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Blushing in the Big Leagues
I have one simple rule: don’t date professional baseball players. There are no exceptions, no workarounds.
“What if—”
No.
“Could he—”
Nuh-uh.
With a brother in the league, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the downright horrifying . Those guys might seem tantalizing when they’re in uniform down on the field, hitting grand slams in front of a crowd of adoring fans, but I know better. The huge egos? The insane travel schedules? The veritable buffet of female companions? No ma’am. Professional athletes are best handled at a distance, preferably far enough away that their chiseled jawlines blur into oblivion.
Enter Grant Navarro.
He’s the baseball player to end all baseball players. The one I should have marked with a big red X the first moment I laid eyes on him. Only the night we met (and kissed— oops ), I didn’t know he was my brother’s newest teammate. Imagine my shock when I realized the sexiest man in Manhattan was officially off limits. Just my luck!
Let the record show that I had every intention of following my rule and staying away from Grant. When he smiled that irresistible smile and those dimples popped, I stood my ground. When he made it very clear he’d love to pick up where we left off the night we met, I said, Hold it right there, partner. When he messaged me all sorts of naughty things on Instagram, I logged out of that app so fast I dented my iPhone screen.
Baseball players are bad, bad, bad .
So tell me why giving in to Grant just for a night, getting one taste of what could be starts to seem not just tempting, but downright mandatory .
Yeah, about that one simple rule…haven’t you heard?
Rules are meant to be broken .
“What if—”
No.
“Could he—”
Nuh-uh.
With a brother in the league, I’ve seen the good, the bad, and the downright horrifying . Those guys might seem tantalizing when they’re in uniform down on the field, hitting grand slams in front of a crowd of adoring fans, but I know better. The huge egos? The insane travel schedules? The veritable buffet of female companions? No ma’am. Professional athletes are best handled at a distance, preferably far enough away that their chiseled jawlines blur into oblivion.
Enter Grant Navarro.
He’s the baseball player to end all baseball players. The one I should have marked with a big red X the first moment I laid eyes on him. Only the night we met (and kissed— oops ), I didn’t know he was my brother’s newest teammate. Imagine my shock when I realized the sexiest man in Manhattan was officially off limits. Just my luck!
Let the record show that I had every intention of following my rule and staying away from Grant. When he smiled that irresistible smile and those dimples popped, I stood my ground. When he made it very clear he’d love to pick up where we left off the night we met, I said, Hold it right there, partner. When he messaged me all sorts of naughty things on Instagram, I logged out of that app so fast I dented my iPhone screen.
Baseball players are bad, bad, bad .
So tell me why giving in to Grant just for a night, getting one taste of what could be starts to seem not just tempting, but downright mandatory .
Yeah, about that one simple rule…haven’t you heard?
Rules are meant to be broken .
282 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 18, 2023
635 people are currently reading
2026 people want to read
About the author
R.S. Grey
51 books11.9k followersR.S. Grey is the USA Today bestselling author of over twenty-five romantic comedies. She loves books, chocolate, reality TV, and cold weather. She lives in Texas with her husband, two daughters, and dog. Visit her at rsgrey.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
May 15, 2023
3.75 stars.
The storyline embraced a classic forbidden sport romance narrative with an arrogant, attractive, famous baseball player, Grant Navarro. And a full of life, young nurse, Tate Allen who vowed to never date professional sport players because of the cliché that her brother’s teammates have always reflected, cheaters and players in and out of the field. But what happens when she meets the man of her dreams but of course, he is her new brother’s teammate and therefore off-limits? Chemistry, chemistry, chemistry 🎶 and a fair amount of sex frustration not satisfied..
“So you’re attracted to me?”
“As if I conjured you out of a fantasy.”
“The feeling’s mutual.”
The romance was drawn as an additive slowburn despite their very first, explosive, hot encounter. Their chemistry emphasized along the lines of their push and pull dynamic where Grant was certain and honest about his feelings for Tate. She, on the other hand, was a bit reticent and tried more than once to escape the inevitable, them being together. Grant’s patience and stubbornness to prove Tate wrong and discredit her irrational fear of having a "professional baseball player" as a life partner carried the storyline. HE carried the storyline!
"I thought you were done with me.” He shakes his head. “Not in this lifetime, Tate.”
Their bond was slowly building with the way they were tiptoeing and orbiting around their group of friends and family and the way they played an important role in their "pre-relationship" added some colors and nuances into the plot. Their dynamic with them all being so close and tight brought so much fun and good vibes into the storytelling. All in all, it was a quick and enjoyable read!
____
*PS: I really hope that Daphne and Dustin will have their own book🥺
Thanks to PR Valentine and the author for providing an arc in exchange of an honest review!
~~~~
ig here we go..
~~~~
i got the arc and the author is one of my absolute fav GFHHGFC life is good💅🏽😗
❛ It feels like a thousand lifetimes have brought me to this moment on the floor, on my knees before a woman I love. ❜
The storyline embraced a classic forbidden sport romance narrative with an arrogant, attractive, famous baseball player, Grant Navarro. And a full of life, young nurse, Tate Allen who vowed to never date professional sport players because of the cliché that her brother’s teammates have always reflected, cheaters and players in and out of the field. But what happens when she meets the man of her dreams but of course, he is her new brother’s teammate and therefore off-limits? Chemistry, chemistry, chemistry 🎶 and a fair amount of sex frustration not satisfied..
“So you’re attracted to me?”
“As if I conjured you out of a fantasy.”
“The feeling’s mutual.”
The romance was drawn as an additive slowburn despite their very first, explosive, hot encounter. Their chemistry emphasized along the lines of their push and pull dynamic where Grant was certain and honest about his feelings for Tate. She, on the other hand, was a bit reticent and tried more than once to escape the inevitable, them being together. Grant’s patience and stubbornness to prove Tate wrong and discredit her irrational fear of having a "professional baseball player" as a life partner carried the storyline. HE carried the storyline!
