’s starting out the season with one hell of a flop. Angry with his circumstances, he doesn’t realize he runs into the solution to all his problems in the dining hall panini line until it’s too late. Now he needs to try to figure out how to make sure his soon to be fairy ballmother meets him in the dugout, rather than walk away without giving him a second chance up at bat . . . and at love.
Romance Rehab: book recs, author services, general badassery: https://www.romancerehab.com/
The first 70% of this book is so awesome I was ready to award it 6 stars. Then the end happened and it did a bit of a face plant. But seriously, y’all, that beginning…
Plot overview: Down-on-his-luck-and-sexily-grumpy Carson seeks the help of tragically-awkward-yet-Yoda-like-in-her-knowledge-of-baseball Milly to recover from an injury and figure out what’s gone wrong with his baseball swing. Slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance ensues.
Like I said, the beginning of this book is pure genius. Carson is deliciously grumpy because of an injury that postponed his being drafted. But as it turns out, Carson is actually a really great guy once you scrape off the self-pity. He doesn’t ever look down on Milly or expect her to change anything about herself. He treats her with the utmost respect at all times. He’s a total cinnamon roll, frankly. (Up until the 70% mark of the book, mind you) And best of all, he’s not a manwhore. There weren’t scads of disgusting hookups in his past, or even any jealous ex girlfriends determined to ruin Carson and Milly’s relationship. It was refreshing, really.
And Milly is a delightful heroine. She’s PAINFULLY awkward, but so knowledgeable and such a great, giving person (she coaches little league, for God’s sake) that you can’t help but love her. I even loved her two male friends. She doesn’t have girlfriends, and that’s OK. There aren’t a lot of other women in the book, and normally that would bug me, but I’d rather have very few women in a story than horribly portrayed women, which is something that happens all too often in romance novels. It made sense that Milly would have guy friends versus girlfriends, and that was just fine with me.
The romance is fairly slow burn, which I always enjoy. They get to know each other and become friends before any sexy times ensue. Then when sexy times DO ensure, they are of the oh-holy-hell-that’s-hot variety.
And then…the 70% mark of the book happens. Something terrible happens to Carson and he shuts down emotionally and treats Milly horribly. Frankly, I wouldn’t have forgiven him if it had been me. But after what I found to be an entirely unsatisfying grovel, she takes him back. That whole thing lost the book a whole star. *stern frown-y face*
But, because the beginning was so good, I’m still giving this one a solid 4 out of 5 ranking. What can I say? It’s a great read. Might I suggest that you stop reading at the 70% mark and just take my word for it that it all works out beautifully? It’d save you some aggravation.
I absolutely love Meghan Quinn’s writing. She pens the most addictive and engaging love stories. and I can’t get enough of them. She pulls me right into them with plots that are full of her wonderful sense of humor, with passionate romances and punches of gut-wrenching emotion that always seem to catch me by surprise.
The Dugout, a new adult sports romance, features the nerdy, quirky, baseball whisperer heroine, Milly, and the star college ball player, Carson, who is struggling to find his swing again after a serious injury. Milly wasn’t just a baseball fanatic; nor was she merely a member of the family largely considered a baseball dynasty. She was knowledgeable, competent and a natural-born coach in her own right. I loved Milly and Carson together so much. She was in denial about her crush, and he was doing his best to hide his attraction to her—until he couldn’t. It never occurred to her that he would like her. They were so sweet together, so perfect.
Just as I was sailing along toward a happily ever after, though, I started to get a sense of foreboding. I knew it was coming—I knew it. Meghan Quinn has this way of dishing out powerful emotions when readers least expect it, and I know this! But still, even knowing it was coming, she gutted me completely with pain this couple endured. My heart ached for both of them.
The Dugout was a slow-burning, sweet and tender love story that had all the feels. I’m not exactly sure how she does it, but Meghan Quinn somehow managed to pen a story that was both charming yet emotionally devastating. My heart broke, healed and raced throughout this book, and I loved every single palpitation. The Dugout by Meghan Quinn gets five smooches from me!
~Danielle Palumbo, Red Cheeks Reads
Awwww….Carson and Milly. Swoon! Carson was the guy that got the raw deal when his friends were drafted and he was left behind. My heart broke in two even though he was being a little bit of a jerk to everyone around him. Milly…OMG! LOVED LOVED LOVED her! The tomboy that just wants to play in the boys’ world. Baseball was both of their worlds and somehow they collided big time. This story was cute, sweet, angsty to the max and full of those hot ballplayers we all know and love. I loved the banter and friendship that grew into so much more. Meghan kills me when she kicks the conflict in. Every. Single. Time. I know it’s coming. I can’t just have my pretty little lovebirds all happy and floating around in love. But really. The book is so worth the read and I can’t wait for more ballplayers. I NEED them all.
