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Reaching First
A naïve, innocent woman too sweet for her own good meets a man too bad for words in this sexy stand-alone baseball romance!Strike Hotheaded Tyler Brock arrives in Raleigh as the Rockets' first baseman, owing one hundred hours of community service for starting a bar fight. Strike Lost in a new town with a new team, Tyler can't confide his greatest shame to anyone—he can't read.And strike Tyler is assigned to work for Emily Holt. Emily is beautiful, uptight, and ready to shed her secret, unwanted virginity. They hit it off, in more ways than one. But when illiterate Tyler shirks his book-bound community service, Emily must hold him accountable.Can this mismatched pair save each other by sharing their long-held secrets?The Diamond Brides Baseball Each volume can be read on its own, and the series can be read in any order.Perfect Pitch (DJ Thomas and Samantha Winger)Catching Hell (Zach Ormond and Anna Benson)Reaching First (Tyler Brock and Emily Holt)Second Thoughts (Nick Durban and Jamie Martin)Third Degree (Josh Cantor and Ashley Harris)Stopping Short (Drew Marshall and Jessica Barnes)From Left Field (Adam Sartain and Haley Thurman)Center Stage (Ryan Green and Lindsey Ormond)Always Right (Kyle Norton and Amanda Carter)122022mfm
168 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2014
12 people are currently reading
231 people want to read
About the author
Mindy Klasky
111 books541 followersMindy Klasky learned to read when her parents shoved a book in her hands and told her that she could travel anywhere in the world through stories. She never forgot that advice.
Mindy's travels took her through multiple careers, including copyright lawyer and law librarian. Mindy now writes full time. Her books fall in a number of genres -- including romantic comedies, paranormal romance, and traditional fantasy.
In her spare time, Mindy knits, quilts, and tries to tame the endless to-be-read shelf in her home library. Her husband and two cats do their best to fill the left-over minutes in her days.
Mindy's travels took her through multiple careers, including copyright lawyer and law librarian. Mindy now writes full time. Her books fall in a number of genres -- including romantic comedies, paranormal romance, and traditional fantasy.
In her spare time, Mindy knits, quilts, and tries to tame the endless to-be-read shelf in her home library. Her husband and two cats do their best to fill the left-over minutes in her days.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 28, 2016
#3 of the Diamond Brides and another fun read during my beach vacation! I seem to go in sprints and right now I'm reading more romance.
May 15, 2019
My only complaint about these stories in this series is they are too short, wish they were a little longer. The one thing I really do like is that each one is mentioned at least a little in the next book. This story was really good & had a different feel to it. Dealing with a reading disability for a major league player isn't something that I thought would actually be touched upon. The story of a player pushed through school by his father & little league coach because he had an aptitude for baseball. No one ever learning his secret until he meets Emily a counselor trying to set up her own help center for veterans & their families. They both have a secret & are afraid the other will find out & think less of them. Tyler is helping Emily with her renovations to get his community service hours in for court to get a conviction removed from his record. What neither of them expect is for emotions to get in the way but they do & when they do they are outed to the public & the courts. Have they ruined Tyler's chance to clear his record? Can they each forgive the other for their secret? Is there a chance? Definite recommend.
July 22, 2014
Another cute story about romance and sports. This time we meet Tyler who is a first baseman for the Rockets and Emily who just happens to be Anna's friend.
Tyler was just purchased from Texas and gets into a bar fight before leaving his home town. He now has to do community service in his new home. Tyler has a secret.
Emily becomes Tyler's supervisor with the Community Service. Tyler will work on Emily's house to convert it into a place to help with veterans and getting them back on their feet. Emily also has a secret.
Will love reign with the secrets or will they discover each other's secret?
Tyler was just purchased from Texas and gets into a bar fight before leaving his home town. He now has to do community service in his new home. Tyler has a secret.
Emily becomes Tyler's supervisor with the Community Service. Tyler will work on Emily's house to convert it into a place to help with veterans and getting them back on their feet. Emily also has a secret.
Will love reign with the secrets or will they discover each other's secret?
