Title: The Perfect Catch
Series: Texas Playmakers #1
Author: Joanne Rock
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Publisher: Tule Publishing
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 9, 2019
Release Date: May 9, 2019
Blurb
He didn’t think coming home would mean falling in love
Outfielder Calvin Ramsey returns to his Texas
farm home after being released from his team, an unexpected surprise sure to
tarnish the family baseball legacy. But when he finds a sexy stranger acting as
the temporary caretaker for his childhood home, all thoughts of baseball
disappear.
farm home after being released from his team, an unexpected surprise sure to
tarnish the family baseball legacy. But when he finds a sexy stranger acting as
the temporary caretaker for his childhood home, all thoughts of baseball
disappear.
She won’t fall for another player
After losing her savings to a swindler
ex-boyfriend, Josie Vance moves to Last Stand to start fresh where no one knows
her unhappy past or the con that bankrupted her. But her peaceful healing time
evaporates when the homeowner’s son arrives and throws himself into life on the
farm—and charming Josie. She can’t risk an affair that draws attention to her
or her past. Especially not when the public’s fascination with the
baseball-playing Ramsey clan is at an all-time high. Can she keep her secrets,
her low profile, and her heart too?
ex-boyfriend, Josie Vance moves to Last Stand to start fresh where no one knows
her unhappy past or the con that bankrupted her. But her peaceful healing time
evaporates when the homeowner’s son arrives and throws himself into life on the
farm—and charming Josie. She can’t risk an affair that draws attention to her
or her past. Especially not when the public’s fascination with the
baseball-playing Ramsey clan is at an all-time high. Can she keep her secrets,
her low profile, and her heart too?
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Excerpt
Josie listened to the farm stand cashier explain.
“Clint, went into baseball and then, all of his grandsons
went into baseball and the granddaughter… well, she left Last Stand long ago.
Cal’s been in the majors the longest, and I like, never see him around here
even though I’ve worked here since last fall.”
went into baseball and the granddaughter… well, she left Last Stand long ago.
Cal’s been in the majors the longest, and I like, never see him around here
even though I’ve worked here since last fall.”
So Cal had been keeping secrets from her—of sorts. Or had he
assumed she knew about his family full of athletes? His job explained the
expensive car and clothes, the body toned like a machine, maybe even the
wariness that dogged him. She imagined pro players were hounded by hangers-on
who wanted to be a part of their world for selfish reasons.
assumed she knew about his family full of athletes? His job explained the
expensive car and clothes, the body toned like a machine, maybe even the
wariness that dogged him. She imagined pro players were hounded by hangers-on
who wanted to be a part of their world for selfish reasons.
But not her. She’d prefer to put ten paces between herself
and anyone who was remotely famous. She needed to avoid the spotlight at all
costs until the trouble at home died down.
and anyone who was remotely famous. She needed to avoid the spotlight at all
costs until the trouble at home died down.
The phone vibrated three more times and the girl burst into
laughter. “Sorry!” she apologized to Josie. “I knew Darlene would go nuts when
she heard.” She picked up the phone and flipped it over, eyes scanning fast.
“She wants a picture? Oh God, how can I get a picture?”
laughter. “Sorry!” she apologized to Josie. “I knew Darlene would go nuts when
she heard.” She picked up the phone and flipped it over, eyes scanning fast.
“She wants a picture? Oh God, how can I get a picture?”
Josie figured she’d lost her audience, but since the coast
was clear, she couldn’t resist asking one more question.
was clear, she couldn’t resist asking one more question.
“You said he got cut this season?” she asked, wanting to be
sure she’d understood. “As in, lost his spot on the team?”
sure she’d understood. “As in, lost his spot on the team?”
The clerk nodded. “It was so awful–”
“Josie, let’s go.” Cal’s voice startled them both as he came
through a back door on the opposite end of the store.
through a back door on the opposite end of the store.
She scrambled back from the counter while the teen dropped
her phone. Josie hurried past the blueberries and melons to the archway where
Cal now stood, his expression stony.
her phone. Josie hurried past the blueberries and melons to the archway where
Cal now stood, his expression stony.
Had he overheard her question? Guilt swamped her even as she
kicked herself for not being more careful.
kicked herself for not being more careful.
“Ready,” she announced brightly, peering past him into the
greenhouse that connected the barn to the farm stand.
greenhouse that connected the barn to the farm stand.
“Are you certain?” His voice was low, just for her ears,
before he took her hand and tugged her into the greenhouse behind him.
before he took her hand and tugged her into the greenhouse behind him.
A fan whirred overhead, conditioning the air that smelled
like potting soil and growing things. He tipped a metal door closed behind
them. A door that closed silently and reminded her how thoroughly he’d startled
her when he re-entered the store.
like potting soil and growing things. He tipped a metal door closed behind
them. A door that closed silently and reminded her how thoroughly he’d startled
her when he re-entered the store.
“Absolutely.” She wanted to say it with conviction. To move
on and see the bee hives. But her heart was beating too fast with him holding
her hand.
on and see the bee hives. But her heart was beating too fast with him holding
her hand.
And standing too close to her.
His green eyes probed hers, his nearness making her recall
his very intriguing male physique. Was it really her fault to feel a flare of
feminine interest when he was a professional athlete and had the body that went
with it?
his very intriguing male physique. Was it really her fault to feel a flare of
feminine interest when he was a professional athlete and had the body that went
with it?
“Make sure you know what you’re in for, Josie, before you
say yes.” His voice lacked the geniality that she’d heard him use with the
young baseball fan. It was all gritty edged and hard now.
say yes.” His voice lacked the geniality that she’d heard him use with the
young baseball fan. It was all gritty edged and hard now.
And did something wicked to her insides. Something she
couldn’t allow herself to feel so soon after another man had deceived her.
couldn’t allow herself to feel so soon after another man had deceived her.
Nerves made her blurt the first thing that came to mind.
“I signed on for bee hives.” She’d been very clear about
that from the outset, hadn’t she?
that from the outset, hadn’t she?
Cal released her hand, but he didn’t back away. “Except now
you’ve broken our truce by asking questions. So in return, I’ve got a few
questions of my own.”
you’ve broken our truce by asking questions. So in return, I’ve got a few
questions of my own.”
Author Bio
Four-time RITA
nominee Joanne Rock has never met a romance sub-genre she didn’t like. The author
of over eighty books enjoys writing a wide range of stories, most recently
focusing on sexy contemporaries and small town family sagas. An optimist by
nature and perpetual seeker of silver linings, Joanne finds romance fits her
life outlook perfectly–love is worth fighting for. A frequent speaker at
regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the writing
community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has a Masters degree
in Literature from the University of Louisville but credits her fiction writing
skills to her intensive study with friend and fellow author Catherine Mann.
When she’s not writing, Joanne enjoys travel, especially to see her favorite
sports teams play with her former sports editor husband and three athletic-minded
sons.
nominee Joanne Rock has never met a romance sub-genre she didn’t like. The author
of over eighty books enjoys writing a wide range of stories, most recently
focusing on sexy contemporaries and small town family sagas. An optimist by
nature and perpetual seeker of silver linings, Joanne finds romance fits her
life outlook perfectly–love is worth fighting for. A frequent speaker at
regional and national writing conferences she enjoys giving back to the writing
community that nurtured and inspired her early career. She has a Masters degree
in Literature from the University of Louisville but credits her fiction writing
skills to her intensive study with friend and fellow author Catherine Mann.
When she’s not writing, Joanne enjoys travel, especially to see her favorite
sports teams play with her former sports editor husband and three athletic-minded
sons.
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