I was flying through this one. I was really loving Carson and Milly so much, they were killing it in the banter and chemistry department. Everything was going along so well for me, I was having so much fun and the pickle part had me laughing out loud, then the twist came. Man, I’m not going to lie, it brought me down and all I could think of was a certain time separation in The Locker Room. I almost wanted to stop reading, it brought me down so hard. Carson was in a bad head space and hurting. But on the flip side, he was kinda awful I was just all wtf?! my dude. But that was just how I felt and I wanted to be honest about my emotions at that part. It may not even be a big deal to some readers, so it’s a total me thing. It’s still really a great book, super entertaining and the side characters are all amazing.
The queen of humor, heart and swoons has done it again!!
The Dugout is the story of Carson and Milly and what a fantastic story it is!
Carson is a baseball player that has been through the wringer and can’t get his groove back.
Milly is the quirky, shy and savant of baseball.
When they meet, it was awkward, it was stuttered but boy when things come together, wowza the sparks fly.
I fell in love hard with both Carson and Milly, I think they are one of the top couples for me. And even though I don’t follow baseball and know next to nothing about the specifics of the sport, Ms. Quinn brings you into the world and makes you a fan! I know I will never look at a baseball player or game the same!
The swoons in this story are stellar and just wow…they are everything, I am not going to go into specifics and spoil the story, but trust me, when you read about what Milly’s fantasy is, you are gonna melt!
As always with Ms. Quinn’s stories, the secondary characters are phenomenal and bring so much more to the story!
Another diamond in Ms. Quinn’s crown is what this story is!! I hope to see some, if not all of the secondary characters have stories of their own!!
Just when everything looked bleak and impossible, Carson met Milly. Well, met was not correct, more or less, they encountered each other at the panini line. It took three times of running into each other before Carson finally opened his eyes and realised Milly was the answer to his prayers.
Being in slump on your senior year playing baseball after an injury, is not what scouts look for when deciding which athletes to recommend to the league. Carson had always been a consistent hitter and second baseman. Now, don’t ask him why, his hitting was in the dumps. None of the coaches could figure out what was wrong. It is Milly who, looking at his hitting videos and analyzing his swing, was able to zero in on the glitch in his swing that was causing the slump. And so, a beautiful friendship develops between these two.
It has taken a lot of sacrifice, both from his father and himself, to reach the game level Carson has achieved. His father has worked around the clock for years to be able to afford the lessons, camps, and education Carson needed to make it in life. It was a sacrifice his father was more than willing to give in order to insure Carson would succeed in life and achieve his dreams. This would have a major impact on Carson. Tragedy sometimes strikes when you least expect it. Commitment and promises are kept in recognition of the sacrifices of the past.
This is a beautiful and amazing story of love and commitment. We all go through dark periods and it is our determination that makes a difference while we keep our goals in mind. Sometimes we are lost in the circumstances around us, but in the end, it is true love and sacrifice that lightens our way.
I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Thanks to the author for sharing this beautiful book with me.
Easily the most intelligent baseball romance novel ever written! I’m astounded by her knowledge of baseball techniques and strategies. Carson and Milly’s love story is second to none!
Oh my gosh. Carson broke my heart. His story was utterly heartbreaking and I was sobbing for him. And Milly? I just loved her so much. She spoke to my soul and I related to her so much. The nerdy girl who’s shy but loves sports and her friends. Unsure of herself but is super close with a few people and her family.
Do yourself and listen to the audiobook version of this. Sebastian York and Savannah Peachwood were amazing. I should have known after the last book I listened to that was narrated by both of them that this would be a heartbreaker. It was but it was so beautifully written. Don’t worry, we get a HEA. This one made me feel all the feels
I was lucky enough to get the ALC of the 3-book audio collection of The Brentwood Boys by Meghan Quinn! The audios included are The Locker Room, The Dugout, and The Lineup. What’s better than a swoony laugh out loud sports romantic comedy? THREE of them!
Next up for me is THE DUGOUT, Narrated by: Savannah Peachwood and Sebastian York
I didn’t think I could love a couple more than Knox and Emory (The Locker Room). Then I met Carson Stone and Milly Potter. Milly is a baseball fairy Godmother, aptly referred to as a fairy ball mother. She’s a loveable and all-around amazing person. Carson is a dreamy and charming baseball God. I laughed. I cried. I swooned. This was a such a sexy and fun listen! Meghan Quinn is a genius!