Want to read
April 8, 2022🎁Part of Triple Play I: A Diamond Brides Series Boxed Set (The Diamond Brides #1-3) which is FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (4/8/2022)! 🎁
October 25, 2015
A heart-warming old fashioned romance mixed with baseball and the tackling and real word consequences of allowing star athletes to continue progressing in school even when they are struggling with their academics.
This is the second Diamond Brides series book I have read, and I have to say that I really enjoy Mindy Klasky's writing style and the topics that she weaves into her romances! When you read and/or listen to as many books as I do, it is so refreshing to find an author that brings a fresh perspective!
When Tyler Brock is traded to the Rockets baseball team, he has more than getting adjusted to a new team and town on his mind. Before leaving Texas, he got into a bar fight, and now has to complete 100 community service hours or go to jail. Further complicating his plight is one huge secret that he has shared with no one: he can't read.
Emily Holt, the Rockets' owners' best friend has just a few short weeks to complete the development of a community service project she is working on, or she will lose the funding and house that her aunt left in trust for her. Desperate to finish the home that she is outfitting to use in her veteran's service project, and wanting to help her best friend who needs Tyler to complete his community service, Emily takes on Tyler to help her retrofit the house.
However, as soon as they meet, sparks begin to fly! While they both know that it would be unethical to start a relationship, when Emily has sworn to monitor Tyler's required community service hours, they can't help the magnetic pull that is drawing them together as they begin to get to know one another. But Emily is hiding one big secret, and when a past love humiliates Emily in public and Tyler comes to her defense, the press goes to work claiming that their community service arrangement is a sham. Add in the further tragedy, that Tyler is unable to complete a few of the tasks that Emily assigns him because he can't read, but is too ashamed to let her know initially, and you have a number of factors storming together to cause this relationship to fail. Can Emily and Tyler possibly find a HEA under these circumstances?
I loved Tyler. Notwithstanding his hot temper, he exudes an old world charm and behaves so admirably with Emily. He's a true classic southern gentleman. Moreover, I loved how Ms. Klasky took her time to really develop Emily's and Tyler's emotional connection, and how she addressed that there are solutions for people with dyslexia.
All in all, this was a 5-star read for me, and I'm greatly looking forward to the next installment in The Diamond Brides Series: Second Thoughts!
Source: Early Reviewers copy provided through LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second Diamond Brides series book I have read, and I have to say that I really enjoy Mindy Klasky's writing style and the topics that she weaves into her romances! When you read and/or listen to as many books as I do, it is so refreshing to find an author that brings a fresh perspective!
When Tyler Brock is traded to the Rockets baseball team, he has more than getting adjusted to a new team and town on his mind. Before leaving Texas, he got into a bar fight, and now has to complete 100 community service hours or go to jail. Further complicating his plight is one huge secret that he has shared with no one: he can't read.
Emily Holt, the Rockets' owners' best friend has just a few short weeks to complete the development of a community service project she is working on, or she will lose the funding and house that her aunt left in trust for her. Desperate to finish the home that she is outfitting to use in her veteran's service project, and wanting to help her best friend who needs Tyler to complete his community service, Emily takes on Tyler to help her retrofit the house.
However, as soon as they meet, sparks begin to fly! While they both know that it would be unethical to start a relationship, when Emily has sworn to monitor Tyler's required community service hours, they can't help the magnetic pull that is drawing them together as they begin to get to know one another. But Emily is hiding one big secret, and when a past love humiliates Emily in public and Tyler comes to her defense, the press goes to work claiming that their community service arrangement is a sham. Add in the further tragedy, that Tyler is unable to complete a few of the tasks that Emily assigns him because he can't read, but is too ashamed to let her know initially, and you have a number of factors storming together to cause this relationship to fail. Can Emily and Tyler possibly find a HEA under these circumstances?
I loved Tyler. Notwithstanding his hot temper, he exudes an old world charm and behaves so admirably with Emily. He's a true classic southern gentleman. Moreover, I loved how Ms. Klasky took her time to really develop Emily's and Tyler's emotional connection, and how she addressed that there are solutions for people with dyslexia.
All in all, this was a 5-star read for me, and I'm greatly looking forward to the next installment in The Diamond Brides Series: Second Thoughts!