"I thought you were done with me.” He shakes his head. “Not in this lifetime, Tate.”
Their bond was slowly building with the way they were tiptoeing and orbiting around their group of friends and family and the way they played an important role in their "pre-relationship" added some colors and nuances into the plot. Their dynamic with them all being so close and tight brought so much fun and good vibes into the storytelling. All in all, it was a quick and enjoyable read!
____
*PS: I really hope that Daphne and Dustin will have their own book🥺
Thanks to PR Valentine and the author for providing an arc in exchange of an honest review!
~~~~
ig here we go..
~~~~
i got the arc and the author is one of my absolute fav GFHHGFC life is good💅🏽😗
March 24, 2025
3.5 stars
I love sports romance and this was a cute one. The cover is adorable and I loved the premise of Tate being one of Grant’s teammate's little sister. I wanted more time with them together but aside from that, I enjoyed it.
I love sports romance and this was a cute one. The cover is adorable and I loved the premise of Tate being one of Grant’s teammate's little sister. I wanted more time with them together but aside from that, I enjoyed it.
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Lilly Drake & Noah B. Perez
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 8h 59m
January 23, 2025
This, unfortunately, might be one of my least favorite R.S.Grey books.
Although it did start out promising, the main characters barely spent any time together and they fell in love. When? How?! She's so obsessed with how good he looks, and how everyone would be over him since he plays baseball and is hot. Yes, they have chemistry. But what else?! I honestly have no idea why these characters fell for each other.
On top of that, precious pages are wasted with the FMC going out with another guy and unnecessary scenes with the group of friends (why were there so many of them?!). Generally I wouldn't mind this, but this is time and space that could have been spent with the MMC instead, especially, like I mentioned earlier, the main characters do not have many on-page interactions (at 40% into the story no less). This is a frustrating point for me, because the parts where the main characters spend time together are really good, and I wish we had more of those. Another thing that bothered me is that there is a lot of telling vs showing.
I feel that the above have become an ongoing theme in the last few books. I've read most of R.S.Grey's books, so I KNOW that she can execute better stories than this. However, given how let down I was with the last few books, I'm not going to sign up for ARCs again. It feels awful to write this kind of review for an author whose books I've loved before, and for an ARC of top of that. I'm just going to read the next books on KU.
Thank you to the author and valentine pr for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Although it did start out promising, the main characters barely spent any time together and they fell in love. When? How?! She's so obsessed with how good he looks, and how everyone would be over him since he plays baseball and is hot. Yes, they have chemistry. But what else?! I honestly have no idea why these characters fell for each other.
On top of that, precious pages are wasted with the FMC going out with another guy and unnecessary scenes with the group of friends (why were there so many of them?!). Generally I wouldn't mind this, but this is time and space that could have been spent with the MMC instead, especially, like I mentioned earlier, the main characters do not have many on-page interactions (at 40% into the story no less). This is a frustrating point for me, because the parts where the main characters spend time together are really good, and I wish we had more of those. Another thing that bothered me is that there is a lot of telling vs showing.
I feel that the above have become an ongoing theme in the last few books. I've read most of R.S.Grey's books, so I KNOW that she can execute better stories than this. However, given how let down I was with the last few books, I'm not going to sign up for ARCs again. It feels awful to write this kind of review for an author whose books I've loved before, and for an ARC of top of that. I'm just going to read the next books on KU.
Thank you to the author and valentine pr for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
May 19, 2023
4.5 Stars!
(ARC provided by Valentine PR)
Tate Allen loves baseball, and it has always been such a big part of her life. She graduated college and then followed her brother Luke to New York City where he plays for the Pinstripes. With a brother in the league she's constantly surrounded by gorgeous men, but she decided long ago that professional athletes aren't for her. She's so busy with her career she doesn't have much time to focus on her love life or dating. Then she meets a beautiful stranger that's all kinds of sexy. He causes an overwhelming response in her she's never experienced, and they share a kiss she can't forget. When she learns her mystery man is her brother's new teammate he's officially off limits to her. Even though he's the hottest man she's ever seen, she doesn't date baseball players. Grant Navarro is a MLB superstar and the newest player traded to the Pinstripes. She's insanely intrigued and the tension between them is electric when their in the same room. Tate is a person who likes to be in control, but lately the boundaris she's put in place feel like they no longer exist. Can she resist temptation and stay away from Grant, or will she break all her own rules to have him?
Blushing in the Big Leagues by R.S. Grey is a standalone, slow burn, friends to lovers, forbidden, sports romance full of humor, explosive chemistry, fabulous banter and plenty of swoon. I really loved this couple and hope we get more books in this world. I need a story for Daphne & Dustin! <333
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://www.amazon.com/Blushing-Big-L...
(ARC provided by Valentine PR)
Tate Allen loves baseball, and it has always been such a big part of her life. She graduated college and then followed her brother Luke to New York City where he plays for the Pinstripes. With a brother in the league she's constantly surrounded by gorgeous men, but she decided long ago that professional athletes aren't for her. She's so busy with her career she doesn't have much time to focus on her love life or dating. Then she meets a beautiful stranger that's all kinds of sexy. He causes an overwhelming response in her she's never experienced, and they share a kiss she can't forget. When she learns her mystery man is her brother's new teammate he's officially off limits to her. Even though he's the hottest man she's ever seen, she doesn't date baseball players. Grant Navarro is a MLB superstar and the newest player traded to the Pinstripes. She's insanely intrigued and the tension between them is electric when their in the same room. Tate is a person who likes to be in control, but lately the boundaris she's put in place feel like they no longer exist. Can she resist temptation and stay away from Grant, or will she break all her own rules to have him?
