Release Blitz + Review: "Heartbreak Hitter" by Kimberly Readnour

I'm pleased to participate in today's release blitz promoting "Heartbreak Hitter" by Kimberly Readnour, a standalone Cocky Hero Club novel inspired by "Park Avenue Player." It's also a crossover with Readnour's Cessna U Wildcats series featuring cameos by Braxton and Cara of "Swinging Strike."

 

An injury landed first baseman Rick Bosley in the minor leagues for almost two years, but now that he's been called back up to the majors, he's determined to make the most of his second chance. Unfortunately, he's quickly embroiled in scandal after news of his hook-up with the daughter of one of the team's major donors lands in a newspaper gossip column. Reluctantly, he decides to follow the general manager and team publicist's advice to find a "nice girl" to bring as a date to the team's charity function that weekend, giving the impression that he's in a committed relationship. The only problem is that he's not sure where to find such a girl on short notice, until he comes home to find his new neighbor, Hailey LaCroix, standing in the hall outside their apartments. Someone broke into Hailey's apartment while she was at work, so Rick helps her with the police and offers her a place to stay for the night. They get along so well that he ends up asking her to be his date for the charity event. What Rick doesn't know is that Hailey is a sports reporter, and her latest assignment is to get an exclusive interview with him. Accompanying him to the fundraiser is exactly the break she needs to get the interview, though she can't help feeling bad for not being up front with him about where she works. 

This is a tough review for me to write because I thought the story showed a lot of promise in the first half, but it fell flat for me in the second half. Initially, I really liked the hints of mystery and suspense that surrounded both Hailey's and Rick's backgrounds, as well as the break-in at Hailey's apartment and why her stories kept being leaked at work. Unfortunately, the "suspense" didn't turn out to be anything of importance (I was expecting someone to be coming after Hailey because her dad owed money for drugs or something), and the "mystery" behind who was leaking Hailey's stories was not really a mystery at all. There were so many times I wanted to scream at Hailey for being blind to what was going on right in front of her. Not only that, it bothered me that she was willing to accept such a crappy facsimile of "friendship" for so long. I just wanted her to grow a backbone and tell a certain person to take a hike!

My other major issue was that Hailey and Rick's relationship felt very rushed to me. They had great chemistry and I believed that they really liked each other by the end, but love was stretching it. 

Overall, I didn't hate "Heartbreak Hitter," but I didn't love it either. I do think it will appeal to many sports romance fans, however, and I would give the author's books another chance in the future.

 

*Review copy provided by the author/publisher via Give Me Books Promotions. All opinions expressed are my own.

 

 

About "Heartbreak Hitter"

Second shots and fake dates, what can go wrong?

I screwed up.

Considering the team is laden with controversy, adding to the rumor mill wasn’t my intention, especially since this is my second shot at the majors.

As the Boston Bears’ first basemen, my job consists of more than winning games. I’m tasked with winning over the scorned fans.

I thought my batting average would speak for itself.

I was wrong.

When my off-the-field actions collide with my on-the-field goals, I have no choice but to devise the persona of being a committed man.

The task is impossible until I meet my neighbor, Hailey LaCroix. Goal-driven and refined, she’s the perfect woman to help pull off this ruse.

I need a fake relationship. She needs an exclusive interview.

The very ones I refuse to do.

I didn’t earn the Heartbreak Hitter title by being a saint. There are reasons I keep my past a secret and stay single.

But there’s more to Hailey LaCroix than her good looks and smoking hot curves. She’s pure and real. She makes me believe I have more to offer than swinging a bat.

And the longer we stay together, the more I want to confess all of my secrets.

The very ones that will destroy me.

Heartbreak Hitter is a fake relationship/sports romance inspired by Park Avenue Player.