Source: Early Reviewers copy provided through LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2020
I'll be honest and say that I was initially really interested in how this story was going to work - a pro baseball player who doesn't know how to read? Sign me up!
And in general, I enjoy Klasky's writing style, and I liked seeing cameos from the previous two couples I read about.
But the book quickly went downhill for me, and the name of the disaster was Emily.
Tyler was pretty much a sweetheart, who was doing everything in his power to deal with the given situation, make his way through life, and as much as possible not cause trouble. He's the reason I'm giving this book two stars instead of just one.
Emily, though ... Emily was a piece of work. She was prejudiced, she assumed the worst, she's obviously never in her life seen the way men will do work (aka they will chat around like normal human beings for a little while then get to it and hustle their way through whatever they need to do; generally speaking they'll get done what needs to be done, you don't have to crack any whips anywhere), she assumes things about Tyler that aren't even remotely true, never really talks to him about it, and on top of that makes everything about herself.
EVERYTHING.
I was okay-ish through most of the book until it gets to the part where Tyler stands up for her in the coffee shop when the idiots come calling her names and treating her like dirt. What does Emily do? The first thing she does is tells Tyler he went off on the guys because the two of them (aka Tyler and Emily) were having an argument.
No, honey, that is NOT it. He put himself between you and the douchebags because he could see you were hurting and he wanted to help IN SPITE of your argument, not because of it. But fine, be a special snowflake like that.
Not to mention, he trusts her with his biggest secret, but she clearly doesn't trust him enough in return to reveal hers (which is made up to be this MASSIVE problem, that it really isn't, at least I don't see it as such), and she explicitly says it, along the lines of 'oh he trusted her, she LOVED him, but obviously she couldn't tell him back because he'd run off'. There she goes, assuming again.
And in the end TYLER has to do the massive apologising.
I just ... gah.
Two stars, only for Tyler. Otherwise it'd be a minus one star if I could give it. Heroines like Emily are the type that make me want to slam my head against the table a couple of times.
And in general, I enjoy Klasky's writing style, and I liked seeing cameos from the previous two couples I read about.
But the book quickly went downhill for me, and the name of the disaster was Emily.
Tyler was pretty much a sweetheart, who was doing everything in his power to deal with the given situation, make his way through life, and as much as possible not cause trouble. He's the reason I'm giving this book two stars instead of just one.
Emily, though ... Emily was a piece of work. She was prejudiced, she assumed the worst, she's obviously never in her life seen the way men will do work (aka they will chat around like normal human beings for a little while then get to it and hustle their way through whatever they need to do; generally speaking they'll get done what needs to be done, you don't have to crack any whips anywhere), she assumes things about Tyler that aren't even remotely true, never really talks to him about it, and on top of that makes everything about herself.
EVERYTHING.
I was okay-ish through most of the book until it gets to the part where Tyler stands up for her in the coffee shop when the idiots come calling her names and treating her like dirt. What does Emily do? The first thing she does is tells Tyler he went off on the guys because the two of them (aka Tyler and Emily) were having an argument.
No, honey, that is NOT it. He put himself between you and the douchebags because he could see you were hurting and he wanted to help IN SPITE of your argument, not because of it. But fine, be a special snowflake like that.
Not to mention, he trusts her with his biggest secret, but she clearly doesn't trust him enough in return to reveal hers (which is made up to be this MASSIVE problem, that it really isn't, at least I don't see it as such), and she explicitly says it, along the lines of 'oh he trusted her, she LOVED him, but obviously she couldn't tell him back because he'd run off'. There she goes, assuming again.
And in the end TYLER has to do the massive apologising.
I just ... gah.
Two stars, only for Tyler. Otherwise it'd be a minus one star if I could give it. Heroines like Emily are the type that make me want to slam my head against the table a couple of times.
February 6, 2015
This is really an overview review (say that ten times fast) for
,
,
, and
, the first four novellas/short books in The Diamond Brides series.
First let me say I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of these. The heroes, by series necessity, all play baseball. But baseball is merely another character in the books. It is not dwelled on, but it is used to drive action and characters.
Each of these books has very realistic heroines (okay, an MLB team owner isn't that realistic, but she is very down to earth, 'kay?). Their careers are varied but meaningful to each of them.