Blushing in the Big Leagues by R.S. Grey is a standalone, slow burn, friends to lovers, forbidden, sports romance full of humor, explosive chemistry, fabulous banter and plenty of swoon. I really loved this couple and hope we get more books in this world. I need a story for Daphne & Dustin! <333
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://www.amazon.com/Blushing-Big-L...
January 24, 2025
I love R.S Grey, but this wasn’t one of my favorites of hers. I felt like the relationship between the leads wasn’t developed at all, and it was a lot of “tell” vs. show. We saw them become attracted to each other but then all of a sudden they were in love even though we’d barely seen them have an actual conversation, so it felt rushed. I did like that there was no third act breakup though, and Grant was really sweet, so I liked that as well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2023
1.5/5 SPICE
3/5 PLOT
3/5 B.R.A.D.
3/5 PLOT
3/5 B.R.A.D.
May 18, 2023
Following Tate and Grant, BITBL is a brothers teammate story. It was spicy and funny, the perfect lil rom com 🫶🏻
The main characters meet at a party and share a moment, but nurse Tate enforces a no name rule and assumes they’ll never see eachother again. Until she finds out he’s the latest addition to the Major League Baseball team her brother plays for.
Tate has vowed she’ll never date a baseball player, but ultimately neither of them can deny the chemistry between them!
This book has serious will they, won’t they vibes. Eventually, both open themselves to the idea that what they want might not be what they originally planned.
This was my first from R.S Grey but definitely won’t be my last!
Blushing in the big leagues will be released on the 18th of May!
Thank you to R.S Grey and Valentine PR for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my review.
The main characters meet at a party and share a moment, but nurse Tate enforces a no name rule and assumes they’ll never see eachother again. Until she finds out he’s the latest addition to the Major League Baseball team her brother plays for.
Tate has vowed she’ll never date a baseball player, but ultimately neither of them can deny the chemistry between them!
This book has serious will they, won’t they vibes. Eventually, both open themselves to the idea that what they want might not be what they originally planned.
This was my first from R.S Grey but definitely won’t be my last!
Blushing in the big leagues will be released on the 18th of May!
Thank you to R.S Grey and Valentine PR for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my review.
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July 25, 2023
2.5 stars
This was ooookay. I used to love R.S. Grey so I try her new releases every once in a while. I love a sports romance, but this one was just alright. I don’t often see the h being the emotionally unavailable one so that was…something lol idk I don’t have a lot to say about this one, but somehow I did get through it really quick and it kept my interest/kept me turning the pages so it gets points for that.
This was ooookay. I used to love R.S. Grey so I try her new releases every once in a while. I love a sports romance, but this one was just alright. I don’t often see the h being the emotionally unavailable one so that was…something lol idk I don’t have a lot to say about this one, but somehow I did get through it really quick and it kept my interest/kept me turning the pages so it gets points for that.
June 22, 2023
RS Grey has always been a fun read for me and this one was no different. Plus throw in a sports romance, and I was game (no pun intended).
Blushing in the Big Leagues follows Tate, an avid baseball fan and sister to a major league player, and Grant, a major league pitcher. When the two collide at a party, sparks fly. However, Tate doesn't date ball players, esp one on her brothers team. But yet, every time they meet, instant fireworks.
What I love about Grey's writing is how easy it feels. I know that I will be able to just sit down and enjoy a little romance while getting some laughs in. And that's how it was here. I loved the friendship dynamics that were throughout the story as well. I've realized that I love big friend group dynamics and the way Grey wrote them was effortless. I believed these were tight knit friends.
Where I kind of dipped out a little was the actual romance. Don't get me wrong, I loved the swoony parts and the end, but it took a lot to get there (or not a lot depending on how you looked at it). The MC's hardly spent any time together aside from their first makeout session and then casual run ins. But yet, they were madly in love? Add that to the fact that Tate acted like a child a majority of the time she was around Grant, that it just annoyed the hell out of me. There was a moment where I was hoping he would move on because she was being ridiculous. But I did enjoy the cutesy moments, even if they weren't enough to convince me they were in love. Then the last few chapters before the epilogue just skipped a ton of time. It was very jolting.
Overall, still an adorable fun read. I will keep reading anything Grey puts out because I just adore her.
Blushing in the Big Leagues follows Tate, an avid baseball fan and sister to a major league player, and Grant, a major league pitcher. When the two collide at a party, sparks fly. However, Tate doesn't date ball players, esp one on her brothers team. But yet, every time they meet, instant fireworks.
What I love about Grey's writing is how easy it feels. I know that I will be able to just sit down and enjoy a little romance while getting some laughs in. And that's how it was here. I loved the friendship dynamics that were throughout the story as well. I've realized that I love big friend group dynamics and the way Grey wrote them was effortless. I believed these were tight knit friends.
Where I kind of dipped out a little was the actual romance. Don't get me wrong, I loved the swoony parts and the end, but it took a lot to get there (or not a lot depending on how you looked at it). The MC's hardly spent any time together aside from their first makeout session and then casual run ins. But yet, they were madly in love? Add that to the fact that Tate acted like a child a majority of the time she was around Grant, that it just annoyed the hell out of me. There was a moment where I was hoping he would move on because she was being ridiculous. But I did enjoy the cutesy moments, even if they weren't enough to convince me they were in love. Then the last few chapters before the epilogue just skipped a ton of time. It was very jolting.
Overall, still an adorable fun read. I will keep reading anything Grey puts out because I just adore her.
May 22, 2023
3.5 stars! Blushing in the Big League is the newest contemporary, sports romance from RS Grey. This one I wanted to read because it was a baseball romance and while it wasn’t everything I wanted, it was cute and a quick read.
