Catch of a Lifetime

Cricket Creek #2

by Luann McLane

Top Chicago chef Jessica Robinson is back in Cricket Creek-and making her aunt's diner the go-to place for comfy gourmet fare. Former major leaguer Ty McKenna is no stranger to Jessica's cooking. At the Chicago hotspot where she worked, he was a regular-with a different girl on his arm every night. Now he's the manager for the Cricket Creek Cougars. And convincing the mouthwatering chef that's a one-woman man may be harder than getting his team ready for opening day.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Sports, Fiction, Chick Lit, Small Town Romance, Sports Romance

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 3, 2012

About the author

LuAnn McLane writes sexy contemporary romance with a touch of sass and humor. Published in 2003, her novels have appeared on bestselling lists including USA Today, Nielsen BookScan, Barnes and Noble and Amazon. Her books have been featured selections for Rhapsody and Doubleday Book clubs. A love of country music led her to a collaboration with superstar Wynonna Judd with the novel Restless Heart. A member of RWA, she conducts workshops on a local and national level and connects with readers on social media. She divides her time between Kentucky, Florida and Arizona and when she isn’t writing or reading, she enjoys cooking, beachcombing and spending time with friends and family.

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a super cute romance. I recommend this to anyone who likes contemporary romance novels.

Things I liked:
- Everything was so cute and adorable!
- Perfect endings for all the characters.
- Great, witty banter between the couples.
- This is exactly what you would want/expect from a contemporary romance.

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

[Heather M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Catch of a Lifetime is the 2nd in the Cricket Creek series. I'm not quite sure how to review this book. While I did like the 1st in the series, Catch of a Lifetime was fairly hard to get through (although, I did finish in one day). Luann repeated things often, and there was some pretty unbelievable dialogue. Well, unbelievable to ME...I've NEVER heard a guy refer to a woman as "vibrant". There were quite a few scenes that had me rolling my eyes, or skimming through paragraphs. Truth be told, I probably skimmed through 50% of the book (just going through & reading what is in quotes). I don't feel as I missed out on anything.

My FULL REVIEW here: http://shoes-n-more.blogspot.com/2012...

[Sonya · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where was the plot? There really wasn't much of one. It was a sweet story, but there was pretty much nothing there. Two couples are attracted to each other, they fall in love, and end up happily ever after. The end. This stretched on for about 250 pages. The author repeats herself a lot too, using the same phrases over and over again, almost like she forgot she used a line just the page before. After a while, it got kind of annoying.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved it!!! Baseball and romance, two of my very favorite things!!! Luann McLane has hit another one out of the park!!! :)

[Nancy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second in the Cricket Creek romance series, and features Jessica Robinson, gifted chef and owner of a diner, which she loves. Jess had been living in Chicago, but came back to the town where she was raised by an aunt, when she was a pregnant unwanted-by-her-parents teenager. The town adoped her then, and again now as a successful adult, and they love her diner. When a former major league baseball player comes to town to try his luck with the new baseball team, Jessica is attracted but does not trust men and is not sure she will ever want to be in a relationship again, after the father of her baby dumped her years before and wanted nothing to do with her. Of course, Cupid steps in and Jessica finds herself undeniable attracted to Ty. But the big question is whether she can let herself go and trust again?

[Carol Ann Labosky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second in a series about a small KY town relying on a baseball team and its new stadium to bring back tourists and economic stability. I liked that the two main characters in this romance were both 40 years old. Will probably check out the third in the series.

[Carol Bohmbach · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author didn't have enough plot to fill out a novel so padded it with lots of graphic sex that doesn't really add anything. Some of the romantic dialog seems unbelievable to me. Good setting and baseball references, a few well-drawn characters, but the writing just seems shallow.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't read the first book, as our library didn't have it. This one was fine, but as others mentioned, there was a lot of repetition.

I also don't need to read explicit sex descriptions, thanks - I know what sex is. I don't think the blow-by-blow is necessary to make the story romantic.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemporary romance.

[Samantha Yoder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kentucky + baseball + love ❤️

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catch of a Lifetime, Cricket Creek #2, by Luann McLane
Grade: B

“What? I want a stripper for my sixtieth birthday. Y’all make not of it.” She pointed to Logan. “And I want it to look like him.”

Cricket Creek, Kentucky has gone through a ton of changes in the last year. Ty McKenna, a former major league baseball player, has come to town and helped finance and coach the brand new Cricket Creek Cougars baseball team. Ty and the rest of the town are hoping that the Cougars can help boost tourism and the economy in the former riverboat town. Ty never expected to fall in love with Cricket Creek but the town and one of it’s residents have really grown on him.

Jessica Robinson is back in Cricket Creek after years in Chicago running her own restaurant Wine and Dine with her daughter Madison and her aunt Myra. After getting pregnant at sixteen and disowned by her parents, Jessica has learned to rely on herself and never let her guard down but that all changes when sexy Ty McKenna kisses her one summer night. Months later Jessica can’t forget that kiss or the way Ty makes her feel but her fear may hold her back from acting on her feelings for what could be the man of her dreams.

Catch of a Lifetime is a very fun, cute contemporary romance from Luann McLane with great characters and lots of laugh out loud moments. I really enjoyed this book and found it very easy to jump into the series and not feel lost all at. There were two stories woven in together and both are well written and very easy to read. I love the southern charm of this book. There are many books set in the south but Mrs. McLane really captures life in the south and the sense of community in small towns.

I love the relationship between Ty and Jessica but I really loved the relationship between Bella and Logan. I got very annoyed with Jessica through most of the book because she just kept having the same fears and the same conversation with herself over and over again. Ty is a great male character and I almost wanted him to forget about Jessica and move on to someone who actually wanted to be with him. Jessica does redeem herself towards the end and i was so happy with their HEA.

