Lawson’s review of Curveball by Kate Angell
Contemporary romance single-author anthology released by Lovespell 29 May 07
Ah, the Boys of Summer. America’s Pastime and sexy men in uniforms. Curveball has that in threes, with Psycho, Romeo and Chaser. Baseball players have some strange nicknames, don’t they? Not that it takes anything away from this cute romance about these power hitters and the women they come to love. This is the second in a series about players of the fictional Richmond Rogues, focusing on the “Bat Pack”, the three power hitters and some apparent major league hotties . . .
Whether it’s an anthology or just a romance focusing on three stories, it’s cute all around. However it starts on a bad foot, as the Bad Pack get into a fight with some of their own teammates and earn a 13 game suspension. They still practice and travel with the team, but they don’t start. Which for these guys, it almost makes a tragic life. Or at least the rough start to a season.
But Psycho hires Keely Douglas to restore the interior of his historic colonial home and gets distracted by her vulnerabilities as well as a feeling of connection due to poor childhoods. Romeo is used to getting attention and what he wants from the ladies but having to make amends to sports reporter Emerson Kent makes him run against a wall. She’s the only woman who’s able to ignore is good looks and charm. So he sets out to change her mind. Chaser is a good hometown boy who realizes he wants the girl next door, Jen Reid. A classically trained dancer, she’s come home to run her family’s concession stands at the stadium. But she and Chaser still live next door and both realize an attraction that blossoms out of years of friendship.
All are very sweet love stories, and though they are intertwined through the book, it’s very easy to tell the stories apart. All baseball heroes have a distinct personality, but they are good men underneath. The women that come into their lives bring out the good qualities as well as remain the strong independent heroines they should be.
It would have been nice to have more time with all three stories though. They most likely could have made their own books on their own, and the love stories wouldn’t have felt so rushed, even though everything unfolds over the course of an entire season. Some of the baseball is hard to read, being a little out of left field (ha!), but then it’s a read more for the romance than the game itself.
Overall a good, light read and makes me happy that baseball season is here. 🙂
Grade: B-
Angell continues her pairing of baseball and romance following Squeeze Play (2006) with a sexy, quick-paced tale about the Richmond Rogues. On Media Day, the three members of the “Bat Pack,” the Rogues’ power hitters, get into a very public altercation that ends with their suspensions for 13 games. Nicknamed Psycho, Chaser, and Romeo, they are left at loose ends. Psycho holes up in his historical Richmond colonial and is surprised when a down-on-her-luck young woman shows up professing to be an interior designer. Chaser hangs out with his childhood friend, who has inherited the ballpark concession stand. They’ve always been close, but will one accidental kiss lead to more? Challenged by the indifference of a reporter, aptly named Romeo redoubles his efforts to win her over. Ultimately, all three gentlemen meet their perfect match in Angell’s sporty romance.
Read an excerpt.