Tate has been surrounded by baseball her entire life: her father was a collegiate baseball coach, she played growing up, her brother is a veteran pitcher, her friend dates a baseball player on the team, and she’s good friends with other guys on the team as well. But while she’s lived and breathed baseball her whole life, baseball players were never someone she wanted to date. When the story starts her friends “triple dog dare” her to hookup with someone at the party they’re at, and Tate ends up making out with the hottest guy there without sharing names or knowing who he is. Which happens to be Grant, a newly signed player to the team who was spending his first night in the city at the party. He finds out the next morning that she’s his teammate’s sister and definitely off limits. Tate also can’t believe it when she finds out who Grant is because she��s always been against dating any professional baseball players.
But of course feelings and a pull to one another is there and Grant and Tate can’t help falling for one another. I liked that Tate is a nurse in the pediatric cardiac ICU, we do get a little bit of her work in the story. Grant is super sweet and the friend group was fun! The romance was nice but it definitely all felt surface level, we don’t dive too deep into anything with the characters really and time moves fast off-page (told of things that happen instead of seeing them). I feel like if you love this author’s books, you will like this one. I just wanted a little more emotion and depth to the story and characters. Which I did get more of that from this author in King of the Court, but maybe that was an outlier. Still sweet and short though, if not a bit forgettable.
Tate has been surrounded by baseball her entire life: her father was a collegiate baseball coach, she played growing up, her brother is a veteran pitcher, her friend dates a baseball player on the team, and she’s good friends with other guys on the team as well. But while she’s lived and breathed baseball her whole life, baseball players were never someone she wanted to date. When the story starts her friends “triple dog dare” her to hookup with someone at the party they’re at, and Tate ends up making out with the hottest guy there without sharing names or knowing who he is. Which happens to be Grant, a newly signed player to the team who was spending his first night in the city at the party. He finds out the next morning that she’s his teammate’s sister and definitely off limits. Tate also can’t believe it when she finds out who Grant is because she��s always been against dating any professional baseball players.
But of course feelings and a pull to one another is there and Grant and Tate can’t help falling for one another. I liked that Tate is a nurse in the pediatric cardiac ICU, we do get a little bit of her work in the story. Grant is super sweet and the friend group was fun! The romance was nice but it definitely all felt surface level, we don’t dive too deep into anything with the characters really and time moves fast off-page (told of things that happen instead of seeing them). I feel like if you love this author’s books, you will like this one. I just wanted a little more emotion and depth to the story and characters. Which I did get more of that from this author in King of the Court, but maybe that was an outlier. Still sweet and short though, if not a bit forgettable.
May 22, 2023
In my last review, I said rs grey books were getting better, and here we are, still improving and improving. She makes every one of these new books a new drug which I'm so here for. The chokehold she has on me is so strong y'all 🫶🏻
Grant and Tate are perfect!! god, they are a lot better than me! if i were them, I'd go for it and cause some drama the first time they met because who cares? They're so in love. Grant Navarro is my man! The dude would drool over Tate 24/7 if he had the chance to. Plus, he is a sexy hotshot baseball player. I mean, what not to love, right? The growth between these two is fantastic, and their chemistry is insane and intense. Omg, you guys will love this because it's perfect.
thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review, mwahh 💋
Grant and Tate are perfect!! god, they are a lot better than me! if i were them, I'd go for it and cause some drama the first time they met because who cares? They're so in love. Grant Navarro is my man! The dude would drool over Tate 24/7 if he had the chance to. Plus, he is a sexy hotshot baseball player. I mean, what not to love, right? The growth between these two is fantastic, and their chemistry is insane and intense. Omg, you guys will love this because it's perfect.
thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review, mwahh 💋
September 18, 2023
All of the telling, none of the showing. Why are they so into each other anyway? I get that they find each other attractive but what else is there?
I think this is my last book by this author for the time being as I don't vibe with her writing at all. I feel like I could have written this book and I don't say it often because I know I'm not a good writer.
I think this is my last book by this author for the time being as I don't vibe with her writing at all. I feel like I could have written this book and I don't say it often because I know I'm not a good writer.
May 24, 2023
r.s. slay
May 20, 2023
it's been a while since i've liked any of r.s. grey's books recently (actually any books in general), and this feels alot like i have a strike going on since i'm enjoying the books i have been reading lately and this feeling hasn't happened in a loooong time. (let's not jinx myself)
but, sometimes i love a simple romance and the thing with this book was that it actually did make me feel the sparks and the heat also, because there's a lot of push and pull in this story like that's literally the entire synopsis of it but i do enjoy that kind of romance with angst. and, even though at times the female lead, tate did get annoying, but it's lowkey easy to overlook just cause everything else pretty much covers it. i really liked the male character, grant and he was totally the exact opposite of what i had imagined when i first read the blurb for this book so overall, i'll say as long as a book is helping me getting my reading game back on, i count it as something good.
also, books with close knit and different personalities kind of a friends group is always a win. i'm pretty sure we'll get something on dustin and daphne, but i'm curious about their tropes other than hate to love of course.
but, sometimes i love a simple romance and the thing with this book was that it actually did make me feel the sparks and the heat also, because there's a lot of push and pull in this story like that's literally the entire synopsis of it but i do enjoy that kind of romance with angst. and, even though at times the female lead, tate did get annoying, but it's lowkey easy to overlook just cause everything else pretty much covers it. i really liked the male character, grant and he was totally the exact opposite of what i had imagined when i first read the blurb for this book so overall, i'll say as long as a book is helping me getting my reading game back on, i count it as something good.
also, books with close knit and different personalities kind of a friends group is always a win. i'm pretty sure we'll get something on dustin and daphne, but i'm curious about their tropes other than hate to love of course.
May 26, 2023
this was more of a hit than recent rs grey books and i ate up the first 70% and then started getting a littleeee bored and skim read the rest but we move
May 30, 2023
2.5 fmc and mmc barely spent any time together yet they were in love and not to mention they barely had any personality but we move
May 18, 2023
This is my first time reading R.S. Grey and I was not disappointed. The first couple of chapters had a smile on my face and a few laughs.