Each of these books deserved another 100 pages. There were topics in each of the books that needed more meat, but in the 175-page average length, they were lean on the meat. Yes, there was enough there to make a good story, but there was a lot of room left for more, more, MORE. I would have loved to have had more.
Ms. Klasky has a way of making likeable (and sometimes lightly flawed) characters. She has a way of describing a scene that takes your right there. She shows humor and wisdom in her writing. Maybe because of the lack of meat described above, her writing style is very succinct. The books are edited well. BUT there were some issues with misspellings and wrong words. Not enough to take you out of the story, but they were there.
I read all of these through my Scribd subscription, a blessing that has allowed me to indulge myself in all sorts of books I never would have known existed.
But I rate books based on what my expectations are. These books, novella/short book length with a new-to-me author, were just perfect for sitting down on cold winter's night, snuggled up all comfy cozy. Charming, fun, and fluffy. Perfect bedtime reading.
,
,
, and
, the first four novellas/short books in The Diamond Brides series.First let me say I thoroughly enjoyed each and every one of these. The heroes, by series necessity, all play baseball. But baseball is merely another character in the books. It is not dwelled on, but it is used to drive action and characters.
Each of these books has very realistic heroines (okay, an MLB team owner isn't that realistic, but she is very down to earth, 'kay?). Their careers are varied but meaningful to each of them.
Each of these books deserved another 100 pages. There were topics in each of the books that needed more meat, but in the 175-page average length, they were lean on the meat. Yes, there was enough there to make a good story, but there was a lot of room left for more, more, MORE. I would have loved to have had more.
Ms. Klasky has a way of making likeable (and sometimes lightly flawed) characters. She has a way of describing a scene that takes your right there. She shows humor and wisdom in her writing. Maybe because of the lack of meat described above, her writing style is very succinct. The books are edited well. BUT there were some issues with misspellings and wrong words. Not enough to take you out of the story, but they were there.
I read all of these through my Scribd subscription, a blessing that has allowed me to indulge myself in all sorts of books I never would have known existed.
But I rate books based on what my expectations are. These books, novella/short book length with a new-to-me author, were just perfect for sitting down on cold winter's night, snuggled up all comfy cozy. Charming, fun, and fluffy. Perfect bedtime reading.
May 26, 2014
Damn if Mindy Klasky doesn't write the most fun niche genres that seem tailored to me. I love this lady, I do. Baseball + Romance + Teaching to Read = Joie bait. MMMMMMMMMMMM. This is my favorite, thus far, of the Diamond Brides series and I eagerly await the next installment. Give me my sexy, sexy infield.
And hallelujah for resolved narrative issues! :D In the first two books, as much as I enjoyed them, there were some moments when the characters were too understanding - where conflict SHOULD have been there was none OR the conflict got resolved by a sudden burst of "I understand your motivations and all is forgiven" rather than a discussion. The discussion in this book didn't occur between the two main characters (Tyler and Emily), but it did occur. Tyler struggled and sought perspective. I really appreciate problems that need to be resolved.
We did go back to rushed romance in this narrative (seriously, I'm LDS (Mormon) and I'm not used to people falling in love and getting engaged so fast), but I appreciate that this time, there was a reason it happened this fast: these characters spent HOURS upon HOURS together, alone. They had more time to bond.
There were some really healthy discussions of virginity and of learning disabilities and hour our culture deals (poorly) with both. I love that Klasky is so sex and person positive. I also really appreciate how she presented the main heroine's religion's role in her decisions about sex without demonizing it. It was a fact of the character and it wasn't blind faith. Seriously, she writes a utopia that I would really love to live in. Healthy attitudes about sex for EVERYONE! Healthy depictions of differing opinions for ALL! Healthy treatment of differently abled persons ALL THE TIME!
I also note that I finally caught that she's gently introducing the couples for the next book each book. It's so gently done that it took me three books to catch on and I really like that.
So, ultimately, I think this series is going better places and even if it just maintained its quality from here on out, I would be VERY happy.
