Hero: Pace Martin
Heroine: Holly Hutchins
Grade: 4 out of 5
With the end of his career looming, the last thing ace pitcher Pace Martin needs is a distraction, even if it comes in the form of a tough, beautiful, tell-it-like-it-is writer who sees past his defenses.
Before I start my review of this book, can I just take a moment to drool over this cover. I’m such a sucker for broad shoulders and a man with a nice back. If this is what Pace Martin looks like from the back, SIGN ME UP!
I could nibble on that back all week and it still wouldn’t be enough. Good gosh, that back does things to my insides.
*sigh*
And now, on with the review…I love sports romances and a huge part of the reason why I love them so much is that I love athletes. I’m not too picky about the sport, it’s just those sexy men that I absolutely love. Hockey, Basketball, Baseball, whatever, I don’t care, bring on the athletes and when I found out that Jill Shalvis was writing a baseball series, I needed to read this series almost as much as I needed to breathe.
It didn’t take me long at all to dig right into this story. It’s the first in a baseball series that Jill is writing for Berkley and being the fan girl that I am, I was all over this one when we got it.
This story is about Pace Martin, the starting pitcher for the Santa Barbara Heat. The Heat finally have their shot at going all the way to the Pennant and everyone (and I mean everyone) is counting on Pace to get them there. Pace is having shoulder issues but he’s mum about it because he doesn’t want to disappoint anyone. So Pace has got this injury that he’s worried about, games to win and a stalker on the loose so the very last thing that he needs right now is a nosy reporter trying to dig into his past to find his deepest, darkest secrets and tell the whole world about them but he learns quickly that the nosy reporter is not going anywhere and she’s just tenacious and persistent enough to get what she wants and what she wants most right now is:
An interview with Pace Martin.
The nosy reporter is Holly Hutchins and she’s the heroine. When I first started reading this story, I loved Holly. I thought she was a great heroine and I wanted her to be my best friend. As the story progressed though, I found Holly to be too perfect. I think that had her issues/conflict had more page time (the whole thing with her Mom, her distrust of everyone), I would have enjoyed her so much more and because she was so perfect (always saying and doing the right thing), the little things she did started to tick me off. The main gripe that I had with her character was how easily she would get mad at Pace about not trusting her (I mean, she’s only a reporter and everything) but she didn’t really trust Pace either. She would get butt hurt because she thought he knew her well enough to know that she wouldn’t do him dirty and yet when things started taking a nose dive for Pace, she doubted him. I didn’t care for that but aside from Holly being “too good” I still enjoyed getting to know her and I would still want to be her friend =P.
Pace was a great hero. I love heroes like Pace. Quiet, serious, a little mysterious and yet he had a big heart. I loved the way that he strived to be the best player that he could be (even when he was being stubborn about not wanting to tell anyone he was in pain but all athletes are like that) and I loved the way that he was with those kids from the park. It brought a smile to my face when he brought them new equipment and the friendship that he had with those little boys warmed my heart and soothed my soul. HA! My favorite part about him was the way that he was with Holly. I loved seeing him fight his attraction to her and then just …stop fighting. Their relationship was too cute for words and it was a delightful part of the story.
There’s many things to enjoy about this story from the romance between Pace and Holly, to those little boys on that pick up team to the guys on the Heat. I’m mighty interested in Wade’s character and I cannot wait to read his story. This was a great start up to a new series and I am definitely anxious for the next one. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who’s in the mood for some great characters and the comedic writing that you could only get from Jill Shalvis. You won’t be sorry you picked this one up, that’s for sure.
GIVEAWAY ALERT: Let us know what your favorite Jill Shalvis book is in the comments for this review and Jill Shalvis will send you a copy of any book from her back list. You choose the book from her back list that you want and we’ll make sure that you get it!
This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
I love, love, love books about professional athletes! My favorite Jill Shalvis is Instant Attraction…another book about a professional athlete!
I’ve only read one of Jill’s books – Smart and Sexy and it was a great read so I’m definitely interested in reading more from Jill Shalvis.
I’m tied between Shadow Hawk, Instant Attraction, and the first Sky High Air book (Smart and Sexy) for favorite Jill Shalvis book.
I loved her book Flashpoint.
I enjoyed Get a Clue!
I loved Smart and Sexy and Strong and Sexy. I like her style
msboatgal at aol.com
I adored Jill’s South Village Singles series from Harlequin Temptation!