I definitely would want to be friends with Tate, Sophia and Daphne and the boys all sound delicious!
Tate is a bit of a routine freak determined to stay away from professional sports players and baseball players in particular but after accepting a dare from her friends and kissing the hottest man in the room, she struggles to put thoughts of him out of her mind especially when she finds out he’s the new player on her brother’s team.
Grant is looking to focus on his new team and new city but Tate changes all that. When he realises that she is off limits due to being a teammate’s sister he tries to keep things platonic.
I loved the small snippets of temptation and the chemistry that the 2 characters have. The side characters are also great and I hope there is a Dustin and Daphne book planned as I will be there for that.
I’m looking forward to reading more books by R.S. Grey and would like to thank Valentine PR for the chance to read and review an early release copy.
I definitely would want to be friends with Tate, Sophia and Daphne and the boys all sound delicious!
Tate is a bit of a routine freak determined to stay away from professional sports players and baseball players in particular but after accepting a dare from her friends and kissing the hottest man in the room, she struggles to put thoughts of him out of her mind especially when she finds out he’s the new player on her brother’s team.
Grant is looking to focus on his new team and new city but Tate changes all that. When he realises that she is off limits due to being a teammate’s sister he tries to keep things platonic.
I loved the small snippets of temptation and the chemistry that the 2 characters have. The side characters are also great and I hope there is a Dustin and Daphne book planned as I will be there for that.
I’m looking forward to reading more books by R.S. Grey and would like to thank Valentine PR for the chance to read and review an early release copy.
June 25, 2023
Was it the worst sports romance I have ever read - no.
Was it a satisfying read - also no.
The two main characters were cute together and there wasn’t really a third act break up but I kept waiting for the romance, the passion, the spice and it never really came… :-( So: two stars
Was it a satisfying read - also no.
The two main characters were cute together and there wasn’t really a third act break up but I kept waiting for the romance, the passion, the spice and it never really came… :-( So: two stars
May 22, 2023
This book drove me nuts and was a total let down after “three strikes.” Tate and Grant made out once for what like 3 minutes? A 3 minute make out doesn’t warrant half the immaturity Tate projects onto Grant. Tate truly acted like she was 16 for the first 70% of this book. Finally, Tate loosened up and it got sweet and the ending had some substance to it. Oh and just like three strikes, this ending was extremely rushed.
May 31, 2023
In true R.S. Grey fashion, this book was an adorable, quick read. I devoured it in a few days. The first couple of chapters really reel you in. The problem, is by the 70% mark, Tate and Grant's initial spark does NOT deliver. The book starts out with Tate acting on a triple dog dare from her friends. No idea how old they are but if they're daring their friend to hook up with someone, I can only (hopefully) assume early to mid twenties. Tate's friends set their eyes on the hottest guy in the room and Tate walks right up to him and kisses him. She lets him in on the dare and they kinda fake sneaking off together. Fast forward another day or so when she finds out the guy she kissed is her brother's new teammate aka he's completely off limits cause she doesn't do baseball players. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. As Grant is accepted into this group of friends, he ends up spending more time with Tate. He's been curious about the mysterious girl who kissed him and ran off without even giving him her name. Tate sees Grant as this hot, mysterious, dangerous guy who she should absolutely stay away from. And she does exactly that. Even in their big group of friends, she's steers completely clear of Grant besides a few flirty DMs. She spends most of the book avoiding him and saying how bad he is for her. She even tries to date someone who is the complete opposite of Grant just to prove the good guy is who she needs and not the bad boy she thinks Grant is. When Tate finally decides to go after what she clearly wants, she basically says it's because she's in love with Grant. SAY WHAT?! Their interactions on page have been minimal at best. Chemistry? Sure. Love???? Absolutely not. They haven't even spent that much time together. It's not as if they've been hanging out as friends, getting to know each other, and while she's keeping him at arm's length happens to fall in love with him. Sis actively avoids him for a large chunk of the middle of the book. And same with him. As soon as she's thinking about being in love with him, he's in love with her too! I was just royally pissed at the middle of this book because how did you fall in love with someone you haven't spent much time with? She hardly knows him other than how hot he is. I was just about ready to give up on this book but by the end Grant had to go be super sweet. And the epilogue was pretty cute too. Overall, this was a cute, quick read. The insta love was not my cup of tea but somehow I like this little crew of friends they have. I also really liked the first book in this series and Luke and Chloe and Harper make several appearances here. So while I have some grievances with the middle of the book, I can't deny that I still enjoyed this quick read.
June 7, 2023
I LOVED this book! I was really excited for it after Three Strikes and You're Mine, which was also 5 stars. Tate has a reasonable role in that book, and she was a great character, so I was looking forward to a book about her.
It's kinda like a forbidden romance trope, except that choosing to not date Grant is completely her own decision. No one actually told her she couldn't date baseball players. Except maybe her older, overprotective brother, but he doesn't really count because he didn't like her dating anyone.
What you would usually expect from a devastatingly handsome pro baseball player is that he's a playboy and/or has regular f-buddies . But what I loved most about him was that there was never any mention of him behaving like that at all. While it definitely isn't a virgin, he doesn't play the field in his personal life. As soon as he meets Tate for the first time, he gone for her. He has no interest in anyone else. It's actually Tate who goes on a date with another man in a way to try and force Grant out of her mind. But she's gone for him too, so it's impossible.
While I was okay with the push and pull they had going on, I was glad Ms. Grey still found opportunities for them to engage with each other and get to know each other. I always dislike it when the couple that's supposed to be falling in love stay away from each and then eventually "give in" and bang, then claim they are deeply in love when they don't even know each other (I'm looking at you Cold Hearted Boss and Enenies Abroad).
While Tate and Grant have heavy sexual attraction and its so satisfying when they finally bang, I was happy with how their relationship had developed before hand and how they both had to fight for each other, verses only the guy going after the girl.