A (solid writing, improvement in each book, better depiction of conflict resolution, healthy attitudes about personal choices and problems; rushed romance development)
And hallelujah for resolved narrative issues! :D In the first two books, as much as I enjoyed them, there were some moments when the characters were too understanding - where conflict SHOULD have been there was none OR the conflict got resolved by a sudden burst of "I understand your motivations and all is forgiven" rather than a discussion. The discussion in this book didn't occur between the two main characters (Tyler and Emily), but it did occur. Tyler struggled and sought perspective. I really appreciate problems that need to be resolved.
We did go back to rushed romance in this narrative (seriously, I'm LDS (Mormon) and I'm not used to people falling in love and getting engaged so fast), but I appreciate that this time, there was a reason it happened this fast: these characters spent HOURS upon HOURS together, alone. They had more time to bond.
There were some really healthy discussions of virginity and of learning disabilities and hour our culture deals (poorly) with both. I love that Klasky is so sex and person positive. I also really appreciate how she presented the main heroine's religion's role in her decisions about sex without demonizing it. It was a fact of the character and it wasn't blind faith. Seriously, she writes a utopia that I would really love to live in. Healthy attitudes about sex for EVERYONE! Healthy depictions of differing opinions for ALL! Healthy treatment of differently abled persons ALL THE TIME!
I also note that I finally caught that she's gently introducing the couples for the next book each book. It's so gently done that it took me three books to catch on and I really like that.
So, ultimately, I think this series is going better places and even if it just maintained its quality from here on out, I would be VERY happy.
A (solid writing, improvement in each book, better depiction of conflict resolution, healthy attitudes about personal choices and problems; rushed romance development)
August 13, 2016
“Tyler Brock was different, with his devil-may-care attitude and his laughing contempt for the rules. He was a bad boy, and he made her want to be a bad girl, in the best of all possible ways.”
All Emily Holt wants to do is satisfy the terms of her grandmother’s will – she has one year to come up with a way to help veteran’s and their families, or she will forfeit her grandmother’s house and bank accounts to a rescue program for cockatiels. She has a plan, now she just needs resources to help her get her plan implemented. And when Tyler Brock is enlisted to help her out, she also thinks he can help her with something else…in the bedroom department.
All Tyler Brock wanted was to stay in Texas, the only home he has ever known and the only place he has ever lived. When he finds himself traded to the Raleigh Rockets and having to serve 100 hours of community service due to the little altercation (ahem, bar fight) he had before leaving for Raleigh, little does he know that his community service will lead him right into Emily Holt’s life…and, if he’s lucky, right into her bedroom as well.
This was a quick, fun read with two great characters. It doesn't take long to discover that there is so much more than meets the eye to both Emily and Tyler. Emily is strong, determined, and doing everything she can to make a difference. Tyler is caring, compassionate, and not at all the bad boy the press has made him out to be. From the moment these two first meet you just knew they would be great together and sparks would eventually fly. It was fun watching them fight their attraction to one another, especially since Emily was technically responsible for managing Tyler’s community service and a relationship really wouldn't be appropriate. But when things get a bit out of hand and secrets are revealed, Emily and Tyler find that maybe their happily ever after just wasn't meant to be…or is it?
This is the first book in this series I have read and I will definitely be checking out others. If you like sports romances that leave you smiling, then this is definitely one for you!
I received this book from the publisher through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.
May 11, 2014
Some secrets are never meant to be shared, Emily Holt, Anna Benson's best friend, muses sadly as she watches Anna and Zach's new found love blossom. Anna is the granddaughter of the owner of the Raleigh Rocket's baseball team. And until recently, Zach was their veteran catcher who left the team rather than be traded for the player just coming through the door. Tyler Brock, one of baseball's best first basemen looked, to Emily's social worker trained eyes, as a man to be avoided at all costs, a brawler who still supported the bruised jaw from the bar brawl he had been in on his last night in Texas, even as her breath got caught in her throat, her palms tingled from a simple handshake and her heart felt like it was coming out of her chest to go out dancing on its own.
Tyler's lazy grin took frank notice of everything to do with Emily while ignoring his own sweaty palms and racing heartbeat. Tyler had a secret, too, and the arrangement just made to satisfy his community service brought on by the aforementioned bar brawl has him scared to death.
