Roadrunner

by Trisha R. Thomas

Dell Fletcher is the Roadrunner, a black major-league baseball star who seems to have it all. He's married to his college sweetheart, Leah, and they have two children and a dream home in Los Angeles. But an injury has sidelined his hot career, and prescription medication and depression are pulling him into a downward spiral, leaving Leah feeling emotionally distanced and lonely. Their fighting escalates, and one night Dell commits an act of violence that changes the course of their lives forever.
But Angel Lopez, the cop who arrests Dell, decides to take the law into his own hands. Determined to teach the famous athlete a lesson, he drives Dell to the worst part of town and tries to kick him out of the car. The men struggle and the car crashes. When Angel comes to, Dell is gone and no one knows if he's dead or alive.
Leah is grateful when a guilt-stricken Angel offers to chase the media away from her home and help out around the house, just until Dell comes home. She and her family grow to trust him, and Angel falls in love with the Roadrunner's lovely, grieving wife. Will Dell find his way home? Will Angel replace him? And what really happened that dark night the Roadrunner disappeared?

Genres: Fiction, Romance, African American, Chick Lit

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Trisha R. Thomas is the author of the highly acclaimed Nappily Series, best known for her debut novel Nappily Ever After (Random House).

Reviews

[Ysaye Zamore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this mostly on a plane. Kept me from thinking about the turbulence! I was not expecting so many twists and turns. I wasn't rooting for any of the characters except one; almost everyone is dysfunctional, which makes for a juicy read.

[Helen Sharise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy oh boy was this an interesting read. It took me a tad bit longer than usual to read because in the beginning I wasn’t that into it. The author is so very detailed and specific though that it started to get better. Very good read though and some real life true things that actually happens to celebrities in everyday life was in this book. It was like an emotional roller coaster.

[Jemia · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars)

this was a dark and twisty romance story that turns into another love story. picked this one up at an old book store in portland, maine.

[Peta · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an intriguing mystery. Review here ->https://youtu.be/q0wtvRqV2kU

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Roadrunner wasn't terrible. It was a short read. Which, given the plot, is surprising. Roadrunner is Dell Fletcher. Before an injury and addiction to pain meds, a baseball great. Now him, his wife Leah, and their two children are just existing. In a rage Dell hits Leah. She calls the police. Handsome, young officer Angel Lopez is the one to answer the call. Leah watched her father (who is Black) hit her mother (who is Asian). She doesn't want to become her mother. But, questions if it was the right thing to do. This is where it gets a little weird. Angel and Dell have odd interactions when he arrests him, then lets him go. Angel used to be a fan of The Roadrunner. He takes him to the jail, but does not book him. He then attempts to drive him home. They get into a physical altercation. When Angel comes to, Dell is gone. Angel is attracted to Leah. He tries to insinuate himself into the family. It later turns out that he is a sociopath. I thought it was going to be different. I guess I thought it was going to be a love triangle. Leah was attracted to him, he kept making sexual advances. Meanwhile Dell is suffering from some sort of amnesia. After the accident, a family friend (and woman he had been carrying on an affair with named Elicia) picked him up and kept him at her apartment. We flash back into Dell, Angel and Leah's pasts. I don't know if any of the characters were too likeable. Except for Leah and Dell's son. Their daughter's character is heinous. Teenage angst aside, she wasn't the least concerned that her dad hit her mom. It was a "happy" ending. Leah, after finding out that her husband and friend were lovers (and knowing he cheated on her in the past before all this) chooses to start anew.

[Ranata Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember this being a very good read. Very original story. I'd recommend to those would love a good what really happened that night story.

[Lisa Lee]

Just started it, so far it's ok.

[Sherrill Dodson-lewis · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started reading this book because I liked the Nappily series. I could not get into it. SO I did not finish reading it.

[Stephanie R Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was CRAZY good! Not at sll what I expected. January LaVoy is one of my favorite fiction narrators. Her voices made listening very enjoyable.