There's two full sex scenes (66% in and another in the last chapter) as well as two earlier heavy petting/finger banging/oral scenes. The sexy times were perfectly placed and perfectly detailed. There isn't much cursing in this book, which was nice.
Now I'm praying the next book is about Dustin and Daphne! It's so obvious they are going to be enemies-to-lovers, and I need it now! I need to know why they hate each other! Please, Ms. Grey?! Make it happen!
It's kinda like a forbidden romance trope, except that choosing to not date Grant is completely her own decision. No one actually told her she couldn't date baseball players. Except maybe her older, overprotective brother, but he doesn't really count because he didn't like her dating anyone.
What you would usually expect from a devastatingly handsome pro baseball player is that he's a playboy and/or has regular f-buddies . But what I loved most about him was that there was never any mention of him behaving like that at all. While it definitely isn't a virgin, he doesn't play the field in his personal life. As soon as he meets Tate for the first time, he gone for her. He has no interest in anyone else. It's actually Tate who goes on a date with another man in a way to try and force Grant out of her mind. But she's gone for him too, so it's impossible.
While I was okay with the push and pull they had going on, I was glad Ms. Grey still found opportunities for them to engage with each other and get to know each other. I always dislike it when the couple that's supposed to be falling in love stay away from each and then eventually "give in" and bang, then claim they are deeply in love when they don't even know each other (I'm looking at you Cold Hearted Boss and Enenies Abroad).
While Tate and Grant have heavy sexual attraction and its so satisfying when they finally bang, I was happy with how their relationship had developed before hand and how they both had to fight for each other, verses only the guy going after the girl.
There's two full sex scenes (66% in and another in the last chapter) as well as two earlier heavy petting/finger banging/oral scenes. The sexy times were perfectly placed and perfectly detailed. There isn't much cursing in this book, which was nice.
Now I'm praying the next book is about Dustin and Daphne! It's so obvious they are going to be enemies-to-lovers, and I need it now! I need to know why they hate each other! Please, Ms. Grey?! Make it happen!
September 24, 2023
Thank you to the author and Valentine PR for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review (official release day is May 18th). Thank you RS Grey for the gift of GRATE...Grant and Tate! I don't know how you do it, but you really are the queen of writing romance novels that are sexy & steamy even without the actual physical aspect. The sarcasm, tension, & sexy banter had me laughing, swooning & curling my toes from the start! I read this book in one sitting!
When you decide to read this, PLEASE make sure you read "Three Strikes & You Are Mine" first (scroll through my Instagram posts for my review on that lil’ beauty). Technically, they can be read as stand alone's BUT I think they are so much better when read in order. I fell in love with littler Harper in Three Strikes AND I was elated when this little first grader made her first appearance here & even more excited to see that she plays a role in the overall plot here as well. I see what you did there RS Grey! You delivered some great lil' "life lessons" told from a child's perspective reminding us all how kids are always listening & observing…they're little sponges & their POV is so simple & insightful and usually SPOT ON, reminding us adults to just pause & enjoy the moments! Yup...I LOVE this little spunky fictional character!
I truly enjoyed this love story & I adored their fabulous friend group...friends that are family! I hope the author keeps this series going with love stories straight from this adorable little FRAMILY... Daphne & Dustin can be next (just saying)! And please, keep giving us Harper throughout this series. I just find her little character so adorable, insightful and hilarious!
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me for this romance novel that had me smiling the entire time!
When you decide to read this, PLEASE make sure you read "Three Strikes & You Are Mine" first (scroll through my Instagram posts for my review on that lil’ beauty). Technically, they can be read as stand alone's BUT I think they are so much better when read in order. I fell in love with littler Harper in Three Strikes AND I was elated when this little first grader made her first appearance here & even more excited to see that she plays a role in the overall plot here as well. I see what you did there RS Grey! You delivered some great lil' "life lessons" told from a child's perspective reminding us all how kids are always listening & observing…they're little sponges & their POV is so simple & insightful and usually SPOT ON, reminding us adults to just pause & enjoy the moments! Yup...I LOVE this little spunky fictional character!
I truly enjoyed this love story & I adored their fabulous friend group...friends that are family! I hope the author keeps this series going with love stories straight from this adorable little FRAMILY... Daphne & Dustin can be next (just saying)! And please, keep giving us Harper throughout this series. I just find her little character so adorable, insightful and hilarious!
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me for this romance novel that had me smiling the entire time!
May 18, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
🔥🔥 (3 spicy scenes - mild details)
[ Thank you R.S. Grey & Valentine PR for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own! ]
THOUGHTS:
Back in February, I read and fell in love with Three Strikes and You’re Mine. Tate, our female MC in this book is Luke’s sister! I was so excited to hear she was getting her own book and here we are!! This can be read as a complete standalone though, so no worries if you haven’t read the first one. But I totally think you should! 😉
Here’s the tropes:
💕forbidden romance
⚾️professional athlete
💕brother’s teammate
⚾️slow burn
💕dual pov
Tate doesn’t date baseball players. Since her brother is a MLB player, she knows the good, bad and ugly that happens in the league. She’s busy with work. Tate is a nurse in the pediatric cardiac ICU. She loves a good routine and is very goal-oriented.
Enter Grant Navarro. UGH. He’s the ultimate book boyfriend. He’s the newest player for the Pinstripes and is smitten with Tate at first sight. Oh the pining and longing between these two! The tension was SO good and the slow burn was worth it by the end.