Follow Emily and Tyler as they edge ever closer to that point in time when the level of trust required to release those tight holds on each of their secrets, arrives. What secrets are they clinging to? Will letting those secrets free bring them closer or threaten to pull them apart, forever? Run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore or act quickly to download Mindy Klasky's, Reaching First, the next book in her Diamond Brides series and discover what happens when baseball, love and secrets collide.
Tyler's lazy grin took frank notice of everything to do with Emily while ignoring his own sweaty palms and racing heartbeat. Tyler had a secret, too, and the arrangement just made to satisfy his community service brought on by the aforementioned bar brawl has him scared to death.
Follow Emily and Tyler as they edge ever closer to that point in time when the level of trust required to release those tight holds on each of their secrets, arrives. What secrets are they clinging to? Will letting those secrets free bring them closer or threaten to pull them apart, forever? Run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore or act quickly to download Mindy Klasky's, Reaching First, the next book in her Diamond Brides series and discover what happens when baseball, love and secrets collide.
April 30, 2014
Tyler Brock has just been told he is being traded to the Rockets baseball team. Angry at leaving his home and family, he goes out drinking the night before leaving. While at the bar, he gets into an altercation with another customer who insults one of his current teammates...his best friend who has helped him get through his biggest and most private problem that no one else knows...Tyler cannot read. As a result of this arrest, he is sentenced to hours of community service. Anna Benson, granddaughter of the team's owner, has made arrangements for Tyler's service. He is to help her best friend, Emily Holt, renovate her late aunt's home into Minerva House, a community support system for spouses of veterans. However, during their time together, Emily and Tyler find a mutual attraction for each other. Between Tyler's secret and Emily's own private secret, will they be able to pursue this attraction, or will the secrets tear their relationship apart. This is the 3rd book in the Diamond Brides series, but although Anna and Zach were featured in #2, the book can be read as a stand-alone novel. Interesting characters and a wonderful insight into Tyler's reading problem. Disclosure: I was provided an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2014
Tyler Brock's life is turned upside down, first his truck breaks down, then his girlfriend breaks up with him and finally the only baseball team he’d ever played for transfers him. To make matters worse, he gets in a bar fight right before leaving.
Anna Benson, owner of the Raleigh Rockets recruits her best friend, Emily Holt, to supervise Tyler’s community service. Emily, a trainer social worker wants nothing to do with the hot head ball player, at least until she meets him.
But both have secrets they’re not ready to share.
This is the third winner in the Diamond Bride series. I liked that Tyler and Emily are more flawed making them more down to earth than the players in the previous books. Tyler’s inability to read hit close to home as my own son was in the danger of falling through the cracks in the school system. Emily prides herself in waiting till she finds the right guy yet is still almost ashamed of her virginity. Mindy included two real life problems while keeping it light and entertaining. The sexual tension between Tyler and Emily grew as they spent more time together. What I found particular refreshing is they got to know each other before taking their relationship to the next level. I highly recommend Reaching First.
Anna Benson, owner of the Raleigh Rockets recruits her best friend, Emily Holt, to supervise Tyler’s community service. Emily, a trainer social worker wants nothing to do with the hot head ball player, at least until she meets him.
But both have secrets they’re not ready to share.
This is the third winner in the Diamond Bride series. I liked that Tyler and Emily are more flawed making them more down to earth than the players in the previous books. Tyler’s inability to read hit close to home as my own son was in the danger of falling through the cracks in the school system. Emily prides herself in waiting till she finds the right guy yet is still almost ashamed of her virginity. Mindy included two real life problems while keeping it light and entertaining. The sexual tension between Tyler and Emily grew as they spent more time together. What I found particular refreshing is they got to know each other before taking their relationship to the next level. I highly recommend Reaching First.
August 12, 2016
This series of books is light and fun. This story is about a young woman who had an upsetting romantic experience in high school that she has allowed to color all of her dating life since. She is still a virgin, but dates and 'fools around' so much that her friends this she is much more experienced. The hero is a really nice man who pays attention and learns his lessons well. He has his own secrets, and I thought the way that issue impacted the relationship was really well done.