I have actually read only one title by Jill Shalvis which is Instant Attraction and I loved it. I just picked up her latest in that series (Instant Gratification) and I’m looking forward to that one. This one sounds excellent as well.
The cover alone looks worth the price. Love me some Jill Shalvis. I’ll be gettin’ my copy today.
I’m a Jill Shavis virgin!! Lol!
I’m absolutely salivating over this one. I love baseball romances, and this book has been on my wish list for MONTHS!
My favorite Jill Shalvis book so far is Get a Clue. Great hero, smart heroine, and some of the funniest lines I’ve ever read in a book.
I just read Instant Gratification last week, and LOVED it! I’m not much for sports romances, but she is such a good storyteller, that I am totally interested in this one.
Get a Clue is my favorite Jill Shalvis book. I have read it at least seven times!
Jill Shalvis is one of my fav authors to read, and I love reading her blog just as much.
My fav is Strong and Sexy, but I love all of the Sky High Air series. I also really liked Instant Attraction and can’t wait to read more about the rest of the brothers 🙂
cldivineATyahooDOTcom
I recently read Instant Attraction and it has to be my fav by her, by far. I loved Cam and I wanted him to be all mine. I wanted to bask in his awesomeness, and I have yet to really pick up a book to read. I keep starting and stopping.
I just read Instant Attraction, and I loved it! I have heard so many good things about her backlist book Get a Clue, and I am hoping to get my hands on that one someday.
I just finished Aussie Rules and LOVED it so I’m calling that my favorite. Of course I’ve got Double Play and Instant Gratification on my To Be Read list so it could change in an instant!
I’ve only reading “Smart and Sexy” by Jill and I really enjoyed it.
I’m always on the lookout for more of her books at my library.
I’m fairly new to Jill Shalvis, and LOVING working my way through the back list. Of the four I’ve read so far, I think “Instant Gratification” wins fave so far. Closely followed by “Instant Attraction”. I really love that series.
The only book I have read by Jill is Her Sexiest Mistake. Would love to read more.
All of Jill’s books are terrific–one favorite is Blue Flame.
I read Instant Attraction and would love to read Superb and Sexy. I like the way Jill writes and has humor in her stories.
JOYE
JWIsley (at)aol (dot)com
I’ve read several of her books and enjoyed them. I think Get A Clue was my favorite so far.
Jill is one of my favorite authors, so it’s hard to pick only one book by her as a favorite, but I am quite fond of Aussie Rules.
Diana
I’d have to go with Superb & Sexy. Looking forward to her new releases.
I would have to say Get A Clue. It is so funny, the dialogue is unreal.
And I love books about athletes, particulary baseball and I just got your new book, Jill.
Pat L.
“Shadow Hawk” and “Get a Clue” are my two favorites.
love them all
love get a clue very sexy , funny and jsut a great book
kim h
I do love them all, but I especially love Aussie Rules! Please count me in!
My fav thus far is instant attraction because the way she built up the relationships between Cam and Kate was appealing but it was the actual subplot with Annie was so relatable cos of her grouchiness haha..
My favorite is Get A Clue!
Count me in!
dag888888[at]yahoo[dot]com
Since Jill is one of my very favorite authors it is almost impossible to pick just one book, but I will say that Out of this World was a favorite. There are several other of her books that I love!
Donna M
My favourite is Flashpoint. I liked all the others I read too.
Aussie Rules!
It is so hard to choose – all of Jill’s books are wonderful, Get A Clue was so funny and Instant Attraction was v.g. – it was the last one I read of Jill’s, so I will go with that one.
Rose G.
I would have to say Get A Clue.
Helen M
I love and enjoyed Get A Clue but this new novel sounds intriguing also. :]
Sue
okibi_insanity[at]yahoo[dot]com
It’s hard to pick only one, but I’d say Instant Attraction.
Instant Attraction is my favorite by J.S. with Double Play not too far behind…I finished Double Play two days ago and it’s really good!
No particular favorite but I’ve always enjoyed Jill Shalvis!
delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorites are GET A CLUE and THE TROUBLE WITH PARADISE.
My favorite is Aussie Rules.
Hi! My favourite is Instant Attraction 🙂
Great giveaway btw.
Aussie Rules for me. Great story.
yourstrulee(at)sasktel(dot)net
I especially loved all of her fire fighter stories. The older ones and the new ones.
I loved them all but my fav is Istant Attraction.
Great contest !!