I really loved Tate’s friends. I loved seeing the relationships with them and the guys on the baseball team. Luke, Chloe and Harper made appearances in this one! And Harper was just as adorable like in book 1. So sweet.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one! I’m always looking forward to a new release by Rachel. And PLEASE tell me Daphne & Dustin are getting their book?! I need more on them and their relationship! So fingers crossed! 🤞🏻
✨Available now on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited✨
🔥🔥 (3 spicy scenes - mild details)
[ Thank you R.S. Grey & Valentine PR for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own! ]
THOUGHTS:
Back in February, I read and fell in love with Three Strikes and You’re Mine. Tate, our female MC in this book is Luke’s sister! I was so excited to hear she was getting her own book and here we are!! This can be read as a complete standalone though, so no worries if you haven’t read the first one. But I totally think you should! 😉
Here’s the tropes:
💕forbidden romance
⚾️professional athlete
💕brother’s teammate
⚾️slow burn
💕dual pov
Tate doesn’t date baseball players. Since her brother is a MLB player, she knows the good, bad and ugly that happens in the league. She’s busy with work. Tate is a nurse in the pediatric cardiac ICU. She loves a good routine and is very goal-oriented.
Enter Grant Navarro. UGH. He’s the ultimate book boyfriend. He’s the newest player for the Pinstripes and is smitten with Tate at first sight. Oh the pining and longing between these two! The tension was SO good and the slow burn was worth it by the end.
I really loved Tate’s friends. I loved seeing the relationships with them and the guys on the baseball team. Luke, Chloe and Harper made appearances in this one! And Harper was just as adorable like in book 1. So sweet.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one! I’m always looking forward to a new release by Rachel. And PLEASE tell me Daphne & Dustin are getting their book?! I need more on them and their relationship! So fingers crossed! 🤞🏻
✨Available now on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited✨
May 14, 2023
ARC Review ⚾️🗽🏟️
This was such a cozy and wholesome read and exactly what I needed! It was funny, witty, relatable and a little spicy.
Tate Allen, sister of MLB player Luke Allen, has spent her life surrounded by the sport and the players. As much as she loves baseball and although many of her male friends are on the Pinstripes (same team as her brother), she’s fully sworn off dating baseball players, especially ones who are teammates with her brother. All seems to be going to plan, until Grant Navarro, a new player on the Pinstripes, blows into her life.
This romcom totally had me laughing. Tate’s character was so cute and funny. She was so likeable as well. I also really loved how persistent Grant was and what a genuinely nice guy he is. I really enjoyed all the moments between Tate and Grant - the push and pull was just enough that it didn’t annoy me but also kept me turning the pages.
Also I LOVED Harper 🥹 she was just the cutest and I NEED a Daphne and Dustin book asap! I just know that story will be so good
The ONE thing I felt was missing or I would have liked was for there to be slightly more spice - but then again I’m someone who reads a lot of smut so I’m just not used to reading books with so little.
Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Tropes:
- Athlete
- Best friend’s sibling
- Friends to lovers
- Will they or won’t they?
This book releases May 18th! I highly recommend getting it if you’re looking for a cozy, wholesome, sports romcom 🤭
This was such a cozy and wholesome read and exactly what I needed! It was funny, witty, relatable and a little spicy.
Tate Allen, sister of MLB player Luke Allen, has spent her life surrounded by the sport and the players. As much as she loves baseball and although many of her male friends are on the Pinstripes (same team as her brother), she’s fully sworn off dating baseball players, especially ones who are teammates with her brother. All seems to be going to plan, until Grant Navarro, a new player on the Pinstripes, blows into her life.
This romcom totally had me laughing. Tate’s character was so cute and funny. She was so likeable as well. I also really loved how persistent Grant was and what a genuinely nice guy he is. I really enjoyed all the moments between Tate and Grant - the push and pull was just enough that it didn’t annoy me but also kept me turning the pages.
Also I LOVED Harper 🥹 she was just the cutest and I NEED a Daphne and Dustin book asap! I just know that story will be so good
The ONE thing I felt was missing or I would have liked was for there to be slightly more spice - but then again I’m someone who reads a lot of smut so I’m just not used to reading books with so little.
Rating: ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
Tropes:
- Athlete
- Best friend’s sibling
- Friends to lovers
- Will they or won’t they?
This book releases May 18th! I highly recommend getting it if you’re looking for a cozy, wholesome, sports romcom 🤭
May 19, 2023
Thanks to the R.S. Grey and Valentine PR for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I completely devoured this book in one day!
GRATE! I love Grant and Tate!
R. S. Grey does it again, this book is filled with sarcasm, tension, & sexy banter I was laughing from the beginning as usual! She has written soccer, football, gymnastics and swimming but the baseball boys have my heart.
If you decide to read Blushing in the Big Leagues, please do yourself the favor of reading "Three Strikes & You Are Mine"
Technically, are stand alone but you get the bigger picture by reading Tate's brother’s book first! I fell in love with my second favorite duo in that book first, Harper and Tate.
“Luke’s fist pounds on the door of the closet. “HARPER, if you’re downloading Barbie apps again, you’re grounded! Worse than grounded!”
The closet door swings open. Luke must have remembered there’s no lock on it. “What’s grounded’?” Harper asks.
“Hand me my phone.” Luke’s voice has no venom behind it.
“I’m sick, remember.” Harper coughs Mean Girls style then there’s more rustling as she shouts, “Bye, Aunt Tate! I love you!””
Interactions with Harper are always my favorite!
I very much enjoyed this story & I the amazing friend group. I hope R.S Grey decides to write at least one more baseball story. Daphne & Dustin PLEASE!
GRATE! I love Grant and Tate!
R. S. Grey does it again, this book is filled with sarcasm, tension, & sexy banter I was laughing from the beginning as usual! She has written soccer, football, gymnastics and swimming but the baseball boys have my heart.
If you decide to read Blushing in the Big Leagues, please do yourself the favor of reading "Three Strikes & You Are Mine"
Technically, are stand alone but you get the bigger picture by reading Tate's brother’s book first! I fell in love with my second favorite duo in that book first, Harper and Tate.