This book immediately follows the previous book in the series, and the main characters show up here. However, you don't have to have read that book to enjoy this one fully. Overall I thought that the heroine dragged out a humiliating high school experience far too long, but I suppose the longer you wait to address a problem the harder it is to face. I received a copy free in return for an honest review.
This book immediately follows the previous book in the series, and the main characters show up here. However, you don't have to have read that book to enjoy this one fully. Overall I thought that the heroine dragged out a humiliating high school experience far too long, but I suppose the longer you wait to address a problem the harder it is to face. I received a copy free in return for an honest review.
June 3, 2014
Much like "Catching Hell", I really enjoyed Mindy Klasky's writing, but there were just a few things that weren't working for me in "Reaching First". I don't want to give too much away, so lets just say: One "big secret" would have been fine. Either of them. But both slammed together was just a little overkill for me. And once again the "romance" between Emily and Tyler just seemed rushed. But, overall, I really enjoy Klasky's writing - she's readable, and her characters don't make me cringe - and will continue to read more from her.
June 17, 2014
This is the 3rd book in this series and the 2nd one that I have been fortunate to review for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. I really like how natural and down to earth this story was. So many people fear the brutal torment that they may have to face because of their weaknesses or beliefs. And finding the courage to trust someone enough with your secrets and being accepted for them is even rarer. Hope I get to read the next one too.
April 17, 2019
Tyler comes to Raleigh with a big problem. He got into a brawl before he left Texas. Now he has to do 100 hours of community service. Anna is the owners granddaughter and her friend Emily needs some help getting her house repaired so it can be used for a veterans help center. She reluctantly agrees to take Tyler on and keep track of his court hours. He has a secret and she also has a secret. But when they come out things get complicated. Another good story!
August 8, 2014
I really enjoyed this one, even better than the 2nd one in the series! I just wish it were a little longer, only because I'd like to read more about Emily & Tyler. They were adorable & realistic, & their chemistry was off the charts!! This romantic story is unique & refreshing, I enjoyed it so much! Really hoping there will be more in this series, they keep getting better!!
June 5, 2014
Another homerun! Emily and Tyler work hard to make Minerva's House meet all the requirements of Aunt Minnie's will. Now the veterans and their families will benefit, just as Tyler did when he learned to read. The HEA of this book is very sweet. I enjoyed it because they belong together after helping each other through so much.
August 11, 2014
Are you looking for a unique twist on the all american hero? Yes, I'm talking about a major league baseball player who doesn't fit into your norm. He defies the archetype and makes you love him even more for it. The grand gesture drove me to tears - one of the best baseball stories I've read this summer!
July 10, 2014
Tyler Brock, Emily Holt
I really liked Tyler and Emily. They are cute together and have strong chemistry. I think the ending was kind of perfect and very believable for the characters. I've enjoyed this book quite a bit. 3.5 Stars
I really liked Tyler and Emily. They are cute together and have strong chemistry. I think the ending was kind of perfect and very believable for the characters. I've enjoyed this book quite a bit. 3.5 Stars
June 7, 2014
Pretty good. I have mixed feelings I guess. Part of me thinks that it needed just a little more substance. While the other part is like yeah ok, nice short fast read. I'll probably check out more by this author.
June 7, 2014
Another great book by Mindy Klasky! Right away I got hooked and didn´t stop reading until the book was finished. I could feel the pain in Taylor Brock when he was struggling and trying to hide his problem, and the joy when he found a way to overcome it.
Overall a very good book!
Overall a very good book!
September 22, 2019
Another awesome read
Tyler and Emily are awesome. He helps her with her new business venture to fulfill the requirements of his community service. She finds out that he can't read and gets him help
Tyler and Emily are awesome. He helps her with her new business venture to fulfill the requirements of his community service. She finds out that he can't read and gets him help
June 2, 2014
Shorter than I thought it would be. It could've been a better story if it wasn't for the short length. I felt the romance too rushed.
June 28, 2014
Enjoyed this 3rd entry in the Diamond Bride series..... ;-)
September 4, 2014
oh Tyler! My favorite book so far in this series!!!
August 2, 2017
good b ook, not the best in the series but a good read all the same. read the whole series you'll love it
December 29, 2017
This was a quick story. Not bad just a little corny.
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