As I mentioned before I loved Logan and Bella and really wished that their story would have been the main feature instead of Ty and Jessica. I loved then chemistry between the two and love how they drive each other crazy while secretly wanting the other. I looked forward to their chapters and found myself speed reading to get to the next ones because I needed them to get together so badly. I loved Bella’s mother and I hope that she will be featured in future books.

Cricket Creek is a great town and a great setting for a romance novel. The town is great and there are so many great characters with even better personalities. I am going to add this series to my must read list and I can’t wait to see what happens next in Cricket Creek, Kentucky.

[Jennifer (Moonlight_Rendezvous) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many years ago, Jessica Robinson came to Cricket Creek, Kentucky, scared and alone after discovering that she was pregnant as a teenager. Her aunt, Myra, helped her through that rough time and Jessica has now become a successful chef among the culinary institutions of Chicago. When her aunt needed help to turn around her own restaurant, Wine and Diner, Jessica and her daughter, Madison, dropped everything to come to her aid. Ty McKenna has also put everything on the line to open a baseball stadium and bring tourism and hope back to the struggling small town of Cricket Creek. He remembers Jessica as the beautiful talented chef in Chicago and can’t believe his luck when he discovers that Jessica has moved back home. Jessica is afraid to take a chance on love because all it ever leads to is pain and regret. Ty isn’t about to give up on happiness and he will do whatever it takes to win Jessica’s heart.

LuAnn McLane has created a delightful small-town romance in Catch of a Lifetime that just captivates your heart and has you rooting for these charming characters. Ty and Jessica were wonderful in this novel and I kept wanting Jessica to just let down her guard and take a chance on Ty. They both deserved happiness after all the work they had put in to make their professional lives successful. There was also a secondary love story between Jessica’s friend, Bella and a young baseball player named Logan that was very steamy. The romance and chemistry involved between her characters was perfect and left me wanting to know more about the inhabitants of this small town. I thoroughly enjoyed this romance and I know that readers will want to spend more time with these handsome baseball players. This is the second in the series of Cricket Creek and Pitch Perfect is the next book in this series. I have already pre-ordered it and am looking forward to reading what happens next in Cricket Creek.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

After giving all she had over the years to raising her daughter and working in a busy Chicago restaurant - Jessica has moved back to her aunts hometown to take over running her restaurant and putting her own touch on it. She hasn't had a lot of time for dating or relationships. She thinks Ty, a former major league baseball hottie/current manager to local minor league team, is quite the player. She doesn't think his attention to her means anything. Ty, on the other hand would love to get to know Jessica better. He goes into her restaurant not only for the great food and drinks but to catch of glimpse of Jessica. When she finally gives in - sparks fly. He's ready for a relationship but past insecurities keep popping up in Jessica's head. As they circle around each other, people keep reminding Jessica that she needs to finally do for herself and get her HEA. Nice quick read. Liked having the additional couples from the last book and the new couples all centered around the baseball team in some aspect. Can't wait for the next book.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the second in the series "A Cricket Creek Novel." The premise of the books is the lives around a new baseball stadium, being built to save a small town in Kentucky.

In this book, we meet Jessica Robinson, owner of the 'Wine and Diner', her daughter, Madison and various other members of her family and town.

The baseball Manager for the newly formed Cricket Creek Cougars, is Ty McKenna. We learn he has been trying to catch Jessica's eye for over a year by eating at her restaurant. Jessica is afraid of changes and having raised a child, gone to school, and created a thriving restaurant, she isn't jumping for a chance at a relationship.

The book opens on Jessica's 40th Birthday. It is time to party and have good cake with friends and family, and perhaps a new romance?

This was a nicely written book and leaves you ready to read the next installment.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

very cute story of small town living in Kentucky. I really have enjoyed the characters that Luann develops in her stories. Jessica's story is one that I really enjoyed from the strong independent single mother to the oops I did it again situation. Her assumptions of Ty and her feelings for him made her very conflicted. Love Aunt Myra and her spunkiness. The chemistry between Bella and Logan made their living arrangements comical at times. A really good read, great edition to the Cricket Creek series.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I typically shy away from contemporary romances, but I really ended up liking this one. It is exciting, fun, and is somewhat about facing fears. Although the writing itself was not the greatest, I'm glad I read it even if I would have never done so had not one of my group's challenges been to read a book about baseball.

[Debbie Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't believe I have ever read a LuAnn NcLane book that disappointed me and this one is definitely a winner! Her Cricket Creek series is fun, endearing and a definite keeper! Looking forward to the next book in the series!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the story, the characters continued from the first one in the series. I like how she takes the characters and builds the story around them so when you finish you will either hate them or be routing for them to get together. Also it makes you want to read the next one.

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book two in the Cricket Creek Novels has some familiar faces with a new love story coming to the foreground. In addition to having a charming mix of quaint town, interesting people, interesting careers and warm romance, there are some surprisingly briskly funny moments of dialogue.

[Marguerite Long]

CAN NOT WAIT TILL THIS BOOK COMES OUT!!!!

[Downward dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the second book in the cricket creek series. Former baseball player Ty McKenna is attracted to chef Jessica Robinson.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is what you call a sweet sappy romance book. Multiple romances plus the 3 romances that were in the first book. Also sets up who's next in the romance dept for the next book..

[Linniegayl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gave this a C review at All About Romance:

http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...

[Barbara]

page 26

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, light, enjoyable read. I'll look for more by McLane.

[Krista · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 2nd book in this series was a little better than the first. The writing was smoother, and the relationships are fun.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very entertaining.

[Ann Lorz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a wonderful visit in Cricket Creek. If you haven't read this series you're missing something very good.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked this one much better than the first. it just felt more put together. i think the basis of the series is great, and hopefully will continue to pick up.