“Luke’s fist pounds on the door of the closet. “HARPER, if you’re downloading Barbie apps again, you’re grounded! Worse than grounded!”
The closet door swings open. Luke must have remembered there’s no lock on it. “What’s grounded’?” Harper asks.
“Hand me my phone.” Luke’s voice has no venom behind it.
“I’m sick, remember.” Harper coughs Mean Girls style then there’s more rustling as she shouts, “Bye, Aunt Tate! I love you!””
Interactions with Harper are always my favorite!
I very much enjoyed this story & I the amazing friend group. I hope R.S Grey decides to write at least one more baseball story. Daphne & Dustin PLEASE!
December 15, 2025
⚾️Book Review: Blushing in the Big Leagues by R.S. Grey 🩷
5/5 ⭐️
Thank you @rsgrey for this arc in exchange for my review! This book is out today - get it it on Amazon today!
I absolutely loved this book!! I’m so in love with Grant and Tate! I loved Tate in Three Strikes and You’re Mine and I’m so glad she got her own book. The banter, the chemistry, the friend group and all the baseball scenes, I loved it!
You’ll like this book if you love:
•forbidden romance
•slow burn
•famous baseball player (Grant)
•dual pov
•steam 🔥
Brief synopsis: Tate doesn’t date baseball players since her brother is a professional baseball player and she sees the not so great sides of their lives. She stays busy with work and is an amazing nurse. Enter Grant Navarro, the new, attractive and the ultimate book boyfriend 💙 They navigate their ‘relationship’ as a friendship, then dating other people and then eventually dating!
I loved their friends and all the scenes with Harper, Luke and Chloe from You Strikes and You’re Mine. Once again, a book of R.S. Greys that I couldn’t put down. 👏🏻👏🏻
5/5 ⭐️
Thank you @rsgrey for this arc in exchange for my review! This book is out today - get it it on Amazon today!
I absolutely loved this book!! I’m so in love with Grant and Tate! I loved Tate in Three Strikes and You’re Mine and I’m so glad she got her own book. The banter, the chemistry, the friend group and all the baseball scenes, I loved it!
You’ll like this book if you love:
•forbidden romance
•slow burn
•famous baseball player (Grant)
•dual pov
•steam 🔥
Brief synopsis: Tate doesn’t date baseball players since her brother is a professional baseball player and she sees the not so great sides of their lives. She stays busy with work and is an amazing nurse. Enter Grant Navarro, the new, attractive and the ultimate book boyfriend 💙 They navigate their ‘relationship’ as a friendship, then dating other people and then eventually dating!
I loved their friends and all the scenes with Harper, Luke and Chloe from You Strikes and You’re Mine. Once again, a book of R.S. Greys that I couldn’t put down. 👏🏻👏🏻
May 18, 2023
Blushing in the Big Leagues is Rachel's newest release and she crushes this sports romance.
Tate is the brother of a baseball player and since she has grown up surrounded by baseball, she has always sworn off baseball players.
Tate meets Grant at a party and because she assumes they'll never see one another again, enforces the whole "no name" rule. That is until she finds out that he is newest player on her brother's MLB team.
The chemistry between Tate and Grant sets these pages on fire. I love the sexual tension that is built up in this book, but absolutely looooove when they finally give in to one another.
Rachel writes some of the best characters in her books. Tate and Grant are not only heating the pages, but you will find yourself laughing throughout this book. I love the extra layer with the secondary characters that keep this book lively and entertaining.
Another great hit from Rachel.
Tate is the brother of a baseball player and since she has grown up surrounded by baseball, she has always sworn off baseball players.
Tate meets Grant at a party and because she assumes they'll never see one another again, enforces the whole "no name" rule. That is until she finds out that he is newest player on her brother's MLB team.
The chemistry between Tate and Grant sets these pages on fire. I love the sexual tension that is built up in this book, but absolutely looooove when they finally give in to one another.
Rachel writes some of the best characters in her books. Tate and Grant are not only heating the pages, but you will find yourself laughing throughout this book. I love the extra layer with the secondary characters that keep this book lively and entertaining.
Another great hit from Rachel.
May 15, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
After reading Luke n Chloe’s story, Blushing in the big leagues gave me EVERYTHING I needed and more for Tate’s story.
It was of course only fitting her complete denial when it comes to dating and the baseball world. She’s a type A nurse who needs everything according to her exact plan simply put. Where as Grant is the wild card, even though she completely judges a book by its cover on their first encounter; Tate just might find they have more in common than she initially thought.
Don’t even get me started on the attraction levels either, because while this book is a total slow burn..once the spice gets going it’s Hot n Heavy town pretty quick 🙈 (Not that I mind at all *strong*😉)
Definitely added to my new list of favorite sports romances, it’s quirky cute and super fun. Who knew that baseball could be so appealing 🥰😅🤷🏾♀️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
After reading Luke n Chloe’s story, Blushing in the big leagues gave me EVERYTHING I needed and more for Tate’s story.
It was of course only fitting her complete denial when it comes to dating and the baseball world. She’s a type A nurse who needs everything according to her exact plan simply put. Where as Grant is the wild card, even though she completely judges a book by its cover on their first encounter; Tate just might find they have more in common than she initially thought.
Don’t even get me started on the attraction levels either, because while this book is a total slow burn..once the spice gets going it’s Hot n Heavy town pretty quick 🙈 (Not that I mind at all *strong*😉)
Definitely added to my new list of favorite sports romances, it’s quirky cute and super fun. Who knew that baseball could be so appealing 🥰😅🤷🏾♀️
June 5, 2023
another classic rom com from rs grey and this time it was a sports romance which i adore! tate and grant were so cute and i became obsessed with them from the first page. i’m not usually into the brothers friend/teammate trope but if anyone can make me love it it’s rs grey! i hope we get daphne and dustin’s book next!!
June 4, 2023
Love a bit of easy reading romance
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