Damaged Alpha Hero
Wallflower Heroine with heart
Slow Burn with an EXTREMELY hot end
Baseball player with all the swoon
Romantic Comedy that will melt your heart
“You’re one of a kind, Milly, and you’re all mine.”
As far as the narration: I feel like Piece of Cake Audiobooks and Meghan Quinn said, “I can’t decide between these 6 amazing narrators, so let’s choose them all!” I swear whenever I see an email from Piece of Cake my heart skips a beat because I know I’m about to listen to the most incredible story from the best narrators ever. Hey Dana, would you like an audiobook in exchange for an honest review? Um, so much yes, please and thank you!
Savannah Peachwood and Sebastian York expertly embodied their characters to give us a hilarious and emotionally connected story telling experience. Their tone, pitch, pace, timing, everything was perfect. They brought the story to life and made feel all the feels!. I highly recommend the audiobook version of this story.
5 Stars, Coach!
NOLA504NERDS BLOG
The Dugout is a standalone second chance college sports romance in the Brentwood Boys series told from the first-person dual point-of-view of Carson and Milly.
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Carson is struggling to get his groove back after an injury his junior year sidelined him. Milly is a shy and awkward kinesiology major that they all call The Baseball Whisperer. Carson runs into Milly, apologizes to her for their initial interactions and begs her to help him get his swing back. Milly agrees to help him and they grow a great friendship. When Carson’s world is turned upside down, Milly is not willing to lose the connection that they have created.
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Carson and Milly’s were sweet and heartfelt. I enjoyed the build-up of their relationship from going from schoolmates to friends to lovers. Milly is so sweet, nice and easily likeable. Carson is down-to-earth and fun to be around. Together they made the perfect couple. I loved how the story came around full circle that their first date and their return to each other happened in the same spot.
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Audio … Sebastian York and Savannah Peachwood did a great job bringing the characters and the story to life.
Man, I want to know what goes on in Meghan Quinn’s head. How does she come up with this hilariousness. The cookie!!! I couldn’t stop laughing.
I think Milly and Carson are my favorite couple from her yet. Their friendship, their coaching relationship, their romantic relationship, it all worked. They were perfection.
This book made me happy cry and sad cry. It filled my heart with joy and it also broke my heart a couple of times.
Meghan Quinn created such real and three dimensional characters that I felt like I really knew them. I didn’t want to stop listening to this book. And at the same time I didn’t want it to end.
Sebastian York and Savannah Peachwood do not disappoint. Their narration was so good. I was especially impressed with Sebastian’s emotional performance near the end of the book. I might have ugly cried at that point.
This was such a great book. A must read.
Bobbies for life!
What a book this turned out to be! Carson & Milly are everything!! The heat, the gamut of emotions that comes from taking a huge chance when everything you cherish is at stake. This was an epic love story that will make you laugh, cry & swoon! It’s one that you won’t want to put down until the end and then you’ll want more.
Loved this! Listened to this story with it’s perfect narration by Savannah Peachwood and Sebastian York. Milly is unique and awesome and Carson is swoony. Excellent writing in this story filled with humor, cookies and heart.
I loved every book in the Brentwood Baseball series. I suggest that you read them in order because there are interrelated characters. A minimal understanding of baseball is nice but not necessary. Be prepared to laugh out loud, I mean side splitting laughs at times. There are also bonus epilogues available.
L•O•V•E•D this book… I laughed and smiled throughout. I became 100% invested in Carson and Milly’s HEA I had tears towards the end. My heart broke with what life threw their way, especially Carson
And to be honest…I was surprised of how emotional I got in the last 20ish% because up to that point it had all the feels of a Rom-Com and I was all for it. It is a great romantic comedy. I totally enjoyed the fun build-up of their friendship and relationship and I know during this time is when I fell in love with them so much that their struggles, heartbreak and happiness felt like mine. So not only is this fun it’s also heartfelt.
I’m so happy I read this!!!!!
I’m reading the baseball books all out of order (they don’t really have an order per se) and I love them all. I’ve been meaning to pick up The Dugout for a while and when I dived in I just inhaled it. The chemistry between Carson and Milly is electric and even when they were friends I lived for all their interactions. I loved this and the writing so much I can’t even knock it down for the lengthy conflict. I just…can’t.
Bahahaha the text messages from the guys is hilarious. I loved the back and forth with all these characters.
Milly is too sweet I love that she stutters and stammers when she is nervous. Her relationship with her family is awesome I really enjoyed this part of the book. She is real and easy to like.
Carson is a lovable guy but also very serious at times and baseball he takes seriously. He is perfect for Milly I like how he was shy-ish too. He loves her friendship just as much as she does and I liked that he made the first move to more.
Great freaking narration, both of these narrators are personal favorites of mine.